Hindi

Murder 2: Ample thrill and skin

Published

15 years ago

July 9, 2011

Producer: Mukesh Bhatt.
Director: Mohit Suri
Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Jacqueline Fernandez, Prashant Narayanan, Sudhanshu Pandey, Sulagna Panigrahi

MUMBAI: Murder 2, like the recent Bheja Fry 2, has nothing to do with the makers‘ earlier film, Murder, but it solves the trouble to look for a fitting title while also adding a certain degree of brand equity to the film.

Bhatt brothers, Mukesh and Mahesh, work on a sort of studio system of the Hollywood of yore, choosing the film‘s hero and director from their own lot; hence the film is directed by Mohit Suri with Emraan Hashmi as hero.

In most cases, the inspirations for Bhatt films are from some odd films abroad, which are then duly well incorporated for local acceptance. The location too is the convenient Goa, which never wears out no matter how many films are shot there.

Emraan Hashmi is an ex-cop making a living by doing odd jobs for the local gangs. He gets this new assignment where he is asked to solve the mystery behind the missing live-stock of a man in flesh trade. Girls from his roaster have been going missing lately and he needs Emraan to find out as to who is behind this.

Emraan Hashmi‘s love angle is Jacqueline Fernandez, a model. Realising this to be a case of serial killing, Emraan Hashmi embarks on the trail by finding a scapegoat for the killer and this happens to be Sulagna Panigrahi, a college student turned prostitute.

The film has two peculiarities and that is – all its characters have a bad past for whatever reason and that the film is as sordid as the writers can make it to be; there is nothing pleasant about anybody or anything. The script may create a situation but usually does not know how to get out of it and just takes the viewer for granted.

The film‘s USP is thrill element and ample skin show.

Having sent a scapegoat to the suspected killer‘s place, Emraan Hashmi soon learns that she too has vanished like other girls earlier. Meanwhile, he stumbles across the villain of the piece, Prashant Narayanan; they fight, end up in a lock-up till; and finally, they meet at a temple to sort things out.

Such a film would need a strong villain to also elevate other characters and Prashant Narayanan does a spending job here, playing a self-castrated eunuch. Emraan Hashmi sticks to being his usual self. Jacqueline Fernandez gets to display only her sex-appeal in this film; rest of the cast supports very well.

Direction is fair, sticking to basics. Musically, two songs, Haal e dil…. Aa zara have popular appeal. Photography is good and adds to the thrill value of the film.

Murder 2 has taken a bumper opening response all over and that assures its recovery during its first weekend run from most circuits.

Producer: Ronnie Screwvala, Salman Khan
Director: Nitesh Tiwari, Vikas Bahl
Cast: Irrfan Khan, Sanath Menon, Rohan Grover, Naman Jain, Aarav Khanna, Vishesh Tiwari, Chinmay Chandranshush, Vedant Desai, Shreya Sharma, Divji Handa.

MUMBAI: Chillar Party is a children‘sfilm, after a long time. Nothing caters to the entertainment for the children of India except a few TV channels, which try vainly to Indianise their content with language usually; even the Government sponsored Children‘s FilmSociety has just proved to be a money guzzling machine.

There is not much in the name of imagination used to make Chillar Party no adventure stuff; it is about right and wrong and children Vs elders. In fact, the story could have been an episode from the popular TV Serial Tarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma.

In this hugely family-planning-conscious housing society called Chandan Nagar, where between 60 flats there are just about eight children who go to the same school, play together and generally stick together all the time. Each of them has an idiosyncrasy or trait because of which he enjoys a pet name.

However this bunch of kids, known as Chillar Party among the residents, have a cause for concern soon as a replacement car washing boy, Irrfan Khan, comes along with a dog, Bhidu, in tow. The boys have a problem with the dog since the one dog, which is already there in the society has been using their cricket pitch for poo.

In the process of separating Irrfan and Bhidu, the boys become friends with both and soon find them to be worthy of friendship too. The dog then happens to step on a wrong toe, that of a local politician who is in the vicinity to inaugurate a park. The story, as such, begins when the politician makes it his mission to get rid of Bhidu in the guise of cleansing the city of aggressive stray dogs and the Chillar party devises ways to save the dog from being taken away.

The story has little in form of exciting moments and moves on expected lines considering which more than two hours of running time is rather telling. Direction is passable. Music lacks that one number, which would become a children‘s anthem. While all kids have done a reasonable job, the weakest link is the central character, Irrfan Khan, and the one who shines in the lot is Naman Jain.

Chillar Party has had an uninspiring opening and will find it hard to sustain through the weekend.

Hindi

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

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

Published

4 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

4 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.