DS Kannan’s Masterclass Sparks Buzz At Annapurna Film College

Stories, when told right, have a heartbeat of their own. That’s how DS Kannan began his talk, not with a quote or a rulebook, but with a line that made everyone sit up a little straighter. The veteran writer and director, who has worked with names like SS Rajamouli and Mani Ratnam, brought that same energy to Annapurna College of Film and Media. His masterclass wasn’t just about writing scripts; it was about learning how to make words breathe.

He said myths and movies share the same pulse. To prove it, he compared Savitri and Satyavan’s tale with Mani Ratnam’s Roja. Both about love, sacrifice, and what people do when they’re pushed to the edge. Everyone nodded, it felt simple, but the kind of simple that sticks with you.

He didn’t stick to theory. Kannan shared what really happens when you walk into a producer’s office with a script. He spoke about keeping pitches short, knowing your logline by heart, and the power of a good “what if” question. The students scribbled fast when he mentioned his “character diary” technique, a simple way to capture real people, small habits, and quirks that make characters feel alive on screen.

By the end, students didn’t leave with inspirational quotes, they left with a direction. Kannan’s takeaway was plain: write what feels real, read more than you tweet, and don’t polish stories until they lose their soul.