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Tag: Prakash Jha

  • Bobby Deol is back with Ek Badnaam Aashram new season

    Bobby Deol is back with Ek Badnaam Aashram new season

    MUMBAI: The wait is almost over, Ek Badnaam Aashram is back, and this time, the stakes are higher than ever. With the second part of Season 3 set to premiere soon on Amazon MX Player, fans can brace themselves for even more drama, betrayal, and dark secrets than before. The series, one of India’s most-watched ott shows, has been a defining force in storytelling, with national award-winning director Prakash Jha steering the ship.

    The teaser, which dropped recently, has set the internet on fire, teasing Baba Nirala’s return to power, the unshakeable loyalty of his followers, and the simmering tensions within his inner circle. Bobby Deol returns as the notorious Baba Nirala, leading an all-star cast that includes Aaditi Pohankar, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Tridha Choudhury, Darshan Kumaar, Vikram Kochhar, Anupriya Goenka, Rajeev Siddhartha, and Esha Gupta. As old secrets and betrayals threaten to destroy everything, the new chapter promises to be gripping, thrilling, and unpredictable.

    The use of the iconic Duniya Mein Logon Ko soundtrack from Saregama adds another layer of suspense to the teaser, perfectly setting the tone for what promises to be an unforgettable season. The new chapter of the saga will focus on Pammi and Bhopa, as rivalries get more intense and revenge and redemption take centre stage.

    Amazon MX Player content head Amogh Dusad said, “Ek Badnaam Aashram has truly redefined storytelling in the digital space. With its hard-hitting narrative and compelling characters, it has captured the pulse of the audience. With new episodes coming soon, we’re pushing the envelope further with an explosive chapter that explores unchecked power and its consequences.”

    Reflecting on his role as Baba Nirala, Deol added, “The journey of Baba Nirala has been incredible, and the love this franchise has received is overwhelming. This time, the stakes are higher, the drama is bolder, and the secrets darker. I can’t wait for audiences to witness the next chapter of this story.”

    Jha further added, “Ek Badnaam Aashram has held up a mirror to society, exposing the dark intersections of faith, power, and exploitation. In the new season, we’re peeling back more layers, delving into the psychological grip of influence, and showcasing the thirst for control—where morality is often compromised.”

    The new season will stream exclusively on Amazon MX Player, available for free on mobile apps, Amazon’s shopping app, Prime Video, Fire TV, and connected TVs. Fans can expect to be hooked as the drama unfolds over the next five episodes, ensuring they won’t be able to look away.

  • MX Player wins ‘Best OTT platform award’ at Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence 2022

    MX Player wins ‘Best OTT platform award’ at Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence 2022

    Mumbai: India’s largest advertising supported video on demand (AVoD) OTT platform MX Player received three awards at the recently held Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Awards 2022 for the platform and its original series Aashram. 

    While MX Player was awarded the Best OTT Platform, Prakash Jha was awarded the Best Director for web-series Aashram and Chandan Roy Sanyal was given the Best Supporting Actor Award for his portrayal as Bhopa Swami in Aashram. 

    Operating on an ad-supported model, MX Player has a large and diverse audience base in India and a global reach of 33+ markets and a keen understanding of the pulse of the audience. It has recently launched several record-breaking web-series like Aashram, Bhaukaal Matsya Kaand, Samantar, High and Campus Diaries. 

    MX Player is the only OTT platform to deploy H.266 technology that cuts down video streaming data consumption into half. According to the App Annie State of Mobile Report -2022, in terms of the downloads in video streaming, MX Player ranks #2 in India and #6 Worldwide.

    MX Player chief operating officer Nikhil Gandhi said, “At MX Player, we believe that relevant and strong narratives have the ability to provoke thought and entertain audiences at the same time. Winning the Best OTT platform and winning two more awards for our successful series Aashram reaffirms our belief. Thank you, Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Awards 2022, for the honour in recognising our work in bringing hugely appreciated stories for our audiences in India, and across the world. Our congratulations to Prakash Jha and Chandan Roy Sanyal on their respective wins too.”

