Hindi

Filmmakers agree Institutional Support necessary for creative cinema

Published

18 years ago

June 13, 2008

NEW DELHI: Filmmakers generally agreed that institutional support was necessary for creative cinema to flourish, and state intervention of some kind was also needed.
The filmmakers were taking part in a discussion of the first day of the two-day Tenth Osian‘s Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab cinema got underway at the National Centre for Performing Arts today.

Twenty-one films that are being screened over the two days at the meet being held as a preview to the Festival in Delhi from 10 to 20 July.

A large number of filmmakers and film lovers exchanged views on whether the creative individual can be institutionalized during the sessions of the IBM? (Infrastructure-Building for Minds & Markets), with Osian‘s Connoisseurs of Art founder and Chairman Mr Neville Tuli setting the tone of the discussion with the observation that the conflict was essentially one between creativity and materialism.

He said that the nature of any art is one of aesthetic and historical significance, and financial considerations come later when the artist wants to show his work. He said in view of this, he said the role of the institution became important. In that context, he referred to the role of Osian‘s and said many had cynically remarked that an auction house was the very anti-thesis of an archive or promoting art. But he said Osian‘s had become the basis of taking art and culture further. There was need to direct creative energies towards transforming art into a creative value system.

‘If you have knowledge, integrity and passion, wealth will follow‘, he said, adding that the key was to know oneself and clearly have a direction to create wealth in a way nothing is compromised and one involves all those around oneself. He said there was no corruption in putting art into an economic framework. Cinema was the greatest art medium to look at others, he added. He said the intelligentsia has to play fundamental role to take forward the growth of art in India.

In the discussion in the afternoon over the tone set by him in the morning, Mr Tuli said there was no difference of opinion on the need of the state to help creative intelligentsia.

Initiating the discussion, wellknown filmmaker Ketan Mehta said the studio system had been the first institution to help filmmakers, but had collapsed with the second world war. Later, the Film and Television Institute of India had come up to train filmmakers while the Film Finance Corporation (later becoming the National Film Development Corporation) which had helped the growth of art cinema. When the NFDC lost its relevance, groups of filmmakers set up cooperatives to revive art cinema. ‘An artist perceives himself as free, but cannot work without organizational support,‘ he said.

Senior film critic and founder of the Cinefan Festival Aruna Vasudev said she was happy to not that many institutions had come up to support filmmakers who took cinema seriously as an art form. She also briefly gave a history of the launch of the Cinefan film festivals.

Mr Francois da Silva, who is a teacher and consultant on cinema, said the state had a role in the promotion of cinema and in almost every country including France. Many filmmakers had begun as individuals but turned into institutions since that was the only way to survive.

Short filmmaker Madhushree Dutta said institutions should find creative ways to deal with artistes so that their freedom is not compromised.

Renowned filmmaker Mani Kaul said Indian cinema had at one time been on the verge of collapse when state subsidy stopped, and therefore some institutional or state support is necessary for filmmakers to work creatively. ‘The problem is that subscribing to an institution may mean an end to creativity‘, he added.

Meanwhile, three Exhibitions from the Osian‘s Arts & Film Archive Collection opened at NCPA. Such a theme and collection have so far never been exhibited in India. The special focus for this year‘s festival is the relationship between Writing and Cinema and this will be further explored through the Antiquarian ‘The Shakespeare Gallery‘ Engravings from the Boydell Gallery and the Original Artworks for Vintage Hindi Novel Covers (1950-70s). The third exhibition is a tribute to Mr. Shammi Kapoor. Entry is Free for all Exhibitions.

The original ‘yahoo‘ star of Indian cinema, Shammi Kapoor, will be honoured and twentyone feature and non-feature films will be screened in a two-day Tenth Osian‘s Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema

The grand finale will end with the first unveiling of the scale model of the Osianama by some of the leading lights of the cultural world. The Osianama, Osian‘s flagship cultural complex, will open in Mumbai in mid 2009.

Mani Shankar will premiere his new film Mukhbir at the ongoing 10th Osian‘s-Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema in Mumbai on 14 June at 9 pm at NCPA. The star cast of the film includes Om Puri, Suniel Shetty, Sameer Dattani, Rahul Dev, Jackie Shroff and Raima Sen. Many notable films have had their global premiere at this prestigious film festival.

Hindi

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

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

Published

3 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

3 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

1 month 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.