(24th-28th May, 2023)
I’m so glad I could return to Satkhol this year, this month, and in this season.
The last time I’d attended an HWR writer’s meet was so long back. The heart had yearned and all attempts to return were foiled (sudden flu, Covid etc.)
In the interim I have managed to publish two books, surprising myself – the debut, a personal account of my travels through Norway, the Land of the Midnight Sun entitled NAKED BENEATH THE MIDNIGHT SUN, Olympia UK (a coming-of-age story one might say).
My second one turned out to be a product of the lockdown- an anthology on desire,
The Fire-Ant’s Sting (Desire Diaries), Om Books International, which essentially talks about various desires through its diverse characters. It was out early this year, 2023.
I now live in Thailand, so it became that much more urgent that I find the right kind of course to return to Chetan Mahajan’s HWR, the warm and welcoming space that he had created in the meantime. I arrived a day earlier to take in this haven that I’d been drooling over, through pictures and testimonials. Before the whole lot of participants arrived, I lived a day of sheer magic, taking it all in- breathing deeply and shedding my urban skin.
The Script & Screenwriting Workshop
Anu Singh Choudhury, our mentor, has written scores of books and many screenplays – among others ‘Grahan’ (eclipse); Aryaa (3 seasons), Alma Matters (inside the IIT dream)- a TV mini-series, and is a celebrated author in Hindi, one of the few bilingual and multimedium writers. She is also an award-winning journalist (which is where she began her writing career). We, the participants, all rather impressed with her bio profile were nervous, yet unaware of what awaited us, as one usually is.
We were fifteen from diverse backgrounds, and cities spanning the globe – including Thailand and USA– some of us having already some and more experience, in scripting screenplays, as the round of introductions revealed.
I was grateful that I’d written something to show for, among the stalwarts.
The Participants
1- Manisha Korde was someone who had already written movie scripts, best known among them is Malamaal Weekly, Bhool Bhulaiya and Dhol;
2– Justin Rao, a young film journalist with Indian Express;
3- Kevin Couto, from the industry itself- having directed Anjaan & Gumrah (among others) and written some short films for OTT platforms; all three from Mumbai.
4 – Kumkum Prakash from Noida, script and copywriter, looking to venture into scriptwriting completely having worked with Netflix and Balaji already;
5 – Mohua Chinappa runs a well-known podcast- The Mohua Show and is also a published author, Nautanki Saala, which has won rave reviews. She was from Bangalore;
6- Maya Lalchandani, also a published author – PAISO (how Sindhis do business) and an entrepreneur with many hats, also from Mumbai.
7- Saraswathi from LA, a filmmaker herself with documentaries to her credit.
She is the founder of Dancing Atoms (a filmmaking company) and is a director and producer.
8- Charulekha Gupta, has written for the HWR blog, and is Senior faculty member plus heads the Livelihood and fundraising at AADI (Action for Ability Development & Inclusion) for over 30 years and is from Delhi.
I’d met Charulekha at HWR in its infancy and we stayed friends;
9- Ritu Motial, a Behaviour Communications Professional has also made a short film called WALLS, exhibited at the Gulf film festival, from Lucknow.
10- Kislaya Pancholi, a published author on Pratilipi with many stories to her credit and a strong voice to boot, was from Indore.
11- Jessica Joshi, HWR’s Media Lead, was also attending the workshop; she recently moved to Bangalore and made it her base. She is the founder of the Read Along Community.
12- Chetna Vardhan arrived from Indore to attend her first ever writing workshop, in order to pursue writing more dedicatedly. She has published research articles for the Delhi Press.
13- Sehare Wazirali from Texas, is a seeker, and to keep body and soul together she is an improv artist as well as a nomadic storyteller.
14- Deepa Pathak, a former journalist, abandoned the city to move to a remote Himalayan village. Writing, translating, painting and running a village women’s group (Chandi Maati) producing handicrafts has been her mainstay. She wished to expand her repertoire in these beauteous environs which she made her home over 20 years ago.
15- I Kamalini, was there because, like Deepa, I wish to expand my horizons and this granted the legitimate excuse to be with beautiful people, and continue learning.
The Formula
There is none. Anu Singh Choudhury opened by talking about her path, and how she made her way through journalism, penning books (in Hindi and English) to script and screenwriting; outlining some of the tools that are required to bring to life, a story glowing in our creative hearts and minds.
Anu got us started with writing a story outline, bearing in mind that this was a visual medium, and not a narrative that needed detailing and verbosity; she urged us to keep it as visually-appealing as possible.
It was a hard task for those among us, who are primarily story-writers, or novelists; nevertheless, a great exercise to flex our writing muscles. It was challenging and fun. After all we had chosen to be there, to learn and imbibe; unlearn too perhaps and pick up new tricks to entertain our readers, and showcase our storytelling talents.
What is a logline?
Anu familiarized us with Screenplay jargon and what a script comprises and ingredients to play with :
- Thought / idea
- Context
- Magic
- Plot
- Imagination
- Imitation / inspiration
How does one know it’s a good idea?
The three essential components 2E + I : Emotion, entertainment, inspiration
I’m summing it up with the above because the learnings were many, and time was not within our grasp. We could’ve possibly spent another couple of days in the growing comfort of each other’s company. It was all very congenial.
The second evening, when we had all tried our hand at a Beat Sheet (a technical word that resembles the progression of a piece of music- which plays out at a certain rhythm and changes its tempo at a beat)- and a Step Outline.
At no point did our interest wane, through lengthy discussions that continued late into the night, well beyond the assigned hour.
