News

Prime Video is set to premiere “Angry Young Men,” a three-part documentary series that captures the personal and professional journey of legendary screenwriting duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, known collectively as Salim-Javed.

Produced by Salman Khan Films, Excel Media & Entertainment and Tiger Baby, the docu-series is executive produced by Salma Khan, Salman Khan, Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar, Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti. It delves into how Salim-Javed revolutionized Indian cinema in the 1970s by reinventing the Bollywood formula, introducing ‘angry young man’ heroes in a romance-dominated industry, and popularizing the action-drama genre. The original ‘angry young man’ was Amitabh Bachchan who, after a string of middling films, began his journey to superstardom with Prakash Mehra’s “Zanjeer” (1973), written by Salim-Javed.

When producer Zoya Akhtar, daughter of Javed Akhtar, set out to chronicle their story, she knew it was a tale long overdue for telling. “I grew up with them and watching these films,...

The highly anticipated documentary series Angry Young Men is set to delve into the iconic partnership of the legendary writer-lyricist duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, who revolutionized Hindi cinema with their storytelling. The series, releasing on August 20, will feature testimonials and insights from some of Bollywood’s biggest names, including Amitabh Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, Salman Khan, and Farhan Akhtar, among others.

The trailer, released by Prime Video, offers a glimpse into the timeless legacy of Salim-Javed, with Bollywood celebrities reflecting on the duo’s unparalleled impact on the industry. Salman Khan opens the video, expressing his nervousness, while Farhan Akhtar reflects on his personal connection to the films his father, Javed Akhtar, wrote. The trailer also revisits Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic line from Deewar, “Main aaj bhi feke hue paise nahi uthata,” highlighting the powerful dialogues that have become a part of Indian cinematic history.

Zoya Akhtar emphasizes the rarity of Salim-Javed’s success,...

Vidya Balan Takes A Jibe At Male Actors In Bollywood!(Photo Credit –Facebook)

Vidya Balan has played a crucial role in the evolution of Bollywood and normalizing female-led films. She’s been involved in box office successes like The Dirty Picture and Kahaani, among others. The 45-year-old actress gets unfiltered and takes a jibe at her male colleagues, who she claims feel threatened by the women taking over. Scroll below for all the details!

Only a few actresses in Bollywood don’t mince their words, and Vidya is one of them. She has previously stood up against pay disparity. The actress also recently spoke up about nepotism and slammed, “kisi ke baap ki industry nahi hai.”

In an interview with Indian Express, the Begum Jaan actress spoke about how Hindi cinema has evolved for female actresses. Vidya Balan shared, “Back in the day? (rolls eyes) I don’t think they’d be okay,...

Vidya Balan will be next seen in the film, Do Aur Do Pyaar. (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Bollywood has its fables and stories, and under all the glitz and glamour, many have said there is a dark underbelly. Vidya Balan is a bonafide star, who has mettle in acting over time. The actress made some stunning revelations when she said she faced a witch hunt in the industry because of an issue someone had with her.

Movie stars must develop a thick skin because they are constantly put under the microscope for everything. However, sometimes, the prejudices stem from the industry itself. And actresses have often opened up about facing these rejections for unkind reasons. Vidya Balan has had to deal with her share of insecurities, body shaming, and trolling. The actress recently spoke about her early days in the industry and how it took her time to regain her confidence...

Good Thriller Crime Movies: Thriller films provoke a visceral response from audiences as they navigate the twists and turns of solving a mystery. While Hollywood thrillers often steal the spotlight, Bollywood’s finest offerings are equally adept at keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.

These films span various genres, from romance to heist to crime, captivating audiences with their intricate plots and suspenseful narratives. Each minute detail unveiled throughout the story contributes to unraveling the mystery, demanding the full attention of viewers from start to finish.

As the plot unfolds, viewers find themselves increasingly immersed in the film’s world, momentarily disconnected from reality. A well-crafted thriller becomes more than just a movie; it transforms into an immersive experience, gripping audiences until the very end.

Here, we present the top 10 Bollywood Good Thriller Crime Movies that promise to keep you in suspense until the final credits roll!

“Drishyam” (2015) – Directed by Nishikant Kamat,...

Rani Mukerji Reveals She Froze While Shooting For A Kank Song Wearing A Chiffon Saree in -14 Degrees ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Karan Johar has often admitted making his actresses do crazy things while shooting for his film. Recently, during Rani Mukerji and Kajol’s appearance on Koffee With Karan 8, the divas were seen spilling some beans about his working style, which KJo accepted, apologized, and said that at the time, he wasn’t as woke as he is now. Recalling their Kuch Kuch Hota Hai days, Rani revealed that while shooting for the film KJo once snatched her food plate as he wanted her to lose a few kilos in order to fit in a dress that Manish Malhotra had designed for her.

Now, in a latest round table conference, KJo revealed he made Rani shoot for a song in -14 degrees. Not only that, he wanted a rain sequence,...

