MUMBAI: Screenwriters Association (SWA), the Indian guild of screenwriters and lyricists, announced the nominees for the TV Shows category of SWA Awards 2020. A jury comprising of eminent screenwriters selected nominees separately for story, screenplay and dialogue under two sub-categories: TV Comedy and TV Drama. Together, the nominations are divided among 13 Hindi language TV shows telecast in 2019.
Nominees for TV Comedy - Best Story are:
1. Lakshmi Jayakumar and Shakti Sagar Chopra for Aladdin NaamTohSunaHoga
2. Sanjay Kohli, Shashank Bali and Manoj Santoshi for BhabijiGhar Par Hain!
3. RaghuvirShekhawat for JijajiChhatPer Hain
4. Nitin Keswani for Tarak Mehta KaOoltahChashma
Nominees for TV Comedy – Best Screenplay are:
1. Aanchal Aggarwal for Aladdin Naam Toh Suna Hoga
2. Bhavna Vyas for Baavle Utaavle
3. Sanjay Kohli, Shashank Bali and Manoj Santoshi for BhabijiGhar Par Hain!
4. Aatish Kapadia for Bhakharwadi
5. RaghuvirShekhawat, Shashank Bali and Sanjay Kohli for JijajiChhatPer Hain
Nominees for TV Comedy – Best Dialogue are:
1. Bhavna Vyas for Baavle Utaavle
2. Manoj Santoshi for Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain!
3. Aatish Kapadia for Bhakharwadi
4. Raghuvir Shekhawat for Jijaji Chhat Per Hain
Nominees for TV Drama - Best Screenplay are:
1. Vishal Watwani and Renu Watwani for Choti Sarrdaarni
2. Kumar Prabhat for Ek Mahanayak - Dr B R Ambedkar
3. Zama Habib for Ishaaron Ishaaron Mein
4. Faizal Akhtar and Pankaj Uniyal for Jhansi ki Rani
5. Kartick Sitaraman for Mere Dad ki Dulhan
Nominees for TV Drama – Best Dialogue are:
1. Yogesh Vikrant for Ek Mahanayak - Dr B R Ambedkar
2. Zama Habib for Ishaaron Ishaaron Mein
3. Aparajita Sharma and Divy Nidhi Sharma for Kulfi Kumar Bajewala
4. PreetiMamgain for Mere Dad ki Dulhan
5. Vinod Sharma for Ram Siyake Luv Kush
SWA general secretary Sunil Salgia said, “TV is purely a writers’ medium. It is not easy writing a 30-60-minute script on a daily basis. It is even more difficult when you are writing as per the so called ‘episode feedback’ based on TRPs, rival channel’s story track, popularity of a character, upcoming festival, availability of cast or location, weather and above all the liking or the mood of the Creative Head. Crossing these check points, if you have been able to write something worth mentioning, you deserve an award.”
The SWA Awards Committee received 146 entries from writers of Hindi language TV shows telecast across general entertainment channels in 2019. A jury comprising of screenwriters such as Ajai Sinha, AnandMahendroo, Kamlesh Pandey, LiliputFaruqui, Manjul Sinha, PurnenduShekhar and Sanjay Upadhyay watched two consecutive episodes of entries shortlisted by a pre-jury and selected the nominees under each sub-category. The final winners will be announced in an online awards ceremony on 27 September 2020.
SWA awards spokesperson for television category and screenwriter Satyam Tripathy said, “Overnight an Indian television writer not only weaves the story fabric but also manages to mend a sudden tear and if a thread comes loose then just picks another but continues weaving the magic without disappointing his audience. If that sounds easy then just try writing 100 episodes of a serial and all your notions and misconceptions will fly out the window.”
SWA is holding the first ever SWA Awards on the occasion of its diamond jubilee year in 2020. Since they are judged by knowledgeable screenwriters and lyricists, these awards promise to become the most coveted validation for writers in India, much like the awards of other prestigious international writers’ guilds and literary organisations.
The nominees spoke to SWA, reacting to the announcement:
Lakshmi Jayakumar: The nomination for the SWA Award is a tremendous honour for me as it feels great to be recognised by your contemporaries, colleagues and seniors. A writer’s ultimate glory is appreciation and this being my first award nomination, I feel extremely honoured that it has come from the SWA itself. It is indeed motivating and inspiring. I am looking forward to this countdown although I feel like I have already won by just being nominated.
Shakti Sagar Chopra: Being recognised for one’s work is always appreciated, but even more so when it comes from your own fraternity. I greatly appreciate SWA for instituting these awards where writers shall be recognised by their peers. I also thank them for nominating Aladdin Naam Toh Suna Hoga in TV Comedy – Best Story category.
Shashank Bali: Never undermine the importance of the writer.
Manoj Santoshi: I am very happy that I got a nomination at the SWA Awards and I want to thank the entire team at SWA for this and wish them a bright future.
RaghuvirShekhawat: I am extremely thrilled for my nomination in all three categories of TV Comedy at the first ever SWA Awards started by SWA. I have been associated with SWA for a long time and these nominations by the jury of eminent writers make it even more special. I congratulate SWA for this wonderful step of honouring the writers and I hope these awards become the most coveted awards for writing in our country.
