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Exploring Bleak Realities Through Cinema

Bhaskar Hazarika’s directorial debut ‘Kothanodi’ won the National Award for Best Assamese Feature Film in 2016…reports Asian Lite News

There are multiple complexities, the other world and darkness always seep into his creations. And that is because National Award-winning filmmaker Bhaskar Hazarika very casually says that he has an extremely bleak view of humanity.

“We are forever ruled strongly by our egos. Why should we assume ourselves to be the most heroic of species — only because we have intelligence? This superiority complex has made us destroy so many other beings in the world. Just because we can walk on two legs does not make us special in any way. All these issues guide me when I make films, precisely why my viewpoint is so cynical,” says the director who runs a small studio that just finished its fourth movie. “Now we are making a Hindi horror film as well and an Assamese one too,” he tells IANS.

Bhaskar Hazarika’s directorial debut ‘Kothanodi’ won the National Award for Best Assamese Feature Film in 2016.

Hazarika, whose 2019 Indian Assamese-language romantic horror film ‘Aamis’ was called by many critics the best film to come from India in years and had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival where it was nominated in five categories in the festival’s ‘International Narrative’ section, says the rave reviews of the movie made him feel “validated”.

“It was a tough film to pitch. Everybody thought it would be heavily censored as it dealt with a taboo subject. Precisely why it was given a pastoral look that nothing much ‘happened’ on the screen. However, the ideas conveyed were radical. Much space was given to the audience to imagine. Now, the Censor Board can cut scenes, but not ideas,” he smiles.

While the director took on board fresh faces in ‘Aamis’, to give it a more realistic feel and the fact that it was a low-budget film, he insists he is not against casting known faces. “It depends on the film. If I’m doing a multi-crore film then I would need to,” says this maker of Assamese-language film ‘Kothanodi (‘The River of Fables’) who is all set to work on a big-budget movie.

Post-writing ‘Players’, he decided to stay away from ‘mainstream’ as he insisted that he experienced much “unlearning” during the process. For someone who believes in writing scripts while Bollywood prefers narrations, he also found that aspect unnerving. And then came the long process of pitching.

“Frankly, I think I did a smart thing by walking away from Bollywood as independent cinema gives one a lot of freedom. You do not have to go around telling your story to everyone. And my first film was mostly crowd-funded and made through grants. Now I would like to make bigger films with good stories and strong budgets.

He stressed that when OTT platforms emerged in India, independent filmmakers like him thought they had cracked the code, but the bubble did not last long. “Our films were picked up rapidly. I recovered the cost of my debut film as soon as it was picked up. However, when their offices were set up in the country and Indians took over, they slashed the payments. Now independent films are not even considered,” he laments.

Both Rima Das and Bhaskar work in the Assamese language, but their films always have a universal appeal. “In Assam, our community is very small. We probably have 80 screens, so it is important to reach out to more audiences. We make films which we know will travel.”

The filmmaker, who was at the recently concluded CineVesture International Film Festival in Chandigarh, feels it is important for audiences to explore diverse cinema and understand that it is not just for entertainment or about big stars. “Schools too should work towards cinema literacy. I have been to many screenings of many fantastic films being shown here. However, it would have been better if attendance by Chandigarh residents was higher,” he concludes.

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‘Katiyabaaz’, Ventures into Delhi’s Underbelly with ‘Lalli

What happens with documentaries often is that there is an anthropological gaze and it is mostly the intention of the filmmaker to return that gaze, something he avoided in ‘Katiyabaaz’, which also had a theatrical release…writes Sukant Deepak

Forever drawn to social themes, the director of ‘Katiyabaaz’, Fahad Mustafa is now all set to start work on his next film ‘Lalli’, which he wrote in 2018. He said that delving around “naalas” in Delhi, the film is a “meeting” between two worlds.

If you have watched the way directors Fahad Mustafa and Deepti Kakkar treated ‘Katiyabaaz’ (2013), centring around Kanpur, a city where 15-hour power cuts were a norm, and hundreds of people risk their lives to steal electricity, it would be hard to miss how different genres — documentary and fiction, come together seamlessly in each frame.

What happens with documentaries often is that there is an anthropological gaze and it is mostly the intention of the filmmaker to return that gaze, something he avoided in ‘Katiyabaaz’, which also had a theatrical release.

