The Script Really Is Everything Says Shoojit Sircar Applauding Boman Irani’s Spiral Bound Initiative

When a filmmaker known for some of India’s most emotionally grounded cinema talks about storytelling, people listen—and this time, National Award-winning director Shoojit Sircar made his stance crystal clear at the Spiral Bound gala in Mumbai. His message was simple, sharp, and almost repeated like a mantra: the script comes first, everything else follows.

On the sidelines of the grand red-carpet event hosted by Boman Irani, Shoojit didn’t hesitate when asked whether films are ultimately driven by directors or writers. He said, “Man, the script really is everything. The script is everything. So, I am grateful to Boman that he has brought all the writers together here—that all these writers are converging on a single, common platform. So, I think it’s wonderful. I think I am really going to enjoy this evening.” The repetition wasn’t accidental—it was emphasis, almost a reminder to an industry often dazzled by visuals and stars.

He further added, “That is precisely why I’m saying that this initiative by Boman—through 'Spiral Bound'—is truly wonderful. We definitely need the right kind of forum. And it is incredible that so many writers are gathered together today in this one room.” In a room filled with emerging writers and seasoned voices, Sircar’s words landed like validation for an often-overlooked section of filmmaking—the writers who build the foundation.

The event itself was the 6th April Bound gala, marking a major milestone for Spiral Bound, Boman Irani’s screenwriting mentorship platform. What began during the 2020 lockdown as small mentoring conversations has now grown into a massive creative network of over 2,000 writers and more than 865 mentoring sessions. The Mumbai event was not just a celebration but a statement of intent—that storytelling needs structure, mentorship, and space to grow.

Shoojit Sircar’s presence added significant weight to the evening, especially given his body of work that includes acclaimed films like Piku, Pink, October, and Sardar Udham. Known for deeply human storytelling, his endorsement of a writer-first platform felt both natural and significant.

The gala also highlighted how Spiral Bound is evolving beyond mentorship into a structured ecosystem for discovering and nurturing new voices. With writers from across backgrounds converging under one platform, the initiative is slowly reshaping how industry conversations around scripts and storytelling are happening in India.

In the end, Shoojit Sircar’s words echoed what many in the room seemed to feel but rarely say out loud: filmmaking may begin with stars, cameras, and vision—but it survives only on the strength of a script. And in an industry constantly chasing spectacle, that reminder hit home.