Over the last few years, one of the common complaints of viewers – when it comes to Hindi films and shows – is the lack of originality. Where are the writers creating new stories, original content? That is the question people ask when reading about the umpteenth remake or adaptation. The answer is: ‘in development’. As the industry grows more insular and corporate with each passing year, the writers have taken it upon themselves to seek out fresh talent to bring new voices to the table. And through a pitch fest, they are now allowing the best young writers in the country to get a foot inside the door in a guarded Bollywood. 25 writers meet 40 producers over two days in the Pitch Fest organised by the Screenwriters’ Association of India. What is SWA’s script lab all about? The Screenwriters’ Association of India (SWA) began a Script Lab in 2021, which eventually developed into a Pitch Fest, allowing new writers to pitch their ideas and scripts to everyone from Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra’s …