From Cave art to OTT, Storytelling has evolved over the centuries. Now that there are so many formats, finding one’s way through it and reaching one’s true potential has become a task.
But some have barged into the barricades, seeped through the rallies, and found their place. One such writer is Ankur Suman, now largely known for writing the script of Kaagaz 2, which carries the pain of a common man fighting the bureaucrats over his dead daughter. This film is even more special because it is the last one to feature Satish Kaushik.
Ankur had a special bond with the late actor and producer and reminisced the same. In a special interaction with Life Beyond Numbers, he shares his journey in the field of writing so far and what shaped him into the man he is today.
“If there is a story, I must tell it; if there’s none, I must create one. For me, writing has been more about emotions. There is always storytelling in my work. It’s been two decades so far, and I have grown, and so has my writing,” said the writer.
Writing for Ads
Suman is known largely for his advertising work. He has hundreds of ad scripts to his credit for brands like Revital, Relaxo, Suzuki, Valvoline, Nomarks, IndusInd Bank, etc. He has worked with some of the biggest names in Bollywood and beyond.
“I always had a flair for writing. That is how I got into this field and started doing brand campaigns. It was in 2010 that I met people like Imtiaz Ali, Gajraj Rao, Amitabh Ji, Salman, and more. When they saw my scripts, they encouraged me to write in longer format. But I was kind of diffident. Yet their suggestions stuck with me. So, even in advertising, I started to imbibe storytelling,” Ankur said.
Exploring other formats
The writer has created many short films as part of an international short film-making competition called the 48-Hour Film Project, where one is supposed to submit a film in just 48 hours. He has won the Best Writing Award every time he has participated, along with the Best Film and even Best Actor Awards. A couple of these films have been screened at multiple short film festivals and have won even more accolades.
“In 2011, I participated in an international short film competition called 48-hour film project. We won around 5 awards, and that first film was much appreciated. From then on, I kept winning every time we participated. It helped me shape my screenwriting very much. Later on, Satish Ji contacted me and said, ‘Main ek film bana raha hun aur usme mujhe tera thoda humour chahiye’. And then I shared some of the short films as samples, which I guess worked as he called me back within 20 minutes, sharing the entire story,” recalled Suman.
Though Ankur Suman now works in both advertising and cinema, he started with theatre.
“I believe that my theater experience has equipped me with a better understanding of the audience’s minds, especially when it comes to humor and comedy. Because you get an instant response from the audience in the theatre, you understand the feedback in real-time,” said the former theatre writer and artist.
Then again, it is hard for a true artist or writer to be satisfied with their work. There is always room for betterment.
“It is true. I would like to go back and rewrite so many things, but that is how it is. You learn and get better with time,” Ankur concluded.
On the work front, Suman is now working on a film and has many more in his kitty, but advertising is still an integral part of his projects.