“Yes, I am rooted, but there is a certain international school” Ram Madhvani on what sets him apart

National, 17th February, 2025: Ram Madhvani’s love for cinema began in his early years at St. Peter’s School, Panchgani, where Saturday film screenings became a defining part of his childhood. The excitement of watching movies in the school’s assembly hall, with steel trunks delivering reels of unknown films, laid the foundation for his deep passion. Reflecting on those formative years, he shares, “If you were to ask my school friends what they wanted to become when they grew up, I would have been one of the rare guys to say a filmmaker. I don’t know how that happened.”

His exposure to cinema expanded beyond school, with his childhood vacations in Barsi, a small town near Solapur, offering him a privilege. With his family knowing the owners of the four local theaters—named after the Mangeshkar sisters—Madhvani had unlimited access to films. Whether the theater was houseful or not, he would always get a seat, a mangola and popcorn in hand, and the freedom to watch movies multiple times. This deep immersion in both Western and Indian cinema—watching Yadon Ki Baarat over twelve times and Jugnu nine times—shaped his understanding of storytelling.

As he pursued his passion in college, he explored world cinema through institutions like Max Mueller Bhavan and the British Council, absorbing influences from a range of legendary filmmakers. “On one hand, there is Yash Chopra, and on the other, there’s Fellini and Shyam Benegal. I am a filmmaker trying to balance both worlds—remaining rooted in Indian storytelling while embracing international influences.”

He further speaks about his unique cinematic vision says, “I am a filmmaker, who’s trying to be on one hand, international, on the other hand, Indian, and trying to be rooted within an international Indian way of speaking. I want to be rooted, but at the same time, I’ve got all of these other influences, and I think that’s really what probably sets me apart from some of the other people who are also practicing that. Yes, I am rooted, but there is a certain international school.” This balance between global and Indian storytelling has defined his artistic approach.

From these early experiences, Madhvani went on to create powerful, award-winning works like Neerja and Aarya, which received both national and international acclaim. Now, as he prepares for the release of his upcoming series, The Waking of a Nation, premiering on March 7, 2025, on SonyLIV, his journey from a young boy mesmerized by cinema to a filmmaker crafting impactful stories continues to inspire.