Speaking to IANS, Mustafa said: “We were bold enough to make it mainstream. Looking back, I do feel we were too ambitious. But it was a big learning for us. In the theatres, it did have ups and downs at the box office, However, it was shown across festivals, and educational institutions around the globe.”

“This is about a river that snakes its way through the Capital, but different elements hide it. We encounter diverse characters living around the water body. I would call it a dramatic thriller — ‘what lies beneath’. It is the story of a woman pointing to this river and exhorting people to acknowledge it. ‘Lalli’ is fiction and we have mixed genres. My set is 300 metres along the ‘naalas’, where an entire ecosystem thrives. While there is filmmaking, we want to execute it in a very interesting way,” Mustafa added while talking about his new project ‘Lalli’.

Mustafa has also made ‘FC Chechnya’, where in a small Austrian town, football helps three young Chechen refugees reconcile with traumas of the past.

Stressing that it is certain that the world had changed fundamentally for Indian independent filmmakers post-Covid, he said that while there were high expectations from OTT platforms, they also began playing safe by placing their bets on bigger production houses and well-known stars.

Conversing about contemporary documentaries being made in India, he opines that people do watch them, but the demand for fiction is extremely high.

Speaking at the recently concluded CineVesture International Film Festival (CIFF) held in Chandigarh, Mustafa said: “Fantastic documentaries are coming out of India and an infrastructure needs to be created for them from an institutional eye. In the West, there exists financial and distribution support for documentaries where independent voices can find space. In India too, the government needs to consider it seriously.”

Meanwhile, Delhi-based Sunil Kataria, who is backing ‘Laali’ said that he has always been interested in young people with different ideas.

“I want to create a movement of honest films. While I have done a lot of investments in start-ups, post-Covid, I started to look at deeper voices,” he concluded.

ALSO READ-Shekhar Kapur’s Journey Through Cinema

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Events Films London News

Kaushik Ray’s Poignant Short Film ‘The Lime Green Shirt’ Premiered At BFI Flare 2024

Lime Green Shirt, which premiered under the ‘Tender-hearted’ category on Saturday 23rd March and Sunday 24th March 2024 at BFI Southbank. Jointly produced by Ray’s own production house, Taran Tantra Telefilms with Neeraj Churi alongside Berlinale Talent Pooja Chauhan (Goldfish). A feature by columnist Riccha Grrover for Asian Lite International

The 16-minute short, picturised in the English language with Bengali, revolves around Saraswati Sinha (Lillete Dubey, Monsoon Wedding), a retired and widowed doctor, who lives alone in Richmond, North Yorkshire. Desperate to reconnect with her son Akash (Kush Khanna, Boogie Man), with whom she has become estranged over the years, Saraswati travels to London to stay with him. A successful trader with a stylish Penthouse apartment, Akash seems to have it all. Yet, beneath the veneer of success, he is plagued by deep-seated traumas and crippling self-doubt, which he blames on his strict upbringing by an unforgiving mother who demanded academic greatness at the expense of his passion for music.

As the unintended consequences of her authoritarian parenting become painfully clear, Saraswati realises she must confront her fears and transgenerational traumas if she wants to rebuild a relationship with the son she barely knows.

Inspired by a true incident in the filmmaker’s life, the picture was shot last year, with two original songs written by Kaushik and the lead actor Kush. The poetic storytelling is inspired by social realism of filmmakers like Mike Leigh and the humanism/colour palettes of Satyajit Ray. Therefore, he has the flair of exploring the middle classes, with a key focus on the British Asian queer community. This influence is also mirrored in masterpieces by idol visionaries like Pedro Almodóvar.

“The Lime Green Shirt in many ways is my own origin story. At its heart is the kernel of my own truth, albeit its retelling is fictionalised. I am fascinated by the balance of fact and fiction, and have always found myself drawn to human drama that explores the nuance and space between the black and white. Life is filled with contradictions, and I embrace them. I look for the rainbows in the grey. As a filmmaker it is essential to me that I to equip my wider team with female and QPOC cast and crew, with a deliberate view to bring diversity into storytelling,” Kaushik said.

