Who I am 

Aarthi Ramanathan is a screenwriter and visual artist who crafts coming-of-age stories about outsiders discovering who they are in worlds that weren't built for them. An Indian-born Canadian storyteller raised across India, Kuwait, and Canada, Ramanathan brings a multicultural perspective to stories centered on underrepresented and neurodivergent heroes, shaped in part by her life as a mother of four, including three on the autism spectrum who bring their own unique kind of magic. Across animation and live action, she is drawn to stories about identity, belonging, and the quiet work of family in shaping who we become. She is currently developing TANSEN, an animated musical with award-winning director Jumai Yusuf attached that explores parenthood across generations through the story of a mute boy who discovers his singing voice. Her work, featuring wish-granting genies, mythic worlds, and outsiders discovering the power they never knew they had, has been recognized by the Academy Nicholl Fellowship (Quarterfinalist), Final Draft Big Break (Finalist), Tracking Board Launchpad (Finalist), and The Bitch List.