Event Coverage
Screenplay the foundation of a good film
MUMBAI: Good screenplay and content are what make films click at the box-office and other factors are secondary, according to renowned filmmakers and script writers.
Addressing a session on ‘The Screenplay: The Missing Link’ at the ongoing Ficci Frames 2010, speakers were emphatic that greater attention should be paid to the content and to the script.
In fact, actor Shah Rukh Khan had said at the inaugural session that screenwriting should be treated as a science and not an art, and screenplay writers needed to sharpen their screen writing skills.
It was pointed out that in Hollywood, scriptwriting is a long process which sometimes takes as long as three years and is accompanied by research. As a result, the actual shooting does not take too much time since the screenplay is written with all details and this makes it easier for the director to shoot without hindrance.
But in India, scriptwriting is given very little importance. According to screen writer Kamlesh Pandey, of the several producers he had taken the script of Rang De Basanti, one had asked him after sitting on the script for a month: “Tell me, who is this Basanti?”, to which he had retorted: “Well this film is ‘Sholay’ from the perspective of Basanti.”
“This is the condition of screenwriters here. Let me tell you something. The Film Writers Association is fighting with the producers to pay a minimum of Rs 200,000 to a screenplay writer,” said noted lyricist, poet and screenwriter Javed Akhtar.
“Rather than concentrate on the script, producers are more interested about the stars, the locations and the technical expertise without appreciating that the screenplay is the foundation of a film. Mostly, films crumble at the box-office because their screenplays are weak,” Akhtar added.
Hollywood scriptwriter Steven de Souza agreed: “There in Hollywood we do not lay emphasis on stars but on stories – Avatar being the latest example”.
Responding to an oft-repeated question, Akhtar said “Stories are mostly written keeping in mind the 1200 multiplex screens the country has, despite the fact that these will cater to just 35 per cent of the population of the country, and the other 65 per cent reside in small towns or villages.
“Earlier, writers could not find any subject other than stories for gangster films. Now even that is saturated. Actual stories are happening in interiors but why is it that we do not source our stories from the hinterland?”, asked Akhtar.
De Souza said no one got down to making a film until the screenwriting is complete, whereas in India it is just the opposite.
“While an art director and a film editor sit ahead of the camera when the shoot happens, the scriptwriter is made to stand way behind the camera,”
creenwriter Pandey complained.
Akhtar said, “Screenplay writers should get their right due and respect
as good stories paved the path of success at the box-office”.
Event Coverage
Anime India announces Amazon MX Player as co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata 2026
MUMBAI: Riding high on the success of its blockbuster Mumbai debut, Anime India is accelerating its nationwide expansion with the announcement of Amazon MX Player as the co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata. The partnership marks a significant step forward in the festival’s mission to deliver large-scale, accessible, and fan-first anime experiences across the country.
Scheduled for 14 and 15 February 2026 at the iconic Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan, Anime India Kolkata will launch the first regional chapter of what is set to be a year-long, multi-city tour. As the curtain-raiser for the 2026 circuit, the Kolkata edition aims to fuse the energy of global Japanese pop culture with India’s fast-growing community of anime, manga, and pop-culture fans.
A household name in digital entertainment, Amazon MX Player brings unmatched reach and cultural relevance to the Anime India platform. With its expanding focus on anime and youth-driven content, Amazon MX Player’s involvement as co-presenting partner reinforces Anime India’s vision of making anime culture more inclusive breaking barriers of language, geography, and accessibility to connect with fans nationwide.
Anime India Kolkata 2026 will showcase cosplay competitions, interactive zones led by the Indian Gunpla Community, India-39 Vocaloid Community, The Japan Curry, and Adda-o-Otaku by The Otaku Guild. Fans can join tournaments across fighting games, Pokémon VGC, and more. Acclaimed Japanese director Susumu Mitsunaka (Haikyu!!) will attend as guest of honour, appearing in panels and live sessions. Positioned as an immersive celebration of fan culture and industry collaboration, the Kolkata edition marks the beginning of Anime India’s nationwide expansion.
Sharing their perspective on the partnership, Amazon MX Player director Aruna Daryanani expressed, “Anime in India has evolved from a niche interest into a mainstream cultural movement, driven by an increasingly engaged and passionate fanbase. At Amazon MX Player, our focus is on expanding access by bringing anime to audiences across the country for free and in multiple local languages. Our association with Anime India reflects our commitment to supporting the growth of anime in India and deepening connections with fans, while continuing to build Amazon MX Player as a trusted destination for free, high-quality entertainment.”
“Anime India Kolkata is a celebration of how anime has grown beyond entertainment into a powerful cultural and creative force. By bringing fans, creators, and industry leaders onto one shared platform, the festival is helping define the future of pop culture in India,” said Anime India co-founder and director Neha Mehta.
The debut edition of Anime India 2025 in Mumbai attracted over 29,000 fans, quickly cementing its status as a landmark celebration of anime and Japanese pop culture. Riding on this overwhelming response, the Kolkata chapter is projected to draw more than 40,000 visitors across two days, positioning it as one of the biggest anime conventions ever held in eastern India.
Anime India is focused on bringing together fans from across the country to create a truly pan-India celebration of anime, manga, cosplay, gaming, and Japanese culture. With plans to expand into four key metropolitan hubs in 2026—east (Kolkata), north (Delhi), west (Mumbai), and south (Hyderabad)—the festival seeks to deliver globally benchmarked experiences while supporting and uplifting creators, artists, and fan communities throughout India.
