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Anjali Menon

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Anjali Menon
Anjali at an event in 2016
Born
Kozhikode, Kerala, India[1]
Alma materProvidence Women's College
Pune University
London Film School
OccupationFilm director Screenwriter
Years active2009–present
SpouseVinod Menon
Parent(s)T. Madhavan Nair
Sarada Nair
Websiteanjalimenon.in

Anjali Menon is an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema.[2] She is known for directing and writing films such as Manjadikuru, Kerala Cafe (segment: Happy Journey), Ustad Hotel, Bangalore Days and Koode.[3] Her work has received recognition at international, national and state-level film awards.[4]

Menon is the founder of Little Films, a production company based in Mumbai and Kerala that produces fiction and non-fiction works.[5] She is also a co-founder of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), an organisation that advocates gender equality and greater representation of women in the Malayalam film industry.[6][7] Menon serves on the board of the Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image (MAMI).[8]

Early life and education

[edit]

Anjali Menon was born in Kozhikode to T. Madhavan Nair and Sarada Nair. She spent her childhood in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.[9]

Menon graduated from the London Film School in 2003, receiving postgraduate qualifications with honours in film directing, film producing and film editing. Prior to her film studies, she earned a bachelor's degree from Providence Women's College, Kozhikode, and a master's degree in Communication Studies from the University of Pune. Menon has also received training in Indian classical dance and music.[10][11][12]

Career

[edit]

2000–2009

[edit]
Anjali Menon (second from left) in a Press conference at the 43rd International Film Festival of India, 2012.

Anjali Menon began her career by editing and assisting producers in the production of educational documentaries. She subsequently worked as an event photographer and contributed feature articles to various journals. Her graduation film, Black Nor White, was produced by Asif Kapadia at the London Film School and starred Rez Kempton and Archie Panjabi.[13] The film premiered at the Palm Springs International Film Festival and received the British Film Institute ImagineAsia Award.[14][15]

Menon's feature film directorial debut, Manjadikuru, is a coming-of-age drama set in the early 1980s. The film's post-production was delayed for several years owing to issues involving the producer.[16] Anjali Menon's production company, Little Films India, subsequently took over the project, completed the film, and released it in 2012.[17]

Manjadikuru received positive critical reviews upon release, although its theatrical run was limited. It received the FIPRESCI Award for Best Malayalam Film and the Hassankutty Award at the International Film Festival of Kerala.[18] Under its international title, Lucky Red Seeds, the film won several awards at the South Asian International Film Festival, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Upcoming Talent.[19] Menon also received the Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay for her screenplay.[17]

When the production of Manjadikuru was delayed, Anjali Menon worked on Kerala Cafe (2009), a Malayalam anthology film produced by Ranjith and Capitol Theatre.[20] Anjali Menon directed the segment Happy Journey, a humorous story that explores gender relations.[21] Starring Jagathy Sreekumar and Nithya Menen, the segment was screened at the Abu Dhabi International Film Festival and received the NETPAC Award at the International Film Festival of Kerala in 2009.[22]

The segment received positive critical attention and contributed to Menon's emergence as a filmmaker in the Malayalam film industry.[23]

2012–2025

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Anjali Menon wrote the story, screenplay and dialogues for Ustad Hotel (2012), directed by Anwar Rasheed. The film is a drama that follows the relationship between a young non-resident Indian and his grandfather, who runs a seaside restaurant. The film received positive critical reception and was commercially successful.[24]

At the 60th National Film Awards, Menon received the National Film Award for Best Screenplay for the film's screenplay and dialogues, while Ustad Hotel won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.[25] Menon also received Best Writer awards at the Asianet Film Awards and the Vanitha Film Awards.[26]

In 2014, Anjali Menon wrote and directed Bangalore Days, a comedy-drama that follows the lives of three Malayali cousins after they move to Bengaluru. The film was both a critical and commercial success.[27] Its ensemble cast included Dulquer Salmaan, Nivin Pauly, Nazriya Nazim, Fahadh Faasil, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Nithya Menen, Isha Talwar and Kalpana. It was the first film produced by Anwar Rasheed Entertainment in association with Weekend Blockbusters.

