The Challenges Faced by Contemporary Indian Cinema
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Date: 5th December 2025
Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Venue: KCC Amphitheatre
Kolkata Centre for Creativity presents the talk, The Challenges Faced by Contemporary Indian Cinema as part of the “The Lens of Revolution: A Retrospective of Shyam Benegal” at the AMI Arts Festival 2025.
The conversation brings together filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, filmmaker Alankrita Shrivastava, screenwriter Anjum Rajabali, and actor Swastika Mukherjee. They will discuss the changing landscape of filmmaking, from creative freedom and censorship to industry politics, digital platforms, and shifting audience expectations.
The session will be moderated by Sudhanva Deshpande, offering an accessible, insightful look into the artistic, cultural, and structural forces influencing cinema now. This event welcomes film lovers, students, and professionals eager to understand the evolving narrative of Indian filmmaking.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Anurag Kashyap is an acclaimed filmmaker and screenwriter, recognized as one of the most influential voices in contemporary Hindi cinema. He rose to prominence with Satya (1998) and went on to direct landmark films such as Black Friday, Dev.D, Gulaal, and the cult two-part epic Gangs of Wasseypur. He has also produced acclaimed works like The Lunchbox and Shahid. With films like Ugly and Mukkabaaz, and the series Sacred Games, Kashyap continues to shape India’s independent cinematic landscape.
Alankrita Shrivastava is an award-winning Indian writer and director known for bold, feminist storytelling. A filmmaking graduate from Jamia Millia Islamia, she began her career with Prakash Jha on films like Apharan and Rajneeti. She debuted as director with Turning 30, and gained national and international acclaim for Lipstick Under My Burkha, which won the Grand Prix at the Créteil International Women’s Film Festival and earned a Filmfare nomination, establishing her as a powerful contemporary voice.
Anjum Rajabali is a veteran Indian screenwriter and one of the country’s most respected screenwriting educators. Over three decades, he has written landmark films including Drohkaal, Ghulam, The Legend of Bhagat Singh, and Raajneeti. A leading advocate for writers’ rights, he has been a key voice at the Screenwriters Association of India. He heads Screenwriting at Whistling Woods International and founded the Screenplay Writing course at FTII, while also mentoring emerging talent through workshops and major film programmes.
Swastika Mukherjee is a celebrated Indian actor known for her strong screen presence and versatile performances across Bengali and Hindi cinema. Over two decades, she has delivered acclaimed roles in films like Mishawr Rawhoshyo, Shah Jahan Regency, and Take One. Her Hindi projects - Detective Byomkesh Bakshy, Paatal Lok, and Qala, further expanded her reach. She is recognised for portraying complex, layered characters, and remains a powerful artistic voice in contemporary Indian storytelling.
Sudhanva Deshpande is a theatre director, actor, and long-time member of Jana Natya Manch, which he joined in 1987. He has performed in over 4,000 shows across 80+ plays. His writings on theatre have appeared in leading publications including The Drama Review, The Hindu, and EPW. He co-directed two films on Habib Tanvir and Naya Theatre, and has edited key works on theatre practice in India. He has taught at NID and AJK MCRC, and since 1998, serves as Managing Editor at LeftWord Books.
