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Tag: Naseeruddin Shah

  • Curtain call: DTF returns with starry season 6

    Curtain call: DTF returns with starry season 6

    Delhi Theatre Festival, Alchemist Live, Prabhu Tony, Naseeruddin Shah, Anupam Kher, Lillete Dubey, Denzil Smith, Rajat Kapoor, Vinay Pathak, Makarand Deshpande, Kumud Mishra, Pankaj Kapur, American Express, M3M India, Siri Fort Auditorium, NCUI Auditorium, OP Jindal Auditorium, Aurum Conventions, Gurugram, Delhi NCR

    MUMBAI: Delhi’s drama scene is ready to steal the spotlight once again! The Delhi Theatre Festival (DTF) is back for its sixth season, promising a show-stopping celebration of storytelling, stagecraft, and star power. Set to unfold from 14th to 16th November, the festival will light up four iconic venues across Delhi NCR, Siri Fort Auditorium, NCUI Auditorium, OP Jindal Auditorium, and Aurum Conventions in Gurugram.

    With American Express returning as the title sponsor for the sixth consecutive year and M3M India powering the event, DTF Season 6 is shaping up to be a blockbuster on and off stage. American Express platinum card members even enjoyed an exclusive presale window and special savings on tickets, a fitting reward for loyal theatre buffs.

    This year’s lineup reads like a who’s who of Indian theatre royalty. Naseeruddin Shah returns with Einstein, Anupam Kher brings Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai, and Lillete Dubey and Denzil Smith take the stage with Autobiography. Audiences can also look forward to Rajat Kapoor’s directorial Karamjale Brothers starring Vinay Pathak, Makarand Deshpande’s beloved Sir Sir Sarla, Kumud Mishra’s Dhumrapaan, and Pankaj Kapur’s Dreamz.

    “Over the past five seasons, DTF has grown from a city event into a cultural landmark,” said Alchemist Live CEO and co-founder Prabhu Tony. “With Season 6, we’re scaling up with premieres, legends, and new voices, all sharing one stage.”

    Echoing the sentiment, Naseeruddin Shah shared, “Every season brings a new energy and audience, that’s what keeps theatre alive.”

    With 12 plus shows and an expected 15,000-strong audience, DTF Season 6 is set to be the grandest edition yet. For Delhi’s theatre lovers, this November isn’t just about drama, it’s about centre stage, standing ovations, and a festival that promises to make every act count.

     

  • Delhi Theatre Festival is back with its fifth season

    Delhi Theatre Festival is back with its fifth season

    Mumbai: Alchemist Live is bringing back the Delhi Theatre Festival (DTF) for its fifth season, featuring original live performances, notable casts, and classic stories.

    This year, DTF will take place over three days – 20, 21, and 22 September – across four venues in Delhi NCR: Siri Fort Auditorium, Kamani Auditorium, OP Jindal Auditorium, and Orana Convention in Gurugram.

    American Express returns as the title sponsor for the fifth year, reinforcing their partnership with Alchemist Live to offer audiences in Delhi NCR exceptional live theatre experiences.

    Detailing more about the festival, American Express Banking Corp, India CEO and country manager Sanjay Khanna said, “We are thrilled to sponsor the Delhi Theatre Festival for the fifth consecutive year to bring an extraordinary experience to our Card Members. This collaboration underscores our commitment to offering exclusive and unforgettable cultural experiences. We believe this festival will provide a unique opportunity for our Card Members to immerse themselves in the vibrant world of theatre, creating memories that will last a lifetime.”

    This year’s stellar cast includes legendary performers like Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Shabana Azmi, Lillete Dubey, Vinay Pathak to name a few, who will light up the DTF stage.

