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At the prestigious 69th Filmfare Awards ceremony held on Sunday, actress Alizeh Agnihotri emerged victorious, securing the coveted Best Debut (Female) award for her stellar performance in the film ‘Farrey.’

‘Farrey’: A Journey into Human Complexity:

The film ‘Farrey,’ directed by national award-winning filmmaker Soumendra Padhi, intricately explores the complexities of human experiences, emotions, and the challenging choices individuals make when confronted with difficult situations. Alizeh’s portrayal in the film has garnered praise, marking her debut as a standout moment in Hindi cinema.

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Alizeh’s Roots: Daughter of Atul Agnihotri, Niece of Salman Khan:

Alizeh Agnihotri, born into the illustrious Agnihotri family, is the daughter of renowned producer Atul Agnihotri and the niece of Bollywood superstar Salman Khan. With these celebrated familial connections, Alizeh brings her talent and charm to the industry, making her mark as a promising newcomer.

Alizeh, who is all set to make her debut in showbiz with the thriller ‘Farrey’ has had the privilege of learning dance from the iconic late Saroj Khan for a short span of time. Alizeh’s dance prowess is evident in her performances, particularly in tracks like ‘Ghar Pe Party Hai’ and ‘Machade Tabahi.’

Alizeh shared her thoughts on her brief but impactful time with Saroj Khan: “I was lucky to be able to learn dancing from Sarojji for a short span. Those are memories I will cherish, and I feel extremely grateful for our time spent together.”

Directed by Soumendra Padhi, the film tells the tale of an orphan genius Niyati, who after gaining admission into an elite school on scholarship, gets entangled in a cheating racket when some of her rich friends lure her into helping them cheat in exams.

Alizeh, who is all set to make her debut in showbiz with the thriller ‘Farrey’ has had the privilege of learning dance from the iconic late Saroj Khan for a short span of time. Alizeh’s dance prowess is evident in her performances, particularly in tracks like ‘Ghar Pe Party Hai’ and ‘Machade Tabahi.’

Alizeh shared her thoughts on her brief but impactful time with Saroj Khan: “I was lucky to be able to learn dancing from Sarojji for a short span. Those are memories I will cherish, and I feel extremely grateful for our time spent together.”

Directed by Soumendra Padhi, the film tells the tale of an orphan genius Niyati, who after gaining admission into an elite school on scholarship, gets entangled in a cheating racket when some of her rich friends lure her into helping them cheat in exams.

Mumbai, Nov 10 (Ians) The upcoming film ‘Farrey’, which stars Alizeh, Zeyn Shaw, Sahil Mehta, Prasanna Bisht, Ronit B. Roy, and Juhi Babbar Soni in pivotal roles, has been picked for an official screening for the upcoming 54th edition of the International Film Festival of India (Iffi).

Iffi is set to be held in Goa from November 20 to November 28.

‘Farrey’ has been directed by Soumendra Padhi and written by Abhishek Yadav and Padhi. The film delves into the complex world of academic deception, where a scholarship recipient, the orphaned genius Niyati, becomes unwittingly entangled in a high-stakes cheating racket orchestrated by her affluent peers.

Talking about the film’s screening at Iffi, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan said: “Iffi is a very prestigious event and I am happy that Farrey is being screened at it. I have some fond memories of Iffi over the years and with Farrey making it to the...

Mumbai, Nov 10 (Ians) The upcoming film ‘Farrey’, which stars Alizeh, Zeyn Shaw, Sahil Mehta, Prasanna Bisht, Ronit B. Roy, and Juhi Babbar Soni in pivotal roles, has been picked for an official screening for the upcoming 54th edition of the International Film Festival of India (Iffi).

Iffi is set to be held in Goa from November 20 to November 28.

‘Farrey’ has been directed by Soumendra Padhi and written by Abhishek Yadav and Padhi. The film delves into the complex world of academic deception, where a scholarship recipient, the orphaned genius Niyati, becomes unwittingly entangled in a high-stakes cheating racket orchestrated by her affluent peers.

