No film can rise above its story: Writer-director Ranjani Raghavan at Mangaluru Lit Fest
Mangaluru (Karnataka) (PTI): Actor, writer, and filmmaker Ranjani Raghavan on Saturday underlined the centrality of storytelling in cinema, asserting that no film can rise above its story, regardless of scale or technique.
Speaking at the Mangaluru Lit Fest, Raghavan said, "Cinema often gets trapped in superficial aesthetics. As long as there are values and honesty in storytelling, an emotional connection is possible."
Growth, she added, happens only when one is willing to question oneself and put in sustained effort.
Raghavan, who primarily works in Kannada films, participated in a session titled 'Imagination, Storytelling and Camera', where she reflected on her journey and spoke candidly about the creative and commercial challenges of filmmaking.
Explaining the process, Raghavan said imagination comes at little cost, but writing demands discipline.
"A story must be written, rewritten, shared, and refined repeatedly. This stage requires time and mental effort. Once filming begins, costs rise, and business concerns come into play. Filmmakers must keep the audience in mind without compromising the core idea," she said.
Raghavan is also well known for her roles in the TV series 'Putta Gowri Maduve' and 'Kannadathi', and is the author of the book 'Kathe Dabbi'.
Looking back on her career, she said she had little initial interest in directing.
"As an actor, I did not question the director’s vision. Later, when I began writing and working as a screenwriter, the urge to direct grew naturally. Direction came to me through observation, editing, and understanding visual language," she said.
Raghavan emphasised that preparation is everything. "For any film, the story is non-negotiable. You cannot bypass it. What you can do is enrich it. I constantly ask myself whether the story is relevant today and whether it can be told in an engaging, entertaining way. Only when I find convincing answers do I move forward," she said.
Addressing contemporary cinema, she observed that characters and gender representation are evolving. "Women are no longer portrayed as divine; they are allowed flaws, independence, and mistakes—just like men. Masculinity and femininity coexist within individuals, and cinema must reflect this reality, honestly," she said.
She also acknowledged the growing influence of digital platforms, noting that storytelling today extends beyond cinema halls to reels and short-form content, where authenticity often resonates more strongly than spectacle.
Senior actor and writer Poornima Suresh, active in Kannada and Konkani theatre, television, and cinema, also spoke at the session, saying that imagination is the lifeblood of writing.
"Life experiences shape stories. When expressed honestly and artistically, they become universal," she said, adding that men and women experience life differently, and both perspectives deserve space in storytelling.
The eighth edition of the two-day Mangaluru Lit Fest, organised by the Bharat Foundation, began on January 10 at the TMA Pai International Convention Centre.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
HC dismisses Abu Salem’s plea seeking immediate release after completing '25 years' in jail
Mumbai (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Wednesday dismissed gangster Abu Salem’s plea for immediate release, claiming he had served 25 years in jail in India mandated under the terms of his extradition from Portugal.
In his plea, Salem had contended that if remission for good behaviour is included, then his 25-year jail term is complete and hence he ought to be freed.
A bench of Justices A S Gadkari and Kamal Khata said it cannot hold that the 25-year jail term is complete, as it would be premature to say anything at this stage on the point of remission.
The court relied on a Supreme Court judgment wherein it was held that remission of a prisoner would need to be calculated a month before the applicant’s release.
“Therefore, the present petition (filed by Salem) is dismissed,” the court said.
A copy of the detailed order is yet to be made available.
Salem’s plea, filed through advocate Farhana Shah, had said that when he was extradited from Portugal in 2005, India had assured that he would not be handed over the death penalty in any case and that he would not be imprisoned for more than 25 years.
The government had opposed his plea, noting that Salem has spent only 19 years in jail and that a decision on his premature release was pending.
Salem was convicted in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts case and sentenced to life imprisonment.
