Young director Padmavathi Malladi failed to draw an audience with her new film ‘Gandhi Tatha Chettu’ in the two Telugu states, which revolved around Gandhian values but dreary screenplay mars the show. Female directors are unable to strike a chord with Telugu audiences and must re-invent themselves. “I prefer not to take names but female directors have indeed failed to deliver hits in recent times,” admits producer Lagadapati Sridhar who says it’s truly tough times for lady directors to make space in Tollywood.The film industry boasts of directors like Nandini Reddy (Oh Baby), Sujana Rao (Gamanam), Seshu Sindhu Rao (Choosi Choodanganey), Sowjanya (Varudu Kavalenu), and Sanjana Reddy (Raju Gadu), they are unable to churn out more films and move up the ladder of success. Giving a different perspective, Lagadapati Sridhar explains, “I think few female directors have a few inhibitions about approaching producers. They cannot visit the producer’s office repeatedly and seek offers.,’ He claims that the film industry has gained notoriety and lady directors are apprehensive.“Until the film industry shuns its male-chauvinistic attitude, lady directors are going to find it hard to make a mark. A few of them told me that industry is not conducive for women directors unlike other professions and their repeated visits to a production house aren’t drawing good comments,” he says and adds, “Being brought up in conservative families, educated girls are unwilling to take chances. They would commence their next after finding the right producer and would like to sit idle at home rather than drawing brickbats,” he addsHe further claims that women directors are capable of dishing out soft love stories and family dramas. “They can handle tender emotions with ease so they are restricting themselves to romantic stories and family-driven sagas. With the season being for action flicks, they are unable to grab an offer,” he reasons.Dismissing the argument that women directors are capable of only dishing out feel-good entertainers, actor-turned-director Jeevitha Rajasekhar says, “Women are capable of handling all kinds of themes including action because gender has nothing to do with talent’. Although she admits that direction is a male domain, women are also finding their rightful place in movies.”Reflecting on changing times, “I have begun to see females in costume designing, in the direction department, and even as an assistant camerawoman, and things happening for the better. I do understand that some women who come from well-to-do and educated families have few apprehensions about the film industry. Everything will change once women take center stage and give confidence to women folk to showcase their creative talent in various forms in Tollywood. Since women are much more focused and disciplined than males, they are bound to turn the tide. I am hopeful that women directors like Neerja Kona with ‘Telusu Kada’ will change this perception in the days to come,” Jeevitha concludes.
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