“BFI Flare has such a special place in my heart. The first short I co-produced, Muhafiz (The Protector), premiered in 2022, and that’s where I met the producer of The Lime Green Shirt. So to have my first film as writer/director debut there, feels super special. Towards the end of my legal career, I started supporting queer Indian filmmakers in telling interesting stories, as a producer. My film is based in London (as am I), so it’s sort of a homecoming for me,” he added.

The Lime Green Shirt marks Kaushik’s first film as writer/director. His feature debut A Life A Rose is being produced by French production house Backup Media and Bombay Berlin Film Productions Limited, with leading Indian actress Deepti Naval (Lion) in the main role. This same-sex love story between two septuagenarian Indian women was ground-breaking in its scope.

Kaushik Ray – Taran Tantra Telefilms (Director)
Following a 20-year career as an international development lawyer, British-born Kaushik Ray runs a small film production company (www.tarantantra.com) focusing on South Asian LGBTQ+ content, in particular stories about intersectional prejudice in minority communities.

Pooja Chauhan (Producer)
Berlinale Talent Pooja Chauhan trained at New York Film Academy and won the VFF Talent Highlight and Arté Kino Awards for her project Girls will be Girls.

Neeraj Churi (Producer)
Neeraj is the founder and owner of Lotus Visual Productions (https://lotusvisualpro.com/) which provides a medium for performance artists and filmmakers via sponsorships, grants, and production opportunities to express their creativity towards generating vibrant and dynamic conversations.

The organisation strongly believes in the power of our creative projects to foster better understanding and bridge-building between communities while encouraging aspiring filmmakers and artists to bring their creative vision to reality, pushing the envelope on social taboos and acceptance.

The focus is on bringing stories of the South Asian LGBTQ+ community worldwide to the screen via a broad array of projects ranging from feature films, feature-length documentaries, short films, short docs, and social media projects. With active projects in various stages of production in India and the UK, strives for a robust and authentic representation of LGBTQ+ experiences on screen and provide opportunities for community members on and off the screen. They also promote South Asian Queer cinema by organising theatrical screenings in the UK and curating films for film festivals and corporate screenings.

ALSO READ: Tathagata Ghosh’s Short Film ‘IF’ World Premiere At BFI Flare, London

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Events Films London News

Tathagata Ghosh’s Short Film ‘IF’ World Premiere At BFI Flare, London

The prestigious BFI Flare 38th edition took place at BFI Southbank and on BFI Player in March 2024. The biggest LGBTQIA+ film festival in Europe, celebrates the best of queer cinema from around the globe. This year in particular featured fantastic content from South Asian filmmakers, including British South Asian filmmakers. A feature by columnist Riccha Grrover for Asian Lite International

The short film IF, by acclaimed Bengali filmmaker Tathagata Ghosh is a 26-minute short tells the story of a lesbian couple who are torn apart because of an arranged marriage, but with a mother’s love, perhaps another future is possible. 

If’ starring Adrija Majumdar, Shivamrita Chakraborty, Bimal Giri, Paromita Mukherjee and Ranodeep Nandy is based on “people and incidents around me, I wanted to search for love in the darkness the film sheds light on-the challenges faced by queer individuals. My film is my cry of anguish in these troubled times. A cry which I hope will be heard and won over by love,” says Ghosh.

Director & Producer: Tathagata Ghosh

Writer: Buan G.

Cast: Adrija Majumdar, Shivamrita Chakraborty, Bimal Giri, Paromita Mukherjee, Ranodeep Nandy, Bina Ghosh

DOP: Sayan Biswas

Editor & DI Colorist: Amir Mondal

Sound Design & Film Mix: Anindit Roy, Adeep Singh Manki

Music: Nabarun Bose

Logo & Poster: Debanjana Haldar

Director’s Associate: Sanbarta Ghosh

Chief Assistant Director: Ashish Dubey

This is a film which is short in running time but mighty in impact. Excellent Acting, a crisp script, precise editing and seriously excellent Direction. This film is gripping also moving and is a must-watch. 