Talking about the film’s screening at Iffi, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan said: “Iffi is a very prestigious event and I am happy that Farrey is being screened at it. I have some fond memories of Iffi over the years and with Farrey making it to the...

Superstar Salman Khan’s niece Alizeh Agnihotri is all set to embark on her Bollywood journey with her debut film ‘Farrey’ releasing on November 24. Speaking to the media, she revealed how there was no pressure put on the cast by Salman while they were shooting for the film.

Alizeh, daughter of Salman’s sister Alvira Khan Agnihotri and actor-producer Atul Agnihotri, spoke about how the cast members were under no pressure, though her uncle is the presenter of the film.

When asked if her uncle wanted them to act in a particular way, or put any pressure on them, Alizeh said, “There was no pressure from him at all. He gave us all freedom and never interfered while we were shooting the film. We all had only one motive and that was to have fun.”

Of course, the burden of expectations is growing. “I feel the expectations and the pressure...

Superstar Salman Khan’s niece Alizeh Agnihotri is all set to embark on her Bollywood journey with her debut film ‘Farrey’ releasing on November 24. Speaking to the media, she revealed how there was no pressure put on the cast by Salman while they were shooting for the film.

Alizeh, daughter of Salman’s sister Alvira Khan Agnihotri and actor-producer Atul Agnihotri, spoke about how the cast members were under no pressure, though her uncle is the presenter of the film.

When asked if her uncle wanted them to act in a particular way, or put any pressure on them, Alizeh said, “There was no pressure from him at all. He gave us all freedom and never interfered while we were shooting the film. We all had only one motive and that was to have fun.”

Of course, the burden of expectations is growing. “I feel the expectations and the pressure...

New Delhi, Nov 7 (Ians) Singers-songwriters Badshah, Sachin-Jigar and Aastha Gill’s new track ‘Ghar Pe Party’ from the upcoming film ‘Farrey’ is the ultimate party track as it really sets the vibe for a never-ending party and narrates the joy of simply living in the moment, to live and let go.

Very straightforward, simple and to-the-point, ‘Ghar Pe Party’ is exactly what it sounds like, a bunch of young kids having a ball atAlizeh Agnihotri’s character’shouse who is simply living in the moment with her friends.

Celebrating the joys of friendship, youth, and life, this exuberant piece incorporates rap, Edm, techno, electro-pop, and elements of film music.

The rapping of Badshah is neither freestyle nor gangsta, but rather just a simple beat down where he is simply talking about the party.

This is coupled with the singing of Sachin-Jigar and Aastha Gill, who go pure electronic and even use auto-tune.

New Delhi, Nov 7 (Ians) Singers-songwriters Badshah, Sachin-Jigar and Aastha Gill’s new track ‘Ghar Pe Party’ from the upcoming film ‘Farrey’ is the ultimate party track as it really sets the vibe for a never-ending party and narrates the joy of simply living in the moment, to live and let go.

Very straightforward, simple and to-the-point, ‘Ghar Pe Party’ is exactly what it sounds like, a bunch of young kids having a ball atAlizeh Agnihotri’s character’shouse who is simply living in the moment with her friends.

Celebrating the joys of friendship, youth, and life, this exuberant piece incorporates rap, Edm, techno, electro-pop, and elements of film music.

The rapping of Badshah is neither freestyle nor gangsta, but rather just a simple beat down where he is simply talking about the party.

This is coupled with the singing of Sachin-Jigar and Aastha Gill, who go pure electronic and even use auto-tune.

National Award Winning director Soumendra Padhi, who went behind the camera for ‘Jamtara 2’, has spoken about his process on making the Netflix series. He said showcasing scams in a correct light was highly imperative for him.

