ITV

Category: Production House

  • JioCinema experiments with legal drama Suits in Hindi

    JioCinema experiments with legal drama Suits in Hindi

    MUMBAI: Many of us English-speaking folks are familiar with legal drama Suits  that follows the sharp and charismatic Harvey Specter, one of New York’s top attorneys, and Mike Ross, a brilliant college dropout with a photographic memory. Despite lacking a law degree, Mike impresses Harvey with his raw talent and unconventional thinking, leading Harvey to hire him as an associate at the prestigious law firm Pearson Hardman. Together, they navigate complex cases while hiding Mike’s secret from the firm and the legal world.

    Now JioCinema is attempting to widen Suits‘ appeal to non-English speaking audiences – mainly in heartland Hindi-conversant India. For the first time ever, Bharat can dive into the high-stakes world of Suits in a way that feels closer than ever-every thrilling argument, every razor-sharp comeback, now delivered in Hindi. All nine seasons of the globally celebrated legal drama can be watched exclusively on its Peacock Hub through JioCinema Premium.

    This groundbreaking release reimagines the iconic series, bringing Harvey Specter’s charm, Mike Ross’s brilliance, and the relentless courtroom battles to a brand-new audience. Known for its gripping storytelling and unforgettable characters, Suits explores ambition, loyalty, and moral dilemmas against the backdrop of New York’s high-powered legal world. Featuring a stellar cast including Patrick J. Adams, Gabriel Macht, Meghan Markle, Sarah Rafferty, and Rick Hoffman, Suits has captivated global audiences with its wit, drama, and intensity. This Hindi adaptation is a cultural bridge, turning the global phenomenon into a deeply personal experience for Indian viewers.

    So, whether viewers are meeting Harvey and Mike for the first time or reliving their legendary partnership, Suits in Hindi is an experience many may not want to miss. 

    The platform marked the launch with a striking promo set to Yo Yo Honey Singh’s hit track Millionaire, capturing the ambition and drama synonymous with the series.

    Said Singh:  “I’m thrilled to see Millionaire resonate with a powerhouse series like Suits! The song celebrates ambition, confidence, and the drive to succeed—values that perfectly align with the show’s iconic characters and their journeys. I created this song not just for millionaires but for those aspiring to rise from the streets and achieve success. Coming from New Delhi myself, I owe everything to my fans who made this possible.”

    JioCinema Premium offers an ad-free, high-definition streaming experience for just Rs 29 per month. Alongside Suits, subscribers gain access to a diverse range of international films, family-friendly content, and exclusive originals, ensuring unmatched value for Indian audiences.

     

     

  • Adidas’ documentary about its Predator football boots set to premiere on 11 December

    Adidas’ documentary about its Predator football boots set to premiere on 11 December

    MUMBAI: When did a scruffy pair of boots ever stop us from chasing the ball as kids? 

    Fast forward to today, football boots have grown into a colossal $18.5 billion industry (2023), charging ahead with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8 per cent through 2030. From backyard dreams to global domination, these humble boots have become the unsung heroes of the beautiful game. 

    Take Adidas’ iconic Adipure 11Pro, for instance-a pair that has etched its legacy into football history, gracing the feet of Toni Kroos as he lifted more trophies than even the legendary FC Barcelona, all while donning the same boots since their release in 2013.

    In a journey that spans three decades of passion, innovation, and unrelenting excellence, Adidas celebrates the 30th anniversary of its legendary football boot franchise Predator with a cinematic masterpiece, Under The Tongue, a documentary that peels back the layers of emotion, craft, and cultural impact behind the boot franchise. 

    Directed by Keane Shaw and produced with online soccer creative culture publisher SoccerBible’s creative touch, the film promises to be as much a love letter to football as it is a testament to the humble boot’s extraordinary story. The trailer of the film was scheduled to premier today  (5 December) with the promise to leave fans inspired, nostalgic, and utterly awestruck.

    The hour-long documentary features the era-defining footballers that made adidas’ Predator football boot brand so iconic in its early years – including David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, and Eniola Aluko – as well as current stars such as Jude Bellingham, Alessia Russo, Aitana Bonmatí and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who reflect on early memories and what it means to be a part of the Predator family. It also weaves an emotional tapestry of memories as senior adidas executives, visionary design team members, and devoted fans like Louis Tomlinson, reminisce about the moment Predator emerged and changed the game forever.

    Craig Johnston, the mastermind behind the revolutionary Predator design, vividly recalls his eureka moment—repurposing rubber to craft the iconic Predator teeth that forever altered how the ball moves off a player’s foot. With heartwarming nostalgia and raw determination, Johnston shares how a coaching session for kids inspired a concept that, against all odds, graced the world’s biggest stages by 1994.

