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Tag: Anushka Shah

  • Civic Studios presents boxer Ramla Ali’s biopic – ‘In the Shadows’

    Civic Studios presents boxer Ramla Ali’s biopic – ‘In the Shadows’

    Mumbai: Filming has begun in London for ‘In the Shadows,’ the true story of refugee Ramla Ali who secretly pursued boxing without her parents’ knowledge to become the first Somali-British professional boxing champion.

    BAFTA-winning actor Jasmine Jobson, known for her role as Jaq in Netflix’s Top Boy and Andrea Arnold’s Bird, will portray the Somali-British professional boxer, model, and UNICEF ambassador. Finn Cole (Last Breath, Peaky Blinders, Fast & Furious 9) will star as her husband, Richard Moore, while Gershwyn Eustache Jr (Andor, Small Axe, Fortitude) plays her boxing coach. Ramla Ali and Richard Moore will serve as executive producers.

    ‘In the Shadows’ is directed by Emmy Award and three-time BAFTA-winning documentary filmmaker Anthony Wonke (Dettori, Syria: Children on the Frontline, Ronaldo) who will make his narrative fiction film debut.

    The film is presented by Civic Studios, a global media company that creates entertainment with social impact. Anushka Shah, CEO of Civic Studios commented, ‘Ramla’s story is truly inspiring and deserves to be heard by audiences around the world. It’s a story of perseverance in the face of adversity, the immigrant experience, and most importantly, of a champion boxer.’

    Ramla Ali said, “My aim is to become an ambassador and role model for women’s boxing. To inspire other young girls who suffer from bullying and body weight issues. To land the message that through boxing, you are not just physically rewarded but mentally reborn. Boxing was a way for me to step out of the shadows; to express myself and to inspire others, especially women, to create the confidence we all need to live a happy and healthy life.”

    Anthony Wonke said, “There is no doubt Jasmine Jobson is one of Britain’s finest and most exciting actors out there today and brings an incredible intelligence and emotionally raw honesty to her roles. Ramla’s story is one of perseverance and bravery against the odds and we couldn’t be more delighted to have an actor that so connects and empathises with Ramla’s story in such a profound way.”

    The film is executive produced by Zygi Kamasa for True Brit Entertainment, Will Clarke, Andy Mayson and Mike Runagall for Altitude, Anushka Shah for Civic Studios, Richard Fearn and Jane Reid Fearn at Affine Films, Natasha Mudhar for The World We Want Studios, Anne Sheehan, Ramla Ali and Richard Moore.

    The screenplay is written by playwright and screenwriter Ursula Rani Sarma (Bodkin, Delicious). Award-winning Christopher Aoun (Capernaum) is the cinematographer and Kharmel Cochrane (A Quiet Place: Day One, Saltburn, Rye Lane) is casting the film.

    True Brit Entertainment, the distributor of independent British feature films, will release the film in 2025 in cinemas across the UK and Ireland, with Altitude handling International Sales.

    ‘In the Shadows’ goes beyond a typical sports drama, addressing social issues and themes of identity, belonging, family, love, and faith. The film follows Ramla Ali’s journey within a strict Muslim family in London’s East End, highlighting her pursuit of self-discovery and empowerment. It shows her efforts to assert her identity and voice within her religious and cultural context, while also shedding light on the challenges faced by Somali British Muslim women and similar communities worldwide.

    Ramla Ali’s determination and drive helped her overcome significant challenges both in and out of the boxing ring, breaking gender barriers and cultural stereotypes. Her achievements include being the first boxer to represent Somalia at the 2020 Olympic Games and winning the first professional female boxing match in Saudi Arabia. In 2023, Ali earned her first professional IBF intercontinental title at Superbantam weight at Madison Square Garden and was named one of TIME magazine’s Women of the Year.

  • Kunal Nayyar to star as lead in Gurinder Chadha’s ‘Christmas Karma’

    Kunal Nayyar to star as lead in Gurinder Chadha’s ‘Christmas Karma’

    Mumbai: True Brit Entertainment, Bend It Films, Maven Screen Media and Civic Studios has announced ‘Christmas Karma’, a contemporary Bollywood musical set in contemporary London and inspired by Dickens’ much loved A Christmas Carol, with Kunal Nayyar (The Big Bang Theory) leading the cast as Scrooge and with a further cast including Eva Longoria, Boy George, Billy Porter, Hugh Bonneville, Leo Suter, Charithra Chandran, Pixie Lott, Danny Dyer, Bilal Hasna, Allan Corduner, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Rufus Jones, Eve, Nitin Ganatra.

