Talking about the movie’s OTT premiere, Madhavan said: “It’s an incredible honour for me to be able to bring this story to life….reports Asian Lite News
After having a splendid run in theatres, actor Madhavan’s ‘Rocketry: The Nambi Effect’ will premiere on the OTT platform Amazon Prime Video on July 26.
Produced by Tricolour Films and Varghese Moolan Pictures, the film stars Madhavan in the lead and also marks his directorial debut. It also features Simran, Ranjit Kapoor and includes a special cameo by Suriya. Prime members in India and across 240 countries and territories can stream the film starting July 26, 2022 in Tamil, along with Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada language dubs on the service.
Talking about the movie’s OTT premiere, Madhavan said: “It’s an incredible honour for me to be able to bring this story to life. I’m truly humbled by all the love that the movie has already received and am quite excited to see what new milestones hold next for our film with streaming.
“Essaying this role and helming this incredible story of Nambi sir was very crucial, and I’m glad that we will be able to reach many more households to inspire, enlighten and entertain through Amazon Prime Video.”
The biographical drama is based on the life of ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan, who was framed for espionage and imprisoned in 1994. The film chronicles his achievements, his passion for the country’s space mission, his unmatched dedication and the accusation that eventually became the biggest personal and professional setback of his life. It is an emotionally charged human narrative with an outstanding performance by actor-director R Madhavan.
‘Ghost’ stars Kajal Agarwal and Sonal Chauhan as the female leads. Apart from an official poster, and some BTS pictures from the movie, the makers have kept everything else under wraps for now…reports Asian Lite News
The forthcoming film ‘Ghost,’ starring Nagarjuna Akkineni, is expected to be released exclusively on the OTT platform. Directed by Praveen Sattaru, it is being sold to an OTT partner, and the producers intend to release it directly on the digital platform rather than go for a theatrical release.
It is also reported that the business for ‘Ghost’ has not been disclosed yet, as the makers are still looking to set a higher price to launch the movie on OTT. Lack of publicity, and hype around the movie are also considered the factors behind the maker’s decision to release the movie on OTT rather than in the theatres.
‘Ghost’ stars Kajal Agarwal and Sonal Chauhan as the female leads. Apart from an official poster, and some BTS pictures from the movie, the makers have kept everything else under wraps for now.
It’s an action-packed movie for which ‘Garuda Vega’ fame Praveen Sattaru has done the scripting as well as direction. The picture was scheduled to be released in theatres at the end of this year, but if it shifts to OTT, we might see it much sooner.
The movie had a blockbuster opening and the theatres soon became a place of carnival, with the scenario of house-full shows continuing, even three-four weeks after the release…reports Asian Lite News
Kamal Hassan-starrer ‘Vikram’, which is still going strong even after grossing Rs 400 crore in box office collections worldwide, will have its worldwide OTT premiere on Disney+ Hotstar on July 8.
‘Vikram’, which has been showered with praises from people, continues to hog the spotlight. The movie hasn’t just impressed Indian trade circles alone, but has left even International markets awestruck as well.
Written and directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the Kamal Haasan-Vijay Sethupathi-Fahadh Faasil-Suriya starrer had its worldwide theatrical release on June 3, 2022.
The movie had a blockbuster opening and the theatres soon became a place of carnival, with the scenario of house-full shows continuing, even three-four weeks after the release.
‘Vikram’ has broken several box office records and has officially become the number one top grosser in Tamil Nadu. This is a fact that has been confirmed by the producers, distributors and exhibitors.
And now, the movie is to have its worldwide OTT premiere on Disney+ Hotstar, from July 8 onwards. The film will be available in Tamil, Telugu & Hindi from July 8.
Pankaj’s latest release is ‘Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga’, which hit the big screen on June 24. He will next be seen in ‘Fukrey 3’…reports Asian Lite News
From playing Kaleen Bhaiya in ‘Mirzapur’ to the power hungry Godman Guruji in ‘Sacred Games’ and the cheeky lawyer Madhav Mishra in ‘Criminal Justice’, acclaimed actor Pankaj Tripathi credits his growth and popularity to the digital space.
What if there was no OTT?
