“We Need Cinema Like Homebound to Keep Us Going”: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari’s Call for Theatres to Thrive Again

Speaking at the silver jubilee edition of FICCI Frames 2025, acclaimed filmmaker Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari struck a personal and poignant chord during a panel on the evolving landscape of Indian storytelling. Looking back at her recent trip to the theatre, she described, "The last movie which I went to watch in theatre was Homebound, and I enjoyed it quite a lot. I just wish more people were present in the theater." It wasn't a flippant comment—it was a genuine appeal to revive the shared pleasure of seeing movies where they should be enjoyed: in the theatre.

 

Tiwari’s words landed with weight in a room filled with creators navigating the streaming era. She acknowledged the shifting habits of audiences but also emphasized the emotional nourishment that cinema can offer—especially the kind of storytelling that dares to be intimate, subtle, and soul-stirring. “We need cinema like this to keep us going,” she added, underscoring the importance of films that speak to human emotions rather than algorithms.

 

The session, "Bollywood's Narrative Reset: Storytelling at a Crossroads", had a big guns panel consisting of Shoojit Sircar, Hansal Mehta, and Ram Madhvani, along with Tiwari, discussing how Indian cinema is breaking new ground. From realistic bleakness to blockbuster spectacles, the discussion steered through the conflict between artistic intention and commercial success. Tiwari, whose own storytelling is recognizable by its thoughtful, human-centric approach, was that voice arguing in favor of emotional truth over formulaic narrating.

 

And though the discussion went as deep as the state of the industry, Ashwiny brought it back down to earth to what truly counts: the audience. She concluded on an optimistic note, confessing her own eagerness to watch Kantara Chapter 1 in theaters—proof that she's not only asking audiences to turn up; she's leading by example herself.

 

As Indian cinema undergoes a narrative reset, Tiwari's words echo like a soft anthem: we don't want cinema—we need it. The kind that unites us, provokes us, heals us. And perhaps even gets us off the couch.

 

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