Hindi

Creating a global footprint for Indian cinema

Published

12 years ago

October 19, 2013

MUMBAI: At the inauguration of the Mumbai Film Mart, it looked like that the Indian film community is all set to go global. So, while it had invited delegations from other countries like Spain to partner for co-productions, the Indian film community also made an extra effort to promote films that have been made in collaboration with other countries. Like, Qissa: The tale of a Lonely Ghost that premiered on the first day of the festival is an Indo-German-Dutch-French co-production.

NFDC GM, executive producer & head marketing Vikramjit Roy at the inauguration of the Mumbai Film Mart on 18 October, said that to take Indian cinema beyond the confines of the country, NFDC is making many efforts. “We are primarily looking at co-production with seven or eight odd countries that India has treaties with in the near future. These include the likes of Germany, France, UK, Brazil, Italy, New Zealand and I hope Spain, Canada and Australia as well very soon.”

We have a film called ‘Arunoday’ with France and we are hoping to do one with New Zealand soon, says Vikramjit Roy

Roy further went onto explain how global collaboration helps a local Indian story like Qissa to team up with local funding bodies of Europe. “For example, if you do an Indo-European co-production with any of the European countries mentioned earlier, you will get to access funds from the central European funding body and the co-producer also gets an access to various regional funds,” Roy explained.

Qissa got funding from NRW that is located in Germany; it had funding from NFF that is a Dutch film fund and also from France. “Besides, when the film goes on floor and gets a certain positioning, you get a sales agent on board. Like, we had the Match Factory join hands with Qissa. Something like this allows for a certain positioning and global footprint.”

In fact, to widen its horizon, the festival had invited the official Spanish delegation, Spanish Federation of Producers (FAPAE) for co-productions along with senior decision makers from the Spanish Ministry, Tourism and Film Commission, who are eager to partner with the Indian film community.

Talking about it, Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts (ICAA) Spain director general Susana de la Sierra, said: “This is the first visit from the series of visits that we have planned in the time to come. This is to strengthen our relationship with India and also possibly look at making co-productions between the two countries.”

What makes the Spain delegation more interested in partnering with India is that both the countries are similar in terms of their cultural diversity. “Spain is far smaller than India in terms of landscape and population, but there are a lot of similarities. We both have cultural diversity. We have 17 regions within the country and apart from the national film fund, we too have regional film funds,” she added.

I feel this is not only a really good opportunity for us to work together but also help find Spanish and Indian films their audiences believes Susana De La Sierra

Susana looks at this as a great opportunity, not only for working together but also helping Spanish and Indian films find their audiences. “Going forward, I do see more work travelling from India to Spain and vis-?-vis, as it’s a fact that after the Indian representatives visited Spain there are several projects that have been lined up to be shot in and around Spain.”

There are also plans to import Indian films into Spain and Spanish movies into India and this practice will only intensify further as both the countries will work hand in hand to help each other. The Spanish ministry keeps aside a fixed budget to help nurture and push the film industry to take that creative freedom and showcase the Spanish culture in all its glory.

The Indian film community has already witnessed the popularity and profit that foreign collaborations bring. In Toronto, NFDC positioned Qissa as a global film, which helped it in achieving the Best Asian Film Award by Net pack. “We are hoping that Qissa turns out to be a trendsetter as now we have a film called Arunoday – directed by Partho Sengupta – with a French collaboration and we are hoping to do one with New Zealand soon too,” Roy added.

Looks like Indian film community is all set to make an international footprint.

Related Topics:Susana De La Sierra Vikramjit Roy

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

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

Published

2 weeks 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

4 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.