Cool Ladies Club: A Documentary Captured by Women from Mumbai’s Margins
Cool Ladies Club is directed by 10 – The documentary’s opening sequence shows a group of women huddled around a smartphone, learning to operate its camera as tools for storytelling. Their instructor, Shilpi Gulati, guides them through the essentials of filmmaking: framing, lighting, and maintaining steady shots. One of the participants, Rehana Shaikh, hesitates and asks, “Where is the record button?” Her question underscores the initial inexperience of the ten women who would go on to co-direct the film. Yet, their lack of expertise didn’t deter them from turning their lives into a narrative of resilience and creativity.
From Slums to Screens: A Collaborative Vision
Mast Mahila Mandali, which translates to “Cool Ladies Club,” is more than just a title. It represents the collective spirit of its creators—10 working-class women from Mumbai’s slums who, through this project, reclaimed their voices. The film’s premiere in the spring of 2026 at the iconic, art-deco Regal Theater was a landmark event, drawing an audience of 1,200 people, including neighbors, family members, and media professionals. This gathering was not just a celebration of the film but a testament to the power of grassroots storytelling.
The idea for the film began in 2024 when Supriya Jan, founder of CORO India, a nonprofit organization focused on empowering marginalized women, envisioned a project centered on the Right to Pee campaign. This initiative aimed to advocate for accessible, clean, and safe public toilets in impoverished neighborhoods. Jan wanted the women themselves to tell their stories, rather than relying on external filmmakers. She reached out to Shilpi Gulati, an instructor at the School of Media and Cultural Studies at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, to bring this vision to life. Gulati, initially skeptical, saw the potential in the group’s unfiltered energy and began designing a curriculum tailored to their needs.
The Art of Being ‘Cool’: A Radical Act of Self-Expression
As the women honed their skills, the documentary’s scope shifted from a narrow focus on sanitation to a broader exploration of their everyday lives. The group, once confined to discussing toilets and community work, began to see themselves as storytellers. Gulati describes the process as “a wild experiment,” noting how she structured weekly lessons to teach them the fundamentals of filmmaking. Despite limited resources—only five smartphones were available—they worked in pairs, sharing the burden of equipment and the thrill of creation.
Their journey was not without challenges. For months, they balanced their domestic duties with the project, often filming in the early mornings or late evenings. Rehana Shaikh, a home caregiver and one of the co-directors, found herself between jobs during the filming period. She turned to tailoring as a way to earn income, crafting a vibrant yellow, silver, and white sharara set with tiny mirrors embedded in its fabric. The act of creating something beautiful from humble materials mirrored the women’s determination to present their lives with dignity.
“For me, a ‘cool lady’ is someone who is bindaas—relaxed, fearless, and follows her heart,” says Rehana Shaikh, 32. Her words capture the essence of the film, which celebrates the unapologetic joy and strength of women often overlooked in mainstream narratives.
Similarly, Darshana Mayekar, a toilet operator and leader in slum sanitation programs, found her experience with the camera rekindling a sense of youth. “For 20 years, I’ve been focused on raising a family and working. While making the film, I was able to live a little for myself. I’m 50, but I feel 20,” she shares. This sentiment reflects the film’s core message: that even in the most demanding roles, moments of personal fulfillment and creativity are possible.
Stories Beyond the Frame: Intimacy and Resistance
As the project evolved, the women’s camaraderie deepened, and their narratives became richer. They began to capture not only their professional lives but also the intimate details of their personal worlds. One memorable scene features Sheetal Navle, a community health worker, documenting Rehana Shaikh’s daily routine. In a quiet moment, Sheetal films Shaikh ascending narrow stairs in her two-story home to reach the kitchenette, where she prepares dinner for her husband and children. The footage, simple yet profound, reveals the invisible labor of women who often go unnoticed.
Gulati emphasizes that the documentary’s driving theme is the radical act of resistance embedded in everyday joy. “Having fun is not frivolous. That being mast [carefree] and claiming joy is cool,” she explains. The film challenges stereotypes that portray working-class women as passive or helpless, showcasing instead their agency, humor, and creativity. It’s a celebration of small victories—a woman laughing in a moment of relief, a group of friends sharing stories over tea, or a shared dance in a cramped living space.
The final product, a 70-minute documentary, took six months to film and a year-and-a-half to edit. The women’s collaborative process, marked by both struggle and triumph, is reflected in the film’s structure. Each scene is a testament to their dedication, from capturing the rhythm of monsoon rains to interviewing one another about their pasts and present selves. The film’s title, coined by Gulati during a meeting with the group, resonated deeply with them. It symbolized their collective defiance against societal expectations and their unyielding belief in their own capacity to shape their stories.
Empowerment Through Representation
For Vaishali Mane, a community worker advocating for women’s property rights, the project was a turning point. “Being in front of the camera gave me the confidence to speak up—not just for myself, but for others who have been silenced,” she says. The film’s success lies in its ability to transform the women’s lived experiences into a universal narrative, one that highlights the intersection of labor, identity, and empowerment.
The documentary’s release has sparked conversations about the role of media in amplifying marginalized voices. By giving these women the tools to tell their own stories, the project challenges the traditional hierarchy of filmmaking. It’s a reminder that creativity and self-expression are not reserved for the privileged few but are accessible to all, regardless of background. As the film screens in Mumbai and beyond, it continues to inspire, proving that the power to create lies not in resources, but in the courage to share one’s truth.
For those interested in exploring stories of life in our rapidly changing world, the Global Health newsletter offers insights into the intersections of culture, community, and innovation. The “Cool Ladies Club” is a compelling example of how such narratives can reshape perceptions and ignite hope.
