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In a major move that signals its ambitious expansion plans, Mumbai-based Bhanushali Studios Ltd. has named entertainment industry veteran Neeraj Vyas to the newly created position of CEO, bringing aboard an executive with over three decades of experience to steer the production house’s next phase of growth.

The executive brings 34 years of industry experience, including 29 years at Sony, with expertise spanning sales, content strategy, and programming across films, music, fiction, and non-fiction entertainment.

The production house has made its mark with notable titles including “Janhit Mein Jaari,” “Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai,” “Main Atal Hoon” and “Bhaiyya Ji.” The appointment comes as the studio seeks to accelerate growth amid evolving media landscape demands in content creation and distribution, focusing on platform selection, pricing, and audience engagement. Vyas will spearhead the company’s expansion strategy across film business verticals while building industry partnerships.

“At Bhanushali Studios Ltd., we are committed to pushing creative boundaries,...

Of late, Bollywood has been really fumbling it when it comes to well-intentioned films about issues plaguing society and the country in general. Well, Bollywood has been faltering in every department lately, period. But it feels bad when you can see the meaningful message that the movie was trying to send across to its audience, which was then marred due to the flawed execution. Dispatch is one such example where a story about how journalists’ right to tell the truth is being violently suppressed was ruined by its need to be risque and over-explanatory. Indian 2 wanted to talk about the difference between online and on-ground patriotism, but it failed to leave a mark because of some of its absurd creative choices. Projects like Bhakshak, LSD 2, Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, and Bheed were so sure that the topic that they were dealing with was potent enough that they didn...

Boasting a career of almost three decades and over a hundred films, Manoj Bajpayee is one of the stalwarts of method acting in Indian Cinema. A director’s actor and a chameleon in his performances, you can catch one of Manoj Bajpayee’s very unique performances as journalist Joy Bag in director Kanu Behl’s journalism thriller Despatch.

We at High on Films, had the opportunity to have a quick word with Mr. Bajpayee about his career and his performance especially related to his recent work, including “Despatch”.

Amartya Acharya: In your run of stories within the Ott space, you have explored a diverse range of characters. With regards to this film and the very flawed character you are playing, what was your acting process? Was it very instinctual, or was the screenplay quite detailed for you to shape the character?

Manoj Bajpayee: I mean, no amount of instinct can work alone,...

ZEE5 Global, a prominent streaming platform for South Asian content, has released data revealing the growing popularity of reality-inspired titles over the past two years. These productions now constitute approximately 20% of the platform’s total viewership.

Content based on real-life events and notable figures has consistently topped the charts, indicating an increasing demand for factual narratives. “Sam Bahadur,” a biopic of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw starring Vicky Kaushal, leads the pack as the most-watched content across all categories in 2024, setting new records in viewership and engagement. Other popular titles in this genre include “Swatantrya Veer Savarkar,” depicting the life of Indian political figure V.D. Savarkar with Randeep Hooda in the lead role, and “Main Atal Hoon,” a biographical drama about former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee featuring Pankaj Tripathi.

In 2023, original productions like “Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai,” based on a landmark child sex offence case and starring Manoj Bajpayee,...

Anant-Radhika’s Lavish Cruise Wedding, Tillu Cube Delays, Kalki 2898 Ad Director’s Invite To Elon Musk – Today’s Top Trending News. (Photo Credit – Instagram)

In the midst of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s luxurious cruise pre-wedding bash, Shah Rukh Khan might have accidentally revealed his next film title. Bhanushali Studios is celebrating a big win with a 3-film deal, while Randeep Hooda is honouring Veer Savarkar on his birthday. Jackie Shroff just secured a legal victory protecting his personality rights. Fans will unfortunately have to wait until 2025 for Tillu Cube’s release, but Pushpa 2 promises a chart-topping song with “Sooseki”. Finally, the director of Kalki 2898 Ad is extending an invitation to Elon Musk for a futuristic ride in his film.

Scroll down to read the top trending news in detail!

Bollywood Sets Sail for Anant-Radhika’s Lavish Cruise Pre-Wedding Bash!

The pre-wedding festivities for Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant continue!