    Sharing his delight on the fifth season of the festival, Alchemist Live COO and co-founder Prabhu Tony said, “The energy and anticipation surrounding the Delhi Theatre Festival is truly inspiring. As we embark on our incredible fifth season, Alchemist Live is determined to raise the bar even higher. Within the realm of theatre, we are trying to introduce new formats every year and this year’s festival promises to be a captivating exploration of theatrical diversity. We envision the Delhi Theatre Festival as a global hub for theatre enthusiasts, and we’re honoured to provide a platform where playwrights, actors, and audiences can come together to celebrate the magic of live performance.

    Set to establish new benchmarks in the theatre segment, the 2024 festival will incorporate the following captivating plays:

    1   Old World by Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah on 20 September at Siri Fort Auditorium (8 pm), 21 September at Siri Fort Auditorium (1 pm & 6 pm), and 22 September at Orana Conventions, Gurugram (7 pm)

    2   Salaam Noni Appa by Lillete Dubey, Yateen Karyekar, Jayati Bhatia, Rishi Khurana, and Gillian Pinto on 21 September at Kamani Auditorium (3:30 pm & 7 pm)

    3   Anything but Love by Mandira Bedi and Samir Soni on 20 September at Kamani Auditorium (8 pm)

    4   Broken Images by Shabana Azmi on 21 September at Orana Convention, Gurugram (7 pm)

    5   One on One Dhamaal by Anu Menon, Ajitesh Gupta, Gagandeep Riar, Rajit Kapur, Shikha Talsania, Sohrab Ardeshir, Sumeet Vyas, and Vrajesh Hirjee on September 21 at OP Jindal Auditorium (7 pm)

    6   Jaya – A Rock Musical of the Mahabharata by Megan Murray, 2Blue, Vikrant Chaturvedi, Asif Ali Beg, Sherrin Varghese, Varun Narayan, and more on 22 September at Siri Fort Auditorium (4:30 pm & 8 pm)

    7   What’s Done is Done by Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey, Waris Ahmed, Chandrachoor Rai, Mantra, Radhika Mehrotra, Mansi Multani, Mallika Singh, Chakori Dwivedi, Munish Bhardwaj & Ravi Kalra on 22 September at OP Jindal Auditorium (7 pm)

    ‘’Delhi Theatre Festival has always held a special place in my heart. Performing for a Delhi audience is always an invigorating experience. Returning to Delhi to perform “Broken Images” after a couple of years fills me both with excitement and anxiety,’’ said Shabana Azmi.

    Resonating with her, Rajat Kapoor added, “This is the third time we are collaborating with Delhi Theatre Festival. We have been there with ‘nothing like Lear’, and this time we are back at the festival with ‘what’s done is done’, which is our adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. A theatre festival like this is a wonderful idea – to work as a bridge between theatre practitioners and audience. More power to you”

    Lillete Dubey, who’s retuning to festival said, “I’m thrilled to be part of the Delhi Theatre Festival again, especially in my hometown, Delhi, where I first performed over 50 years ago. This time, we’re bringing two unique shows—Salaam Noni Appa and JAYA, a rock musical of the Mahabharata. I’m excited for Delhi audiences to experience these extraordinary performances and kudos to Alchemist Live, and American Express for making this festival a reality!”

    DTF has become a cornerstone of Indian theatre in Delhi NCR since its inception. Each season has showcased a mesmerising curation of plays, electrifying performances by renowned actors, and a vibrant atmosphere that celebrates the magic of live theatre.

  • India’s first masculine positivity show ‘Be A Man, Yaar!’ makes history

    India’s first masculine positivity show ‘Be A Man, Yaar!’ makes history

    Mumbai: GenZ-driven youth media and impact organisation, Yuvaa is proud to announce that its trailblazing talk show, ‘Be A Man, Yaar,’ gained international recognition with a prestigious feature on the iconic Times Square. With a mission to provide men a comfortable space to express themselves, host of the show Nikhil Taneja is now all set to cater to the international audiences.