In a conversation with Pankaj said: “If there was no OTT, then there would have been a fight still going on with me. I wouldn’t have got any reach. OTT only gave me space because there is importance of content and stories and not actors that much.”
He credits his popularity to the web space.
“Whatever I am, it is because of my stories and the characters that I have played. I am a very small person but my characters and stories are very big… The growth that I have had is all because of OTT,” he added.
Pankaj’s latest release is ‘Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga’, which hit the big screen on June 24. He will next be seen in ‘Fukrey 3’.
Karan Johar’s earlier film ‘Shershaah’ received immense love from the audience and critics after its direct OTT release, according to Varun, Karan has faith in ‘Jugjugg Jeeyo’ and the makers believe that the film deserves a theatrical release…reports Asian Lite News
In a career span of 10 years in the Hindi film industry, he is one of the few actors who delivered as many as 11 hit films.
But as the audience is evolving in the post-pandemic era, and Indian cinema is passing through a sea change, Bollywood superstar Varun Dhawan, who is ready to face the box office results of his film ‘Jugjugg Jeeyo’, says no formula can be fixed to predict the fate of a film.
Varun said: “Look, honestly speaking, no matter how much we guess, analyse and predict the fate of a film, at the end of the day, there is no formula and no one knows what works at the box office. And we have seen that in recent times. Post the pandemic, things have changed but the only unchanged factor is people still love going to the theatre and watch a film that is entertaining.
“Whether it is a ‘KGF’, ‘RRR’, or ‘Sooryavanshi’, people watched them. But that does not mean that all larger-than-life event film works… as I said, there is no formula. Our film is a pure family drama that has emotion, comedy, and everything that we have grown up watching in a Karan Johar film!”
While Karan Johar’s earlier film ‘Shershaah’ received immense love from the audience and critics after its direct OTT release, according to Varun, Karan has faith in ‘Jugjugg Jeeyo’ and the makers believe that the film deserves a theatrical release.
“You know, Karan is a big name in this industry and he has in-depth knowledge about the whole box office game. He watched and loved the film and decided to release it in theatres. We had offers from OTT platforms for its direct OTT release with good financial deals. But he is taking the risk of releasing it theatrically.
“Even I have a share in the film as a producer because we had to restructure the finance post the pandemic. This is as much as my film and the audience are looking forward to that… it’s a family entertainer coming from the house of Karan Johar. I know that our fans will love the film,” Varun signed off.
Directed by Raj Mehta, ‘Jugjugg Jeeyo’ also starring Anil Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor, Pajukta Kohli and Manish Paul releases on June 24.
Optimistic that the book will now reach more people through its audiobook avatar launched on ‘Audible’, he feels that with the rapid pace of the digital revolution, ‘hearing’ a book has become a reality in the last few years…writes Sukant Deepak
Actor Tusshar Kapoor feels that while the OTT boom has given people more options, and provided more opportunities to actors, producers, technicians and directors, it would not eat into any other form of entertainment — cinema will remain cinema and television, that. “But yes, it has increased the size of the ‘entertainment pie’, and will definitely make things harder for a substandard product in another medium, as people have the OTT option to fall back on. We are living in a much more exciting phase,” he tells.
Currently working on multiple projects — a film that is ready and will be shown on an OTT platform soon, he is also producing a horror comedy film for the digital space. “Also, I am in talks for some very challenging out-of-the-box characters that probably will herald me into another zone — something completely away from what I have been associated with,” he shares.
For Kapoor, who has been seen in films including ‘Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai’, ‘Khakee’, Kyaa Kool Hai’, ‘Hum’, ‘Dhol’ and ‘Shootout at Wadala’, the most important part for him is the script or the story before he signs a project. “And of course, the people I am working with. It is about the general vibe that I get when I hear the story. So, it is a couple of things put together and the entire package that works for me.”
The actor, whose book ‘Bachelor Dad’ is about his journey into fatherhood as a single parent and was written over a period of time in 2019, says, “My experiences as a single parent have been unique and many of my friends exhorted me to write them in form of a book. I had the material and decided to take the plunge. The rest, of course, unfolded in the manner that was not predictable,” says the actor-writer who initially thought of roping in a co-author but decided it would be best to do it himself in order to do justice to a memory that is so personal.