Bollywood Stars Shine Brightly

Deepika Padukone, who made her Bollywood debut with “Om Shanti Om” (2007), has topped IMDb’s list of the top 100 most viewed Indian stars of the last decade. Shah Rukh Khan, her co-star in that and several other films, is in second place. The list is determined by the page views of the 250 million monthly visitors to IMDb worldwide. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Alia Bhatt place third and fourth on the list while the late Irrfan Khan is in fifth position, Aamir Khan in sixth, the late Sushant Singh Rajput in seventh and Salman Khan in eighth.

Notably, most of the stars in the top 20 are from the Hindi-language Bollywood, while the highest placed actors from India’s southern film industries are all women – Samantha Ruth Prabhu at 13, followed by Tamannaah Bhatia at 16 and Nayanthara at 18. The highest placed male actors from the southern industries are Prabhas,...

Manoj Bajpayee’s latest film, ‘Bhaiyaaji’, is generating immense excitement among fans, and for good reason. Here are five reasons why you shouldn’t miss this action-packed thriller:

Firstly, ‘Bhaiyaaji’ showcases the exceptional acting skills of Manoj Bajpayee, who has created a niche for himself with many memorable projects across mediums. His versatility as an actor is unmatched, and this film promises to be another standout performance.

Secondly, the trailer of ‘Bhaiyaaji’ has generated immense excitement among fans, promising an action-packed experience like no other. The film’s high-octane action sequences and thrilling plot twists are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Thirdly, ‘Bhaiyaaji’ is the result of the exciting partnership between Vinod Bhanushali, a renowned producer, and Manoj Bajpayee, a versatile actor. This dynamic duo is sure to create magic on screen.

Fourthly, the film is produced under Bhanushali Studios Limited, which aims to create engaging and thought-provoking content.

The Indian film industry has witnessed numerous successful collaborations between talented individuals, and one such exciting partnership is between Vinod Bhanushali and Manoj Bajpayee. Bhanushali, a renowned producer, and Bajpayee, a versatile actor, have joined forces to create cinematic magic.

Their first venture, “Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai,” released in 2023, marked the beginning of a promising collaboration. Directed by Apoorv Singh Karki and written by Deepak Kingrani, the film showcased Bajpayee’s exceptional acting skills and Bhanushali’s production prowess.

Bhanushali’s production house, Bhanushali Studios Limited, launched in September 2021, aims to create engaging and thought-provoking content. With “Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai” as one of its initial releases, the studio has already made a mark in the industry.

The team’s hard work and dedication earned them several awards and recognition, solidifying the success of their collaboration.

Their upcoming project, “Bhaiyya Ji,” is highly anticipated, with its action-packed trailer generating immense excitement among fans.

Manoj Bajpayee, known as one of India’s finest actors, is adopting a mass-market action hero persona in upcoming film “Bhaiyya Ji.”

The story, where Bajpayee’s character faces off against a powerful man and his henchmen to seek revenge for wrongs done to his family, is literally ripped from the headlines. The actor read the real-life story in a newspaper several years ago and it stayed with him.

“I wanted to do an independent film and really explore this mindset of revenge, where it comes from, really analyze it and find the psychology of revenge in the human mind, that fascinated me,” Bajpayee told Variety. While shooting courtroom drama “Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai” (2023), the actor mentioned it to director Apoorv Singh Karki, who was similarly fascinated by the idea.

“I just wanted his opinion on it. But this guy jumped up and said, ‘I’m a big fan of mass entertainers,...

Bhaiyya Ji, directed by Apoorv Singh Karki, promises to be an action-packed Bollywood tale with high expectations. Manoj Bajpayee stars in this film, confirmed for release on May 24, 2024, as the antihero seeking revenge for his family. The teaser trailer released on March 20, 2024, showcases Bhaiyaaji in a dramatic action sequence, hinting at a thrilling storyline.

Manoj Bajpayee has a new movie and in 2024, there has been a lot of exciting news about Bhaiyya Ji. From director Apoorv Singh Karki, an Indian filmmaker whose work has primarily been in Hindi television with series like Aspirants, The Aam Aadmi Family, and Flame, Bhaiyya Ji is Karki's second feature film after the 2023 legal drama Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai. Bhaiyya Ji promises to be a more action-packed and classic Bollywood-style tale.

Bollywood films have been making big inroads in larger markets outside the country thanks to streamers like Amazon Prime Video and Netflix supporting large libraries of Hindi-language movies.

