Hindi

RaagDesh……..Purposeless

Published

9 years ago

July 28, 2017

RaagDesh has been backed by RajyaSabha Television which, in itself, is quite curious! What is the Upper House of the Parliament, which is not even elected by direct public voting and the TV channel devoted to the august house, getting into any sort of a commercial activity, obviously, financed by the tax payers’ money? Unless, of course, the credit given to the RajyaSabha TV is for some other reasons.

In the last many decades, a much selected history of India and her freedom struggle has not been available into public domain. Even when it comes to the educational institutions, the exposure has been kept limited to a select few.

The files and suspense over the sudden vanishing of the great freedom fighter, Subhash Chandra Bose, a Congress leader, who parted ways with the Congress and who, during the World War II, raised and led the Indian National Army (INA), joined forces with the Japanese army to fight the British occupying Hindustan to free her from their clutches.

One thought the Government owned TV channel got involved itself in this film project to bring to the people the glory of Bose and his endeavours towards freeing India from the slavery of British. Sadly, in the process, Indians belonging to the British army and the INA ended up killing each other; an Indian killing another Indian! However, there is little or nothing about Bose except passing references and a few visuals.

The film is about the British Indian army men of the Indian origin who, when they were losing ground to the Japanese at Burma (Myanmar), were compromised by the British and, when they surrendered, they were handed over to the soldiers of the Japanese Imperial army.

What follows is the story of three British army Indian officers from those handed over to the Japanese who, when freed, joined the INA. The three being Kunal Kapoor, Amit Sadh and MohitMarwah, portraying a Sikh, a Muslim and a Punjabi Hindu thus, according to the makers, representing all of India. The South is represented by MrudulaMurali, who plays the army doctor in INA as LaxmiSehgal.

The three officers are charged with the murder of some British army men and tried by an army court. The film also reminds one of the prominent Mumbai based Congressman and an eminent lawyer, Bhulabhai Desai (after who the upscale South Mumbai road, earlier known as Warden Road, has been named.) who decides to fight the case of these three soldiers.

As the trial begins of the three officers, it goes into the flashback of war encounters the three faced. The circumstances of their capture and accusations.

RaagDesh is a shoddy, pretentious film which even fails to establish the background and the credentials of its three protagonist. Symbolism (soldiers from three communities), unconvincing romance between Marwah and Mrudula, confusing war scenes where you don’t know who is on which side and who is killing who. The court scenes are stagey and grab most footage. And, the British court martial officers or whatever are caricatures. The language in the film is Punjabi and English just because the main protagonist is Punjabi!

The three men, Kunal Kapoor, MohitMarwah, Amit Sadh as well as MrudulaMurali look sincere to no avail.

RaagDesh fails to invoke any sort of emotions, let alone patriotism.

Producers: Gurdeep Singh Sappal.

Director: Tigmanshu Dhulia.

Cast: Kunal Kapoor, Amit Sadh, MohitMarwah, MrudulaMurali, Kenny Desai, Zakir Husain, Kanwaljit Singh, Kenny DeoriBasumatary.

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Hindi

Boney Kapoor acquires remake rights of Tamil political satire Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil

Strong word-of-mouth turns Pongal satire into remake pick

Published

22 hours ago

February 9, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: A Pongal release, a village satire and a theatre visit in Coimbatore have turned into Boney Kapoor’s latest acquisition. The producer has secured the remake rights to the Tamil political satire Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil (TTT), a film that has been enjoying a strong theatrical run powered by word-of-mouth and praise for its sharp, rooted writing.

Set in a rural milieu, the story follows a panchayat leader thrown into disarray when a wedding and a funeral land on the same day. What unfolds is a swirl of satire and humour that skewers local politics, power games, bruised egos and family tensions, all anchored in the textures of everyday village life.

Kapoor first encountered the film earlier this year while in Coimbatore for the Celebrity Cricket League. With time to spare, he caught a screening at a local theatre. That viewing proved decisive. According to sources, the narrative style, performances and the film’s balance of political commentary and comedy caught his attention.

Interest quickly turned into intent. Kapoor reached out to the producers soon after to explore a remake. Talks gathered pace over the following weeks and came to a head last Friday at the film’s success party in Chennai, where Kapoor joined the celebrations and continued negotiations with the makers.

By the end of the evening, the deal was sealed, with Kapoor formally acquiring the remake rights.