Optimistic that the book will now reach more people through its audiobook avatar launched on ‘Audible’, he feels that with the rapid pace of the digital revolution, ‘hearing’ a book has become a reality in the last few years. “Many people have been waiting for the audio version of my book. Now that it is out on ‘Audible’, I am keeping my fingers crossed.”
For an introvert like him, the Pandemic-induced lockdowns were not really much of a problem. Besides writing the book, he released a film in the lockdown on an OTT platform. “Of course, this period affected the livelihoods of many people, which is something really sad. In my case, I had to accept that my first film as a producer will release on an OTT platform. I am still trying to release my second film (as a producer), and it is challenging,” he says.
Sarabhai, who shot to international fame when she played the character of ‘Draupadi’ in Peter Brook’s nine-hour theatre production ‘Mahabharata’, admits that it changed the very course of her life and she was no longer the same person after that…writes Sukant Deepak
“Is it not tragic that it is mostly a series about gory crimes and criminals that gets all the attention on OTT platforms? However, I have complete faith that content revolving around the ‘good’ will have a sizable audience,” Dancer and actor Mallika Sarabhai, Artistic Director of ‘Darpana’, who is currently producing multiple pilots and will soon approach different digital platforms, tells IANS.
To be produced under the banner of Darpana, the content aims to arrest the narrative that only violence and crime get people to binge watch.
“It is such a cliche that audiences do not want to see stories revolving around the positive. We are hoping we crack that and show an alternative — one can always choose compassion. But if you do not give viewers that option, then how are they supposed to choose it? Why do the characters have to be horrible to do something cool,” asks this Padma Bhushan awardee.
Not only an actor and dancer, Sarabhai, known for social activism and raising her voice for democracy and standing by different peoples’ movements, stresses she sees little sense in slotting art and social activism for they intersect for her at all levels.
“My work and my life are the same. There is never a moment when I am doing something and my mind is not raving about what I can create from that moment,” she tells.
Sarabhai, who shot to international fame when she played the character of ‘Draupadi’ in Peter Brook’s nine-hour theatre production ‘Mahabharata’, admits that it changed the very course of her life and she was no longer the same person after that.
“It made me realise I have the power to make a difference. I got the confidence to become my
own modelling clay. It completely altered my trajectory and pushed me into becoming my own defendant. A deep journey to find my limits started. It’s not what Peter did to me. It’s what happened to Mallika,” recalls the artist, who was recently in Chandigarh on the invitation of Nagina Bains for the IWN (Indian Women Network) Chandigarh Tricity Chapter Annual Session supported by Testler.
While for most artists, the pandemic-induced lockdown ensured a lull in activities, but not Sarabhai.
“My artistic director, I, seven dogs and a peacock were on the campus throughout. The highway next to us was completely silent. We would fix the lights, had our own studio and spaces. So if you go to the YouTube channel of Darpana, you will see a lot of our new work from 2021. We also went online the day the lockdown started. Our students did not really miss a single day of work/study. We generated a lot of material. Also, realising how awful other dancers must be feeling, we did something called ‘Dance Unlocked’, where we got dancers from all over the country and trained them on how to hold the camera etc. through WhatsApp.”
On the condition of artists during the lockdown, she laments that India has never had a decent budget for the arts in the past 30 years.
“Whatever little is there, goes to the favourites. One wonders what the multiple akademis are doing? The situation is deplorable. Think of what happened to the weavers who used to make the sarees for costumes, the leather cleaners for the tablas. Or the metal worker who makes the
ghungroos. When we talk about what Covid did to art, you are only seeing us. Not the hundreds of people behind us.”
The film’s Heart wrenching story is well projected and acted by lead artist Jyothi Rai who has brought in wonderful expressions and emotions…reports Rahul Laud
UK based Dr Saraswathi Hosdurga joins hands with National Award winning director Chethan Mundadi and her entrepreneur friend Kavitha Santosh from Bangalore to produce a sensitive yet entertaining film related to autism and woman empowerment.
UK hosted the premiere of Feature film “Varnapatala (The Prism)” at Scott Cinemas, Bristol. This film is an Indo-UK collaboration conceptualised and co-produced by UK based Dr Saraswathi Hosdurga, Consultant community paediatrician, and her school friend Mrs Kavitha Santhosh, a Bangalore based entrepreneur and directed by National Award winner Chethan Mundadi.
