Rajkumar Hirani is a celebrated filmmaker renowned for his ability to create films that touch hearts and provoke thought, all while achieving massive commercial success. His work on blockbuster films such as Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., 3 Idiots, and PK has set a benchmark in Indian cinema, blending profound narratives with widespread appeal. Hirani’s unique talent has earned him admiration from audiences and peers alike, making him a revered figure in the industry. Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani has the ability to resonate deeply with audiences through touching storytelling. Many celebrities are fans of his work, and now Anurag Basu has joined the list of his admirers. In a recent interaction, Basu showered praise on Hirani, particularly highlighting his humility and exceptional talent. Anurag Basu, who recently made an appearance on Samdish Bhatia’s podcast show, was asked to name a director whom he is jealous of. The Barfi director immediately responded by saying, "There are many but primarily, it is Raju, referring to Rajkumar Hirani." Rajkumar Hirani has flexed his muscles as a director and has also given mass films. He has showcased his creativity while also delivering superhit films for the mass. That is why I am jealous of him. Because we are still trying to find the balance between the two aspects," added Anurag Basu. In the same interview, Anurag Basu called Rajkumar Hirani a “very humble person.” Workwise, Rajkumar Hirani’s last film was 'Dunki', starring Shah Rukh Khan in the lead role. The film raked in a worldwide total of ₹458.93 crore, further cementing Hirani's status as a master storyteller who can captivate both critics and the general audience alike. While Hirani is yet to officially announce his next, recently there were rumours of him bringing together SRK and Samantha Ruth Prabhu for his next. However, sources close to the director clarified that Hirani is yet to plan his next movie. A source close to the director denied the rumours, stating, "Raju Sir is currently busy writing his next film. There have been no discussions with SRK or Samantha regarding any project." The source laughed off the idea of Shah Rukh Khan and Samantha collaborating for an untitled action-adventure patriotic movie as completely baseless and untrue.
02 July,2024 10:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentGear up for a bone-chilling yet entertaining ride that will leave you gasping for air as ZEE5, India's largest home-grown video streaming platform and a multilingual storyteller, today drops the trailer of the most anticipated horror-comedy, 'Kakuda.' Directed by the visionary Aditya Sarpotdar and produced by RSVP, 'Kakuda' boasts of an ensemble cast led by the inimitable talents like Sonakshi Sinha, Riteish Deshmukh, Saqib Saleem and Aasif Khan. The trailer gives a tantalizing glimpse into the peculiar curse plaguing the village of Ratodi, this unique yet powerhouse trio is set to solve the mystery with their impeccable comic timing, as 'Kakuda' premieres on July 12th, exclusively on ZEE5. As seen in the trailer, ‘Kakuda’ follows the story of Sunny played by Saqib Saleem, a less-educated guy who is in love with Indira portrayed by Sonakshi Sinha. Determined to be together, they marry and move to the village of Ratodi only to be cursed by ‘Kakuda’. On their wedding night, Sunny fails to open the smaller door for Kakuda at 7:15PM sharp, inviting Kakuda, a wicked ghost who punishes the man of the house by inflicting a hump on their back that grows until their demise on the thirteenth day. With Sunny's life hanging by a thread, Indira seeks help from Victor, an eccentric ghost hunter played by Riteish Deshmukh. Together, they embark on a freakishly hilarious yet spooky journey to solve the mystery of Kakuda, uncover the shocking truth about the ghost's identity, motives, and the village's haunting curse that has lasted for decades. However, will unexpected twists leave Sunny's fate hanging. Or will Victor and Indira be able to save him before the 13th day? View this post on Instagram A post shared by ZEE5 (@zee5) Director Aditya Sarpotdar highlighted, “The release of the 'Kakuda' trailer is just a glimpse into the fascinating narrative of a unique folklore that we've created. This labor of love has been a thrilling ride, blending horror and comedy in a way that will keep audiences intrigued. Trust me, there are so many more laughs and scares in store when the film premieres on ZEE5. I can't wait for viewers to immerse themselves in the delightfully quirky tale of the Ratodi village and its bone-chilling legend. It's going to be a fun, frightful, and an unforgettable experience." Riteish Deshmukh added, “I'm thrilled to be a part of the quirky and eccentric world of 'Kakuda'. Playing the role of Victor, an unconventional ghost hunter, allowed me to tap into a side of my acting abilities that I hadn’t fully explored before. This character is unlike any other I've portrayed, and that's what makes it so exciting. Blending horror and comedy is a delicate balance, and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside such talented co-stars like Sonakshi Sinha and Saqib Saleem. 