Tag: Drishyam Films

  • Drishyam Films presents an unconventional psychological thriller Tamso

    Drishyam Films presents an unconventional psychological thriller Tamso

    Mumbai: The spotlight is set to shine on the captivating world of horror as Drishyam Film’s Tamso also called Suburban Tales, makes its highly anticipated debut at the prestigious Fantastic Fest in USA. Directed by Stephen Alexander, the film is produced by Rashmi Somvanshi (July Motion Pictures Pvt. Ltd.)  and presented by Drishyam Films, which has earlier given us masterpieces like Aankho Dekhi, Masaan, Dhanak, Newton that have been internationally recognised at renowned film festivals like Cannes and Berlin.

    It is a proud moment for the cast and crew of Tamso as Austin King, features programmer and head of Submissions at the Fantastic Fest, rightly compares the film’s compelling cinematic endeavour with Kafka’s, The Metamorphosis. “What if Kafka’s The Metamorphosis was an Indian werewolf movie?”, says King as he reviews the plot that promises to redefine the genre by blending spine-chilling elements with a deeply personal narrative.

    Tamso, meaning ‘from darkness’, derived from Sanskrit, delves into the depths of the human psyche within the backdrop of a family wedding. The estranged daughter, Radhika, portrayed by Rashmi Somvanshi, is compelled to return home, only to be confronted with an unforeseen twist. The youngest family member, Deepu, is taken over by an enigmatic entity during the wedding preparations. As the family grapples with the inexplicable possession, secrets buried within the family’s history resurface, causing an unsettling cascade of events. As reality merges with fantasy, Radhika embarks on a journey to confront her past and unearth the darkness that has long haunted her family.

    Actor and producer of the film Rashmi Somvanshi says: “With its compelling narrative, impeccable direction, and thought-provoking theme, Tamso stands poised to redefine the horror genre, offering audiences a glimpse into the unexplored realms of fear and human psychology. We’re honoured to get the film premiered at the prestigious Fantastic Fest. We do hope it is liked by all. For those interested in out of the box content, this is a must watch. This movie has carefully woven a narrative that challenges traditional horror norms, offering a fresh perspective on the genre. I’m sure the audience will like it and I can’t wait to get their views.”

    The movie has an ensemble cast featuring Rashmi Somvanshi, Ritika Gupta, Vaishnavi Singh, Ansh Pandey, Dev Chauhan, Sunita Hooda, and Kaushlendra. The screenplay, dialogues, and story have been meticulously crafted by Stephen Alexander and Rashmi Somvanshi.

    Director Stephen Alexander, a debutant director in the realm of filmmaking, explores the blurred boundaries between the supernatural and human psychology in this psychological thriller.

    As Tamso makes its world premiere at Fantastic Fest, it finds itself in the heart of the largest genre film festival in the USA. Celebrating cinematic excellence that pushes boundaries, Fantastic Fest provides the perfect platform for this unconventional horror experience. It is a paramount event in the cinematic world, renowned for its significant impact on the movie industry. With a resolute focus on groundbreaking genre films encompassing horror, science fiction, fantasy, and more, the festival stands as a pivotal platform that celebrates audacious storytelling and fosters a dynamic community of filmmakers, enthusiasts, and industry professionals. Smile, Blood Relative, The Menu, Living With Chucky are some of the prominent movies which have been screened at the Fantastic Fest.

  • Rajkummar Rao’s Newton to make world premiere at Berlin Festival

    Rajkummar Rao’s Newton to make world premiere at Berlin Festival

    MUMBAI: The New Year is beginning on a high note for Drishyam Films, the makers of much loved films such as Masaan, Dhanak and Waiting. Their latest film Amit V Masurkar’s Newton is all set to make its World Premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals to be held from 9-19 February 2017. The film will have a red carpet premiere with its cast and crew on 10 February, during the opening weekend of the top-tier festival.

    The public programme of the Berlin International Film Festival shows about 400 films per year, mostly international or European premieres. Films of every genre, length and format find their place in the various sections: great international cinema in the Competition, independent and art house in Panorama, films for the young audience in Generation, new discoveries and promising talents from the German film scene in Perspektive Deutsches Kino, avant garde, experimental and unfamiliar cinematography in the Forum and Forum Expanded, and an exploration of cinematic possibilities in Berlinale Shorts.

    Newton, starring Rajkummar Rao in the title role is a sharp political black comedy that takes place on an election day in Central India. Rajkummar Rao, whose star is on the rise following with strong, highly appreciated performances in films like Aligarh and Queen, plays Newton, a rookie clerk on election duty in a conflict-ridden jungle of Chhattisgarh, who tries his best to conduct free and fair voting despite the apathy of security forces and the looming fear of an attack by Maoist rebels.

    The film also stars acclaimed actors Anjali Patil (of Mirzya fame), Pankaj Tripathi (of Gangs of Wasseypur fame) and Raghubir Yadav (veteran actor from Peepli Live).