    Redefining the traditional masculinity and promoting positive gender roles, ‘Be A Man, Yaar’ has achieved continued success in two consecutive years with some heartfelt conversations with the trailblazers from the Indian Entertainment Industry like Karan Johar, Vicky Kaushal, Kartik Aaryan, Bhuvan Bam, Zakir Khan, Javed Akhtar, Naseeruddin Shah, and more. The feature on esteemed Times Square marks as a significant milestone in the show’s mission to showcase what it means to be a boy, a man, and a human.

    With the feature in International landscape in association with their audio partner Amazon Music, Yuvaa is ready to take the show to global South Asian audiences and spark meaningful conversations that resonate with audiences globally. Starting with the aim to make every Indian man feel less alone by making them feel more heard, more seen, and more represented, the show now aims to represent the vulnerable stories of men across the globe.

    Introducing ‘Be A Man, Yaar’ to an international audience, Nikhil Taneja also hosted a screening in New York for the South Asian media and entertainment community, in collaboration with renowned ‘desi’ publication, Brown Girl Magazine. Nikhil showcase the newly launched Season 2 of the series, set the context for the show and giving insights on how its season 1 was #1 podcast on Amazon Music last year and its Times Square feature. In a QnA with Trisha Sakhuja-Walia, founder of Brown Girl Magazine, Nikhil also spoke about his own journey with mental health and masculinity that led him to creating the show.

    Hosting notable names like Shivani Bafna, Kaneez Surka, Sudeep Kanwal, Hira Mustafa, Pulkit Datta, Hiba Beg, amongst others, the event focused on playing a few segments from the episodes featuring Karan Johar, Vicky Kaushal, Bhuvan Bam and Javed Akhtar giving a cross-section and diverse flavour of the many facets of the show, and its idea to start a conversation around masculine positivity.

    On the Times Square milestone, Nikhil Taneja said, “It was a proud moment, as an Indian, to see our show on a billboard in Times Square, New York, alongside that of talk show icon Jon Stewart. I have the deepest gratitude to the team at Amazon Music, all our guests, partner and of course the incredible audience, that’s turned ‘Be A Man, Yaar!’ from just another chat show into a movement, a call for change, and an invitation to explore the depths of positive, vulnerable and authentic masculinity. The show’s international recognition is a testament to the power of ‘Be A Man, Yaar’ in challenging traditional gender norms and promoting a more inclusive understanding of masculinity.”

    The second season of show features guests like Javed Akhtar, Kartik Aaryan, Bhuvan Bam, Manish Malhotra, Rohan Bopanna, Dr Vikas Divyakirti, Gajraj Rao, Boman Irani, Imran Khan, Ankush Bahuguna, Viraj Ghelani, Aryan Pasha and Prateek Kuhad, in an engaging, honest and candid conversation with Nikhil.

    New episodes of the thought-provoking talk show #BeAManYaar, presented by The Man Company are now live on Yuvaa’s YouTube channel, and the extended unfiltered versions of the episodes are exclusively available on Amazon Music.

  • Amazon Music releases Film Companion’s Cannes Film Festival red carpet podcast

    Amazon Music releases Film Companion’s Cannes Film Festival red carpet podcast

    Mumbai: Amazon Music India and Film Companion will bring the live glam right from the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. With the biggest names from the entertainment industry gracing the red carpet, listeners will be able to keep up with it right from their homes. Hosted by Anupama Chopra and Sneha Menon Desai, the podcast has a stellar guest lineup of filmmaker Chidananda Naik, actor Kiara Advani, actor Naseeruddin Shah, filmmaker Payal Kapadia and musician AR Rahman.

    Speaking about the podcast from Film Companion, Amazon Music India director Mamta Saraf said, “Our goal at Amazon Music is to bring fresh content to the listeners and explore avenues that we haven’t before. We are excited to collaborate with Film Companion for the Cannes Film Festival special podcast, and elated about bringing it to Amazon Music listeners two weeks early.”

