In this episode of Industry Spotlight by Creative First, Amitoj Singh, writer of Agli Fasal (Next Crop)—selected for the 2025 Film Bazaar Screenwriters’ Lab—joined Lohita Sujith, Sr. Director, Copyright & Digital Economy, Motion Picture Association, to discuss his journey as a storyteller, the origins of his film, and his creative process.

Amitoj reflected on his roots in Farooqabad and his formative years studying literature and theatre before graduating from FTII, where his exposure to global cinema deeply shaped his storytelling sensibilities. He spoke about how Agli Fasal grew from personal grief during the COVID-19 years, when the loss of loved ones inspired him to explore memory, mortality, and rebirth through a poetic, magic realist lens.

At the Screenwriter’s Lab, he found new clarity through mentorship with Claire Dobbin and collaboration with peers, transforming the script’s emotional core and structure. As a poet and lyricist, he also described how rhythm often seeded his ideas, shaping the film’s language and mood. Reflecting on his experience working with filmmaker Sudhir Mishra, Singh described him as a master of craft who taught him the fluid, instinctive nature of storytelling beyond prescriptive forms.

Looking ahead, Amitoj expressed excitement about bringing Agli Fasal to life as his directorial debut, eager to find collaborators at Film Bazaar and driven by a fearless commitment to his vision: “happy to die trying than not to try at all.”