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Tag: Ramesh Sippy

  • News18 Showsha Reel Awards stars shine bright

    News18 Showsha Reel Awards stars shine bright

    MUMBAI: The News18 Showsha Reel Awards 2025 celebrated the best of film and OTT at a glamorous event in Mumbai, bringing together the industry’s finest. Hosted by actor Arjun Kapoor, the evening recognised outstanding talent and storytelling across films and web series, with a star-studded red carpet.

    The event drew a collection of prominent figures, including Janhvi Kapoor, Raveena Tandon, Jaideep Ahlawat, Abhishek Bachchan, Aditi Rao Hydari, Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Ramesh Sippy, Salim Khan, Ravi Kishan, Jyothika, Riteish Deshmukh, Yami Gautam, Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi, Kabir Khan, Raj & DK, and Sonu Nigam. Nikhita Gandhi’s live performance added to the night’s vibrant atmosphere.

    Rajkummar and Janhvi received the Best Actor and Best Actress (Popular Choice) awards, while Dhawan and Samantha won Best Actor and Best Actress (OTT). Ahlawat and Hydari were also recognised for their OTT performances. Rising Star Awards went to Raghav Juyal and Pratibha Ranta. Pankaj Tripathi was named Entertainer of the Year.

    Abhishek, upon receiving Best Actor (jury), remarked, “This is actually my first-ever Best Actor Award. I’d like to thank the esteemed jury it’s an honour that you find me worthy of this award. But the credit for this performance has to go entirely to Shoojit (Sircar) Da. He’s made such a wonderful film.”

    Hydari, winner of the OTT Star of the Year (Female) award, shared, “This one is very special. Heeramandi is very special. My director Sanjay sir is very special. I love him dearly. I am because of my directors and I hope I will continue to be because of them. Every single ad on set, every single human being on set, every single four-legged puppy on set, everybody was part of that universe, and it really made those years that we spent shooting. I can’t be more grateful.”

    Kabir won Best Director for Chandu Champion, and Stree 2 won Best Film. Sippy and Salim were honoured with the Reel Legend Award. Raj & DK and Sonu Nigam also received awards.

    The jury, comprising Sachin Pilgaonkar, Madhur Bhandarkar, Mukesh Chhabra, Tavishi Paitandy, Lilette Dubey, and Shabana Azmi, ensured a fair selection process.

    Indian Language News18 and Local18 (TV & digital) chief executive officer Mitul Sangani said, “At News18, we take immense pride in recognizing exceptional talent across diverse formats, and genres. The News18 Showsha Reel Awards 2025 stands as a beacon of creative excellence, bringing together the best of Indian entertainment celebrating both mainstream and regional storytelling. We congratulate all the winners who have captivated audiences with their outstanding performances and storytelling.”

    English & Business News, Network18 CEO Smriti Mehra added, “The News18 Showsha Reel Awards 2025 is a testament to the power of storytelling and the impact of cinema and OTT on audiences worldwide. As the entertainment landscape continues to evolve, we are proud to recognise the artists and creators who challenge conventions and craft unforgettable narratives.”

  • KIFF to celebrate Rajesh Khanna’s cinematic journey

    KIFF to celebrate Rajesh Khanna’s cinematic journey

    Mumbai: The Khajuraho International Film Festival (KIFF), organised by Prayaas Production in collaboration with the government of Madhya Pradesh, is an Indian film festival at a UNESCO World Heritage site. After nine successful editions, it is set for its tenth edition from 5 to 11 December 2024. KIFF offers a diverse lineup of films, showcasing fan favorites and innovative releases.

    This year’s festival will honor the lifetime achievements of the late Padma Bhushan Rajesh Khanna, featuring a special showcase of his iconic films.

    “Rajesh Khanna’s impact on Indian cinema is immeasurable, and as we mark the 10th edition of KIFF, it is only fitting that we honour his legacy with this special tribute,” shared KIFF founding member Sushmita Mukherjee.

    Alongside this tribute, KIFF will screen a mix of international, regional, and parallel cinema, providing a vibrant experience for attendees. The governing council includes Boney Kapoor, Manmohan Shetty, Ramesh Sippy, and Prahlad Kakkar. The festival will celebrate Khanna’s legacy through screenings of his famous dialogues like ‘Babumoshai, Zindagi badi honi chahiye, lambi nahin’ and ‘Pushpa, I hate tears,’ along with panel discussions and musical performances.