The spell had been cast and its magic woven around our beings, lighting up every possible crevice in order to draw from whatever our life experiences had sewn into us.
We soaked it all in.
The magic of the Himalayas, the evening hikes, a Samosa point, the breaking off of fresh Mulberries with Chetan, who guided us joyfully and egged us city folk on to walk and breathe in as much as our lungs would allow for; the delicious food at every meal – especially breakfast, no actually, lunch– or perhaps dinner? Each meal was designed to cater to our diverse palates and I’ve witnessed the emptying of serving dishes at speeds that defy description! Mealtimes were abuzz with sounds of satisfaction and much banter over workshop content. Happy Meals is synonymous with HWR, not McDonald’s for heavens’ sake!
The HWR chef is an excellent cuisinier, and the hospitality Manager, Ankush, deserves special mention for being ever-present to answer any queries that came up.
Everything works in harmony.
The word harmony or sync takes on a new meaning at the Himalayan Writer’s Retreat whose book lounge is as cosy and inviting as they come. The fact that four of the guest-homes are all mud huts, that there is composting of all inorganic matter and rainwater harvesting; a solar inverter and solar geysers, in a bid to reduce one’s carbon footprint, is commendable. All of this makes visiting HWR a wholesome experience.
If one is conscious of what one leaves behind on planet earth, it truly makes one’s being sing in accord with Nature- and here every component is right and present.
I would be stoked to be able to spend time: days and days sitting on the ‘island’, a space created to simply stand and stare at the yonder mountains, or sit and soak in pure sunned light, and perhaps pen a few poems or stories, in whichever direction the flow takes one on an inward journey, as the body receives nourishment from all the elements working in tandem to generously bestow.
In receiving we also open ourselves to a generous exchange of gifts that are intangible yet the ones that stay.
I hope Chetan and his handpicked team continue the wonderful work (imagining the impossible and manifesting it too) that I witnessed, and maybe someday there will also be festivals (music, literary, drama) taking place at HWR, because that’s the dream, and I hope it’s not mine alone.
©kamalininatesanJune2023
I miss the place and the people after reading this.
This sounds like an idyllic environment for unleashing the writer in you! Enjoyed reading about all the fun and writing you guys had <3
Yes Aashisha, you should try and go there and continue the good work you’re doing in the perfect setting provided by Nature and Chetan and team.
Likewise my friend.
Awesome write up
Thank you!
Kam -this was a pretty comprehensive account of the 4-5 wonderful days spent together..thank u
Brought back so many memories❣️
Thank you Maya, I’m glad you read it and appreciated the details of a journey we undertook together.
It must have been fun learning and soaking in the essence of the place with such esteemed company.
Yes, it was both fun and fulfilling at so many levels. Hope you’re able to travel there too, some day.
What an awesome experience indeed and such breathtaking venue .
Lovely photos too .
Thanks Soraya, for reading and appreciating. It truly was wonderful.
Visceral account. May you return to this wonderous retreat, and bringing along at least 2 of us from Bangkok…⚘⚘
What an experience!
Thanks Amanda, and I sincerely hope you’re able to come along some day. You’ll love it for sure.
Looks like it was an awesome and beautidul experience, inspiring through other writers and creative people.
Looks like it was an awesome and beautidul experience, inspiring through other writers and creative people.
Fantastic ! So well written Kay . The place, with its emphasis on sustainability ….. wow . Make me want to visit
Very nicely written. Can feel the amazing retreat it was
Thank you mate <3
So well written. Could feel and experience a lot of what you went through. Sensorily described…
Thank you for reading and living some of it with me.
Beautifully written. Makes the place come alive, with it sounds and visuals and warmth.
Thank you Nivedita. Perhaps someday we can go there together? What say!
Looks, and sounds like, the perfect setting to restore the body and inspire the creative soul.
Thank you for sharing with us!
Yes Michèle, it was the perfect setting for what we’ve set out to do. I’m glad you felt that via my words. Thank you!
Interesting group of people.Beautifully put account. Gorgeous captures . Sounds like a enriching experience.
Yes Anika, a rather eclectic group who were able to put their hair down when required and shake a leg too. We constantly surprised ourselves. Thank you for travelling there with me via my post.
Very well written and summarised Kam! Feel I as though I was there with you guys 😊 Glad you got to experience this!
Thank you my friend. I hope some day we can go there together- hike and just be, soaking in the ambience which gives freely of itself, unasked.
What an experience! Inspiring.
It sure was Harry, and I hope you too make it there some day.
Thanks for putting your heart into the detailed descriptions. The people, the course, and the place all truly came alive. Thank you also for all the kind words.
You are welcome Chetan, it’s all straight from the heart. I expected a wonderful time, as is your wont, and I received so much more than a good time. Keep it up, bravo! Hope someday I will have an opportunity to run a workshop myself- so much work left to accomplish before I arrive at that juncture I aspire to.
I had attended a wonderful workshop led by Dr Vandita Dubey at Bangalore. Aspire to attend one in the hills too!
Wow, Kamalini,
This is really a very visceral account of the workshop. Really made me want to attend it. The visuals of samosas and Naan and paneer butter masala, the camaraderie among the participants, the scenic locals, everything indicated beauty and serenity. Thanks for sharing this experience.
I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed the account of the workshop and hope to see. you attending some at the HWR too. Thank you!
Wow🫶🏽🫶🏽.
I was visualizing myself being there as I was reading this. It sounds like an amazing experience. The first writing exercise the team was given sounds challenging to me. I am curious to know what else you learnt in this course.