The Talk Cinema On The Floor September (TCOTF) at SACAC brought Indian cinema voices together as Ashok Mishra highlighted the role of research in screenwriting and Siddharth Sadashiv explored how sound shapes storytelling. Organized by NDFF, the event showcased film craft, collaboration, and the Make Cinema campaign.
“Research is a vital part of screenwriting,” said eminent and award-winning screenwriter Ashok Mishra, who has twice been honored with the National Film Award for his work. Mishra was addressing cinephiles and filmmakers of the capital at the September Chapter of Talk Cinema On The Floor (TCOTF), an initiative of the New Delhi Film Foundation (NDFF). His recent film Kathal (Netflix) has just been awarded Best Feature Film in Hindi at the 71st National Film Awards.
The program was organized by NDFF in collaboration with Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts & Creativity (SACAC), Media & Entertainment Skills Council (MESC), and Indian Institute of Creative Skills (IICS). The session brought together filmmakers, students, artists, and cinema enthusiasts for an engaging exchange on the art and craft of filmmaking.
Following the success of its June, July, and August editions, which featured celebrated names like Bhaskar Hazarika, Sohini Dasgupta, Dr. Sabiha Farhat, and Praveen Jain, Pawan Srivastava, Dr Vikas Singh, Talk Cinema On The Floor (TCOTF) is steadily building itself as a platform where cinema meets conversation and ideas find collaborators.
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Craft & Crew: Siddharth Sadashiv on Sound in Cinema
The first major session of the evening was Craft & Crew, where sound designer and production sound mixer Siddharth Sadashiv delivered a masterclass on the role of sound in cinema. He explained that in films, apart from music, every sound the audience hears is shaped by the sound recordist and the sound mixer.
With professional experience across Canada, China, and India, Siddharth’s recent credits include Pushpa 2: The Rule, Indian 2, Lucifer 2: Empuraan, TEST, and Aabeer Gulaal. Sharing experiences of working with renowned sound mixers worldwide, he elaborated on global workflows, practical aspects of production sound and design, and used audio-visual clips to illustrate how sound defines the atmosphere of a scene. He emphasized how carefully designed sound deeply influences a viewer’s emotions and the overall cinematic experience.
A former faculty member at the Shanghai Vancouver Film School and currently teaching at the Indian Institute of Creative Skills (IICS), Siddharth also offered practical tips for young filmmakers and noted that he continues to share his knowledge through blogs and social media.
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Spotlight: Ashok Mishra on Screenwriting
The Spotlight segment featured veteran screenwriter Ashok Mishra, a two-time National Award winner and alumnus of the National School of Drama. His distinguished career spans film, television, and theatre.
Mishra won National Awards for his screenplays in Saeed Akhtar Mirza’s Naseem and Shyam Benegal’s Samar. He is also known for writing the landmark television series Bharat Ek Khoj and films like Welcome to Sajjanpur and Well Done Abba. His latest film Kathal has recently won the 71st National Film Award, adding yet another milestone to his illustrious journey.
In his session, Mishra spoke about the responsibility of writers to shape cinema with conviction, passion, and purpose. He highlighted the crucial role of research in writing, sharing vivid examples from his career where extensive groundwork strengthened his story and screenplays. His presence at the September Chapter was especially significant, as he was in Delhi to attend the 71st National Film Awards ceremony scheduled this week.
Take The Floor: The 5-Minute Window
The interactive Take The Floor: The 5-Minute Window segment provided a stage for emerging talent to present their creative projects. This time, noted Hindi translator from Russian literature, Ved Kumar Sharma, presented a story written for a film. The segment once again proved to be a vital space for young filmmakers, writers, and artists to showcase their voices and invite collaboration.
Make Cinema Campaign Update
NDFF Founder Ashish K. Singh shared updates on the Make Cinema campaign, which aims to produce six short films in six months under the tagline “Small Films, Big Voices.” He emphasized that the campaign is a serious effort to provide opportunities to emerging filmmakers and to encourage stories rooted in realism and social relevance, strengthening cinema as an art form.
Closing Notes
The September Chapter concluded with a networking session, Chit-Chat over Tea & Light Bites.
Ms. Daljeet Wadhwa, Director of SACAC, reaffirmed the institution’s support for collaborative platforms like TCOTF. Vaibhav Maitreya, Executive Director (Branding & Marketing), highlighted the self-sustainable vision of the initiative, while Harinder Kumar, Treasurer of NDFF, extended thanks to guests and participants.
About Talk Cinema On The Floor
Talk Cinema On The Floor (TCOTF) is a monthly interactive initiative of NDFF that brings together filmmakers, artists, scholars, policy experts, and cinema lovers to discuss ideas, pitch projects, and showcase talent. With its unique blend of knowledge-sharing, talent showcases, and collaborative opportunities, TCOTF is steadily building a creative ecosystem for meaningful cinema in Delhi-NCR.