    Actor and KIFF founder & chairperson Raja Bundela said, “We look forward to bringing an immersive cinematic experience to our audience this year. We are extremely excited about the lineup of regional, national, and international films that will be screened this year.”

    The festival expects 8,000 to 10,000 attendees daily, totaling around 75,000 over seven days. Aspiring filmmakers and actors will also participate in masterclasses and workshops. KIFF showcases Indian and international cinema while highlighting regional and folk talent. This edition will feature personalities like Anurag Anand, Laura Weissbecker, Mustafa Ozgun, Rajat Bedi, and Wilma Elles.

    KIFF promises a blend of nostalgia and fresh cinematic experiences, making it a must-attend for film enthusiasts. Get ready for seven days packed with Anand in Rajesh Khanna’s Andaaz!

  • Rohan Sippy & Nilesh Sahay collaborate on festival-themed action comedy

    Rohan Sippy & Nilesh Sahay collaborate on festival-themed action comedy

    Mumbai: Director Rohan Sippy and Actor and filmmaker Nilesh Sahay have joined forces to create a highly anticipated holiday action comedy, titled “Iss Diwali.”

    Sippy, who has directed films such as “Nautanki Saala,” “Dum Maaro Dum,” and “Bluffmaster,” will be collaborating with Sahay, who earlier wrote, produced and directed the film “Squad” starring Rinzing Denzongpa. This exciting new venture is a thrilling holiday action comedy that unfolds during the festive season of Diwali, set against the backdrop of political intrigue.

    The film is presented by industry veterans Ramesh Sippy and Zaheeda and is produced by Rohan Sippy, Roopa De Choudhury,  Brajesh Sahaya and Nilesh Sahay. Casting for “Iss Diwali” is currently in progress, with announcements to be made in due course.

    “I’ve loved watching films that feature chemistry between charismatic leads, from Do Aur Do Paanch & Ram Balram to Main Khiladi Tu Anaari & the original Bade Miyaan Chote Miyaan, and later making films like Bluffmaster and Taxi No 9 2 11… so it is very exciting to take Iss Diwali forward which continues this tradition, with the magic & emotion of our most important family festival adding to the genre’s appeal” said Rohan Sippy.

    “There’s nothing better than to celebrate the holidays with an amazing family entertainer and ‘Iss Diwali’ promises just that along with tackling a major issue in today’s society. When I wrote the film I knew Rohan would be the absolute best person to make it, as he has handled edgy light entertainers fantastically. We will bring in action that will be created for all age groups of audiences where they will be thrilled, entertained and engaged. Iss Diwali is gonna be one hell of a ride for cinegoers I promise you that” added Nilesh Sahay

  • “India is amongst the largest content hub”: Ficci DG Arun Chawla

    “India is amongst the largest content hub”: Ficci DG Arun Chawla

    Mumbai: Ficci Frames is back in 2022. The two-day convention kicked off on 27 September at the Westin in Mumbai. The event focused on creating content and its consumption by eminent media and entertainment industry leaders.

    Ficci Frames Fast Track had plenary and parallel sessions along with workshops and master-classes on issues and topics covering the entire gamut of media and entertainment like films, broadcast (TV & radio), digital entertainment, animation, gaming, visual effects, etc. over a period of two days.

    While giving a welcome address, Ficci director general Arun Chawla remarked that the media has shown resilience and will continue to grow. He said, “According to the Ficci report, India’s M&E industry will grow 17 per cent this year (to $25.2 billion) and try to recover its level from the 2019 pre-pandemic level and maintain a CAGR of 11 per cent. The industry is trying to reach $30.9 billion. This indicates a strong growth rate. India is amongst the largest content producers. Approximately 1,50, 000 hours of TV content, 2,500 hours of premium OTT content, and 2,000 hours of filmed content will be produced in 2021.”

    In his opening remarks, Chawla discussed how the media and entertainment industries not only survived but also kept the country’s morale high by providing entertainment while the rest of the world was suffering from the pandemic.