About the Director: A Berlinale Talents alumnus, Tathagata has always believed in telling stories of people from different social backgrounds. People who do not have a voice of their own. Tathagata has written for various leading web film magazines as well about cinema and film making. His Bengali detective novel “Senilar Sonket” got published in the 40th Kolkata International Book Fair in February 2016. He has also directed numerous commercials, music videos and written screenplays for several projects. His last short films “Miss Man”, “Footprints”, “The Scapegoat”, “The Meat” and “The Demon” have travelled to numerous prestigious international film festivals and have won several awards. Filmography: The Demon (2018), Miss Man (2019), The Meat (2020), The Scapegoat (2021), Footprints (2023), If (2024).

ALSO READ: Kaushik Ray’s Poignant Short Film ‘The Lime Green Shirt’ Premiered At BFI Flare 2024

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‘Pushpa: The Rule’ Teaser to Drop on April 8

The makers also revealed that the teaser of the upcoming film will be unveiled on April 8 on the occasion of Allu Arjun’s birthday…reports Asian Lite News

The anticipation for the upcoming instalment of the blockbuster ‘Pushpa’ franchise, ‘Pushpa: The Rule’, which stars Telugu superstar Allu Arjun, is reaching a fever pitch.

Adding to the euphoria, the makers of the film on Tuesday shared a new poster of the film. The poster features a close-up shot of a foot, presumably of Allu Arjun, wearing a ghungroo. The foot can be seen covered in sindoor. The poster features warm colours in prominence with a hint of cool green in the depth of the centre frame. The makers also revealed that the teaser of the upcoming film will be unveiled on April 8 on the occasion of Allu Arjun’s birthday.

Sharing the poster on X, erstwhile Twitter, the makers of the film wrote, “Let the #PushpaMassJaathara begin. The most awaited #Pushpa2TheRuleTeaser out on April 8. He is coming with double the fire. #Pushpa2TheRule Grand Release Worldwide on 15th AUG 2024. Icon Star @alluarjun @iamRashmika @aryasukku #FahadhFaasil @ThisIsDSP”. Allu Arjun recently got an early birthday present as his wax statue was unveiled at the Madame Tussauds Museum in Dubai. His wax statue has his signature ‘Jhukega Nahi Sala’ pose from the blockbuster film ‘Pushpa: The Rise’. The actor attended the ceremony in Dubai along with his family.  

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Shekhar Kapur’s Journey Through Cinema

Kapur’s film starred Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi in lead roles along with Tanuja, Supriya Pathak and Saeed Jaffrey. It featured Jugal Hansraj, Aradhana and Urmila Matondkar as child actors. The screenplay, dialogues and lyrics are by Gulzar with music by R.D. Burman…reports Asian Lite News

Internationally recognised filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who is currently working on a sequel to his directorial debut film ‘Masoom’ (1983) titled ‘Masoom: The Next Generation’ says, “This film portrays the lives of all the characters you saw in the earlier one – all grown up. I am not going to say more, you will need to watch the film.”

The original was adapted from Eric Segal’s 1980 novel ‘Man, Woman and Child’ which was also adapted into a Malayalam movie ‘Olangal’ and a Hollywood movie ‘Man, Woman and Child’.

Kapur’s film starred Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi in lead roles along with Tanuja, Supriya Pathak and Saeed Jaffrey. It featured Jugal Hansraj, Aradhana and Urmila Matondkar as child actors. The screenplay, dialogues and lyrics are by Gulzar with music by R.D. Burman.

The filmmaker, who till recently was the Director of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune recalls that though his stint was interesting, he could have done much more. “Owing to Covid, the institute was non-functional for most of my term. There was a lot more that I could give had it been (functional),” he tells.

However, this Padma Shri recipient whose film ‘Elizabeth’ (1998) a fictional account of the reign of British Queen Elizabeth I, which was nominated for seven Academy Awards feels that more than film schools, we need several ‘schools of creativity’ that can impart more rounded knowledge. “See, film schools teach techniques, and they keep changing at a fast pace. Nobody edits like they used to a few years back. Schools of creativity can impart knowledge on how to tell stories and engage people — that should be the core specialisation of every filmmaker,” says Kapur.

Known for films like ‘Masoom’, ‘Mr. India’ (1987) ‘Bandit Queen'(1994), ‘Elizabeth’ (1988), ‘The Four Feathers’ (2002) ‘Elizabeth: The Golden Age’ (2007), and ‘What’s Love Got to Do With It’ (2022), talking about his process stresses that as an artist, he interprets and internalises what is around him and shapes it according to his sensibilities.

