u/suriyanjoseph

Hi everyone,

I'm from West Bengal, and my biggest dream is to become a film director, preferably in the Tamil film industry (Kollywood).

I couldn't attend an expensive film school, so my plan is to learn by making short films, improving my writing, directing, editing, and trying to work as an assistant director or intern.

I know this industry is extremely competitive, and I'm not asking for false motivation. I just want an honest answer from people who have experience in filmmaking.

Is this a realistic path?

Can someone without film school still become a successful director?

What should I focus on in the next 3–5 years?

What are the biggest mistakes beginners make?

If you were starting from zero today, what would you do?

Please be honest. If you think I'm being unrealistic, tell me why. If you think it's possible, tell me what I need to do to maximize my chances.

I'm from West Bengal and my dream is to become a film director, preferably in the Tamil film industry (Kollywood). I couldn't attend an expensive film school, so I'm planning to start by making short films, learning screenwriting, directing, and editing on my own while building a portfolio.

Is this a realistic path? Has anyone here become a director without film school? What should my first 3–5 years look like, and what mistakes should I avoid?