    Adidas global football general manager, Nick Craggs said: “Predator changed the game. We know what it means to us all at adidas but as we come to the end of its 30th anniversary we felt it was fitting to hear from those that played such a crucial role in cementing its place in football culture. It has helped push the boundaries of innovation on the field of play and inspire millions off it – we now take it into the future and hopefully another 30 years of iconic moments with the world’s best players.”

    SoccerBible creative director Pete Martin said: “The Predator is a boot with such a profound legacy that it was a real honour to have crafted ‘Under The Tongue’ alongside Keane Pearce Shaw. A boot with such personality too, not only does it mean so much to the culture of the game but it has been an unrivalled yet consistent giver of glory. There are few products on the planet that can, have or ever will, evoke such memories and feelings as that of the Predator. It’s almost immortal. That’s what we have tried to capture with this film – that powerful infatuation – a charming icon with bite, flair and beauty.”

    The 60-second trailer offers a glimpse into the untold journey, now live across Adidas’ social channels. But the real story unfolds on 11 December, when Under The Tongue premieres at 9 PM CET on the adidas football YouTube channel. Football fans, mark your calendars, as this promises to be more than just a documentary

  • “Bun Tikki” to premiere at Palm Springs 2025, celebrating family & resilience

    “Bun Tikki” to premiere at Palm Springs 2025, celebrating family & resilience

    Mumbai: Jio Studios and Manish Malhotra’s Stage5 Production proudly announced the world premiere of “Bun Tikki” at the prestigious 36th Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) on 5 January 2025. Directed by debutant feature filmmaker Faraz Arif Ansari, the poignant coming-of-age drama stars Shabana Azmi, Zeenat Aman, Abhay Deol, Nushrratt Bharuccha, and Rohaan Singh.

    Set against the backdrop of societal challenges, “Bun Tikki” explores the tender relationship between seven-year-old Shanu and his single father, Sidhant. The narrative beautifully captures their journey through self-discovery, grief, and resilience. This emotional tale of love and identity promises to resonate with audiences globally, bringing universal themes of parenthood and empathy to the forefront.

    Speaking about the premiere, Ansari shared, “It’s an absolute dream to have “Bun Tikki” debut at Palm Springs. This film is my love letter to the world—to every child, every parent, and everyone who believes in the transformative power of love, empathy, and kindness. I hope it sparks conversations that break barriers and bridge differences. My heartfelt thanks to Jio Studios and Manish Malhotra for believing in me and giving this story the platform it deserves.”

    Produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Dinesh Malhotra, Marijke deSouza, and Manish Malhotra, “Bun Tikki” marks the second international outing for the Jio Studios-Stage5 Production collaboration, following the success of Saali Mohabbat at IFFI 2024. Reflecting their commitment to creating impactful cinema, the partnership continues to push boundaries with authentic storytelling that resonates across borders.

    Stage5 Production founder, Manish Malhotra expressed his pride: “Seeing “Bun Tikki” premiere at Palm Springs is a truly special moment. This film challenges conventions and connects on a universal scale. I am incredibly proud of Faraz for bringing this vision to life and eagerly anticipate the world’s response to this heartfelt story.”

    Reliance Industries president of media and entertainment, Jyoti Deshpande added, “ “Bun Tikki” is a testament to the power of storytelling to foster empathy and understanding. Supporting this film reflects our commitment to amplifying diverse voices and sharing narratives that challenge and inspire.”

    The film stars legendary actors Shabana Azmi and Zeenat Aman, alongside Abhay Deol, Nushrratt Bharuccha, and Rohaan Singh. Ansari, known for their award-winning films Sisak and Sheer Qorma, brings their distinctive voice to this feature directorial debut. “Bun Tikki” continues their legacy of inclusive storytelling, offering a heartfelt portrayal of familial love and resilience.

  • Jagran Film Festival returns to Delhi with 12th edition celebrating cinema

    Jagran Film Festival returns to Delhi with 12th edition celebrating cinema

    Mumbai: The 12th edition of the Jagran Film Festival (JFF), the world’s largest travelling film festival, is set to begin in Delhi from 5-8 December at Siri Fort Auditorium. Organised by the Jagran Prakashan Group and inaugurated by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, this year’s festival promises an unparalleled celebration of cinematic excellence, cultural diversity, and storytelling.

    JFF 2024 features an extraordinary lineup of 292 films selected from an impressive pool of 4,787 submissions. Representing 111 countries and 78 languages, the festival highlights its commitment to making good cinema for everyone. Over the next 100 days, JFF will travel through 18 cities, including Prayagraj, Varanasi, Raipur, Ranchi, and Mumbai, ensuring that quality cinema reaches diverse audiences across India.

