Navigating Independent to Mainstream: Building a Sustainable Creative Career in Indian Cinema
Join Rahul Riji Nair, National and State Award–winning filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer, for a focused Cininfo Masterclass on building a long-term creative career in Indian cinema.
Known for films that move seamlessly between independent and mainstream spaces, Rahul’s work includes Ottamuri Velicham and Kalla Nottam, both widely recognised at national and international film festivals. He is the founder and CEO of First Print Studios and a key voice in shaping Malayalam cinema’s presence on global OTT platforms.
In this session, Rahul shares practical insight on:
- Crafting award-winning stories that connect with audiences
- Producing across formats, from indie films to mainstream projects
- Festival strategy and global positioning for films and filmmakers
- Adapting to new platforms and audience shifts while staying creatively grounded
A concise, experience-led session for filmmakers looking to grow without losing their voice.
Event Details:
- Date: 17th January 2026
- Time: 12:00 PM IST
- Venue: Zoom (Live on Cininfo)
FREE for all Cininfo Community Members!
For more information please WhatsApp us on +91 9009004762 or DM us on Instagram @cininfo4talent
Speaker: Rahul Riji
Designation: Filmmaker, Screenwriter & Producer
Rahul Riji Nair is a National and State Award winning filmmaker, screenwriter and producer primarily working with the Malayalam Film Industry. His debut feature film “Ottamuri Velicham” had won 4 awards in Kerala State Film Awards 2017, including Best Feature Film of the year. He also won the 67th National Film Awards for Best Malayalam Film in 2019 for his third feature film “Kalla Nottam”. His films have premiered at prestigious film festivals in Mumbai, Kolkata, New York, Stuttgart, Chicago etc. He has also won multiple international awards including the prestigious Golden Royal Bengal Tiger Award for Best Feature Film at the 26th Kolkata International Film Festival and German Star of India Award for Best Feature film at the Indian Film Festival of Stuttgart. Rahul pioneered the production of mainstream Malayalam Web Series for global OTT platforms. He’s noticed for his diverse body of work that has successfully traversed both Independent and Mainstream Cinema. Rahul founded the production house First Print Studios in 2011 and is currently serving the company as its CEO.
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