As the country celebrates Bihar Diwas on Friday, Ians has compiled a list of actors from the state who have made it big on the big screen and are making waves in Bollywood.

Manoj Bajpayee: The National Film Award winner, who is from village Belwa in West Champaran district, applied for admission into the National School of Drama (Nsd) four times, but got rejected on each occasion. That did not stop him from pursuing his celluloid dreams and attaining the fame he could never have dreamt of.

He made his film debut with a one-minute role in the 1994 Naseeruddin Shah-Om Puri-starrer ‘Drohkaal’, followed by a minor role as a dacoit in Shekhar Kapur’s much-acclaimed ‘Bandit Queen’. Fame came Bajpayee’s way when he played the gangster Bhiku Mhatre in Ram Gopal Varma’s 1998 crime drama ‘Satya’.

The 54-year-old actor is well known for his roles in movies such as ‘Kaun?...

Actor Manoj Bajpayee, who has shaped the contours of the modern parallel cinema in India, is stepping into a massy role for his upcoming film titled ‘Bhaiyya Ji’. The makers of the film released the teaser on Wednesday which shows Manoj in the role of a massy action hero whose name is enough to send shivers down the spine.

The teaser is filled with several high-speed shots which establish Manoj’s titular character as the one who should be feared and bowed down to.

Talking about his character, Manoj Bajpayee shared: “Bhaiyya Ji had to be a character audiences cannot easily forget especially since ‘Bhaiyya Ji’ marks my 100th film in the industry, and I am happy that I got to do it with my Bandaa team. We have enjoyed every bit of making the character and film and we are sure the audiences will enjoy every second of the...

The News18 Showsha Reel Awards 2024 brought together the glitz of Bollywood and the dynamism of the Ott world in a spectacular event. Hosted by the dynamic duo Aparshakti Khurana and Neha Dhupia, the evening celebrated the best of content and talents across films and web series, guided by a distinguished panel of jury members including Prasoon Joshi, Aanand L Rai, Kabir Bedi, Meenakshi Seshadri, Ramesh S Taurani, Neeraj Ghaywan, and Tavishi Paitanday. The event was a grand spectacle, honouring the art of storytelling and recognizing outstanding contributions.

The festivities commenced with a scintillating performance by Threeory Band, known for their Animal fame, setting the stage on fire with a mix of chart-topping hits and timeless classics. The event witnessed the presence of luminaries from the entertainment industry, including Karan Johar, Rani Mukherjee, Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor, Kartik Aaryan, Aditya Roy Kapur, Ananya Panday, Janhvi Kapoor, Shabana Azmi, Manoj Bajpayee, Sharmila Tagore,...

As the celebrity dance reality show ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 11’ is set to air its final episode on Saturday, March 2, here are the five standout highlights of the grand finale. The five finalists of this season are Dhanashree Verma, Manisha Rani, Adrija Sinha, Sreerama Chandra and Shoaib Ibrahim.

Dhanashree and Adrija: The divas are said to be super excited for their ‘last performance’ in the show. Dhanashree, a social media personality and wife of cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal, was spotted wearing a blingy sleeveless green short dress, and Adrija, who is known for her work in ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’, sported a purple glammed-up outfit for the grand finale photo shoot.

Shoaib Ibrahim’s family: The ‘Sasural Simar Ka’ actor has been praised for his stellar performances throughout the show. He danced to a soul-stirring instrumental version of the timeless melody ‘Lag Ja Gale’ and pulled off a hilarious act...

As the celebrity dance reality show ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 11’ is set to air its final episode on Saturday, March 2, here are the five standout highlights of the grand finale. The five finalists of this season are Dhanashree Verma, Manisha Rani, Adrija Sinha, Sreerama Chandra and Shoaib Ibrahim.

Dhanashree and Adrija: The divas are said to be super excited for their ‘last performance’ in the show. Dhanashree, a social media personality and wife of cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal, was spotted wearing a blingy sleeveless green short dress, and Adrija, who is known for her work in ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’, sported a purple glammed-up outfit for the grand finale photo shoot.

Shoaib Ibrahim’s family: The ‘Sasural Simar Ka’ actor has been praised for his stellar performances throughout the show. He danced to a soul-stirring instrumental version of the timeless melody ‘Lag Ja Gale’ and pulled off a hilarious act...

