#BeyondTheLens: Why ‘women telling women stories’ is more vital now more than ever!

This feature dwells on the significance of the female gaze in storytelling, highlighting its importance as society evolves and gender dynamics shift. 

Women telling women stories has gained prominence in recent years, becoming more than just a phrase It’s a call that has never been louder or more essential than it is today for a much-needed shift in how stories are told and who gets to tell them. As gender dynamics evolve and societal expectations shift, the importance of having women behind the camera as well as in front of it and in writer’s rooms is becoming increasingly clear. But why now? Why does this movement feel more pressing in this moment than just an inevitable outcome?

Take the recent controversy surrounding Mrs., which stirred a social media uproar. It revealed a rising sense of insecurity among men who feel marginalized and subjugated. These feelings find validation in films like Animal, which celebrate aggressive masculinity, making some men feel seen or at least heard. On the other hand, if we look at it from the same angle then films like Laapataa Ladies serve a similar purpose for women, whose stories have long been sidelined or misrepresented to the point of invisibility. Directed by Kiran Rao, Laapataa Ladies tells a simple story of womanhood and female agency, becoming a soulful embrace for women everywhere. Rather than sidelining men, Rao’s female gaze celebrates a softer, more nuanced masculinity, one rooted in kindness rather than aggression. Which is why the film’s popularity surpassing Animal on OTT platforms felt like a victory for the right kind of storytelling—one that focuses on both genders without reducing one to amplify the other.

“The female gaze brings lived experiences to the forefront, shaping characters with depth, flaws, and strength—making them feel more real and human,” says Arati Kadav, writer-director of Mrs.. The film, an adaptation of The Great Indian Kitchen, explores how even in urban settings, patriarchy remains entrenched, though it is often more hidden. “A female lens adds layers of nuance, making the story more truthful and relatable. It allows stories to travel further and connect more deeply with audiences."

For far too long, women’s stories have either been absent from mainstream narratives or filtered through a male perspective, often reducing or oversimplifying their experiences. This resulted in a lack of authenticity, depth, and nuance in portraying female lives—failing to capture the true essence of women’s lived realities. The growing shift in storytelling might feel like an act of rebellion, but it’s more than that. It’s about reclaiming space that has been denied for generations.“The stories we tell shape the culture we grow up in,” says Shuchi Talati, writer-director of Girls Will Be Girls, a film that won the John Cassavetes Award at the 2025 Independent Spirit Awards, making history. “For so long, that culture has been skewed because women, queer people, and other marginalized groups haven’t had equal access to tell their stories. The culture is incomplete without these narratives.” Talati’s film challenges dominant ideas of Indian women, gender, and sexuality, offering a more inclusive perspective.

But what makes this movement so urgent today isn’t just the desire for representation but the growing awareness of the imbalance in how stories have historically been told. Women’s perspectives have been marginalized for so long that reclaiming them now feels like a vital act of cultural correction. In an era where gender issues are at the forefront of public discourse, stories told by women offer a much-needed counterbalance to the historically dominant male gaze. As Rangita Pritish Nandy, creator of Ziddi Girls, puts it, “Women telling women stories has always been important, but only recently have women been given the opportunity to write, direct, and produce these stories. The female gaze is key—it brings authenticity, agency, and nuance to these stories, challenging the traditional patriarchal lens through which women characters have been historically portrayed.”

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India’s diverse audience, spanning genders, regions, languages, and cultures, has long been underserved by traditional media. “We aim to ensure that every show or movie on Prime Video is someone’s favorite story,” says Stuti Ramachandra, Director & Head of Production and Post, International Originals, Prime Video, India. “Female-forward stories like Dahaad, Ziddi Girls, Four More Shots Please!, and Girls Will Be Girls reflect this diversity, putting women at the center in a way traditional media often didn’t.”

But does this mean that women telling women’s stories is all about issue raising propaganda? Not necessarily. Female-driven narratives don’t need to be confined to social messages or referred to as “feminist propaganda”. As Talati notes, “I consider my films feminist, but I’m not trying to make ‘message’ films. I want viewers to connect deeply with my characters, to feel and breathe with them. There’s something political and empowering about showing women’s experiences authentically.” For women, the journey of Mira and Anita in Girls Will Be Girls makes them feel seen in a special way, by giving voice to things they have felt but may never have talked about—for example, the undercurrent of rivalry with their mothers. And for men, watching the film taught them empathy and made them reflect on the experience of their mothers and other women in their life in a way no essay could. “This is what I want my films to do! I want them to leave a residue or perfume and make people reflect,” adds Shuchi.

Now, as more women step into roles as directors, writers, and producers, we are finally witnessing narratives that truly capture the complexity, diversity, and richness of female experiences in ways that resonate deeply with audiences. And female-forward storytelling doesn’t exclude men. Stuti explains, “Our series and films attract audiences across genders. Even in stories not led by women, we ensure female characters have well-rounded arcs and agency. Take The Family Man Season 2, where a female antagonist stands toe-to-toe with a male protagonist. Shows like Jubilee and Suzhal – The Vortex feature women who shape their destinies, challenging unidimensional portrayals of the past.” The female gaze humanizes women, making them relatable and complete characters, rather than props in male-driven narratives.

However, the challenge now is to ensure that more women are given the opportunity to tell their stories. “Each woman who enters the industry opens a door for others,” says Rangita, a producer and showrunner of shows like Four More Shots Please . “Encouraging, facilitating, and mentoring women in cinema is crucial. We need to reach a point where women in cinema become the norm, not the exception.” When we asked Prime Video how they foster more female voices, Stuti said that at Prime Video, diversity and inclusion go beyond numbers. “We’re committed to telling richer, more authentic stories by fostering an industry where everyone has an equal voice. We actively encourage our partners to hire more women in writing and production—even in entry-level roles. Training more women at the grassroots level is essential if we want to see more women in leadership positions.”.

Women telling women’s stories is a vital shift, bringing authenticity, empowerment, and long-silenced voices to the forefront. These stories challenge outdated norms, inspire empathy, and offer a richer human experience. Supporting female voices behind the scenes ensures this storytelling evolution continues and becomes imperative.

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