Esha Niyogi De, a senior lecturer at UCLA and a leading voice in South Asian film studies, dives into the vital yet overlooked roles of women in the cinema of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. She discusses how female filmmakers have challenged norms and shaped narratives through collaboration. Esha highlights the historical gaps in archival representation and the transformative impact of women's cinema over time. The conversation also touches on evolving gender dynamics, the mother genre's influence, and the effects of digital media on women's storytelling in film.