Ram Madhvani on his International-Indian filmmaking style: “Yes, I am rooted, but there is a certain international school” : Bollywood News

February 17, 20253 Mins Read

Ram Madhvani’s passion for cinema began during his early years at St. Peter’s School, Panchgani, where Saturday film screenings played a significant role in his childhood. Watching movies in the school’s assembly hall, with steel trunks delivering reels of unknown films, sparked his love for filmmaking.

Ram Madhvani on his International-Indian filmmaking style: “Yes, I am rooted, but there is a certain international school”

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.”

Beyond school, Ram Madhvani’s exposure to cinema grew during childhood vacations in Barsi, a town near Solapur. His family’s connection with the owners of four local theaters—named after the Mangeshkar sisters—granted him unlimited access to films. Regardless of a full house, he always had a seat, a Mangola, and popcorn, watching movies multiple times. His deep immersion in both Western and Indian cinema—revisiting Yaadon Ki Baarat over twelve times and Jugnu nine times—helped shape 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 said, “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, Ram Madhvani went on to create acclaimed works like Neerja and Aarya, earning recognition both nationally and internationally. 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 cinema enthusiast to a filmmaker shaping impactful stories continues.

Also Read : Ahead of the release of The Waking Of A Nation, Ram Madhvani thanks Clodplay’s Chris Martin for apologizing for the atrocities committed by the British on India