3 Of The 4 Indian Films Showing At TIFF 2019 Have Been Directed By Women. Queens, We Say!

3 Of The 4 Indian Films Showing At TIFF 2019 Have Been Directed By Women. Queens, We Say!

Okay ladies, now let’s get in formation! The Toronto International Film Festival is well underway and the deets are just pouring in. TIFF is unique in the sense that it is the largest publicly attended film festivals in the world. Which means, apart from filmmakers, actors and industry people, the festival is attended by regular movie-goers as well. This gives it the distinction of being one of the most genuine festivals out there. With much fanfare and big names attached to it, TIFF is like a litmus test for directors. We do have regular audiences watching the films alongside its makers, and that is a huge novelty.

Held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the festival’s major prize winners are known to go on and win the big awards of that year. Movies from all over the world compete for their top spot. As for desi representation at the festival is concerned, we have four very different films playing this year. And apart from Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Jallikattu, three of them have been helmed by women!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqzkMJznod8/

The Sky Is Pink, Shonali Bose

Priyanka Chopra Jonas starrer The Sky Is Pink has already gotten movie lovers delighted with its adorable trailer. Inspired by the real life of Aisha Chaudhary, the film is about a family fighting to beat very slim odds, in order to get just one more day with a loved one. Behind this heartfelt premise lies director Shonali Bose’s personal sorrows. Faced with the break-up of her marriage, after the loss of a child, the story is personal to her. The National Film Award-winning (Amu, 2005) director is well-versed with showing extreme human emotions in her films and we are sure she won’t disappoint with her latest offering!

Check out the film’s trailer!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2TFT8KlRy6/

Moothon, Geetu Mohandas

Bilingual crime drama Moothon director Geetu Mohandas has creativity as the central theme, through and through. After working as an actress in Malayalam and Bollywood films, she presented her film at TIFF 2019 on Wednesday. Jointly produced with Anurag Kashyap, the film also stars Sobhita Dhulipala. Translated as The Elder One, the film is a gritty tale of a teenager from Lakshadweep, coming to Mumbai in search of his elder brother. Geetu also managed to sneak in a fabulous saree moment at the film’s premiere, the gold beaded drape is just too cool for school!

Check out the film’s trailer!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0dYlDEFzJL/

Bombay Rose, Gitanjali Rao

When we mentioned our desi ladies telling three very different stories at TIFF, we meant it quite literally. Gitanjali Rao’s animated feature Bombay Rose sees the actress turn director for a fresh turn of presenting stories set in a sprawling Indian metropolis. Cameron Bailey, director of TIFF, commented on the film saying, “It’s a beautiful evocation of love and full immersion in both its rich setting and the magic of Indian cinema,”. The trailer indeed looks like a work of art, and our hearts are swollen with pride.

Check out the film’s trailer!

If there is anything we can learn from this pleasant co-incidence it’s this…women can bring a much-needed change in perception in films. Also, they are capable of telling wonderful stories, steeped in both romance and realism. We wish the cast and crew behind these films a very best of luck!

Sumona Bose

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