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Tag: Junglee Pictures

  • Justice takes the spotlight as Junglee Pictures screens haq

    Justice takes the spotlight as Junglee Pictures screens haq

    MUMBAI: Justice found its stage and the stars took the stand as Junglee Pictures hosted an exclusive screening of its upcoming legal drama Haq in New Delhi. The evening saw a rare confluence of cinema and statesmanship, with union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and Kiren Rijiju, Delhi lieutenant governor VK Saxena, former chief justice of India DY Chandrachud, and Times Group managing director Vineet Jain gracing the red carpet at The Chanakya Mall.

    Directed by Suparn S Varma, Haq stars Yami Gautam Dhar and Emraan Hashmi in a gripping tale inspired by a landmark supreme court judgment. The film explores the collision between personal faith and secular law, tackling patriarchy and power while celebrating justice and equality. Written by Reshu Nath, it’s the kind of story that lingers long after the credits roll, a mix of emotion, courage, and conversation.

    Produced by Junglee Pictures in association with Insomnia Films and Baweja Studios, Haq also features a compelling debut by Vartika Singh alongside Sheeba Chaddha, Danish Hussain, and Aseem Hattangady.

    From the first half alone, the film struck a chord with its audience. “It’s not just about women’s empowerment but about justice denied because of personal laws. Everybody should see this movie,” said Hardeep Singh Puri. Union minister Kiren Rijiju added, “The film carries a message that shouldn’t be limited to the screen, every Indian should watch it.”

    Former CJI DY Chandrachud called the screening “an emotional and personal moment,” reflecting on the historic judgment that inspired the narrative. “The rights given to women can’t be taken away, they are vindicated in law and in spirit,” he said.

    Echoing the sentiment, Times Group MD Vineet Jain remarked, “There are two kinds of films, the purely entertaining and those that make you think while entertaining. Haq is both.”

    Set to release in cinemas worldwide on 7 November, Haq promises to be more than just another courtroom drama, it’s a stirring plea for justice, equality, and the courage to question.
     

  • Regional stories steal the show as audiences tune out the usual

    Regional stories steal the show as audiences tune out the usual

    MUMBAI: Lights, camera, localisation! At the 9th edition of The Content Hub Summit 2025, the session on “The Rise and Rise of Regional Content” didn’t just capture attention, it underscored a seismic shift in what India watches and why. Gone are the days when Hindi content ruled unchallenged. From Marathi to Malayalam, Punjabi to Gujarati, regional languages are not only speaking up, they’re roaring loud across platforms and pushing boundaries with content that’s local in soul, but universal in appeal.

    Karan Taurani of Elara Capital, moderating the star-studded panel, noted that the 20th-ranked Hindi film today earns just ₹20 crore, a steep fall from pre-pandemic numbers where the 20th film could clock in Rs 70–Rs 80 crore. Rabindra Narayan, MD of PTC, echoed this, citing how Punjabi film Sehra raked in Rs 100 crore just from Maharashtra, denting a mainstream release like Bhabhi by an estimated Rs 20–Rs 30 crore.

    Rishi Negi of Banijay Asia pointed out that while Hindi struggles with resonance, regional films like Pushpa and KGF succeed because they tell stories rooted in emotion whether it’s a son seeking acceptance or avenging his mother. These narratives, Negi argued, transcend language and connect with audiences across demographics.

    The session also touched on the economics of production. Making content in regional languages isn’t just creatively liberating, it’s cost-effective too. With South Indian films now commanding higher acquisition budgets than Hindi titles on platforms like Netflix, the tide has clearly turned.

    Mamta Kamtikar from Junglee Pictures highlighted how Malayalam film Lones, produced on a modest budget, became a critical and cultural success due to strong storytelling and a buzz-worthy release strategy. “It’s not just about making a film,” she stressed, “it’s about making it travel emotionally and linguistically.”

