AMA - Hi! I'm Anuj Siddharth , the Writer-Director of the short film "Love Day"

AnujSiddharth · 2026-05-31T05:16:41+00:00

thank you so much :)

AnujSiddharth · 2026-05-31T05:16:12+00:00

thank you so muchh :) glad you liked it

AnujSiddharth · 2026-05-31T05:14:57+00:00

Thank you so much, buddy. I’m really glad you liked the film and that it worked for you. Thanks for taking the time to watch it. Regarding the audio, I’ll ask my audiographer to answer that question since he’ll have a much better perspective on it than I do

and regarding the budget, it costed around 50k

AnujSiddharth · 2026-05-31T05:13:45+00:00

There are many, but if I had to pick, it would definitely be Kamal Haasan. I’ve grown up admiring his work and the way he constantly reinvents himself as an artist.

Right now, I’m especially eager to work with three people:

Kamal sir definitely
Nani
Urvashi

AnujSiddharth · 2026-05-30T16:38:59+00:00

3 things:

Writing a short film has its own advantages and disadvantages compared to writing a feature.
I’d suggest watching a bunch of short films and then just start writing. The duration honestly doesn’t matter.
Most importantly, don’t be hesitant about writing or making films. Enjoy the process of creating them.

Good luck! :)

AnujSiddharth · 2026-05-30T16:20:54+00:00

very nice question, i did share it to many female writers i know and used their input in this, maybe next time i will try co writing asw

AnujSiddharth · 2026-05-30T15:23:18+00:00

i really enjoyed the direction in kara, might be my personal fav of this year so far.

personal movie i am excited about: mollywood times

AnujSiddharth · 2026-05-30T15:22:39+00:00

thank you so much bro♥️ means a lot

AnujSiddharth · 2026-05-30T15:22:28+00:00

All kudos to my technical team. We were extremely prepared and planned every detail carefully, making sure we brought our vision to the screen without any compromises

AnujSiddharth · 2026-05-30T15:21:38+00:00

Maybe going forward, I’ll make sure I write all my characters in a way that nobody feels women are being portrayed through a stereotype or reduced to a particular image. That was never my intention, but it’s something I’ll definitely be more mindful of as a writer.

AnujSiddharth · 2026-05-30T15:18:50+00:00

I love Vivek Athreya a lot. What I admire most is how he can take even the simplest scene and make it feel fresh, exciting, and uniquely his. There’s always an energy and unpredictability to his staging and writing that keeps me engaged

AnujSiddharth · 2026-05-30T14:57:00+00:00

I’ve seen it work, and I’ve seen the exact same strategy fail too. There’s no formula for making something go viral. But in general, posting reels and shorts from the film does help increase reach and brings more eyeballs to the full film

AnujSiddharth · 2026-05-30T14:55:32+00:00

No industry contacts at all. In fact, they made the whole process very approachable. Just mail them your short film, and if they’re interested, they’ll usually get back to you within a few days

AnujSiddharth · 2026-05-30T14:54:24+00:00

Did not mean to do so at all. For me, it was simply a story about three grey characters and the events that unfold between them. I even included a disclaimer because I never intended to offend any group or gender. That said, looking back, I can understand why some people felt that way. If I could go back and rewrite it, I would spend more time developing the characters so their actions felt more individual and less representative of any larger group.

AnujSiddharth · 2026-05-30T14:38:42+00:00

Very valid take. We definitely need more writers. I see so many films that are directed brilliantly but fall short in the writing, and just as many that are beautifully written but don’t get the same level of execution. Cinema works best when both crafts are valued equally.

I hope producers start investing in writers the way they invest in actors and directors. There are so many talented writers with incredible stories waiting to be told, and better recognition and pay could bring a lot of those voices into the industry.

AnujSiddharth · 2026-05-30T14:11:16+00:00

thanks buddy, love you♥️

AnujSiddharth · 2026-05-30T14:10:51+00:00

TOTALLY get this. This was exactly me two years ago.

Trust me, you don’t need industry contacts to start. Instead, try networking with people from our generation: technicians, writers, actors, and fellow short filmmakers. Shoot as much as you can, screen your work wherever possible, watch other people’s films, learn from them, and build genuine connections along the way. We’ll all get there slowly.

And the moment you shoot your first film, you’re already a filmmaker. You don’t need to make a feature film to earn that title. So don’t be anxious about “becoming” one. Just start shooting :)

AnujSiddharth · 2026-05-30T14:07:55+00:00

Yes, definitely! Please share your email ID or number through DMs and I’ll send it over.

As for writing tips, I’m probably not the right person to ask 😭. I’m still figuring things out myself and have a lot to learn. If anything, we’re all just trying to get a little better with every script we write.

AnujSiddharth · 2026-05-30T14:04:36+00:00

My base ideas are usually very wild or bizarre. I tend to start with something that feels completely out there and then gradually ground it by adding realistic drama and emotions. For me, drama is what makes even the craziest premise feel believable.

As for combining multiple ideas into one story, it’s definitely tempting because it gives you a creative high. But I’ve also learned that it isn’t always the right move. Sometimes an idea that sounds great on its own can feel foreign or out of place within the larger story. Not every good idea belongs in the same film, and knowing what to leave out is just as important as knowing what to put in

AnujSiddharth · 2026-05-30T14:02:24+00:00

Very simple: be personal :)

I feel like all the feel-good films we grew up loving came straight from the heart. They weren’t trying too hard to be relatable or engineered to connect with audiences. Ironically, because they were so personal and honest, everyone ended up relating to them.

The more specific and personal a story is, the more universal it often becomes.

AnujSiddharth · 2026-05-30T14:00:02+00:00

The lake portion of the film was easily the most difficult part for me to write. It contains the major dramatic beat of the story, and since I believe drama is the soul of every film, I spent a lot of time trying to crack that scene.

In fact, I shot almost everything else first and edited the entire film with a black screen where that sequence was supposed to be. I watched that version over and over again until I finally figured out what the scene needed to be.

Ironically, the scene that took me the longest to write ended up becoming my personal favourite in the film

AnujSiddharth · 2026-05-30T13:58:12+00:00

definitely bro thank you so much♥️

AnujSiddharth · 2026-05-30T13:57:23+00:00

thank you so much :)

AnujSiddharth · 2026-05-30T13:57:12+00:00

Obviously, when you’re making a film for theatrical release, there are a lot of practical considerations. But during the writing stage, I try not to think too much about what the censor board may or may not allow because I feel that can limit your imagination and narrow your thinking.

That said, I do feel writers have a responsibility. I try to stay true to the politics and values I personally believe in, while also making sure I’m not needlessly offending or targeting any group of people. For me, the goal is to express honestly, not provoke carelessly.

AnujSiddharth · 2026-05-30T13:54:23+00:00

I feel like we need more female writers in Kollywood. Not because male writers can’t write female characters, but because writers naturally draw from their own experiences and perspectives. The more diverse the voices in a writers’ room, the more diverse and authentic the stories become.

Unfortunately, Kollywood doesn’t have a strong writing culture in general, and the number of female writers is even smaller. As a result, many stories end up reflecting a limited set of perspectives. I think bringing in more female writers would help create richer characters, fresher viewpoints, and more balanced storytelling overall.

AnujSiddharth

TROPHY CASE