MUMBAI: History is getting a fresh rewrite this time with code, creativity and a longer arc in mind. Lens Vault Studios has announced its first original production, Bal Tanhaji, marking the official entry of the newly launched, tech-driven studio into India’s evolving entertainment landscape.

Arriving six years after the box-office success of Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, the new project expands the universe rather than revisiting familiar ground. Bal Tanhaji explores uncharted narrative territory, signalling a clear shift from one-off cinematic spectacles to long-format, world-building storytelling designed for digital-first audiences.

At the heart of this ambition is Prismix Studios, the in-house generative AI and technology arm powering the creative engine behind the show. The studio’s approach blends storytelling with next-generation tools, aiming to reimagine how Indian IPs are created, scaled and sustained beyond theatrical releases.

For Lens Vault Studios chairman Ajay Devgn the new venture represents a deliberate step beyond traditional cinema. The focus is firmly on building long-form intellectual properties across fiction and non-fiction, tailored to changing viewing habits and platform-led consumption. He said the studio intends to explore formats that remain largely untapped, while drawing on the team’s experience with large-scale cinematic storytelling.

Lens Vault Studios founder and CEO Danish Devgn echoed that sentiment, describing Bal Tanhaji as the studio’s first generative-AI-led IP and the starting point of a broader vision. The aim, he noted, is to carry forward the legacy of the Tanhaji universe while connecting with younger audiences through a blend of powerful narratives and emerging technologies.

With Bal Tanhaji, Lens Vault Studios is planting its flag early not just launching a show, but signalling a larger play for cinematic universes that live, grow and evolve across platforms. If this debut is any indication, the future of Indian storytelling may be as much about imagination as it is about innovation.

SINGAPORE: The cauldron of Asian horror just got a potent new ingredient. A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts, the animated Singapore–Taiwan–Ireland horror anthology, has welcomed Indonesia’s powerhouse IP studio Kucing Hitam as co-producer, expanding its regional footprint at this year’s Asia TV Forum.

The 90-minute feature, adapted from Chinese-American author and chef Ying Chang Compestine’s acclaimed book, weaves four standalone yet interconnected tales steeped in tradition, terror and food folklore. Already tipped as one of the region’s most anticipated films, the project recently won the NMEA Award at Taiwan Creative Content Fest for its cross-disciplinary creative approach.

Kucing Hitam, founded in 2019, has carved a niche in Southeast Asian genre storytelling and is best known for shaping cultural blockbusters such as KKN di Desa Penari, Indonesia’s highest-grossing horror film. The company has built a strong IP pipeline by nurturing creators with massive grassroots followings, and in recent years it has expanded decisively into film production and original IP development.

Founder Charles Johannes said the anthology resonated deeply with Indonesia’s current wave of horror storytelling, which blends tradition with contemporary anxieties. He said the team was eager to help broaden the film’s global reach.

Kucing Hitam brings a track record linked to more than US $20 million in cumulative Indonesian box office revenue. For the film’s Indonesia-set segments, LMN VFX in Jakarta and Indonesia–Singapore investment firm Goshen Group will join the production team.

Singapore’s Mediacorp has supported the project from its earliest days, backing it during its infancy as a television pilot under the broadcaster’s Creatives Assembly initiative. Chief customer and corporate development officer, Angeline Poh, praised the project’s evolution from local concept to international collaboration.

Further strengthening the film’s finish is Telegael, the award-winning Irish studio under the Toonz Media Group, which will lead post-production. The partnership brings European technical finesse to the heart of Asian storytelling, enhancing the film’s global appeal.

Robot Playground Media co-founder Ervin Han, who created the project, said Kucing Hitam’s instinct for Asian horror adds depth to the film’s lore, while producer Justin Deimen emphasised the franchise potential of the Banquet universe across formats and brand partnerships.

For Indonesia specifically, Goshen Group’s managing director Allen Jordan noted that the film’s twin themes of food and fear make it a natural fit for local audiences.

A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts is expected to haunt theatres in early 2027, with Toonz Media Group and Robot Playground Media steering regional pre sales as the project returns to its Asian creative roots.

MUMBAI: Reliance Animation has clinched the character IP rights to develop an animated series on the extraordinary life of Diego Maradona, kicking off a prestige project designed for both streaming and television audiences across the world.

The Mumbai studio, part of Reliance Entertainment, is developing a scripted show charting Maradona’s ascent from gritty street football in Buenos Aires to global superstardom. The series promises to dive into the brilliance, the controversies and the cultural firepower that defined one of football’s most iconic figures.

The rights deal was sealed with SATTVICA SA, the Argentina-based custodian of Maradona’s IP, and arranged through Bridge Marketing Group Inc. Details on the writers, directors and distribution partners are set to follow.

Chief executive, Reliance Entertainment, Shibasish Sarkar said the studio aims to introduce Maradona’s legacy to a new generation. His colleague and Reliance Animation head Tejonidhi Bhandare called the endeavour a milestone moment for the company. Representatives of SATTVICA SA said they hope children worldwide will now grow up knowing the story of their brother. Bridge Marketing Group’s leadership added that animation will help extend the legend of Maradona long into football’s future.

The deal was announced on the sidelines of WAVES Film Bazaar at the International Film Festival of India in Goa.

Reliance Animation, with interests spanning production, gaming, music and digital content, now finds itself narrating the tale of a man whose left foot electrified the planet. A story made for drama and destiny, heading straight for screens.