Be it the gentle turbulence of a young poet, lost between rural roots and urban anonymity in Trijya, or the voice of childhood itself, navigating the mysteries of village life, in Sthalpuran, Akshay Indikar's films are bound by their nomadic folk roots, the stubborn clarity of his voice amid mainstream noise, and the poetic intensity of memory and place. Akshay has taken Marathi cinema to audiences in over 35 countries, proving that compelling stories can emerge from modest resources when guided by a clear voice and a deep sense of truth.
It is this philosophy that shapes Cinema Lab 10, a seven-day practical filmmaking workshop he will lead in Mumbai and Pune. The lab is conceived as a space where someone can find and sharpen their own cinematic voice. Akshay's aim through this, is to help participants understand that cinema is not simply about equipment or scale, but about telling a story with honesty, using whatever tools are at hand.
The workshop is designed to take participants from concept to completion of a short film — whether they have never picked up a camera before or are already experimenting with the medium. The first four days focus on immersion: three days exploring film language, narrative structures, visual composition, editing rhythms, and global as well as regional cinematic traditions, followed by a day of screenings to share and reflect on each other’s work. The next three days are in the field — pre-production and location scouting, a full day of shooting, and post-production to shape the final cut.
Every participant will make a short film of up to ten minutes, choosing from four themes provided at the start. These themes are crafted to be achievable within a day’s shoot and with limited resources, yet flexible enough to encourage individual interpretation. Those not directing can take on roles in acting, cinematography, editing, or sound design; the only requirement is to contribute meaningfully to the process. Films made during the lab can be sent to festivals, uploaded online, or distributed independently.
In our tenth workshop, we’re bringing a completely practical approach — from Dadasaheb Phalke’s first film to Iranian, Turkish, and French cinema, to India’s own regional films — all as a way to think about how to develop new styles. Not everyone who attends will end up working in cinema, but the films they see here will enrich them as human beings. I’m certain no one will leave this workshop the same person they were when they came in — and I’ll also be richer for hearing the ideas of young people from across the country.Akshay Indikar
While the technical process is important, Akshay emphasises the thematic core of filmmaking— understanding one’s own perspective, drawing from personal memory, and recognising the cultural contexts that shape a story. Participants will watch films from across the world and dissect scenes to see how masters create visual emotion, but they will also be encouraged to look inward: to ask why they tell the stories they do, and how their voice can remain intact in translation from thought to screen.
Conducted in Marathi, Hindi, and English, the lab is also about building community. Collaborative problem-solving, shared resources, and long-term creative partnerships are as much a part of the design as learning to handle a camera or edit a scene. Select participants may even be invited to join Akshay's ongoing film projects after the lab.
For the filmmaker, Cinema Lab 10 is both a teaching space and a conversation — one where technique meets intuition and creative instincts, and where the craft of filmmaking is inseparable from the truth of storytelling. I’ve worked on films with tiny, shoestring budgets, and I’ve also worked with people like Karan Johar and Anurag Kashyap," Akshay notes. "This energy, this journey — sharing it is the purpose of this workshop."
Follow Akshay here and sign up for the workshop via WhatsApp by messaging 8149204797.
If you enjoyed reading this here's more from Homegrown:
An Unlikely Icon: How Raj Kapoor Captured The Hearts Of 20th Century China
Masks, Myths, & Memory: The Queer Cinematic Legacy Of Rituparno Ghosh
The Tawaif's Tale: The Enduring Allure Of Muzaffar Ali's ‘Umrao Jaan’