'Kakuda' takes you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, leaving you both laughing and scared. I can't wait for audiences to experience this one-of-a-kind horror-comedy when it premieres on ZEE5.” Upon joining hands with Riteish Deshmukh, Sonakshi Sinha said, “In 'Kakuda', I play the role of a girl who believes in science and not in superstitions. However, when she encounters the peculiar ritual, she decides to dig deeper and find out the truth behind it. I must admit, balancing horror with comedy is a challenging task – it's not easy to make people laugh while simultaneously sending chills down their spines. But this film was an absolute blast to shoot, especially because of my co actors Ritesh, Saqib and Aasif who are so funny in real life as well and such talented actors! We had a lot of fun. I'm really looking forward to seeing how audiences react to our efforts. I am confident that that the film will promise both laughter and thrills in equal measure." Saqib Saleem mentioned, "I've always been a fan of comedy movies, and the horror-comedy genre is a personal favorite. 'Kakuda' is an exciting project and with it releasing directly on ZEE5, I am sure it will reach a widespread audience. While theatrical releases have their charm, OTT platforms offer an incredible opportunity to connect with more masses. The film's quirky and intriguing storyline about solving the mystery of a ferocious ghost and a cursed village's haunting ritual is what initially drew me in. Of course, the chance to work with talented actors like Sonakshi Sinha & Riteish Deshmukh was another major reason I said yes. We had an absolute blast on set, and I'm confident our comedic chemistry will leave viewers in stitches. I can't wait for everyone to experience the spine-chilling laughter that 'Kakuda' promises to deliver." Don’t forget to stream ‘Kakuda’ on July 12th and know what finally happens to Sunny!
02 July,2024 09:55 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentDisha Patani's rumored relationship with her 'Kalki 2898 AD' co-star Prabhas has resurfaced in the news after she was seen with a new tattoo. The actress, who plays Roxi opposite Prabhas' Bhairava in the Nag Ashwin film, caught attention online with what seemed to be fresh ink on her forearm. Disha Patani's new 'PD' tattoo starts up dating rumours Prabhas + Disha 🏃🏃#DishasMysteryPDTattoo #Kalki2898AD pic.twitter.com/6k2xwSRb87 — Prabhu (@Itzz_Prabhu) July 1, 2024 The tattoo showed the initials 'PD', which got fans curious. While there's been no confirmation of the tattoo's authenticity, it didn't stop fans from speculating. On social media, netizens started guessing what Disha's new tattoo could mean. Some playfully linked it to her co-star in 'Kalki 2898 AD', Prabhas, while others jokingly suggested it might stand for "Prabhas Darling." Another theory suggested that the initials could just be Disha Patani's own initials (PD). In the viral picture, Disha appeared stylish as usual, wearing a crop top with white pants, accessorized with black sunglasses and a white bag. Nag Ashwin on film's success Taking to Instagram, director Nag penned an emotional note amid the film’s success. He wrote, “Around 10 years ago, the three of us began our debut feature film "Yevade" together... Vyjayanti was at a low and this film was a risky one...I remember a day of shoot with 20 extras and it rained...we couldn't finish and meant we had to come back and setup again...that extra cost was unaccounted for and made us break down and panic...in retrospect that cost wasn't much at all...from that to this…” About 'Kalki 2898 AD' Director Nag Ashwin has hinted at a fresh perspective on the Mahabharata. The film's futuristic setting suggests the story might incorporate science fiction elements alongside the established mythology. The film's exploration goes beyond mere aesthetics. Nag Ashwin suggests a potential reimagining of the Mahabharata's core themes – dharma (righteousness) and karma (consequences of actions) – in the context of a future society with its complex moral landscape. This promises a thought-provoking examination of how these universal concepts translate across time and societal structures. According to Hindu scriptures, Kalki, the prophesied tenth and final avatar of Vishnu, offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness of Kali Yuga, the current age. This age is marked by moral decline, chaos, and a dwindling sense of dharma. Kalki's arrival signifies the end of Kali Yuga and the dawn of Satya Yuga, a golden age of truth and righteousness.
