A wind of change is sweeping across the globe, smashing stereotypes. The wind — voices of determined women who have realised their worth — is felt in every sphere, including cinema. The entertainment industry is perhaps the one hit hard as the wind that originated in the West blew across the borders, shaking the ‘woods’ it crossed. As more and more women stood up and spoke, the industries couldn’t ignore them anymore. In the climax, woman groups are formed and instructions are given to filmmakers while depicting women on screen. The refreshing part is the tail end, which showcases more women — both experienced and newbies — venturing into the male-dominated bastion of tinsel town, breaking conventions.
Still from Geethu Mohandas’ Moothon.
There have been female directors in Mollywood — since 1973 when Vijaya Nirmala directed the movie Kavitha. Then, there has been Sheela, Suma Jossan, Shalini Usha Nair, Revathi, etc, once in a while. The recent years have seen the likes of Anjali Menon, Geethu Mohandas, Vidhu Vincent and Sreebala K. Menon proving their mettle and the numbers are on a rise now. If all goes well, Mollywood will witness, in a huge leap, the release of at least six movies by female filmmakers this year. National Award-winning Anjali Menon, who is back after a four-year gap, is all set to release her fourth film Koode. Roshni Dinaker and Haseena Suneer are busy with the post-production works of their movies My Story and Prakashante Metro respectively. Geethu Mohandas is working on Moothon starring Nivin Pauly. Sou Sadanandan is waiting to begin the post-production works of her maiden feature film Mangalyam Thanthunanena, while Leela Santhosh is all set to helm a movie based on the life of the person who discovered the Wayanad Moutain pass.
Still from Anjali’s Koode.
"Direction has always been my forte. This feature film is a progression of my journey," says Sou, who worked in various departments of film industry before becoming independent. A person who believes in the doctrine of one step at a time, Sou didn’t rush to make a movie. It is because she feels a director should be thorough about all the aspects of cinema and the subject. “Whatever subject you choose, you should be a master of that,” she says. “I respect the producers who invest money believing in me and my story,” she adds.
From the location of Moothon.
“I am grateful to United Global Media Entertainments and our producers Dr Zachariah Thomas, Alwin Antony, Prince Paul and Angelena Mary Antony who believed in Mangalyam Thanthunanena.” But it hasn’t been an easy journey, she recalls. “Going by my looks, majority said that I was too young to direct a movie and had time, which was disheartening. It is because your gut feeling says you are ready, but the world just does not believe it! Tony (writer) and myself had been going around meeting producers for over 3.5 years then. That’s when Alwin chettan said he was interested in the subject,” recalls Sou. “Alwin chettan said he would support the project. I was apprehensive because I had heard such promises before too, only to turn futile eventually. But, Alwin chettan kept his word. He arranged the artistes. More than that, he trusted in us and the script,” says Sou.
Sill from Prakashante Metro
If Sou got into the industry with years of experience, Haseena, a housewife from Malappuram, wore the director’s hat all of a sudden. “I used to write stories. Once, a girl told me her story, which I found interesting. I decided I would tell it through a movie as the medium quickly reaches the mass,” says Haseena. Until she started doing Prakashante Metro, she didn't realise the risks behind a road movie. “You are on the road day and night, shooting. The most difficult part was to communicate with the people on the road. Some situations were so tiring, but I wasn’t afraid. The crew has been supportive,” says Haseena recalling the 30-day shoot.
Generally, there is a belief that the movie industry is not meant for women. But, these filmmakers feel that everything depends on one’s nerves. My Story director Roshni Dinakar, who kicked off her career as a costume designer and then graduated to direction, asks, “Who is stopping us from doing good films and telling good stories? Nobody is prejudiced.” In her opinion, our minds are conditioned to believe so and hence we stop ourselves. “It’s not male or female. Individuals give us tough times," opines Roshni, who had a tough time making My Story. There were halts during the making and social media attacked her for all wrong reasons. “Social media is virtual and the sad part is, people spend a lot of time there than in real world. We have given our minds and emotions to be driven by media than having our own judgment.”
For her, any creation is divine and she trusts her craft though it came with its own struggles. “Be it for a homemaker or to a top business tycoon, every day is a challenge. So was it for me.” Hailing from a Muslim background, Haseena had to confront the usual ‘don’t you want to go to heaven?’ questions from extremists. “But, I was determined and my family stood with me,” she says. So, the key lies in believing in one’s talent. They unanimously say ‘if your content is sustainable and you have courage, nothing can stop you’. Let’s hope more women follow in their footsteps. More power to women!