New Delhi, Dec 30 (Ians) Taking a trip down the memory lane, actress Vidya Balan revealed how during her childhood, she refused to eat her food if she didn’t see the famous song ‘Sara Zamana’ featuring Amitabh Bachchan on television.

‘Sara Zamana’, sung by Kishore Kumar, is from the 1981 movie ‘Yaarana’ starring Amitabh, Neetu Singh, and Tanuja. Vidya appeared for the finale episode of quiz-based reality show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati 15’, along with Indian Para-archer Sheetal Devi.

During the game hosted by Amitabh Bachchan, Vidya recounted her childhood story related to the megastar.

The ‘Parineeta’ actress said: “I was telling Sheetal backstage. During childhood…You and I go back a long way, sir.”

Big B interrupted and said: “You’re mentioning this now.”

Vidya then went on to narrate: “You don’t know about this. If I didn’t see ‘Sara Zamana’ on TV during childhood, I’d refuse to eat.

2024 Festival Box Office (Expected): Hrithik Roshan – Deepika Padukone Leading The Pack To Akshay Kumar’s Eid (Picture Credit: IMDb)

2024 is just a few hours away, and while Dunki and Salaar have wrapped the year 2023, Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi are all set to welcome the new year with their film Merry Christmas. While Katrina Kaif is starting the festivities as well, dropping a few days before Makar Sankranti, it will be Hrithik Roshan who will lead the pack.

There has been no doubt that festivals are obviously the best prospect for a film release, which brings in higher box office numbers. If the films match the flavor of the festival, then it is a riot at the box office.

Since the last few years, Akshay Kumar has tapped well into his Deshbhakti flavor with Independence Day and Republic Day releases, while Salman Khan has been ruling Eid for years,...

Hansal Mehta’s “The Buckingham Murders,” which premieres at the BFI London Film Festival, will be the first in a franchise.

Written by Aseem Arrora, Raghav Raj Kakker and Kashyap Kapoor, the film follows Jasmeet Bhamra (portrayed by Kareena Kapoor Khan), a detective and mother who, after losing her own child, must investigate the murder of a 10-year-old in Buckinghamshire, going down a rabbit hole of secrets, where almost everyone in the small town becomes a suspect.

Kapoor Khan has said that her character is inspired in part by Kate Winslet’s role in “Mare of Easttown.” “I love ‘Mare of Easttown’ and when Hansal came to me, I said this is something that I’ve really been dying to do. So we’ve molded a little bit on those lines, she plays a detective cop in that,” Kapoor Khan had told Variety.

The film is a bit of a departure for Mehta,...

Sujoy Ghosh’s Netflix original film “Jaane Jaan,” headlined by Bollywood royalty Kareena Kapoor Khan, has become the number one non-English film globally for the streamer. With 8.1 million views, the Hindi-language film is also in the Top 10 in 52 countries.

“Jaane Jaan” is the Indian adaptation of Japanese author Higashino Keigo’s bestselling 2005 novel “The Devotion of Suspect X.” It follows a single mother and her daughter who commit a crime and a neighbor who helps them cover it up amidst a police investigation. The cast also includes Jaideep Ahlawat (“Paatal Lok”) and Vijay Varma (“Dahaad”).

“I am so excited and thrilled to hear that the film has reached number 1 globally in the non-English section and is currently trending in 52 countries,” Kapoor Khan told Variety. “My Ott [streaming] debut with Netflix and working on a film like ‘Jaane Jaan’ has been so rewarding. The reactions, messages from fans and audiences around the...

Sujoy Ghosh’s Netflix Original, Jaane Jaan is out for everyone to savor the tale of a cat-and-mouse chase between a police official and an alleged culprit. The police are hell-bent on going after the person they think is the killer, while the actual criminal is at large, who slyly hid themselves in the crowd. The film had a convoluted ending, but some theories can be discussed on the subject related to it and make speculations about the characters once all ends are tied up.

Jaane Jaan ends when Naren, ‘The Teacher,’ comes forward and confesses to having killed Ajit. Naren claimed that he is Maya’s bodyguard and has remained so since the day she became his next-door neighbor. Naren admits having seen Ajit hovering around them and luring him to believe that Maya would want to meet him. He killed Ajit to protect Maya from him, who was...

Mystery thrillers are a beast to deal with, and Sujoy Ghosh has, in the past, managed to deliver on the storytelling in the same genre. Kahaani 1, 2, and Badla are a testament to that. Even though Badla was a remake of a Spanish film, Sujoy managed to get a hold of the narrative and present a story from a female perspective. The same could not be said for his latest Netflix outing Jaane Jaan. This Kareena Kapoor Khan, Vijay Varma, and Jaydeep Ahlawat starrer was released on the streaming platform on September 21, 2023.

Jaane Jaan, a Hindi-language Netflix Original is about a single mother, Maya D’Souza, who makes a living off running a small restaurant in the hilly town of Kalimpong with her 15-year-old daughter Tara. The two live a peaceful life away from all the dark secrets that Maya left behind years ago. Their lives are threatened for the first...

