Mumbai: For Monika Upadhyay, writing is not simply a hobby but a dream she has been steadily working towards. Her ambition is to establish herself as a scriptwriter and create stories that can connect with audiences through books, animation and cinema. What began with writing a book has gradually taken her towards digital storytelling and film projects.
Coming from Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh, Monika has already taken an important step in her writing journey with the publication of her book “Dahej Ek Buri Bala.” The book marked her entry into the literary world and gave her an opportunity to express her thoughts and storytelling through the written word. But for Monika, becoming a published author was never meant to be the final destination. Her larger dream has always been to write stories for the screen.
From Books to Animation
Monika has now entered another phase of her creative journey by starting an animated serial on YouTube. Through animation, she is exploring a different way of presenting stories, working with characters, situations and narratives that can be experienced visually.
The move from a book to animation requires a different approach to writing. A story that works on paper has to be reimagined for the screen, where characters, scenes, dialogues and visual moments all play an important role. For Monika, the animated serial is an opportunity to experiment with this form of storytelling while continuing to develop her writing skills.
Her Stories Are Now Moving Towards Films
An important development in Monika’s journey has been her opportunity to work on film stories. Based on her writing ability and the concepts she has developed, a production house has given her the opportunity to work on two short films and one feature film.
Her concept impressed the production team and opened the door for her to work on these projects. She is now involved in developing stories for the films, taking her closer to the professional side of screenwriting.
For an emerging writer, this experience offers an opportunity to understand how an idea develops into a cinematic narrative. Film writing involves much more than a strong concept. Characters, emotions, conflict, dialogues, pacing and the visual treatment of a story all have to work together. Working on these projects is giving Monika practical exposure to that process.
A Vision Beyond Entertainment
Monika’s ambition goes beyond simply writing stories for entertainment. She believes that stories can also carry ideas, emotions and social messages. Her interest lies in developing narratives that can make audiences think while keeping them engaged.
Her journey also carries a message for aspiring women writers and creators who may begin their careers away from major creative centres. A beginning in a small city does not necessarily limit the reach of a person’s ideas. With persistence and the willingness to keep learning, stories can find audiences far beyond where they were first written.
For Monika, the next goal is clear: to build a strong identity as a scriptwriter in the film and animation industry and continue developing stories that bring fresh ideas and sensitive subjects to the screen.
From her published book to animation and now film projects, Monika Upadhyay is gradually building her own path as a storyteller. Her journey is still taking shape, but each new project is bringing her closer to the dream that started it all—to write stories and eventually see them come alive on screen.