02 July,2024 09:33 PM IST | MumbaiSonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal's wedding announcement made quite the headlines in the days leading up to their big day. While usual headlines of celebrity weddings consist of details of the lavish ceremonies, in Sonakshi's case it was the disappointment of her family that was largely a matter of discussion. While there were reports of Sonakshi's family members not being pleased wit the sudden announcement of the wedding, her parents happily participated in the festivities. However, her twin brother Luv and Kussh were missing in action in the family album from the wedding. Now, Luv Sinha has broken his silence on his absence from his sister's wedding through a series of tweets on X (formerly Twitter). He shared an article by Telegraph that highlighted some business dealings of the groom's father and how he was subject to an ED inquiry. Sharing a snippet from the news article, Luv wrote, ""The reasons are very clear as to why I didn’t attend, and would not associate with some people no matter what. I’m glad a member of the media did their research instead of relying on creative stories being put out by a PR team." The snippet from the news article read: “With carefully curated news stories about his family business, nobody tread grey areas like the groom’s father’s proximity to a politician whose ED enquiries had vanished in the “washing machine”. Nor was there a whiff of the groom’s father’s stint in Dubai….” Why I chose not to attend. Running an online campaign against me on a false premise won’t change the fact that for me my family will always come first.https://t.co/LtTjjgUNKO — Luv S Sinha (@LuvSinha) June 30, 2024 Sonakshi Sinha's brother Kussh confirms attending the wedding Meanwhile, Kussh confirmed that he was at the wedding. Talking to News18, he said, “I have already seen people publishing inaccurate information. It started with an article in a leading portal that had a quote by an unnamed source. I am not sure who’s doing all this right now and where it’s coming from. But a few houses have my images [from the night]." He also shared that ‘this is a sensitive time for the family’. “It’s just that I am a private individual and I am not seen that much but that doesn’t mean that I wasn’t there. I was present and I have only good wishes for my sister and will always wish her well.” He added. Talking about their wedding, after dating for over seven years, Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal got married in Mumbai on June 23. The lovebirds tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in the presence of their close friends and family. Taking to the Instagram handle, the couple shared beautiful pictures from their D-day. Sonakshi shared a series of photos from her special day.
02 July,2024 04:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAt the 77th edition of the Locarno Film Festival, Indian superstar and global icon, Shah Rukh Khan will be awarded with the Festival’s career achievement award, the prestigious Pardo alla Carriera Ascona-Locarno Tourism. The award will pay tribute to his remarkable career in Indian cinema consisting of more than 100 films in a breathtaking multitude of genres. Popularly known in India as ‘King Khan’ – the emperor (‘Baadshah’) of Bollywood – Shah Rukh Khan has become a living symbol portraying the vibrance and vitality of Indian cinema. The actor will receive the award on the evening of Saturday, August10 on Piazza Grande. In addition, a key film from Khan’s career – Devdas (Sanjay Leela Bhansali, 2002) will be screened during the Festival, and SRK will appear at the Forum @Spazio Cinema for a conversation open to the public on Sunday, August 11. Many of Shah Rukh Khan’s films are loved globally and have made him a hugely popular name amongst audiences around the world, leading him to represent his country and many of his films across numerous prestigious film festivals across the globe. Some of his most acclaimed and breakout films spanning his over 30-year journey in Indian cinema, have been the romantic thriller 'Baazigar' (1993), where Khan starred as a murderous but sympathetic anti-hero on a quest for vengeance. A few years later he would be propelled to superstar status on the back of an a timeless romantic drama, 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' (1995) and love-story across timelines, 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' (1998). At the same time, the enormity of this newfound fame did not deter Khan from taking on roles that were different and much ahead of their times, such as