Imagine this: you step into an elevator, and standing right next to you is a Netflix producer. You have 20 seconds before the doors open. They turn to you and ask:
“So, what’s your film about?”
What you say in that moment is your logline. One sentence. No rambling, no backstory—just the essence of your story.
If you can’t answer that cleanly, don’t worry. Most writers struggle here. But trust me—once you nail your logline, your whole story will click into place.
A logline is a one or two-sentence summary that captures:
Think of it as your story’s DNA. As Blake Snyder says in Save the Cat, “If the logline doesn’t work, the movie doesn’t work.”
When [INCITING INCIDENT] occurs, a [PROTAGONIST] must [GOAL/CONFLICT], or else [STAKES].
Simple. Direct. Powerful.
📌 Andhadhun (2018)
"A blind pianist’s life is turned upside down when he unwittingly becomes the sole witness to a murder, pulling him into a dangerous web of deception where nothing is as it seems."
📌 Drishyam (2015)
"A devoted father goes to extreme lengths to cover up an accidental crime and protect his family when the police start closing in on the truth."
📌 Kahaani (2012)
"A pregnant woman arrives in Kolkata searching for her missing husband, only to uncover a chilling conspiracy that threatens her life and everything she believed to be true."
📌 Gangs of Wasseypur (2012)
"Spanning generations, a relentless feud between rival crime families erupts in the coal mafia world of Wasseypur, where betrayal, power, and revenge dictate survival."
📌 Inception (2010)
"A skilled thief who steals secrets through dream invasion must plant an idea into a target’s subconscious, or risk losing everything he loves."
📌 The Godfather (1972)
"The aging patriarch of a crime dynasty transfers control to his reluctant son, whose moral struggle threatens to tear the family apart."
📌 Parasite (2019)
"A poor family schemes to infiltrate the household of a wealthy family, but their plan spirals into chaos when hidden secrets come to light."
📌 The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
"Wrongly imprisoned for murder, a man forms an unlikely friendship and clings to hope as he plans a daring escape over decades."
To really understand the difference, here’s a quick comparison:
❌ Bad: “A man tries to survive in difficult times.”
✅ Good: “A washed-up boxer must win one last fight to pay off a deadly debt.”
❌ Bad: “A girl goes on an adventure.”
✅ Good: “A curious farm girl is swept away to a magical land and must defeat a wicked witch to return home.” (The Wizard of Oz)
See the difference? Specificity + stakes = engagement.
This single sentence holds the movie’s heart.
💡 Start with conflict: What’s the biggest problem your protagonist faces?
💡 Be specific, not vague: Specificity is what hooks.
💡 Find the hook: Is it irony, an unusual setting, or a fresh twist? Highlight it.
💡 Use strong verbs: Battles, discovers, escapes, unleashes. Action drives intrigue.
💡 Test it aloud: If it sounds flat or confusing when spoken, it needs sharpening.
💡 Practice: Take your favorite films, write their loglines, and compare with the real ones.
👉 Pause for a second: think about your current story idea. Can you write a one-sentence logline for it right now?
For me, the logline is like a mirror - if the reflection of my story looks blurry in one sentence, I know I need to keep shaping it.
As John Truby (The Anatomy of Story) puts it: “The premise is the seed from which the story grows.”
So next time you’re working on a film idea - indie or mainstream, Indian or foreign - ask yourself:
Can I capture it in one irresistible line?
Because if you can, you’re already halfway to telling a story worth watching. Happy writing!
