‘Film-making is passion and hard work without any expectation’: Why women matter in films
The Hindu
Filmmaker Sudha Kongara discusses the need to portray woman sensitively in films, in her conversation with Chitra Mahesh, founder, Cancare Foundation, on day 2 of The Hindu Lit for Life Festival
“I don’t like them to be limp or unidimensional,” says filmmaker Sudha Kongara, about her on-screen women characters. Ms. Kongara was in conversation with Chitra Mahesh, founder of Cancare Foundation, at The Hindu Lit for Life’s virtual event on Saturday.
In the session titled ‘This is My Story’, Ms. Kongara spoke of her award-winning films like Soorarai Pottru, Irudhi Sutru, and her work in anthology films including Putham Pudhu Kaalai and Thangam that premiered on OTT. “Even in a male-centric film like Soorarai Pottru (inspired by the life of Captain GR Gopinath who founded the low-cost airline Air Deccan), the female character stands out. Gopinath’s wife Bhargavi herself is an example of strong woman. She ensured that there was food on the table till her husband’s dream venture took off. It angers me when women are shown as flitting butterflies. They have made such huge contributions to the society and you don’t want to show that?”