Rahul in Darr (1993) a romantic psychological thriller directed by Yash Chopra, a journalist who falls in love with a terrorist in the epic Dil Se.. (1998) by Mani Ratnam. In the subsequent two decades, Khan’s career would feature high-profile collaborations with some of India’s most prominent directors and stars leading to tremendous recognition internationally as well. Khan was awarded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2007 and the Légion d'honneur in 2014 by the French government. Shah Rukh Khan’s recent releases include three films that released in 2023, 'Pathaan' (2023), 'Jawan' (2023) and 'Dunki' (2023), all of which were hugecommercial successes and garnered immense appreciation from global audiences. 'Jawan' (2023) produced by Khan’s own production house, Red Chillies Entertainment has entered the history books as the highest grossing Hindi film ever, reaffirming the actor’s status as one of the most beloved Indian stars of his generation. Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic Director said, “To welcome a living legend like Shah Rukh Khan to Locarno is a dream come true! The wealth and breadth of his contribution to Indian cinema is unprecedented. Khan is a king who has never lost touch with the audience that crowned him. This brave and daring artist has always been willing to challenge himself while remaining true to what his fans all over the world eagerly expect from his films. A true ‘people’s hero’, sophisticated and down to earth, Shah Rukh Khan is a legend of our times.” Previous winners of the Pardo alla Carriera have included Francesco Rosi, Claude Goretta, Bruno Ganz, Claudia Cardinale, Johnnie To, Harry Belafonte, Peter- Christian Fueter, Sergio Castellitto, Víctor Erice, Marlen Khutsiev, Bulle Ogier, Mario Adorf, Jane Birkin, Fredi M. Murer, Dante Spinotti, Costa-Gavras, and, in 2023, Tsai Ming-liang. The 77th Locarno Film Festival will take place from 7 to 17 August 2024.
02 July,2024 03:49 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAcclaimed actor Aditya Seal is set to join the star-studded cast of the highly anticipated film 'Maharagni'. Directed by Charantej Uppalapati, the film boasts an ensemble cast that includes the legendary Kajol and the iconic Prabhu Deva. Aditya Seal, known for his compelling performances in films such as 'Tum Bin II' and 'Student of the Year 2', is thrilled about his new role. The actor expressed his excitement, emphasizing how significant this opportunity is for him. "It's a dream come true for me," Aditya Seal said. "I grew up watching Kajol's versatility as an actor and the God of Dance Prabhu Deva. Sharing screen space with both the stalwarts is surreal. I am ecstatic about this opportunity to work alongside such legendary actors." 'Maharagni' promises to be a captivating blend of drama, dance, and emotion, bringing together some of the finest talents in the industry. Aditya Seal's addition to the cast is expected to bring a fresh and dynamic energy to the film. Acclaimed Telugu filmmaker Charan Tej Uppalapati, widely celebrated for his exceptional cinematic vision, is making his much-awaited Hindi debut with the high-budget action thriller ‘Maharagni - Queen of Queens.’ The film features an ensemble cast including Kajol, Prabhu Deva, Naseeruddin Shah, Samyuktha Menon, Jisshu Sengupta, and Aditya Seal. The highly anticipated mass entertainer marks the reunion of Kajol and Prabhu Deva after 27 years. The first schedule of ‘Maharagni - Queen of Queens’ has been completed and the makers have unveiled the official teaser of the film. The video opens with Prabhu Deva stepping out of a charter plane, immediately setting the tone with his epic, badass persona as he takes down a group of goons. The action then shifts to Samyuktha Menon, who amidst a high-stakes chase, shares her quest for revenge. The narrative further takes a turn with Naseeruddin Shah lying in a hospital bed sharing his heartfelt last wish and Kajol emerging in her ‘Maharagni’ avatar, exuding power and strength as she packs a punch. The intriguing first glimpse promises a blend of intense action and gripping drama. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kajol Devgan (@kajol) Opening up about the project, Director Charan Tej Uppalapati stated, “Directing Maharagni - Queen of Queens has been a labour of love. Collaborating with actors like Kajol, Prabhu Deva, Naseer sir, Samyukta Menon, and Jisshu Sengupta has elevated the project to new heights. Their unmatched charisma and acting abilities breathe life into the characters, and I can't wait for the audience to witness this on screen."