    The Delhi chapter will host renowned personalities like Pankaj Kapur, Manoj Bajpayee, Bhumi Pednekar, Taapsee Pannu, Mukesh Chhabra, and Bhuvan Bam. Directors such as Anil Prakash Joshi and Onir will also attend. The festival will showcase 102 remarkable films, spanning shorts, documentaries, and OTT content from 29 countries. Highlights include Kiran Rao’s Oscar entry “Laapataa Ladies” and Shashi Chandrakant Khandare’s Marathi film “Gypsy”.

    The festival will host 17 premieres, including five world premieres, seven Asia premieres, and five Indian premieres. Classics like Shyam Benegal’s Manthan will feature alongside panel discussions and workshops. Kapur will be honoured with a retrospective, and Bajpayee will discuss his journey in a special session. Aspiring actors can attend Mukesh Chhabra’s session on breaking into cinema, while Rahul Rawail and Sudhir Mishra will lead thought-provoking discussions on modern filmmaking.

    Jagran Prakashan Ltd, SVP, Basant Rathore emphasised JFF’s mission: “The Jagran Film Festival has become a cherished platform for celebrating the transformative power of cinema. This season, we are thrilled to showcase 102 films across 34 languages and 29 countries, ensuring quality cinema reaches Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. JFF remains committed to fostering meaningful conversations about the art of storytelling.”

  • Shemaroo Contentino: Flying in for a perfect landing

    Shemaroo Contentino: Flying in for a perfect landing

    MUMBAI: Shemaroo Contentino managing partner Murtuza Kagalwala often  looks out of his office in Andheri East close to Mumbai’s international airport and sees another plane take off. And it makes him smile. He does this several times a day. The more the flights that take off, the more his business grows. 

    Here are some facts: domestic travel by Indians is expected to  reach 325 million by 2030 and over 35 million Indians now live abroad. As a corollary, demand for Indian content is rapidly increasing. International travel by Indian nationals is expected to skyrocket from 64 million trips in 2023 to 160 million by 2030, with outbound travel spending projected to surge from $42 billion to $144 billion during this period.

    Shemaroo Contentino  – a subsidiary of Shemaroo Entertainment – is expected to be one of the major beneficiaries of this travel surge. It is one of the major providers of inflight entertainment to airlines, and claims to have captured 90 per cent of the premium Indian content space. Its content is available over 130 carriers globally – from Air India, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Etihad Airways, among others. 

    For airlines serving the Indian diaspora and other international markets, Shemaroo Contentino’s content catalogue makes it an ideal solution for airlines catering to passengers from diverse linguistic backgrounds. It offers over 3,000 movies, more than 25,000 TV episodes, and 1,500 plus music tracks, digital series, in over 15 languages. Some of the most popular recent blockbuster movies in the list include Pathaan, Maharaja, Premalu, Nach Ga Ghuma, Jatt & Juliet 3, Toofan, Jhamkudi, and many more. 

    . “We’re proud to be at the forefront of providing Indian content for inflight entertainment,” said Kagalwala. “Our deep understanding of the global Indian diaspora, coupled with our ability to deliver culturally resonant content, truly sets us apart. As national and international travel among Indians continues to soar, we remain committed to shaping the future of inflight entertainment. Our goal is to make every journey more enjoyable and engaging, transforming long flights into memorable experiences—with the perfect movie or show just a click away.”

    That should help  the company to have an even smoother  take off. 

  • “Sisakti Rooh”: A stirring short film against violence on women premieres

    “Sisakti Rooh”: A stirring short film against violence on women premieres

    Mumbai: On International Day for the elimination of violence against women, Jigsaw Pictures unveiled the teaser of “Sisakti Rooh” (Sobbing Soul), a poignant 3-minute short film inspired by a nazm penned by the legendary Sahir Ludhianvi. The film confronts the harsh realities of violence against women, urging society to adopt empathy and respect.

    Inspired by the tragic assault on a lady doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata, an incident that shook the nation, Sisakti Rooh seeks to ensure such atrocities are not forgotten. This hard-hitting narrative carries a timeless message aimed at fostering meaningful change.

    “Sisakti Rooh, is the result of that idea. We joined hands with Abdullah Saleem Khan’s concept & his sensitivity towards this subject was the reason that he’s best suited to direct it as well” – Jigsaw Pictures, founder & producer, Rajnish Lall. “We also decided to produce this short film with the support of like-minded young & seasoned actors & technicians at no cost, so that we can offer the cost of production to a women destitute home where it can be used for their well-being.”

    The teaser launches on 25 November, with the full film releasing later this week. Jigsaw Pictures urges individuals, influencers, and policymakers to amplify the film’s message across social media and drive meaningful discussions on ending violence against women.

  • Amazon veteran Minari Shah moves on

    Amazon veteran Minari Shah moves on

    MUMBAI: Amazon director – international (EU, Apac and Latam), owned content and channels Minari Shah has decided to move on from the multinational firm. She announced her departure today on Linkedin.