    He said, “India’s media and entertainment market is one of the most vibrant and diverse groups. Media and entertainment industries have come a long way and are contributing to the GDP of this country. We have over 900 TV channels, more than 1,44,000 print publications, and more than 385 private radio stations. Showing immense resilience, the industry is back on its feet but still must overcome its pre-pandemic level.”

    Chawla further added, “We are all aware of India’s digital transformation. It has caused the number and importance of online media platforms to rise dramatically. The government has actively supported the M&E industry, particularly through several initiatives to increase digitization and the creation of digital communication infrastructure.

    The ministry of information & broadcasting secretary Apurva Chandra, said that the media and entertainment industry in India is about $23 billion. He also talked about setting up a film facilitation office and working with Invest India to build a single-window portal for opening theatres. We were also informed about proposed amends to the Cinematograph Act.

    Also Read : We should aim for the M&E industry to grow more than $100 bn by 2030: I&B secretary at Ficci Frames Fast Track’ 22

    Actor Ranveer Singh, who enthralled the audience with his infectious energy, was awarded the ‘Frames Achiever of the Year’ at the event.

    On receiving the award, Singh stated, “Collectively coming out of a very difficult time, I hope that we crack great ideas at Ficci Fast Track in the rapidly changing hyper-dynamic world. I deliberately say the hyper-dynamic landscape of Indian entertainment that we are going to see because it is so.”

    Speaking at the event, West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin said, “We want to work with the talented and creative people to champion sustainability in the creative industries and the film industry, through investment and support. We are open for business. We would like to invite you to get involved in our cultural festivals; to attend, but also to partner in the exciting programmes of activity.”

    “With the strength of the sector in the region, there are huge opportunities for companies from India to partner with our leading companies and invest in the region. The rewards are there for the taking, and we will support you every step of the way. We want to deepen our relationship with creative India, attracting more investment from production companies, studios, post-production houses, and VFX companies,” added Brabin.

    Film director Ramesh Sippy reflected upon the changes that happened during the pandemic. He said, “As much as the pandemic has affected us, it has also brought in some changes. OTT is certainly getting a big boom. Both cinema and small platforms will perform jointly as they used to, but in a much bigger way.”

    The session on the topic “M&E Consumption: Evolving Trends Across Segments” received a good response from the audience where panellists from various TV and OTT platforms explored trends such as short vs. long vs episodic video, the resilience of radio, the rise of regional and vernacular media, etc.

    A parliamentary representative participated in an engaging discussion on the “Role of M&E in Building the Social Fabric of the Nation” and spoke on the importance of the media in fostering critical and proper public awareness of planners’ goals and limitations.

    On the first day, the event saw actor Ranveer Singh, director Ramesh Sippy, MIB secretary Apurva Chandra, West Yorkshire (UK) mayor Tracy Brabin, and members of parliament (MP) like Sumalatha Ambareesh, Priyanka Chaturvedi & Sanjay Seth.

    The two-day convention saw sessions with renowned names of the industry like Nikhil Advani, Divya Dutta, Madhur Bhandarkar, Paresh Rawal, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Adil Hussain, Revathy, Tamanna Bhatia, Raj Nidimoru, Krishna DK, Sohum Shah, Karan Johar, Ayan Mukherjee, Imtiaz Ali, Anees Bazmi, Abhishek Sharma, Nitesh Tiwary, Ashutosh Gowarikar, to name a few, along with studio heads. They talked about the gamut of media & entertainment like films, television, digital entertainment, radio, animation, gaming, visual effects, film tourism, IP rights, and film incentives.

  • Ramesh Sippy steps in to train TV’s GenNext

    MUMBAI: Indian television has, for long, suffered from a shortage of writers who could pen down the 1,000 or so episodes that Hindi GEC dramas demand. Of course, efforts are being made by the Film Writers Association, institutions such as Whistling Woods and companies such as Star India (which has an in-house writing programming).

    Another player is entering the fray: film veteran Ramesh Sippy, who has given the industry the classic TV series Buniyaad in the eighties. Now, he has set up the Ramesh Sippy Academy of Cinema & Entertainment (RSACE) which has partnered with the Mumbai University’s-affiliated Garware Institute of Career Education & Development.