For an industry constantly mining regional cinema for the next crossover story, the move is telling. A small-town satire with local flavour has found a national backer. And if Kapoor’s instincts hold, a tale born in one village may soon echo far beyond it.

Hindi

Fans take centre stage as Zee Cine awards turns the spotlight around

Published

2 days ago

February 7, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: When the applause gets louder than the dialogue, you know the fans have taken over. That was the unmistakable mood as Zee formally announced the Zee Cine Awards 2026, flipping the script to celebrate not just cinema’s stars, but the people who cheer them on the loudest.

The 24th edition of the awards marks a fresh chapter in Zee’s long-standing relationship with Hindi cinema, anchored in its fan-first philosophy, Fantertainment. This year’s theme, ‘Yeh Pal Hai Fans Ka’, reinforces a simple idea: cinema’s most powerful moments are shaped as much by audiences as by actors on screen. Presented by Maruti Suzuki, the awards aim to turn fandom into the main event.

The announcement, held in Mumbai, was anything but a routine press conference. Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar, Tamannaah Bhatia, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, Aparshakti Khurana, composer Mithoon and singer Palak Muchhal joined fans to kick off the celebrations, turning the launch into a high-voltage, participative spectacle.

Staying true to the theme, fans didn’t just watch the announcement, they drove it. Akshay Kumar took the lead, pulling fellow stars on stage and energising the room, before the unveiling of a live LED Fan Meter. Powered purely by audience cheers, the rising meter culminated in the reveal of the Zee Cine Awards 2026 ground event date, announced in unison with fans, blurring the line between performer and spectator.

The momentum continued as Tamannaah Bhatia, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa and Aparshakti Khurana recreated iconic hook steps, joined by Mithoon and Palak Muchhal for music-led interactions. Games, spontaneous performances and playful banter kept the focus firmly on shared moments, underscoring the evolving bond between cinema and its audience.

Beyond the launch, the awards will roll out as a multi-platform journey across television, digital, print and fan-led experiences. The aim is sustained engagement from the first announcement to awards night cementing fandom as a cultural force rather than a footnote.

Commenting on the milestone edition Zee head of advertisement revenue, broadcast & digital Laxmi Shetty said the 24th Zee Cine Awards continue to draw strength from the network’s omni-channel ecosystem, reflecting how audiences consume content today across TV, digital and social platforms. She noted that long-standing brand associations, including Maruti Suzuki’s three-year partnership and support from brands such as Hell Energy, underline the platform’s scale, trust and cultural relevance.

As Zee Cine Awards 2026 gathers pace, one thing is clear: this year, the loudest cheers won’t just echo in the auditorium, they’ll shape the show itself.

Hindi

Prime Video to stream Don’t Be Shy, produced by Alia Bhatt

Published

2 weeks ago

January 30, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Prime Video has found its next feel-good original, and it comes with a healthy dose of heart, humour and youthful chaos. The streaming platform has announced Don’t Be Shy, a coming-of-age romantic comedy produced by Alia Bhatt and Shaheen Bhatt under their banner, Eternal Sunshine Productions.

Written and directed by Sreeti Mukerji, the film follows Shyamili ‘Shy’ Das, a 20-year-old who believes her life is neatly mapped out until it suddenly is not. What follows is a relatable tumble through friendship, love and the awkward art of growing up, when plans unravel and certainty gives way to self-discovery.

The project is co-produced by Grishma Shah and Vikesh Bhutani, with music composed by Ram Sampath, adding to the film’s promise of warmth and energy. Prime Video describes the story as light-hearted yet emotionally grounded, with a strong female-led narrative at its core.

Prime Video India director and head of originals Nikhil Madhok, said the platform was delighted to collaborate with Eternal Sunshine on a story that blends sincerity with humour. He noted that the film’s fresh writing, earnest characters and infectious music make it an easy, engaging watch for audiences well beyond its young adult setting.

For Alia Bhatt, Don’t Be Shy reflects the kind of storytelling Eternal Sunshine set out to champion. She said the film stood out for its honesty, its coming-of-age perspective and Mukerji’s passion, which she felt was deeply woven into the narrative. Bhatt also praised Prime Video for supporting distinctive voices and bold creative choices.

With its breezy tone and familiar emotional beats, Don’t Be Shy aims to charm viewers whether they are rom-com regulars or simply in the mood for a warm, unpretentious story about life refusing to stick to the plan.