Indrajit Nattoji Explores Womanhood & Freedom In Kitu Gidwani Starrer Madam Driver

Madam Driver, directed by Indrajit Nattoji, is now available to stream on Apple TV. The featurette centres on Devika Dixit, a 55-year-old widow in small-town Gujarat who starts driving lessons. The cast includes Kitu Gidwani, Ankit Siwach and Bhavna Pani, and the film was completed over six shooting days in Baroda.

Devika’s late entry into driving becomes a way to face grief, social rules and self-image. The narrative tracks quiet emotional shifts instead of big plot twists. Nattoji said, "Driving in the film became symbolic of movement, confidence, fear, dependence and self-worth. A middle-aged woman learning to drive should ideally be a very normal thing, but in our society it can become emotionally loaded in surprising ways," Nattoji said.

Madam Driver Apple TV release and Indrajit Nattoji’s global audience hopes

Madam Driver first travelled the festival circuit before landing on Apple TV for a wider audience. Reflecting on that path, Nattoji said, "Festival screenings are special because you experience the film collectively with a like-minded audience and feel moments of connection in real time. But streaming gives a film a quieter and longer life. With Apple TV, Madam Driver may now reach people across the world who might unexpectedly discover Devika's journey in the intimacy of their homes."

Nattoji contrasted Madam Driver with earlier feature Aafat-e-Ishq, noting a shift in tone and style. "Aafat-e-Ishq was heightened, stylised and playful in its relationship with satire and exaggeration. Madam Driver moves in the opposite direction. It is less interested in spectacle and more interested in emotional recognition. In some ways, making this film felt closer to listening than directing."

Madam Driver Apple TV production choices by Indrajit Nattoji

The entire film was shot using an iPhone, which shaped both pace and visual style. Describing that choice, Nattoji said, "The iPhone was never used as a gimmick. It allowed us to move lightly through real environments and stay close to natural performances and everyday interactions without overwhelming them. Since the film has an on-road quality to it, that fluidity became important."

Nattoji explained that the women in Madam Driver draw from real people encountered over many years. "Madam Driver quietly reflects the pluralistic India that I grew up in, where human connection, coexistence and everyday warmth often took precedence over identity." The film’s small-town setting in Gujarat supports this everyday texture and highlights ordinary gestures of support around Devika.

Produced by I.N.K. Pictures, Madam Driver presents a contained story about agency, identity and late self-discovery. The focus stays on Devika’s inner movement rather than spectacle or big plot events. With its Apple TV release, the film now seeks viewers who may connect with Devika’s journey in personal, unhurried ways at home.