Hindi

Indian films dominate MIFF awards

Published

16 years ago

February 9, 2010

MUMBAI: Indian films dominated the 11th Mumbai International Film Festival of Documentary, Animation and Short Films, bagging 14 of the 17 awards given at the conclusion of the week-long Festival, with the other three awards going to Australia, Denmark and Russia.

Russian director Alexander Gutman’s ‘August 17’ won the Golden Conch for the Best Documentary, while ‘The Spell’ directed by Umesh Kulkarni was adjudged the best fiction film, even as the jury found no film fit for the top award of a documentary up to 30 minutes, and for the jury’s prize.

Ritu Sarin and Sonam Tenzing’s documentary ‘The Sun behind the Clouds’ won the Silver Conch and Rs 150,000 in cash in Documentary above 30 minutes category, for ‘upholding the spirit of liberty and maintaining a sense of balance while bringing about different perspectives within the Tibetan struggle.‘ It is about Dalai Lama’s efforts to resolve the conflict peacefully and reaction of the younger generation to the new stance.

‘17 August’ was unanimously praised by the Jury for its rigorous, transformative treatment of the unlimited human spirit in an extremely limited space. Gutman’s 53 minute documentary traces the life and thoughts of Boris Bezotechestvo, sentenced to life imprisonment in a small cell. His world is all of four walls and a view from the window. The St.Petersberg based filmmaker received the Golden Conch award along with Rs 3,00,000 in cash in the ‘Best Documentary above 30 minutes’ category.

The awards were given away by Maharashtra Governor K Sankarnarayanan, in the presence of Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhary Mohan Jatua, and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal. Others present on the dais were International jury chairperson Trinh T Min-ha of the United States, Critics Jury Chairperson Ashley Ratnavibhushana of Sri Lanka, Indian Documentary Producers Association President Jahnu Barua, and Festival Director and Chief Producer of Films Division Kuldeep Sinha. The programme was conducted by actress Meeta Vashisht, and the invitees included actress Preity Zinta.

National award-winning filmmaker Anwar Jamal’s “Anwar- Dream of a Dark Night” and Deepa Bhatia’s ‘Nero’s Guests’ won special mention. ‘Nero’s Guests’ also received the Critics Award and a Certificate of Merit for revealing the reality of India’s agriculture sector in a unique manner.

In the Documentary under 30 minutes category, ‘Vagabond – A nomad in spirit and in reality’ and ‘I Found a Thread’ jointly shared the Silver Conch award and the cash prize of Rs 1,50,000. ‘Vagabond’ gets the award for ‘sensible portrayal of a very difficult and traumatic episode of contemporary Indian history. ‘I Found a Thread’ rekindles the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi to the contemporary society.

In the fiction category, Vinoo Choliparambil’s ‘Vitthal’ won the Silver Conch and Rs 1,50,000 cash prize. The film deals with Child psychology, brilliantly depicting child’s negative moods and his emotional struggle. Geetu Mohan Das’ ‘Are You Listening?” and Alex Holmes ‘Ali and the Ball’ (Australia) won special mention of the jury.

‘Burma VJ- Reporting from a Closed Country’ won the Best Film of the Festival Award for the Producer. Line Lense Moller of Denmark is the Producer of the film that captures the democracy struggle in Myanmar.

Whistling Woods International’s production ‘Bejinxed’ won the Best Student Film award instituted by the Indian Documentary Producers’ Association. The award carries the IDPA Trophy and a cash prize of Rs 25,000.

Shaji Pattanam’s ‘The Hunted- In search of Home and Hope’ was adjudged the best debut film of a Director. This award, comprising a Trophy and Rs 100,000, has been instituted by the Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari of Government of Maharashtra.

Sanjay Jangir’s ‘Wait and Path’ (Raah) which traces the initial frustration and later blossoming of hope of a differently abled person, won the Golden Conch in the Best Animation Film Category along with a cash prize of Rs 3,00,000

National Institute of Design’s ‘Ukadi Pukadi’ won the Silver Conch while Makrand Joshi’s ‘Lost Home’ which traces how wild life finds concrete jungles more formidable won the special mention in the animation category .

The other members of the International Jury were Gianfranco Rosi of Italy, Peter Van Huystee of the Netherlands, and Dr S Krishnaswamy and Asha Parekh from India. The other members of the Critics (FIPRESCI) jury were Necati Sonmez of Turkey and M C Raja Narayanan of India.

In his speech, the Governor said since the documentary was an effective medium, it should also reach the people through dedicated screenings in theatres. He expressed satisfaction that the format was becoming popular with Indian audiences.

Jatua said the documentary was an effective format to spread positive messages and reflected the shades and moods of the society without fear. He promised all help from the centre to the short film movement.

Bhujbal said he missed the news reels which had a purpose of their own, and noted the power of the documentary to speak out.

Min-ha said she was impressed by the filmmakers’ spirit of persistence, while Ratnavibhushana said Indian filmmakers were socially and politically conscious.

Barua said that the festival had signaled hope for the growth of the documentary movement in the country.

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.