logo

iView Author:
Kumar Gautam (Mumbai, India)

Email:
writerdirectorgautam [at] gmail.com

Writer’s Revolution: an appeal

At the first All India Screenwriters’ Conference held at FTII Pune in August 2006, attended by over 275 established and aspiring writers, it was strongly felt that the Filmwriters’ Association (FWA) should be proactive about serious issues that concern writers, including

1. Protection of writers’ rights: Writers’ don’t always get their due. Contracts are not fair, they are underpaid, moreover they don’t always receive the promised fees and credit, there is no copyright protection, no question of royalties..

2. Helping new writers: Young and new writers wanted the Association to organise programmes that would help them develop their skills and also offer professional opportunities

The overwhelming opinion was that the Association should be lead by active professionals.

In response to that expectation, we have brought together a team of professional writers who have agreed to do their best to steer the Association into an active organisation that will work towards the above aims.

A one-page manifesto of this team is and a short bio of each member has been mentioned here.

MANIFESTO
Protecting the Rights of Writers

The Executive Committee’s most imperative task will be to draft a model contract which will include essential clauses on minimum payment by slabs, credit and copyright protection, and royalties. Competent legal help has been sought to draft an agreement sound in law. Negotiations will be initiated with the Federation of Western India Cine Employees and the Producers’ Guild with a view to getting it accepted by all parties so that it can be uniformly implemented.

The Filmwriters’ Association is actually a writers’ union. We’d like it to begin functioning like one.

Events to promote the work of writers

The Association ought to be able to offer help to screenwriters (especially new ones) in their creative as well as professional endeavours. Towards that, we have some ideas - to organise an Annual Screenwriters’ Conference, Screenwriting Expos and Bazaars, a Quarterly Magazine on screenwriting, Pitching Workshops for new writers, organize

interfaces with producers looking for scripts, boost media projection of screenwriters, and stock up a good library of books and DVDs. Such events can offer aspiring and established screenwriters a platform to meet and interact, and enhance their professional opportunities.

Modernising FWA

FWA is meant to serve members and encourage all screenwriting aspirants to join it. For this we need to upgrade our services technologically by improving the FWA website, offer a lively virtual interface and forum for members to interact, facilitate online membership, copyright registration, etc.

BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF TEAM MEMBERS

Note: 21 Regular Members (including 7 office bearers) and 2 Associate Members are to be elected to the Executive Committee. These are our candidates.

Jalees Sherwaani (for President)
Graduate of Aligarh Muslim University, he’s a well-known lyricist, screenwriter and columnist. Filmography includes ‘Pratighaat’, ‘Loafer’, ‘Mujhse Shaadi Karogi’ and ‘Partner’. Currently writing ‘God Tussi Great Ho’, ‘Mera Bharat Mahaan’ and ‘Wanted’. Has served as General Secretary as well as Vice President of Filmwriters’ Association.

Sooni Taraporevala (for Vice President)
A graduate from New York, with undergraduate studies from Harvard, she’s done most of her produced work with Mira Nair – including ‘Salaam Bombay’, ‘Mississipi Masala’ and ‘Namesake’. She’s won numerous awards including the Best Screenplay award at Venice Film Festival in 1991. A film that she wrote and directed, ‘Little Zizou’, is in post production.

Imteyaz Hussein (for Vice President)
An Arts graduate from Mumbai University, he is a banker turned screenwriter. Filmography includes ‘Parinda’, ‘Vaastav’, ‘Astitva’ and ‘Iss Raat Ki Subah Nahin’. Has written TV serials like ‘Naya Nukkad’ and ‘Shaheen’, and plays like ‘Salesman Ramlal’. He is soon to debut as a director. Has served the Filmwriters’ Association as a Managing Committee member for many years.

B.R.Ishara (for General Secretary)
A self-taught filmmaker, his first film “Chetna” blazed a trail in bold but popular cinema. Has subsequently made more than 35 films and written over 70 scripts. Introduced many new faces to the film industry. Has served FWA as managing committee member earlier too.

Atul Tiwari (Joint Secretary)

Graduate of the National School of Drama. Has adapted and directed plays of Shakespeare, Shaw, Goethe and Schiller and modern Indian plays. Has written screenplays and/or dialogue for more than 20 films, including ‘Yeh Who Manzil Toh Nahin’, ‘Mission Kasmir’ and ‘Netaji: The Forgotten Hero’. Currently scripting for Shyam Benegal. Conducts workshops on screenwriting and theatre.

