Writers being denied due value: Anjum Rajabali

Mumbai, Nov 24 (IANS) Screenwriter Anjum Rajabali believes writers in Indian cinema are still denied their due value, position and respect.

Rajabali will along with superstar Aamir Khan, filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani and writer Juhi Chaturvedi judge the upcoming Cinestaan India's Storytellers Script Contest by Cinestaan Digital Pvt Ltd (CDPL).

Talking about whether writers have been given their due importance in the industry, Rajabali said: "While the situation is definitely better in some aspects than what it was a couple of decades ago, writers are still being denied their due value, position and respect.

"One of the reasons this contest becomes important is that it unconditionally recognizes that writers need to be rewarded for their talent and their good work. And, more of them need to be encouraged to get into screenwriting with the assurance that their talent will be rewarded."

Rajabali added that "if we continue to deny the importance of stories and screenwriting, the audience will continue to reject our films".

The winners of the contest will be awarded prizes worth Rs 50 lakh.