Durban filmmaker and writer Dayakar Padayachee joins us to discuss his fantasy novel, The Ancient Scrolls of Lukutona, and its journey from page to screen. Following the preview screening of The Ancient Scrolls of Lukutona: The Maiden and The Tree at the Poetry Africa Film Festival, he shares insights into his creative process, the art of adapting his own work for film, and the challenges of bringing fantasy and folklore to South African audiences. We also explore the movie’s pitching phase, his award-recognised filmmaking career, and the projects shaping his storytelling journey.