With Jaane Jaan, director Sujoy Ghosh marks two decades of filmmaking beginning with ‘Jhankaar Beats’ in 2003. However, it was Ghosh’s ‘Kahaani’ that catapult both Sujoy and Vidya Balan’s career over night. The streak somewhat continued with his 2016 ‘Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh’ followed up with ‘Badla’ in 2019. With his latest streaming release ‘Jaane Jaan’, the spark seems to be missing. ‘Jaane Jaan’ is an adaptation of the 2005 Japanese novel ‘The Devotion of Suspect X’ by Keigo Higashino.

Usually when we happen to see a thriller or an investigative story, we as audience, tend to frame our minds and take sides basis what unfolds on the screen. In case of Jaane Jaan, there comes a point in the story that one remains undecided as to whose side we are on. We are sucked into the narrative and things start to reveal but of the three key characters we remain...

With Jaane Jaan, director Sujoy Ghosh marks two decades of filmmaking beginning with ‘Jhankaar Beats’ in 2003. However, it was Ghosh’s ‘Kahaani’ that catapult both Sujoy and Vidya Balan’s career over night. The streak somewhat continued with his 2016 ‘Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh’ followed up with ‘Badla’ in 2019. With his latest streaming release ‘Jaane Jaan’, the spark seems to be missing. ‘Jaane Jaan’ is an adaptation of the 2005 Japanese novel ‘The Devotion of Suspect X’ by Keigo Higashino.

Usually when we happen to see a thriller or an investigative story, we as audience, tend to frame our minds and take sides basis what unfolds on the screen. In case of Jaane Jaan, there comes a point in the story that one remains undecided as to whose side we are on. We are sucked into the narrative and things start to reveal but of the three key characters we remain...

Trailer

Netflix has unveiled the first trailer for “Jaane Jaan,” “Kahaani” filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh‘s Indian adaptation of Japanese author Higashino Keigo’s bestselling 2005 novel “The Devotion of Suspect X.”

The cast is led by Bollywood royalty Kareena Kapoor Khan and also includes Jaideep Ahlawat (“Paatal Lok”) and Vijay Varma (“Dahaad”).

The film follows a single mother and her daughter who commit a crime and a neighbor who helps them cover it up amidst a police investigation.

The novel has been adapted numerous times including in Japan as “Suspect X” (2008), in Korea as “Perfect Number” (2012) and in China as “The Devotion of Suspect X” (2017). A Hollywood version is in development.

“Jaane Jaan” is produced by 12th Street Entertainment and Northern Lights Films in association with Kross Pictures and Balaji Motion Pictures. Producers include Jay Shewakramani, Akshai Puri , Hyunwoo Thomas Kim, Shobha Kapoor and Ekta R. Kapoor.

Kapoor Khan said: “This...

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Viacom18 Studios has just delivered three back-to-back theatrical hits in India. Now it has plans for further expansion in the market.

The company distributes all Paramount titles in India and scored a success with “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,” which grossed $16 million in the country. Viacom18 Studios also co-produced and distributed Karan Johar’s “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani” and “Omg 2,” headlined by Akshay Kumar. “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani,” a star-studded romcom that addressed a number of Indian societal issues, opened shortly after the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon and grossed $21.7 million in India with a further $20 million overseas.

“Omg 2,” a rare blend of religion and sex education, released alongside the juggernauts that are Rajinikanth’s “Jailer” and Sunny Deol’s “Gadar 2” and held its own, grossing $20 million in India and a total of $25.3 million worldwide.

“Everybody has become a little...

As expected, Barbie remained on top of the box office for a second week in a row with an impressively small drop off of just 43% for a second week take of $93 million and a domestic total of $351.4 million. Add that to its massive global take and you have a movie that in just two weeks has already amassed over $700 million. While it won’t crack the record for fastest movie to reach a billion dollars globally, that record belongs to Avengers: Endgame at just 5 days, it will undoubtedly cross that magical milestone that only 52 other movies have ever crossed within the next week and change. If Top Gun: Maverick saved movie theaters last year, Barbie is surely making sure they keep their lights on this year.

Once that first trailer hit for Barbie, we all pretty much knew it was destined to be a hit. Even though the trailer for...

Mumbai, July 25 (Ians) Actress Tamannaah Bhatia, who is getting a lot of positive response to her work in the streaming anthology ‘Lust Stories 2’, recently became the talk of the town after an image of the actress posing with a sparkling diamond resurfaced on social media. The actress has now cleared the air around the viral image.

Many people made the claim that she possesses the 5th largest diamond in the world, gifted to her by Ram Charan’s wife, Upasana Kamineni Konidela. The actress has finally made the clarification in a rather humorous way putting the rumours to rest.

The actress took to the Stories section of her Instagram on Tuesday and shared the viral image in question, and revealed that what everyone misunderstood for a diamond was, in fact, a ‘bottle opener’. She also penned a hilarious text on the picture. She wrote, “Hate to break it to...

