Hindi

Madras Cafe: Served ice cold

Published

12 years ago

August 23, 2013

MUMBAI: As a producer, John Abraham tried a different theme with Vicky Donor and it worked. This time his banner again attempts a film off the beaten track with Madras Cafe. It is about a RAW agent on the trail of LTF (LTTE) to eliminate its leader but who instead stumbles upon a plot to assassinate an ex-prime minister of India (read Rajiv Gandhi). Only, films about RAW and espionage are not a novelty anymore and what’s more, in the absence of a valid cause or tradition about stories of Indian spy networks’ success, they don’t interest people; D-Day, a worthy effort of a RAW mission, is a recent example.

John Abraham is drawn for a mission in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, by RAW. His mission is to either create an alternative for or to eliminate Anna (read Prabhakaran) the LTF chief. This because the PM of India wants peaceful settlement and democratic set up restored through elections in the province of Jaffna. Abraham is on the job but somehow his position is always compromised and the LTF is a step ahead of him. In his pursuit of Anna, Abraham is captured but saved by the army. Eventually, in a major ambush on the LTF camp, Anna is presumed dead. However, he is not and starts his attacks on Lankans and the Indian Peacekeeping Force with more venom and brutality. This leads to the resignation of the Prime Minister (this seems to be the humour angle in the film: an Indian minister resigning, a PM at that!)

But, the film is not about LTF at all as you realise later. It is about a plot to kill the, by now, ex-PM. The people behind the plot meet at Madras Cafe in Singapore and London and even talk over open phone lines. Everything that is secret is known by all except Abraham, the RAW agent! He is clueless most of the time and a journalist from UK, Nargis Fakhri, and her personal sources know everything there is to know about the plot.

Producers: John Abraham, Viacom 18 Motion Pictures, Ronnie Lahiri.
Direction: Shoojit Sarkar.
Cast: John Abraham, Nargis Fakhri, Raashi Khanna, Siddharth Basu, Piyush Pandey.

Who wants the ex PM killed and why? Looks like an international corporate cartel wants the ex-PM killed because he believes in peace in Jaffna while this cartel wants LTF to win and control the area after which they can have a free run on the province and thereby control the whole region which in turn would pose a great threat to India’s security! That sounds like a lot of cock and bull.

The cartel makes things easy as their messages fly high across countries which the Indians decode. The plot to kill the popular ex-PM is revealed. The super agent Abraham makes it a one man mission to save him since the ex-PM would not change his itinerary despite a threat to his life. Sadly, Abraham is late by about 30 feet to save the ex-PM but a safe distance enough to survive the bomb himself. Because the bomb is designed to only kill people in the range of twenty to twenty five feet. Of course!

He spends the next three years hitting the bottle and making occasional visits to a local church till he is ready to tell the whole story of how the PM could have been saved to the pastor.

Madras Cafe is an unconvincing, soulless film in which there is nothing for the viewer to identify with. The film lacks in drama, thrill and romance, and songs have been purposely avoided. The film rests solely on Abraham’s shoulder and he falls short by yards. His expressions refuse to change whether he has just found his wife killed or learnt a major secret. Nargis Fakhri has a brief role and she is okay. Direction is uninspiring. Rest of the aspects are passable.

Madras Cafe has opened to a weak response and chances of a pick up look poor.

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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

3 hours 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 days 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 week 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.