Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
- Focuses on sensitive issues
- Interesting storytelling
- Stories based on women in small town India
Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari is an Indian filmmaker and writer. After graduating, she worked for an advertising agency, Leo Burnett, for 15 years. She has won many awards from Cannes and the New York film festival. She quit Leo Burnett to pursue film-making. Tiwari directed her first film, Nil Battey Sannata, which was a critical and commercial success. She was praised for her direction and sensitivity on the subject matter. In 2017, she directed the romantic comedy, Bareilly Ki Barfi, which was also a huge success. She won the Filmfare Award for Best Director. In 2018, she directed, Panga, which focuses on the stereotypes on the comeback of a retired Kabaddi player. Panga also received many rave reviews.
Despite directing only a few films, each of Tiwari's film received commercial and critical success. Tiwari focuses on issues that is considered somewhat taboo in society. She focuses on the double standards between men and women and the stereotype of a retired sports player. Her stories are also based in the small towns of India. Tiwari is able to express bold messages while still staying true to the Indian culture.
"Iyer Tiwari creates an authentic world with a universal emotional core" - Udita Jhunjhunwala
"I think human behavior is such that it is all flawed. We are all flawed and no one is perfect. So that's what gives me the high. To see the flawed characters because then you have an audience who can relate to that. So yes the characters in my films are all going to be flawed" - Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Nil Battey Sannata
This is a 2015 Indian comedy drama film. The film focuses on a 10 year old year, Apeksha, who loses interest in her studies and believes she will be a maid like her mother. Her mother, Chanda, tries very hard to keep her daughter educated. This film was a critical and commerciall success. Not available on any streaming platforms yet.
Bareilly Ki Barfi
Bitti is a free-spirited girl who wants to live on her own terms. One day while running away from home, she finds a book that's about a girl who is exactly like her and searches for the author of the book. This film ran in theaters for almost 2 months! Available on Netflix
Panga
It is an Indian sports-drama film. It focuses on the main character, Jaya, who was a former Kabaddi player. She decides to return back to being a Kabaddi player at the age of 32. Kangana's role (Jaya) was highly praised. Not available on any streaming platforms yet
