Author: storytattva

What John Abraham’s Tehran (2025) Teaches Us About Our Viewing Choices

So, it was a long weekend, and I was browsing for something good to watch. My rule is simple: I give the first 10 minutes to any film or series and see if it compels me to continue. If not, I skip it. This time, I stumbled upon...

Unformula

Beyond the Branding Playbook

Look around you. Which set of people fall in your "Like" bucket, which in your "Hate" bucket, and which in your "Ignore" bucket? They may not realize it, but ever since they became self-aware, they have been branding themselves....

Unformula

Going Blind, by Choice

When we built a boat, we lost the knowledge to swim When we built a vehicle, we lost the stamina to walk When we built a smartphone, we lost the knack to memorise When we built an AI, we lost the ability to think. Now, don't get...

Musings

What If Truth Isn’t What We Think It Is?

This is going to be a deep dive into the rabbit hole. If you’re not up for it, we can part ways here. My best thoughts come when I’m on my cosy balcony, taking a puff and staring at the world below. From the seventh floor, I...

Room Notes

Room Notes #2: The Grind and the Fizz

In continuation to: Room Notes #1: Where Does the Time Go? As promised, I did ship out the screenplay to the director by 6:10 pm. Now, it's about waiting to be reviewed for that project. But it's still too early to call it a day....

Room Notes

Room Notes #1: Where Does the Time Go?

So, today is Saturday. I woke up at 11 AM, and I swear on my heart, the first thought was the screenwriting project that I'm supposed to deliver today. The very specific scene that's pending, while the rest of the screenplay...

Shop Talk

The Philosophical Grief

So, it's interview season at the agency. Lately, we've been looking for writers. Even though it's for the team I manage, I generally invite someone else to be my co-interrogator to ask the fundamental questions that help evaluate...

Verses

The Father’s Shoulder

On his father's shoulders, the boy bounced higher— one small fist, joining ten thousand cheers, waving his team's colors. Twenty seasons like this- of growing together father weaker, son heavier the shoulder holds firm, still...

Fiction

The Frog, the Prince, and the Wishing Well

The story goes... Prince was eight years old when he first came to the town of Wishing. Back then, it was the kind of deadbeat place people passed through without stopping. He wouldn't have been there either, if not for his...

Storytelling

What Tumbbad Got Right — and Ramayana Might Miss

Just a while ago, I was on Instagram, doom-scrolling, and I stumbled upon a trailer that caught my eye. It was for an animated adaptation of the Ramayana. At first glance, it was a visually polished effort. I almost said to...