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Tag: Sushilkumar Agrawal

  • Rangeela rolls again in 4K 90s magic gets a new frame of mind

    Rangeela rolls again in 4K 90s magic gets a new frame of mind

    MUMBAI: It’s time to put on those dancing shoes again Rangeela is ready to paint theatres in technicolour nostalgia. Three decades after Aamir Khan, Urmila Matondkar, and Jackie Shroff set the screen ablaze, Ram Gopal Varma’s cult classic is making a grand comeback. The 1995 musical will hit cinemas once again on 28 November 2025, exactly 30 years after it first redefined Bollywood cool.

    The re-release isn’t just a replay; it’s a revival. Presented in a 4K HD restored version with immersive sound, the film promises razor-sharp visuals, richer colours, and a sonic polish worthy of A.R. Rahman’s iconic soundtrack. The restoration comes courtesy of Ultra Media, under its Ultra Rewind initiative, a project devoted to bringing India’s cinematic gems back to the big screen, one frame-perfect classic at a time.

    When it first released, Rangeela was nothing short of revolutionary, a vibrant cocktail of melody, ambition, and Mumbai masti that marked a turning point for Hindi cinema in the 90s. From Rahman’s foot-tapping “Tanha Tanha” to the breezy “Yaaron Sun Lo Zara,” the soundtrack redefined Bollywood music, while Urmila’s star-making turn and RGV’s kinetic storytelling gave Hindi cinema a fresh, stylish edge.

    Reflecting on the film’s enduring legacy, Ram Gopal Varma said, “Rangeela embodied the spirit of aspiration, showing that ordinary people can also dare to dream big. Its success demonstrated that rule-breaking cinema is often the most unforgettable.”

    Ultra Media CEO Sushilkumar Agrawal added, “For many, Rangeela is a nostalgic trip back to the golden era of Bollywood. With Ultra Rewind, we’re bringing this beloved classic to modern audiences in a stunning 4K format, ensuring that its timeless charm continues to mesmerise audiences for years to come.”

    Rangeela is the second project under Ultra Rewind, following the Guru Dutt Centenary Retrospective earlier this year on 8 July. That initiative saw the re-release of gems like Pyaasa, Sahib Biwi aur Ghulam, Kagaz Ke Phool, and Chaudhvin Ka Chand in 4K glory. The studio now plans to restore and re-release many other classics across languages, keeping India’s cinematic heritage alive and looking sharper than ever.

    So, come November, the big screen will once again shimmer with Rahman’s rhythms, RGV’s storytelling swagger, and Urmila’s electric charm. Because some films don’t just age, they replay beautifully.

  • Ultra Soft Toys ensures its toys enrich kids, blending education and entertainment: Sushilkumar Agrawal

    Ultra Soft Toys ensures its toys enrich kids, blending education and entertainment: Sushilkumar Agrawal

    Mumbai: With the advent of technology, kids nowadays are surrounded by a myriad of digital distractions. Despite this, the enduring appeal of toys that seamlessly blend fun and education remains stronger than ever. Ultra Soft Toys, a prominent player in the Indian toy industry, stands at the forefront of this intersection with its diverse array of plush animals and educational toys. It is a distinguished venture of the 40-year-old Ultra Media & Entertainment Pvt Ltd with a strong emphasis on quality and innovation.

    Recently unveiling ambitious plans at Toy Biz 2024 in Delhi, Ultra Soft Toys showcased their commitment to innovation and quality from their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Noida. This strategic move not only bolsters their capacity to meet growing global demand but also underscores their dedication to bringing joy and learning to families worldwide.

    Indiantelevision.com caught up with Ultra Media & Entertainment MD & CEO Sushilkumar Agrawal to delve deeper into their toy business, their unique strategies to stay at the forefront and much more…

    Edited Excerpts:

    On Ultra Group’s inspiration behind venturing into the toy industry and its differentiating aspect from other giant toy brands

    Ultra Group, with its rich entertainment legacy, has ventured into the toy industry to extend its storytelling prowess and connect with younger audiences. Their unique approach integrates beloved characters and narratives from their entertainment portfolio, fostering deep emotional connections with consumers. Unlike other toy brands, Ultra Group leverages cutting-edge technology and innovative designs, ensuring their toys are not only entertaining but also educational, enhancing creativity and learning in children through interactive experiences.

    On the new manufacturing facility in Noida and its ability to enhance your production capacity

    Our new manufacturing facility in Noida significantly boosts production capacity with advanced machinery. This expansion allows for increased output, improved quality control, and greater efficiency. The facility’s strategic location facilitates better logistics and faster distribution. This investment enables us to meet growing demand, maintain high-quality standards, and innovate rapidly to keep pace with market trends and customer expectations.

    On Ultra Soft Toys maintaining its commitment to quality and innovation in the highly competitive toy industry

    Ultra Soft Toys maintains its commitment to quality and innovation by rigorously selecting premium materials and employing advanced manufacturing techniques. Continuous research and development ensure our products are safe, durable, and engaging. We stay ahead of trends by integrating new technologies and listening to customer feedback. Our dedicated team of designers and engineers constantly innovate, creating unique and educational toys that stand out in the competitive market. The focus on educational toys segment marks a pivotal strategy moving ahead for Ultra Soft Toys to capture a larger market share. The company anticipates significant revenue growth in this segment as parents increasingly prioritise toys that promote foundational learning and development in children. The acquisition of an additional manufacturing facility in Noida, effectively doubling our production capacity, positions us strongly to meet the increasing global demand while upholding our standards of quality and innovation

    On Ultra Soft Toys’ inspiration to focus on educational toys, and the impact you anticipate this segment will have on your growth

    Ultra Soft Toys was inspired to focus on educational toys by recognising the increasing demand for products that combine fun and learning. Parents seek toys that support their children’s development, and we aim to meet this need with innovative, engaging designs. We anticipate this segment will significantly boost our growth by attracting a broader audience, enhancing brand loyalty, and positioning us as a leader in the educational toy market.

