Breakdown Besties Podcast

Breakdown Besties Podcast
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  • TV & Film

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. E18: Hum Tum Breakdown

    6d ago

    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!

    1h 18m
  2. E17: Black Breakdown

    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!

    1h 8m
  3. E16: Raazi Breakdown

    Jun 18

    E16: Raazi Breakdown

    Welcome to the screenwriting breakdown and analysis of Bollywood film Raazi starring Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal. This spy thriller written, (Bhavani Iyer, Meghna Gulzar), directed, and starring women takes us into a world that we’re not privy too- how women contribute to the war efforts to prove their patriotism and mettle. Adapted from the rich source material provided by the book Calling Sehmat by Harinder S. Sikka, not only do we get a look at how India participated in Bangladesh's liberation but particularly, what role the unsung heroines played in it too! 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 08:45 Hero's Journey analysis 25:19 Theme analysis 29:34 World building techniques 36:01 Scene construction techniques 54:21 Character Creation Techniques And after you’re done watching the episode, we recommend you watch Raazi 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!

    1h 6m
  4. E15: Barfi! Breakdown

    Jun 11

    E15: Barfi! Breakdown

    Welcome to the screenwriting breakdown and analysis of Bollywood film Bari! starring Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra!  This wonderfully whimsical film written by Anurag Basu, Tani Basu, and Sanjeev Datta provides a mezmerizing cinematic experience that makes the audience suspense all disbelief while they’re glued to their seats, wondering how these phenomenal characters will escape their damning fate! 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 01:23 Logline breakdown 05:48 Hero's Journey analysis 22:45 Theme analysis 27:05 World building techniques 31:39 Character Creation Techniques 37:10 Scene construction techniques 52:18 Dialogue analysis 55:42 Genre tropes breakdown And after you’re done watching the episode, we recommend you watch Barfi! 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.

    59 min
  5. E14: Lootera Breakdown

    Jun 4

    E14: Lootera Breakdown

    Welcome to the screenwriting breakdown and analysis of Bollywood film Lootera (2013) starring Sonkashi Sinha and Ranveer Singh!  This heartbreaking adaptation of O’Henry’s The Last Leaf, written by Bhavani Iyer, Vikramaditya Motwane, and Anurag Kashyap, shows us how Western tales can be culturally adapted for Indian audiences and elevated to provide a gut-wrenching and mezmerizing cinematic experience. 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 01:57 Logline breakdown 08:02 Hero's Journey analysis 24:01 World building techniques 29:31 Scene construction techniques 48:54 Character Creation Techniques 52:50 Dialogue analysis 54:22 Genre tropes breakdown And after you’re done watching the episode, we recommend you watch Lootera (2013) 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.

    1h 4m
  6. E13: Fashion Breakdown

    May 28

    E13: Fashion Breakdown

    Welcome to the screenwriting breakdown and analysis of Bollywood film Fashion (2008) starring Priyanka Chopro-Jonas!  This insider, almost voyeuristic view into the behind-the-scenes world of supermodels, written by Madhur Bhandarkar, takes audiences on a journey into a world we otherwise have little access to. 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 01:47 Logline breakdown 07:19 Hero's Journey analysis 20:05 Theme analysis 23:57 World building techniques 29:25 Symbolism 32:09 Scene construction techniques 48:41 Character Creation Techniques And after you’re done watching the episode, we recommend you watch Fashion (2008) 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!

    55 min
  7. E12: Paan Singh Tomar Breakdown

    May 21

    E12: Paan Singh Tomar Breakdown

    Welcome to the screenwriting breakdown and analysis of Bollywood film Paan Singh Tomar (2010) starring Irrfan Khan!  This poignant biopic about the state of Indian sportsmen and the dacoit crisis in India, written by Sanjay Chauhan and Tigmanshu Dhulia, tells an important tale to audiences right from the heartland. 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 02:13 Logline breakdown 10:26 Hero's Journey analysis 30:14 Scene construction techniques 46:35 Genre tropes analysis 51:25 Character Creation Techniques 55:10 Theme analysis 1:00:17 Symbolism 1:01:37 World building techniques 1:04:27 Dialogue analysis And after you’re done watching the episode, we recommend you watch Paan Singh Tomar 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.

    1h 7m
  8. E11: English Vinglish Breakdown

    May 14

    E11: English Vinglish Breakdown

    Welcome to the screenwriting breakdown and analysis of Bollywood film English Vinglish starring Sridevi!  This heartwarming dramedy which marked Sridevi’s comeback made going to the cinema an absolute treat for filmgoers in India! Written by Gauri Shinde, this film highlighted important themes of love and respect within the Indian middle class. 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 01:38 Logline breakdown 06:19 Hero's Journey analysis 18:18 Character Creation Techniques 27:42 Genre tropes analysis 31:10 Scene construction techniques 47:44 Dialogue analysis 54:21 World building techniques 57:47 Theme analysis And after you’re done watching the episode, we recommend you watch English Vinglish 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!

    1h 4m
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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!

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  • Creator
    Breakdown Besties Podcast
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Breakdown Besties Podcast
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