Ashish k Singh Manika Harish Sharma
Noida, October 25, 2026: The New Delhi Film Foundation (NDFF) successfully organised the first Noida chapter of its monthly initiative, Talk Cinema On The Floor (TCOTF), at the Ravi Sarin Film Institute on October 24. The event brought together filmmakers, critics, students and creative professionals for an engaging exchange of ideas on cinema and storytelling.
Recognising the contributions of technicians and artists working behind the camera, Sharma emphasised that cinematographers play a crucial role in transforming a director’s vision into compelling visual storytelling.
Harish Sharma and Manika
“A director dreams of a story, but it is the cinematographer who gives those dreams a visual identity. Manika has been an important part of my documentary journey, and recognising the people behind the camera is equally important,” said Sharma.
During the My Journey session, Sharma spoke about his transition from journalism, film public relations, media and celebrity management to filmmaking. With more than three decades of experience and associations with over 400 films, 1,000 events and 300 celebrities, he discussed his passion for discovering extraordinary stories about ordinary Indians.
He also discussed the creative vision behind his documentaries, including Adi Kailash – A Forgotten Path to the Divine, Brazil in Banaras – The Bhairab Dutt Story and A Life of Compassion – Bhikkhu Sanghasena.
His documentaries Adi Kailash and Brazil in Banaras recently received the Best Tourism Documentary and Best Sports Documentary awards, respectively, at the 11th Dehradun International Film Festival, where both films received standing ovations.
The event also featured an insightful Writer’s Word session by National Film Award-winning critic Sanjeev Srivastava, who stressed that film criticism should examine how successfully a director translates their vision onto the screen. He also advocated greater critical attention to independent and low-budget cinema.
In the Craft & Crew masterclass, filmmaker and cinema educator Ashok Dhingra explained the visual language of cinema, including framing, composition and the concept of mise-en-scène.
Director Ashok Dhingra
The programme began with NDFF founder Ashish K. Singh, who highlighted the foundation’s commitment to meaningful cinema, independent filmmakers and creative collaboration.
Young filmmaking students Nitish Sharma and Devansh Singh showcased their ideas during the Take the Floor segment, while Wing Commander (Dr.) R. D. Deshpande added a musical dimension to the gathering.
Ravi Sarin Manika Sisodia Harish Sharma
Organised in collaboration with the Ravi Sarin Film Institute, the Noida chapter marked an important expansion of TCOTF beyond Delhi after nearly eighteen months of monthly gatherings.
The event concluded with networking interactions, reinforcing NDFF’s vision of creating a collaborative platform where established filmmakers, emerging talent and cinema enthusiasts can learn, connect and celebrate the art of storytelling
Media Contact: New Delhi Film Foundation (NDFF) | 9315229560
