29 May,2026 07:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Oshin Fernandes
Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari (Left), Sonakshi Sinha, Jyotika in System. Pics via special arrangement
Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, whose latest directorial System released on Amazon Prime Video starring Sonakshi Sinha and Jyothika, breaks down how she rejected "clickbait" intimacy in favour of a respectful, female-led gaze for a complex narrative, using meticulous camera techniques to prioritise feeling over exposure. Championing the unsung heroes of cinema, Ashwiny, in an exclusive chat with mid-day, spotlights her collaboration with "gifted" writer-producer Harman Baweja and cinematographer Rangarajan Ramabhadran, who weaponised silence to craft the movie's unpredictable twists.
Ashwiny, who is extremely meticulous about the people she collaborates with for a project, has high regard for Harman Baweja, who came on board as the writer and producer. "Harman is a very gifted writer. I always tell him that if you get a chance, of course you can produce and all that, but if you get a chance to just write, you should just be writing," she says.
For the Nil Battey Sannata filmmaker, three people are very important in her scheme for making movies: the writer, cinematographer, and music composer. She explains, "In System, a lot has been said about the silences in the film. That is because my cinematographer, Rangarajan Ramabhadran, has created that. I feel that in our industry, we give very little importance to our technical partners. They really bring the film alive."
Some might argue this, but women's stories are almost always better told by female directors. Ashwiny affirmed, stating, "Jyothika and Sonakshi will love you for this (laughs)." For those who have watched the film, there is a scene in particular that indicates Jyotika being unfaithful in her marriage. Ashwiny chose to keep the scene free of unnecessary intimacy even though she had the option of creative freedom, given that the film was to release on OTT. Elaborating on the thought behind it, she asserts, "What do we really need to see as a story? If you want to show the story because you want to get the clickbait, then I don't think so. I need to be a responsible filmmaker. I need to respect my actors. Those scenes were very difficult for me to think through. Because I literally had to sit with my cinematographer to figure it out. How do I make Jyotika look respectable? Where she is also not feeling odd as a woman. And where the scene also doesn't look clunky."
Ashwiny, who is serving as the jury for the 17th edition of KASHISH Pride Film Festival, is excited about the massive line-up. When questioned about what her parameters are when judging the work of other filmmakers. She says, "As a jury, you come with a lot of experience and responsibility. With an advertising background, I've managed and handled a lot of creative people. My purpose is not to be biased but to uplift creators. You only make sure that you are a guiding light."
Ask her if she'd mentor queer creators, and she adds, "Yes, of course. Why not? If the story is really good, resonates, and is deeply personal or rooted, then why not? There's nothing wrong or right when it comes to storytelling."
