The first Indian-origin lady film director who took Indian cinema to International glory is Mira Nair, an Indian-American filmmaker. With her hardcore film Salaam Bombay (1988), she made her entry with a bang on the international scene. Exposing the naked truth of the slum children and the exploitation of nubile girls in flesh trade at the red light areas of Mumbai, the film Salaam Bombay was a huge hit.
The film won both critical laurels and was commercially successful at the box office. The film won National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. In addition, the film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The film won several international awards, including the National Board of Review Award for Top Foreign Film. It also received the Golden Camera and Audience Awards at the Cannes Film Festival. Additionally, it won three awards at the Montréal World Film Festival. Her other hit films include Mississippi Masala, Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love, The Namesake, Monsoon Wedding, etc.
Breaking Borders: Mira Nair Global Impact
Deepa Mehta, an Indo-Canadian film director, made headline in India with her controversial film Fire (1996), which depicted the taboo subject of a lesbian relationship. The erotic romantic drama starring top-grade actresses Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das as the lesbian couple witnessed much public fury in India. The film faced many hurdles and protests, but critics applauded the bold subject. Commercially also the film was a success. Her next film Earth (1998), starring Aamir Khan in the lead role, depicted the horrors of Indo-Pak division. With her next film, Water (2005), Deepa Mehta again created an uproar by targeting the orthodox social behavior in the Hindu religion. The film won many international awards, like Genie Awards or Canadian Screen Awards, and was nominated for Oscar awards.
The third Indian-origin filmmaker is Gurinder Chadha, who is of Kenyan-Asian origin. Chadha came into the limelight with her super hit Hollywood Film Bend It Like Beckham (2002). The inspirational story of an 18-year-old lady’s passion to play football against the objections of her parents as she is a woman touched the hearts of several girls around the globe. Though the film was made in English, its motivating story also appealed to Indian audiences. The film was a huge surprise hit. Later, in all her movies, Gurinder Chadha explored the lives of Indians living in the United Kingdom. Her hit films are Bride and Prejudice, Bhaji on the Beach (1993), and Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (2008). It’s a Wonderful Afterlife (2010) and Viceroy’s House (2017).
There are many more female directors trying to pop their heads up to venture into this field of filmmaking.
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