Upon its release, Bangalore Days emerged as one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of its time and received widespread attention from audiences beyond Kerala.[28] Menon received the Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay for her work on the film, and was also honoured at the Filmfare Awards South and the Asianet Film Awards.[29]

Menon wrote, directed and co-produced Koode (2018), a drama that explores themes of loss, family relationships and reconciliation. The film also addresses issues including migrant labour and child sexual abuse. It stars Prithviraj Sukumaran, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Nazriya Nazim and Ranjith. The film received positive reviews from critics, with particular attention given to its performances and direction.[30]

Koode is an adaptation of the Marathi film Happy Journey by Sachin Kundalkar, although Menon's version incorporates several changes and additional narrative elements.[31]

Anjali Menon's first direct-to-streaming feature film was in 2022 with Wonder Women, which she wrote and directed in English. The film is a slice-of-life drama that follows the prenatal experiences of six women who meet through a prenatal class. It was released on SonyLIV and produced by RSVP Movies and Flying Unicorn Entertainment.[32][33]

The cast includes Nadhiya, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Nithya Menen, Amruta Subhash, Padmapriya Janakiraman, Sayanora Philip and Archana Padmini.[34]

In 2025, Anjali Menon directed Backstage, a short film segment in the anthology Yuva Sapnon Ka Safar, which was released on Waves OTT. The film stars Rima Kallingal and Padmapriya Janakiraman, and is centred on female friendship within the world of Bharatanatyam. The film received positive reviews from critics and audiences.[35]

Other works

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Menon has delivered talks on subjects including filmmaking, community development, gender issues, entrepreneurship and parenting at institutions and events such as TED, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), TiE Global, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) and IGCE.[36][37][38]

In 2017, Anjali Menon co-founded Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), with Beena Paul, Rima Kallingal, Manju Warrier, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Geetu Mohandas, Vidhu Vincent, Remya Nambeesan, Deedi Damodaran and others.[39]

She has served as a jury member for the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), the India Film Project (IFP), Filmfare Awards and the Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image (MAMI), Menon serves on the Board of Trustees of MAMI.[40][41]

Menon has also been involved in initiatives related to cultural documentation, including recording the work of cultural performers and collecting folklore.[42] In addition to filmmaking, she has published short stories, screenplays and articles, and has maintained a personal blog.[43]

Themes and influences

[edit]

Anjali Menon's movies have depicted themes of family, migrant experience, gender and cross-cultural interactions. She has mentioned Mira Nair, Padmarajan, Krzysztof Kieslowski, Robert Altman, Gulzar, and Marion Hansel as her inspirations, in pursuing film-making.[44][45][46][47]

She portrays stories of non-resident Indians in her work and referred to her reverse migrant identity and hybrid sensibility in her work as an advantage.[48] Anjali Menon is vocal about the need for gender equality in the workplace[49] and sensitivity in on-screen portrayals.[50]

Personal life

[edit]

Menon lives between India and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Her husband is Vinod Menon[51][52]

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Director Screenwriter Notes
2000 Black Nor White Yes Yes Short film
2009 Kerala Cafe Yes Yes Happy Journey segment[53]
2012 Manjadikuru Yes Yes [54]
Ustad Hotel No Yes [55]
2014 Bangalore Days Yes Yes [56]
2018 Koode Yes Yes [57]
2022 Wonder Women Yes Yes English film, Direct OTT release on Sony LIV.[58]
2025 Backstage Yes Yes English short film
Part of Anthology series Yuva Sapno Ka Safar[59]

