MUMBAI: Keeping pace with the changes in media and its consumption, the Indian Film Writers Association has donned a new avatar. On 17 July 2016, the trade body -- with members ranging from lyricists to script writers -- amended its constitution as well as its name following a meeting of life and regular members in Mumbai. ScreenWriters Association (SWA) is how it will be known from this year.

The reason behind the refresh, says honorary general secretary Kamlesh Pandey, is that “the industry is no longer limited to film writers; TV writers outnumber film writers, and writers for the digital media outnumber TV writers. The only thing common between them is the screen – from a screen (70 MM cinema screen) to cellphone -- hence, the name was changed.”

And even its constitution was amended to reflect this change. “With this, the association is poised to face new challenges, new horizons and achieving new heights,” adds Pandey.

The association says that its revenues have picked up ever since it moved the processes online. Close to 1000 to 1200 scripts are being registered online (as against 800-1000 in 2014-2015), leading to revenues of about Rs 100,000 a month. Altogether 3,145 members have collectively registered 20,000 plus scripts online. The association has collected revenues of about Rs 1 million through online payments.

The association has Rs 4 crore in fixed deposits with the banks, and it generated an income of Rs 1.5 crore in the year to 31 December 2015.