Hindi
IIFA Awards in Colombo from 3 to 5 June
MUMBAI: International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards will be held in Sri Lanka this year.
The three-day event will be held from 3 to 5 June in Colombo.
Sri Lanka is set to host the three-day International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) event from 3 to 5 June in Colombo.
The awards, first staged in 2000, are held outside India every year in an effort to increase the international profile of Bollywood films.
IIFA brand ambassador Amitabh Bachchan hopes the decision to bring the event to Colombo – that comes after the end of the island‘s long civil war last year — would encourage collaboration.
“This is a very rare and wonderful opportunity for Sri Lanka. Thanks to the prevailing peace, Sri Lanka has received international recognition,” said Duleep Mudadeniya, who heads the tourism bureau.
After the first IIFA awards in London, Hindi cinema ticket sales grew 35 per cent in Britain over the following six months, organisers said. Other cities where the IIFA has been held earlier include Bangkok, Macau, Johannesburg and Amsterdam.
Hindi
Rajesh Ramaswamy exits The Script Room to focus on filmmaking journey
Ad filmmaker steps away from own venture to pursue direction and storytelling
MUMBAI: In a move that has caught the attention of the advertising and creative community, Rajesh Ramaswamy has announced his exit from The Script Room, the company he co-founded, marking the end of a seven-year stint at the helm.
The decision, which came into effect earlier this month, signals a shift in focus for Ramaswamy, who is now looking to immerse himself fully in filmmaking and direction as an independent creative.
Known for blending sharp advertising insight with storytelling craft, Ramaswamy has been instrumental in shaping The Script Room into a creative hub that delivered campaigns, branded content, and original storytelling formats. Over the years, the company collaborated with agencies, directors, and a wide network of writers, while also experimenting with formats such as short films and web series.
Sharing his thoughts on the transition, Ramaswamy indicated that the move is driven by a desire to focus and explore stories he has been developing over time. While he acknowledged the unconventional nature of stepping away from one’s own venture, he also framed it as a necessary leap toward clarity and creative pursuit.
Importantly, The Script Room will continue its operations with its current team and leadership, with Ramaswamy expressing confidence in the group that helped build the company’s identity. The studio, he noted, remains well-positioned to evolve further with fresh talent and ideas.
His exit also reflects a wider industry trend, where experienced advertising professionals are increasingly transitioning into independent filmmaking, tapping into the growing opportunities across digital and long-form content platforms.
As Ramaswamy steps into this new phase, the move underscores a familiar creative instinct, sometimes, the boldest ideas begin with a clean break.
