Tag: Sharat Katariya

  • Entourage Films brings Zomato Dining Carnival back with a playful campaign

    Entourage Films brings Zomato Dining Carnival back with a playful campaign

    Mumbai – Entourage Films has announced another collaboration with Zomato for the launch of the Zomato Dining Carnival. This campaign, featuring Ahsaas Channa and Adarsh Gourav, brings the joy of dining out to life in a series of playful, food-centric films.

    Directed by Sharat Katariya, famed for his work – Dum Laga Ke Haisha, the campaign creatively links everyday moments with fun food experience. From a football game morphing into a ‘pasta ball’ toss, to gym noises inspiring a sushi craving, each film adds a quirky spin to ordinary activities, turning them into opportunities to indulge in delicious meals. In one of the films, two bodybuilders are lifting weights and making exaggerated sounds like “Shuuuuu” and “Sheeee,” which leads Ahsaas and Adarsh to exchange a knowing glance and shout “Sushi!” The scene then humorously shifts to a restaurant where the duo enjoys sushi, this playful transition highlights how everyday moments can lead to impromptu food experiences.

    Sharat Katariya quoted, “The film beautifully reflects the joy and spontaneity that the Zomato Dining Carnival is all about, bringing the essence of the campaign to life. Ahsaas and Adarsh were the perfect fit to bring that quirk to life, their individual performances brought an extra layer of charm to the campaign. They fully embraced the playful nature we intended to capture and delivered it with exceptional flair.”

    The mind behind this quirky campaign, Zomato’s creative head Harshil Dhawan quoted, “When dining deals are so irresistible, every moment feels like a cue to make a plan! With the Zomato Dining Carnival in full swing, featuring over 8,000 restaurants and up to 50 per cent off, we’ve turned spontaneous cravings into spontaneous plans. Our films hilariously capture how an epic dining deal can make you drop everything and head out for a feast, no matter where you are or what you are doing.”

    “Working with Zomato, Harshil and team is always a pleasure, and collaborating with Ahsaas and Adarsh was an absolute joy. Sharat’s vision, approach and the team’s collective effort towards this campaign made it a true delight to produce,” executive producer – Garima Arora added.

     

  • National Film Development Corporation reveals 2024 Screenwriters’ Lab finalists

    National Film Development Corporation reveals 2024 Screenwriters’ Lab finalists

    Mumbai: National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) received more than 150 applications this year from 21 states out of which six projects of various genres have been selected for the 17th edition of NFDC Screenwriters’ Lab, an ongoing initiative to develop, nurture, and promote original voices from all over India. The six screenwriters, who also happen to be filmmakers of ad films, short films, novelist, documentaries, and feature films, have written the selected scripts in multiple languages, including Hindi, Urdu, Pahadi, Punjabi, Assamese, Malayalam, Konyak, English & Maithili.

    “We, at NFDC, strongly feel that a well-written script forms the foundation of a compelling story, engaging characters, and meaningful dialogue, all of which are essential elements of a successful film. We are at the forefront of not only training our writers to better develop their unique stories, but also pitch them successfully to domestic and international producers and investors at Film Bazaar, while keeping industry trends and practices in mind,” said NFDC Film Bazaar team

    The three-part intensive Screenwriters’ Lab is part of NFDC Labs’ ongoing initiative to develop original voices and stories from India. Selected participants work closely with noted mentors in an intensive 5-month program to fine-tune existing screenplays through personalized interactions and group sessions under the guidance of acclaimed script experts from India and around the  world. Aimed at domestic as well as international markets, the projects will be pitched to  producers and investors in a specially designed session during Film Bazaar 2024.

    The six selected projects for NFDC Screenwriters’ Lab 2024 are as follows:

    1.  Hawa Mithai by (CANDY FLOSS) Anuritta K Jha – Maithili & Hindi

    A six year-old village boy Tundu and his best friend Bullu set out on a heart-warming and fantastical journey to eat the Sun inspired by the legend of Lord Hanumanji, in order to win back his mother’s love.

    2.  I’ll Smile in September by Aakash Chhabra – Hindi, Urdu, Pahadi & Punjabi

    After getting separated from the love of his life and losing his front teeth in a brutal altercation which ensues after it, a young brass band player in Old Delhi attempts to move on in life by finding his smile back.

    3.  Kalaa Kaali (The Art Of The Dark) by Anam Danish – English & Hindi

    Two siblings along with their friends, investigate a death in the family only to discover a generational curse that looms over them and set out to end it by using their family’s tradition of black magic.

    4.  Konyak by Uddhav Ghosh – Konyak Naga & Hindi & English

    On the fringe of civilisation, amidst Nagaland’s unforgiving beauty, a deadly feud erupts between legendary headhunting tribes. Young warrior Thungpang Konyak, burdened by prophetic visions and haunted by betrayal, embarks on a relentless chase to protect his community and reclaim honor, confronting his former friend turned mortal enemy Sangba, as brother turns against brother in a brutal struggle for survival.