    MX Player launched the third season of Aashram on 3 June 2022. With all the quintessential requisites of an entertaining show that combines politics, crime, and drama, Ek Badnaam… Aashram 3 revolves around the meteoric rise of godmen in India and how the masses blindly follow them in the name of religion. Beating its record of the previous two seasons, the latest season 3 garnered 100 million views within 32 hours of its release. Directed by Prakash Jha, the series features an ensemble cast comprising Bobby Deol, Aaditi Pohankar, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Darshan Kumaar, Esha Gupta, Sachin Shroff, Adhyayan Suman, Tridha Choudhury, Vikram Kochhar, Anuritta K Jha, Rushad Rana, Tanmaay Ranjan, Preeti Sood, Rajeev Siddhartha, Anupriya Goenka and Jaya Seal Ghosh in pivotal roles.

    The Best Director award was received by Prakash Jha Productions (PJP) CEO Sunil Agarwal, PJP creative head Madhvi Bhatt and PJP producer Disha Jha. 

    On winning the Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Awards 2022 Best Director for the series Aashram, Prakash Jha said, “I feel truly honoured to be given Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Awards 2022 for Best Director for web series Aashram. It was indeed a pleasure working with the team of MX Player who supported us throughout all our decisions. Unfortunately, I cannot personally come and receive it due to unavoidable reasons. I would like to thank the Jury for considering me and giving me this award.”

    Chandan Roy Sanyal won the Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Awards 2022 Best Actor in Supporting Role for the series, Aashram. On receiving the award, Chandan said, “This is my first award ever, and it is because of all your support and blessings of our ‘Father of Indian Cinema,’ Dadasaheb Phalke, that today I am standing here in front of you all. It is such a great feeling to receive an award like this. I would like to thank the team of MX Player, our director Prakash Jha Sir, Bobby Deol, and the entire team present here today who believed in me and showered me with their blessings and love.”

    Dedicated to the ‘Father of Indian Cinema’, the Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Awards is given to the entertainment industry every year to recognise outstanding contributions in different categories. Celebrating the 151th Anniversary year of Dadasaheb Phalke this year, the 18th edition of the awards ceremony held in Mumbai had reputed producers, directors, actors, writers, musicians, technicians, distributors, exhibitors and studio owners from OTT, TV and films grace the event and be recognised for their work.

  • MX Player’s ‘Ek Badnaam…Aashram 3’ fastest growing show on Indian OTT; gets 100 mn views

    MX Player’s ‘Ek Badnaam…Aashram 3’ fastest growing show on Indian OTT; gets 100 mn views

    Mumbai: MX Original series Ek Badnaam… Aashram 3, produced and directed by industry stalwart Prakash Jha, has been breaking records since its release. The series has been a huge success. The first two seasons of the show were hugely popular among viewers, which made it probably the most-watched television show on Indian OTT. However, the recent third season, Ek Badnaam…Aashram 3, has been equally successful in entering the 100 million viewership club within just 32 hours of its release, becoming the fastest-growing show on Indian OTT so far.

    With each passing season, the series appears to be setting new standards. Aashram’s first two seasons had a total viewership of around 160 million unique users. In addition, within six hours of the season three trailer’s release, the show was trending at number one on YouTube in India. Season three has received unprecedented love and appreciation from audiences. Since its release on 3 June 2022, the plot and characters have been the talk of the town.

    The series features an ensemble cast comprising Bobby Deol, Aaditi Pohankar, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Darshan Kumaar, Anupriya Goenka, Esha Gupta, Sachin Shroff, Adhyayan Suman, Tridha Choudhury, Vikram Kochhar, Anuritta K Jha, Rushad Rana, Tanmaay Ranjan, Preeti Sood, Rajeev Siddhartha and Jaya Seal Ghosh.