Talking to Asian Lite, Producers observed that “there is minimal support and awareness about autism in India compared to the UK.” A heavy topic like autism and women empowerment can be made interesting if this is projected in the form of a story, they shared. Saraswathi, Kavitha, Karthik Saragur, Pallavi Rao and Chethan Mundadi worked on the story and plots making the film as one of the very special film projects of India -UK collaboration.
The UK premiere was attended by all Indian communities, other nationalities from various backgrounds; doctors, nurses, therapists, engineers , mental health specialties, home makers , councillors and many parents. People attended from different parts of England”s South West region including Bristol, Bath, Swindon and Cheltenham.
The film’s Heart wrenching story is well projected and acted by lead artist Jyothi Rai who has brought in wonderful expressions and emotions. Each and every artist has done full justice to the roles. Suhasini Maniratnam does deliver a powerful message in her pivotal role and the Icing on the cake are the acts by child artistess Aanshika Shetty and Dhanika Hegde.
UK based Ganapathi Bhat from KUK talkies lead on Q and A sessions with Dr Saraswati Hosdurga. Chief Guest Prof Parag Singhal, Director of BAPIO Training Academy – British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin said, this movie has a lot to offer to the parents, society and education system specifically in India. Mohan Mundasad, consultant ophthalmologist and Bristol based said,”Hats off to the team for such a well- made movie that lingers in the minds of the audience for many more years.” Saraswathi said the film has the right balance of entertainment and key message about the day today life of a child with autism. She summarised the film as, “When a child is supported by a prism made with supportive family, society and education system, the child can liberate beautiful colours like Varnapatala (Spectrum).” “With dedication and perseverance of parents and teachers will help to identify strengths and inherent potential in children, she added.”
Saraswathi shared that the film Varnapatala has received similar feedback in Karnataka. Music director, Harsha Vardhan Raj and Cinematographer Ganesh Hegde have given treats to eyes and ears. Fascinating background music scores, songs, lyrics and photography bring out a right balance to the film.
Saraswathi explained that, “The ultimate aim of the movie was to create awareness about neuro-diversity, the much-needed message to the society.”
Producers are contemplating conducting theatrical shows at various locations in the UK and sell the film on OTT platform to reach out to a wider audience.
These critically acclaimed documentaries, one of which Zee Special Projects is bringing to India, demonstrate that the refugee crisis cannot be defined solely by statistics…reports Asian Lite News
Global forced displacement had surpassed 84 million in mid-2021, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the figure is still rising.
Despite being set in diverse geographies such as Afghanistan, Syria, and Cambodia, the films ‘Flee’, ‘Born in Syria’, ‘Human Flow’, ‘First They Killed My Father’, and ‘For Sama’ remind us that all human beings deserve to be heard, seen, and treated with dignity and compassion.
These critically acclaimed documentaries, one of which Zee Special Projects is bringing to India, demonstrate that the refugee crisis cannot be defined solely by statistics.
Here is an overview of these moving, real-life stories that are available on various OTT platforms.
Flee
‘Flee’ is an animated account of a young Afghan boy named Amin’s perilous journey, and it begins with a powerful question: “What does home mean to you?” It then goes on to describe how Amin, who used to shut out the world with his headphones while listening to pop music, can no longer ignore Afghanistan’s civil unrest. He abandons his beloved home and flees into an unknown future. This journey takes him across continents until he finds a semblance of normalcy decades later. Can he, however, truly forget the horrors he and his family have endured? Can he forget the depravity and cruelty he has witnessed? Can he ever feel secure enough to settle down in one place? Check out this Oscar-nominated Jonas.
Available on Zee5.
Born in Syria
Documentaries by Bernan Zin, such as ‘Born in Gaza’ and ‘Born in Syria,’ have helped to raise awareness of the trauma experienced by children who have been displaced by war. The film begins with images of an unsteady dingy packed with crying children and young and old faces marked by fear, desperation, and exhaustion. They remind us of the horrors that millions of refugees face on a daily basis. The documentary tells the stories of seven children whose lives and families have been shattered. The essence of the film is encapsulated in the words of 13-year-old Marwan, who says, “I thought crossing the sea would be the worst, but having nowhere to go is worse.”