    5.  Mangal – The Holy Beast by Triparna Maiti – Assamese, Malayalam & Hindi

    Captured as an elephant calf, Mangal encounters both love and loss as he is made to join the world of humans. Transported from one place to another, changing hands, he ultimately becomes a revered deity worshiped as God, yet tied in chains, until he decides to break free.

    6.  Piyush Ki Toh…Nikal Padi (To Pee or Not To Pee) by Piyush Srivastava – Hindi

    Piyush, a charming 32-year old, faces a comedic nightmare on his first visit to his in-laws when a packing mistake leaves him without Adult Diapers, risking exposure of his embarrassing bedwetting problem. He must navigate a hilarious & heart-warming journey to procure new ones with his supportive wife’s help, all while keeping his secret hidden.

    About Mentors

    This year’s mentors include the founder of NFDC Screenwriters’ Lab (features) Marten Rabarts (New Zealand), Claire Dobbin (Australia), Ritesh Shah (India)

    1. Marten Rabarts – With more than 30 years of experience in the film industry, Marten Rabarts held his most recent position as the Festival Director of the New Zealand International Film Festival, following nearly 5 years heading EYE International at the EYE, the national film museum of the Netherlands. Prior to this, Marten served as the Head of Development and Training at NFDC India in Mumbai, where he established NFDC LABS, contributing to the success of films like The Lunchbox and Titli, among many others. Previously, Rabarts was Artistic Director of Binger Filmlab in Amsterdam for 12 years, which saw such successes as Michael Roskam’s Bullhead, cult hit The Babadook by Jennifer Kent, Cannes-winning Salvo by Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza, and Adina Pintilie’s 2018 Golden Bear Award winner Touch Me Not. Furthermore, Marten was a founding member of the advisory board of Torino Film Lab, is a voting member of the European Film Academy, served on the board of European Film Promotion, and regularly serves on festival juries, including the Berlinale (Short Film Jury, Generation 14plus, Teddy Awards), Skip City Tokyo, Adelaide Film Festival, and Guanajuato Film Festival, among others.

    2. Claire Dobbin – Claire is a globally active script editor, executive producer, and creative producer, collaborating with development agencies, screenwriters, producers, and directors. She has been serving as a script advisor since 2005 for the prestigious international script workshop éQuinoxe Europe, participating as a jury member in key international film festivals, and also organizing and leading international screenwriting workshops in diverse locations such as Italy, Ukraine, India, Norway, Doha, Dubai, Iran, Germany, and New Zealand. From 1986 to 2000, Claire held the position of Senior Executive (Creative) at Australia’s national screen agency. Between 2003 and 2019, Claire chaired the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), overseeing initiatives that made MIFF a cornerstone of the industry. She secured funds for MIFF’s international film finance market and established the MIFF Premiere Fund, investing in over 50 Australian films that premiered at MIFF. Claire’s achievements include receiving the Order of Australia (AM) for Services to the Australian Film Industry in 2017 and the Jill Robb Award for outstanding leadership in the Victorian Screen Industry in 2019. Currently, Claire serves as the executive producer for several films and is actively involved in script editing international feature films and TV series across New Zealand, Australia, Europe, India, and the United States.

    3. Ritesh Shah – Ritesh Shah did his Bachelors in English Literature from Hindu College (1993-1996) and has done his Masters in Mass Communications from MCRC, Jamia Milia Islamia. He began his career as a playwright with Act One Art Group, New Delhi. His works include the fringe award winner Othello – A play in black and white. Ritesh switched to television in 1999. His television writing credits include Josh, Kashmeer, Krishna Arjun and the award winning series Kagaar. Ritesh Shah began his film career by contributing dialogue to movies like Kahaani and Namastey London and then went on to co-write films like D-day and Airlift. His solo screenplay and dialogue credits include films like B.A. Pass, Citylights, Force, the critically acclaimed Pink and Raid. Ritesh Shah has been nominated for Filmfare award for best story for B.A.Pass and best screenplay for D-day for which he also won a Zee Cine Awards Nomination. He won the Filmfare, Zee Cine and Star Screen awards for best dialogue for Pink.

    Previous, award-winning projects that have originated from the NFDC Screenwriters’ Lab include LUNCHBOX (Ritesh Batra), LIPSTICK UNDER MY BURKHA (Alankrita Shrivastava), DUM LAGA KE HAISHA (Sharat Katariya), TITLI (Kanu Behl), SHAB (Onir), A DEATH IN THE GUNJ (Konkona Sen Sharma), ISLAND CITY (Ruchika Oberoi), BOMBAY ROSE (Gitanjali Rao), and CHUSKIT (Priya Ramasubban), In the Belly of a Tiger (Siddartha Jatla), Fire in the Mountains (Ajitpal Singh) Ullozhukku (Christo Tomy) just to name a few.
     

  • Entourage Films presents KitKat and Netflix ad campaign

    Entourage Films presents KitKat and Netflix ad campaign

    Mumbai: Entourage Films is excited to announce a new ad campaign with the two iconic brands KitKat and Netflix. This creatively scripted collaboration showcases KitKat’s distinctive concept of “breaks” within the engaging world of Netflix.