    On offer to students are courses in script-writing, film art, film production, VFX and animation. Those who complete the three-year course will be awarded a degree in their respective courses.

    Entrance tests to be eligible for admission to RSACE are to be held on 28 April 2107 and 8 May 2017. Candidates who get through for the bachelors course will need to cough up Rs 5 lakh a year for each of the courses, excepting scriptwriting, the fees of which has been pegged at Rs 3 lakh a year.

    RSACE institute is bridging the gap between theory and hands-on knowledge.

    Former DD Mumbai Kendra head honcho Mukesh Sharma who retired recently says, “My moto is working for the students, working with the students and working on the students. Associating with Mumbai University and Garware Institute of Career Education and Development will help students to get the recognised degree.”

    Adds RSACE MD Kiran Juneja: “Ramesh Sippy has a lot of experience in the industry. So, he wants to share it with the world, and every aspirant in the film industry seeks to hit the road running from day one of their careers. Twenty students at a time is our prime focus, so that we can invest an equal quantum of time on everyone, which will help us deliver the best in the business,” she added.

    The RSACE board includes: Ramesh and his wife Kiran, Hema Malini, Rohan Sippy and Manmohan Shetty. The advisory council members include big names from the industry such as Kamal Hasan, Sonu Nigam, Vidya Balan, Kabir Khan and many more.

  • Steps to encourage ease of doing film business under way

    NEW DELHI: Information and broadcasting secretary Ajay Mittal has said the Ministry has initiated a series of measures to promote ease of doing business and reiterated government’s commitment to work closely with the film industry.

    Mittal was speaking at a function where megastar Amitabh Bachchan inaugurated the new office premise of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in Mumbai yesterday.

    A number for film personalities including former CBFC Chairman Anupam Kher, Ramesh Sippy, Raveena Tandon, Sonu Sood, Pritish Nandy, Manmohan Shetty, Gajendra Chauhan, Kiran Shantaram, Mukesh Sharma were among those present.

    CBFC, which had been functioning from the Bharat Bhavan in the White House Complex on Walkeshwar Road since 1950s, was facing severe space constraint against drastic increase in work load.

    Mumbai, being the centre of the Hindi, Marathi, Bhojpuri and Punjabi film industry, accounts for nearly 60% of all certification work of CBFC. During 2015-16, it certified over 11,000 films of various duration including 787 Indian feature films and 690 foreign films for theatrical release in India.

    Faced with an acute space constraint, lack of parking facility for visitors, CBFC moved a proposal for allocation of space in the Films Division Complex for a modern, digitally enabled office. It may be recalled that the online film certification system of CBFC was launched by Information & Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi last week.

    Ramesh Sippy welcomed the online film certification system saying it would facilitate quicker certification of films.

    The Civil Construction Wing of Prasar Bharati has refurbished the new office, which houses the chambers of the Chairman, CEO as well as the Mumbai Regional Office. CBFC, besides its own preview facilities, can now utilize additional preview theatres of Films Division as well to quicken the process of film certification.

    The Films Division Complex now houses the offices of Films Division, Children’s Film Society of India, CBFC and also the upcoming National Museum of Indian Cinema, which is expected to promote synergy among different institutions of the I &B Ministry.

  • ‘Murga’ gets ‘Swachh’ film prize; top producers to support campaign

    ‘Murga’ gets ‘Swachh’ film prize; top producers to support campaign

    NEW DELHI: Eminent filmmakers Madhur Bhandarkar, Radhakrishna Jagarlamudi, Prasoon Pandey, Ramesh Sippy and Shoojit Sircar will produce films on Swachh Bharat providing support and creative ideas to the movement.

    This was announced here on Sunday by the Information and Broadcasting minister M Venkaiah Naidu after presenting the awards at the first Swachh Bharat Short Film Festival here. Minister of State for I and B Rajyavardhan Rathore and secretary Ajay Mittal were present.

    Naidu said the festival was aimed at generating awareness, and motivating participants and citizens towards the Swachh Bharat mission through the most interactive medium of cinema.

    Complimenting the youngsters for the creativity and talent shown, Naidu said the future of India was safe in the hands of the young generation who understood the communication needs on issues such as Swachh Bharat which required mass mobilization.