Awards

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Award Year Film
BFI's Imagine Asia award for Best short film - silver Black Nor White
World Premiere at Palm Springs International Film Festival
Hassankutty Award for Best Debut Director[60][61] 2008 Manjadikuru
FIPRESCI Prize for Best Malayalam Film[62][63]
60th National Film Awards for Best Dialogues[64] 2012 Ustad Hotel
Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay[65]
Asianet Film Awards - Best Screenplay[66] 2013
Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay (Original) 2014 Bangalore Days
Filmfare Awards South - Best Director[67] 2015
Asianet Film Awards - Best Director and Best Popular Film[68]
Vanitha Film Awards - Best Director and Best Popular Film[69]
SIIMA Film Awards - Best Director and Best Film[70]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Anjali Menon's 'Bangalore Days' creates history". Firstpost. 9 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  2. ↑ Aravind, Indulekha (14 July 2018). "What makes 'Bangalore Days' director Anjali Menon a rarity in Indian cinema". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  3. ↑ Janardhanan, Arun (23 June 2012). "'Manjadikuru' girl lives a sad life off the screen too". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  4. ↑ Harikrishnan, Charmy (21 October 2018). "How women film-makers like Meghna Gulzar, Rima Das, Anjali Menon & Nandita Das are changing the face of Indian cinema". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 4 September 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  5. ↑ "Little Films India". Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  6. ↑ Praveen, S. r (25 June 2018). "Women in Cinema Collective condemns AMMA's decision to reinstate actor Dileep". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  7. ↑ "Parvathy Menon, Manju Warrier, Bhavana and others form Women in Cinema Collective". The Indian Express. The Indian Express. 4 June 2017. Archived from the original on 18 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  8. ↑ "Mumbai Academy of Moving Image - Trustees Site". www.mumbaifilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  9. ↑ "Smartdriveonline.in". Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  10. ↑ Mathews, Anna (26 October 2020). "Anjali Menon's bharatanatyam photos are a real Vijayadashami treat". Times of India. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  11. ↑ "About AM". Anjali Menon. 26 November 2011. Archived from the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  12. ↑ "Cut to Anjali". The Hindu. 12 September 2009. Archived from the original on 23 September 2009. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
  13. ↑ "British Council Film: Black Nor White". film.britishcouncil.org. Archived from the original on 27 April 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  14. ↑ "Black Nor White (2002)". www2.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  15. ↑ "Black Nor White website". Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  16. ↑ Kamath, Sudhish (4 July 2016). "A statement with simplicity". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  17. 1 2 "Lucky Red Seeds : A film by Anjali Menon". Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  18. ↑ Fujiwara, Chris. ""Lucky Red Seeds": The Double Look By Chris Fujiwara". fipresci The international federation of film critics. Archived from the original on 15 February 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  19. ↑ Chang, Dustin (30 October 2009). "SAIFF 2009: Manjadikuru/Lucky Little Seeds". Dustinchang.com. Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  20. ↑ "Kerala Cafe". Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  21. ↑ "Preparing to Improvise Anjali Menon in conversation with Smriti Kiran". Mumbai Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2 December 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  22. ↑ "Kerala Cafe to premiere at Abu Dhabi International Film Fest". Deccan Herald. 9 October 2009. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  23. ↑ Ravindranath, Sarita. "Anjali Menon's Happy Journey". Sify.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  24. ↑ "Dulquer Salman is back". Rediff. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
  25. ↑ "60th National Film Awards Announced" (PDF) (Press release). Press Information Bureau (PIB), India. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  26. ↑ "Malayalam films strike gold at the National Awards". Rediff. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
  27. ↑ "Bangalore Days: A film needn't be stupid to be a blockbuster". Sify.com. Archived from the original on 5 July 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  28. ↑ Pillai, Sreedhar (9 June 2014). "Anjali Menon's 'Bangalore Days' creates history". The First Post. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  29. ↑ Mehrotra, Suchin (8 June 2019). "Revisiting Bangalore Days With Anjali Menon". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  30. ↑ Anirudh (14 July 2018). "Good Touch vs Bad Touch – Anjali Menon's Charm!". BehindWoods. Archived from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  31. ↑ Rajendran, Soumya (15 July 2020). "Revisiting 'Koode', the many layers in Anjali Menon's moving film". The News Minute. Archived from the original on 4 July 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  32. ↑ Anand, Shilpa Nair (18 November 2022). "'Wonder Women' movie review: Anjali Menon charts a heartwarming story of sisterhood". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 January 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  33. ↑ "Wonder Women Review: Strikingly Crafted and Disarmingly Simple". Archived from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  34. ↑ "Wonder Women review: Parvathy, Nithya Menen's film is a heartwarming drama about pregnancy and celebrating sisterhood". 18 November 2022. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  35. ↑ "Anthology movie 'Yuva Sapno Ka Safar' to release on April 11 on Waves OTT". Firstpost. 6 April 2025. Archived from the original on 23 July 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
