Breakdown Besties Podcast

Breakdown Besties Podcast

A screenwriting classroom experience for aspiring Bollywood screenwriters. Analysing and studying the screenwriting techniques used on the page to make Bollywood films come alive on the screen. Welcome to the Breakdown Besties Podcast! We're your hosts, Akshay and Ananya, two Bollywood screenwriters having written shows like Mismatched, Inside Edge, Wedding.con, Rana Naidu, Ishq in the Air, and Grahan, amongst others. Every Thursday, we breakdown films to examine the screenwriting techniques used to make iconic Bollywood films... well, iconic. We cover logline construction, hero's journey breakdown, scene and dialogue analysis, plot and theme, and other craft devices. Just like you would in a screenwriting classroom. Once you're done listening to the episode, rewatch the movie, now noting how the techniques used on the page come alive on the screen. And know that you're now one step closer to being a professional-level screenwriter. Questions? Suggestions? Ideas? Shoot 'em to us at breakdownbesties@gmail.com In case of a breakdown, your besties are right here for you!

  1. Aug 13

    E24: Left-wing propaganda or patriotism?! | Rang De Basanti (2006) Screenwriting Masterclass

    Rang De Basanti is more than a patriotic film. Twenty years after its release, it still feels uncomfortably relevant. Why? Because the writers didn't just tell a story about six college friends. They built a screenplay that connects personal grief, political anger, history, friendship, and revolution into one emotional journey. In this episode of the Breakdown Besties Podcast, we break down the screenwriting techniques that make Rang De Basanti one of the most enduring films in Indian cinema. From parallel storytelling to symbolism, character transformation, narrative structure, and emotional payoffs, we examine why this screenplay continues to resonate decades later. The episode also explores why so many moments in the film feel as though they were written for today's headlines. That observation becomes a recurring theme throughout the discussion. Chapters: 00:00 Hot Takes 00:38 Introduction 4:24 Logline Breakdown 8:33 Hero’s Journey 27:03 Theme Analysis 36:41 Character Creation Techniques 51:46 Scenes Analysis and Breakdown 🎬 In this episode, we discuss:Why Rang De Basanti feels just as relevant today as it did in 2006How the film uses historical revolutionaries to reshape the identities of its present-day charactersParallel timelines and why they work so well in this screenplaySymbolism and the use of mirrored characters across different generationsHow the screenplay turns carefree college students into political activistsCharacter transformation and the gradual shift from apathy to actionHow the film humanizes almost every character instead of reducing them to heroes and villainsWhy the system, not an individual, becomes the true antagonistHow the writers avoid the "white savior" trope with Sue's characterWhy Rang De Basanti succeeds as both a political drama and a coming-of-age storyThe importance of emotional storytelling in historical and political cinemaHow the film uses non-linear storytelling at key moments to maximize emotional impactWhy breaking your own narrative rules can sometimes make a scene more powerful 🎥 About Rang De Basanti (2006)Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra Written by: Kamlesh PandeyRensil D'SilvaRakeysh Omprakash MehraPrasoon JoshiStarring: Aamir KhanSiddharthSharman JoshiKunal KapoorAtul KulkarniSoha Ali KhanAlice PattenR. MadhavanWaheeda RehmanAnupam Kher 🎧 About Breakdown BestiesWe're two produced Bollywood screenwriters with credits on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. Every week, we break down iconic films and extract the screenwriting techniques that make them work. No film-school jargon. Just practical storytelling techniques you can apply to your own script. KeywordsRang De Basanti explained, Rang De Basanti screenwriting, Rang De Basanti analysis, Breakdown Besties podcast, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Bollywood screenplay analysis, patriotic films in India, political storytelling, symbolism in films, parallel storytelling, character transformation, ensemble screenwriting, screenplay breakdown, film analysis podcast, how to write political dramas, non-linear storytelling, historical storytelling, Indian cinema analysis, screenwriting podcast, Bollywood writing techniques.

