Tag: Emmay Entertainment

  • ‘Vedaa, Samvidhan Ka Rakshak’ to premiere on Zee5 on 10 Oct

    ‘Vedaa, Samvidhan Ka Rakshak’ to premiere on Zee5 on 10 Oct

    Mumbai: Zee5 has announced the digital premiere of ‘Vedaa, Samvidhan Ka Rakshak’ on 10 October. Directed by Nikkhil Advani and produced by Zee Studios, Emmay Entertainment, and JA Entertainment, this action drama features John Abraham, Sharvari, Abhishek Banerjee, Tamannaah Bhatia, and Ashish Vidyarthi. Inspired by real-life events, ‘Vedaa’ follows the journey of a Dalit girl and addresses caste-based injustices and crimes.

    The story centers on Major Abhimanyu Kanwar (John Abraham), a court-martialed army officer, whose path intersects with Vedaa (Sharvari), a determined Dalit woman seeking justice. Together, they confront societal challenges and oppressive forces, including the village chief (Abhishek Banerjee), who aims to silence them. As they uncover painful truths and fight for redemption, the film presents a narrative of courage and the pursuit of justice.

    Directed by Nikkhil Advani, ‘Vedaa, Samvidhan Ka Rakshak’ masterfully combines intense action with a poignant social message.

    Zee5 India CBO Manish Kalra stated, “At Zee5, we believe that cinema can inspire change and ‘Vedaa,’ embodies this spirit by shedding light on pressing social issues through its powerful narrative and creative storytelling. We are proud to present this film that entertains and sparks meaningful conversations about justice and resilience. The film aligns perfectly with our thought of connecting, collaborating, and communicating with our viewers through impactful and transformative stories. With ‘Vedaa’’, we are strengthening Zee5’s commitment of delivering quality content that not only resonates with diverse audience segments but also drives positive change in society.”

    Zee Studios CBO Umesh Kr Bansal said, “With Vedaa’ now releasing on Zee5, we’re excited that this powerful story of resilience will reach an even wider audience. It reflects our commitment to impactful storytelling, and we believe its compelling narrative and strong performances will deeply resonate with viewers.”

    Emmay Entertainment producer Madhu Bhojwani shared, “We are excited to bring Vedaa, to an even larger audience with its digital premiere.  When we started the journey to make this film, it was driven by the need to tell a story that inspires and empowers, and we can’t wait for more people to join the conversation through its digital release.”

    Director Nikkhil Advani said, “I believe ‘Vedaa,’ not only entertains but also sheds light on important issues. From the very beginning, our aim with this film was to tell a story that sparks meaningful conversations, and we look forward to more viewers experiencing its message now through the film’s release on Zee5”.

    Abraham said, “I’m proud to be part of a film that not only entertains but also empowers. Vedaa, inspires women to embrace their strength and also encourages all of us to support and uplift one another. The film is very important and relevant in today’s day and age which is a powerful reminder that when women thrive, we all thrive. I can’t wait for audiences of Zee5 to experience this transformative message in Vedaa.”

    Sharvari expressed, “I’m excited for the digital release of ‘Vedaa,’ on Zee5! Playing Vedaa Berwa has been an enriching experience for me. She is someone who seeked equality and justice. I felt her fire to stand up and fight for what is right. Its very overwhelming to receive so much love and appreciation for Vedaa, and it means the world to me to be part of a film that makes you think. Through boxing and martial arts training, Vedaa discovers her strength and voice in the film. I can’t wait for audiences to witness her inspiring journey!”

  • Prime Video drops trailer for Jitendra Kumar and Shriya Pilgaonkar’s ‘Dry Day’

    Prime Video drops trailer for Jitendra Kumar and Shriya Pilgaonkar’s ‘Dry Day’

    Mumbai: Prime Video, India’s most loved entertainment destination, unveiled the trailer of the Amazon Original movie Dry Day today.  It is a powerful and emotional story that delves into the complexities of addiction, love, and the extent of a man’s sacrifices for his family. Directed by Saurabh Shukla, and produced by Monisha Advani, Madhu Bhojwani, and  Nikkhil Advani,  under the banner of Emmay Entertainment, the comedy-drama features Jitendra Kumar, Shriya Pilgaonkar, and Annu Kapoor in pivotal roles.

    The film is set to premiere exclusively on Prime Video in India and across more than 240 countries and territories worldwide on 22 December. Dry Day is the latest addition to the Prime membership. Prime members in India enjoy savings, convenience, and entertainment, all in a single membership for just Rs 1499/ year. Dry Day is a story of an imperfect hero who challenges societal conventions, rebelling against norms out of love for his unborn child. The trailer of this comedy-drama intricately explores the societal impact of alcoholism, presenting a thought-provoking narrative rooted in social relevance.

