Naatu Naatu faces competition from Applause, a song set in Mumbai

In 2020, Yadav was approached by We Do It Together, a non-profit film production company, to be part of the anthology that focuses on stories of women to create a larger dialogue. She chose to adapt on screen the real-life encounter Krupa Ge, her co-writer for Sharing A Ride, had. This 18-minute short explores a privileged woman professional’s conflict and realisation of her own prejudice after she is forced to share an auto ride with a transgender one night. “Taking inspiration from Kerala which has recruited transgenders in government jobs, we too created the character of a transgender traffic cop in the film, which set in Mumbai. Once Jacqueline was onboard, we wanted a real trans person to join the cast. Anjali, who is a successful model, was perfect for the role.”

A still from Sharing a Ride, directed by Leena Yadav who had helmed Parched (2015) and web-series House of Secrets (2021).

While other films of the anthology deal with domestic violence, being a single parent, choosing to childfree and other gender-related subjects, Yadav’s film is about empathy and forgiveness. “My film talks about the deep-rooted conditioning and bias that most people have. Jacqueline’s character becomes aware of her own biases and faces her suppressed desires after her unexpected encounter with Anjali.” Lama, who is originally from a village in Nepal, moved to Mumbai to pursue modelling and recently made her New York ramp debut.

The film, which premiered at the Taormina Film Festival in 2022 and won the TFF Excellence Award there, has been acquired by Samuel Goldwyn Films. Prominent international women personalities such as Taraji P Henson, Jennifer Hudson, Pauletta Washington, Cara Delevingne, Catherine Hardwicke, Margherita Buy, Marcia Gay Harden, Eva Longoria, Leonor Varela, Jacqueline Fernandez, Anne Watanabe and Mipo O have worked on the films, both behind and in front of the camera.

In Sharing a Ride, actors Anjali Lama and Jacqueline Fernandez dance on a Mumbai street to the song Applause.

Chiara Tilesi, founder of We Do It Together and co-producer of the film, says: “Diane, through this beautiful and important song ‘Applause’, has given a voice to millions of women around the world, creating a true anthem that could only have the beautiful and powerful voice of Sofia. The song and film are starting a global movement where women and men are united in celebrating women. Talking about working with Yadav, she described it as “an incredible experience”. Tilesi Said: “Leena’s vision is extraordinary. Her art shows her heart.”

The journey of the film, Tell it like a Woman’, started nearly six years ago when Tilesi thought of making a movie “directed by some of the top female directors with top actresses telling stories to empower women”. Thrilled over ‘Applause’ bagging an Oscar nomination, she says: “It has been a long journey and at times very difficult, but we never gave up because we believed in the beauty, power and message of the film…We created a movement and ‘we did it together’. This is just the beginning and we will produce more movies by women about women for everyone.”

Talking about the buzz that Naatu Naatu has created, Yadav says, “I’m so happy that it is getting such a great response. Indian music is so rich and orchestration is amazing. I hope Indian music continues to grab attention every year. Cinema has to go beyond the language and geographical barrier.”