Celebrate International Women's Day with these compelling films directed by visionary women filmmakers

This International Women’s Day (March 8) let's honour the extraordinary power of womanhood. Let's celebrate the resilience that shines through every challenge, the joy found amidst hardships, and the remarkable achievements that empower not only women themselves but also enrich the lives of their families and loved ones. We have curated a list of some of these films to revisit on OTTplay Premium and cherish those moments that will remain etched in our hearts forever. From Sanya Malhotra's Mrs. to Sridevi’s English Vinglish, revisit unique stories of women through these films that have been directed or written by women.

Films directed and written by women on OTTplay Premium:

Mrs. (ZEE5)

Director: Aarti Kadav

Cast: Sanya Malhotra, Nishant Dahiya, Kanwaljit Singh, Aparna Ghoshal

This family drama premiered at the 2024 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne and was also screened at the New York Indian Film Festival. The film is the Hindi remake of the 2021 Malayalam film, The Great Indian Kitchen, which starred Nimisha Sajayan and Suraj Venjaramoodu. Mrs. tells the story of a married woman, who, despite being confined to her domestic life, discovers her own identity and sense of purpose while navigating the challenges of her daily routine in the kitchen.

English Vinglish (ZEE5)

Director: Gauri Shinde

Cast: Sridevi, Adil Hussain, Mehdi Nebbou, Priya Anand, Navika Kotia, Shivansh Kotia

This 2012 family drama premiered at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival, where it received a 5-minute standing ovation. It's a story about Shashi, a dedicated housewife, who is often belittled by her family for not being able to speak English. Determined to prove herself, Shashi embarks on a journey to learn the language and discovers self-worth and confidence.

Nil Battey Sannata (ZEE5)

Director: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari

Cast: Swara Bhaskar, Riya Shukla, Ratna Pathak Shah, Pankaj Tripathi, Sanjay Suri

This Hindi family drama was released in 2015, and later in 2017, it was remade in Malayalam as Udaharanam Sujatha, starring Manju Warrier and Anaswara Rajan. This film delves into the life of young Apeksha, who has lost interest in studying, feeling it's pointless to pursue her studies. But her mother, Chanda, is determined to help her see the value of education. With a creative solution, Chanda sets out to motivate Apeksha and inspire her to reach her full potential.

Wonder Women (SonyLIV)

Director: Anjali Menon

Cast: Nadiya Moidu, Nithya Menen, Padmapriya Janakiraman, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Sayanora Philip, Archana Padmini, Amruta Subhash

This film made direct digital debut on SonyLIV in 2022. This drama film delves into a group of would-be mothers, who, amid life's unpredictability, form a heartwarming bond and meet at a prenatal class in Kerala. As they navigate the joys and challenges of pregnancy together, an unlikely yet beautiful friendship blossoms.

Piku (SonyLIV)

Written by: Juhi Chaturvedi

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Irrfan Khan, Jisshu Sengupta

This family drama earned Amitabh Bachchan his record-setting fourth National Award for Best Actor at the 63rd National Film Awards in 2016. The film delves into the life of a young woman, Piku, a determined architect, who embarks on a road trip to Kolkata from New Delhi, with her elderly father, Bhaskor Banerjee. Despite their constant bickering and the contrasting views on life, their journey together brings them closer, revealing a deeper understanding and appreciation for each other.