     

     

    Speaking about the film, Director Saurabh Shukla said, “The movie is a social satire presented with a hilarious tragic-comedy of errors with lots of drama and emotions. Dry Day gives an important and relevant message about alcoholism and I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to craft this film, aiming to entertain and enlighten the audiences. It brings me immense joy to partner with streaming service Prime Video, Emmay Entertainment, and a talented bunch of actors, collectively breathing life into a compelling and beautiful narrative.”

    “Dry Day is a captivating blend of comedy and drama, offering a rollercoaster of emotions,” shared actor Jitendra Kumar. “It was an exhilarating experience playing the character of Gannu in the movie. Getting into the skin of this intriguing character was like adding a new skill to my toolbox. The character’s struggle to defy all odds in pursuit of trust adds depth to the narrative of the film. I’m excited for audiences to witness this unique journey on screen. The film’s fusion of heartwarming moments and compelling storytelling is something I can’t wait for people to experience and appreciate.”

    Playing the role of Nirmala, actor Shriya Pilgaonkar shared, “The experience of working on Dry Day has been wonderful and enriching in so many ways. It’s a film that will entertain you and emotionally strike a chord as well. I enjoyed building that relationship between Nirmala and Gannu. The story of our film is all about the transformative power of love and it will also draw your attention to certain important societal issues. I’m so grateful to have got the opportunity to collaborate with Saurabh Sir and the wonderful team at Emmay Entertainment.  The writing is fantastic and I was most excited to film my first Holi song! “

  • Prime Video highlights VFX’s application in modern filmmaking at Film Bazaar, 54th International Film Festival of India

    Prime Video highlights VFX’s application in modern filmmaking at Film Bazaar, 54th International Film Festival of India

    Mumbai: Prime Video, India’s most loved entertainment destination, today conducted an engaging session on how VFX technology is an emerging and rapidly evolving avenue of artistic expression at Film Bazaar at the ongoing 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa. Using the popular Original series Mumbai Diaries Season 2 as an example, the session elucidated how VFX helps in moving the narratives forward by creating worlds and storylines that defy traditional boundaries. The session was spearheaded by Nikhil Madhok, head of Hindi Originals, Prime Video, Monisha Advani, Producer, Emmay Entertainment, Madhu Bhojwani, Producer, Emmay Entertainment, Malay Prakash, Director of Photography, and Vishwas Savanur, VFX Head. To give the attendees an experience of the VFX behind the much-loved series, Prime Video has also set up a zone at the Tech Pavilion at Film Bazaar that was visited by Anurag Singh Thakur, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports.

    “If storytellers are the ones who inspire us and open our minds by taking us into new worlds, then it is VFX that acts as the wind beneath their wings,” said Prime Video, India head of Hindi Originals Nikhil Madhok, highlighting that VFX is helping creativity transcend the boundaries of imagination and changing the game in the global entertainment landscape. He further explained that VFX goes beyond just creating visually stunning spectacles, and gives storytellers the power to envision worlds and narratives without being bound by practical constraints. He further added, “Earlier, storytellers faced constraints at the very inception of a project, often holding back ambitious visions at the script stage due to uncertainties about execution. If someone wanted to narrate a story that involved significant world-building, they often first had to question their own belief and answer questions on execution even before they had finished writing their story. However, today, thanks to the advancements in VFX technology, storytellers can dare to dream big. They now place the narrative at the forefront of their creative process, and are able to focus on creating immersive worlds on paper, fully knowing that VFX will help them bring their vision to life.”

    By bringing in elements of realism, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and safety, VFX is helping creativity transcend the boundaries of imagination and changing the game in the global entertainment landscape. However, Nikhil also cautioned the industry to avoid looking at VFX as just a way to reduce costs. “While the cost advantages are great and we must make the most of it, but focusing on the cost would be like missing the wood for the trees. We must think of VFX as this powerful tool that helps unleash the imagination of our storytellers!” he explained.

    The session commenced with an insightful address by Nikhil Madhok, head of Hindi Originals, Prime Video, India. This was followed by an interesting talk on Mumbai Dairies Season 2 and the role of VFX in it by  producer Monisha Advani and producer Madhu Bhojwani. Next on the agenda was an engaging presentation by Malay Prakash, cinematographer, and Vishwas Savanu, VFX producer on the VFX technology and its potential to be a game changer in filmmaking. The session concluded with an incisive panel discussion among these presenters on the contribution of VFX technology in moving the story narratives forward.

    “VFX has transformed filmmaking across genres, elevating production quality and opening new avenues for employment. The flood sequence in Mumbai Diaries Season 2, brought to life by VFX, showcases the technology’s prowess in tackling scenes once deemed too complex or risky to film – offering creators a newfound freedom to explore narratives and visual elements that elevate the overall cinematic experience for audiences,” said Prime Video, India head of Hindi Originals Nikhil Madhok.

