Tag: screenwriting

When Art Chooses You: Why Perfect Is the Enemy of Finished

It's 3:30 AM. In a couple of hours, I'm supposed to wake up and go to work. But here I am. Just wrapped a few scenes for a feature film and decided to stop for the night. I had cracked the screenplay till interval already, but...

Storytelling

Why Do Your Characters Feel Like They’re Trapped in an Echo Chamber?

There was a time I'd instinctively look away when an ad came on. Who wants to be sold something in the middle of a story? Now it's the reverse. I lean in, sometimes even replay ads just to admire their storytelling. Meanwhile,...

Storytelling

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...

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...

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...

Storytelling

What Is a Storyteller’s Job?

Not what the books told you. What did you expect?! Let me start with a confession: I’ve mentored writers before. But I never taught formulas. No Hero’s Journey. No Story Circle. No Freytag’s Pyramid. Sure, I’ve read them...