    E24: Left-wing propaganda or patriotism?! | Rang De Basanti (2006) Screenwriting Masterclass

  2. Aug 6

    E23: Hindi Medium (2017) screenwriting breakdown

    Want to break into Bollywood as a paid screenwriter? We teach you all the writing tips, tricks, and techniques to become the best Bollywood writer you can be! Welcome to the screenwriting breakdown and analysis of Bollywood film Hindi Medium (2017) starring Irrfan Khan. Written by Zeenat Lakhani, Saket Chaudhary and Amitosh Nagpal, this film explores the wide education gap in India. In this episode of the Breakdown Besties, your film-school level screenwriting class experience, we analyze the techniques used in the script, to make the film come alive on the screen. Here’s what we cover: 0:00 Introduction 00:59 Logline breakdown 05:09 Hero's Journey analysis 24:21 Theme analysis 29:52 Scene construction techniques 53:34 World building analysis 55:35 Character Creation techniques And after you’re done watching the episode, we recommend you watch Hindi Medium, now with all the awareness of the techniques, and see how they’re executed to bring entertainment to life. So whether you’re in the heart of Bollywood in Mumbai, refining your craft for your next gig, or making your way here from near and far – we’re sure the Breakdown Besties Podcast will further the course of your screenwriting craft and career. And if there’s any movie or TV episode you’d like us to break down, or you have any questions, – drop them down in the comments. Your besties are here for you! Hit subscribe and we’ll see you next week on another episode of Breakdown Besties! All film clips and stills used belong to the owners. We do not own any copyright of the same. They are only being used transformationally for educational purposes.

    E23: Hindi Medium (2017) screenwriting breakdown

  3. Jul 30

    E22: Bhoot (2003) Screenwriting Breakdown

    Want to break into Bollywood as a paid screenwriter? We teach you all the writing tips, tricks, and techniques to become the best Bollywood writer you can be! Welcome to the screenwriting breakdown and analysis of Bollywood film Bhoot (2003) starring Ajay Devgn and Urmila Matondkar. Written by Sameer Sharma and Lalit Marathe, this film is one of Bollywood’s spookiest horror stories with some real scares and a theme that runs deeper than what you’d expect from a movie of this genre! In this episode of the Breakdown Besties, your film-school level screenwriting class experience, we analyze the techniques used in the script, to make the film come alive on the screen. Here’s what we cover: 0:00 Introduction 02:33 Logline breakdown 13:19 Hero's Journey analysis 31:24 Theme analysis 35:10 Scene construction techniques 52:50 Genre tropes analysis 49:43 Character Creation techniques And after you’re done watching the episode, we recommend you watch Bhoot, now with all the awareness of the techniques, and see how they’re executed to bring entertainment to life. So whether you’re in the heart of Bollywood in Mumbai, refining your craft for your next gig, or making your way here from near and far – we’re sure the Breakdown Besties Podcast will further the course of your screenwriting craft and career. And if there’s any movie or TV episode you’d like us to break down, or you have any questions, – drop them down in the comments. Your besties are here for you! Hit subscribe and we’ll see you next week on another episode of Breakdown Besties! All film clips and stills used belong to the owners. We do not own any copyright of the same. They are only being used transformationally for educational purposes.

    E22: Bhoot (2003) Screenwriting Breakdown

  4. Jul 23

    E21: Ek Tha Tiger Screenwriting Breakdown

    Welcome to the screenwriting breakdown and analysis of Bollywood film Ek Tha Tiger starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif. Written by Aditya Chopra, Kabir Khan, and Neelesh Misra, this film explores how a RAW and ISI agent navigate a forbidden romantic relationship when love trumps the rules of nationalism. In this episode of the Breakdown Besties, your film-school level screenwriting class experience, we analyze the techniques used in the script, to make the film come alive on the screen. Here’s what we cover: 0:00 Introduction 02:17 Logline breakdown 07:07 Hero's Journey analysis 17:14 Theme analysis 23:10 Scene construction techniques 43:10 Genre tropes analysis 49:43 Character Creation techniques And after you’re done watching the episode, we recommend you watch Ek Tha Tiger, now with all the awareness of the techniques, and see how they’re executed to bring entertainment to life. So whether you’re in the heart of Bollywood in Mumbai, refining your craft for your next gig, or making your way here from near and far – we’re sure the Breakdown Besties Podcast will further the course of your screenwriting craft and career. And if there’s any movie or TV episode you’d like us to break down, or you have any questions, – drop them down in the comments. Your besties are here for you! Hit subscribe and we’ll see you next week on another episode of Breakdown Besties! All film clips and stills used belong to the owners. We do not own any copyright of the same. They are only being used transformationally for educational purposes.