Sudhakar Sharma (for Joint Secretary)

Well known lyricist - ‘Bandhan’, ‘Pardesi Babu’, ‘Hello Brother’, and ‘Jodi No.1’. Has also directed films like ‘Vichar’, ‘Sawan’, ‘Gori’, and released albums titled ‘Maine Payal Jo’, ‘Sai Path’, ‘Zindagi’.

Subhash Jetly (for Treasurer)

A commerce graduate from Delhi University and a retired Bank administrator and State Cricketer, he has written several T.V Serials for Doordarshan and scripts for Punjabi films. At present he is working on screenplays for two Hindi films. Has served on the Managing Committee of FWA earlier too

Anjum Rajabali

Filmography includes ‘Drohkaal’ with Govind Nihalani, ‘Ghulam’, ‘Pukar’, ‘China Gate’ and ‘The Legend of Bhagat Singh’. Has been Commissioning Editor of a TV channel. Currently scripting for Prakash Jha, Shaji Karun, and Kannan Iyer. Heads the scriptwriting departments at FTII Pune and at Whistling Woods, Mumbai. Conducts screenwriting workshops in India and abroad.

Robin Bhatt

Graduate from Mumbai University, son of noted film director Nanabhai Bhatt, he has scripted over 50 films for Mahesh Bhatt, Dharmesh Darshan, Sunil Darshan, Rakesh Roshan, etc. Filmography includes, ‘Baazigar’, ‘Dil Hai Ke Maanta Nahin’, and ‘Sadak’. Currently writing for Rakesh Roshan, Rohit Shetty, Ajay Devgan and B.R.Films.

Sameer Anjaan

Has written Lyrics for over 540 films! Some of his biggest successes have been ‘Aashiqui’, ‘Phool Aur Kante’, ‘Deewana’, ‘Beta’, ‘Roja’, and ‘Dil’. Has won several popular awards for ‘Aashiqui’, ‘Deewana’, ‘Hum hain Rahi Pyaar Ke’, and ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’.

Kumar Gautam

Has worked as a journalist, columnist, editor, photo editor, photographer, radio jockey and documentary filmmaker in the past. Has written for TV - ‘Kaisa Ye Pyar Hai’, ‘Miilee’, ‘Piya Ka Ghar’, ‘Kasamh Se’, ‘Great Indian Comedy Show’ and ‘Ravan’. As a creative director he has set some successful shows like “Ardhangini” and “Annu Ki Ho Gayee Waah Bhai Waah”. Soon to debut as playwright-director.

Bhavani Iyer
A graduate in Life Sciences & Genetics, her filmography includes ‘Black’, ‘Main Aisa Hi Hoon’, ‘Swami’, ‘Love Story 2050’. Currently writing scripts for Rajiv Menon, Santosh Sivan, and an adaptation of ‘Hamlet’. Has also been the editor of ‘Stardust’ magazine.

Santosh Saroj

Has been a Managing Committee member of the Association. Has written more than 35 films, including ‘Khuda Gawah’, ‘Agneepath’, ‘Shehenshah’, ‘Major Saab’, ‘Bulundi’, ‘Police Officer’ and others.

Girish Dhamija

A post graduate from Indian theatre Punjab university, Chandigarh, Has written screenplay and/or dialogues for film like ‘Dushman’, ‘Sanghursh’, ‘Zakhm’, ‘Raaz’, ‘Kasoor’, ‘Yakeen’, ‘Gangster’, and directed ‘Yakeen’. Currently writing “Ab Dilli Door Nahin” for Nikhil Advani, ‘Acid Factory’ for Sanjay Gupta, ‘1920’ for Vikram Bhatt and ‘Right Ya Wrong’ for Neeraj pathak.

Saket Chaudhary

A Masters in Mass Communication, he has assisted Aziz Mirza and written episodes of ‘Movers & Shakers’, ‘Kyon Hota Hai Pyar’ and ‘Dil Kya Chahta Hai’. Wrote the screenplay of ‘Asoka’. Recently wrote and directed ‘Pyar Ke Side Effects’.