A new research report by the School of Media and Cultural Studies at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Tiss), Mumbai, reveals that on- and off-screen women and queer representation in box-office hits remains largely stereotypical.

This statement in itself says a lot. It says, women and queer representation remains stereotypical in box-office Hits. Going by the summary of the research it can be concluded, as it does not matter how female actors are cast, it is the male actor who carries a film and it becomes a hit!

The research is exhaustively titled ‘Lights, Camera, and Time for Action: Recasting a Gender Equality Compliant Bollywood’. Such a clichéd title!

The research was carried out by Tiss and funded by the US Consulate General in Mumbai. The report was released by the brand new celebrity, Guneet Monga Kapoor, thanks to her Oscar-winning feature, ‘Elephant Whisperers’, Vidya Balan and Nandita Das,...

New Delhi, July 23 (Ians) Two rather unproductive, illogical and mostly futile exercises were reported recently: Exhibitors in Chennai met this past week and drafted some demands which actually set terms on film producers! The other was a Tiss report on Equitable Gender Representation in Hindi Cinema.

Tn Exhibitors’ Desperate Demands

Tamil Nadu Film Exhibitors’ Association (Tnfea) has put forward some demands on filmmakers that don’t look businesslike. The demands and the tone sound dictatorial. Not to mention confusing. Though impractical, such matters require the parties concerned to sit across the table and discuss.

The exhibitors want a film to be released on Ott only after eight weeks, or 56 days, following its theatrical release. Presently, the producers follow a four-week embargo.

This demand just amounts to asserting the exhibitors’ status and is not necessary. Because, neither a producer, nor the Ott platform will release a film till it is collecting revenue at the box office.

Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, who will be seen stepping into the role of a visually-impaired woman in her upcoming streaming movie ‘Blind’, has revealed the reason behind giving her nod to the film.

The actress said that she said yes to the thriller movie because of one man – director-producer Sujoy Ghosh, who is known as the master of the genre given his films like ‘Kahaani’, ‘Badla’ and others.

Sonam is returning to screens after a maternity break, and will be seen fighting it out against a cold-blooded serial-killer in the edgy thriller.

Sujoy has produced the film which is directed by Shome Makhija.

The actress said, “It was a no-brainer for me to do ‘Blind’ because Sujoy Ghosh is the producer of the film. He has a fantastic track record with edgy, gritty thrillers and I jumped at the idea that Sujoy would be the captain of the ship for Blind.

Mumbai, June 23 (Ians) Filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh, who is gearing up for the release of his upcoming streaming anthology ‘Lust Stories 2’, which stars Tamannaah Bhatia and Vijay Varma, has revealed why his stories are mostly in a thriller format. The director said that he finds comfort in a good story.

Sujoy’s story in the anthology has a dash of thrill, a genre that he excels. But, beyond the scope of genre, the filmmaker said that he finds comfort in a good story and thrillers promises a great premise.

He told Ians: “I find comfort in a good story. If there is a good story which can be told in an interesting manner that’s good enough for me. Normally, I tend to treat all my stories in a thriller format because it just keeps the audience engaged because of the attention span.”

Sujoy has earlier directed the Vidya Balan-starrer...

Parambrata Chattopadhyay is the latest actor to play Oscar-winning Indian master Satyajit Ray’s detective Prodosh Chandra Mitter Aka Feluda in streamer ZEE5 Global’s series “Shabash Feluda.”

Feluda first appeared in the Ray family’s Bengali-language magazine Sandesh in 1965. Ray directed two Feluda films, “The Golden Fortress” (1974) and “The Elephant God” (1978), where the Bengali detective was played by his frequent collaborator Soumitra Chatterjee. Feluda has subsequently been played by a range of Indian actors, including Shashi Kapoor, Abir Chatterjee, Tota Roy Chowdhury, Indraneil Sengupta and Bangladesh’s Ahmed Rubel.

The detective is part of the fabric of growing up in West Bengal and Bangladesh, akin to what Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple used to be for several generations in the west.

Chattopadhyay first interpreted the detective in 2017 for series “Feluda” for Bangladesh’s Bioscopelive which he directed and also played Feluda. “It was a very radical interpretation...

Reputed filmmaker A R Murugadoss of ‘Ghajini’ fame unveiled a candid open letter on Friday during a promotional event for his upcoming production ‘August 16, 1947’. The movie is about a remote village where one man inspires his compatriots to fight against their oppressive British masters, who continue to treat them badly despite India becoming an independent nation.

Murugadoss appeals to his fellow citizens to not take India’s Independence for granted. He speaks about our bravely fought freedom struggle, and highlights many of the pains and bruises left behind after the battle. The maverick storyteller concludes his address with an inspiring message too.

Written and directed by N S Ponkumar, the movie features Gautham Karthik, Revathy, Pugazh and English actor Richard Ashton in the main roles.

