For more than a century, Indian cinema has reflected the aspirations and anxieties of the society that creates and consumes it. Yet one truth has remained stubbornly consistent: women have had to fight for visibility, recognition, and authority in the largely male-run industry. Their progress has not been straightforward. It has been shaped by resistance, negotiation, rebellion and persistence.

As the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) opens in Goa on November 20 with over 50 films helmed by women, we are not simply witnessing a celebratory moment. We are watching the outcome of a long struggle to claim the camera, the narrative, and the right to be more than on-screen muse or moral exemplar.

Early cracks in the wall

In the silent film era, even appearing on screen require

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