Directed by Soumendra Padhi, his most recent work has been receiving rave reviews. With critical acclaim and audience appreciation, the series has created a strong impact! With strong writing and the ensemble’s acting prowess, Jamtara: Sabka Number Ayega has gone in-depth and captured real life cases and issues revolving around scams & phishing. Having an eye for detail, Soumendra believes that it’s the small things that help build creativity.

Sharing about his shooting process, award winning director Soumendra Padhi said, “Scams related to cyber-space and phishing have been frequent in our country. Showcasing them in a correct light was highly imperative for me. There was a lot of research and real-life cases...

Actress Seema Pahwa, who is currently gearing up for the second season of the streaming crime drama ‘Jamtara: Sabka Number Ayega’, recently spoke about her part in the series of a highly calculative and cunning political leader, Ganga Devi.

The actress described her character as fun and at the same time dangerous.

Speaking about her role in ‘Jamtara Season 2’, Seema said, “Ganga Devi is very unique with her characteristics and traits. She’s fun and at the same time dangerous. She’s child-like but at the same time cunning. Portraying this duality has been highly fulfilling.”

“This character’s strong headedness helped me enjoy ‘Ganga Devi’ even more. For me, when it comes to acting, I only see the character. My focus remains on exploring various facets of emotions that can be deemed surreal. I can say that I enjoyed playing Ganga Devi a lot.”

Written by Trishant Srivastava, ‘Jamtara Season 2’ also stars Sparsh Shrivastava,...

Actress Seema Pahwa, who is currently gearing up for the second season of the streaming crime drama ‘Jamtara: Sabka Number Ayega’, recently spoke about her part in the series of a highly calculative and cunning political leader, Ganga Devi.

The actress described her character as fun and at the same time dangerous.

Speaking about her role in ‘Jamtara Season 2’, Seema said, “Ganga Devi is very unique with her characteristics and traits. She’s fun and at the same time dangerous. She’s child-like but at the same time cunning. Portraying this duality has been highly fulfilling.”

“This character’s strong headedness helped me enjoy ‘Ganga Devi’ even more. For me, when it comes to acting, I only see the character. My focus remains on exploring various facets of emotions that can be deemed surreal. I can say that I enjoyed playing Ganga Devi a lot.”

Written by Trishant Srivastava, ‘Jamtara Season 2’ also stars Sparsh Shrivastava,...

Actress Monika Panwar, who is gearing up for the second season of the crime drama ‘Jamtara’, said that the upcoming season will be a thrilling ride for the audience. Her character will emerge as a formidable force and a lot will rest heavily on her.

Throwing light on what it takes to play a headstrong character, Monika shared: “While the last season was about Gudiya finding her ground, this season will be the ultimate battle of survival for her. As an artist I enjoy portraying challenging roles that allow me to experience a range of varying emotions.”

She lauds her director for extracting the best out of her as she further mentioned: “However I wouldn’t have been able to walk on this path if it was not for our director – Soumendra Padhi. He is an excellent teacher. As an actor, it was an absolutely enriching experience to work with him – one to cherish.

The trailer of the much-awaited second season of crime-drama ‘Jamtara – Sabka Number Ayega’ was unveiled on Thursday. It shows the boundaries of the phishing world expanding into darker realms. Bringing in more scams and unseen threats, the new season blends old rivalries with new characters, bringing things to a head as Gudiya (Monika Panwar) takes on Brajesh Bhaan (Amit Sial) during the elections.

The second season will show how the young scamsters have innovated and diversified phishing in Jamtara, finding themselves up against a wall. In the face of insurmountable odds, politics, and an unquenchable want of power, Sunny Mondal (Sparsh Shrivastava), his older cousin Rocky (Anshumaan Pushkar), and Gudiya bring the fight to local politician, Brajesh Bhaan.

Throwing light on the premise of the upcoming season, director Soumendra Padhi shared, “Over the last few years, we’ve seen a huge uptick in the number of phishing scams. All of...

