ITV

Category: Regional

  • Telugu horror franchise ‘Mantra 2’ to release on 3 July

    Telugu horror franchise ‘Mantra 2’ to release on 3 July

    MUMBAI: Ever since the success of Rajinikanth’s Robot and Boss in the north, the market for south cinema is fast growing every year.  After successfully releasing Tamil horror – thriller Masss all across north India, Impossible Films has acquired the rights of Mantra 2, part of the hit horror franchise Mantra (2007) for north India territory. Mantra 2 will be released on 3 July, 2015 across north India.

     

    Directed by Venkat Prabhu, Masss stars Tamil super star Suriya alongside Nayantara in the lead. The movie grossed Rs 17.30 crore in its opening weekend. Masss was also in the horror thriller category with a few comic elements, while Mantra 2 is a far more edge of the seat horror. The story of the movie revolves around a haunted farmhouse Mantra Nilayam, which is owned by Mantra (Charmi). The director of Mantra 2 has said that it is not a sequel to its predecessor but is in the same genre as the first one.

     

    Masss grossed $121,000 at the US box office. Helmed by ace director S. V. Suresh and staring Charmy Kaur, the movie is expected to garner even better results at the box office than its prequel Mantra, which was a huge hit. 

     

    Impossible Films managing director Murlidhar Tilwani said, “Indian audiences are now hungry for good cinema. Along with international projects, there has been a great increase in demand for south origin cinema, especially Tamil. We are confident the movie will do well in the north as it has already in south.”

  • South Indian International Movie Awards set to enthral Dubai in August

    South Indian International Movie Awards set to enthral Dubai in August

    NEW DELHI: The fourth edition of the South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) is slated to be held in Dubai on 6 and 7 August.

     

    Title sponsored by Micromax, the awards enjoy the highest popularity in South India with over 45 per cent of South Indian TV viewers watching the award ceremony every year.

     

    The nomination process of the movie awards is executed by a panel of veteran judges from Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam industries, followed by online voting for the final verdict of winner selections. 

     

    The event will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre. SIIMA chairman Brinda Prasad said, “This year, SIIMA is back in Dubai and we are looking forward to a grand night that will only get bigger and better with over 20 stars performing over two days in Dubai.”

     

    Kick starting this year’s Micromax SIIMA Celebrations is Ivede, a Malayalam crime and drama thriller holding its premiere in Dubai with the star cast- Prithviraj Sukumaran, Nivin Pauly and Bhavana. 

     

    Sukumaran said, “I am excited about the premier of Ivede happening in Dubai. SIIMA believes in taking the South Indian film industry globally and it gives us immense pleasure to be associated with the event. Also, Dubai has always been a great market for South Indian movies and I would love to see the movie response with our Dubai audience”

     

    Micromax Informatics CMO Shubhajit Sen added, “Micromax is proud to partner with SIIMA, which has been a part of the magical journey of South Indian cinema. Being an iconic youth brand, we have been consistently connecting Indians to their passions and nothing, not even cricket, evokes as much engagement as movies. I would like to thank all the members of the organizing committee for their effort of bringing together best talent in the industry and felicitate their notable contribution to South Indian cinema.”

     

    Those present at a press meet in Chennai to announce the awards included Rana Daggubati, Shriya Saran, Pranitha Subhash and Yash. 

     

    Saran said, “To be representing the South film industry globally, is both a responsibility and a privilege and SIIMA is just the right platform to be a part of. I am now eagerly looking forward to the awards ceremony in Dubai.”

  • Harbhajan Mann’s Punjabi film to release on 29 May

    Harbhajan Mann’s Punjabi film to release on 29 May

    NEW DELHI: Punjabi singer-turned-actor Harbhajan Mann will soon be seen in the suspense Punjabi thriller Gadaar-The Traitor, which is slated to release on 29 May.

     

    Talking about the film, Mann said, “It is always good to play with characters as people have a tendency to get bored with things after a point of time. It is very important to entertain people with something different each time.”