Talking about his emotional note, A R Murugadoss says: “Freedom is not given to you, it something you obtain with struggle and self belief. In my own personal life,...

Vidya Balan, the pioneering actor known for redefining terms for women in the film industry says, “No matter how successful we women are, we are bad at receiving success… It’s as if we still do not want to threaten the men.” Balan was speaking at We The Women, the flagship festival curated by award-winning journalist Barkha Dutt. Known for her impact-making films like ‘Kahaani,’ ‘Shakuntala Devi,’ ‘Tumhari Sulu,’ ‘Sherni,’ and ‘Jalsa,’ Balan, began by presenting the annual H.E.R Award, to Army officers Lt Col Anila Khatri and Major Abhilasha Barak. Later Vidya Balan was also honoured as a Woman of Impact with the same award.

Vidya Balan spoke of how growing up in a home with every possible freedom and where the emphasis was on education; it was only after becoming an actor that she started feeling the impact of stereotypes and sexism. “There was always a...

Bollywood A-lister Kareena Kapoor Khan is marking a new phase in her glittering career with a brace of films that she terms as “shockingly different.”

Kapoor Khan has wrapped a project that shot in the U.K. under the working title “The Buckingham Murders,” directed by Hansal Mehta (“Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story”). The actor plays a detective and mother who investigates a murder in a sleepy little town in Buckinghamshire. Kapoor Khan said that her character is inspired in part by Kate Winslet’s role in “Mare of Easttown.”

“I love ‘Mare of Easttown’ and when Hansal came to me, I said this is something that I’ve really been dying to do. So we’ve molded a little bit on those lines, she plays a detective cop in that,” Kapoor Khan told Variety. “It’s the first time that I’ve dabbled in that.”

Some 80 of the...

Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has shared a childhood picture where she sported short hair and said that her uncles from the army background called her Indira Gandhi.

Kangana took to Instagram, where she shared her throwback picture. She pointed out the uncanny resemblance with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The actress, who is currently shooting for the biopic titled ‘Emergency’, wrote in her story, “It’s uncanny growing up… Many of my relatives called me Indira Gandhi probably because of my hair style #emergency”.

She shared another picture and wrote: “I didn’t follow anyone’s hairstyle as a kid I went to the village barber on my own and guided him to do hair cut that I liked it short… this inspired many jokes in the family especially all uncles from army background called me Indira Gandhi… #emergency”

‘Emergency’, as the title suggests, is all about the state of...

Netflix has expanded existing partnerships in India and forged new ones with several of the country’s leading production houses.

They include T-Series, Red Chillies Entertainment, Pooja Entertainment, Viacom 18 Studios, Luv Films, Reliance Entertainment, RSVP Movies, Benaras Media Works, Maddock Films, Junglee Pictures, Balaji Telefilms and Matchbox Shots.

Monika Shergill, VP, content, Netflix India, says: “With some studios, we have a partnership to bring more of their films on the service, like T series – we’ve been doing so many films with them – Pooja Entertainment, RSVP, Red Chillies, they’ve been long standing partners. But across the board, we are working with many.”

Shergill spoke with Variety on Monday, a day Netflix celebrated in India as Films Day, with a showcase of previously announced titles. “Where we are coming from, is to keep broadening the service, to keep increasing access, to keep reaching newer and newer audiences. And that is...

Actress Kangana Ranaut shared a string of photographs from the sets of her upcoming movie ‘Emergency’ and said that the most gratifying job in the world is to make movies.

Kangana posted the images on her Instagram story. The first picture has Kangana explaining a scene to a person. It also features an ambassador car.

“Most gratifying job in the world is to make cinema this morning on #emergency shoot,” she wrote.

She then shared a picture of her standing and looking at a scene.

“And ofcourse my favourite directing pose,” she wrote.

Kangana added: “Filmmaking my first love”

‘Emergency’, as the title suggests, is all about the state of national emergency declared by Indira Gandhi on June 25, 1975. It lasted till March 21, 1977, when Janata Party was voted to power in a historic election.

The film also stars Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Mahima Chaudhry and Milind Soman.

Manikarnika films presents ‘Emergency...

Actor and supermodel Milind Soman has stepped into the shoes of Sam Manekshaw, the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war hero, for the upcoming film ‘Emergency’, directed by Kangana Ranaut.

While Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade and Mahima Chaudhry have already joined the film’s cast, Milind now has been roped in to essay the role of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, who was the Chief of Army Staff during the War of 1971.

Milind said: “I am happy to be working with Kangana. I have loved a lot of her work, especially Queen and Tanu Weds Manu. I am looking forward to working under her direction. Playing Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw is a big honour and the greatest responsibility.”

Kangana, who will be seen essaying the role of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the film, said that Sam Manekshaw was the hero of the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971.

She added that Milind Soman’s overpowering...