“If you are a painter and have witnessed war, you will interpret it with your peculiar metaphors while presenting it on the canvas. I get attracted to stories of moral conflicts. Point is, which conflict attracts me most and stays with me in a particular space of time,” says this BAFTA Award, National Film Award, National Board of Review Award and three Filmfare Awards winner.

In Chandigarh, during the recently concluded Cinevesture International Film Festival (CII), Kapur feels it is extremely important that film festivals do not remain confined to the metros only. “I am glad that they did this festival here. Those living in smaller towns too should get an opportunity to witness cinematic excellence.”

For someone who works both in India and abroad, there is not much difference except the politics of getting to a film and releasing it.

“From calling action to cut, what happens in between is the same everywhere in the world. But yes, working in the West is like going to a supermarket, where everything is well-organised for you. In India, it’s like going to a chor bazaar, you don’t know what you are getting. But remember, chaos can be a great driver of creativity. I can get bored with the idea of absolute organisation and like the idea of chaos to ‘wake’ myself,” he said.

Even as there is much conversation around how Artificial Intelligence (AI) will change filmmaking, Kapur opines that it will be a definite game changer and disrupter.

“It’s the most democratic technology that has hit us. People keep saying that it will kill many jobs. But since the Industrial Revolution, 95 per cent of people do not like their jobs — the boss/employee structure etc. AI is bound to give people an opportunity to explore themselves — their creativity and humanity, and the synergy between the two. This technology will in fact create more jobs. Do you need to learn coding to create an App anymore? Crumbling all pre-established structures, you will hear about a boy sitting in Dharavi with his computer and giving prompts to make something of his life. The same goes for new-age filmmakers who are not able to get a breakthrough in theatres and OTT. AI will devise a new method of distribution,” concludes the 78-year-old filmmaker.

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From Punjabi Cinema to Pan-Indian Acclaim

Vicky recalls that when he was offered the role, he had little idea it would catapult him straight into the big league, considering his next film is with Manoj Bajpai. He stresses that excellent teamwork was a major reason why everything including his acting was received well…writes Sukant Deepak

He recalls the time when a few years back, after earning Rs 5,000 in a theatre production, he took the next train out to Mumbai. Of course, the money did not last long and he was back in one month.

There were minor roles for Suvinder Vicky in Punjabi films — the uncle, the distant relative. He was waiting for his ‘chance’, and knew it would come one day, but doubts had also started creeping in.

Cut to the web series ‘Kohrra’ where his stellar performance made even Karan Johar remark: “I was blown away by Suvinder Vicky’s performance, he is and will be the revelation of 2023 across film and streaming … his silences can launch a million scripts.”

Vicky recalls that when he was offered the role, he had little idea it would catapult him straight into the big league, considering his next film is with Manoj Bajpai. He stresses that excellent teamwork was a major reason why everything including his acting was received well.

“All elements came together perfectly well, each person knew exactly what to do. The atmosphere on the set was relaxed. Yes, I prepared well, and spent much time studying the character,” the actor tells IANS during the recently concluded Cinevesture International Film Festival in Chandigarh.

The actor who had played a police officer’s role in back-to-back several web series admits that it was important to ensure to bring something new to every character.

“Honestly, I did not have much choice. These were the only roles that were offered to me. However, I put in a lot of effort to ascertain I played all of them with different shades. I prepared differently for each role and put in a lot to avoid any kind of repetition. Of course, credit should go to the directors too.”

While ‘Kohrra’ may have exposed him to a wider mainstream audience, Vicky had been doing exceptional work in Punjabi independent cinema.

In Gurvinder Singh’s ‘Chauthi Koot’ in which he played the protagonist Joginder, his haunted eyes said more than words. During breaks, Vicky would sit still for hours while the excellent National-award-winning cinematographer Satya Rai Nagpaul would set up his cameras.

“You know, Gurvinder wanted me to ‘un-act’ during the entire film, he insisted that I needed to speak through silence and my eyes, and not expressions or movements. Of course, it was frustrating sometimes. But I must admit, he has taught me a lot — the art of holding back, taking realism to an entirely different level and coming well-prepared to the set.