    BAFTA-nominated Gurinder Chadha (‘Bend It Like Beckham’, ‘Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging’, ‘Blinded by the Light’) wrote, is directing and producing the feature, with music by the six-time Ivor Novello award winning Gary Barlow. Financing for ‘Christmas Karma’ is from Civic Studios. Gurinder Chadha, Celine Rattray, Trudie Styler and Amory Leader will produce. Zygi Kamasa, Anushka Shah, Paul Mayeda Berges, Sophia Pedlow, Hannah Leader will serve as Executive Producers.

    ‘Christmas Karma’ is the fifth high profile scripted project from new British distributor True Brit Entertainment, who formed in November 2023. The feature also sees Chadha’s return to the big screen following her time working on the Indian historical television series ‘Beecham House’. Her last feature film “Blinded by the Light” premiered in Sundance 2019 and was subject to a frenzied bidding war with Warners Bros acquiring multiple territories.

    Commenting on the new feature film, Civic Studios CEO Anushka Shah said, “We are thrilled to partner with the acclaimed director Gurinder Chadha and an exceptional cast for ‘Christmas Karma.’ Being a global company with Indian roots, we are excited to achieve a new milestone as we take on this ambitious international project that speaks to audiences around the world, and especially the South Asian diaspora.”

    ‘Christmas Karma’ is part of a wider Civic Studios’ slate ranging from an animated feature film ‘Schirkoa’ that won the NETPAC award for the Best Asian Film at International Film Festival of Rotterdam 2024, to its latest OTT series ‘Family Aaj Kal’ released on SonyLIV, with several feature films and series in the pipeline. Civic Studios is a global media company that creates authentic stories of change, hope and pride, across formats of film, web series and short-form digital content and develops, finances, produces and co-produces for an Indian and international market with a distribution reach across theatres, film festivals and streaming platforms.

    Gurinder Chadha commented:

    “Just as I have enjoyed Frank Capra’s ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ for many years, my aim with ‘Christmas Karma’ is to create a festive classic for our times and for generations to come.

    By adapting one of history’s greatest novels – Charles Dickens’ CHRISTMAS CAROL – I am making a British Film from my unique, original point of view but one that resonates with Dickens’ masterful statement on the human condition.

    I am delighted to be working with Anushka Shah and her lovely team at Civic Studios who have supported me on this project very early on. What a pleasure and honour it’s been for me to work with amazing Indian female producers.

    I am blessed with such a great diverse cast and eclectic music team – the soundtrack will be banging, influenced by Gospel, Bhangra, Carols and classic pop songs. You will not be able to sit still!”

    Zygi Kamasa commented:

    “Gurinder has an incredible ability to tell such interesting contemporary British stories. Its been over 20 years since we made Bend it like Beckham together and this film has all those hallmarks of heart, comedy, drama and an incredibly feelgood ending. It will be a celebration of multi-cultural London set to an incredible set of songs written by Gary, Shaznay and Nitin, using musical genres from Rap, to disco to Bhangra and will be the ultimate Christmas movie which we will release in December 2025. It really is the perfect fit to the range of British films we will release at True Brit.”

    Kunal Nayyar commented:

    “To explore a beloved holiday tale through the eyes of an immigrant story (much like my own) is exactly the kind of movie that I believe will resonate with so many of us who are searching for the meaning of home. It takes a visionary like Gurinder to take a chance on a story like this, and I am humbled to be a part of it. “

    Gary Barlow commented:

    “It was an absolute honour to be asked to write music for Christmas Karma. I love Gurinder personally and professionally, and to collaborate with such a diverse and eclectic cast on the soundtrack has been really great fun”

    Nitin Sawhney commented:

    “It has been such fun working on Christmas Karma with Gurinder. She is a relentless tsunami of ideas, creativity and inspiration, who makes the alchemy of magical movie-making so enjoyable. To take an old Dickens classic like “A Christmas Carol” and make it relevant to multicultural contemporary Britain is no easy task but Gurinder has done so with impressively effortless good grace, humour and ambition. I am honoured to bring my own eclectic background of orchestral scoring, Indian classical influences, electronica, songwriting and composition to a cinematic table already replete with the exciting ingredients of an unforgettable Christmas classic.”

    Shaznay Lewis commented:

    “It has been a wonderful experience working with Gurinder on Christmas Karma. Putting these songs together has been a writer’s dream, and the creative process has been an exceptional journey for me. Gurinder is a powerhouse, and her will and wit are something to be admired. I have learned a lot, and I’m incredibly honoured to be a part of the writing team.”