    This brings us to another hot-button topic: localisation. Avinash Mudaliar of OTTplay noted that dubbing and subtitling in India have undergone a transformation. “Earlier, South Indian action films just needed punchy dialogues. Now, dubbing is almost script-rewriting. It’s no longer a mechanical job, it’s cultural translation.”

    But the challenge isn’t just about turning Tamil into Hindi. As Arpit Mankar of Shemaroo explained, a joke that lands in Delhi might bomb in Bengal. Comedy, drama, even character arcs need regional nuance something only local creators truly understand. That’s why Shemaroo has gone deep into Gujarati OTT, helping three films cross ₹10 crore in the first half of 2025 alone triple the usual annual average.

    ETV Win’s Saikrishna Koinni and others agreed: regional makers have the home-field advantage. They live the language, breathe the culture, and write stories with lived authenticity that no algorithm or distant studio exec can replicate.

    And there’s money on the table too. With over 33 OTTs now bundled into super-subscription packs and growing willingness to pay, regional content is not just filling the gap, it’s the main event.

    In short, India’s entertainment engine is no longer fuelled solely by Bollywood dreams. It’s powered by local love, dubbed brilliance, and subtitles that speak volumes. And if this panel is anything to go by, the future of Indian content is decidedly regional and refreshingly relatable.

  • Junglee Pictures debuts in Malayalam cinema with Ronth

    Junglee Pictures debuts in Malayalam cinema with Ronth

    MUMBAI: Junglee Pictures has partnered with Kerala-based Festival Cinemas to launch Ronth (Night Patrol), marking its first venture into Malayalam cinema.

    The film, directed by National Award-winner Shahi Kabir, stars Dileesh Pothan and Roshan Mathew as police officers navigating personal challenges during an intense night shift.

    “The moment we heard the narration, we were hooked,” said Amrita Pandey, CEO at Junglee Pictures, praising Kabir’s realistic storytelling that “blends intense narratives with raw human emotions.”

    Kabir, who won the National Award for “Nayattu” and is known for thrillers like “Ela Veezha Poonchira” and “Joseph,” called the collaboration with Junglee Pictures “thrilling.”

    The film is expected to release later this year.

     

  • Balaji Motion Pictures ropes in Aman Gill as the new CEO

    Balaji Motion Pictures ropes in Aman Gill as the new CEO

    MUMBAI- Balaji Telefilms Limited has roped in Aman Gill as the CEO of Balaji Motion Pictures. Gill, in his new role, will assume all responsibilities spanning film development ranging from creative, production, marketing, distribution, syndication and will have all division heads report directly to him. He will take up the new position from early December 2015.

    Talking about the new appointment, Balaji Telefilms Ltd. group CEO Sameer Nair asserted, “Aman brilliantly balances creativity with commerce and is most deserving of this position and role. He has vast experience in developing, producing, marketing, distributing and syndicating films in the past with various studios and has worked closely with talent in the agency business”.

    Aman will be serving out his notice period with Junglee Pictures in the interim, where he was the chief content officer since June 2014. In his tenure the company successfully released two of the most critically and commercially acclaimed films of the year Dil Dhadkane Do and Talvar. Gill has also setup in the past, the film talent and literary business at CAA-KWAN from June 2012 to June 2014. He also headed the acquisition and domestic distribution functions at Viacom 18 Motion Pictures.

    Gill started his career with Applause Entertainment, where he was AVP Content. Here he earned his first film credit as an executive producer for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s critically acclaimed film Black.

    “Aman is a wonderful addition to the management bandwidth we’re building at Balaji. Several exciting projects are already in the pipeline over the next few months, which are in various stages of production and we also plan to scale up our movie business in the coming years. With several very interesting initiatives underway, I believe Aman is the ideal professional to lead the charge”, said Balaji TelefilmsLimited joint managing director Ekta Kapoor.

    Speaking about his new hiring Gill added, “I’m honored that Ekta and Sameer have entrusted me with this responsibility and position. I look forward to work together with a highly talented team to further the formidable brand that Balaji Motion Pictures has built over the years and take it to greater heights.