    Director Sharat Katariya, celebrated for his humor and exceptional storytelling, seamlessly blended the world of KitKat and Netflix into an engaging experience for the viewers. Starring Bollywood sensation Ayushmann Khurrana, the film takes viewers on a delightful journey in the Netflix world.

    At the heart of the campaign is the theme of taking a break, a concept synonymous with KitKat’s brand identity. As Ayushmann, feels bored with repetitive roles on a movie set, he yearns for a break. The commercial cleverly highlights the idea that just like there’s a KitKat for everyone, there’s a Netflix show or movie for every mood.

    Entourage Films executive producer Garima Arora shared: “Working with KitKat, Netflix and Ayushmann Khurrana was a fantastic experience. The set was full of laughter and chocolates, it definitely felt like a big family gathering. Sharat and I were thrilled to be part of this project and we look forward to more collaborations.”

    This film shows the exciting potential when two major brands join forces to create something fresh and innovative. This collaboration between KitKat and Netflix is a masterful blend of humor, storytelling, and brand synergy. It invites viewers to pause, enjoy a KitKat, and immerse themselves in the endless entertainment options that Netflix offers. By combining the pleasures of a sweet treat and top-notch entertainment, the campaign creates a compelling message to unwind and enjoy a break.

  • ‘Piku,’ ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha,’ ‘Mardaani’ screened at Indian Film Festival Japan

    ‘Piku,’ ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha,’ ‘Mardaani’ screened at Indian Film Festival Japan

    MUMBAI: Yash Raj Films’ productions Mardaani and Dum Laga Ke Haisha along with MSM Motion Pictures’ Piku, which is co-produced by Saraswati Entertainment and Rising Sun Films and distributed by YRF are being showcased at the Indian Film Festival Japan.

     

    The festival is being held from 9 – 23 October, 2015.

     

    This year, the Indian Film Festival Japan festival opened with a screening of Piku on 9 October. The film starring Amitabh Bachchan, Irrfan Khan and Deepika Padukone, has already been screened at Indian Film Festivals in Russia and Australia.

     

    Dum Laga Ke Haisha director Sharat Katariya attended the screening of his film at the festival in Japan on 10 October.

     

    YRF’s Mardaani starring Rani Mukerji will be screened later this week.

     

    YRF vice president of international operations Avtar Panesar said, “It has always been our endeavour at YRF to take Indian cinema to the widest possible audience. It’s heart-warming to see native audiences connect with our films through festivals, which eventually lead to commercial releases. Japan is a very vibrant market and we hope to build on the earlier successes we have had with Jab Tak Hai Jaan andEk Tha Tiger.”

  • foodpanda launches new ad campaign #DontCallJustInstall

    foodpanda launches new ad campaign #DontCallJustInstall

    MUMBAI: foodpanda has rolled out a series of ads to turn the spotlight on mobile app ordering. The ad campaign has been conceptualised by creative agency, Percept India.

     

    Produced by Housefull Movies and directed by Sharat Katariya of Dum Laga Ke Haisha fame, the TVC reflects the ease of ordering food with a few taps on one’s phone. Reinforcing the message of the ad film, the visuals rightly capture the tagline ‘Don’t Call, Just Install’.

     

    The six week long campaign which started on 25 June will span through radio ads, mall activations and corporate activation programmes.

     

    The witty ads showcase the nightmarish the food ordering process can get via phone. Bad connections, wrong addresses, late deliveries and limited options are some problems that customers can combat while booking through the app. The ads further leverage its mascot- the Panda, playfully to add the required spunk.

     

    foodpanda CEO (India) and CBO (Global) Saurabh Kochhar said, “Our constant endeavour at foodpanda is to curb food ordering ruckus in India. Through the TVCs, we aim to capture the value additions that our services bring to the customer via our app. The availability of an app like ours, not only nicks down the cumbersome task of searching for phone numbers and ordering, but also provide the ease of choosing from a slew of options as per one’s taste and needs.”

     

    Percept SVP S. Suresh added, “foodpanda wanted to reinforce itself as the go-to place for customers primarily for the diverse options they offer and for the convenience of ordering. To achieve the same, we have tried to create fun commercials through some everyday situations that all foodies will relate to. At a time when we rely on technology for everything, there’s no reason why we should resort to obsolete ways for ordering food.”

     

    Available on iOS, Windows phone and Android, the foodpanda mobile app promises convenience, speed and fuss-free food ordering and delivery. The new TVC urges customers to download the app now and satiate one’s hunger pangs in a jiffy.

  • Yash Raj Films to release ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’ in UAE

    Yash Raj Films to release ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’ in UAE

    MUMBAI: Even as the Ayushmann Khurrana and Bhumi Pednekar starrer Dum Laga Ke Haisha celebrates 50 days on the big screen, Yash Raj Films is all set to release the movie in the UAE.

     

    The movie, produced by Maneesh Sharma and directed by Sharat Katariya, will release in the UAE on 23 April.

     

    Khurrana and debutant Pednekar (previously part of YRF’s casting division) star in the movie, which revolves around the life of an odd small town couple – loser Prem and his oversized wife Sandhya.