Vicky, who also played the lead in Ivan Ayr’s ‘Milestone’ which premiered during the 77th Venice International Film Festival in the year 2020, admits that before his foray into independent cinema, he was just another Punjabi actor.

“In many contemporary Punjabi films, no bound scripts are given to the actors. You are just told to enact a particular scene on the spot. There is no concept of rehearsals, and neither are actors expected to come prepared,” he laments.

While only a few independent filmmakers are working in Punjabi, and most of the films being churned out from the state are slapstick comedies, Vicky feels that we can be optimistic as a lot of new filmmakers are now emerging from the state.

“Let us hope that they strive for cinematic excellence and not just box-office returns,” concludes the actor who has signed several Hindi films and web series after ‘Kohrra’.

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Binge-worthy Lineup for the Long Weekend

For the second long weekend in a row!  has the ultimate lineup of binge-worthy shows to make the upcoming. Whether you’re in the mood for laugh-out-loud comedies or action-packed thrillers, there’s something for everyone to indulge in. Gather your loved ones, grab some snacks, and immerse yourself in a marathon of entertainment, creating unforgettable memories during this break. Tune in for a weekend of relaxation, laughter, and thrills – it’s the perfect way to make the most of the extended holiday!

WATCH:

Ae Watan Mere Watan | Platform: Amazon Prime Video

Tune into ‘Ae Watan Mere Watan’ to witness the beautiful portrayal of Usha Mehta’s fearless fight for freedom during India’s Quit India movement. Sara Ali Khan shines as the courageous young woman who defies British rule by establishing an underground radio station, becoming a beacon of hope and unity. Watch her daring journey unfold in this tale of resilience and patriotism that resonates through history.

Big Girls Don’t Cry | Platform: Amazon Prime Video

‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’ is a compelling boarding school drama chronicling the lives of seven young students navigating adolescence at Vandana Valley School. Directed by acclaimed auteur Nitya Mehra, the series promises a rollercoaster of emotions as it explores themes of friendship, love, and the challenges of growing up. As a viewer, you can expect stellar performances that capture the essence of youth, making it a must-watch for anyone craving heartfelt storytelling and relatable characters!

Murder Mubarak | Platform: Netflix

Tune in for an electrifying murder mystery where Pankaj Tripathi shines as ACP Singh, exploring the murky depths of an elite Delhi club to uncover the truth behind a chilling homicide. With a star-studded cast including Karisma Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, and Dimple Kapadia, each portraying interesting suspects, director Homi Adajania’s film promises twists, turns, and edge-of-your-seat suspense. Don’t miss the chance to unravel the mystery alongside ACP Singh and crack the case in this whodunit.

The Great Indian Kapil Show | Platform: Netflix

Get ready for a Saturday night delight as ‘The Great Indian Kapil Show’ premieres on Netflix, promising a laughter-filled extravaganza with your beloved comedic genius and his hilarious entourage including Sunil Grover and Krushna Abhishek. Each episode unveils the unseen side of your favourite celebrities, offering an ideal mix of humour and warmth. With surprise guests and endless laughter, this star-studded show is your ticket to an unforgettable entertainment experience every Saturday at 8.00 PM, starting March 30 for a guaranteed dose of fun and surprises.

Patna Shukla | Platform: Disney Plus Hotstar

In this judicial drama, viewers will be drawn into the compelling story of Tanvi Shukla, portrayed by the talented actor, Raveena Tandon. A seemingly ordinary housewife and part-time lawyer with extraordinary determination, Tanvi finds herself embroiled in a high-stakes investigation uncovering a major educational fraud. The audience will be enthralled by her resilience and tenacity in the face of adversity. Set a reminder for the 29th of March for this riveting film that is set to premiere on Hotstar!