Check Out The Complete Winner List Of Bollywood Polls In Koimoi Audience Poll 2023 (Photo Credit – IMDb)

Koimoi Audience Poll 2023: Polls for Bollywood were conducted on Twitter throughout the last month, and the results of the same are already out. We clearly saw Shah Rukh Khan dominating the results with his films, and he was also voted the Best Actor by Twitter users. Check out the complete list of winners below, along with a percentage of votes in their favor:

Best Film:

Jawan – 72%

Best Director:

Atlee (Jawan) – 79%

Best Actress:

Adah Sharma (The Kerala Story) – 76.4%

Trending Rakul Preet Singh & Jackky Bhagnani’s Combined Net Worth: Ayalaan Actress Owns 58% Of The Total, Earns Higher Than Bmcm Producer

Deepika Padukone vs Anushka Sharma vs Katrina Kaif Net Worth 2024: With 123% Higher Fortune, Guess Who Conquers The Throne?

Best Actor:

Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan) – 74%

Best Supporting Actress:

Sanya Malhotra (Jawan) – 53.7%

Best Supporting Actor:...

Koimoi Audience Poll 2023 Vs Filmfare Awards 2024: Shah Rukh Khan Vs Ranbir Kapoor For Best Actors, Check Out The List Of Winners In The Common Categories! (Picture Credit: IMDb)

We, here at Koimoi, conducted polls on Twitter for Bollywood, and the results are already out. It included the standard categories of awards. So, today, we’ll be doing a fun comparison of results between our Koimoi Audience Poll and one of the most prestigious award shows of Bollywood, Filmfare Awards. Let us tease you by informing you that in our poll, Best Actor of 2023 was bagged by Shah Rukh Khan, while in Filmfare, Ranbir Kapoor walked away with the honor.

For those who don’t know, our audience polls were posted on Twitter, and each poll was open for 7 days. During the duration of 7 days, each poll received tremendous response from users, and in the majority of categories, the impact...

Koimoi Audience Poll 2023: Manoj Bajpayee To Sanya Malhotra – Here’s The Winner List Of Best Actor With A Difference (Male) & 3 More Categories!

Koimoi Audience Poll 2023: As we move ahead in announcing the results of Bollywood polls, we’ll be revealing the winners of five categories today. It includes the final outcome of the Twitter polls conducted for the Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Actor With A Difference (Female), Best Actress With A Difference (Male), and Best Movie With A Difference categories. Before we announce the entire winner list, let us tease you by informing you that Manoj Bajpayee has emerged victorious as the Best Actor With A Difference (Male) for his performance in Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai. Keep reading to know more!

In this lot of audience poll results, Manoj Bajpayee’s Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai leaves an impact as out of five categories,...

The Kerala Story’s Ott release date and other details announced (Picture Credit: IMDb)

The Kerala Story created quite a buzz during its theatrical release last year in May. The movie starred Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Sonia Balani, and Siddhi Idnani in the lead roles. The movie was one of the most talked-about films of 2023, with record-breaking box office numbers. And now, the makers have announced The Kerala Story’s Ott release date. Keep reading to know more!

Reception among critics & audiences

Inspired by actual events, The Kerala Story delves into the sensitive and complex issue of the alleged radicalization and conversion of young Hindu women to another religion in Kerala, forcing them into joining terrorist groups. The film follows the story of three girls: Shalini (Adah Sharma), Nimah (Yogita Bihani), and Geetanjali (Siddhi Idnani), who are manipulated by their roommate, Asifa (Sonia Balani), into converting to another religion.

The...

Suparn S Varma is on a roll of late thanks to the success of his web shows like ‘The Family Man’, ‘Rana Naidu’, ‘The Trial’ and ‘Sultan Of Delhi’ and the much-loved flick, ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’. And now, he’s all set to back a film based on yet another controversial and hard-hitting court case – the Shah Bano Begum case.

For those who are not aware, the Shah Bano Begum Vs Mohd. Ahmad Khan case, commonly known as the Shah Bano Begum case, is considered to be a landmark milestone in post-independence India. It was filed in 1978 by Shah Bano, then 62-year-old, after her husband Mohd. Ahmad Khan divorced her. She asked for maintenance for herself and her five children under Section 123 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

Shah Bano won the case and it led to an uproar since a section of the people believed that the...