    Newton is Amit V Masurkar’s second film after the sleeper hit Sulemani Keeda in 2014. The film produced by Manish Mundra will be screened in the ‘International Forum of New Cinema’, considered as the most daring section of the Berlinale featuring avant-garde, experimental works, political reportage and yet-to-be-discovered cinematic landscapes.

    Newton was part of the Co-Production Market (CPM) at Film Bazaar 2015 and also one of the Film Bazaar Recommends titles at Film Bazaar 2016.

    Interestingly, all of Drishyam Films’ films starting from Ankhon Dekhi, Masaan, Waiting, Dhanak and Umrika have made their world premieres at top-billed international film festivals. Masaan (2015), directed by Neeraj Ghaywan premiered at the Cannes Film Festival 2015 and won two awards — FIPRESCI, International Jury of Film Critics prize and Promising Future prize in the Un Certain Regard section. Umrika won the audience award in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition section at the Sundance Film Festival, in 2015. Newton is Drishyam Films’ second venture to make its world premiere at Berlinale after Nagesh Kukunoor’s Dhanak (Rainbow) which made its world premiere at Berlinale 2015 and also received a special mention from the jury.

    Amit V Masurkar, who has co-written and directed Newton, says, “We’re all excited to have a grand premiere of Newton in Berlin which is a very prestigious festival and has launched some of the most interesting films from across the world. Newton is a political film with a generous helping of quirky, dark humour which reflects the absurdity of the world we live in. We’re sure it will resonate with audiences at home and abroad.”

    Starting 2017 with such great news, Founder of Drishyam Films and the producer of Newton, Manish Mundra says “Newton stands true to our vision of telling powerful stories that are rooted in our culture yet universal in their appeal. We are thrilled to be back at Berlin with this special film, and plan to bring it to our audiences at home soon after.”

    Drishyam Films aims to build a platform for unique voices of Indian independent cinema and create global content with rich Indian flavours. Their filmmaking journey started with the award-winning film Ankhon Dekhi directed by Rajat Kapoor. Its success was followed by Umrika directed by Prashant Nair which premiered at Sundance Film Festival 2015 and bagged the Audience Choice Award.

  • Rajkummar Rao’s Newton to make world premiere at Berlin Festival

    Rajkummar Rao’s Newton to make world premiere at Berlin Festival

    MUMBAI: The New Year is beginning on a high note for Drishyam Films, the makers of much loved films such as Masaan, Dhanak and Waiting. Their latest film Amit V Masurkar’s Newton is all set to make its World Premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals to be held from 9-19 February 2017. The film will have a red carpet premiere with its cast and crew on 10 February, during the opening weekend of the top-tier festival.

    The public programme of the Berlin International Film Festival shows about 400 films per year, mostly international or European premieres. Films of every genre, length and format find their place in the various sections: great international cinema in the Competition, independent and art house in Panorama, films for the young audience in Generation, new discoveries and promising talents from the German film scene in Perspektive Deutsches Kino, avant garde, experimental and unfamiliar cinematography in the Forum and Forum Expanded, and an exploration of cinematic possibilities in Berlinale Shorts.

    Newton, starring Rajkummar Rao in the title role is a sharp political black comedy that takes place on an election day in Central India. Rajkummar Rao, whose star is on the rise following with strong, highly appreciated performances in films like Aligarh and Queen, plays Newton, a rookie clerk on election duty in a conflict-ridden jungle of Chhattisgarh, who tries his best to conduct free and fair voting despite the apathy of security forces and the looming fear of an attack by Maoist rebels.

    The film also stars acclaimed actors Anjali Patil (of Mirzya fame), Pankaj Tripathi (of Gangs of Wasseypur fame) and Raghubir Yadav (veteran actor from Peepli Live).

    Newton is Amit V Masurkar’s second film after the sleeper hit Sulemani Keeda in 2014. The film produced by Manish Mundra will be screened in the ‘International Forum of New Cinema’, considered as the most daring section of the Berlinale featuring avant-garde, experimental works, political reportage and yet-to-be-discovered cinematic landscapes.

    Newton was part of the Co-Production Market (CPM) at Film Bazaar 2015 and also one of the Film Bazaar Recommends titles at Film Bazaar 2016.

    Interestingly, all of Drishyam Films’ films starting from Ankhon Dekhi, Masaan, Waiting, Dhanak and Umrika have made their world premieres at top-billed international film festivals. Masaan (2015), directed by Neeraj Ghaywan premiered at the Cannes Film Festival 2015 and won two awards — FIPRESCI, International Jury of Film Critics prize and Promising Future prize in the Un Certain Regard section. Umrika won the audience award in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition section at the Sundance Film Festival, in 2015. Newton is Drishyam Films’ second venture to make its world premiere at Berlinale after Nagesh Kukunoor’s Dhanak (Rainbow) which made its world premiere at Berlinale 2015 and also received a special mention from the jury.

