Lady Captains of the Ship!

Telugu Film Industry is known for being a male dominated industry and directors are known as Captain of the Ship. But there are female directors in Telugu Cinema too. There are actresses who gained huge name, who have decided to direct as well and few others who started has assistants and became directors. Let’s list out them and see who all are they…

BhanumathiFirst lady to become a huge star and the first lady to direct in Telugu Cinema after silent era, is Bhanumathi. Even though there are actresses like Kannamba, Hrushyendramani, Kanchanamala, Sri Ranjani and Anjali Devi, her contemporaries, equally popular, her aura was completely different. Bhanumathi directed a film, Chandirani with herself as the main lead.

SavitriLegendary actress, Savitri, took the megaphone for films like Matru devatha, Vintha Samsaram, Chiranjeevi, etc. She proved herself as a good director but her fading fame as a lead actress and ill-health forced her to stop production, direction.

Vijaya NirmalaA lady director who could survive for more than two decades and direct big box office heroes in Indian Cinema is Vijaya Nirmala. She made 47 films and in most of them, her husband, Superstar Krishna acted as main lead. She started off her directorial career with Meena, which became a huge hit. She also directed ANR in Hemahemilu, with Krishna. She even got a place in Guinness Book of Records.

Jeevitha RajasekharJeevitha after a successful career as actress, turned into a director with Rajasekhar’s Seshu. After that she directed several movies of Rajasekhar but the most notable one of all is Evadaithe Nakenti.

Suchitra ChandraboseSuchitra started her career as a dance assistant and then turned into a choreographer. She married famous lyricist, Chandrabose and retired as a choreographer to direct, Pallaki lo Pellikuturu. She is a great admirer of K Raghavendra Rao, hence, she made a film that has KRR’s aesthetics and even asked him to creatively help her.

B.JayaB. Jaya became a director with Prema lo Pavani Kalyan and Chantigadu became a huge hit for her. She started off as a journalist and ran Super Hit magazine with her husband, B.A.Raju. She recently did a movie called, Vaishakam.

Sri PriyaSri Priya, a popular South Indian actress who acted in Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam films turned to direction with Malini 22 Palayamkottai, starring Nithya Menen. It released as Ghatana in Telugu, later. She then made her debut in Telugu with Venkatesh’s Drushyam, a remake of Malayalam original, Drishyam.

Nandhini ReddyNandhini Reddy started her career as an assistant director and she is continuing to make films. She debuted with Ala Modalayyindi starring Nani and Nithya Menen. She made films like Jabardasth, Kalyana Vaibhogame. She soon will start a movie with Vijay Devarakonda.

ChuniyaChuniya turned as a director with Yuva series on Maa Television. Later, she turned into a director with Padesave. The movie failed at the box office but she earned a good name.

Shashi KiranLate comedian MS Narayana’s daughter Shashi Kiran, turned into a director to make the dream of her father come true with Saheba Subramanyam. The movie got her some critical appreciation.

Sree RanjaniThe young lady director debuted with Sankranthi release, Rangula Ratnam. The movie starring Chitra and Raj Tharun did earn her some brownie points from being different from others.

ManjulaManjula Ghatamaneni, daughter of Superstar Krishna and elder sister of Mahesh Babu, became a director with the film, Manasuku Nacchindi. The movie earned name for her aesthetic sense and visual imagination.

Sanjana ReddySanjana Reddy entered film Industry as a journalist and worked as an assistant for Ram Gopal Verma on Rowdy. She is turning into a director with Raj Tharun’s Raju Gadu.