The response to the inaugural session of Reel Talkies, which took place in June, was overwhelming. The venue was packed, but many didn't mind standing at the bar. They listened attentively as Ratna Pathak Shah and Shakun Batra spoke about the relationship that an actor and director share, and how they work together to bring alive characters on-screen. They even discussed the evolution of the film industry and touched upon the TV and the advertising industry as well. The similarities and differences between theatre and cinema, and the need to gap the bridge between the two, was also a part of the discussion.

It is the lesser-known facts about the industry, such as these, that Reel Talkies, an initiative, seeks to focus on. Shikha Jain, founder and curator at The Red Sparrow that organises the event explains, "We talk to people from the industry who have been able to break the mould and make a name for themselves. It is a community where people come to learn, acquire, share and be a part of unfiltered and much-needed conversations."