02 July,2024 03:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal got married on June 23. The couple had an intimate ceremony at the 'Dabangg' actress' Mumbai home. The wedding was attended by close friends and family members. Earlier, the couple had shared a video from their wholesome ceremony which saw their friends pull their leg as they registered their marriage under the Special Marriages Act. Now, the couple's common friend Prachi Mishra Raghavendra shared a video on her Instagram feed which gives a glimpse into their wedding ceremony and the wedding party that was hosted at the Bastian on the same day. Along with the heartwarming video, she wrote, "In the age where every single detail of the Big Day is outsourced. We received a surprise in the form of a voice message and video call, both of which emphasized that Sona and Zahir, the callers (now Man and Wife) are getting married and we should dress to impress! Everything was so personal like old times! We were ladke wale a night before the wedding and chilled with the groom and during the rituals we were ladki wale! Kafi party badli humne (We changed our parties too frequent)!" Prachi continued, "The media had their considerable share of speculation but our blockbuster Jodi were unaffected and focused on how all their guest can feel at home. The marriage began with a civil ceremony followed by the Hindu custom of Kanyadan (bride's parents giving away their daughter to the groom). This essential ceremony became even more holy when the chanting of the mantras divinely amalgamated with the sound of the Azaan from the mosque." She signed off the post with these words, "Love conquers all" only read and heard but looking at you guys it made us believe as well. We are grateful to be a part of this. Wishing you both a very happy and blissful life together. May God protect both of you from all the Buri Nazar!" Take a look at the video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Prachi Mishra Raghavendra (@mishraprachi) Inside Sonakshi and Zaheer's wedding: Dressed in a white vintage saree which was worn by her mother Poonam Sinha at her own wedding, Sonakshi made for a beautiful and happy bride. The short video gives a glimpse into the happy ceremony as the couple took each others names and became lawfully wedded husband and wife. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sonakshi Sinha (@aslisona)
02 July,2024 03:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAnushka Sharma and Virat Kohli are one of the most popular celebrity couples. They got married in a private ceremony in 2017. Since then, their relationship has been considered 'couple goals'. Interestingly, before tying the knot, they dated for a long time but never confirmed their relationship publicly. Influencer recalls sweet secret story from Virushka's early dating days Recently, a social media influencer shared a cute story about interviewing Anushka Sharma during her early days of dating Virat Kohli. Anushka's response to this memory was all things adorable. On Monday, popular social media influencer Freddy Birdy posted a series of images on his Instagram, recounting his experience interviewing Anushka Sharma years ago for a magazine. He mentioned that he flew from Delhi to Mumbai to visit the actress at her penthouse. Praising her personality, he described Anushka as “utterly gorgeous and completely unpretentious." He also called her “beautiful” and “funny, normal, and utterly relaxed and talkative in the nicest way.” The influencer then shared a story about how his driver asked him to find out if Anushka was dating Virat Kohli. When he asked her, Anushka used her "best acting skills" to pretend she didn't understand the question. Anushka reacted to the post with a heartfelt comment, saying “Freddy…,” followed by hearts and hug emojis. Latest update on Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli's love story India emerged victorious against South Africa by seven runs on Saturday, claiming their second T20 World Cup title. The star of the show was none other than Virat Kohli, who played a match-winning knock of 76 runs off 59 balls. He was awarded the Player of the Match trophy. This momentous victory, however, was bittersweet as Kohli announced his retirement from T20Is, marking the end of an illustrious T20 career. Soon after India's win, the 35-year-old cricketer called his wife Anushka Sharma and kids, and was spotted engaged in an animated conversation with his kids Vamika and Akaay. While the entire country celebrated the win, actress Anushka Sharma shared a special post on Instagram. She revealed that her daughter Vamika was concerned about Team India members. She wrote, "Our daughter’s biggest concern was if all the players had someone to hug them after she saw them cry on tv….. Yes, My darling, they were hugged by 1.5 billion people ❤️ What a phenomenal victory and what a legendary achievement!! CHAMPIONS - CONGRATULATIONS!!" That is not all. In the next post, Anushka shared a photo of Virat Kohli lifting the Player of the Match trophy, and wrote, "AND ….. I love this man ❤️ @virat.kohli . So grateful to call you my home ❤️ - now go have a glass of sparkling water for me to celebrate this!"