Certain shows have changed the dynamics of the small screen as a medium and left a lasting impact on the audience. A case in point is Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii (Kggk), an iconic show, which returned to the tube recently. Producer and content head for strategy at Atrangii channel, Nivedita Basu, who worked as one of the creative directors for Kggk, asserts, “Kahani Ghar Ghar Kii is a modern take on Ramayan and it will never run out of favour. It holds relevance even today. Every Indian household has watched it and the soaring TRPs when it aired on the tube were proof of it. Everyone drew parallels between the characters they resonated with on the show. It is the Baghban (the Amitabh Bachchan-starrer that was released in 2013) of Indian television. It teaches you the importance of family values, retaining goodness around evil, and how evil turns good eventually.

A landmark report spearheaded by Ormax Media and Film Companion, and supported by Amazon Prime Video, has revealed an abysmal state of affairs in the on- and off-screen representation of women in India.

The report, in collaboration with the Producers Guild of India and Active Telugu Film Producers Guild, streamers Hoichoi, SonyLIV, Voot and ZEE5, and studios Clean Slate Filmz, Dharma Productions, Emmay Entertainment, Excel Entertainment, Purple Pebble Pictures, RSVP and Sikhya Entertainment, analyzed 150 theatrical films, streaming films and series released in 2021 across eight Indian languages.

Key findings of the report, titled O Womaniya! 2022, include:

• Women have low representation behind-the-camera. Only 10 head of department positions (HODs) across key divisions are held by women. Out of the 56 theatrical films analyzed across multiple languages, not one was directed or edited by a woman. In media and entertainment corporations only 10 of senior leadership roles were held by women.

•Only 55 of the films and series passed the Bechdel Test.

KollywoodNayanthara is among the handful of reigning women stars in south Indian film industries, and Kollywood in particular, who enjoy the same level of idolatry as high-grossing male stars.Saradha UAmazon Prime VIdeoA striking scene from Netrikann (2021) that depicts the film’s lead Nayanthara delivering a strong punchline against victim-shaming and sexism was perhaps the first of its kind in Tamil cinema. “Why do you care whether she is opting for an abortion, dressed ‘inappropriately’, if she is nude, or whether she is a good or bad person? Regardless of what she does, it’s her life. Just because you think she is wrong, do you get to do whatever you want?” questions Nayanthara, who is fondly known as Lady Superstar. In a light-hearted sequence from Soodhu Kavvum (2013), protagonist Pagalavan (Bobby Simha), shown as an ardent fan of actor Nayanthara, gets in trouble for installing a statue for her. What...

The Abhishek Bachchan-starrer crime thriller ‘Bob Biswas’ is all set to premiere on satellite television on April 30. The film is a spin-off from the 2012 thriller ‘Kahaani’ and follows the story of the eponymous character which was played by renowned Bengali actor Saswata Chatterjee in the Vidya Balan-starrer. Talking about the film, Abhishek Bachchan […]...

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, who is awaiting the release of his next film, ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’, was seen playing box cricket in a video. What piqued the interest of the viewers was that the actor spoke about sharing a special ‘kahaani’ on April 28. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aamir Khan […]...

Sujoy Ghosh, the impeccable craftsman behind thrillers like Kahaani and Badla Has a new project! A murder mystery featuring the brilliant cast of Jaideep Ahlawat, Vijay Varma and Bollywood’s Bebo, the iconic Kareena Kapoor Khan for Netflix’s untitled film.

Talking about his film, the director Sujoy Ghosh shared, “Devotion is probably the best love story i’ve ever read. and to get a chance to adapt it into a film is such an honor. Plus I get a chance to work with Kareena, Jaideep and Vijay!!! What more can one ask for!!

Sharing her thoughts on the announcement, Kareena Kapoor Khan added “I can’t wait to begin work on this exciting project. It’s one that has all the right ingredients… a great story, a visionary director and a super talented cast and crew, I’m really looking forward to working with Sujoy, Jaideep, and Vijay. It...

Bollywood royalty Kareena Kapoor Khan leads the cast of Netflix’s Indian adaptation of Japanese author Higashino Keigo’s bestselling 2005 novel “The Devotion of Suspect X.”

“Kahaani” filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh will direct. The cast also includes Jaideep Ahlawat (“Paatal Lok”) and Vijay Varma (“Gully Boy”). Ghosh had initially set up the project at Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms several years ago.

“The Devotion of Suspect X” follows a single mother and her daughter who commit a crime and a neighbor who helps them cover it up amidst a police investigation.

The novel has been adapted numerous times including in Japan as “Suspect X” (2008), in Korea as “Perfect Number” (2012) and in China as “The Devotion of Suspect X.” A Hollywood version is in development.

The as-yet-untitled Indian adaptation is produced by 12th Street Entertainment, Northern Lights Films in association with Boundscript and Kross Pictures. Producers include Jay Shewakramani, Akshai Puri, Ghosh and Thomas Kim.

