Event Coverage
Scripting for films and Television: No readymade script
The script is one of the most important elements of film-making but its creator – the scriptwriter – is shoddily treated, poorly paid, mostly plagiarised, and not given the importance that should be given. This was the opinion of the panel on scripting for films and television which was chaired by eminent filmmake Shyam Benegal. There is a tremendous paucity of scriptwriting training available in India, the panel which consisted of film maker Ramesh Sippy, once Channel 4 commissioning editor Farrukh Dhondy, scriptwriter Rekha Nigam, and former Channel Nine CEO Ravina Raj Kohli.
Dhondy pointed out that with corporatisation coming into the Indian film industry the age of films being made without full scripts will come to an end. “The need for scripting particularly is going to be felt as without it banks will be unwilling to fund productions,” he said . “The entire cost and saleability of a film project can be decided only if a script is in place and besides scriptwriters need the money to survive,” he added.
Scriptwriter, producer and actor Akash Khurana highlighted the fact that all the major successful films today were being scripted by the directors themselves. “Ashutosh Gowariker, Farhan Akthar, they wrote and directed their own films,” he said. “Screenwriting was self taught and one needed talent to write successfully, earlier, but we need more formal training now.”
He praised the efforts taken by television services company Indian Television Dot Com (which runs this website) to improve the writers’ lot with their unique ongoing training workshop Qalam.
Director Ramesh Sippy emphasized the need for a good script, particularly the saleablity aspect before scripts could be shortlisted.
Ravina Raj Kohli spoke about how people prefer not to write for TV and the disrespect and problems a writer has to face. Hardly anybody wrote original scripts for television. In fact there were commitees specially in channels who were there solely to disapprove scripts, Kohli said, in lighter vein.
Nigam echoed the other panelists and said that the lot of scriptwriters has to improve and that they should stand up for their rights.
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.