    E21: Ek Tha Tiger Screenwriting Breakdown

  5. Jul 16

    E20: Karthik Calling Karthik Screenwriting Breakdown

    Welcome to the screenwriting breakdown and analysis of Bollywood film Karthik Calling Karthik starring Farhan Akhtar and Deepika Padukone. Written by Vijay Lalwani, this film explores our relationship with our own mind and how we can become prisoners and victims of ourselves without even quite realizing it. In this episode of the Breakdown Besties, your film-school level screenwriting class experience, we analyze the techniques used in the script, to make the film come alive on the screen. Here’s what we cover: 0:00 Introduction 03:06 Logline breakdown 09:29 Hero's Journey analysis 23:06 Theme analysis 28:07 Tone analysis 32:28 World-building analysis 33:57 Character Creation techniques 38:34 Genre tropes analysis 45:30 Scene construction techniques 1:00:17 Dialogue dissection 1:02:32 Audience Q&A And after you’re done watching the episode, we recommend you watch Karthik Calling Karthik, now with all the awareness of the techniques, and see how they’re executed to bring entertainment to life. So whether you’re in the heart of Bollywood in Mumbai, refining your craft for your next gig, or making your way here from near and far – we’re sure the Breakdown Besties Podcast will further the course of your screenwriting craft and career. And if there’s any movie or TV episode you’d like us to break down, or you have any questions, – drop them down in the comments. Your besties are here for you! Hit subscribe and we’ll see you next week on another episode of Breakdown Besties! All film clips and stills used belong to the owners. We do not own any copyright of the same. They are only being used transformationally for educational purposes.

    E20: Karthik Calling Karthik Screenwriting Breakdown

  6. Jul 9

    E19: OMG! Oh My God screenwriting breakdown

    Welcome to the screenwriting breakdown and analysis of Bollywood film OMG! Oh My God (2004) starring Paresh Rawal and Akshay Kumar. Written by Bhavesh Mandalia and Umesh Shukla, this film explores our relationship with faith - how one’s personal practice of spirituality and religion is often taken advantage of by institutions claiming to house our creator while exploiting the devotees with unblemished faith who have more often than not fallen into hard times. In this episode of the Breakdown Besties, your film-school level screenwriting class experience, we analyze the techniques used in the script, to make the film come alive on the screen. Here’s what we cover: 0:00 Introduction 01:34 Logline breakdown 04:57 Hero's Journey analysis 23:30 Theme analysis 26:54 Scene construction techniques 39:16 Genre tropes analysis 43:38 Dialogue dissection 49:35 Character Creation techniques 1:00:47 World-building analysis And after you’re done watching the episode, we recommend you watch OMG! Oh My God  again, now with all the awareness of the techniques, and see how they’re executed to bring entertainment to life. So whether you’re in the heart of Bollywood in Mumbai, refining your craft for your next gig, or making your way here from near and far – we’re sure the Breakdown Besties Podcast will further the course of your screenwriting craft and career. And if there’s any movie or TV episode you’d like us to break down, or you have any questions, – drop them down in the comments. Your besties are here for you! Hit subscribe and we’ll see you next week on another episode of Breakdown Besties! All film clips and stills used belong to the owners. We do not own any copyright of the same. They are only being used transformationally for educational purposes.