Kareena Kapoor Khan is all set to make her streaming debut in a murder mystery based on Japanese author Keigo Higashino’s novel, ‘The Devotion of Suspect X’. The yet-to-be-titled film will be directed by Sujoy Ghosh and also stars Jaideep Ahlawat and Vijay Varma. Streaming platform Netflix announced the film through […]...

“Bloody Brothers,” the Indian adaptation of BAFTA winning BBC series “Guilt,” is set to bow on South Asian focused streamer ZEE5.

Directed by Shaad Ali (Netflix’s “Call My Agent Bollywood”), the show is produced by Applause Entertainment in association with BBC Studios India. Reset in the picturesque South Indian hill town of Ooty, “Bloody Brothers” follows two brothers, Jaggi and Daljeet, who, while driving home late one night, run over an old man. They put the body back in his house, but when people become suspicious, the brothers’ lives fall apart.

Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub (“Tandav”) plays Daljeet, while Jaideep Ahlawat (“Paatal Lok”) is Jaggi. Both actors chose not to watch “Guilt” prior to filming. “That was a conscious decision that it’s better not to watch the original show, as per se, we are adapting it to India,” Ayyub told Variety. “Everything changes – the scenario, the culture of how characters would react.

As the Vidya Balan-starrer ‘Kahaani’ clocks 10 years of its release on Wednesday, the actress looked back on the film which emerged as the game changer for Hindi cinema, setting the roadmap ahead for strong female characters. Recollecting the film’s schedule, Vidya said in a statement, “‘Kahaani’ is and will be one of my most […]...

Indian acting powerhouses Vidya Balan (“Kahaani”) and Shefali Shah (“Delhi Crime”) headline film “Jalsa,” which will bow on Amazon Prime Video.

The film is a tale of conflict narrated through the life of a celebrated journalist and her cook. The cast also includes Manav Kaul (“The Fame Game”), Rohini Hattangadi (“Gandhi”), Iqbal Khan (“Crackdown”), Vidhatri Bandi (“Shiddat”), Srikant Mohan Yadav (“Inside Edge”), Shafeen Patel and Surya Kasibhatla.

“Jalsa” is directed by Suresh Triveni who previously worked with Balan on the critically acclaimed “Tumhari Sulu” (2017). It is produced by Abundantia Entertainment and music label and studio T-Series. Abundantia previously produced Amazon series “Breathe” and films “Sherni” and “Shakuntala Devi,” both of which starred Balan and premiered directly on Amazon during the pandemic.

Manish Menghani, head, content licensing, Amazon Prime Video said: “At Prime Video, a key tenet when selecting stories, is to look for authenticity and freshness. Stories that are nuanced...

Bengali star and filmmaker Parambrata Chatterjee has always supported strong women-centric content with his work in films such as ‘Kahaani’, ‘Pari’ and in the latest Netflix series ‘Aranyak’. The actor feels that he just comes across as someone who “would be very dependable and safe company to very strong-willed women”. “I think I just come […]...

Bob Biswas(Zee5)

Starring Abhishek Bachchan, Chitrangda Singh

Directed by Diya Annapurna Ghosh

With that affable angelic semi-smile and eyes that never tell lies, Bob Biswas, as played by Abhishek Bachchan in one of his finest performances, looks like anything but an assassin. But there you have it. A bhadralok who looks like anything but a killer, snuffing out lives as though on a population-control drive.

Bob’s first murder is so sudden unexpected and the target is guilty of such a minor social transgression that I burst out laughing when it happens. Young debutante Diya Ghosh’s film is a puzzle of a film. The killings aren’t meant to be funny(they never are). But some of them are so incongruous with the mood of the moment that one can’t help laughing at the sheer absurdity of it.

At heart, Bob Biswas is a very sad film.

Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan is very busy these days with film “Bob Biswas” ready for release, three more films in the pipeline and management of two popular sports franchises.

“Bob Biswas” is a spinoff of Sujoy Ghosh’s 2012 cult classic “Kahaani,” starring Vidya Balan. It featured Saswata Chatterjee as the cold-blooded contract killer Bob Biswas.

“Bob Biswas,” written by Ghosh, and directed by feature debutant Diya Annapurna Ghosh, stars Bachchan as the titular character, who comes out of a coma and has lost his memory and his erstwhile, mysterious, employers want him to return to his contract killing ways.

It is produced by Sujoy Ghosh for his Boundscript Motion Pictures and Gauri Khan and Gaurav Verma for Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment.

“Its a fresh take, fresh build up and the characterization is entirely new,” Bachchan told Variety. “It’s a reinterpretation of the film [“tt1821480 autoKahaani...

The trailer of Bob Biswas which features Abhishek Bachchan in the eponymous part of the coldblooded assassin, is intriguing and funny. The character of the coldblooded killer was first seen in the game-changing film Kahaani in 2012. Nothing that Sujoy Ghosh directed before or after could compare with Kahaani. The most stand-out character in Kahaani was the hired assassin Bob Biswas played by Saswata Chatterjee.

I remember speaking to Saswata after his character became a rage. We both agreed that Bob deserved a film of his own.

