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Tag: Yoodlee Films

  • Yoodlee Films unleashes Season 2 of Hunter Tootega Nahi Todega

    Yoodlee Films unleashes Season 2 of Hunter Tootega Nahi Todega

    MUMBAI: Hunter: Tootega Nahi Todega Season 2, the explosive sequel to the hit action-thriller, is now streaming exclusively and for free on Amazon MX Player.

    Produced by Yoodlee Films, the film division of Saregama India Ltd, the new season raises the stakes with a gripping storyline and a fierce on-screen battle between Suniel Shetty and Jackie Shroff.

    Yoodlee Films and Saregama, known for their bold, new-age storytelling across languages, have earned widespread acclaim and numerous accolades worldwide, along with immense love from audiences. Hunter Season 2 is yet another powerful addition to their growing lineup of high-impact, genre-defining content.

    Directed by Prince Dhiman and Alok Batra, Season 2 continues the story of Vikram Sinha (Suniel Shetty), a former cop drawn back into a deadly mission when he discovers his daughter, long presumed dead, is alive but in the clutches of a ruthless man known as Salesman (Jackie Shroff). Season 1 received rave reviews for Suniel Shetty’s intense performance and the edge-of-the-seat gripping storyline, and Season 2 builds on that momentum with a chase that spans from Mumbai’s underworld to the streets of Thailand, setting the stage for a high-voltage showdown.

    The series also stars Anusha Dandekar, Barkha Bisht, and Anang Desai in pivotal roles. Season 2 also features a reimagined soundtrack blending classic Bollywood with gritty modern beats, amplifying the show’s raw intensity.

    On the launch, Siddharth Anand Kumar, EVP, Saregama India Ltd, shared, “Hunter is not just an action series, it’s about emotion, loss, and what drives a man to fight against all odds. Season 2 takes it a notch higher. Fans loved Suniel Shetty’s intense avatar in Season 1 and were eagerly waiting for more. We’re thrilled to bring back this raw, thrilling story with powerhouse performers like Suniel Shetty and Jackie Shroff, continuing our mission at Saregama and Yoodlee Films to deliver compelling stories across languages.”

    Suniel Shetty shared, “Vikram’s journey this season is more personal than ever. He’s broken but relentless. The action is intense, but it’s the emotional stakes that truly drive him. Working with my buddy Jackie again brought back incredible energy on screen. It’s great to be back on OTT, and working with Saregama and Yoodlee again has been twice as much fun, they really are like family.”

    Jackie Shroff added, “Salesman is calm, calculative, and dangerous. Playing him was truly thrilling. It was a pleasure collaborating with the team at Saregama and Yoodlee — they welcomed me into the Hunter family with open arms and a lot of love. Facing off with Anna (Suniel) again made it even more powerful. There’s real chemistry and camaraderie between us that adds an extra spark to every scene and makes it truly whistle-worthy for the audience.”

    Hunter Season 2 is now streaming for free on Amazon MX Player, available via the MX Player app, the Amazon shopping app, Prime Video, Fire TV, and Airtel Xtreme.

  • Suniel Shetty returns, Jackie Shroff joins the mayhem in Hunter Season 2

    Suniel Shetty returns, Jackie Shroff joins the mayhem in Hunter Season 2

    MUMBAI: The streets of Mumbai are set to rumble again, and this time, there’s twice the firepower. Amazon MX Player, Amazon’s free streaming service, has just dropped the high-octane teaser for Hunter Season 2, reuniting fans with Suniel Shetty’s brooding cop Vikram Sinha and introducing Jackie Shroff in a role that’s as unpredictable as it is powerful.

    Directed by Prince Dhiman and Alok Batra, and produced by Yoodlee Films (the film division of Saregama India), the new season promises a bigger, bolder, and bloodier ride through the murky alleys of crime and vengeance, this time with international stakes and a villain who’s all charm, chaos, and calculated menace.

    From Mumbai to Thailand, the teaser teases a wild chase high on drama, heavy on action, and packed with the kind of Bollywood masala that fans crave. Also starring Anusha Dandekar and Barkha Bisht, Season 2 of Hunter picks up where the first left off: Vikram Sinha is back, but this mission is deeply personal, and the shadows are darker than ever.