02 July,2024 02:26 PM IST | MumbaiRhea Chakraborty has had a tough few years, and is making an attempt to leave her past behind and start a new chapter in her life. She is embarking on a new venture with her podcast titled 'Chapter 2'. This marks a fresh beginning in her journey, showcasing her resilience and determination to connect with her audience on a deeper level. The teaser for the podcast has just been released, featuring the illustrious Sushmita Sen as the first guest. On this new platform, Rhea aims to delve into meaningful conversations and personal stories. As she poignantly states in the podcast, "Hate is yelled, and love is felt." Rhea has often been seen wearing T-shirts with thoughtful quotes, reflecting her contemplative nature and her desire to spread positivity and introspection. Sharing teaser on the Instagram, Rhea captioned it , "I just turned 32 yesterday, and what a journey it's been! These past 4 years have been all about change, growth, and becoming a version of myself that I'm finally feeling good about. To celebrate, we're kicking off something special - inviting incredible individuals who've embraced their own #Chapter2 in life." "And to start with, who better than the incredible@sushmitasen47! I've looked up to her ever since I was a kid, and I'm still in awe of how she keeps challenging life and winning at it. We had such a great chat about all things life, love and evolution. Sequels are usually boring, but not this one! Chapter2, Stay Tuned!" The teaser opens with Rhea claiming to be a bigger 'gold digger' than Sushmita. She said that in reference to the former Miss Universe being called a 'gold digger' for allegedly dating a businessman and former IPL chairman right after her breakup with Rohman Shawl. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rhea Chakraborty (@rhea_chakraborty) Sushmita Sen, a celebrated actress and former Miss Universe, is known for her inspiring journey and strong personality, making her a perfect first guest for 'Chapter 2'. With such a promising start, listeners are eagerly waiting to see the lineup of future guests and the compelling discussions that lie ahead. The anticipation for what's next in Rhea's podcast is certainly building, and it promises to be both engaging and thought-provoking.
02 July,2024 01:46 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentArjun Kapoor posted a cryptic message on Instagram amid rumours of a breakup with his longtime girlfriend, Malaika Arora. Did Arjun Kapoor and Malaika Arora breakup? On Monday, Arjun Kapoor shared on Instagram Stories, saying, "Pain from a disciple is better than pain from regret.” However, this post also followed his birthday celebration, which Malaika Arora did not attend. Recently, Malaika also sparked speculation about her relationship with Arjun Kapoor when she posted a cryptic message on her Instagram story. The post reads: "There's always something to look forward to, something to be grateful for, something to be proud of, something to hold on to, something to believe in, something to love, something to live for; there is so much in life." Surprisingly, Malaika was not present at Arjun's birthday party on June 26. The event was attended by various Bollywood celebrities including Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, and Maheep Kapoor. About Arjun Kapoor and Malaika Arora love story After keeping their love story a secret for quite some time, it was on Malaika's 45th birthday when Arjun Kapoor made a cute post for his lady love. Later, they were snapped partying and spending time with each other's families, which made the world believe that things had gotten quite serious between them. But until now, the world has been waiting for an official confirmation from the couple themselves. When the world seeks gossip, Karan Johar comes to the rescue. And yet again, Johar decided to take charge and make the duo tell the right story to the world. It was the 6th season of Koffee with Karan when Malaika said that she liked the Kuttey actor. Further, in the same season, Arjun Kapoor officially said that he is not single. On Arjun Kapoor's 34th birthday, Malaika decided to give her bae the best surprise by making their relationship Instagram official. Malaika posted a goofy picture to wish her dear one on his special day. Ever since, they kept on posting cute and loved-up pictures of each other until very recently. It was just a few months back when reports claimed that Arjun Kapoor and Malaika Arora had parted ways. There has been no official confirmation about the same from the couple. To note, their pictures are very much still on each other's social media. As nothing about them parting ways is confirmed, we hope this news is just another rumour and everything is fine between the two.
