Director

Shonali Bose

Shonali Bose is one of Bollywood's most thoughtful and socially conscious directors, and she didn't even start making feature films until 2005—but what an impact she's made since then. Her debut, *Amu*, was a powerhouse biographical drama based on her own novel about the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi, and it immediately earned her a National Film Award for Best Feature Film in English. Since then, she's racked up serious accolades including a Sundance Mahindra Global Filmmaker Award and has established herself as a filmmaker who refuses to play it safe. While she took on assistant director duties for the 2012 war film *Chittagong*, it was really *Margarita with a Straw* (2015) and *The Sky Is Pink* (2019) that cemented her as a major force in Indian cinema—both critically and commercially resonant films that showcase her signature blend of heart and substance. What sets Shonali apart is her commitment to telling human stories that matter, often centered on marginalized voices and untold experiences. *Margarita with a Straw*, inspired by the life of her cousin and disability rights activist Malini Chib, is a beautiful testament to her approach—intimate, unflinching, and deeply empathetic. Her films don't shy away from complex social issues, and she brings a distinctly literary sensibility to her work as both a filmmaker and writer. *The Sky Is Pink*, her most commercially successful venture, proved that meaningful cinema can also find a mass audience, telling the love story of a couple navigating their daughter's terminal illness with remarkable tenderness and honesty. Beyond filmmaking, Shonali remains an active philanthropist, using her platform and resources to support various charitable causes.