     
    Directed by Amitoj Mann and produced by Sumeet Singh, the film also stars Evelyn Sharma and Manpreet Grewal.

    The film is produced under the banner of Saga-Unisys Infosolutions and Grandsons Films and will have a fresh concept amidst comedy and romance.

     
    Mann said that the movie is likely to break stereotypes of storylines that has been set for so long and will be a complete package of action, romance, suspense and thrills.

    Mann will portray a character named Jay Singh, who is an adventurous business tycoon.

    The German model turned actress Evelyn Sharma’s looks and talent paved ways for more more roles in Bollywood. Sharma said, “My acting has grown as I have done many Hindi films. No doubt it was difficult but at the end of the day you are happy because you end up learning something new and delivering Punjabi dialogues was like a challenge for me. It is not everyone’s cup of tea. Your past experience makes you confident enough to take the challenge and it ultimately helps you to realise your potential.”  

     
    Grewal, who won the title Miss Australian Punjaban in 2012, will be debuting in the film as the female lead playing the character of a journalist. “This is my very first movie that too as a lead so I was actually shocked and excited at the same when the director approached me for the role. Also the character I am playing is very challenging and working with such great people in your first film is itself an opportunity to learn so many things from them,” she said.

    Amitoj Mann, who has directed films like Haani, Hawayein,Kaafila and many music videos said, “It is time to change the face of Punjabi cinema and with this film, the audience will see more than just romance and love. The film has action, romance, suspense and thrill. It is a film that can potentially open more doors for other film makers. The audience will see good, clean cinema with thought-provoking and tastefully done stories.”

     
    The film is shot in locations of Punjab, Goa, Mumbai and Toronto.

  • Telugu filmmakers allege Hyderabad theatre cartel threatens small films’ survival

    Telugu filmmakers allege Hyderabad theatre cartel threatens small films’ survival

    NEW DELHI: The Telugu Chalana Chitra Parirakshana Samithi (TCCPS) has alleged that 80 per cent of the theatres in Hyderabad are leased to two to three companies who make it very difficult for a small and medium budget movie to recover their costs.

     

    A spokesperson for the Samithi said that these companies have formed a cartel and created a monopoly.

     

    The Samithi was established recently by filmmakers in Andhra Pradesh and Telengana to bring some balance in the eco system of movie production, distribution and exhibition.

     

    The spokesperson said that the Telugu film industry is going through a crisis and steps need to be taken urgently to redress the grievance of filmmakers.

     

    He said increasing cost of publicity and digital charges have only added to the problems of producers.

     

    TCCPS is fighting to make a mutual win-win situation for all the stakeholders – Producers/Distributors/Exhibitors.

     

    In the coming weeks TCCPS will be meeting Telangana Chief Minister to seek some reforms.

  • Maharashtra govt orders multiplexes to allocate primetime slot for Marathi films

    Maharashtra govt orders multiplexes to allocate primetime slot for Marathi films

    MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has issued a directive to all multiplexes in the state to screen at least one Marathi language movie at their properties in the prime time slot of 6 – 9 pm.

     

    Home Minister RR Patil was quoted in a DNA report saying, “Hereafter, it will be mandatory for all 27 multiplexes in Mumbai to give Marathi cinema prime time slots. The permission for new multiplexes will be sanctioned only if they dedicate a separate screen entirely to Marathi cinema.”

     

    The move comes in a bid to give a fillip to the state’s Marathi film industry. Actor Riteish Deshmukh, who made his Marathi film debut with Lai Bhaari, took to Twitter to welcome this news.

     

    It may be noted that the BJP government has also made it mandatory for theatres to play the national anthem as well as a song that honours the father of Indian cinema – Dadasaheb Phalke.

     

    The order, issued by Culture Minister Vinod Tawde on Tuesday, also mentioned that the word ‘Bombay’ will be replaced with ‘Mumbai’ in all the 199 occurrences in the laws on culture and entertainment.

