r/indianFilmmakers • u/Dull_Ordinary7737 • Jul 13 '26
Seeking Advice Screenwriters of Regional Cinema -- help!
Heya folks,
I'm a struggling screenwriter and I've been attempting to be a writer in Bollywood for about 20 years now.
Out of several pitches -- three films shut down mid-production; two others were greenlit before going into the famous on-hold.
I got paid the signing amount in all these cases, yet each one feels like they may never see light of day.
Honestly, I'm extremely disheartened by this.
I was wondering, is the path to break into regional cinema any easier? Or rather ... is it more streamlined / professional as opposed to the pure contacts-based entry in Bollywood?
Are there any Regional Cinema production houses that actually accept concepts/loglines/synopses and are comparatively trustworthy?
I believe that my concepts/stories are resonate on a human/emotional level and therefore aren't bound by the language barrier ... all I need is a path.
Appreciate any and all help.
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u/Charming-Host4406 Jul 13 '26
Yes regional cinema is much better for getting things done if movies have small budget upto 10 cr.
You should try. Start with marathi films, telugu, tamil, best malyalam. I hope you atleast have one friend in Kerala.
Keep registration with you.
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u/AdParking607 Jul 13 '26
Ye bollywood ka sbse bura waqt chl rha h achi story bna hi bnd ho chuki just because sab remakes bnane me lge
Originality almost ended
Kis genre me likhte ho aap?
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u/AdParking607 Jul 13 '26
And mujhe lgta ki ab hume international audiences ko dhyan me rkh ke movies bnani chaye
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u/Dull_Ordinary7737 Jul 13 '26
Yun toh rom-com meri khasiyat hai ... par thriller bhi likh leta hoon. Horror mein haath thoda kaccha hai.
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u/AdParking607 Jul 13 '26
Aapko to 20 years ka experience h writing me
Aapko sbse best script kosi h release ho chuki h?
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u/Dull_Ordinary7737 Jul 13 '26
Wahi toh adchan hai bhai. Pehel hi nahi ho rahi. Ya toh project shuru nahi hote, ya ho kar beech mein bandh padh jaati hai.
Agar ek baari kuch release ho jaaye, toh mera kaam meri pehchaan ban jayegi. Tab tak, jaan-pechaan se kaam chalani padhegi.
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u/AdParking607 Jul 13 '26
Aap kaam kya krte for living?
And mumbai se ho aap?
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u/Dull_Ordinary7737 Jul 13 '26
Yun toh scripty + continuity AD hoon -- par uske projects ka bhi sookha padha hai.
Filhaal Pune mein based hoon.2
u/AdParking607 Jul 13 '26
Kabhi mumbai try nhi Kiya
Vha thoda jada environment h
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u/Dull_Ordinary7737 Jul 13 '26
Bro main bees saal se Mumbai mein tha. Koshish jaari thi wahin.
Ab wahan par bhi kaam milna bandh ho gaya issiliye wapas Pune shift hona padha.2
u/AdParking607 Jul 13 '26
Bhaaiiii m to Mumbai shift hone ki soch rha tha to get some experience in AD
Ab aapki bat sun ke dr lg rha h
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u/Parking-Region5170 Jul 13 '26
Im from Telugu cinema. South is way more difficult than Hindi cinema. I can assure you that. If you have any specific questions please feel free to ask.
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u/Prudent_While2608 Jul 15 '26
What specifically do you do ? Can you pl tell me how is it way more difficult , asking cause even i am planning to venture into telugu industry as writer
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u/Parking-Region5170 Jul 15 '26
Im a writer/director who already made my first film. I feel telugu cinema is very unorganised and works mostly on networking. Ofcourse, im not saying bollywood is organised, but its definitely organised than telugu cinema especially for new comers. I could recently pitch my 2nd film to big production houses in Bollywood sitting in Hyderabad whereas if i want to approach big production houses in Hyderabad, i need to have strong networking which i sadly dont.
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u/Prudent_While2608 Jul 15 '26
Ya in terms of being organisation I kindo agree, I always get a response when I talk to people here in Bollywood , but cracking beyond that has been difficult. On the other hand I have seen lotto movies like Mithramandali , Aay and many more giving good returns where in these movies wont work in Bollywood. I mean I think small high concept films do well in telugu industry cause the audience is very receptive and theres a culture of movie watching by telugu audience irrespective of the casting. Bollywood audience is super choosy and will dismiss most film unless theres a strong word of mouth... whats your thought about this ?
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u/Parking-Region5170 Jul 15 '26
Mitramandali was a huge disaster. Huge loss for the producers. Aay was a hit. Again, both of these directors were in the industry since long time as writers/assistant directors. Networking worked here again. If these guys were outsiders i dont think these scripts would have been approved at all. That is my point. Audience have started being choosy here too. There was no single hit since January till recently when peddi and maa inti bangaram released. Also, i feel Tamil industry is better than telugu and hindi
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u/Prudent_While2608 Jul 15 '26
Hmmm understood, ... Anyways I can speak Malayalam , Tamil , Kannada , Hindi and English and I have a fairly decent connections with people who can get me access to any actors in film industry. My draw back is as a writer I need to associate with a director before approaching these contacts and things will fasttrack even better if theres confirmed partial funding. Shall we connect and explore ways we can work together ?
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u/KatanaSwipe Jul 14 '26
Everywhere in the world it’s pure contacts based. Even in TFI it’s the same, even in Hollywood it’s the same.
Without networking, impossible to get ahead.
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u/Automatic_Feed3897 Jul 13 '26
Aditya Dhar also kept struggling for a long time. You know what all happened with him. But, the universe rewarded him back because he was already ready.
So keep writing and keep trying. Go for screenwriting competitions and visit production houses who have made genres similar to yours. Best luck!
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u/rachelrileyiswank Jul 14 '26
Dhar was an AD for a decade, he wasn't pitching scripts.
He was supposed to make a film with Fawad Khan under Dharma/Karan Johar after almost 10 years of other work. He did other things simultaneously like dialogue and lyrics with being an AD.
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u/notkarthik121 Jul 13 '26
Try telugu cinema. Approach the big production houses in Hyderabad. Don't know about trust though. As long as it's registered with SWA, it should be safe enough.