From Code to Screen: Manasa Sharma's Journey with Bench Life
By : Reshmi AR
Update: 2024-09-08 10:01 GMT
Manasa Sharma, director of Sony Liv's web series “Bench Life,” shares the inspiration behind this entertaining slice-of-life drama set in the IT industry. As a software engineer-turned-writer, Manasa brings her unique perspective to the screen, exploring the untold stories of life on the bench.
Tell us about Bench Life?
Talking about the genre, Bench Life is quite fun and entertaining. It’s a slice of life, like a whole package.
How did you come up with the plot?
The OTT wanted something that is IT based. So my co-writer (Mahesh Uppala) and I thought this is something that is not something that has been done on screen. The topic is not boring either. Life in the IT industry is quite entertaining because I am a software engineer myself. We both have closely seen people who are on bench and know fun things. So I thought this could be something that needs to be explored.
Do you think OTT has opened up avenues for writers?
It has opened up avenues for many new writers and aspiring directors, especially. So I think the journey is easier, something we can look forward to. When compared to the previous generation, I think we have more options to explore and easier to get into the industry.
What next?
I have written a feature film which is under production. But I don't believe in keeping all the eggs in one basket. So I have been pitching my stories to many OTTs and Pink Elephant is also into features, so I will probably focus more on that.