Women Directors from South India

Lakshmi Sowjanya is known for Varudu Kaavalenu (2021), Godavari (2006) and Maa Neella Tank (2022).

Sudha Kongara was born on 29 March 1989 in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. She is a writer and director, known for Soorarai Pottru (2020), Irudhi Suttru (2016) and Guru (2017).

Aishwarya Rajinikanth was born on 1 January 1982 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. She is a director and writer, known for 3 (2012), Ayirathil Oruvan (2010) and Lal Salaam (2024). She has been married to Dhanush since 18 November 2004. They have two children.

Anjali is a leading Indian film director and screenwriter. She completed her post-graduate degree from London Film School with honors in editing, producing, and directing film; her graduation film Black Nor White premiered at the Palm Springs International Film Festival and received the BFI award for Best Short Film. Anjali made her writing and directorial debut with the feature Manjadikuru (Lucky Red Seeds), a coming of age drama set in 1979, for which she received the FIPRESCI award for Best Malayalam Film and Best Indian Debut. Anjali has also written the critically and commercially acclaimed Ustad Hotel, for which she received the National Film Award for Best Screenplay - Dialogues. Her next feature film, Bangalore Days, revolving around the life of three Malayali cousins, emerged as a cult classic. Anjali's feature film Koode, showcasing issues of caste, migration, and child sexual harassment while dealing with themes of loss and solace, released to wide critical and commercial success in India and internationally. Having worked on projects in India, the Middle East, and the UK, Anjali's films provide a nuanced insight into the migrant experience and cross cultural interactions and she has received multiple National and State awards for her work in cinema. Her recent film Wonder Women delicately makes us aware of the beliefs, confusion, and questions regarding pregnancy and childbirth. Anjali is also one of the founding members of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), an organization that focuses on gender equality in the Malayalam film industry. She started a production company, Little Films India, in 2006 where she leads content and production affairs. Anjali is currently developing her next feature film and an anthology for a leading production house.

Chunia is known for Hello! (2017) and Padesave (2016).

Gayatri is known for Vikram Vedha (2017), Suzhal - The Vortex (2022) and Vikram Vedha (2022).

Geetu Mohandas formed her film production house- Unplugged in 2009 which produced her directorial debut short fiction film titled "Are You Listening?" The film premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam and subsequently won 3 International awards as well as the National Film Award in India. Her first feature film "Liar's Dice" received the Hubert Bals fund for script and project development and the film was selected in Competition for the world dramatic competition at Sundance in 2014. Liar's dice went on to win 6 major international awards across the world and 2 National awards in India. It was also India's official submission for the Best Foreign Film category for the 87th Academy Awards. Her second feature is in production titled "Moothon." The script is suported by the Sundance film lab and also won the Global film making award in 2016 at Sundance.

Gowri Ronanki is known for PellisandaD (2021), Mr. Idiot and Sreenidhi, Nayana Nair, Kaala BhaiRava: Madhura Nagarilo (2021).

Halitha Shameem is a film director, screenwriter, editor who works in Tamil Cinema, her debut movie is Poovarasam Peepee followed by Sillukarupatti which made her a popular and bags bunch of awards. Her other movies are Aelay, Minmini in which First half directed in 2015, second half directed with same actors in 2019 as it requires different age group of the artists, instead of using different actors for different age groups, waited for 4 years for the actors to grown up and filmed with the same actors.

Jeevitha is known for Shekar (2022), Evadithe Nakenti (2007) and Satyameva Jeyathe (2009). She was previously married to Rajasekhar.

Nandhini JS is an Indian film director and screenwriter who is best known for the Horror Suspense series Inspector Rishi (2024) streaming on Amazon Prime Video. She is the Writer, Director and Creative Producer of the show.

After getting a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration (BBA) in 2000, Nandhini started her creative career at the Film and Television Institute of Tamilnadu (FTIT), Chennai, where she studied Direction & Screenwriting. A Gold Medalist in DFT, she also completed her Masters Diploma in Business Administration.

In 2003, she won the prestigious Tamil Nadu State Award as 'Best Director' for her student short film 'Ottam', which also won for 'Best Editing'.

In 2009, Nandhini wrote and directed the romantic comedy Thiru Thiru Thuru Thuru, produced by Sathyam Cinemas and Real Image Media Technologies.