    Aashram is a show that highlights the life of a megalomaniac Baba Nirala. In this season, Kashipur Waale Baba Nirala has become fearless and his lust for power has been accentuated, making him unstoppable. He believes to be above all and thinks he’s God. The power of aashram is at its peak. This badnaam aashram continues to exploit women, and indulge in drugs and illegal activities to gain power and position in society. On the other hand, Pammi is having sleepless nights to seek revenge from Bhagwaan Nirala.

    Speaking of the success, MX Media chief content officer Gautam Talwar said, “At MX Player, our aim is to always offer path-breaking narratives. We encourage storytellers to showcase authentic stories that build strong resonance with our audiences, strengthening our promise of entertaining and keeping viewers engaged. ‘Ek Badnaam…Aashram 3‘, as a series, has scaled up our viewership and is testimony to that. Season two had 50 million in less than 17 hours and season three crossed 100 million in just 32 hours of the series launch. We will continue creating powerful engaging content and thank our audiences for their unwavering appreciation.”

    Producer and director Prakash Jha said, “We are incredibly proud of Aashram and all the seasons that we’ve released so far. The viewers have once again shown their love and we are humbled by their response. The entire cast and crew have worked tirelessly and we’re happy that we’ve had great support from MX Player and look forward to our future associations too. We thank our viewers for their unwavering support.”

  • Prakash Jha talks about filmmaking and his OTT debut at Goafest 2022

    Prakash Jha talks about filmmaking and his OTT debut at Goafest 2022

    MUMBAI: During the Goafest 2022, Indian film producer, director and screenwriter, Prakash Jha talked about foraying into films and OTT from documentaries. He shared his thoughts on his journey and experiences in the entertainment industry.

    In a conversation with film critic Mayank Shekhar during the session titled “From Films to OTT” hosted by MX Player, Jha emphasised that filmmaking is a complete package for him. From sound recording and screenwriting to placing the lights, he takes a keen interest in everything that comes with filmmaking.

    His renowned works include Mrityudand, Gangajal, Apharan, Rajneeti, Chakravyuh, Aarakshan, Satyagrah, Aashram. Jha made his web series debut on OTT with the medium’s most-watched series, Aashram. The series’ 3rd season is slated to launch soon on MX Player.

    Jha also spoke of how he realized very early on in his career that acting is the most important part, and he should be able to communicate with the actors in their language.

    So, he started attending acting workshops by the best teachers in the world. He took workshops across Vienna, Amsterdam, London, Paris, Los Angeles and New York. He said, “I would quietly go and enrol myself as a student. And that’s how I understood an actor’s language. I have performed Shakespeare and other plays in classes, which gave me a lot of confidence.”

    But he exposed Indian actors saying, “I was disgusted with actors working here in India. They don’t know what acting is about. Till date, no actor has asked me questions about shoot days, shoot timings, locations, action sequences and more. And that’s the difference between Hollywood actors and Bollywood ones. The actors there attend workshops and keep on practising and improving their art.”

    Prakash Jha also stated that he keeps practising too as he enjoys the process and feels it’s much needed to keep the craft intact and will soon be seen in a lead role as an actor.

  • 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.

  • The Q to premiere MX original show ‘Aashram’ on TV

    The Q to premiere MX original show ‘Aashram’ on TV

    Mumbai: The Q has partnered with MX Player to bring its critically and commercially successful original series “Aashram” to television. The first season of the show will air on 11 October at 8:30 p.m from Monday to Friday followed by the second season.

    Directed by Prakash Jha, the crime thriller features Bobby Deol, Tridha Choudhury, Aditi Sudhir Pohankar and Anupriya Goenka in the lead roles.