Exclusive: A war biopic chronicling the life of India’s first field marshal has become the all-time biggest Hindi weekend opener on the ZEE5 Global streaming platform.

Based on the life of Sam Manekshaw, the first Indian Army officer promoted to the rank of Field Marshal, Sam Bahadur stars Vicky Kaushal, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub.

In the first three days of its digital release on ZEE5 Global, the film has risen to the top position among all Hindi titles released on the South Asia-focused platform, surpassing figures for 2023 blockbusters like Gadar 2 and Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai.

Sam Bahadur

Like most other streamers, ZEE5 Global doesn’t break down viewing data, but it said viewers from over 190 countries have watched Sam Bahadur on the streaming platform, with the U.S., Australia, UK, United Arab Emirates and Canada as the top performers outside of India.

In a notable event connecting the worlds of cinema and politics, renowned film producer Vinod Bhanushali recently met with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow. The Chief Minister took to Twitter to share a photo from this courteous meeting, highlighting the convergence of two influential figures from distinct spheres.

Symbolic Photo Captures Cultural Essence

The shared photo is particularly striking, featuring Vinod Bhanushali and Yogi Adityanath holding an idol of Lord Ram, symbolizing a blend of cultural and cinematic values. This image not only represents the respect for cultural roots but also hints at the potential collaboration between the realms of cinema and governance.

प्रख्यात फिल्म निर्माता श्री विनोद भानुशाली जी से आज लखनऊ में शिष्टाचार भेंट हुई।@vinodbhanu pic.twitter.com/tKKXFq5F0E

— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath...

Koimoi Audience Poll 2023: Vote For Best Movie With A Difference ( Photo Credit – IMDb )

Koimoi Audience Poll 2023: The last leg of the polls has begun, and we will now bring you the top categories, including Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and others. It will soon be a month since we started the Koimoi Audience Poll 2023, and we hope you all have been supporting us and choosing your favorite from the nominations of different categories.

On that note, today’s audience poll is about ‘Best Movie With A Difference’ and its nominations include much-talked-about films like The Kerala Story, The Vaccine War, and others. So, to select your ‘Best Film,’ click on one of the options given in a Twitter poll mentioned at the end of our article.

So, let’s start with the nominations for ‘Best Movie With A Difference’. Shall we?

Trending Koimoi Audience Poll 2023: Shah Rukh Khan...

Koimoi Audience Poll 2023: Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan Or Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal – Vote For The Best Production Design (Photo Credit – IMDb)

Koimoi Audience Poll 2023: Last year, Bollywood saw mega hits and larger-than-life movies with extravagant and gorgeous sets. A film’s set is essential to establish its time period or where the movie is set. Bollywood takes special care in creating elaborate sets. Among the many movies that were released in 2023, we have picked four films that stood out from the rest in terms of production design, including Atlee’s Jawan starring Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, and others.

In today’s Audience Poll, we bring you the nominations for the ‘Best Production Design’ category. It is up to you to choose the winner among our four contenders. Scroll below for more.

In our Audience Poll for the Best Production Design,...

Top 10 Films Of 2023 (Ott): From Lust Stories 2 To Kareena Kapoor’s Jaane Jaan – IMDb Drops The List (Picture Credit: IMDb)

IMDb has dropped the list of top 10 films released on Ott platforms, and right from Kajol to Kareena Kapoor Khan, leading ladies of B’town have been ruling this arena. Young actors like Sidharth Malhotra, Sara Ali Khan, Sanya Malhotra, and Janhvi Kapoor also took their films straight to the platform.

Although direct-to-ott releases have been a thing of the past since the theaters have been functional, it has started a new genre of films exclusively made for the Ott platforms. This year, directors like Nitesh Tiwari and Sujoy Ghosh have offered brilliant films on Ott.

The Most Popular Indian Movies of 2023 (Streaming) list represents five subscription-based services, with five titles from Netflix, two from Zee5, and one each from Prime Video, JioCinema, and Disney+ Hotstar. The Most...

India is on the verge of producing a global breakthrough streaming hit, leading industry players said over the past week across two panel discussions.