In 2015, she self-published her widely acclaimed Graphic Novel 'Sivappu Kal Mookuthi', along with its English edition titled 'Girl with a Red Nose Ring'.

In 2018, she wrote & directed Nila Nila Odi Vaa, a Tamil Vampire Web Series, produced by Viu India and Make Believe Productions.

In 2024, Inspector Rishi became a huge success as the most watched Tamil series on Prime Video. Produced by Make Believe Productions, this stars Naveen Chandra, Sunainaa, Srikrishna Dayal, Kanna Ravi, Malini Jeevarathnam and Kumaravel in pivotal roles.

Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. She is known for Vanakkam Chennai (2013), Kaali (2018) and Kadhalikka Neramillai (2025).

Lakshmy Ramakrishnan was born on 29 December 1970 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. She is a writer and actress, known for Yutham Sei (2011), Ammani (2016) and Nerungi Vaa Muthamidathe (2014). She is married to Ramakrishnan.

Madhumita Sundararaman is known for KD (A) Karuppudurai (2019), Kola Kolaya Mundhirika (2009) and Moone Moonu Varthai (2015). She has been married to Vijay Venkataramanan since 19 August 2007.

B.V. Nandini Reddy is known for Oh Baby (2019), Ala Modalaindi (2011) and Kalyana Vaibhogame (2016).

Born in the Seventies in Thiruvananthapuram, India, Revathy S. Varmha lived with her grandfather after her mother died, and studied at a boarding school in Chennai. She pursued a career at first in advertising, as a layout artist for a local agency, and accidentally became a film director when the one filming an ad for Rexona Soap abandoned the shoot.She developed a reputation for her cost effective work in Mumbai, for such companies as Cadbury, Parker Pens, Nakshatra Diamond, Santro Zip, Malabar Gold and Happy Jam.She has directed features more recently in different languages: Tamil, Sinhala, Telugu, Hindi, and her mother tongue Malayalam.

Roopa Iyer is known for Chandra (2013), The Cover Page (2010) and Colors (2017).

Sanjana Reddy is known for Karnam Malleswari Biopic and Raju Gadu (2018).

Sasikiran Narayana is known for Saheba subrahmanyam (2014), Newsense (2023) and Harikatha (2024).

Sesha Sindhu Rao is an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer who works primarily in Telugu language feature films and web series. Sindhu began her career assisting stalwart directors in the Telugu Film Industry - such as Krish Jagarlamudi and Sukumar - in screenwriting, direction, costumes and even cinematography and editing.

Sindhu made her directing debut with the coming of age film Choosi Choodangaane (2020) starring debutante Shiva Kandukuri and Varsha Bollamma. The film garnered praise for its strong characterization of the female lead and supporting cast, and new wave direction.

In 2021, Sindhu founded the production company - Gopi Talkies - and turned producer for her colleague - Padmavathi Malladi's - Gandhi Tatha Chettu (2025) which went on to win accolades all over the globe including the Best Film Award at the 30th Minsk International Film Festival and the Noida International Film Festival.

She has also written and directed an upcoming period drama - Kanyasulkam, premiering on SonyLiv in 2025 - featuring an ensemble cast of Anjali, Naresh, Murli Sharma and others, while also donning the writer's hat for an upcoming Telugu web series on Netflix.

Sripriya is known for Aval Appadithaan (1978), Drushyam (2014) and Malini 22 (2013). She is married to Raj Kumar. They have two children.

Suhasini Mani Ratnam is a multiple award-winning actress with her work spanning across several languages. She started her career as a camera assistant and then went on to become an actress appearing in many critically acclaimed films including Vanaprastham, Swathi Bandhana and Sindhu Bhairavi. Her performance in Sindhu Bhairavi earned her a National Award. She directed the Tamil feature film Indra in 1996. She is also an accomplished writer having penned the dialogues for Thiruda Thiruda, Iruvar and Raavanan among other films.

Sujana Rao is known for Gamanam (2021).

D. Suman Kittur was born in a small town in Mysore, where education was not important, there was no power supply, and she shared space on the family farm with animals.She later had to work to stay at her aunt's place.A mentor, Agni Shridar, changed her life and now she has directed several feature length films though she finds the energy and time required for her new job demanding.

Priya V. is known for Dil Se.. (1998), Anantham (2022) and Aadi Lakshmi Puraana (2019).