LISTEN:

Marvel’s Wastelanders: Wolverine | Platform: Audible

In the fourth season of the Audible Original franchise, Marvel’s Wastelanders, you’ll be plunged into a post-apocalyptic Marvel universe where Wolverine, voiced by Sharad Kelkar, grapples with survivor’s guilt and self-loathing after failing to protect his fellow X-Men. Framed by the sinister Red Skull and his lieutenant Crossbones, Wolverine sets on a quest to confront his inner demons. As the tension mounts, a devastating truth threatens to shatter Wolverine’s resolve. Tune in for a thrilling audio adventure filled with action, suspense, and unexpected twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat

The Last Boy to Fall in Love (Hindi) | Platform: Audible

This Audible original by Durjoy Datta will transport you into a dystopian world ravaged by the ‘Kali Virus’ – where, amidst the chaos, Amartya and Erika’s serendipitous meeting sparks an unexpected romance. As they both navigate through the remnants of society, you will witness their love story unfold against the backdrop of uncertainty and transformation. If you want to know whether love can triumph over devastation and if hope can emerge from the ashes of despair, tune in to discover the depth of this story and find the answers.

Secrets of Good Health S2 | Platform: Audible

Everyone is always on the lookout to discover the secrets behind Kareena Kapoor Khan’s balanced lifestyle as a mother of two and a busy actor. Whether you’re a fan of Kareena or simply seeking reliable nutrition advice, this podcast promises to be an insightful listen. Join Rujuta Diwekar, Kareena’s trusted fitness guru and India’s top nutritionist on the second season of her podcast as she shares practical advice, debunks myths and offers a dose of grandmotherly wisdom. Rujuta guides listeners towards sustainable health and weight loss. Tune in for easy-to-follow tips and an enjoyable journey towards a healthier lifestyle that’s both fun and informative.

Cargo: The End Is Just the Beginning | Platform: Audible

In ‘Cargo,’ an Audible Original by Arati Kadav, you will be transported to a distinct universe where the end of life is just another day at the office. In a world where ancient Rakshasha prepares humans for reincarnation in spaceships, the life of Prahastha, a rigid transition officer who has lived alone in Space for decades is disrupted by the sudden arrival of Yuvishka, an idealistic and energetic new assistant. As Prahastha and Yuvishka clash in their dealings with the quirky and strange humans, they realise that their dead ‘Cargo’ might still have something to teach them about what it means to live.

Kane and Abel | Platform: Audible

This gripping tale of ambition, rivalry, and destiny by renowned author Jeffrey Archer seeks to take you on a journey that follows the intertwined lives of William Lowell Kane and Abel Rosnovski. From their disparate beginnings to their relentless pursuit of success, this epic saga spanning six decades promises intrigue, drama, and a thrilling exploration of the power of fate. With its richly drawn characters and compelling narrative, this story of two titans locked in a bitter struggle for supremacy will capture audiences from start to finish.

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Actor Roshan Mathew Reflects on His Journey

Someone who had his first major role in the 2016 film ’Puthiya Niyamam’, admits that ‘Darlings’ (2022) has been like a steroid for him…reports Asian Lite News

He may have been discovered by Hindi audiences post his appearance in the film ‘Darlings’, though actor Roshan Mathew, who started his career with theatre, has long been effortlessly navigating the Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu film industries.

A pass-out from the Drama School in Mumbai, the actor smiles that it can be torturous watching one’s work on the screen and a lot of people feel that way.

“Of course, it is essential to set your expectations high as one strives for artistic excellence. But remember, the actor enters the movie for a short duration during the entire filmmaking process. It is the director, who is involved in every aspect of the process. By the time the film comes out, and you watch yourself on the screen, you already know what is going to happen. One is surprised to observe the work that has gone into the post-production phase and all. So many people embellish your work. But yes, I have been trying to teach myself to get better at watching myself.”

Someone who had his first major role in the 2016 film ’Puthiya Niyamam’, admits that ‘Darlings’ (2022) has been like a steroid for him.

“It was the biggest project I have worked on, both in terms of scale and stars. Every actor needs ‘visibility’, and I do not come from a film factory. ‘Darlings’ was watched by a large number of people and I quite liked my character in it,” said the actor, whose father is a bank manager and mother a retired PWD engineer in Kottayam.

Even though Mathew works in diverse industries, he always ‘comes back’ to Malayalam cinema.

Stressing that is where he belongs and that is where his story started, he said: “My childhood was spent mostly in Kerala. Besides, fantastic films are being made in Malayalam. So many people continue to inspire me and the list of people I want to collaborate with is just growing. So there is always a reason to go back home.”

From Karan Johar to filmmakers across the country, everyone is talking about Malayalam films that are making their presence felt at major film festivals across the country and also doing well in theatres. Mathew feels that in Kerala there has always been a climate that lends itself to the growth of independent films.

