Mumbai studio picks 15 writers for horror script lab

Platoon One Films will select 15 screenwriters for a new three-month development program focused on original horror scripts. The independent production company based in Mumbai is launching the initiative to address what it describes as a lack of variety in Indian horror films, which it says often rely on supernatural staples and predictable plot beats.

The lab, named the Platoon One Horror Lab, will operate entirely online. Participants will bring their own original screenplays to the program. Sessions are scheduled for weekends and will be led by screenwriters and directors from India and other countries. The curriculum combines group mentoring, craft discussions, and individual feedback sessions to help writers refine their drafts as they evolve.

The program is designed to push writers beyond common genre tropes. The company stated that the lab aims to use horror as a lens for examining society and the human mind. It will focus on building suspense and atmosphere, drawing on the country's rich history of myths, folk tales, and local beliefs rather than relying on standard ghost narratives.

At the conclusion of the three months, participants will have the opportunity to pitch their projects to producers and industry figures through Platoon One’s network. The company said this step could lead to financing and eventual production for selected projects. Platoon One Films plans to announce the specific mentors and faculty for the lab within the next few weeks.

Shiladitya Bora, founder of Platoon One Films, said the genre allows filmmakers to explore difficult concepts through imagery and atmosphere rather than direct dialogue. "We can talk about much bigger, philosophical and metaphysical ideas through horror, and sometimes it is far more powerful than simply expressing them through dialogue," Bora said. "What attracts me to the genre is often the messaging beneath the surface. Horror allows you to explore things that are difficult to confront directly."

Bora also expressed frustration with the current market for horror-comedy hybrids, describing many as neither scary nor funny. "I wanted to start this lab because I feel we need to understand the genre better and bring genuinely good horror stories to our audiences," Bora said. "Frankly, I was getting tired of watching horror-comedies that were neither scary nor funny. We have such a rich storytelling culture, and I believe there is so much more we can do with horror."

The company’s wider strategic goal is to help Indian horror films reach international audiences. Platoon One Films, which handles production, distribution, and international sales, aims to create stories that can frighten viewers in global markets such as Seoul and São Paulo. Bora said the lab is an opportunity to cultivate the next generation of writers and filmmakers capable of elevating the genre.