8 Film Directors Who Are Changing The Landscape Of Bollywood, One Movie At A Time!

The ever-dynamic Hindi Film Industry has evolved a great deal over the decades. From the era of formulated blockbusters and the arguably glamorous themes, Bollywood is all about exhibiting the visionary brilliance of directors today. More often than not, the on-screen faces used to be a party to the praises of the people, but the evolved era has started acknowledging the skill and the ingenious inventions of the directors. With a profound shift in the focus from entertainment to proficient filmmaking, a few directors in the industry have truly done wonders by giving the world some consistently remarkable films. In this list, we talk about some of these commendable filmmakers, so keep on scrolling!

1. Vishal Bhardwaj 

Renowned filmmaker, screenwriter and music director, Vishal Bhardwaj is practically a no-brainer candidate for this list. He is primarily known for adapting the concepts of popular plays and books by legends like William Shakespeare into his movies. Vishal Bhardwaj’s films cover varying themes, most of which have twisted plotlines and keep the viewers engaged throughout. A director of his calibre cannot be categorically placed under a specific bracket of films, with an extensive array of films in his roster like Maqbool, Haider, 7 Khoon Maaf, Ishqiya, Matru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola and many more! A national award winner, Vishal Bhardwaj truly preserves the essence of revolutionary filmmaking.

2. Shoojit Sircar 

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Shoojit Sircar is a director whose multifaceted nature of expertise makes him stand out! His work perfectly strikes a balance between well-researched and detail-oriented portrayals, all the while inducing the essence of easeful storytelling. Sircar has put out some light-hearted bangers like Vicky Donor and Piku and has also balanced out his forte with sombre films like Madras Cafe and Pink. The distinctively unconventional nature of his work not only charms the audience but also attempts to mould the actors into challenging personas. Sircar’s holistic approach to filmmaking makes him a force to reckon with!

3. Anurag Kashyap

The undisputed badass of the industry and a maestro of independent films, Anurag Kashyap is one such director who outrightly imprints his vision on the silver screen without any commercially-influenced blemishes. His work primarily focuses on dark and gritty themes, many of which are based on true events. His candour and out-spoken nature have led to quite a bit of conjecture in the past, but that never comes in the way of his remarkable directorial skills. With films like Gulaal, Black Friday and The Girl In Yellow Boots, all of which went on to receive international recognition, Kashyap made his mark as an indie-film virtuoso. Eventually, he brought his sombre touch to the mainstream media with productions like Dev D and the Gangs Of Wasseypur double feature.
 

4. Ayan Mukherji

Ayan Mukherji is probably one of the youngest filmmakers in the industry to have written and directed consecutive chart-toppers! He made his directorial debut with the coming-of-age film Wake Up Sid at just 26, and that was enough to garner the love and praises of the masses. His ingenious vision also gave birth to the light-hearted and immensely loved blockbuster, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. Besides the appearance of Ranbir Kapoor, one can arguably simplify the trend of his films to be ahead of their time, immensely character-driven and featuring a tremendous relatability factor that always hits home for the viewers. Mukherji’s fervent drive to deliver good work is discernible, considering what all he’s achieved at his age; And his upcoming fantasy-fiction, Bramhastra also signifies the inventive nature of his skill. It’s fair to say that Mukherji is a director who still has a whole lot to offer!

5. Zoya Akhtar

Zoya Akhtar is one of the most celebrated directors in the industry. Akhtar’s work explores vivid themes and spheres but stays gripped to the coming-of-age thematic, her 2011 dramedy Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara depicts a perfect specimen of her filmmaking skill.  Although the film which put her on the map was Luck By Chance, which went on to receive oodles of critical commendation and also did well on the box office. Her films tend to feature unexplored elements that appeal to the contemporary mindset and make for a facile movie-viewing experience, no matter how complex the character-dynamics may be. Akhtar’s directorial prowess has also given us other remarkable productions like Gully Boy and Dil Dhadakne Do. 

6. Gauri Shinde 

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A quintessential filmmaker to the core, owing to years of ad-filmmaking before her directorial debut, Gauri Shinde is considered to be an immensely inspiring storyteller. One could say that Shinde depicts intelligent filmmaking through her work, with subtle dismissals of social issues like mental health, patriarchal standards, linguistic chauvinism, out of many more. Her work also features a portrayal of the feminine-narrative in a non-radical, innocuous manner which manages to strike the right chord with the masses as well as the critics. English Vinglish and Dear Zindagi comprise some of her films which depicted myriad social evils, all the while being perceived as light-hearted dramas; such is the genius of Gauri Shinde! 

7. Meghna Gulzar

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Meghna Gulzar is an eminent filmmaker in the industry whose skill has been depicted in a multifaceted manner. Her initial few productions revolved around unconventional yet fascinating subjects; her debut film Filhaal explored the nuances of surrogacy and her short film in Dus Kahaniya was a commentary on the stigma of female sexual desire. After a significantly long sabbatical, Gulzar found her forte in films based on true events and started off the murder-mystery, Talvar. Her films strive to portray the significance of inspiring real-life stories, and all the while maintaining legitimacy, also features some typical star-studded elements that cater to the box-office demands. Her last two female-driven productions Raazi and Chhapaak have made quite an impact on the box office as well as the audience. 

8. Anubhav Sinha 

 Anubhav Sinha’s recent films can be deemed as catalysts for providing a collective “reality check” to the audience. With his blood-boiler productions, Sinha never shies away from hitting our raw nerves. His drastic transition from an ambitious director with films like Dus and Ra One into an antithetical filmmaker with socio-politically relevant movies like Mulk, Thappad, Article 15 is quite commendable. His “reincarnation” not only changed the landscape of Bollywood but induced an epiphany among the audiences to encourage films addressing “need of the hour” type themes.

These talented filmmakers have taken the Hindi Film Industry to new heights and each one of them instils hope within the audience that there’s loads more for them yet to offer!