10 Female Directors Who Redefined Cinema

From Zoya Akhtar to Meghna Gulzar, these female directors have changed the way we perceive the world in little ways with their out of the ordinary movies.
Kumari Rajnigandha

Bollywood movies have inspired us in a million ways. From heartwarming plots to breaking stereotypes, Bollywood has done it all. While the industry is dominated by males as the successful figures, some female figures have proved their mettle as ace directors. From Zoya Akhtar to Meghna Gulzar, these female directors have changed the way we perceive the world in little ways with their out of the ordinary movies. 

Their movies have out and out melted our hearts. Their movies have been a guiding light in times of distress and dilemma. Here’s a list of 10 female directors who redefined cinema for good. 

1 Zoya Akhtar

Zoya Akhtar is a stellar director of some of the ace movies like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Gully Boy and many others. Her movies have impressed the audience and critics alike.  

2 Konkona Sen

Konkona Sen is not new to the film industry; she started her career as an child actor in Indira (1983) and since then she has never looked back. She has proved her mantel in acting and won two national filmfare awards. She started her journey as director in 2006 with Naamkoron, a short bengali film. Later she went on to direct A Death in the Gunj. The movie received critical acclaim and she won the best debut director award for it. 

3 Meghna Gulzar

Meghna Gulzar is well known for thinking out of the box. Her movies are truly extraordinary. From the film Raazi to the film Chapaak, her movies tell tales of real life stories in a very realistic way. The film Raazi was lauded by one and all. The film did a brilliant job at instilling patriotic feelings. 

4 Farah Khan

Though famed for being an ace choreographer, Farah Khan has directed some excellent movies. Her directorial caliber is commendable. Main Hoon Na is a film that touched each and every heart and Om Shanti Om surprised everyone with its star-studded cameo appearances. A total of 31 Bollywood stars made cameo appearances in the film. She has found the right combination and spice to make films a total blockbuster hit. Farah Khan is certainly a jack of all trades and master of one. 

5 Kiran Rao

Kiran Rao started her directional journey as an assistant director of Ashutosh Gowariker, in movies like Lagaan and Swades: We, the People. She also worked as an assistant on the indie hit Monsoon Wedding with Academy Award-nominated director Mira Nair.

Kiran Rao went on to work as a director for the movie Dhobi Ghat. The film had positive reviews and accolades from all quarters. It brilliantly explores the mumbai city and how people from different walks of life interact with each other in their joys and sorrows.

6 Nandita Das

Nandita Das is a great actor, we all are well aware of that fact, but she also happens to be a great director. She directed two critically acclaimed movies such as Manto and Firaq. The movies happen to be gems of its time. Firaq was the directorial debut of Nandita Das. Nandita Das also directed ‘In Defence Of Freedom’ and ‘India’s Got Colour’. While ‘In Defence Of Freedom’ is a stellar short film, ‘India’s Got Colour’ happens to be a unique music video. 

7 Gauri Shinde

English Vinglish is one movie which has stayed in our hearts as a remembrance of the excellent late actor Sridevi. Apart from Sridevi’s ace acting, Gauri Shinde’s direction was much appreciated by the audiences as well as the critics. Gauri Shinde is known for picking unconventional themes for her films. The film Dear Zindagi is also  directed by Gauri Shinde. 

8 Alankrita Shrivastava

A Jamia Millia Islamia filmmaking alum, who started her career as assistant director with Prakash Jha, she did movies like Rajneeti and Aparhan. The experience she gained from these movies helped her in her debut in 2011 film Turning 30. Later on she went to write and direct black comedy Lipstick Under My Burkha, which earned her widespread praise. The film went on to get nominated at Filmfare Awards, among other accolades. 

9 Reema Kagti

Reema started her director journey by working as assistant director with many leading directors on movies like Dil Chahta Hai, Lakshya, Armaan, Vanity Fair and Lagaan.

 

From Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. she started her solo directing career. The movie explored the concept of different stories within it, It had six different parts. She further went on to direct Talaash, which was a suspense drama. Gold was her last directorial venture, which was a film about how the Indian Hockey team helped India in getting her first Olympic gold after independence.

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