Over the years, Malayalam cinema has gained immense popularity due to its unique storytelling, realistic performances, and artistic direction. The Mollywood cinema has witnessed a remarkable evolution, and the heart of this transformation is the film directors of Malayalam Cinema.
Meanwhile, there are lots of new directors in Malayalam cinema who come out every year, but there are only a few Female Film Directors are there in Mollywood cinema. These female filmmakers in Malayalam cinema are redefining narratives, breaking stereotypes and bringing fresh perspectives to the screen.
Whether it’s bold storytelling or experimenting with unique genres, these women film directors in Mollywood are making their mark with inspiring creativity and confidence.
This article showcases a coveted list of Female Directors in Malayalam who have contributed significantly to the industry.
List of Top 10 Female Directors of Malayalam Cinema
From seasoned names to rising stars, we present the famous female film directors in Malayalam who are taking the Mollywood cinema to the next level. So, dive into the list best women filmmakers in Mollywood.
| Sr. No | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Revathi |
| 2 | Roshni Dinaker |
| 3 | Geethu Mohandas |
| 4 | Soumya Sadanandan |
| 5 | Anjali Menon |
| 6 | Vidhu Vincent |
| 7 | Preethi Panikkar |
| 8 | Sreebala K Menon |
| 9 | Shalini Usha Nair |
| 10 | BR Vijayalakshmi |
1. Revathi
Revathi is an indian actress and director who predominantly works in Malayalam & Tamil cinema, along with Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi films. She was one of most successful and leading actresses in South Indian cinema.
She has won several accolades to his name, including three National Film Awards, seven Filmfare Awards South, and also won Kerala State Film Awards for her performance in Bhoothakaalam.
She began her directing debut with a Tamil film, Mann Vasanai, and a Malayalam film, Kattathe Kilikkoodu, in 1983. The film got appreciation and was a silver jubilee hit, where she won the Filmfare Special Award South.
Top Movies of Revathi
- Bhoothakaalam
- Raat
- Anjali
- Vaidehi Kathirunthal
- Jackpot
2. Roshni Dinaker
Roshni Dinaker is a costume designer and a filmmaker who has worked mostly in Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu films. She made her directorial debut in 2018 with the film My Story.
Inspired by the costume designer, Bhanu Athaiya, Dinaker started her career in the film industry as a costume designer in South Indian movies in 2002.
Top 5 films of Dinaker
- Saarathi (2011)
- Navagraha (2008)
- Jothe Jotheyali (2006)
- Royal (2025)
- Chakravarthy (2017)
3. Geethu Mohandas
Gayatri Das, who is professionally known as Geethu Mohandas, is a former Indian actress and director known for her work in Malayalam cinema. She began her directorial debut with the film Liar’s Dice, which received two National Film Awards and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
Top 5 Film of Geethu Mohandas
- Life is Beautiful
- The Elder One
- Liar’s Dice
- Nala Damayanthi
- Thenkasipattanam
4. Soumya Sadanandan
Soumya Sadanandan is a director or an actor who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema. She gained popularity as a television host of a film-based show, ‘Film Lounge’ on Kappa TV which aired from 2013 to 2017.
Top 5 Film of Geethu Mohandas
- Mangalyam Thanthunanena
- C/O Saira Banu
- Olappeeppi
- Ormayundo Ee Mukham
- David and Goliath
5. Anjali Menon
Anjali Menon is an indian film director and screenwriter who works in Malayalam cinema. Through her filmmaking techniques, she has won national, international, and state awards for her work is also known for his best feature films, Manjadikuru, Kerala Cafe, and others.
Anjali is the founder of Little Films, a company that produces fiction and nonfiction films in Mumbai and Kerala.
She is also been a founder of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), which focuses on gender equality in the Malayalam film industry. Anjali is a board member of the Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image.
Top 5 Movies of Anjali Menon
- Banglore Days
- Kerala cafe
- Majadikuru
- Ustad Hotel
- Wonder Women
6. Vidhu Vincent
Vidhu Vincent is an indian film director, writer, journalist, and theatre activist from Kerala. She made her directorial debut with the Malayalam feature film Manhole.
She won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Director for the film, and with this, she has become the first woman to win a state award for Malayalam film direction. And she also won two awards in the 21st International Film Festival of Kerala, including best director for Vincent.
Top 5 Movies of Vidhu Vincent
- Stand Up
- Manhole
- Viral Sebi
7. Preethi Panikkar
Preethi Panikkar is an Indian film director and actor who works mostly in Malayalam films. She came to the limelight when she directed her debut short film Kaapalika, and then went on to direct her first feature film Thilothama in 2015.
Best Film of Preethi Panikkar
- Thilothama
- Kaapalika
- Kalamkaval
- Abhyanthara Kuttavali
8. Sreebala K Menon
Sreebala K Menon is a Malayali author and a filmmaker who won the Kerala Sahithya Akademy Awards for her book Canal Road. She made her directorial debut with the movie ‘Love 24×7’, where she won the Kerala State Film Award and Ramu Kariat Award for her Malayalam movie.
Top Movies of Sreebala K Menon
- Love 24×7
- Vinodayathra
- Panthibhojanam
- Journey from Darkness to Night
9. Shalini Usha Nair
Shalini Usha Nair is an indian film actress and director who worked as an assistant director under Bollywood directors. She also worked as the secretary of the famous Mexican director Paul Le Duc, who was the chairman of the jury at the 2004 Film Festival of Kerala.
Best Movies of Shalini Usha Nair
- Good Bad Ugly
- Enimey Nangadha Head Lines
- Gajanaa
- Rakkayie
10. BR Vijayalakshmi
BR Vijayalakshmi is an indian cinematographer and a director, who entered the film industry inspired by her director brother BR Ravishankar. Later, she became interested in cinematography.
She was also the first Indian woman in Asia to be a cinematographer. She made her debut in the Malayalam film industry by directing the film Abhiyude Kadha Anuvinteyum.
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