All you want to know about Screenplay

Here is a book for those who are in the film industry, as well as those who aspire to enter the film industry. Especially, those who wish to make their entry as a screenplay writer.

Presently, there are very few books on screenplay written in Indian regional languages, though there are books available in English.

Veteran film personality N Dharma has penned a book “Naanu Lakshmi” in Kannada which covers the entire gamut of audience, screenplay, character, dialogue, dramatizations, treatment, scene, box method, technical background and overall tips in detail, along with complete explanation. The book is an expanded version of his earlier works Olle Nota (2004) and Nammavalu Nammavalu (2002).

According to a person connected with the film industry, this book is very useful for anyone who’s interested in knowing about the intricacies, the elements and the techniques of writing a screenplay. The book is available for sale at all the Sapna Book Stores and few other select outlets.

Talking about the book, the author, Dharma said he was inspired by Hollywood’s Syd Field’s work, called ‘Screenplay, the foundation of Screen writing’.

“A film director can take a great script and make a great film, or, he can take a great script and make a terrible film. But he can’t take a terrible script and make a great film,” said Dharma, emphasizing the importance of a storyline for any film.

He also said there are no shortcuts to success in the film industry. “There is no such thing as an overnight success in films,” he said, quoting the famous saying, “My overnight success took 15 years to happen’”.
The author, Dharma, has produced five and financed a few movies. His first Kannada movie was Vedantha, in the year 1977.

Explaining his tryst with the film industry, Dharma said he wanted to start his film career as a screenplay writer but destiny somehow turned his attention towards direction. A raw hand, he forayed blindly into direction and then production, which proved to be a costly blunder. He then decided that he would author a book about it to ensure that others would not commit the mistake he did in his life.

Dharma said he was delighted that his book was received very well by the industry. Describing himself as a “Kannadiga Tamilian”, Dharma said he was proud that as a Tamilian, he had brought out books in Kannada.

Born 1947 and a native of tinsel town Kumbakonam, Dharma’s family had settled down in Bangalore a very long time ago. Dharma did his pre-university in Thiruvidaimaruthoor and then came to Bangalore to look after his family business as he was the eldest son in his family. Recalling those days, Dharma says he spent his youth “roaming Brigade Road, and watching English films”. Soon, he developed a more serious interest in the world of films and film making. Along with his friends, he developed a passion for screenplay and direction. And the rest is history.

On his future plans, Dharma is planning another book on a how-to guide on film production. For a copy of the book, write to  DN Publications # 44, 5th Lane, III Block, Dhasappa Layout, Ramoorthy Nagar, Bangalroe-16. Ph: 25655290, 9845510070.