The Indian crime drama streaming series ‘Jamtara’, which tells the story of intricate small scale scams of India and their repercussions, is set to return with its second season.

The official synopsis of the show describes it as the powerful visual of an enormous banyan tree in the middle of nowhere with hundreds of mobile phones hanging from it as it gets deeply embroiled in cyber crime.

The series tells the story of young school drop-outs who cook up an elaborate phishing scam raking in fortunes, only to be intercepted by the police and local politicians.

The returning season is all about what grows into India’s next huge scam with Sunny (Sparsh Shrivastav) at the helm of it while Gudiya (Monika Panwar) and Rocky (Anshumaan Pushkar) fight back in their own ways.

In addition, Amit Sial will also reprise his role alongside Dibyendu Bhattacharya and Aksha Pardhasany. The new...

India’s Super Cassettes Industries, operating under the label T-Series, has revealed plans for a 100-film slate across various Indian languages.

The company was founded by the late Gulshan Kumar in 1983 as a music business. He soon grew it into India’s biggest music label. Bhushan Kumar took over as chair and MD of the company in 1997. T-Series has been producing or co-producing films since 1990, but is now poised for a huge push into the space with a range of films featuring A-listers. The company’s latest film, “Jhund,” starring Amitabh Bachchan, is currently on theatrical release.

Bhushan Kumar spoke with Variety about the company’s plans.

Can you give us some highlights of your 100-film slate? In what languages will the slate be in?

Over the years, T-Series has backed films and graced the audience with commercially and critically acclaimed films like “Aashiqui 2,” “Baby,” “Hindi Medium,” “Kabir Singh,...

Leading Indian music label and film studio T-Series is diversifying into producing series designed for streaming platforms and has signed up an A-list directorial talent roster.

The company’s stated aim is to create content “which shall appeal to all sectors of the audience, with gripping shows across genres,” including action thrillers, biopics, murder mysteries and jailbreak dramas.

Signed up as show runners are Aanand L. Rai (“Atrangi Re”), Anubhav Sinha (“Article 15”), Nikkhil Advani (“Mumbai Diaries 26/11”), Hansal Mehta (“Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story”), Sanjay Gupta (“Mumbai Saga”), Bejoy Nambiar (“Solo”), Suparn S. Varma (“The Family Man”), Mikhil Musale (“Made In China”) and Soumendra Padhi (“Jamtara: Sabka Number Ayega”).

“We aim at offering fresh, original and exclusive stories tailored for our viewers across the globe,” said Bhushan Kumar, chair and MD of T-Series. “With this expansion, we aim at creating binge-worthy content that will cater to new audiences and will include tapping new markets.

NetflixThe series is based on true cyber crimes from Jamtara in Jharkhand.Neetha JohnWhere the land is tinted a dreary shade of blue and brown, you know there will be misery and sadness. The young lads of Jamkara are fraudsters, cyber criminals and well, “These boys call people posing as bank employees, and make fake calls and steal their money'' as inspector Biswa (Dibyendu Bhattacharya) says. Everybody knows about the cyber crimes that have been going on, and yet, nothing keeps them from being tempted by a trip to Goa or a Maruti car, into sharing their security details. The young lads, led by the brains behind these phone calls - Sunny Mondal (Sparsh Shrivastava), a boy of 17 - know just how to take advantage of gullible, greedy and ignorant Indians. The series is written by Trishant Srivastava and directed by Soumendra Padhi who won the National Award for Best...

It takes a Google search to put a finger on Jamtara. It is a sleepy district tucked away somewhere in northeast Jharkhand, barely over 1,800 square kilometers in expanse. In 2006 the government listed Jamtara as one of India's 250 most backward districts.

Here's the quirk, then: Jamtara town, which forms the hub of such a backward domain, is widely nicknamed India's phishing capital. Over 50 per cent of phishing scams happening in the country are executed from this remote backyard of nothingness.

