#Bingerewind: 18 directors of 2023 whose vision was the direction that was much needed!

#LetsKetchup: From massy to classy, we saw all sorts of content this year in theatres to OTT, and the directors whose vision made it all possible need to be shouted out, so here are the directors of 2023 who spoke their minds unabashedly! 

A vision or a direction is what makes storytelling utilizing the medium of cinema powerfully impactful or just simply casual. Hence, a director is a driving force for a film to realize its fullest potential, just like a music composer is to music or a chef is to food. Every piece or ingredient has to fall into place perfectly in the larger scheme of things so that the visual grammar of the film moves to deliver the impact of the story. Without a director, a film is nothing! So here are the directors of 2023 of both films and shows who, with their strength, intellect, vision, knowledge, and most of all passion, brought us those stories that changed the game and will stay with us for a long time! 

Also Read: Kho Gaye Hum Kahan review: This love letter to the generation of social media tries a little too hard to teach them a lesson

From directors who gave blockbusters to the ones who fought their war to bring us those gems of a story to the ones who made their debut so eclectically, here are the ones we would like to cheer and root for doing whatever they did in 2023! 

Atlee- Jawan 

Atlee delivered a mass film with a consciousness that draws from the powers of superstars, especially SRK, larger-than-life spectacle, and pumping music, but has a very emotional heart and impertinent message for everyone! 

Konkana Sen Sharma- 'The Mirror' in Lust Stories 2

A short film in an anthology that spoke so much more than what most feature films can do made Konkana Sen Sharma one of the only female directors in this entire history with a shining moment, and deservedly so! 

Vidhu Vinod Chopra- 12th Fail 

A film considered to be an underdog that rose to popularity by word of mouth, Vidhu Vinod Chopra as a veteran filmmaker made everyone realise the importance of films and stories which was much-needed! 

Karan Johar- Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani

Karan Johar brought back the rom-com family film era in the most Bollywood possible but with an upgrade curing everyone's blues of an aching heart that only desired some old-school Bollywoodness! 

Mani Ratnam- PS 2 

An epic saga that needed to be weaved in all its beauty, grandness, and loyalty to the story, Mani Ratnam proves that if your heart is in the right place, films based on beloved literature can be as loved as that literature and have the power to go even beyond! 

Devashish Makhija- Joram 

In this day and age of submission to power and following trends, Devashish Makhija proved that filmmaking is war, and he is all for fighting with films like this that present not only a reality but also a much-needed political perspective right now! 

Rahul V. Chittella- Gulmohar  

In this time of violence, masculinity, nationalism, and such themes seen all around, Rahul V. Chittela, a debut director, brought much-needed solace to the soul with an extremely emotional ride worthy of being called 'This Is Us' of India! 

Apoorv Singh Karki- Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai 

Another underdog courtroom drama based on a real-life issue that went on to become so popular that it had to have a limited release in theatres from OTT was the first time, Apoorv Singh Karki proved that there are so many ways one can talk about things! 

Pushan Kripalani- Goldfish

A gem of a film that explores the intricacies of a mother-daughter relationship that is frustratingly loving, when the daughter dealing with the ghosts of her past finds out about her mother's dementia, Pushan Kripalani knows how to paint an emotionally moving picture! 

Avinash Arun- Three of Us and School of Lies 

A director who knows how to reach and string those chords within you with his dark, haunting portrayals of cinematic masterpieces, Avinash Arun, with his two content this year, explores the lanes of childhood with new perspectives! 

Hansal Mehta- Scoop 

Just when there was a need for someone to talk about journalism and its present state, Hansal Mehta smartly but aptly stepped up to the task of talking about the importance of the fourth pillar of democracy in the most epic way of a biopic, mixing fact with fiction! 

Randeep Jha- Kohrra 

Right when you think that OTT is getting stuck in a pattern of telling crime thrillers one after the other, Randeep Jha with his team came up with a show that didn't just have its foot on the ground but also had the emotional bandwidth to tell a crime story telling you the real crime resides within! 

Sameer Saxena and Amit Golani- Kaala Paani 

A survival drama that no one expected to be so good that it would be the talk of the town everywhere proved that Sameer Saxena and Amit Golani know how to make even the most unique and new concept effectively popular! 

Vikramaditya Motwayne- Jubilee 

Vikramaditya Motwayne, a director who is like an encyclopedia of cinema, pays the perfect tribute to Indian Cinema of the 40s-50s while remembering very well that it is a fictional story being made in the 21st century! 

Raj and DK- Farzi and Guns and Gulaabs

Raj and DK are two people who know how to make pulpy, peppy, and absurd content with utmost sincerity so that it all becomes pan-Indian. They brought two of the most amazing shows of the year, both equally worthy of praise! 

Ruchika Oberoi and Reema Kagti- Dahaad 

A series that had the strength to explore gender and society while looking into the investigation thriller of a serial killer recognises the sensitivity of the female gaze and what it brings to the table with Ruchika Oberoi and Reema Kagti. 

Sumit Saxena- Kaalkoot 

Sumit Saxena proudly brings forth a series that looks into the depths of the issues of how deep-rooted the problem of patriarchy and its extending arm tropes of masculinity is in society through investigating a case of acid attack. 

Prashant Nair and Randeep Jha- Trial By Fire 

A fiction based on facts that truthfully tells its heartbreaking tale of justice is beautifully crafted by Prashant Nair and Randeep Jha whose vision is unique and important to bring forth this story! 

Do you think we missed out on someone? Let us know in the comments below!

This article is a part of our #LetsKetchup series that sums up the year that was from our perspective! Hope you enjoy reading this series this time of the year!

For more binge-centric content and reviews, follow us on @socialketchupbinge.