From FTII’s Waiting Lists To Best National Debut Filmmaker For Aatmapamphlet: Ashish Bende’s Inspiring Journey

Sometimes the greatest stories come from those who refuse to give up on their dreams. Ashish Bende’s path to becoming an award-winning filmmaker was filled with rejection letters, waiting lists, and moments of doubt. Yet today, he stands as the Best Debut Film Director at the 71st National Film Awards for his movie ‘Aatmapamphlet.’ 

Ashish’s story begins in the classrooms of Abhinav Marathi Medium School in Kothrud. As a fifth-standard student, he discovered his interest towards filmmaking when his play won first prize. “For a young boy from a Dalit background with no film industry connections, this moment planted a seed that has grown into a career in filmmaking,” he recalls

During his college days at Fergusson College, Ashish got into theatre. He participated in Purushottam Karandak’s annual inter-collegiate Marathi one-act play competition, starting with ‘Alo re baba’ in 1999. When he won the prestigious Keshavrao Date Award, the competition’s highest honor, his passion for acting deepened.  

Like many aspiring filmmakers, Ashish dreamed of studying at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune. But for the four times he applied, he found himself heartbreakingly close, always first or second on the waiting list, but never selected.  

“After four attempts I always used to be first or second in the waiting list,” he said. The repeated rejections left him confused about his career path. He even applied to a journalism course at Pune’s Ranade Institute. But something inside him refused to settle. 

“Frustrated after rejections, I decided to focus on acting rather than applying for academic courses without considering the future outcome,” he says. For Ashish, that moment came with the Marathi play ‘Sangeet Lagna Kallol.’ While acting in this production, he started getting calls to assist with films and documentaries and later pulled him into the director’s chair. 

Over the years, Ashish worked on several notable films including Harishchandrachi Factory, Elizabeth Ekadashi, Shala, Ventilator, Manvat Murders, and Baji, many of which won Golden Lotus and other prestigious awards. 

Turning Pain into Purpose   

‘Aatmapamphlet’ is more than just a film, it’s Ashish’s own life story brought to the screen. The movie follows ten-year-old Ashish as he experiences the socio-political changes of 1990s India. It shows how a young boy first encounters discrimination based on caste and religion during his school days. 

What makes the film special is how Ashish chose to tell this painful story. Instead of making it heavy or depressing, he decided to present it humorously, ‘an unconventional way in such films,’ he says. The film tells about the innocent love story between 10-year-old Ashish and Srushti, sparked by an accidental hand-hold, while navigating the sociological shifts of the era. 

Though directing Aatmapamphlet wasn't easy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ashish fell seriously ill and was admitted in the ICU. “The viral load had made me physically weak,” he said. With filming restrictions in Mumbai, the team had to shift to Daman, and Ashish found himself directing the film from Pune through his laptop.

While the efforts paid off. Before its October 2023 release, the film got nominated and received a standing ovation at the Berlin International Film Festival. It went on to win Filmfare Awards Marathi, the Asia Pacific Young Audience Award, and finally, the Best Debut Film Director award at the 71st National Film Awards. Additionally, he was honored with the Best Debut Film Director award at the 61st Maharashtra State Film Awards on August 6. 

Ashish has a message for budding filmmakers: “I attempted four times but couldn’t get into FTII but I could still direct award winning films. So I believe that one must try to get into such schools but not stretch for too long and should never feel less worthy if one fails to get into them,” he said.

Published on: Tuesday, August 12, 2025, 02:25 PM IST