    Addressing the association, Film Companion founder and editor Anupama Chopra said, “I’m absolutely thrilled to be back at Cannes, capturing the glory of the movies at one of the most prestigious events in the film industry. We look forward to bringing Amazon Music listeners access to the magic of the interviews and coverage of the Cannes Film Festival 2024 through our podcasts. With an incredible lineup of guests and insights into the world of cinema, this year promises to be truly unforgettable. So, tune in to ‘Film Companion at Cannes’24’ on Amazon Music and join us as we dive into the heart of cinematic excellence!”

    ‘Film Companion at Cannes’24’ Podcast is now streaming on Amazon Music!
     

  • PVR INOX to re-release Subhash Ghai’s directorial ‘Karma’

    PVR INOX to re-release Subhash Ghai’s directorial ‘Karma’

    Mumbai: PVR INOX Ltd, India’s premier multiplex chain, is re-relasing the iconic Subhash Ghai’s directorial film ‘Karma’ from 2 to 8 February 2024. The movie will be screening in 43 cinemas in 19 cities across the country. Ticket prices for this cult movie begin at ₹112, and bookings can be made through the PVR INOX app or website and BMS and PayTM platforms. The film, known for its iconic dialogues and mesmerising songs, features a stellar cast of Bollywood icons such as Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Dilip Kumar, Sridevi, and Naseeruddin Shah, among others.

    Expressing his excitement on the re-release of Karma at PVR INOX, director, Subhash Ghai said, “Let me start by expressing my heartfelt appreciation for PVR INOX, as they have decided to re-release an iconic movie like ‘Karma’ from my filmography. I would love to invite our new audiences to connect and watch this movie on the big screens for a larger-than-life cinematic experience, showcasing the beautiful depiction of characters in this action-drama genre, along with the use of the iconic song ‘Aye Watan Tere Liye,’ which touched millions of hearts. It was specially designed for big screens in the 80s when audiences turned their faces away from small video screens. We have received a lot of unconditional love and support in a big way from north to south in bringing back the larger-than-life movie experience. Please do enjoy Karma, a motion picture from my heart as a filmmaker. A heartfelt thank you to PVR INOX once again. See you at the cinemas!”

  • JioCinema launches Digital Film Festival starting 29 September!

    JioCinema launches Digital Film Festival starting 29 September!

    Mumbai: JioCinema, a streaming destination is all set to launch a digital film festival, JioCinema Film Fest, starting 29 September. The festival is an incredible cinematic celebration that will bring together Kala, Kalakaar aur anokhi Kahaniyaan, through 20 remarkable films across 20 days. These captivating and award-winning stories will bring together a distinguished repertoire of artists such as Nawazuddin Siddique, Naseeruddin Shah, Ira Dubey, Supriya Pathak, Sheeba Chaddha, Amit Sadh, Satish Kaushik, Rajat Kapoor, and Adah Sharma amongst others.

    A celebration of India’s rich storytelling, JioCinema Film Fest includes a robust line-up of films such as The Comedian that will throw light on an ageing comedic actor in the Indian film industry who has no laughter left in his life and Birha (The Journey Back Home), a winner at multiple international film festivals that describes the heart-wrenching story of a family that tears apart due to the unjustified ambitions of a young child.  Other films in the line-up include Ghuspaith: Between Borders, which inspired by the life and tragic death of renowned Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui; Rat in the Kitchen, a Neo-Noir Thriller is a story of a man going through loneliness and witnessing surreal experiences while being home alone; Bebaak is a gripping film about a woman’s identity crisis as a Muslim woman in India, trying to make her place in a prejudice-ridden world. Set in an Indian town under curfew, The Daughter is a film about a young woman who sets out in search of a man who can help her carry out an act that will test her limits.

    In addition to this, the film festival boasts of some exceptional stories that include Ring Mili Kya, Munna Ka Bachpan, Laar, Mein Mehmood, Gangster Ganga, Armaand, Maachis Ki Dibiya, Phone Call, Murakh (The Idiot), Before We Die, Dammy, The Last Envelope, Coming Out with the help of a Time Machine and Kofuku.

    Witness the magic of films, starting 29 September streaming exclusively on JioCinema Film Fest. 

  • Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films presents Man Woman Man Woman

    Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films presents Man Woman Man Woman

    Mumbai: Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films in association with Motley Movies and Trigger Productions announced the release of their latest short film titled ‘Man Woman Man Woman’ today. Written and directed by the legendary actor-filmmaker Naseeruddin Shah, the 26-minute film presents a unique story of love and companionship across two generations. Starring Ratna Pathak Shah, Tarun Dhanrajgir, Saba Azad and Vivaan Shah, the film aptly depicts the complexities of relationships in the modern world.

    Set in contemporary times, ‘Man Woman Man Woman’ unravels a seemingly complex plot in a light-hearted manner. It navigates the dating lives of two couples who have a lot in common but eventually find themselves at a crossroads. As their stories unfold, the film captures the essence of unconditional love, romantic and familial, that charms the viewer in more ways than one. Ultimately, following a series of funny coincidences, the film delivers a profound message that is not unheard of yet extraordinary: love conquers all.

    Speaking about the film, writer-director Naseeruddin Shah shared, “I am very glad to be releasing my short film with Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films. ‘Man Woman Man Woman’ is a story of love, sans conditions. It is an attempt to show how uncomplicated relationships can be when love is the guiding light. I hope the audience finds some inspiration in it.”

    Actor Ratna Pathak Shah said, “Naseer had a clear vision about how he wants the story to unfold and we all had a wonderful time working towards that vision. ‘Man Woman Man Woman’ is a beautiful depiction of the unconventional dynamics in modern-day relationships. I loved being a part of it.”

    Actor Tarun Dhanrajgir added, “Together with a stellar cast and the Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films banner, I had a wonderful experience working on this film. It is a unique love story told through the lens of the brilliant actor-director Naseeruddin Shah. I’m sure the audience will love it.”

    Actress Saba Azad said, “Working with Naseer saab as my director and Ratna ma’am as my on-screen mother was a dream come true. While his guidance allowed me to understand my character in a nuanced manner, her grace helped me be at ease on set. Needless to say, being a part this film and the Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films platform has been a truly memorable experience.”

    Actor Vivaan Shah said, “This film is extra special because it’s been directed by my father and my mother was one of my co-actors! Nothing beats that. It’s a beautiful film featuring some of the most beautiful actors and even more beautiful characters. Kudos to Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films for promoting creativity and originality in storytelling. I can’t wait to see the viewers’ reaction.”

    ‘Man Woman Man Woman’ will premier exclusively on Royal Stag Barrel Select’s Large Short Films YouTube Channel, a platform to watch the most original and inspiring short films featuring some of the finest actors and directors in India.

  • ShortsTV opens entries for Best of India Short Film Festival

    ShortsTV opens entries for Best of India Short Film Festival

    Mumbai: ShortsTV, a 24×7 linear and OTT HD channel dedicated to short form video entertainment has announced the fifth edition of Best of India Short Film Festival. Aimed at providing global recognition to the works of Indian film makers, the festival gives winners the opportunity for Oscar consideration, a Hollywood theatrical release, and television broadcast deal with ShortsTV.

    The previous editions saw an overwhelming response with 2000+ entries every season and participation from Bollywood’s leading actors and directors including Prakash Jha, Vidya Balan, Naseeruddin Shah, Jackie Shroff, Radhika Apte, and Neena Kulkarni among others.

    Top five films shortlisted from the entries will win a theatrical release in Hollywood, while also qualifying for Oscar consideration. Additionally, they will be eligible for a television broadcast deal on ShortsTV. Leading up to the finale week, the festival will screen top 15 films for two days on ShortsTV.

    ShortsTV chief executive Carter Pilcher said, “2022 will be the year of Short films, and we are excited to launch the fifth edition of the Best of India Short film festival. This festival is the bedrock of our international hunt for the world’s finest short filmmakers and last year’s worldwide winner ‘Highway Nights’ came right here from India. This year we’re expecting even more exciting films and are excited to launch the careers of more great filmmakers.”