Available on Netflix.
Human Flow
‘Human Flow,’ directed by Ai Weiwei, is a 2017 documentary with a macro and micro perspective on the current global refugee crisis. It takes us on an epic journey to more than 20 countries to document the impact of forced human migration on individuals and communities. This film confronts us with stories that are largely untold, using drones to sweep across the flow of migrants and intimate accounts shot with phone cameras. The film is a call to compassion and empathy for fellow humans who have nothing to do with the geopolitical upheavals in which they are helplessly caught. Ai investigates the causes of mass migrations and seeks long-term solutions that will allow future generations to live without fear.
Available on Prime Video.
First They Killed My Father
Angelina Jolie’s film adaptation of activist Loung Ung’s autobiographical book by Oscar-winning actor, director, and UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie allows us to see the Cambodian genocide through the eyes of a young survivor. The film recounts how the young girl and her family endured unspeakable suffering under Pol Pot’s regime. It sensitively addresses the issues confronting internally displaced people (IDPs) who are dehumanised in their home countries. Loung Ung, for example, was made a child soldier at the age of seven during the Communist Khmer Regime. The film, set in 1975, depicts Loung’s training as a child soldier while her siblings were sent to labour camps under the Khmer Rouge regime. It also reveals the tenacity that no human being possesses.
Available on Netflix.
For Sama
‘For Sama,’ a BAFTA-winning documentary directed by Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts in 2019, has been praised for providing a rare account of war from a female perspective. The film follows Waad Al-journey Kateab’s as a mother, wife, journalist, and rebel during the Syrian uprising in Aleppo with startling intimacy. She discovers she is pregnant while married to Hamza Al-Kateab, one of the few doctors left in Aleppo. As the war escalates, she gives birth to her child. On March 11, 2019, the film premiered at the South by Southwest festival, where it won the Grand Jury and Audience Awards in the Documentary Feature Competition. It was nominated for four BAFTA awards, as well as the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 92nd Academy Awards.
We Must Meet’ content will comprise international as well as regional projects. It will be driven by an annual subscription model and is being launched in India and globally….reports Asian Lite News
Former US President Donald Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign advisor Kimberly Guilfoyle has announced her association with a new digital platform ‘We Must Meet’, launched by a group of women of Indian heritage.
The technology initiative is said to be the first video conference platform that can also act as an OTT platform, where filmmakers from Hollywood and Indian Cinema can screen their own cinematic content.
Guilfoyle will be the brand ambassador and strategic advisor to the project as well as a stakeholder in the project, said founder Manju Mason.
Donald Trump Jr.’s fiancee Guilfoyle has joined forces with a group of women entrepreneur friends who are of Indian heritage. Founder Pooja A Patil says that the unique aspect of their latest offering ‘We Must Meet’ is that it can live stream political events, Town Halls, sports events and concerts, which can be accessed by up to 30,000 people at the same time.
Sharing her excitement, 21-year-old founder Founder Ish Patil, said, “Today the majority of top Bollywood and Hollywood film-makers are making content for OTT, exclusively for online screening. India’s OTT market is fastest-growing, and has the potential to become largest in the world.”
Founder Manju Mason also stated: “This is the only video conferencing platform that transcends the border of regular video conference towards screening of Bollywood and Hollywood online movies.”
‘We Must Meet’ content will comprise international as well as regional projects. It will be driven by an annual subscription model and is being launched in India and globally.
Elaborating on the platform, Manju Mason, who has conceptualized ‘We Must Meet’, added, “The software has been entirely developed in the United States and is community-based. It will change the way people will meet and host business meetings.”
‘We Must Meet’ is powered and managed by technology company Iotum, said tech coordinator R. Manji.
‘We Must Meet’ will connect students and learners to their curriculum and training from anywhere in the world via browser-based remote learning, said Pooja A Patil an educationist, who also overseas at numerous education institutions under the brand of Ajeenkya D.Y Patil University.
The company’s financial analyst K. Patel announced that ‘We Must Meet’ is soon going to launch Theme Parks, Boutique Hotels, resorts and restaurants under the same brand. (ANI)
