Anjali Menon
Biography
Anjali Menon is an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer who primarily works in Malayalam cinema. Born in Kozhikode, Kerala, she grew up in Dubai. She studied at Providence Women's College in Kozhikode, earned a master's degree in Communication Studies from the University of Pune and later graduated from the London Film School with a specialisation in filmmaking.
She began her filmmaking career with the short film Black Nor White (2000), which received recognition at international film festivals. Her feature-film directorial debut, Manjadikuru (2008), won the FIPRESCI Award for Best Malayalam Film. She subsequently wrote the screenplay for Ustad Hotel (2012), which earned her the National Film Award for Best Dialogue.
Her major success came with Bangalore Days (2014), a popular Malayalam film about three cousins navigating relationships and life in Bangalore. She later directed Koode (2018) and Wonder Women (2022). She also founded the production company Little Films India and is a co-founder of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), which works towards gender equality in the Malayalam film industry.
Awards and Recognition
National Film Award for Best Dialogue for Ustad Hotel (2012).
Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay for Ustad Hotel.
Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay (Original) for Bangalore Days.
FIPRESCI Award for Best Malayalam Film for Manjadikuru.
Filmfare Award South for Best Director for Bangalore Days.