“As long as there is mainstream, there will always be a parallel stream. As long as there are people brave enough to think and envision, independent cinema will continue to thrive,” said the actor, who was in Chandigarh during the recently concluded CineVesture International Film Festival (CIFF).

Is he also looking to work in independent films?

“Of course, I would like to collaborate with parallel streams and people who are not doing mainstream cinema. They bring forth so many original thoughts which can be illuminating to explore,” he smiles.

The actor, who began his career with numerous theatre productions based in Chennai and Mumbai including ’The Glass Menagerie’ directed by Rajit Kapoor and ‘07/07/07’ directed by Faezeh Jalali, feels theatre has taught him everything, and before he did his debut film, he already had five years of professional theatre experience.

“I went into my first shoot with the assurance that I know how to act and the atmospherics were not alien to me.”

Mathew, who played the lead role in ‘Paradise’ (2023), a Sri Lankan-Indian co-produced drama film co-written and directed by Prasanna Vithanage, which is being received well at film festivals across the world, said that he is glad that the movie is travelling so much.

“It is a story that is truly universal, revolving around a couple and things that can happen in a relationship. This film is very special to me, owing to the people involved and the fact that it is multilingual,” concludes the actor, who will soon be seen with Janhvi Kapoor in the film ‘Ulajh’, a web series in Hindi and a Malayalam film.

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India’s Maverick Filmmaker Q Returns to the Spotlight

Currently working on multiple projects including one on diabetes which affects a sizable number of people in the country but seldom finds any representation in cinema, Q wants to collide it with the world of sweets…writes Sukant Deepak

Even though his film ‘Brahman Naman’ was the first Indian original to premiere on Netflix, India’s most subversive National Award-winning filmmaker Q (Qaushiq Mukherjee) known for movies like ‘Tasher Desh’, ‘Gandu’, ‘Ludo’, ‘Garbage’ and the web-series ‘TaranathTantrik’ had vanished for five years.

Someone whose movies were screened at some of the most prestigious festivals across the world tells: “Now, I am again starting to enjoy the idea of filmmaking. One of the reasons for my vanishing was that OTT became completely mainstream, and I do not like the idea of working with big guys.”

Stressing that digital platforms have finally killed the movie, Q, whose company ‘Oddjoint’ was the first to shoot with a DSLR, and first to proclaim that distribution will be digital, says: “We were making films because we were protesting and had immense success abroad by positioning ourselves when there was no reference point. But that was an exercise purely in understanding different artistic and technical drives.”

Currently working on multiple projects including one on diabetes which affects a sizable number of people in the country but seldom finds any representation in cinema, Q wants to collide it with the world of sweets.

“Almost every town in Bengal has a large number of mishti shops, there are thousands of varieties and people are obsessed with them.”

Also on the cards is a film adaptation of a 1929 book written by an anonymous writer Ms. Mukherjee in the background of the Chauri Chaura movement.

“At this phase of my life, I am looking at old stories that affect a lot of people.”

Also developing an App meant to be a transmedia platform, the filmmaker, who is a rapper and guitarist too, states that most people do not know about IP and its value, something this app will help.

Talk to him about his fascination with dark arts, and he recalls that close to the place where he was shooting his film ‘Love in India’, there were several hard-core sects that had settled there from different places – Buddhist tantrics, Vaishnavs, Shavaits, and Shakti people.

“Firstly, I would not use the word ‘dark arts’, let us stick to ‘aboriginal’. Interestingly, all of them at a root level use the same discipline. I was completely fascinated by the cultural exchange and the overlaps. Sexuality played a big part, thus there was a confluence of the physical and spiritual too. Being born into a communist family where rationalism was big, spirituality touched me much later,” says the director who is originally from Kolkata and is currently in Chandigarh for the Cinevesture International Film Festival (CIFF).

While he spent time and closely observed the cults, Q, who now lives in Goa says the change of place has been great for him but he does not like the shift that is taking place.

“A lot of super-elites are now coming, hiring water tankers to fill their swimming pools… of course, I understand that a place like Goa is bound to undergo shifts. But yes, the civil society is strong and active. I am closely involved with environmental activists. I was a city boy but this place has made me conscious, it has been like a university.”

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