Sashi Vantipalli

Naari: The Women (2025), directed by Sashi Vantipalli, doesn’t really tiptoe around its themes. The film plunges right into the lives of four women, each with their own mess of dreams, regrets, and fire—sometimes literally, considering the chaos that unfolds. You’ve got Maya, who’s basically the backbone of her family but never gets credit for anything, and then there’s Tara, who’s got a secret that could implode her conservative world if it ever slips out. It’s not all heavy, though—swear, there are moments that’ll make you snort-laugh, mostly thanks to Reema, who’s allergic to sugarcoating life. The last of the four, Latha, kind of sneaks up on you: quiet at first, but by the end, she’s the one you just can’t stop thinking about. What’s wild is how their stories criss-cross in ways you’d never expect. One minute they’re strangers, next thing you know, they’ve got each other’s backs against a society that’s all about pushing women down and then blaming them when they trip. Vantipalli’s direction doesn’t go easy on anyone, but there’s a warmth here too—a sort of hope that’s stubborn as hell. The movie doesn’t wrap things up in a neat little bow, either. Life’s messy, and Naari gets that. It’s loud, sometimes ugly, but real. There’s heartbreak, sure, but also this rebellious joy in watching these women refuse to be boxed in. It’s a film that sticks with you, even after the credits roll.