'Bangalore Days'&nbsp;director Anjali Menon says whenever she tries to do something different in a film, there are people who question her but a director's gender does not matter if the final product is accepted.&nbsp; 
 
Anjali made her feature film debut in 2012 with 'Manjadikuru'&nbsp;and followed it up with the massively successful 'Bangalore Days'&nbsp;in 2014. 
&nbsp; 
When asked if a woman's inputs are often not taken seriously since the industry is run by men, Anjali told an agency, "That happens across the board until the box office rings. If you win the box office, there's no gender. In every film, when I try to do different things people wonder but why?'' 
 
"Earlier, they used to voice it, now they don't do it as much. Every time I do something different, I can see it on their faces. Until finally the results prove it right," she said.&nbsp; 
 
The director was speaking on the sidelines of JIO MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star.&nbsp; 
 
Anjali said it is important to have allies, like a producer and a core team who absolutely believe in a director.&nbsp; 
 
"It's difficult to come by until you grow that network. If I was a guy with a beard and a hat, it would be so much easier in so many different ways. But I am lucky to not have a beard and a hat.'' 
 
"I'm privileged to be a woman and I want that to show in my work as well. It's time we stop defining someone's work through their gender. It needs to show up in the work," she added.&nbsp; 
 
At the festival, the filmmaker is a part of the jury for Oxfam award, where the theme for this year's honour is 'Cinema Beyond Stereotypes.' 
 
Anjali says stereotypes can be used as a means to access people but one should use them smartly to make a larger point and not play to the gallery.&nbsp; 
 
"If I'm told you have to have a male protagonist and then you'll get this kind of budget, then how am I going to bring my sensibility to the table? My film 'Bangalore Days' was a result of that. Even within that, you can jump into the tropes and spin them and subvert the stereotypes,'' she said. 
 
"I love stereotypes. They are the easiest way to access an audience, get into their skin. But you should not leave them as they are. You have to get in there and spin it," she added.&nbsp; 
 
The films in the reckoning for this year's Oxfam Best Film on Gender Equality Award are dramas in various Indian languages, that make compelling social commentary on the current times.

'Bangalore Days' director Anjali Menon says whenever she tries to do something different in a film, there are people who question her but a director's gender does not matter if the final product is accepted.

'Bangalore Days' director Anjali Menon says whenever she tries to do something different in a film, there are people who question her but a director's gender does not matter if the final product is accepted. Anjali made her feature film debut in 2012 with 'Manjadikuru' and followed it up with the massively successful 'Bangalore Days' in 2014. When asked if a woman's inputs are often not taken seriously since the industry is run by men, Anjali told an agency, "That happens across the board until the box office rings. If you win the box office, there's no gender. In every film, when I try to do different things people wonder but why?'' "Earlier, they used to voice it, now they don't do it as much. Every time I do something different, I can see it on their faces. Until finally the results prove it right," she said. The director was speaking on the sidelines of JIO MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star. Anjali said it is important to have allies, like a producer and a core team who absolutely believe in a director. "It's difficult to come by until you grow that network. If I was a guy with a beard and a hat, it would be so much easier in so many different ways. But I am lucky to not have a beard and a hat.'' "I'm privileged to be a woman and I want that to show in my work as well. It's time we stop defining someone's work through their gender. It needs to show up in the work," she added. At the festival, the filmmaker is a part of the jury for Oxfam award, where the theme for this year's honour is 'Cinema Beyond Stereotypes.' Anjali says stereotypes can be used as a means to access people but one should use them smartly to make a larger point and not play to the gallery. "If I'm told you have to have a male protagonist and then you'll get this kind of budget, then how am I going to bring my sensibility to the table? My film 'Bangalore Days' was a result of that. Even within that, you can jump into the tropes and spin them and subvert the stereotypes,'' she said. "I love stereotypes. They are the easiest way to access an audience, get into their skin. But you should not leave them as they are. You have to get in there and spin it," she added. The films in the reckoning for this year's Oxfam Best Film on Gender Equality Award are dramas in various Indian languages, that make compelling social commentary on the current times.

If you win the box office, there's no gender: 'Bangalore Days' director Anjali Menon

Here is a good news for frenzy fans of Indian cinema. Indian cinema has been climbing ladders of success as well as is burgeoning with its stories representing chutnification of diverse notions, themes as well as languages to produce a masterpiece of wit and craftsmanship.&nbsp;

To recognise this diversification,&nbsp;Oxfam Best Film On Gender Equality Awards 2018 held annually at&nbsp;Jio Mami Mumbai film festival, has shortlisted many films from all across the centres of film industry.&nbsp;

As many as nine films have been included in this list such as 'Hamid', 'Imago' as well as 'Belakempa'.

These films deal with several themes including&nbsp;'gender inequality', 'relationship woes', 'fatal diseases that are still looked down as something unacceptable', and others that offer a unique and distinct flavour of creativity based on social stigma.&nbsp;

The jury members have to keep in mind that the theme of the year is ' Gender equality and social stigma', and thus have to make a deliberate and careful attempt in selecting a winner.