Sandeep Srivastava

A science graduate and an MBA, he was also a student of Ebrahim Alkazi. Wrote ‘Ab Tak Chhappan’, and several TV serials. Currently, writing a film for Yashraj and one for White Feather Films.

Uttam Gada
Well known playwright from Gujarati theatre, he has written films like ‘Chala Murari Murder Karne’, ‘Yun Hota To Kya Hota’ and ‘Khiladi 420’ and many others.

Anirudh Pathak
With a Master’s degree in Hindi from Patna, he has been very active in theatre circles in Delhi and Patna. His stories and poems have been published in different magazines. Has scripted TV serials including ‘Piya Ka Ghar’, ‘Sarkar’, ‘Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki’, ‘Kasamh Se’, ‘Dulhan’, ‘Betiyaan’. Presently creative consultant to Star Network.

Shahnaz Abbas Jalalie

Has produced TV serials like ‘Aur Bhi Hain Raahein’, ‘Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’, ‘Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai’ and others. Wrote serials like ‘Virasat’ and ‘Dekh Bhai Dekh’, as also films like ‘Chakravyuh’. Has won a National Award for Best Short Fiction Film for ‘Agar Aap Chaahein’, which she wrote and produced. Currently working on a feature film script.

Rajesh Dubey
Graduate in Hindi Literature, and holds a Masters in Economics. Has written several TV serials including ‘Saat Phere’, ‘PA Saab’, ‘Sarkaar’, ‘Chashme Baddoor’, ‘Jee Saheb’, ‘Haal Kaisa Hai Janaab Ka’, and ‘Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan’.

Mazahirr Rahim

A diploma holder in Direction from FTII, he has done extensive work in documentaries, short films and for TV, and won several national awards along the way. His work includes the TV serial, ‘Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’, ‘Aur Bhi Hain Raahen’, ‘The Sword of Tipu Sultan’. Has also been an editor of a newspaper.

Dr.Kanak Tiwari (for Associate Member)
With an M.A. in English and a Ph.D in Literature, she is a respected journalist and columnist with a post-graduation in Journalism and Mass Media. She has scripted ‘The Mall’ (under production), ‘Jale’ and ‘Mutthi (Unity)’. She heads the English department of Saraswati College and has had a collection of her poems already published.

Tuhin Sinha (for Associate Member)
His novel “That Thing Called Love” was released in 2006. The second one “22 Yards” is to be released in June 2008. Tuhin has also co-scripted ‘Pyar Ki Kashti Mein’, apart from episodes of several other soaps. A tele-film, “Phir Se”, based on a story by him, won the RAPA Award for best film in 2005. He is co-scripting a new daily for Sony. Currently adapting his first novel into a screenplay.

If you believe that these people can do some revolution then do come on Sunday March 9, at 10 AM is the Annual General Meeting of the Filmwriters’ Assocation (at Time and Again restaurant, Opp Lokhandwala Complex, Behind Infiniti Mall, Next to Cinemax, off Link Road, Andheri West) in which the new Executive Committee of 23 members will be elected by all of you.

If you believe that the time has come to bring about a change, then you need to come for this AGM and vote this new team in. If this team loses, there’s the danger of the Association going back to being the flaccid, unresponsive, unimaginative organisation that all of us have always accused it of being.

We are whole-heartedly endorsing these candidates. Let’s bring the script centre-stage, and let us restore due dignity to our profession.

Now, it is upto you. (And if you agree with this initiative, please let other writer colleagues, and make sure you come to the meeting to vote AND BRING MORE FREIDNS) Please bring your FWA identity card.

Sincerely yours

Vishal Bhardwaj, Anurag Basu, Javed Siddiqui, Mahesh Bhatt, Kamlesh Pandey, Abbas Tyrewala, Kundan Shah, Jabbar Patel, Vinay Shukla, Anees Bazmee, Rumi Jaffery, Amole Gupte, Manjul Sinha, Akash Khurana, Sanjiv Duggal, Ashwani Dheer, Akarsh Khurana, Dilip Shukla, Tanveer Khan

4 readers recommend this post  Loading ...	Email This Post To Friends
Related Posts Writer/actor/director/producer connection ! Aaron Sorkin: The Master Screen-Writer. PROJEKT iVIEW : Cheeni Kum’s spicy dialogue writer Writer Provocateur Screenplay Writer Needed SURYA AGAIN!!! Guilds - The Good and Bad Oscar Updates - Foreign Category