Film direction used to be men’s forte fifty years ago. With gender equity gaining its own priority in every country, women are creating an everlasting impression in the minds of their audience irrespective of whether their fanbase are comprised of males or females. If tinsel world is celebrating the success of female directors in Hollywood films, Bollywood has not failed to acknowledge the North and South Indian female directors who have won the hearts of millions with their thought provoking, forceful films which has depicted the harsh realities of life.
Gone are the days when cinema lovers had to view art films to educate or inform themselves about myriad, serious social and political issues that impacted negatively on people living in different societies or communities. Art films renowned for targeting not the mass audience but only the niche market is defined by The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language as, “”intended to be a serious, artistic work, often experimental and not designed for mass appeal”. Nowadays, one does not have to turn to art films for realistic portrayal of the innumerable facets or aspects of human life. Film directors of the 21st century, who are highly skilled, have efficiently interwoven the seriousness of art films into commercial or blockbuster films with popular cast. Women directors have made a dramatic entry into this dynamic industry with their supercharged films that their contribution cannot go unnoticed. Female directors have the ingenuity to magically arrive at the denouement with the right mix or blend. How do they do this?
Experiences of course! Being dubbed as highly sensitive, emotionally high strung, women with their incredulous capacity to endure and adapt to disappointing and unpredictable situations in life have developed remarkable strength over a period of time. Women’s response to various challenges in life are never the same and hence when it comes to depicting the struggles or trials and tribulations of life they are original and inventive, which accounts for the appeal and popularity of their creations. It is not without reason maxims similar to Gloria Stuarts observation, “A woman’s heart is a deep ocean of secrets.” exist.
A Writer's Exposé 