Hindi
Smita Patil retrospective at IFF Tofifest from 22 October
MUMBAI: The first ever Smita Patil film retrospective will be presented at the 10th Edition of the IFF Tofifest.
The official opening of the retrospective will begin on 22 October at the Tofifest Festival Centre in Baj Pomorski Theatre, at ul Piernikarska 3, in Toru?, one of the oldest cities in Poland. Her sister, Manya Patil, will be a special guest of the festival.
Patil was an icon of the ambitious Indian cinema and a true star of the ‘Indian New Wave Cinema‘. Together with Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri, she was part of the most influential cinema quartet of the New Wave, the period in which Indian cinematography was developing artistically.
The films she starred in were all focused on problems of women. She was also awarded the Padma Shri award by the government of India. In 2011, she was described as the second-most renowned Indian actress of all time in one of Indian websites.
Indian traditionalists responded very negatively to her film characters, as they were unable to recognise any emancipation of women. In the famous Marathi film Umbartha by Jabbar Patel, she portrayed a guardian in a women‘s prison, who found the courage to abandon an unfaithful husband, who indulged himself with prostitutes.
Her performance in Mirch Masala by Ketan Mehta was one of the most memorable feminist characters – she played a woman living in a very small village, who was harassed by aggressive soldiers and had to fight for her dignity.
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.