Here it is, though Saswata is no longer in it. Abhishek Bachchan steps into the deceptively nerdy role(just like Abhishek’s last role of Harshad Mehta whose ticking mind no one could have anticipated) with aplomb, oily hair, trembling lips, befuddled expression and all. The joke about the ruthless killer , as revealed in the trailer,is that he cannot remember any of the multiple murders that he committed…...

BIFA Rewards ‘Boiling Point’/’Souvenir 2’

Philip Barantini’s Boiling Point and Joanna Hogg’s The Souvenir Part II have bagged three awards apiece in the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) craft categories, with the former winning for Best Cinematography, Best Casting and Best Sound and the latter for Best Costume Design, Best Editing and Best Production Design. Rob Savage’s Dashcam took home Best Effects and there were also wins for Will Sharpe’s The Electrical Life of Louis Wain and Clio Barnard’s Ali & Ava. The remaining winners will be revealed at an in-person ceremony on Sunday December 5 in London’s Old Billingsgate.

‘Lupin’ Three Enters Production

Shooting on season three of Netflix’s hit French mystery thriller series Lupin has begun, with star Omar Sy and Netflix tweeting the news yesterday. Gaumont Télévision’s drama from George Kay and François Uzan centres around Assane Diop (Sy), a...

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has announced the 395 artists and executives that have been invited to join this year — about half the number of last year’s class. The 2021 class is comprised of 46% women, 39% underrepresented ethnic/racial communities and 53% international from 49 countries outside the United States. Of the 395 invitees, 89 are former Oscar nominees, including 25 winners.

Eight individuals have been invited to join by multiple branches and must select one branch upon acceptance. They include Leslie Odom Jr, Kaouther Ben Hania, Craig Brewer, Lee Isaac Chung, Emerald Fennell, Shaka King, Alexander Nanau, Florian Zeller.

Other big names among the newly invited include Walt Disney CEO Bob Chapek, “Promising Young Woman” original screenplay winner Emerald Fennell and “Minari” stars Steven Yeun, Ye-ri Han and recently crowned supporting actress Yuh-Jung Youn.

In the directing category, new invitees include Janicza Bravo, Nia DaCosta, Cathy Yan, Darius Marder, Michael Almereyda, Lizzie Borden,...

Oscar winner Yuh-Jung Youn, who took Supporting Actress in April for Minari, along with a number of her recent fellow acting nominees including Maria Bakalova, Andra Day, Vanessa Kirby, Leslie Odom Jr., Paul Raci, and Steven Yeun, are among the new class of 395 artists and executives who have been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. A number of other recent winners and nominees including both of the latest screenwriting victors, Emerald Fennell and Florian Zeller, Music Score winner Jon Batiste, and all three writers of Oscar winning song “Fight For You” including H.E.R. are also on the list from the 17 branches of the Academy. Overall, there are 89 Oscar nominees, including 25 winners, among the new class. 46% are women, 39% underrepresented ethnic/racial communities, and 53% coming from countries outside of the U.S. this time around.

Although receiving an Oscar and/or a nomination is a big plus,...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has extended invitations for 395 artists and executives working in film to join the ranks of a growing membership of more than 9,000 film industry figures. Per AMPAS, “membership selection decisions are based on professional qualifications, with representation, inclusion and equity remaining a priority of Academy Aperture 2025.”

Statistically, the 2021 class is comprised of 46 percent women, 39 percent underrepresented ethnic/racial communities, and 53 international members from 49 countries outside of the United States. Among the new class are 89 Oscar nominees and 25 winners, including “Minari” Best Supporting Actress winner Yuh-jung Youn, Best Actor nominee Steven Yeun, multi-nominated director/writer Lee Isaac Chung, and co-star Ye-ri Han, plus “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” Best Actress nominee Andra Day, “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” Supporting Actress nominee Maria Bakalova, “Pieces of a Woman” Best Actress nominee Vanessa Kirby, and Supporting Actor nominees Leslie Odom Jr. (“One Night in Miami”) and Paul Raci...

Mumbai, June 14 (Ians) Chitrangda Singh looks regal in her latest post on social media, decked up in jewellery. The actress says that she is all ready for her Monday morning zoom calls.

Chitrangda posted a picture on Instagram, where she is seen sporting an embellished lehenga paired with a heavy neck-piece and a big round ‘nath' (nose ring).

The actress looks straight into the camera and strikes a pose. She calls it her Monday state of mind.

"Ready for my Monday morning zoom call ! #mondaystateofmind," she wrote as the caption.

Speaking about her work, Chitrangda, who was last seen in "Baazaar", will next be seen in "Bob Biswas".

"Bob Biswas" is a spin-off of "Kahaani", and based on the fictional character of that name who became popular in the 2012 Vidya Balan hit, "Kahaani".

Bengali actor Saswata Chatterjee had menorably played the role in the Sujoy Ghosh crime thriller. However, in...