    Naidu along with Rathore released the book “In the Footsteps of Mahatma: Gandhi & Sanitation” published by Publications Division (I & B ministry) and written by the noted Gandhian Sudarshan Iyengar.

    Mittal said the festival had provided a platform to pool ideas and talent of the creative youngsters.

    The competitive short films festival was for films having duration of not more than three minutes each. A jury comprising eminent theatre and film actor–producer Vani Tripathi, award-winning filmmaker Gitanjali Rao, and celebrated advertising personality Prahlad Kakar selected 20 short films out of the 4346 entries.

    The first prize was pocketed by Katyanan Shivpuri from Maharashtra for the film Murga. The second prize was bagged by Sudhanshu Sharma, KVK Kumar and Akshay Danavale for their films Nahna Doot, Chembuku Moodindi (The Dying Vessel) and Sarkarmi Rati Wadho! respectively. The third prize was awarded to six entries.

    The directors of the top 10 films were rewarded with Rs 10 lakh (first film), Rs 500,000 (next three films) and Rs 200,000 respectively (last six films), while the next 10 were awarded certificates.

    The highlight was a performance by the Advait band and the rendition of Swachh Bharat theme song by the eminent singer Kailash Kher.

  • ‘Murga’ gets ‘Swachh’ film prize; top producers to support campaign

    ‘Murga’ gets ‘Swachh’ film prize; top producers to support campaign

    NEW DELHI: Eminent filmmakers Madhur Bhandarkar, Radhakrishna Jagarlamudi, Prasoon Pandey, Ramesh Sippy and Shoojit Sircar will produce films on Swachh Bharat providing support and creative ideas to the movement.

    This was announced here on Sunday by the Information and Broadcasting minister M Venkaiah Naidu after presenting the awards at the first Swachh Bharat Short Film Festival here. Minister of State for I and B Rajyavardhan Rathore and secretary Ajay Mittal were present.

    Naidu said the festival was aimed at generating awareness, and motivating participants and citizens towards the Swachh Bharat mission through the most interactive medium of cinema.

    Complimenting the youngsters for the creativity and talent shown, Naidu said the future of India was safe in the hands of the young generation who understood the communication needs on issues such as Swachh Bharat which required mass mobilization.

    Naidu along with Rathore released the book “In the Footsteps of Mahatma: Gandhi & Sanitation” published by Publications Division (I & B ministry) and written by the noted Gandhian Sudarshan Iyengar.

    Mittal said the festival had provided a platform to pool ideas and talent of the creative youngsters.

    The competitive short films festival was for films having duration of not more than three minutes each. A jury comprising eminent theatre and film actor–producer Vani Tripathi, award-winning filmmaker Gitanjali Rao, and celebrated advertising personality Prahlad Kakar selected 20 short films out of the 4346 entries.

    The first prize was pocketed by Katyanan Shivpuri from Maharashtra for the film Murga. The second prize was bagged by Sudhanshu Sharma, KVK Kumar and Akshay Danavale for their films Nahna Doot, Chembuku Moodindi (The Dying Vessel) and Sarkarmi Rati Wadho! respectively. The third prize was awarded to six entries.

    The directors of the top 10 films were rewarded with Rs 10 lakh (first film), Rs 500,000 (next three films) and Rs 200,000 respectively (last six films), while the next 10 were awarded certificates.

    The highlight was a performance by the Advait band and the rendition of Swachh Bharat theme song by the eminent singer Kailash Kher.

  • Govt admits low production of STBs, urges more players to manufacture under Make in India Initiative

    Govt admits low production of STBs, urges more players to manufacture under Make in India Initiative

    MUMBAI: The government today admitted that less than 10 per cent set top boxes being used in India were Indian made. However, Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sunil Arora said the government and his ministry were completely committed to the digitization programme.

    Arora said, “We want the industry to look at this opportunity under the Make In India initiative and produce more STBs in India under the Electronics Manufacturing scheme”.

    The ministry remained committed to promoting ease of doing business in the media and entertainment sector, Arora said in a dialogue with Star India CEO Uday Shankar and veteran filmmaker Ramesh Sippy at FICCI Frames 2016.