    On products that garnered the most attention, showcased at Toy Biz 2024, and the reason for their popularity

    Our stall shone brightly with our latest collection of educational toys, newly designed cushions, export-ready products, and impressive large-scale toys. These products combine our entertainment legacy and offer immersive play experiences. Ultra Soft Toys showcased a diverse range of products, including plush animals, educational toys like themed cube plushies, themed soft toy playbooks, and travel-friendly accessories.

    On Ultra Soft Toys’ expansion targets for both retail and online channels by FY24-25, and the strategies that are in place to address the challenges anticipated in your global expansion

    Ultra Soft Toys aims to expand its retail presence by increasing the number of physical stores by 20 per cent and entering new international markets in FY 24-25. Simultaneously, online sales targets include a 30 per cent growth through enhanced e-commerce platforms and strategic digital marketing. With a strong footprint in over 65 malls and retail stores nationwide, Currently Ultra Soft Toys has a product range of over 100 products with 225 SKUs. We are planning to expand to 200 products with 375 SKUs by end of FY24-25. The company has advanced its omnichannel strategy, with its offline presence which now spreads across 35 cities in 11 states of India. We have consistently achieved a 27 per cent growth YoY. Challenges such as regulatory compliance are addressed through localized marketing strategies, partnerships with local distributors, and rigorous market research to ensure alignment with regional preferences and regulations. Our expanded production capacity and focus on international markets underscores our dedication to delivering exceptional products that resonate with families worldwide. Currently, we export to European and South African countries, with plans to expand into the Middle East and the USA this fiscal year.

  • TV and film exporters’ council plans ‘content certification’, elects Ultra’s Agrawal and Shemaroo’s Gada

    TV and film exporters’ council plans ‘content certification’, elects Ultra’s Agrawal and Shemaroo’s Gada

    NEW DELHI: The Indian Council of IMPEX for Films and TV Programmers, at its Annual General Meeting, has elected Sushilkumar Agrawal, Ultra Media and Entertainment CEO, as the president.

    Film producer Gordhan Tanwani has been elected as the vice-president, Shemaroo Entertainment director Hiren Gada was elected as the honorary secretary and Ashok Jain as the honorary treasurer at the meeting held in Mumbai.

    The Indian Council of IMPEX For Films and TV Programmers – earlier known as Indian Film Exporters Association – promotes the trade of import and export of Indian and foreign films and television programmes globally. The main focus of this council is to help, safeguard and encourage general welfare, development and prosperity in India & worldwide

    One of the primary tasks before Agrawal is to create a unique platform wherein the Indian member-owners of films, TV and digital content will be able to seamlessly offer these to various countries worldwide. In this platform even the foreign content owners will be certified members of this council, which in turn will help them to offer their content to Indian members in a lucid and transparent way.

    The Council will initiate a certification process which will authenticate the content being sold, hence ensuring credibility in the entire transaction worldwide.

    The council will actively participate in a maximum number of film festivals and film markets, which will help in giving a bigger opportunity for the council members to showcase and promote their respective content globally.

  • Jalpari sent to the Oscars as direct entry

    Jalpari sent to the Oscars as direct entry

    MUMBAI: Critically acclaimed film Jalpari – The Desert Mermaid has been submitted as a direct entry for the Oscars.

    Ultra Distributors CMD Sushilkumar Agrawal said, "In all, 17 films were competing to be sent as India‘s official entry for the foreign film category at the Oscars. Every film had a potential in some way or the other way to compete for the Oscars, but unfortunately only one film can go as an official entry from India. The original story and concept is the USP of our film. The blazing subject, the treatment of the film and the powerful performances has the potential to compete to the Oscars. So we decided to submit our film as a direct entry for the Academy Awards."

    Jalpari… is directed by Nila Madhab Panda director of award winning I Am Kalam. The film deals with the various predicaments that a girl child encounters in rural India and also addresses the divide between rural and urban India. The film depicts India‘s national shame ‘female foeticide‘ in a lighter way, without getting preachy.

    The distributor has submitted the film to the Academy of Motion Pictures and its team will shortly visit US for promotion of the film and it exhibition.

    Recently Jalpari… received the Audience Choice Award at the Minsk International Film Festival in Belarus and selected as an official entry for International Film Festival in Montreal that will take place in March next year and many other international film festivals.

  • Guild submits representation on piracy and censorship to Shabana Azmi

    Guild submits representation on piracy and censorship to Shabana Azmi

    NEW DELHI: The Film & Television Producers Guild of India has submitted a set of proposals to Shabana Azmi, chairperson of the Core Group on Piracy (Exhibition Sector including Multiplex and issues of Certification) outlining its strategy to fight piracy and given its views censorship.

    This Core Group is amongst the five groups created by the information & broadcasting ministry recently consisting eminent personalities from the Indian entertainment industry to focus on the significant problems confronted by it.
    Sushilkumar Agrawal, honorary treasurer of the Guild, apprised the chairman about the grave repercussions of piracy and censorship on the functioning of the entertainment industry at a meeting of the group on 10 January.

    Following this, Azmi had requested the Guild to deliver its suggestions officially by inscription for setting the requisite system in place. A spokesperson for the Guild told indiantelevision.com that it was confident that its proposals would be considered in a constructive manner and Azmi will initiate appropriate corrective action.

    The Guild was appreciative of the initiatives undertaken by the Union government to solve critical matters concerning the entertainment industry. On its part, the Guild will extend its unflinching co-operation to strive for the welfare and progress of the Indian entertainment sector.