    In typical MX Player style, Hunter S2 will stream for free, making it easily accessible across the Amazon shopping app, Prime Video, Fire TV, Smart TVs, Airtel Xstream, and the MX Player app.

    Get ready for fists, fury, and full-blown face-offs because Vikram Sinha’s not just chasing justice, he’s outrunning his past.

  • Jay Pandya launches Blank Slate Films with debut release ‘Manorathangal’

    Jay Pandya launches Blank Slate Films with debut release ‘Manorathangal’

    Mumbai: Media industry leader Jay Pandya, recognized for his role in cinematic storytelling, has launched his new production company, Blank Slate Films. To start this new chapter, Blank Slate Films debuts with the Malayalam anthology project, ‘Manorathangal’.

    Manorathangal is an anthology based on nine captivating short stories by the acclaimed M. T. Vasudevan Nair. Presented by Saregama (Yoodlee Films) and supported by Kamal Haasan, this inaugural project for Blank Slate Films features an illustrious ensemble cast including Mohanlal, Mammootty, Fahad Fazil, Biju Menon, Nedumudi Venu, Siddique, Indrajith Sukumaran, Asif Ali, Mamukkoya, Vineeth, Indrans, Aparna Balamurali, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Surabhi Lakshmi, and Ann Augustine. The film is now available for streaming on ZEE5.

    Jay Pandya, whose career spans over two decades, has seamlessly transitioned from being a distinguished media executive to a visionary producer. Reflecting on his new role, Pandya shared, “As a producer and storyteller, my goal is to transcend traditional content creation. I aspire to build immersive worlds, develop compelling characters, and bring stories to life in ways that deeply resonate with audiences. My mission is to blend creativity with strategic insight to craft narratives that leave a lasting impact.”

    Commenting further on Manorathangal, Pandya added, “I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a prestigious project. It has been a dream to bring M. T. Vasudevan Nair’s remarkable stories to the screen, especially with a cast and crew of this caliber. Working alongside legendary directors like Priyadarshan and Santosh Sivan is truly an honor. This project stands as a testament to our commitment to storytelling excellence.”

    Before founding Blank Slate Films, Jay Pandya served as the ZEE5’s head of content acquisition & original films and Legend Studios’ CEO, where he played a pivotal role in developing significant projects such as ATAL and Veer Savarkar. His diverse portfolio also includes the production of three acclaimed music videos available on leading platforms.

    With Blank Slate Films, Jay Pandya aims to continue his legacy of delivering content-driven stories that resonate with audiences, marking a new phase in his career.

  • Yoodlee Films’ ‘Agra’ wins Best Film at Prestigious NYIFF Awards

    Yoodlee Films’ ‘Agra’ wins Best Film at Prestigious NYIFF Awards

    Mumbai: Globally acclaimed and celebrated film, ‘Agra’ has won two major awards at the New York Indian Film Festival Awards. The film won the award for Best Film, and actor Mohit Agarwal was awarded Best Actor Male for the film amidst eminent nominations. After receiving high praise across film festivals such as Cannes, Jio MAMI, Busan, and IFF Melbourne, Agra continues to put India on the global map by winning at the most celebrated NYIFF Awards. ‘Agra’ was one of the most awarded Indian films at NYIFF, with director Kanu Behl and actors Mohit Agarwal and Priyanka Bose nominated in principal categories.

    Alongwith the nominees, the film features a stellar cast led by Rahul Roy in a remarkable comeback, Ruhani Sharma, Vibha Chibber, Sonal Jha, and Aanchal Goswami. Directed by the renowned filmmaker Kanu Behl, the narrative delves into the complexities of love, desire, and familial bonds against the backdrop of a dysfunctional household in small-town India.

    Kanu Behl shared his excitement, “Cinema is truly a universal language, and it is overwhelming that something so personal to me is being recognized on a global stage. It is an honour to win such a prestigious award and a proud moment to represent India at this festival. The love and appreciation from audiences and critics globally have been exhilarating.”

    Saregama India Ltd. senior VP Siddharth Anand Kumar said, “Agra is a daring journey into the human psyche. For audiences across the globe to not just relate, but to celebrate the film, is a great honour for us. Representation at NYIFF is a proud moment, but winning Best Film and Best Actor is phenomenal. We are proud to continue this global journey for ‘Agra’.”