Nitin Keswani: SWA Awards are very special to most of the writers because it is from the writing fraternity. So it is a big achievement for me to get nominated on this platform. I feel I am working in the right direction.
Bhavna Vyas: I feel so happy that I got nominated for my first ever comedy TV show by SWA. Being appreciated by your senior writers and industry members is a matter of honour for any writer. I am really grateful. Also I want to say this is an amazing initiative for motivating writers by SWA.
Aatish Kapadia: Congratulations SWA for instituting these awards by the writers, of the writers and for the writers.
Aanchal Aggarwal: A writer is often judged by the TRPs a show garners. But when an eminent jury from your own field sees you worthy of a nomination, it is the day when a writer gets their due. This is really a great motivational moment for me as a writer irrespective of whether I win or not. I am grateful to SWA for this honour and giving every writer like me a push, a pat on the back and reason to keep pushing our envelopes and keep creating better content.
Yogesh Vikrant: The institution of the SWA Awards is a great step. A writer is the backbone of every screen story. That is why, an awards programme conceived by a writers’ association that keeps the contribution of the writer at its centre is a welcome initiative in the world of storytelling for the screen. I feel very happy to have been nominated for best dialogue for SWA Awards 2020.
Aparajita Sharma: No job is too small, it’s true. Call me vain, but to me, we have the best job. Writing is pure joy and we are fortunate enough to be able to do the thing we love every day. We have dedicated our lives to writing, and SWA has dedicated itself to writers. This is the perfect partnership. And, this year, with these awards, we celebrate this partnership. Divy and I feel honoured that our fraternity, our people have recognised our work as noteworthy and nominated us for Kullfi Kumarr Bajewaala.
Divy Nidhi Sharma: SWA Awards are very important to me because they are our own awards. I am proud to have been nominated for this award and I convey my best wishes to all other nominees.
Preeti Mamgain: Words are my passion, and words are my business, but at this moment I feel speechless. I am immensely grateful to SWA for this nomination. What makes it truly special is that for the first time in India we have an awards function exclusively for screenwriters. To be judged by a jury of my own peers, by respected and eminent screenwriters, makes me feel elated and humbled at the same time. To quote Benjamin Disraeli: "I feel a very unusual feeling, if it's not indigestion, it must be gratitude."
Vinod Sharma: It is an excellent attempt to cheer up screenwriters as only a writer can evaluate the talent and work of another writer. I am glad that SWA initiated this encouragement. I feel thrilled that the jury nominated me for the first edition of its awards. Thank you, SWA team, Swastik and Siddhartha Kumar Tewary who always encouraged me and made me to write something which is appreciated.
Vishal Watwani and RenuWatwani: We are glad to be nominated for the award for best screenplay for Choti Sarrdaarni. Recognition from peers is by far the most gratifying feeling. So thank you SWA for bringing about this opportunity to all the ‘wordsmiths’ of Hindi television/OTT/Films. These awards will prove to be a credible milestone in the careers of the writers who are nominees and winners.
Kumar Prabhat: The writer plays an important role in the success of a film, TV show or web series. But when it comes to praise, all the applause and appreciation is usurped by others while the writers continue writing. But I am glad that in addition to protecting the rights of writers, SWA has also assumed the responsibility of honouring them with awards. These awards are a matter of pride for any writer. I feel fortunate to have been nominated for best screenplay.
Zama Habib: I am honoured and excited to know that after being nominated under the Best Lyrics category by SWA Awards, I am now nominated for Best Screenplay and best dialogues for Ishaaron Ishaaron Mein. Thanks SWA for the nomination. A win or loss doesn’t matter. I am happy that our writers’ fraternity has begun this new journey. Our own awards! Congratulations to each and every writer and lyricist. Congratulations to SWA awards team.
Faizal Akhtar: Any association is always like a mother to its associate. And an award coming from SWA feels so genuine. I have been to many award functions and have won many awards, but I have seen writers always being treated in a ‘rushed-up’ manner while giving the awards. It is always the actors who get importance in a medium which is called a ‘writer's medium’. At least now writers will get the necessary importance in their mother’s arms. Thank you so much for nominating me for Jhansi Ki Rani, a show much closer to my heart for the amount of research and crafting that went into it.
Pankaj Uniyal: I am truly overwhelmed by this great initiative taken by SWA to recognise, encourage and promote screenwriters. I am earnestly grateful for the recognition I have received for being shortlisted as one of the nominees for Jhansi ki Rani. I feel privileged and honoured for this recognition of my endeavour. These awards will definitely prove a milestone in moulding and shaping the future of the entire screenwriting fraternity.
KartickSitaraman: It is most redeeming to be recognised by one’s peers. It made me pause for a moment. And in that moment, I rediscovered, once again, that the only worthy pursuit in this job, amidst the rejections and frustrations is to be true to oneself, one’s voice. It may not bring accolades or successes immediately but it keeps one alive to try another day. My gratitude to SWA for this step forward, with the hope that it’s a giant leap for writers everywhere in this country.