    E19: OMG! Oh My God screenwriting breakdown

  7. Jul 2

    E18: Hum Tum Breakdown

    Welcome to the screenwriting breakdown and analysis of Bollywood film Hum Tum (2004) starring Rani Mukherjee and Saif Ali Khan. Written by Kunal Kohli and Siddharth Raj Anand, this film explores the evolving relationship between a man and a woman who meet across different phases of life, riding the ups and downs of every evolution of lives and themselves together, asking the quintessential early 2000s rom-com questions- “Can a man and a woman really be just friends?” In this episode of the Breakdown Besties, your film-school level screenwriting class experience, we analyze the techniques used in the script, to make the film come alive on the screen. Here’s what we cover: 0:00 Introduction 02:03 Logline breakdown 06:49 Hero's Journey analysis 21:56 Theme analysis 29:51 Plotting analysis 33:09 Scene construction techniques 49:53 Genre tropes analysis 01:04:56 Character Creation Techniques 1:12:19 Audience Q&A And after you’re done watching the episode, we recommend you watch Hum Tum (2004)  again, now with all the awareness of the techniques, and see how they’re executed to bring entertainment to life. So whether you’re in the heart of Bollywood in Mumbai, refining your craft for your next gig, or making your way here from near and far – we’re sure the Breakdown Besties Podcast will further the course of your screenwriting craft and career. And if there’s any movie or TV episode you’d like us to break down, or you have any questions, – drop them down in the comments. Your besties are here for you! Hit subscribe and we’ll see you next week on another episode of Breakdown Besties!

    E18: Hum Tum Breakdown

  8. Jun 25

    E17: Black Breakdown

    Welcome to the screenwriting breakdown and analysis of Bollywood film Black (2005) starring Rani Mukherjee and Amitabh Bachchan. Written by Bhavani Iyer, Prakash Kapadia and Sanjay Leela Bhansali, this film explores the relationship between a teacher and his differently abled student, as he helps her grow from a hopeless child into a young woman with promise. Ahead of its time with bold choices and unexplored themes, this story is one of Bollywood’s most unique and pathbreaking films. In this episode of the Breakdown Besties, your film-school level screenwriting class experience, we analyze the techniques used in the script, to make the film come alive on the screen. Here’s what we cover: 0:00 Introduction 02:42 Logline breakdown 06:54 Hero's Journey analysis 29:06 Theme analysis 32:16 Scene construction techniques 59:07 Character Creation Techniques 1:02:18 Dialogue analysis And after you’re done watching the episode, we recommend you watch Black again, now with all the awareness of the techniques, and see how they’re executed to bring entertainment to life. So whether you’re in the heart of Bollywood in Mumbai, refining your craft for your next gig, or making your way here from near and far – we’re sure the Breakdown Besties Podcast will further the course of your screenwriting craft and career. And if there’s any movie or TV episode you’d like us to break down, or you have any questions, – drop them down in the comments. Your besties are here for you! Hit subscribe and we’ll see you next week on another episode of Breakdown Besties!

    E17: Black Breakdown
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About

A screenwriting classroom experience for aspiring Bollywood screenwriters. Analysing and studying the screenwriting techniques used on the page to make Bollywood films come alive on the screen. Welcome to the Breakdown Besties Podcast! We're your hosts, Akshay and Ananya, two Bollywood screenwriters having written shows like Mismatched, Inside Edge, Wedding.con, Rana Naidu, Ishq in the Air, and Grahan, amongst others. Every Thursday, we breakdown films to examine the screenwriting techniques used to make iconic Bollywood films... well, iconic. We cover logline construction, hero's journey breakdown, scene and dialogue analysis, plot and theme, and other craft devices. Just like you would in a screenwriting classroom. Once you're done listening to the episode, rewatch the movie, now noting how the techniques used on the page come alive on the screen. And know that you're now one step closer to being a professional-level screenwriter. Questions? Suggestions? Ideas? Shoot 'em to us at breakdownbesties@gmail.com In case of a breakdown, your besties are right here for you!

Information

  • Creator
    Breakdown Besties Podcast
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Breakdown Besties Podcast
  • Show Website
    Breakdown Besties Podcast