    Mohit Agarwal expressed his joy in winning the prestigious award, “I am ecstatic to receive the Best Actor award at the NYIFF film festival. It’s a recognition for our hard work and toil and to represent India on such a prestigious platform feels surreal!”

    The film is written by Kanu Behl and Atika Chohan.

     

  • Yoodlee Films Moves into Next Gear: finishes four films during COVID- 19

    Yoodlee Films Moves into Next Gear: finishes four films during COVID- 19

    Four films in various stages of completion in the last four months of the pandemic. Sounds like a tall order, but this is exactly what one new-age production house has gone ahead and done. 

    The unexpected onset of a global pandemic notwithstanding, Yoodlee Films has moved into the next gear, by completing four feature films, in the last few months. COVID-19 has pushed the Indian film industry to rethink production logistics, on-set protocol, safety regulations for cast and crew, and challenged conventional distribution, publicity, and release methodologies. In the midst of this, Yoodlee Films has defied all odds and has successfully managed to complete the shooting of two feature films simultaneously, with all directives and measures in place.  Alongside they have also wrapped up the post-production work on two other films, which are now being readied for release.

    Known for films that traverse a wide spectrum of topics and genres, Yoodlee Films immediately sprung into action as soon as the Unlock guidelines for shooting films were announced.  Two major feature films –  a Hindi romantic comedy involving a stand-up comic duo, called  'Comedy Couple' and Marathi cinema’s first horror-comedy featuring Zombies –  'Zombivali’,  started shoot immediately after the lockdown was lifted and completed the same in the next couple of months. Apart from this, two other features – 'Agra' and 'Bahut Hua Samman’ have sped into various stages of post-production and were readied for release, making Yoodlee Films the only production house to continue to be this prolific through the pandemic.  Its also to be noted that during the lockdown,  Yoodlee released the critically acclaimed 'Axone' and the crowd favorite 'Chaman Bahaar' on Netflix.

    'Agra' stars an ensemble cast headed by Rahul Roy who makes a comeback, along with Priyanka Bose, Mohit Agarwal, Ruhani Sharma, Vibha Chibber, Sonal Jha, and Aanchal Goswami. It explores confined spaces and suppressed sexuality in small towns and promises to start a conversation around taboo subjects. Agra which is being touted as a festival favorite is directed by Kanu Behl,  whose 2015 debut ‘Titli’ won much critical acclaim.

    'Bahut Hua Samman' stars Raghav Junyal, Sanjay Mishra, Nidhi Singh, and Ram Kapoor among others.  The film tweaks the idea of a heist caper and follows two students as they ideate to pull off a fool-proof robbery. Directed by Ashish Shukla and the film is set to launch on Disney+ Hotstar VIP on 2nd October 2020.

    'Comedy Couple' – starring Saqib Salim and Shweta Basu Prasad and directed by Nachiket Samant,  is an insightful look into the lives of two stand-up comics in the metro and is being touted as ‘com-rom’. The Film will premiere on Zee 5 Premium on the 21st of October. 

    'Zombivali,' is a unique Marathi horror comedy, featuring zombies for the first time,  is directed by Aditya Sarpotdar and stars popular actors Amey Wagh, Lalit Prabhakar, and Vaidehi Parshuram. 

    Vikram Mehra, MD Saregama India, says: We are passionate about telling interesting stories in Yoodlee Films. We had set out three years back, as a rank outsider, with a thriving desire to create cinema that affects and engages and to bring some order and method into the madness of film-making. Today we have proved ourselves to be the fastest-growing movie studio in the business, ready to take up challenges (such as we faced in the last few months) and create a new work principle, which is both effective and economical. Our success proves that the tenets of good management work even in the film industry if applied with reason and sense.

    Zombivali is looking at release next year when theatres will be operational, while Agra will soon be setting out to do the festival rounds all over.

  • Saregama IP boosts profits despite revenue fall in first quarter

    Saregama IP boosts profits despite revenue fall in first quarter

    BENGALURU: India music label and movie studio Saregama India Ltd (Saregama) reported 100 times growth in consolidated profit after tax (PAT) at Rs 22.01 crore for the quarter ended 30 June 2020 (Q1 2021, quarter or period under review) as compared to the Rs 0.22 crore for the corresponding year ago quarter Q1 2020. The company’s consolidated operating revenue declined 39.2 percent y-o-y in Q1 2021 to Rs 76.49 crore from Rs 125.90 crore in Q1 2020.