    “Great content does wonders irrespective of its platform. Having understood the pulse of our viewers, we at The Q continue to make efforts in bringing content that is strong, and unique with a compelling and relevant plot and storyline,” said The Q chief executive officer Simran Hoon. “Airing Aashram on TV is in sync with our strategy to bring the best from digital to TV.  We will continue to pioneer such initiatives to help strengthen The Q’s position in the industry while being the preferred entertainment destination for viewers across India.”

    Inspired by true events, “Aashram” was launched in 2020 and revolves around the story of Baba Nirala, an actual conman who ensures that his devotees or followers devote their wealth to him and stay attached to his aashram.

    “Aashram unfolds a great story and given its relevance in today’s day and age, it is sure to strike the right chord with our viewers,” said The Q programming head Tanya Shukla. “Television is a medium that brings families together and by bringing a high-end limited series on television, we aim to provide our viewers with the most engaging form of entertainment. We will continue bringing such compelling stories from the digital world for our discerning viewers.”

  • Bigger, darker and stronger – Aashram Chapter 2 breaks records with 500% higher streams on Day 1 when compared to its first outing

    Bigger, darker and stronger – Aashram Chapter 2 breaks records with 500% higher streams on Day 1 when compared to its first outing

    Mumbai: 12 November, 2020: Having clocked ~ 450Mn streams in the 2.5 months since its release and becoming one of the biggest web shows in the Indian OTT ecosystem, Aashram has returned amidst heightened anticipation with Aashram Chapter 2 – The Dark Side that launched on MX Player yesterday. This second edition has broken records from the word go and has emerged as a runaway hit for the free to use platform. When compared to its first outing, Chapter 2 has witnessed a massive 500% higher streams on Day 1 and is performing exceedingly well on the platform – on every metric. 

    Speaking about the first day reaction, Prakash Jha said, “It seems like the characters and the events fictionalised in the story resonates the experience of people in real life. They definitely have connected to the emotions of the story and that has translated into this massive viewership. Working with MX Player and its team has been a wonderful experience and I look forward to continuing it.”

    Bobby Deol added saying, “After Part 1, we were all excited yet nervous about the launch of Chapter 2. We’ve all put in great efforts and I am overwhelmed by the response. My character has really been greatly appreciated by the audiences and this is a huge encouragement for me.”

    “It is always great to see a content piece you have created to be so widely appreciated. Aashram Part 1 had gone on to break all records and now with Chapter 2 opening with such great numbers, we believe it is set on a similar path of success”, concludes Gautam Talwar, Chief Content Officer, MX Player.

    Coupled with an intriguing narrative, the well-rounded marketing campaign for this crime drama, including impactful print ads, OOH, social & digital experiences, PR and performance marketing has driven the show to achieve such great numbers on Day 1. 

    Watch the series NOW, exclusively on MX Player: https://bit.ly/AashramChapter2 
     

  • Saare Jahan Se Achha web show hosted by Prakash Jha

    Saare Jahan Se Achha web show hosted by Prakash Jha

    Prakash Jha is all set to host a web show titled Saare Jahan Se Achha. The series will showcase the lives of ordinary individuals who try to create a change in the lives of many through their efforts.

    “I am full of gratitude after interacting with the common people who went out of their way to make a change in the lives of other people around them without any expectations in return. Sometimes small contributions make a big impact and it is essential that the story of these people is told; so that the positivity spreads.” Said Prakash Jha speaking on the occasion.

    Debutant Director Prakash Bhardwaj commenting on the occasion said; “In an atmosphere when there is so much negativity floating around us in Social Media and News, we were in dire need of something that will make us proud of our fellow citizens and their efforts that help us lead a better life. When the concept was narrated, Prakash sir readily agreed to host it.”

    Mzee Singh who was the CEO of the production house; which last produced Sanjay Dutt’s comeback film Bhoomi is producing the web show. “It’s a pleasure and honor to work with a veteran like Prakash Prakash Jha. Digital is the medium of the future. We are looking at creating a series of 52 such inspiring  films, once this is released.”

