StoriesAsia | Story Matters

It's a story of music, a tale of passion, a struggle for inclusion, a call for revolution.

This is the story of two medical doctors – Lalitha Regi and her husband Regi George – who chose to serve a tribal community in the Sittilingi Valley of the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Inspired by the work of doctors like Rajnikant Arole and Mabelle Arole, who practiced in the rural area of Jamkhed in the western state of Maharashtra, Lalitha and Regi established a hospital to cater to the healthcare needs of the Malayali tribe, residents of the Kalvarayan and Sitteri hills in the Eastern Ghats.

In Episode 8 of ‘Story Matters’ series, we’ll feature filmmaker/music composer Somesh Saha, who, most recently, composed the music for the new six-episode Netflix series ‘Masaba Masaba,’ on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020 on StoriesAsia.Org.

It’s a conversation about how journalists can visually show backstory and choose the right music.

‘Story Matters’ is a series of conversations on ‘new journalism’ – a journalism that would help the news audience relate and connect with stories at a deeper human level. It features storytelling experts from the film industry and the literary world who respond to questions by StoriesAsia journalists on the use of cinematic and literary techniques in journalism.

In Episode 7 of ‘Story Matters’ series, we’ll feature cinematographer/filmmaker Shanti Bhushan Roy, the Director of Photography for ‘Rubaru Roshni’ and ‘Hamne Gandhi Ko maar Diya’ and many others.

It’s a conversation about capturing the mood and the emotions of a story – to be released on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020 on StoriesAsia.Org.

‘Story Matters’ is a series of conversations on ‘new journalism’ – a journalism that would help the news audience relate and connect with stories at a deeper human level. It features storytelling experts from the film industry & the literary world who respond to questions by StoriesAsia journalists on the use of cinematic and literary techniques in journalism.

Featuring actress and producer Shreya Narayan, best known for her performance in “Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster” (2011) and “Rockstar” (2011), in the 6th episode of the ‘Story Matters’ series on Saturday, Sept. 05.

Narayan talks about the need for journalist-storytellers to know human psychology.

‘Story Matters’ is a series of conversations on ‘new journalism,’ a journalism that would help the news audience relate and connect with stories at a deeper human level. The series features storytelling experts from the film industry & the literary world who respond to questions by a group of StoriesAsia journalists on the use of cinematic and literary techniques in journalism.

The Connection Between Journalism and Filmmaking

Actor and director Divya Unny’s journey from journalism to filmmaking, and her thoughts on

how the two are intertwined

Featuring actor and director Divya Unny, whose directorial debut, “Her First Time,” has garnered a whopping 3.3 million views on YouTube, in the 5th episode of the ‘Story Matters’ series on Saturday, Aug. 29.

Unny talks about the connection between journalism and documentary filmmaking.

Featuring actress and director Tannishtha Chatterjee, best known for her performance in the British film ‘Brick Lane,’ in the 4th episode of the ‘Story Matters’ series on Saturday, Aug. 22.

Chatterjee talks about the power of documentary films and how journalists and filmmakers can learn from each other.

In episode 3, Vikram Chandra, the author of ‘Sacred Games’ and Professor of Creative Writing at UC Berkeley, California, talks about how journalists can identify the key elements of a story and use them as building blocks for journalistic storytelling, both text and visual.

Featuring Sean McAllister, British documentary filmmaker with more than 30 years of experience, a specialisation in revealing complex political situations through intimate personal experiences, in the 2nd episode of the ‘Story Matters’ series on Saturday, August 08.

In his frank and easy way, McAllister talks about the importance of erring on the side of the story, instead of focusing on the camera work at the cost of the story, the character and the emotion.

In episode 1, Svati Chakravarty Bhatkal, director of Aamir Khan Films’ ‘Rubaru Roshini,’ talks about her work and how journalists themselves can connect with the stories they tell.