    Saregama says in a media release for the quarter that the primary profit driver was the increased consumption of Saregama IP: Music, Films, TV Serials on digital media by people staying at home. “There is more content getting consumed by more number of people in the post-Covid2019 era than the pre-Covid2019 one. These results have come despite Caravan sales slowing down in light of retail network being shut and no new shoots of our TV serials during this quarter.”

    Saregama has mentioned the following highlights in its earnings release: (1) New Licensing deals with Facebook and Spotify (2) Two Yoodlee films released on Netflix: Chaman Bahaar and Axone. Both trended on Netflix Top 10 list says Saregama (3) License (remake, dubbing) deals for 2 Tamil TV serials in Telugu language (4) Carvaan sale re-started around mid-June and 15,000 units were sold during the quarter. There was a steep increase in the consumption of podcasts on Carvaan 2.0 during this period.

    Saregama consolidated operating EBITDA for the period under review increased 122.6 percent (more than doubled) y-o-y to Rs 42.79 crore (55.9 percent of operating revenue) as compared to Rs 19.22 crore (15.3 percent of operating revenue).

    Segment numbers for Q1 2021

    Saregama has three segments in Music; Films and Television Serials; and Publication.

    The company reported operating revenue of Rs 69.64 crore for Q1 2021 which was 36.8 percent lower y-o-y than the Rs 110.17 crore in Q1 2020. Operating result for the segment however almost tripled (increased by 198.8 percent) to Rs 38.5 crore in Q1 2021 from Rs 13 crore in Q1 2020.

    Films and Television Serials segment reported 58.9 percent decline in operating revenue in Q1 2021 to Rs 5.87 crore from Rs 14.29 crore in Q1 2020. The segment’s operating loss increased in Q1 2021 to Rs 3.61 crore from an operating loss of Rs 1.17 crore in Q1 2020.

    Publication segment operating revenue declined 93.2 percent to Rs 0.98 crore in Q1 2021 from Rs 14.4 crore in Q1 2020. Operating results for Q1 2021 was a higher operating loss of 3.13 crore as compared to an operating loss of Rs 3.05 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter.

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by Saregama for Q1 2021

    Consolidated total income (operating revenue plus other income) for Q1 2021 declined 36.1 percent y-o-y to Rs 81.86 crore from Rs 128.08 crore. Consolidated total expenses in Q1 2021 declined 53.2 percent y-o-y to Rs 59.85 crore from Rs 127.86 crore in Q1 2020.

    Consolidated cost of materials consumed/Contract manufacturing charges for the quarter under review declined to by 98.8 percent to Rs 0.33 crore from Rs 26.95 crore in Q1 2020. Consolidated cost of production of Films and TV serials in Q1 2021 declined 86.7 percent y-o-y to Rs 1.79 crore from Rs 14.40 crore in Q1 2020. Consolidated employee benefits expense in Q1 2021 increased 13 percent y-o-y to Rs 17.44 crore from Rs 15.44 crore in Q1 2020.

    Consolidated finance costs in Q1 2021 declined 50 percent to Rs 0.95 crore from Rs 1.90 crore. Consolidated advertisement and sales promotion costs in Q1 2021 declined 80.3 percent to Rs 6.07 crore from Rs 30.76 crore in Q1 2020. Consolidated royalty expenses in Q1 2021 fell 6.6 percent y-o-y to Rs 13.29 crore from Rs 14.23 crore in Q1 2020. Consolidated other expenses during the period under review fell 42.9 percent y-o-y to Rs 10.94 crore from Rs 19.16 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter.
     

  • OTT platforms looking at more original films: Siddharth Anand Kumar

    OTT platforms looking at more original films: Siddharth Anand Kumar

    MUMBAI: Although web-series is the most discussed form of OTT content, some of the streaming services are also investing in content-driven original movies. Both international OTT players and home grown platforms in India have added original movies to their content catalogue. The change has expanded the scope for production houses, independent filmmakers to monetise low budget films easily. Popular music banner Saregama’s film venture Yoodlee Films which started last year has three of its movies on streaming giant Netflix. Two more films from the production house will be available on OTT platforms also.