    He said the Ministry was also guided by the ‘minimum government, maximum governance’ philosophy. “One of our primary objectives is to bring down the number of visitors to Shastri Bhavan to a trickle. We want to move towards less regulation and facilitate India to become the hub of media and entertainment industry.”

    Arora claimed that clearance for new TV channels had been expedited over the last six months under a liberalized regime. He said the home ministry had agreed to most of the suggestions made by the I&B ministry about liberalizing several conditions. Arora stressed that the ministry intends to play a role of a facilitator for the media and entertainment industry to flourish in the country.

    He said a decision had been taken to set up the National Centre of Excellence in Animation, Gaming and Visual Effects in Mumbai.  The Maharashtra Government is providing a 25 acre land near the Film City in Goregaon for the institute.

    The secretary also said the government had approved the Rs 598 crore National Film Heritage Mission to preserve and promote India’s rich film and cultural heritage. He also referred to the National Museum of Indian Cinema coming up in Films Division Complex on Peddar Road in Mumbai with several interactive exhibits. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a keen interest in this museum which is being curated by the National Council of Science Museums, Kolkata.”

    Focusing on ease of doing business, Arora said a Film Facilitation Office had opened in the National Film Development Corporation to function as a single window service for film related clearances. The secretary said an award had been instituted as part of the National Film Awards from this year to honour the states that are most film friendly. In 2016, Gujarat has been adjudged the most film friendly state, followed by UP and Kerala.

    Participating in the discussion, Shankar, who is also FICCI Entertainment Panel Chairman expressed concern over the viability of stand-alone news channels. He also said the entry of fringe elements in the news broadcasting field for ‘ancillary facilities’ was affecting credibility. Sippy expressed concern over low theatre density in India.

     

  • Govt admits low production of STBs, urges more players to manufacture under Make in India Initiative

    Govt admits low production of STBs, urges more players to manufacture under Make in India Initiative

    MUMBAI: The government today admitted that less than 10 per cent set top boxes being used in India were Indian made. However, Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sunil Arora said the government and his ministry were completely committed to the digitization programme.

    Arora said, “We want the industry to look at this opportunity under the Make In India initiative and produce more STBs in India under the Electronics Manufacturing scheme”.

    The ministry remained committed to promoting ease of doing business in the media and entertainment sector, Arora said in a dialogue with Star India CEO Uday Shankar and veteran filmmaker Ramesh Sippy at FICCI Frames 2016.

    He said the Ministry was also guided by the ‘minimum government, maximum governance’ philosophy. “One of our primary objectives is to bring down the number of visitors to Shastri Bhavan to a trickle. We want to move towards less regulation and facilitate India to become the hub of media and entertainment industry.”

    Arora claimed that clearance for new TV channels had been expedited over the last six months under a liberalized regime. He said the home ministry had agreed to most of the suggestions made by the I&B ministry about liberalizing several conditions. Arora stressed that the ministry intends to play a role of a facilitator for the media and entertainment industry to flourish in the country.

    He said a decision had been taken to set up the National Centre of Excellence in Animation, Gaming and Visual Effects in Mumbai.  The Maharashtra Government is providing a 25 acre land near the Film City in Goregaon for the institute.

    The secretary also said the government had approved the Rs 598 crore National Film Heritage Mission to preserve and promote India’s rich film and cultural heritage. He also referred to the National Museum of Indian Cinema coming up in Films Division Complex on Peddar Road in Mumbai with several interactive exhibits. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a keen interest in this museum which is being curated by the National Council of Science Museums, Kolkata.”

    Focusing on ease of doing business, Arora said a Film Facilitation Office had opened in the National Film Development Corporation to function as a single window service for film related clearances. The secretary said an award had been instituted as part of the National Film Awards from this year to honour the states that are most film friendly. In 2016, Gujarat has been adjudged the most film friendly state, followed by UP and Kerala.

    Participating in the discussion, Shankar, who is also FICCI Entertainment Panel Chairman expressed concern over the viability of stand-alone news channels. He also said the entry of fringe elements in the news broadcasting field for ‘ancillary facilities’ was affecting credibility. Sippy expressed concern over low theatre density in India.