    Gurinder Chadha is represented by CAA. Kunal Nayyar is represented by Innovative and Lovett Management. Eva Longoria is represented by Linden Entertainment, WME, Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis and Yorn, Levine, Barnes. Billy Porter is represented by CAA, Industry Entertainment and Slate PR. Boy George is represented by Paul Kemsley. Hugh Bonneville represented by Gordon and French.

  • Five reasons why you should watch ‘Family Aaj Kal’

    Five reasons why you should watch ‘Family Aaj Kal’

    Mumbai: Remember the first time you wanted to introduce your partner to your parents? It can be the most nerve-wracking thing to do! And even if you feel your family is quite modern or open-minded, how quickly would that approach go out the window if they found out that the love of your life is a cab driver?!

    The latest dramedy by Civic Studios, “Family Aaj Kal,” explores a similar dilemma faced by Meher, a 20-something girl who decides to introduce her boyfriend, Gaurav, who is also a cab driver, to her family. A hilarious yet relatable portrayal of the generation gaps in every family, and a mirror to the class biases that any progressive middle-class family can fall victim to, “Family Aaj Kal” explores the quirky, wholesome world of the Kashyaps.

    Created by producer and Civic Studios founder Anushka Shah, along with director Parikshit Joshi and writer Manoj Kalwani, the five-episode show is streaming now on Sony LIV. Here are five reasons why you should watch this sweet dramedy with a big heart!

    Modern love with aaj kal ki family: What counts as modern love in today’s time? Meher’s parents have survived an interfaith marriage against their family’s wishes. So they’re sure they won’t let their children go through the same, like their ‘gaye-guzre’ elders. But when Meher falls in love with someone who is considered to be from a different class background, her family can’t see eye to eye due to their own concerns for their daughter’s future. Who will win in this battle of love vs class bias?

    Stellar ensemble cast led by Apoorva Arora: Fans of Apoorva Arora will be excited to see her in a brand new avatar for this family dramedy. After hit youth shows like College Romance and Firsts, her character Meher will strike a relatable chord in all youngsters caught between independence and family. She is joined by the extremely talented Sonali Sachdev as her mother. The entire cast was privileged to share screen with the late Nitesh Pandey as her father. Both parents light up the screen with their comic timing. Not to mention, fresh faces Prakhar Singh and Aakarshan Singh, and veteran Masood Akhtar.

    Dignity in every job: If we were to take a step back and notice, we would find a general distaste for blue-collar jobs among our friends and families. “Family Aaj Kal” takes a mirror to society to extend empathy, respect and dignity to professions like drivers. It also sheds a light to the struggles of Indian youth who, like Gaurav, Meher’s boyfriend, have graduated with esteemed degrees only to either be unemployed or work in a job where they’re overqualified.

    Beyond fairy tales: Usually, most movies end with people from two religions fighting against all odds to get married. But what happens when they are settled into their lives? We rarely ever see the happily-ever-after or just the regular lives of these couples. To see what her parents Faiza and Shekhar Kashyap have built for themselves is not only heartwarming but also gives hope for the future!

    Bridging the generation gap: Parents and children often have differing opinions on relationships, marriage, class, and everything in between. The journey of the Kashyaps is sweet, wholesome one where they figure how to bridge of these gaps with thoda empathy, forgiveness and acceptance by both sides!

    So don’t forget to tune into ‘Family Aaj Kal’, live on Sony LIV from 3 April onwards!

     

  • “Family Aaj Kal explores young India’s aspirations through a relatable family setup”: Anushka Shah

    “Family Aaj Kal explores young India’s aspirations through a relatable family setup”: Anushka Shah

    Mumbai: Premiering on 3 April on Sony LIV, a family-centric show – Family Aaj Kal, invites you to embark on a captivating journey through the complexities of modern family life.

    Produced by Civic Studios, a global media company focused on impactful entertainment, this eagerly anticipated show promises to resonate deeply with viewers. Featuring a stellar cast including Apoorva Arora, Sonali Sachdev, and the late Nitesh Pandey, the show is spearheaded by writer Manoj Kalwani, and director Parikshit Joshi, offering a heartfelt exploration of familial bonds against the vibrant backdrop of Delhi.