    Her post read as follows: “After eight years at Amazon, my longest stint anywhere in my work life, I called it a day here today. It’s been one hell of a ride – lots of learning, lots of adventure, working with some very smart people – both in my team(s) and other partner teams and business colleagues. It’s been a journey full of innovating and doing new things, with always the multiplier of complexity and scale and in the process, I carry so many memories of some most amazing campaigns. I leave Amazon as a sharper, better professional, more measurement and data-driven, with a deeper conviction for how communications can have a business impact and a stronger curiosity for new learning. I also leave with memories of fun and camaraderie, with loads of laughter along the way. I will miss Amazon and hopefully will stay in touch with all the people that I would like to stay in touch with. This has been an important chapter of my life but I am now ready to move on to new things. As many people know, there are key family issues that need my time and there are old dreams to follow regarding writing but I will continue to remain within the communications ambit one way or other!”

    Shah has had a long career in industry having worked with Hindu Business Line and Business India in the nineties. She then decided to shift to communications and had a stint with Sampark Public Relations as vice-president. Following that she worked with Mahindra & Mahindra, L&T Infotech, Dell, HSB,Tata Motors, and then finally Amazon.

  • Warner Bros Pictures appoints Rishi Parekh as director content licensing

    Warner Bros Pictures appoints Rishi Parekh as director content licensing

    MUMBAI: Warner Bros Pictures has roped in Rishi Parekh as director content licensing, India. He has a lot of pedigree behind him and is known for his negotiation skills.  

    An MBA holder from University of Southern Queensland, Parekh’s previous stint was for seven years with Zee Entertainment where he was the chief channels officer English.

    Prior to that he was senior manager commercial at Star India, also for nearly seven years. And before that he was with IOL Netcom for nearly five years.

  • Kavvya Bharathi joins Balaji Telefilms as national head – brand revenues & partnerships

    Kavvya Bharathi joins Balaji Telefilms as national head – brand revenues & partnerships

    Mumbai: Balaji Telefilms has appointed Kavvya Bharathi as its national head – brand revenues & partnerships. Bringing extensive expertise in brand management and strategic partnerships, Kavvya will play a pivotal role in steering the company’s brand collaborations and revenue strategies.

    Prior to joining Balaji Telefilms, Kavvya served as vice oresident – AVOD & strategy at Arha Media, where she significantly contributed to building the company’s non subscription revenue initiatives. With years of experience in the media and entertainment industry, her innovative approach and dynamic leadership are expected to elevate Balaji Telefilms’ presence in an increasingly competitive market.

    With her appointment, Balaji Telefilms aims to set new benchmarks in brand engagement and collaboration, further solidifying its position as a leader in the media and entertainment landscape.

  • Premier League to move production & distribution of matches in-house

    Premier League to move production & distribution of matches in-house

    MUMBAI: This one is for football fans. The Premier League today announced that it will establish a new house in-house media operations business come season 2026-27. This was approved by all clubs at a Premier League shareholder meeting on 22 November. For 20 years, this service has been provided in partnership with IMG, operating as Premier League Productions (PLP).

    Since 2004, PLP has been the gateway to the action and emotion of Premier League football for broadcasters and hundreds of millions of fans in more than 180 countries. Throughout this time, the Premier League and IMG have worked together to bring quality and innovation in live events production, pioneering new technologies and on-screen talent to provide full coverage of all 380 Premier League matches each season, as well as wide-ranging support programming.

    Premier League Productions

    The two organisations will continue to deliver the next two Premier League seasons to broadcasters and remain committed to providing a first-class viewing experience for fans around the world.

    Premier League Chief Media Officer Paul Molnar said: “IMG has been a fantastic partner for the Premier League over the past 20 years. They have worked tirelessly on our behalf to provide world-class content and services to our international partners. During this time, our partnership has been at the forefront of broadcast innovation to deliver top-class programming week in, week out throughout the season. This has all come together to play a vital role in growing our global audiences and popularity.

    “As we move the media production operations in-house, we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing a best-in-class content service to our partners and millions of passionate fans around the world.”
    IMG EVP, Studios Barney Francis said: “Our work with the Premier League has been game-changing, both for how fans enjoy football, and for the growth of the Premier League’s international audience and business. Working at the cutting edge of sports production for 20 years, we are proud to have launched many innovations together – from PLTV in 2010, which opened up the global TV rights market, to the transition from SD to HD, and then to 4K.

    “We have built a state-of-the art virtual studio, produced award-winning digital content and introduced new cameras and feeds that have made the Premier League’s programming a gold standard for global sports broadcasting. With IMG’s wider production work for rights holders such as the EFL, MLS and Apple, the Saudi Pro League, EuroLeague and ETP, we are continuing to power live sports broadcasting, leveraging new technologies and reaching wider audiences as our business continues to grow internationally.”   
    Further details regarding the Premier League in-house media operations business will be announced in due course, prior to its launch in 2026.