  • Hinduja Group’s Ashish Kaul joins Prakash Jha Productions as CEO

    MUMBAI: Prakash Jha Productions has appointed the media and entertainment vet Ashish Kaul as the CEO for its television and digital business.

    Kaul has taken up this role after being the business head for IN Entertainment India Limited, the digital cable broadcasting & content business of Hinduja Group. He had joined the group in 2012 as the vice-president.

    Kaul has over 23 years of experience in leadership roles across managing businesses across entertainment, news, ITES, retail and consumer goods. He has served in executive governance roles with conglomerates such as the Essel Group / Zee Network, Credence International, BAG Films, Bajaj Herbals and Golden Medias. He was also the CEO for Association of Motion Pictures & TV Programme Producers in India.

    Prakash Jha Productions is a brand incorporated by the well-known director of topical cinema Prakash Jha, to take his unique brand ‘Cinema with Power’ forward.

    Prakash Jha Productions has been synonymous with the production of quality films for over 20 years. He is a multiple award-winning filmmaker known nationally and internationally for his critically acclaimed and popular films including Amitabh Bachchan starters Satyagraha & Aarakshan, and Raajneeti, Apaharan, Gangaajal, Mrityudand, Parinati and Damul as well as award-winning documentaries such as Sonal, Faces After The Storm, Kudiattam, and Looking Back. Other feature productions include Rahul (2001), Dil Kya Kare (1999) and Hip Hip Hurray (1983).

    Confirming the news to Indiantelevision.com, Kaul said, “Television and digital media is a sunrise industry with tremendous potential of reach and value for the advertisers. I believe the approach to content production and management for television and digital space is not yet understood by the industry and I believe Prakash Jha Productions will be that catalyst of change. Personally, I would like to bring in a collaborative effort to content creation that delivers reach, popularity and ultimately value to the advertisers.”

  • Box Office: Gangaajal disappoints, Neerja holds ground in second week

    Box Office: Gangaajal disappoints, Neerja holds ground in second week

    MUMBAI: Prakash Jha trying to cash in on his 2003 film Gangaajal comes a cropper. The film relates in no way to the earlier film, nor does it refer to any jal in its tedious 148 minute narration. Using the face and popularity of Priyanka Chopra as a front, surprisingly, producer-director Prakash Jhahas launched himself as an actor at a rather late stage of his life. So much so that Priyanka is relegated to play second fiddle to Jha’s character. Jha also does not care too much for known faces of the supporting cast, mainly the villains, in his outdated local bahubalistory of Bihar. 

    Expectantly, the film opened to a poor response and unfavourable word of mouth kept its collections restricted on Saturday and Sunday with little improvement. Despite facing no major film in opposition, Gangaajalended its opening weekend collecting a mere Rs15.5 crore.

    Zubaan, another release of the week, just passed unnoticed.

    Aligarhfellprey to its negative theme which amounts to torture at the multiplex admission rates. Acceptance of a film by the audience depends solely on the identification the audience finds with the story. In the case of Aligarh, there is none. The film collected just Rs 2.1 crore for its first week.

    Tere Bin Laden: Dead Or Alive is still born. A total let down compared to its first version, the film managed just Rs2.85 crore in its first week.

    Bollywood Diarieswas poor at just about Rs40 lakh in its first week. 

    Neerja held its ground in its second week. Entertainment Tax exemption in various states along with total positive word of mouth has helped. It is rare for such a heroine oriented biopic to collect about 67 per cent of its opening week figures. The film has added a handsome Rs 20.85 crore in its second week thus taking its two week total to Rs 55.05 crore. This recovery from just the film’s domestic theatrical market is remarkable considering its all-inclusive cost of Rs 21 crore. 

    Sanam Re collected Rs 20 lakh in its third week to take its three week total to Rs28.3 crore.

    Airlift added Rs35 lakh in its fourth week to take its total to Rs 126.05 crore.