    In an interaction with Indiantelevision.com, Saregama VP TV and Films Siddharth Anand Kumar highlighted the potential of original movies on the platform and their plan to work on OTT platforms. Saregama India’s film division collaborated with Netflix for the streaming giant’s first Indian original film Brij Mohan Amar Rahe, a dark comedy. Other than that, Ajji and Kuchh Beheege Alfaaz produced by them are also available on Netflix.

    Kumar thinks the potential of original movies on streaming platforms are growing. “OTT platforms are concentrating on putting more films as originals whereas till now we have been seeing more emphasis on series. I don’t think the focus on series will decrease but films are also getting in,” he said.

    Explaining the reason he said as a series demands a high amount of time from viewer to finish watching it, there is a separate need for stories which can be consumed in a small span. Traditionally, young audience of age group 18-25 has been given more importance in digital spaces that can binge-watch a series. But, the audience aged above 30 needs content of shorter span.  Yoodlee Films spokesperson also highlighted the benefits films can leverage from a marketing angle. As good content driven movies can be screened in international film festivals, it’s an easy way to grab eyeballs. Critic review also helps to increase awareness through word of mouth.

    The synergy between production houses and OTT platforms for originals can be regarded as win-win situation for both. While theatrical release cannot leave much impact without proper star-studded casting, those platforms have their own loyal viewer base. Moreover, content becomes more crucial than known faces.

    “I feel that it’s important for us as a production house to build a business relationship with all the OTT platforms. So, naturally when you make a film you will go to everybody who is a potential buyer and say that this is our film, this is the quality of the product we are making and if you would like to buy let’s start talking. So we always approach,” Kumar commented while he was asked if it approached Netflix for Brij Mohan Amar Rahe.

    “We have plans to work with all OTT platforms. What is important for us is not partnering with only one platform but creating something as a company where we can work with everybody. We want to take our films to any platform where it is needed Every platform has a specific niche. Some films will fit one platform, some will fit another,” he added.

    While he was asked how they measure the audience response, Kumar said though any OTT platform does not share data with producers, there’s another interesting way to get feedback on digital. With the release of one film, lots of conversations take place on Twitter, Facebook. The production house has a dedicated team to monitor the chatter on social media.

    While some concerns were raised regarding overflow of dark content on OTT platforms, he said as after a long time producers were freed from unnecessary restrictions, that was a natural reaction. Slangs, sex, violence – all despite being a part of commonplace life were strictly restricted from being shown on screen. “However, the cycle is now ending and we are realising other kind of content is equally important. Every kind of content will go on OTT,” he said.

    With a team of 30 members, the company is looking at creating more thematic films. Though it’s playing in an untested territory of its parent company and monetisation could be a challenge, the success of released films till now speaks in its favour.

  • Netflix to release new Indian original film ‘Brij Mohan Amar Rahe’ next week

    Netflix to release new Indian original film ‘Brij Mohan Amar Rahe’ next week

    MUMBAI: Netflix is all set to release a new Indian original film Brij Mohan Amar Rahe on 3 August. This is the first Netflix original from Yoodlee Films. The OTT platform has also released the trailer of the upcoming film.

    The film stars Arjun Mathur, Nidhi Singh, Sheetal Thakur, Manav Vij, Sunny Hinduja, Vijayant Kohli and Yogendra Tikku. The story revolves around the life of 36-year-old Brij Mohan, a hosiery shop owner in a busy Delhi market.

    “We are very proud to have films of the calibre of Brij Mohan Amar Rahe on the service, where millions of film-lovers around the world can discover these strong, captivating stories. We are also thrilled to get our first collaboration with Saregama off the ground, marking another milestone in our commitment towards forging solid relationships with Indian content creators,” Netflix international originals and acquisition director Swati Shetty commented.

    “Netflix is the premium VOD player and it is especially gratifying that the very first two films in our slate have found a home on this platform. It encourages us to continue to make fearless films that will reach out to audiences both domestic and international,” Saregama VP TV & Films Siddharth Anand Kumar said.

    Netflix CEO Reed Hastings recently said advantages are tremendous in India for internet viewing. Its first original film in India Love per Square Foot also did well. The platform is enriching its Indian original bouquet since the beginning of this year.