    Prime Video has used the technology in a number of their Originals, as well as co-productions. From recreating Afghanistan in Film City to creating an immersive underwater marvel in the co-production Ram Setu, spine-chilling effects in the supernatural Original Adhura, the period Original Jubilee’s recreation of a bygone era with incredible detailing, creating a world beyond the realm of reality in the first Tamil Original horror series The Village that just premiered at IFFI, to recreating one of the worst disasters the city of Mumbai had to face in Mumbai Diaries Season 2 – Prime Video has used VFX to redefine storytelling, and create cinematic experiences through immersive world-building.

    Emmay Entertainment producers Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani spoke about how VFX technology gives creators an opportunity to realize their vision on screen and tell stories that immerse audiences into magical and fantastical worlds.

    Malay Prakash, director of photography of Mumbai Diaries Season 2 and Vishwas Savanur, VFX producer, spoke about the need for filmmakers to be aware of what can be achieved with VFX technology and how it can make a scene more believable by keeping the shots relevant, moving and organic.

    Prime Video’s participation at IFFI is a testament of the pivotal role video streaming sector is playing in enabling the growth of India’s creative economy, and acting as a robust platform to showcase Indian stories, talent, and creators in the global arena.

  • StudioNext, Emmay Entertainment to co-produce web series ‘Freedom at Midnight’ for Sonyliv

    StudioNext, Emmay Entertainment to co-produce web series ‘Freedom at Midnight’ for Sonyliv

    Mumbai: StudioNext and Emmay Entertainment have joined hands to co-produce the web series titled Freedom at Midnight. The show will exclusively stream on Sonyliv.

    The show based on the book by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins, Freedom at Midnight is an epic political thriller/drama that highlights several incidents from the year of India’s independence and interconnected stories about crucial events and personalities who played a significant role in writing the country’s history as we know today.

    With Nikkhil Advani as the show runner, the story has been penned by Abhinandan Gupta, Adwitiya Kareng Das and Gundeep Kaur.

    “Our goal has been to bring to light untold stories from contemporary history. From 1947 to present day, India experienced many watershed moments that are significant in shaping our futures,” said head of Sonyliv, Sony Entertainment Television and StudioNext Danish Khan. “One such story of the country’s struggle for independence is ‘Freedom at Midnight.’ We are delighted that StudioNext and Emmay Entertainment are collaborating on this intriguing series, cannot wait get started on this one with Nikhil and his talented team.”

    “The year 1947 has been etched in India’s history as the year that shaped its fate. A riveting, emotional tale of an incident that altered the course of the nation, Freedom at Midnight is an attempt to bring to Indians the whole truth about the events that led us to our freedom – the courage, and the hope instilled in people by the personages who gave us the new India,” said producer and showrunner Nikkhil Advani.

    He further said, “This is a story every Indian should know, and I feel honoured to be able to tell it along with my partners, Monisha and Madhu, and the team of writers, along with StudioNext. It is even more special for Emmay Entertainment that we get to bring this story to SonyLIV after our successful stint with Rocket Boys. The platform has been at the forefront of narrating the stories of the homeland, and I look forward to associating with them on this project too.”

  • Star Plus brings ‘Prisoners of War’ to India, renowned director to direct

    Star Plus brings ‘Prisoners of War’ to India, renowned director to direct

    MUMBAI: Star India's Hindi General Entertainment Channel (HGEC) Star Plus has signed a series license deal with Keshet International (KI) for its award -winning drama format, Prisoners of War

    The Indian adaptation will be produced by Emmay Entertainment (Producer of films such as Airlift, Katti Batti, Hero, D-Day), and directed by the popular Bollywood director Nikkhil Advani.

    Keshet International managing director distribution, Keren Shahar said, "We are extremely proud to be collaborating with Star Plus on one of our most accomplished properties and couldn't be happier that Prisoners of War continues to achieve such success internationally. The versatility of the format is evident, since it has attracted a dedicated following anywhere it has aired in the world. Securing this deal with a highly esteemed partner is indicative of KI's future ambitions in India."

    A Star India spokesperson further added, "We are excited to bring a story of such pedigree to India. Star Plus has always been at the forefront of bringing the best of the world to Indian television by constantly redefining the grammar of storytelling. This series, a psychological thriller, will engage and capture the imagination of the Indian viewer."

    Created, written and directed by Gideon Raff, Prisoners of War follows two soldiers as they attempt to re-adjust to their lives after returning home from captivity for 17 years.