    “Short films are fast emerging as the preferred mode of entertainment for viewers across the globe. ShortsTV has always endeavoured to champion filmmakers and this festival has been helping Indian filmmakers to showcase their creativity to audiences across the globe. With the fifth edition of Best of India Short Film Festival, we are excited to bring together India’s best short films on a single platform and making their presence bigger than ever,” added ShortsTV president – Asia and festival director Tarun Sawhney.

    To be eligible for the competition entries need to be ‘narrative’ live action short films with a total running time of 40 minutes or less. It is necessary for either the writer, director or producer to be from India. The film should be presented in High Definition (HD) or DCP format. All films in a regional language (other than English) must include English subtitles. The last date for submission is 30 April, said the statement.

  • Zee5 inks multi-show partnership with Applause Entertainment

    Zee5 inks multi-show partnership with Applause Entertainment

    Mumbai: Streaming platform Zee5 has announced a strategic partnership with content and IP studio Applause Entertainment, a venture of Aditya Birla Group for a multi-show association. The two content companies will collaborate to create a robust original content slate of new Zee5 originals in Hindi across genres to entertain viewers across the globe.

    The first offering as part of the partnership is titled “Kaun Banegi Shikharwati’”– a dramedy series with a unique take on a dysfunctional royal family. The show will be produced by Applause Entertainment in association with Emmay Entertainment and directed by Gauravv Chawla and Ananya Banerjee. The original will premiere exclusively on Zee5 in January 2022.

    “Over the last four years, Applause has created a diverse slate of content and explored stories across genres, languages, and geographies. We are thrilled that our first outing with Zee5 is with Kaun Banegi Shikarwati, a light-hearted, heart-warming dramedy that is both quirky and delightful and boasts a stellar cast of actors. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with Zee5 and help contribute in a small way to their global ambition,” said Applause Entertainment CEO Sameer Nair.

    Zeel president-content and international markets Punit Misra said, “Zee5’s content design principles centre around intimately knowing our viewers and building a bouquet of engaging and entertaining offerings for our multiple consumer cohorts. While Consumer Intimacy is at the heart of our content creation philosophy, our Content Creator Partners are the other crucial pillar in our approach.”

    “In 2021, Zee5 has made a concerted effort to associate with premium content creators across languages and genres, a move that has enabled us to inch closer to our overall vision of ‘Entertainment inclusion’,” said Zee5 India chief business officer Manish Kalra. “Applause Entertainment has had a strong record of creating some of the most popular shows of recent times and with this association, Zee5 is confident of enriching our content slate even further.”

    The move is in line with Zee5’s content-first approach of forging more partnerships within the creative ecosystem to build a diverse slate of originals and movies. The platform had earlier sealed partnerships with TVF (The Viral Fever), Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Nitesh Tiwari, and Red Chillies Entertainment to deliver several new shows across the digital entertainment ecosystem.

    “Kaun Banegi Shikharwati’” features a spectacular cast of renowned Bollywood faces, including Naseeruddin Shah essaying the role of a King while Lara Dutta Bhupathi, Soha Ali Khan, Kritika Kamra, Anya Singh play his daughters, and Raghubir Yadav, Cyrus Sahukar, Varun Thakur and Anurag Sinha play key roles.

     

     
     
     

     
     
     
     
     

     
     

     
     
     

     
     

    A post shared by ZEE5 (@zee5)

     

    Elaborating on the new show, Emmay Entertainment producer Nikkhil Advani said, “Kaun Banegi Shikarwati offers a quintessential story of Indian families that’s replete with oddities and conflicts. But at the core of it, lies unfiltered emotions that are sure to resonate strongly with the masses.”

    Zee5 chief creative officer- Hindi Originals Nimisha Pandey said there is an increasing need for family-viewing content in a post-pandemic era and a multi-dimensional drama like “Kaun Banegi Shikharwati’” works beautifully in that aspect. “We hope that the audience enjoys the roller coaster of emotions with this series,” she added.