02 July,2024 10:51 AM IST | MumbaiBiswapati Sarkar was among the founders of TVF before he quit the team and founded Posham Pa Pictures. In an interview years ago, Sarkar mentioned that Bollywood is not relatable to the youth. When this writer met Sarkar after a panel discussion on current trends in the Indian film industry organsied by the Screenwriters Association (SWA), we reminded him of his previous statement of Bollywood and relatability. Sarkar has been associated with projects like 'TVF Pitchers', 'Permanent Roommates', 'Jaadugar', 'Kaala Paani', and 'Maamla Legal Hai' among others . "Hindi cinema losing cultural coolness": "This is a good point to mention," Sarkar states before explaining his point with his experience in changing viewing habits. Around the year 2018-19, he observed that he was watching more of Malayalam and Tamil language films. "I realized that this trend is happening more and more. I watch very few Hindi films unless somebody recommends them. 'Laapataa Ladies' came recommended, so I've seen it. Otherwise, even if I click on something, probably after 20 minutes, I'll stop it.” He feels that it is the relatable characters of Tamil and Malayalam films that attracts him to those stories. “I'm not talking about the big budget films, but normal, decent budget or mid budget or low budget films. I feel the characters are around me, like these are people I know. While the Hindi films characters feel like the characters of other pre-existing Hindi films. This is why in 2018-19 you would have seen the mid-budget, small town template. But even in that, only 4-5 films were good. Eventually, then all those films started becoming templates for each other.” Sarkar goes on to give examples of range of characters played by star actors like Fahadh Faasil, Raj Shetty and Mammotty down south and the acceptance of audience that encourages filmmakers to experiment with majors stars as the face. However, that has not been a successful formula for Hindi cinema. "I feel Hindi audience are yet to accept those kind of films,” he mulls. Biswapati Sarkar In the past year, mid-budget films like 'Laapataa Ladies, 12th Fail have been the talk of the town over big-budget multi-starrers. "Clearly there is some cultural coolness of Hindi films that we are losing. So, if 'Laapaata Ladies' is being talked about more than the big-budget films, then clearly, something is going wrong in terms of storytelling." But how can we talk about relatability factor and not mention the film 'Fighter'? After the release of the Hrithik Roshan- starrer, director Siddharth Anand's statement on the film's relatability had gone viral. He had said that most people have not sat in a flight and hence could not relate to the film. The comment became a template for memes. "It was a little of context, " says Sarkar who was the co-writer of the film. Sarkar adds that a film need not be relatable to connect with the audience. "I feel like, I would love to make a Jurassic Park. Relatability is not necessary, but I think in terms of relatability, the emotion needs to be relatable. Jurassic Park is about wonder. The characters react exactly how I would react if I had a dinosaur with me,” he said adding that the relatability fact has to be with the motion rather than plot and its location. Focus groups and predictability: The past year has surely surprised filmmaker and trade analysts with the kind of films that worked and those that did not. During the panel discussion, Sakar revealed that Panchayat was dismissed by a focus group who said that the series would not work with the audience. However, Panchayat turned out to be a hit with the audience and the third season of the show recently hit the streaming platform and registered yet another successful season. “This is one focus group which I had seen live. The screening of the pilot episode had happened in front of me. Even with Panchayat, Amazon released it as an exclusive. When it became popular, Amazon released it as their original," he said sharing that no one can exactly predict how a project will work out. When asked if he is a better understanding of what will work and what will not, Sarkar shares, "A lot of times it's just instinct. Veterans of the industry can see a film and nine times out of ten, they can guess, whether this will work or not work. Sometimes they're also surprised. But they're also surprised in terms of the volume. A good film will do good business but maybe earlier it was raking in 70 cr and now it is doing 50 cr." Posham Pa pictures vision: Biswapati Sarkar is now focusing on exploring different genres through their production house 'Posham Pa' pictures. Sharing his vision for the production house, he says that it will be nothing like TVF. "The idea is to be small and support good progressive stories. We want to explore all of genres. I think with age, you all change as storytellers. We no longer have fun in the college level shows and content. We've also become different people. So the plan is to explore a few mature themes, talking about the world that we live in."
02 July,2024 10:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Athulya NambiarADVERTISEMENT