The mood in the country has been celebratory, even self-congratulatory, albeit with some justification, after the Oscar wins for S.S. Rajamouli’s “Rrr” and Karthiki Gonsalves and Guneet Monga’s “The Elephant Whisperers.” On the streaming front, all the major players have had several hits. SonyLIV scored an International Emmy nomination for “Rocket Boys,” for lead actor Jim Sarbh. Netflix won the International Emmy for comedy for “Vir Das: Landing” and “The Railway Men” cracked the streamer’s global non-English TV top 3 in addition to topping the South Asian chart. Locally, Netflix dominated the Filmfare streaming awards with 26 wins including prizes for “Trial by Fire,” “Kohrra” and “Scoop.”

Prime Video’s “The Panchayat Season 2” won best series at the International Film Festival of India’s inaugural...

Mumbai, Nov 7 (Ians) Actor Vipin Sharma, who has made his debut as a writer with crime-detective series ‘Pi Meena’, called it the most surreal experience of his life.

The actor is known for his performances in ‘Taare Zameen Par’, ‘Paan Singh Tomar’, ‘Guns & Gulaabs’, and ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’.

Talking about his dual role in the series, Vipin said: “Working on Pi Meena has been one of the most surreal experiences of my life. There was no virus in sight while we were writing it. I constantly thought about the Spanish flu and other pandemics and thought all that was never going to happen to us. It was so far in the past.”

“And then by the time we were around the last episode the virus struck and what I thought was fiction started to become an ugly, horrific reality. The shoot began during the second wave. I had just returned from Indonesia,...

Mumbai, Nov 7 (Ians) Actor Vipin Sharma, who has made his debut as a writer with crime-detective series ‘Pi Meena’, called it the most surreal experience of his life.

The actor is known for his performances in ‘Taare Zameen Par’, ‘Paan Singh Tomar’, ‘Guns & Gulaabs’, and ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’.

Talking about his dual role in the series, Vipin said: “Working on Pi Meena has been one of the most surreal experiences of my life. There was no virus in sight while we were writing it. I constantly thought about the Spanish flu and other pandemics and thought all that was never going to happen to us. It was so far in the past.”

“And then by the time we were around the last episode the virus struck and what I thought was fiction started to become an ugly, horrific reality. The shoot began during the second wave. I had just returned from Indonesia,...

The upcoming edition of the International Film Festival of India (Iffi), will screen 25 feature films and 20 non-feature films in its flagship component of Indian Panorama. The feature films include some of popular films from Hindi and other cinemas of India like ‘Kantara’, ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’, ‘The Kerala Story’, India’s submission for the Oscars – ‘2018 – Everyone Is A Hero’ and ‘Viduthalai Part 1’, along with others

The selected films will be showcased at the 54th edition Iffi, which is set to be held from November 20-28, 2023 in Goa.

The aim of the Indian Panorama, organised by the National Film Development Corporation, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, is to select the feature and non-feature films of cinematic, thematic and aesthetic excellence in accordance with the conditions and procedures in the said regulations of Indian Panorama.

The selection of the Indian Panorama is made by eminent personalities from the...

The upcoming edition of the International Film Festival of India (Iffi), will screen 25 feature films and 20 non-feature films in its flagship component of Indian Panorama. The feature films include some of popular films from Hindi and other cinemas of India like ‘Kantara’, ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’, ‘The Kerala Story’, India’s submission for the Oscars – ‘2018 – Everyone Is A Hero’ and ‘Viduthalai Part 1’, along with others

The selected films will be showcased at the 54th edition Iffi, which is set to be held from November 20-28, 2023 in Goa.

The aim of the Indian Panorama, organised by the National Film Development Corporation, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, is to select the feature and non-feature films of cinematic, thematic and aesthetic excellence in accordance with the conditions and procedures in the said regulations of Indian Panorama.

The selection of the Indian Panorama is made by eminent personalities from the...

Dogs are not only man’s best friend, but also loyal allies in times of war. They have been trained to perform various tasks, such as scouting, tracking, guarding, detecting explosives, or delivering messages. They have also saved countless lives and earned many honors for their bravery and devotion.

Some of these war dogs have become legends, such as Stubby, who served in World War I and was awarded several medals; Chips, who attacked an enemy machine gun nest in World War II and received a Silver Star; or Max, who starred in a 2015 film about a dog who helped US Marines in Afghanistan.