    Indiantelevision.com in conversation with Civic Studios’ founder Anushka Shah talked about the uniqueness of the show, certain nuances of the show and more…

    Edited Excerpts:

    On the inspiration behind creating Family Aaj Kal and what sets it apart from other family-centric shows

    Family Aaj Kal came about from wanting to explore how some of the problems we see around us in society play out in internal family dynamics. When it comes to choosing a child’s partner, we often see these biases clash with a parent’s desire to want what they see as best for their child. The show is extremely relatable in the way it explores young India’s aspirations through a family setup. It talks about the issue of unemployment in India, the overemphasis on jobs as an identity that often leads to class bias, and finally, the right to choose your own partner.

    On the collaboration between Civic Studios, Manoj Kalwani, and Parikshit Joshi for the production of Family Aaj Kal

    Manoj Kalwani had been a writer we were interested in working with at Civic Studios for a while, and when we conceptualised this project in-house we thought he would be the perfect fit. Parikshit had been a director working at Civic Studios on several of our YouTube comedy sketch videos – we felt his ability to bring a sensitive yet light-hearted approach would be ideal for this show.

    On the message or emotions that you aim to evoke through “Family Aaj Kal”

    The main emotion we want the audience to experience is what happens when we’re forced to challenge our own biases – it often starts with denial but ends in discovery, and that is a tough but beautiful journey to go on. In many ways, that is where change and progress at its most core level in a society happens.

    On choosing Delhi as the setting for “Family Aaj Kal” over other cities and the city’s unique characteristics that contribute to the storytelling and resonate with the audience

    Delhi was chosen as our target audience because the show concentrates on a young Hindi-speaking audience from North India. The family is shown to be urban and middle-class and they see themselves as modern and liberal, while also coming to terms with their own biases. Delhi became a reflective setting for the same, but the story would be relatable to audiences around the world and not just this city.

    On your vision for the future of Civic Studios, and the upcoming projects or initiatives that you’re particularly enthusiastic about

    At Civic Studios we aim to create content that is entertaining, engaging, and empowering. We have over 20 projects on our slate at different stages of production to release across feature films and web series. We recently had our animated feature film Schirkoa premiere at the Rotterdam Film Festival where it won the NETPAC award for Best Asian Film, and next month we start shooting in London on a very fun and exciting Christmas musical with Gurinder Chadha. 

  • Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival and Civic Studios collab to inspire social change

    Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival and Civic Studios collab to inspire social change

    Mumbai: Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, known for bringing the best of contemporary cinema and talent from different parts of the world to the city of Mumbai, is all set to have some exciting additions to its 2023 edition. This year, Jio MAMI is collaborating with Civic Studios, a production house that creates entertainment focused on social change, to spark impactful conversations at the festival.

    The festival will include a new award called the Lights Camera Impact Award, presented by Civic Studios. This award will recognise and spotlight two engaging short films focusing on subjects of climate, sexuality, and caste. The intent is to award films with engaging short films that spark conversation on oft-ignored, socially relevant topics. Each winner receives a trophy and a cash prize of INR 1,00,000, to be presented to the directors. This award will encourage storytellers who are using their medium to tell powerful, meaningful stories.

    As part of this collaboration, the festival will also host a climate change-themed party titled “Too Hot to Handle.” Loosely based on the “climate fresk” parties taking Europe by storm, the party aims to bring the topic of climate change centre stage through a fun, engaging event format while fostering a can-do spirit about the future. This event will have renowned comic Abish Mathew hosting a climate change-themed game show and a walk-through exhibit on climate action stories. Targeted at film industry insiders in India, it seeks to boost climate literacy and raise awareness on how filmmakers can contribute positively as artists and filmmakers to the climate change conversation. The event itself will aim to be a zero-waste event.

    The festival will also host a thought-provoking panel discussion to explore the methods and strategies employed in mounting documentary and fiction feature projects that drive extended community engagement and use cinema as a powerful tool for social change.

    Civic Studios founder Anushka Shah shared her enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “We believe in the transformative power of cinema, and partnering with an important platform like MAMI is a tremendous opportunity to bring that to life. The Lights Camera Impact award is an initiative to highlight and encourage fresh talent driven towards social impact, while the climate change party is a way for all of us to learn and take action while having a good time.”

    Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival artistic director Deepti DCunha added, “Jio MAMI is committed to showcasing films that not only entertain but also inspire and create discussions. We are excited to have Civic Studios’ on board to support independent filmmakers who use their cinema to spark conversations about social issues.”

    Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival and Civic Studios partnership promises to be a beacon of hope, inspiring change, and raising awareness on socially relevant issues through the art of filmmaking!