Soumendra Padhi's web series tries delving into the reality that drives such an irony, with focus on creating drama and suspense. Simply put, phishing is a crime that requires very little investment -- a dispensable cellphone and a sim card. The caller, posing as a bank official, must also have the adroit conversational skill to dig out identity details pertaining to the victim's bank account or debit card. Often, educated...

Viacom18 Motion Pictures today announced the launch of its digital content brand – Tipping Point. The brand will extend the Viacom18 Motion Pictures productons by creating contemporary, engaging and path breaking content for online audiences. The brand offers a host of web series, short films and non-traditional formats with unconventional narratives.

Commenting on the development, Ajit Andhare, COO, Viacom18 Motion Pictures said, “Having conquered the big screen through unconventional narratives, it is time for Viacom18 Motion Pictures to make its mark in the rapidly emerging digital content space. Tipping Point – our digital content brand will appeal to consumers looking for edgy, contemporary, provocative yet relatable content typically missing in the traditional or mainstream media. Through Tipping Point, Viacom18 Motion Pictures will evolve from being a film studio into a holistic content studio, reaching beyond theatrical offerings into millions of screens on mobile & personal devices with its unique storytelling.”

As a part...

Indian studio, Viacom 18 Motion Pictures has launched a digital content division called Tipping Point to create web series and short films.

Upcoming web series include “X Ray – Selected Satyajit Ray Shorts” based on stories by the late lifetime achievement Oscar winner, and directed by Srijit Mukherji (“Autograph”); an untitled crime thriller from Imtiaz Ali (“Rockstar”); “Jamtara”, a story about India’s phishing capital by Soumendra Padhi (“Budhia Singh: Born to Run”) and psychological thriller “Best Days” by Abhishek Sengupta (“Laakhon Mein Ek”).

The content will initially be available on Viacom 18’s Ott channel Voot and Reliance’s Jio platform. “We are not looking at ourselves just as movie makers but as content makers in the digital ecosystem as well,” Viacom 18 Motion Pictures COO Ajit Andhare told Variety in March. “Our ability to tell stories in film and working with top filmmakers translates very well to produce content in the digital world.

Budhia Singh, the marathon runner who at the age of 4 created a world record by running non-stop from Bhubaneshwar to Puri, a distance of 65 kilometres, is now 14. A film on his life Budhia Singh Born To Run has now been released, 10 years after fame hit him at that tender age. But Budhia says he cannot remember anything. Speaking in a halting mumble he says, "I was too small. Main bachcha ttha. 10 years have passed. I've spent these ten years in sports hostel training for marathon running. But I am not allowed to run. I want to run. I want to do my country proud." The film on his global fame at age 4 made Budhia happy. "I watched it like I was seeing someone else's life. It was incredible! I was happy when the director Soumendra Padhi made a film on my life." Budhia remains detached from the film. "When I...

Starring Manoj Bajpai, Mayur Patole, Tillotama Shome

Written & Directed by Soumendra Padhi

Watching the extreme poverty of wunder-kid Budhia Singh’s life in this brave and profoundly moving biopic, I felt rich and privileged.

Cinema that can elevate your spirit while depicting the tragic loss of youth and innocence in the midst of abject deprivation is a rare exception and eminently welcome. Ergo, a standing ovation for debutant director Soumendra Padhi’s bluntly brilliant biopic. It may not brag of the brio that dazzles us in Dishoom or the swag that makes Salman the Sultan of the box office.

But by God, Budhia Singh – Born To Run spreads sunshine in the viewer’s heart. Its notably pronounced mood of transparency lends to the narrative a sense of unadorned directness. And yet this film is not a dry documentary on am exceptional child from Odisha who ran (and he ran, and ran…...

Budhia Singh - Born To Run directed by Soumendra Padhi is already creating ripples with its promising trailer. The film based on the world's youngest marathon runner, 5 year old Budhia Singh is a month away from its release but the makers are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the film and its message reach as many cine-goers as possible. Read More...