    Amit V Masurkar, who has co-written and directed Newton, says, “We’re all excited to have a grand premiere of Newton in Berlin which is a very prestigious festival and has launched some of the most interesting films from across the world. Newton is a political film with a generous helping of quirky, dark humour which reflects the absurdity of the world we live in. We’re sure it will resonate with audiences at home and abroad.”

    Starting 2017 with such great news, Founder of Drishyam Films and the producer of Newton, Manish Mundra says “Newton stands true to our vision of telling powerful stories that are rooted in our culture yet universal in their appeal. We are thrilled to be back at Berlin with this special film, and plan to bring it to our audiences at home soon after.”

    Drishyam Films aims to build a platform for unique voices of Indian independent cinema and create global content with rich Indian flavours. Their filmmaking journey started with the award-winning film Ankhon Dekhi directed by Rajat Kapoor. Its success was followed by Umrika directed by Prashant Nair which premiered at Sundance Film Festival 2015 and bagged the Audience Choice Award.

  • Drishyam Films to kick-start ‘The Masters’ series with Sriram Raghavan

    Drishyam Films to kick-start ‘The Masters’ series with Sriram Raghavan

    MUMBAI: Drishyam Films will be hosting screenings and interactions with noted filmmakers, cinematographers, editors and producers titled as The Masters. The monthly series is an effort to give the audiences and film buffs a unique and enriching cinematic experience. 

     

    The series will kick-start with the screening of Raman Raghav and will be followed by a master class by director Sriram Raghavan. The two-part made for video series will be introduced by filmmaker and director Atul Sabharwal. The sequence comes from the year 1991 based on the true story of a serial killerThe series will outlay the successful investigations of the Stoneman murders that took place in the 1960s, drawing from official police case files.

     

    The screening will take place on 21 October, 2015 at PVR Citimall Andheri at 8 pm.

     

    “This is a one-of-a-kind initiative by us to reinvent the way master filmmakers interact with their audiences as well as aspiring filmmakers. We are sure that this will be an exciting opportunity for both to have a lively and fruitful exchange every month,” said Drishyam Films CEO Shiladitya Bora. 

     

    This is the first theatrical outing of the series, exclusive to early bird registrations. The event will be free and open to all, based on a first-come-first serve basis. The registrations can be made at http://www.drishyamfilms.com/events/

  • ‘Masaan’ ticket sales sees spurt with word of mouth publicity

    ‘Masaan’ ticket sales sees spurt with word of mouth publicity

    MUMBAI: As has been seen with strong content films, a huge word of mouth buzz pushed Masaan ticket sales to double up by Saturday, 25 July afternoon in all the metros.

     

    The superlative reviews of the film have piqued the interest of cine-goers, which has in turn translated into box office sales.

     

    In spite of facing huge competition from big blockbusters like Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Bahubali, and less number of shows, the film has managed to stand on its own and was playing house full by Saturday noon at most screens in the metros. The small towns though still are warming up to this film, but the producers feel that the Masaan promotions in the small towns will also pay and sales will be stable throughout the week.

     

    The film, which has opened in around 250 screens in the country, is looking stable to go in the second week with more shows.

     

    Drishyam Films’ Manish Mundra said, “Excellent reviews coupled with very strong word of mouth has resulted in full house in all most all major multiplexes in urban centers on Saturday. We are confident that Masaan will sustain in theatres for good number of weeks making it also a success at the box office along with being critical acclaimed.”

     

    Phantom Films’ Vikramaditya Motwane added, “The strong word of mouth and the super reviews have added to the buzz around the film, and the ticket sales have gone up by almost double on Sat. This reinstates our belief in good content and we hope the audience will keep spreading the appreciation and we will have a good weekday tickets’ sales too.”

  • ‘Dhanak’ bags top award at Sneakers Children’s Festival, Poland

    ‘Dhanak’ bags top award at Sneakers Children’s Festival, Poland

    MUMBAI: After bagging two awards for Dhanak (Rainbow) co-produced by Drishyam Films Manish Mundra and directed by Nagesh Kukunoor at the Berlinale, it has further bagged the top award at Sneakers Children’s Festival, Poland.

     

    Having won the best film award in the main category, ‘Children’s Feature Film Competition’, the prize ceremony took place on 22 June.

     

    Kukunoor who couldn’t attend the festival shared a recorded message thanking the festival authorities and the audience. The film was screened at International Film Festival Los Angeles (IFFLA) and at Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Kids.

     

    Dhanak which stars Hetal Gada and Krrish Chhabria in the lead roles is about an eight-year-old blind boy whose 10-year-old sister promises him that he will get his vision back before he turns nine. The film follows the duo on a magical journey through the sand dunes of Rajasthan. The film also stars theater actors, Vipin Sharma and Vibha Chhiber in the prominent roles.

     

    The award winning film had its world premiere at the prestigious film festival, Berlinale where it bagged The Grand Prix for the best feature-length film and the Special Mention for the best feature film by The Children’s Jury for Generation Kplus.