Now, a new film inspired by true events will tell the story of another war dog who made history. The film is titled Tutti Frutti, and it follows the adventures of a stray dog who is adopted by an Indian Army unit during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.

ZEE5 Global, a streaming platform which focuses on South Asian content, has grown 35% year-on-year in viewership among its target audience in the U.S., according to data released by the service.

The South Asian diaspora in the U.S. took the most to drama, with the genre accounting for 60% of the viewership on the platform during the first half of 2023. Theatrically released films “Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan,” starring Salman Khan, “Uunchai,” headlined by Amitabh Bachchan and “Salaam Venky,” featuring Aamir Khan and ZEE5 originals “Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai,” starring Manoj Bajpayee, “Tarla,” with Huma Qureshi, “Ayali,” “Taj: Divided by Blood” and “Vyavastha” were heavy hitters for the service.

Comedy grew 92% year-on-year and accounted for 22% of total viewership, with successes including “Kanjoos Makhichoos,” “United Kachche,” “Mrs. Undercover,” “Chhatriwali,” and “Raksha Bandhan.”

Thrillers recorded a 58% increase in viewership with ZEE5 Global originals “Lost,” “Blurr,” “Oru Kodai Murder Mystery,” “Shabash Feluda,...

New Delhi, July 26 (Ians) The National Award-winning actor, Manoj Bajpayee is all set to step back into the role of Acp Avinash, as the second instalment of the edge of the seat thrilling whodunit, ‘Silence’, has gone on the floors on Wednesday.

In the first instalment, Acp Avinash (Manoj Bajpayee) sets out to investigate the mysterious murder of a high-profile woman, peeling back the layers of a complex web of deceit, lies, and hidden truths. As the suspense builds, the audience is taken on an intense journey that culminates with shocking revelation.

Manoj leads an ensemble cast of Prachi Desai, Sahil Vaid and Vaquar Shaikh, in the second instalment of the movie.

Sharing his excitement, Manoj said: “I am thrilled and exhilarated to bring back the second instalment of ‘Silence’ for the audience. The love and appreciation I had received for this role has been truly overwhelming, and it motivates...

In the middle of 2023, IMDb has come up with a list of Most Popular movies and web series so far which includes Shah Rukh Khan-starrer ‘Pathaan’ and Shahid Kapoor’s ‘Farzi’.

In the Most Popular Indian Movies of 2023 (So Far) list, the first spot is taken by Pathaan, Salman Khan’s ‘Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan’ is number two, Adah Sharma-starrer ‘The Kerala Story’ is on the third spot.

‘Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar’, ‘Mission Majnu’, ‘Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga’ is on the fourth, fifth and sixth spot respectively.

It is followed by ‘Bloody Daddy’, ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’, ‘Varisu’ and ‘Ponniyin Selvan: Part Two’

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan said: “It’s extremely heartening to learn that Pathaan is first on the list by IMDb. To see the amount of love that Pathaan has received is amazing, and whenever any work gets placed first, then the thing...

Mumbai, July 3 (Ians) Actor Manoj Bajpayee said that he is also waiting for the shoot of ‘Family Man 3’ to start, adding that he will update his fans with the “good news very soon”.

The actor, who made his Ott debut with Prime Video series ‘The Family Man’, attended an award ceremony in Mumbai recently where his film ‘Gulmohar’ was awarded. The actor spoke about his upcoming projects and much more.

Talking about ‘The Family Man 3’, he said: “Waiting for ‘Family Man 3’ shooting to start, will give good news to the fans very soon. Apart from this, my web series ‘Soup’ will come on Netflix but there is still time for its release”.

The actor’s film ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’ became the first film to move from Ott to theatres, talking about the same, he said: “The film has got so much love from everyone, even we did not expect this.

The streaming courtroom drama film ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’, which stars National Award winning actor Manoj Bajpayee as a lawyer, is set to be released in two additional languages of Tamil and Telugu. The film has also been released in theatres making it the first Hindi film to migrate from Ott to theatres.

The Telugu and Tamil versions of the film will drop on Ott on June 7. The film, directed by Apoorv Singh Karki, has Manoj’s character P C Solanki fighting the biggest case of his life against a powerful self-styled godman in a minor girl’s rape case.

