While some stories are remembered because of women who refuse to be sidelined into the margins, others are transformed simply by the presence of multi-dimensional female characters. Regional Indian cinema does an incredible job of presenting women as layered, human and believable, without letting them fall into the pits of stereotypes. Here is a roundup of regional cinema whose compelling portrayals of women last long after the credits roll.
Great Indian Kitchen
The kitchen becomes one of the most important spaces while exploring women’s stories; one that holds them back but also gives them agency. Through the repetitive rhythms of cooking, cleaning and household labour, Jeo Baby finds a striking cinematic language to capture the suffocation of a woman whose work is never-ending.
Shape of Momo
Set in a Himalayan village and directed by Tribeny Rai, Shape of Momo follows a family of four women and the way they navigate society’s expectations of them without a male present. The film follows the youngest daughter of the family, Bishnu, as she returns home and gradually unfolds into a relatable and funny story about identity and independence.
Village Rockstars
Written, directed, produced, edited and shot by Rima Das, Village Rockstars is a tender coming-of-age story that follows Dhunu, a young girl in rural Assam who dreams of owning a guitar and starting a rock band. Blurring the line between fiction and documentary, the film captures everyday life remarkably.
Anandi Gopal
This Marathi film is about Anandibai Joshi, the first Indian woman who went against all odds to get herself educated and became a doctor, to set an example. She inspired generations to come in real life, and the movie captures that by chronicling her extraordinary journey.
All We Imagine As Light
Payal Kapadia uses Mumbai masterfully to tell the story of two nurses, it furthers away from a rosy, overly romanticized version of the city, and portrays an honest, sometimes even brutal depiction. These women depend on each other to survive the big city, but also face difficulties of their own. Ultimately, it is an ode to female friendship even in the bleakest of circumstances.
Bulbul Can Sing
Another Rima Das classic, this film follows three women as they navigate the terrains of friendship in adolescence. It is a coming-of-age story that explores identity, sexuality, moral policing, and somehow finds a way to be embedded in the personal while capturing universal feelings.
Court
While Court is a sharp critique of India's judicial system and its deeply entrenched inequalities, it also foregrounds a woman navigating its rigid, patriarchal structures. The film finds a way to highlight the role women play in challenging these archaic institutions.
Victoria
Set in a parlour where women of different social strata drop in and out, Victoria does a clever job of using the space of a salon, one that is female dominated, to tell the stories of the women who pour in and out. The movie takes place within the span of one day, with the main protagonist, a worker at the parlour, stuck responsible with a rooster she did not want in the first place.
Gargi
Directed by Gautam Ramachandran with Sai Pallavi in the centre, Gargi follows the aftermath of an arrest due to a child abuse case. Refusing easy judgments, the film thoughtfully examines prejudice, justice and public perception, offering a nuanced portrait of a woman navigating an impossible situation.
Killa
Avinash Arun takes us on a journey with Chinmay, the main character, where the anguish of childhood shapes us and forces us to grow up, become adults. A feeling of nostalgia that takes us by the throat as the film echoes our own experience, and the emotional core lies in the presence of Chinmay’s widowed mother.
Words Platform Desk
Date 2.7.2026