Hindi

Govt chalks out revival plan for NFDC

Published

15 years ago

September 16, 2010

NEW DELHI: The government has chalked out a turnaround plan for the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) that includes a capital infusion of Rs 30 million and conversion of debt into equity.

The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the revival plan. The package would include the conversion of the outstanding government loan of Rs 197.7 million, along with accumulated interest of Rs 86.3 million on it, into equity.

The fresh infusion of equity of Rs 30 million along with internal accruals/recovery of outstanding dues of Rs 29.5 million will be used by the Corporation to finance its computer hardware and software, establish an Art House Digital Exhibition Network and renovate/upgrade their properties.

The conversion of loans into equity and interest outstanding thereon will rid the Corporation of the heavy interest burden and liability to repay the loan. It will further help them in cleaning up the balance sheet and start afresh.

The net worth of the Corporation will turn positive and the paid up and authorized capital of NFDC will increase to Rs 454 million and Rs 453.9 million respectively.

The NFDC expects to commence making profits from 2010-11 onwards. A higher level of equity in the Corporation will enable it to fulfill its mandate of promoting the growth of Indian Cinema.

NFDC was incorporated as a public sector undertaking in 1975 with the objective to plan, promote and organise an integrated and efficient development of the film industry of the country in accordance with the economic policy and objectives laid down by the Central Government from time to time. Accordingly, NFDC has funded/ produced over 300 films in 18 Indian languages. NFDC commenced production over the last two years and produced eight films.

The NFDC also won one award in the National Film Awards for 2009 announced yesterday – Konkani film Palatadcho Munis by director Laxmikant Shetgaonkar.

However, once a profit-making PSU, NFDC started incurring losses after 2002-03 with the entry of private channels that led to splitting of advertisement revenue from Doordarshan, which was a major source of its income.

A substantial part of its advertisement revenue was litigated and remained un-recovered. As a result, the paid up capital of the Corporation got eroded and it landed into financial crisis with its net worth dipping to negative. The Corporation had lo keep its operations afloat with a working capital loan of Rs 197.7 million provided by the Government.

However, since the performance of the Corporation did not improve, a revival plan was prepared with the assistance of SBI Caps, which contemplates redefining of the business profile of NFDC, infusion of fresh equity and conversion of the Government loan into equity. The revival plan was examined by the Board for Reconstruction of Public Sector Enterprises (BRPSE) and it made various recommendations for revival of NFDC.

The accumulated losses of the Corporation as on 31 March 2009 stood at Rs 276.2 million. An amount of just over Rs 367.5 million was owed to NFDC by advertisement agents, and it had lodged cases against 16 such companies.

Meanwhile the Corporation hopes to reduce its manpower by 30 employees in the near future in a move to cut costs. The Corporation had in December 2008 reduced its manpower to 139 after offering Voluntary Retirement Scheme to seventy employees by paying them Rs 70 million. This has resulted in an annual saving of Rs 20 million.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry had given the NFDC a grant-in-aid of Rs 120 million for VRS.

The NFDC had in 1992 also launched a trust in the name of Cine Artistes Welfare Fund of India with a corpus of Rs 48.9 million, which presently stands at Rs 63.6 million. Just under 1000 cine artistes have availed pension and other benefits and around 450 are doing so at present.

The NFDC showed a huge loss of Rs 92.549 million in 2003-04, which came down to Rs 38.674 million a year later. The Corporation showed profit of Rs 24.815 million in 2005-06 but again ran into a loss of Rs 50.56 million and Rs 22.757 million in 2006-07 and 2007-08 respectively.

Hindi

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.