  36. ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Are We Perpetuating Bias In Our Society | Anjali Menon | TEDxFCRIT". YouTube. 25 June 2019.
  37. ↑ "TISS ODCL on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 27 April 2022.[user-generated source]
  38. ↑ "TGS2020 - Meet the Top Speakers & Entrepreneurs of the World". tgs2020.org. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020.
  39. ↑ archive, From our online (4 February 2018). "Kerala: After WCC, yet another organisation of women in Malayalam cinema comes into force". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
  40. ↑ "Sopanam Institute to organize Kavalam Mohtsavam from Sunday". Times of India. 20 June 2017. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  41. ↑ "Mumbai Academy of Moving Image - Trustees Site". Archived from the original on 20 January 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  42. ↑ "Lore Trails – Kerala Stories". Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  43. ↑ "A Monsoon Feast". Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  44. ↑ Joshi, Namrata (13 May 2020). "'Every time I watch it, I become a member of the family': Filmmaker Anjali Menon on 'Monsoon Wedding'". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 7 September 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  45. ↑ "Anjali Menon's Happy Journey". Sify.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  46. ↑ Kapoor, Aekta (7 September 2018). "Anjali Menon on Sensitivity in Cinema and Why a Women's Collective Is the Need of the Hour". CNBC TV 18. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  47. ↑ "Anjali Menon on Sensitivity in Cinema and Why a Women's Collective Is the Need of the Hour". CNBC TV 18. 25 December 2020. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  48. ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "I Have Never Strived To Be 101% "Malayali" | Anjali Menon". YouTube. 10 July 2018.
  49. ↑ Dileep, Shruthi (25 December 2020). "Our Culture Has Normalized Perpetrators Abusing Their Power': In Conversation With Anjali Menon". CNBC TV 18. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  50. ↑ Paul, Cithara (19 October 2018). "Scene change". The Week. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  51. ↑ Dutta, Nandita (25 July 2019). "How Anjali Menon went from successful writer to director of one of Malayalam cinema's biggest hits". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  52. ↑ "Marriage should not stop dreams: Anjali Menon". The Times of India. 24 May 2014. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
  53. ↑ "Review: Kerala Cafe". Sify. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016.
  54. ↑ "Seeds of a success story". The Hindu. 26 December 2008.
  55. ↑ Nagarajan, Saraswathy (21 June 2012). "Beachside hotel". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  56. ↑ "Anjali Menon's movie is Bangalore Days". The Times of India. 24 January 2014. Archived from the original on 6 September 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  57. ↑ "Anjali Menon's movie is Koode". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  58. ↑ "Expect the unexpected', says Nithya Menen as actors break suspense on pregnancy post..." Archived from the original on 30 January 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  59. ↑ "Backstage review: Anjali Menon's film is a gentle take on the fragilities of friendship". The News Minute. 25 April 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  60. ↑ "IFFK 2008". Iffk.keralafilm.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  61. ↑ "Parque Via wins best film award". The Hindu. 20 December 2008. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  62. ↑ "Awards - Festival Awards 2008". Fipresci. Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  63. ↑ "Festival Reports - Kerala 2008 - "Lucky Red Seeds"". Fipresci. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  64. ↑ "National Film Award 2012" (PDF). India Government. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 April 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  65. ↑ "Kerala State Awards 2014: The complete list". OnManorama. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  66. ↑ "Folk artist Raghu Dixit to compose songs for Anjali Menon's next flick". thenewsminute.com. 17 January 2018. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  67. ↑ "Filmfare Awards South". Archived from the original on 29 January 2016.
  68. ↑ "Asianet Film Awards". International Business Times. 12 January 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  69. ↑ "Vanitha Film Awards 2015". Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  70. ↑ "SIIMA awards 2015". Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
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