The film industry’s dynamic writer Sneha Desai’s latest contribution, ‘Laapataa Ladies’, directed by Kiran Rao, has become a talking point not just for its cinematic storytelling but also for the recognition and challenges writers face in this domain. Despite not achieving blockbuster status, ‘Laapataa Ladies’ won widespread acclaim and has extended its reach internationally via its Netflix debut. Praised for its narrative strength, intent, and captivating characters, the film underscores the significance of a writer’s input in creating memorable cinema.
Sneha Desai, the creative force behind the film’s screenplay and dialogues, shared her pleasure with the audience’s response, reiterating her belief in the importance of proper acknowledgment for writers, a belief reinforced by her experience with ‘Laapataa Ladies’. Her narrative resonates throughout the industry: in order to be remembered by audiences, a writer must craft exceptional work that prompts spectators to inquire about its origin.
The perennial dialogue surrounding screenwriters’ remuneration has often highlighted the disparity between expected output and actual pay. Desai, drawing from her experience on shows like ‘Wagle Ki Duniya’ and ‘RK Lakshman Ki Duniya’, believes that while compensation is not as inadequate as it is often portrayed, the actual impediment to quality writing is a pervasive ‘project mentality’. This mentality fosters a production line approach where finance dictates timelines, producers lock dates, and actors are matched to marketplace trends, resulting in stories that are no longer born organically but rather engineered to fit pre-arranged criteria. Creativity is stifled when stories become tailored to align with prescriptive elements like genre, casting preferences, screen count, and base-level quality for streaming platforms.
Amid the myriad challenges faced by writers, the Screenwriters Association (SWA) in India stands as a fortress, safeguarding their rights. Desai, an active member of SWA, highlights its role in protecting her creative work and her career. Producers, recognizing the importance of copyright protection, insist on registered scripts, which further delineates the significance of the association in the industry.
SWA not only ensures that its members’ works are legally protected but also fosters a rich environment where both seasoned and emerging screenwriters can collaborate and learn from each other. Even as a relatively new member, Desai appreciates the opportunity for personal growth and sharing her journey with other writers—the triumphs, fears, and inspirations. The association’s community, boasting over 65,000 members, including esteemed names like Sriram Raghavan, Sujoy Ghosh, and Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, is dedicated to ensuring fair practices, equitable treatment, and creative freedom for writers across India.
‘Laapataa Ladies’ stands out as a testimony to the artist’s conviction and Desai’s triumph as a screenwriter. Her work seamlessly blurs the line between the scribe’s quill and the filmmaker’s lens, establishing the narrative’s impact on audience engagement. As the motion picture industry moves forward, the call for intrinsic story crafting and a support system like the SWA becomes ever more pivotal. In the backdrop of a tumultuous creative landscape, Sneha Desai’s insights deliver a narrative that’s not just about a film’s success but also about the journey and struggle of the very individuals who script these cinematic experiences.