     

    It may be recalled that the Maharashtra government led by Devendra Fadnavis had recently offered benefits to private players to make Marathi language films.

     

    A Delhi based advocate Ishkaran S. Bhandari tweeted, “Doubt whether Govt order of 6-9 pm time slot only for Marathi movie in multiplex is Constitutionally Valid. Should be violative of 19(1)(g).”

     

    It remains to be seen how the exhibition industry reacts to this bit of news.

     

  • Third Indian Panorama Film Festival to kick off in Shillong

    Third Indian Panorama Film Festival to kick off in Shillong

    NEW DELHI: A festival of selected films from the Indian Panorama is being held in Shillong in Meghalaya from 12 March. 

     

    To be inaugurated by Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma in the presence of Information & Broadcasting Secretary Bimal Julka at the U Soso Tham Auditorium, it will present a bouquet of the best of contemporary Indian cinema produced in different languages with a view to promoting quality cinema from different parts of the country.

     

    Eight feature films and three non-feature films will be screened over three days. The film festival is being organised by the Directorate of Film Festivals in collaboration with the state government.

     

    The festival will open with the Marathi feature film, Dr. Prakash Baba Amte – The Real Hero directed by Samruoddhi Porey. 

    Other feature films to be screened during the festival are Drishyam (Malayalam), December 1 (Kannada), Kuttram Kadithal (Tamil), Ankhon Dekhi (Hindi), Othello (Assamese), Ri (Khasi), Teenkahon (Bengali) and Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbona (Bengali). Non-feature films to be screened during the festival are Songs of the Blue Hills by Utpal Borpujari (Nagamese/English), A Dream Never Dies (Assamese) and Ek Hota Kau (Marathi). 

    Indian Panorama Film Festival is being held in Shillong for the last two years and this will be the third edition of the festival.

  • 20th Kolkata International Film Festival begins

    20th Kolkata International Film Festival begins

    KOLKATA: The 20th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF), which opened on 10 November, saw the heavyweights of Bollywood and Hollywood attending it.

     

    The eight-day extravaganza saw Amitabh Bachchan and his celebrated family, superstar Shah Rukh Khan, the state’s brand ambassador and a host of film personalities at the Netaji Indoor Stadium at Central Kolkata.

     

    The inaugural ceremony will be presided by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee along with the Bachchan clan, SRK, Deepika Padukone, Tanuja and Irrfan Khan.

     

    Boasting of a rich oeuvre of around 137 films from 60 countries, the fest will see 40 international delegates and 15 segments. There will be 31 Indian films, including 13 Bengali films.

     

    For the first time, the fest will see 15 films by women directors from across the globe, competing for the top jury award, the Golden Royal Bengal Tiger trophy in the Women Directors segment.

     

    Headed by award-winning Australian filmmaker Paul Cox, the jury will comprise Iranian director Nikki Karimi and Indian filmmaker Amol Palekar and others.

     

    It should be noted that this year there is no private sponsorship.

     

    The focus will be on cinema from Arab nations too and a special section has been earmarked as a tribute to legendary Bengali actress Suchitra Sen, who died on January 17 this year in Kolkata. Seven of her films will be screened as part of this.

    Hollywood classics such as Guns of Navarone, The Sound of Music and Jighangsa by Ajoy Kar will be screened in the ‘Centenary Tribute’ section.

     

    The Satyajit Ray Memorial lecture will be delivered by director Govind Nihalani and the screening locations will be spread across 12 venues.

     

    Other highlights include ‘Children Screening’ section and ‘French Classics’ segments, apart from contemporary world films of 2013 and 2014.

     

    The inaugural film selected is the Italian movie Italo Barocco by Alessia Scarso.