On the award ceremony, Oxfam CEO said,&nbsp;"We are thrilled that this year the number of shortlisted films have increased from four films last year to nine. This is a reflection of the changing times in cinema industry worldwide. Stories that uphold a mirror to socio-political realities in India and that defy stereotypes of caste, class and gender are being made, accepted and appreciated. Women in films are making space to be heard both on and off-screen. The award is to appreciate, celebrate and support stories and people in the industry challenging the status quo. The shortlisted films are in different Indian languages--- Kannada, Marathi, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Bengali and each film has an arresting narrative. It gives us great joy that last year's winner 'Village Rockstars' is this year India’s entry for the Oscars."

All nine&nbsp;stories that have been shortlisted bring home the idea of what ordeals an individual undergoes in a stereotypical society like ours where certain issues that actually need sympathy and care are unacceptable in our society.

'Hamid' is a story in Hindi that deals with a little boy who has somehow got God's number and tries to ring Him time and again to talk to his father, it is only in the end of the story that his call gets answered and two individuals unite. Thus, the theme oozes out feelings of nostalgia and sympathy amid&nbsp;viewers.

Meanwhile, the other Marathi genre, 'Imago', a Vikram Patil and Karan Chavan film, is another heart wrenching story of&nbsp; a teen girl, who suffers from leukoderma but suffers from grim crisis when she turns a victim of skin disease leaving her psychologically and physically ill.

'Jonaki' is another different story that sketches a story of a woman in her 80's who is in search of a true love, thereby&nbsp;lost in her own hay day memories when she enjoyed all the colours of love with her lover.

'Balekempa', 'Nathicharami', 'Light In The Room ( Ottamuri Velicham)', 'Sivaranjani And Two Other Women','Jaaon Kahan Bata Ae Dil', 'Soni' are other films that send shivers down your spine&nbsp;when watched by the audience.

The award ceremony will commence on November 1, 2018, which is also the last night of Jio Mami 20th Mumbai film&nbsp;festival with the Star.

For those who don't know, in 2017, Rima Das' Assamese film 'Village Rockstars' won the Oxfam Best Film on Gender Equality Award at MAMI and later bagged the National Award and is now India's official entry to the Oscars.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Here is a good news for frenzy fans of Indian cinema. Indian cinema has been climbing ladders of success as well as is burgeoning with its stories representing chutnification of diverse notions, themes as well as languages to produce a masterpiece of wit and craftsmanship.

Here is a good news for frenzy fans of Indian cinema. Indian cinema has been climbing ladders of success as well as is burgeoning with its stories representing chutnification of diverse notions, themes as well as languages to produce a masterpiece of wit and craftsmanship. To recognise this diversification, Oxfam Best Film On Gender Equality Awards 2018 held annually at Jio Mami Mumbai film festival, has shortlisted many films from all across the centres of film industry. As many as nine films have been included in this list such as 'Hamid', 'Imago' as well as 'Belakempa'. These films deal with several themes including 'gender inequality', 'relationship woes', 'fatal diseases that are still looked down as something unacceptable', and others that offer a unique and distinct flavour of creativity based on social stigma. The jury members have to keep in mind that the theme of the year is ' Gender equality and social stigma', and thus have to make a deliberate and careful attempt in selecting a winner. On the award ceremony, Oxfam CEO said, "We are thrilled that this year the number of shortlisted films have increased from four films last year to nine. This is a reflection of the changing times in cinema industry worldwide. Stories that uphold a mirror to socio-political realities in India and that defy stereotypes of caste, class and gender are being made, accepted and appreciated. Women in films are making space to be heard both on and off-screen. The award is to appreciate, celebrate and support stories and people in the industry challenging the status quo. The shortlisted films are in different Indian languages--- Kannada, Marathi, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Bengali and each film has an arresting narrative. It gives us great joy that last year's winner 'Village Rockstars' is this year India’s entry for the Oscars." All nine stories that have been shortlisted bring home the idea of what ordeals an individual undergoes in a stereotypical society like ours where certain issues that actually need sympathy and care are unacceptable in our society. 'Hamid' is a story in Hindi that deals with a little boy who has somehow got God's number and tries to ring Him time and again to talk to his father, it is only in the end of the story that his call gets answered and two individuals unite. Thus, the theme oozes out feelings of nostalgia and sympathy amid viewers. Meanwhile, the other Marathi genre, 'Imago', a Vikram Patil and Karan Chavan film, is another heart wrenching story of a teen girl, who suffers from leukoderma but suffers from grim crisis when she turns a victim of skin disease leaving her psychologically and physically ill. 'Jonaki' is another different story that sketches a story of a woman in her 80's who is in search of a true love, thereby lost in her own hay day memories when she enjoyed all the colours of love with her lover. 'Balekempa', 'Nathicharami', 'Light In The Room ( Ottamuri Velicham)', 'Sivaranjani And Two Other Women','Jaaon Kahan Bata Ae Dil', 'Soni' are other films that send shivers down your spine when watched by the audience. The award ceremony will commence on November 1, 2018, which is also the last night of Jio Mami 20th Mumbai film festival with the Star. For those who don't know, in 2017, Rima Das' Assamese film 'Village Rockstars' won the Oxfam Best Film on Gender Equality Award at MAMI and later bagged the National Award and is now India's official entry to the Oscars.

'Hamid', 'Imago', 'Balekempa' nominated for Oxfam Best Film On Gender Equality Award 2018

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If you win the box office, there's no gender: 'Bangalore Days' director Anjali Menon

'Hamid', 'Imago', 'Balekempa' nominated for Oxfam Best Film On Gender Equality Award 2018