Hindi

Chhod na yaar… this is not comedy

Published

12 years ago

October 11, 2013

War Chhod Na Yaar is an attempt at making a war comedy. We don’t make too many war films and a comedy at that; this is the first such attempt at cross-pollination. Since a comedy will need one of the two countries involved as stupid and since it can’t be India or the Indian army, it is the Pakistani army which will have to look inefficient and stupid. It also shows Pakistan as being totally dependent on Chinese arms which are not effective.

A wire fence separates sandy terrain with the Indian army on one side, led by Sharman Joshi, and a bunch of ragtag Pakistani army soldiers on the other, led by Sanjay Mishra and Javed Jaaferi. At nights, both Sharman and Javed meet at the fencing and play cards, with Sharman always carrying a bottle of alcohol as a gift for his Pakistani counterpart. The army on both sides also play antakshari across the wires. However, the playing sessions, antakshari and bonhomie are not going to last as a Pakistani minister manipulated by the Chinese and an Indian minister under influence of an American politician (both played by Dalip Tahil) are planning a war between both the countries. The Pakistani general, Manoj Pahwa, has little interest in what his minister is indulging in and is addicted to a game on his cell phone.

The Indian minister takes Soha Ali Khan, a TV reporter, to the border post under Sharman’s command, where she can shoot his speech which he wants her to telecast the day war starts to make it look as if the minister braved the war and visited the soldiers on the border. The Pakistani minister chooses to send his message shot in a studio but makes it look like he is on border. It is all about the politicians creating tensions though the public may not want it. Even the soldiers don’t want war and want to coexist in peace.

Producer: AOPL Entertainment P Ltd.
Director: Faraz Haider.
Cast: Sharman Joshi, Soha Ali Khan, Javed Jaaferi, Dalip Tahil, Sanjay Mishra, Mukul Dev, Manoj Pahwa.

While Soha and Sharman share romantic vibes, she also thinks that as a media person, she can make the world aware of the people’s feelings on both sides which may force politicians to backtrack, bringing an end to the war. A bunch of young people also exchange notes with their friends across the border through social networks. Soha crosses the fence with the help of Javed and interviews Pakistani soldiers, she also interviews the Indian side and asks her channel to telecast live the whole story from the minister confiding in her about the war to the views of the army on both sides.

Comedy has not been the forte of Hindi makers and War Chhod Na Yaar also falls short on being an outright comedy. There are some funny scenes but consistency is missing. There is also repetition. For example, Pahwa and the Chinese leader do the same thing throughout and can’t be expected to be entertaining every time they appear. Also, the end part becomes boring when sermonising begins. Direction is fair. The film has a hummable number in Main jagu aksar….Cinematography is good.

War Chhod Na Yaar not only lacks in face value but its release period is also not conducive to good box office results.

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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

1 week 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 weeks 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

3 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.