    In addition to their personal struggles, it becomes clear that there is a profound secret that the two are keeping from everyone. The first season was the highest-rated drama of the year in Israel in 2011, achieving a 37 per cent share (HH). Season two launched on Keshet Channel 2 in 2012, and scored a 40 per cent average share, making it the most viewed drama of the year and peaking with an incredible 47.9 per cent  audience share during the season two finale.

    KI has licensed the series all over the world, both as a format and finished programme. It has brokered licensing deals for local adaptations in numerous territories including South Korea (Star J Entertainment), Russia (WeitMedia), Turkey (Medyapim), and most notably, the US (Fox21 and Showtime) where the adapted series, Homeland, has won numerous awards including Emmys and Golden Globes.

  • Star Plus brings ‘Prisoners of War’ to India, renowned director to direct

    Star Plus brings ‘Prisoners of War’ to India, renowned director to direct

    MUMBAI: Star India's Hindi General Entertainment Channel (HGEC) Star Plus has signed a series license deal with Keshet International (KI) for its award -winning drama format, Prisoners of War

    The Indian adaptation will be produced by Emmay Entertainment (Producer of films such as Airlift, Katti Batti, Hero, D-Day), and directed by the popular Bollywood director Nikkhil Advani.

    Keshet International managing director distribution, Keren Shahar said, "We are extremely proud to be collaborating with Star Plus on one of our most accomplished properties and couldn't be happier that Prisoners of War continues to achieve such success internationally. The versatility of the format is evident, since it has attracted a dedicated following anywhere it has aired in the world. Securing this deal with a highly esteemed partner is indicative of KI's future ambitions in India."

    A Star India spokesperson further added, "We are excited to bring a story of such pedigree to India. Star Plus has always been at the forefront of bringing the best of the world to Indian television by constantly redefining the grammar of storytelling. This series, a psychological thriller, will engage and capture the imagination of the Indian viewer."

    Created, written and directed by Gideon Raff, Prisoners of War follows two soldiers as they attempt to re-adjust to their lives after returning home from captivity for 17 years.

    In addition to their personal struggles, it becomes clear that there is a profound secret that the two are keeping from everyone. The first season was the highest-rated drama of the year in Israel in 2011, achieving a 37 per cent share (HH). Season two launched on Keshet Channel 2 in 2012, and scored a 40 per cent average share, making it the most viewed drama of the year and peaking with an incredible 47.9 per cent  audience share during the season two finale.

    KI has licensed the series all over the world, both as a format and finished programme. It has brokered licensing deals for local adaptations in numerous territories including South Korea (Star J Entertainment), Russia (WeitMedia), Turkey (Medyapim), and most notably, the US (Fox21 and Showtime) where the adapted series, Homeland, has won numerous awards including Emmys and Golden Globes.

  • Akshay Kumar to topline ‘Airlift’ – the untold story of the world’s largest human evacuation ever

    Akshay Kumar to topline ‘Airlift’ – the untold story of the world’s largest human evacuation ever

    MUMBAI: One of India’s biggest moments of triumph, virtually untold to date, is now being recreated on the silver screen in the form of ‘Airlift’. The film, to be helmed by ace ad film-maker Raja Krishna Menon will feature Akshay Kumar in the lead and supported by an interesting and highly talented ensemble. 

     

    Airlift is the story of Indians stranded in Kuwait during the traumatic time of the Gulf War. A story of how they, with the help of Ranjit Katyal (Akshay Kumar), manage to survive the Iraqi invasion, and against all odds travel a thousand kilometers across the border into Amman, Jordan. From Amman, 1,70,000 Indians were brought home by the largest and the most successful evacuation ever attempted by any country, in the history of the world. Over 59 days, the Indian government systematically flew over 488 Air India commercial flights into a war zone to evacuate all 1,70,000 Indians and safely bring them back home. Airlift is an uplifting and entertaining edge-of-the-seat thriller and is the story of the biggest ever human evacuation in the history of mankind.

     

    Airlift, presented by Nikhil Advani, is a co-production between T-series, Cape of Good Films, Crouching Tiger and Emmay Entertainment.

     

    Talking about the film, Nikhil Advani says, “Airlift is a story that every Indian will be proud to hear. It is a story that needs to be told and I am happy that we are able to bring this unique tale of triumph of the human spirit, and of our country, to the big screen. It also gives me an opportunity to work with Akshay once again, a partnership that I have always cherished”

     

     

    Bhushan Kumar, the presenter had this to add on what made him back this project, “What drives me to a film is its genre, concept and the conviction I have in the subject. When I first heard the story of Airlift, I fell in love with it and was convinced. I normally back films with good music but Airlift goes beyond great music and has an exceptional screenplay. I firmly believe that once this story comes alive on celluloid, the audience will equally appreciate the film. The role that Akshay plays is filled with heroism and I am sure that he will add immensely to the portrayal of the character on screen”

     

    Filming beings April 2015