The complete screenwriting platform
Quick answer: Kathe Kaara is a free, browser-based screenwriting and pre-production platform. It gives screenwriters and filmmakers 12 modules — screenplay formatting, story development, shot lists, storyboards, production breakdowns, scheduling, budgeting, analytics, collaboration and revision tracking — with export to PDF, Fountain, Final Draft XML, CSV and XLSX. Every module is unlocked; just sign in and start writing.
Made for Kannadigas, by a Kannadiga, Kathe Kaara lets you write in your own script with transliteration for 68+ languages and voice dictation, and keeps your scripts and data yours.
- 100% free — no credit card, no trial timer
- All 12 modules unlocked for every signed-in user
- Transliteration for 68+ languages, including Kannada
- Custom PDF watermark or none at all
- GDPR and DPDP Act compliant; export or delete your data anytime
How it works
- Write — create your screenplay with industry-standard formatting, keyboard shortcuts and smart autocompletion.
- Develop — shape your story with beat boards, character bibles, location guides and research notes.
- Break down — tag every scene with cast, props, wardrobe, VFX and 19 more categories; build shot lists and storyboards.
- Produce — generate analytics, share with your crew, and export to PDF, Fountain, Final Draft, CSV or XLSX.
The 12 modules
Screenplay Editor
Industry-standard formatting with 9 screenplay element types, Tab/Enter element cycling, Cmd/Ctrl + 1–9 shortcuts, dual-page layout, autosave, a title page editor, scene navigator and drag-and-drop index cards.
Editor Intelligence
Character and location autocomplete, transliteration for 68+ languages including Kannada, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, voice dictation, auto-suggested breakdown tags and smart element detection.
Story Development
A visual beat board, character bibles with profiles and arcs, location guides and a research notes library linked to your screenplay.
Shot List & Storyboard
Per-scene shot lists with 12 shot sizes, 7 camera angles, 12 camera movements and 6 lens types; storyboard frames per shot; PDF and CSV export and a storyboard PDF contact sheet.
Production Breakdown
23 built-in production categories plus custom categories, auto-suggested tags, a reusable element library, per-scene breakdown sheets with page eighths, INT/EXT and Day/Night parsing, estimated shoot time and automatic cast IDs.
Reports & Analytics
Scene, character, location and elements reports, dialogue distribution, scene pacing, scene length and act balance charts, a Flesch readability score, dialogue-vs-action ratio and a cast Day-Out-of-Days (DOOD) grid — exportable to PDF, CSV and XLSX.
Collaboration
Invite collaborators by email with Viewer, Commenter, Editor or Owner roles, threaded comments, in-app notifications, password-protected public share links and a full activity log.
Import & Export
Fountain and Final Draft XML (.fdx) import and export, industry PDF with MORE/CONT'D handling, plain text and JSON, with title pages in every format.
Revision Tracking
Named version snapshots, 9 industry-standard colour-coded revision pages, line-by-line diff comparison and one-click restore.
Security & Privacy
Per-project encryption lock, personal data export, full account deletion, cookie consent and security audit logging.
Scheduling & Stripboard
Colour-coded INT/EXT and Day/Night strips, drag-to-reorder shoot days, auto-sort by location or cast, shooting schedule export, Day Out of Days and a call sheet generator.
Budget Lite
Budget categories linked to breakdown elements, above/below-the-line estimates, a running total, multi-currency support with INR default and XLSX export.
9 screenplay element types
Scene Heading, Action, Character, Dialogue, Parenthetical, Transition, Shot, General and Center — each with its own formatting. Press Cmd/Ctrl + number to switch instantly; Tab and Enter cycle through elements as you write.
Write in your language
Type in your native script using a standard keyboard, or just speak. Transliteration covers 68+ languages: Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi, Odia, Urdu, Nepali, Sinhala, Assamese, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Turkish, Russian, Ukrainian, Greek and more. Voice dictation transcribes your dialogue and action directly into the active screenplay element and works together with transliteration.
23 production breakdown categories
Cast, Background/Extras, Stunts, Vehicles, Props, Camera, Special Equipment, Wardrobe, Makeup/Hair, Animals, Animal Wrangler, Music, Sound, Set Dressing, Greenery, Special Effects (SFX), Visual Effects (VFX), Mechanical FX, Optical FX, Security, Additional Labor, Equipment and Notes — plus unlimited custom categories with colours. Auto-suggest scans your script for character names, props, vehicles, animals, SFX and music.
Every export format the industry uses
- PDF — screenplay, breakdown sheets, shot lists, storyboard contact sheet, full reports
- Fountain (.fountain) — import and export
- Final Draft XML (.fdx) — import and export
- CSV — shot lists and reports
- XLSX — multi-sheet reports: scenes, characters, locations, elements, DOOD, analytics
- Plain text (.txt) and JSON — import and export
Frequently asked questions
What is Kathe Kaara?
Kathe Kaara is a professional screenwriting and pre-production platform with 12 modules — made for Kannadigas, by a Kannadiga. It covers everything from screenplay formatting to scheduling, budgeting, and collaboration.
Is Kathe Kaara free?
Yes. Kathe Kaara is completely free right now. Just sign in and you get full access to all 12 modules — including transliteration, voice dictation, collaboration, and custom watermarks. No credit card, no trial timer, no restrictions.
Do I need a credit card to sign up?
No. There are no payments at all. Sign in with your account and start writing immediately.
Are any features locked?
No. Every module and every feature is unlocked for every signed-in user. There are no plans, tiers, or usage limits.
Can I export my scripts without a watermark?
Yes. You can set your own custom watermark on PDF exports, or remove it entirely — free for everyone.
Are my scripts safe?
Your scripts and data are always yours. You can export everything at any time, and delete your account from Settings whenever you want.
Can I import my existing screenplays?
Yes. Kathe Kaara supports Fountain (.fountain), Final Draft XML (.fdx), plain text (.txt), and JSON. Open File > Import in the editor.
What languages does transliteration support?
Over 68 languages across South Asian (Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, and more), East Asian (Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Thai), Middle Eastern (Arabic, Hebrew, Persian), European (Russian, Greek, Georgian), and many others. Available free to every signed-in user.
How does voice dictation work?
Click the microphone icon in the editor toolbar and speak naturally. Your speech is transcribed directly into the active element — dialogue, action, or any other type.
What is a production breakdown?
It lets you tag every element in your scenes across 23 built-in categories — cast, props, wardrobe, VFX, and more — then generates per-scene breakdown sheets with page eighths, shoot time, and cast IDs.
How does collaboration work?
Invite collaborators by email with one of four roles: Viewer, Commenter, Editor, or Owner. Everyone gets threaded comments and in-app notifications.
What formats can I export to?
Screenplays export to PDF, Fountain, Final Draft XML, plain text, and JSON. Reports export to PDF, CSV, and multi-sheet XLSX. Shot lists export to PDF and CSV. Storyboards export as PDF contact sheets.
How do I sign in?
Click Sign In at the top of the page and choose your preferred sign-in method. No payment details are needed.
Start writing
Twelve modules, completely free. Sign in at kathekaara.in and start your screenplay — no payment details needed.