     

  • Tamil cinema industry goes for silent fast for Jayalalithaa

    Tamil cinema industry goes for silent fast for Jayalalithaa

    MUMBAI: Expressing their solidarity with former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and a former actor J Jayalalithaa, members of the Tamil cinema industry on Tuesday embarked on a day-long silent fast on 30 September.

     

    Over 300 Tamil film actors, directors, producers and more than 3000 film workers have gathered at Marina beach to join the protest. Various industry associations, including Tamil Nadu Producers’ Council (TPFC) and South Indian Artists’ Association (SIAA) besides others and small screen personalities also participated in the fast.

     

    Noted actors taking part in the protest include R Sarath Kumar, directors Vikraman and Liaqath Ali Khan, producers S Thanu and T Siva among others.

     

    All theatres in the state will also be shut down and films will only be screened only after 6 pm on Tuesday.

     

    Jayalalithaa was convicted and sentenced to four years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 100 crore on 27 September by a Bangalore special court judge, who found her guilty in the Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case.

  • Lai Bhaari goes all out on social media

    Lai Bhaari goes all out on social media

    MUMBAI: Marathi films today are gaining immense popularity among the Hindi and English cinema loving public as a result of the large scale social media campaigns backing them. One such case is that of Riteish Deshmukh’s latest Marathi debut film Lai Bhaari. The film took Marathi cinema to a whole new level and opened to a full house on the 11 June 2014 and is still going strong in theaters even two weeks after its release.

     

    Jeetendra Thackeray, producer of Lai Bhaar on the success of the movie said, “This is the first time a Marathi movie has garnered a response among the audience that so far only Hindi action packed blockbusters with A list star cast enjoyed. Everyone, including Marathi, Hindi and English cinema goers showed interest in the movie and there’s a reason for that. Online marketing and social media helped us connect with our audience in a way no other Marathi movie has done before. The response was massive. Interesting campaigns, enticing contests and easy steps to book tickets has actually changed the scenario for us and we are thrilled! Ritiesh’s stardom and his promotional tours across the state have also fuelled our online campaigns further.”

     

    A full-fledged digital media campaign was carried out to promote the film to its audience. As a part of this strategy, a number of engagement activities were carried out. These included the selfie contest where users were asked to submit their Lai Bhaari selfies on the film’s official social media properties. Dialogue promos from the film depicting the fiery Mauli were released giving the audience a glimpse of the character portrayed by the inimitable Riteish Deshmukh.

     

    A countdown to the film’s release executed in the form of cover pictures (updated daily) on Facebook also helped keep the anticipation levels on an all-time high in the minds of cine-goers. All communication regarding the path-breaking film was disseminated in Marathi to target the relevant target audiences. Additionally, a dedicated tab gave all users the ability to book tickets right off the bat from the Facebook page.

     

    Marathi cinema has always been characteristic of quality cinema; however, this is the first time that a film like Lai Bhaari has been created with a commercial potboiler perspective in mind. While this has been a first for Marathi Cinema, it has also been a first for the way the film was marketed.

     

    Everymedia Technologies has executed the social media campaign for the movie.

  • ‘Goynar Baksho’ gets nominated in New York Indian Film Festival

    ‘Goynar Baksho’ gets nominated in New York Indian Film Festival

    KOLKATA: Bengali film ‘Goynar Baksho’ by acclaimed filmmaker Aparna Sen has made it to the prestigious New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF), vying for honours in three main categories.

     

    The movie focuses on oppression of widows and women emancipation and has been nominated in the Best Film, Best Director and Best Actress categories.

     

    NYIFF is the oldest and most prestigious film festival screening premieres of feature, documentary and short films made from, of and about Indian subcontinent in the independent, art-house, alternate and diaspora genres.

     

    Apart from Aparna, Anurag Kashyap, Rahul Bhatt, Mohan Agashe, Gurinder Chadha, Shahana Goswami, Madhur Jaffrey, Sakina Jaffrey are also slated to attend the festival this year.

     

    The six-day festival which started on 5 May, will showcase a total of 34 films.