Despite death threats against him, his family and the key witnesses, P.C. Solanki is persistent in his fight for truth.

Manoj Bajpayee said: “I am overwhelmed by all the warmth, love, support and affection the film has received from fans, critics and my friends in the industry. It...

Mumbai, June 2 (Ians) Actress Adrija Sinha, who has essayed the role of Nu – the victim/survivor in the recently released Manoj Bajpayee-starrer film ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’, has shared her opinion on the concept of Godmen.

She has said that while faith is something one should have, blind faith beyond an extent is not good.

Talking about the same, the actress told Ians: “I think we believe in those people who show us a glimmer of humanity, who help us in time of crisis, who serve us through their deeds and actions and Godmen are supposed to be the ones who carry humanitarian values everywhere they go and who enlighten people with their knowledge and teachings.”

She added: “I think while faith is good, blind faith to an extent that you surpass your conscience and forget being practical is not good. Godmen who make so many people’s decisions...

Advocate Poonam Chand Solanki from Jodhpur, who is said to be the ‘inspiration’ for Manoj Bajpayee’s latest courtroom drama ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’, is reportedly unhappy over alleged claims that the story of the Apoorv Singh Karki-directorial is based on him.

In the courtroom drama that dropped on Zee5 on Tuesday, Manoj plays a lawyer, who fights an infamous rape case against a self-proclaimed godman in a Jodhpur court and gets the latter convicted.

Incidentally, Solanki was the advocate who fought the 2013 Asaram Bapu rape case, and got the self-styled godman convicted.

“I have taken the legal recourse in this matter. How can it be claimed that the movie is inspired by real-life events involving me when no Noc was collected from me, nor the script was approved by me? Those who signed an agreement with me sold the rights without informing me,” Solanki revealed.

He added...

Acclaimed actor Manoj Bajpayee has notched up another triumph with his upcoming film ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai,’ a courtroom drama based on the real-life case of a once-revered and powerful Indian religious leader who is currently serving a life sentence for the rape of an underage girl.

In the Apoorv Singh Karki directed film, Manoj plays a prosecuting lawyer who is pitted against a slew of celebrity lawyers, reports ‘Variety’.

“Usually what happens is that you spend some time with the real person. Somewhere, I realised it’s a two-hour film, you have to have your own preparation away from the real guy, who is somebody who’s not even known to the world. And he’s achieved a feat in five years of continuous court hearings that is remarkable,” Bajpayee told ‘Variety’.

“Instead of just creating or imitating a real person, let’s have the essence of him...

A-lister Manoj Bajpayee, one of the few Indian actors who scores critical acclaim and commercial success in equal measure, has notched up another triumph with ZEE5 Global film “Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai.” The film is the most viewed original on the service in the last one year.

Directed by Apoorv Singh Karki (Prime Video series “Flames”) and written by Deepak Kingrani (Disney+ Hotstar series “Special Ops”), the film is a courtroom drama based on the real-life case of a once-revered and powerful Indian religious leader who is currently serving a life term in jail for the rape of an underage girl. Bajpayee plays the prosecuting lawyer who is pitted against a phalanx of celebrity lawyers.

“Usually what happens is that, you spend some time with the real person. Somewhere, I realized it’s a two-hour film, you have to have your own preparation away from the real guy, who...

Courtroom dramas carry their weight when it comes to storytelling and the authenticity surrounding it. Filmmakers and writers should present the narrative in such a manner that it does not become too loud at any given point in the story. Hindi cinema itself has delivered some interesting courtroom dramas in the past. We have had Pink, Mulk, Section 375, and No One killed Jessica, and most of these courtroom dramas have resonated with the audience for the kind of subject they dealt with and how it was presented to the audience. Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, which translates to only one person is enough, is loosely based on true events. Directed by Apoorv Singh Karki, the movie is all about a molestation case filed against a renowned godman by a minor and the long, strenuous battle they fight to make sure the accused is found guilty.

Set in 2013, Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai...

Mumbai, May 20 (Ians) From ‘Sunflower’ Season 2, ‘Tarla’ and ‘Haddi’ and many more have been included into the expansive line-up of titles for streaming portal ZEE5.

It also features originals in Hindi and regional languages, sequels of cult-favourite series, big-ticket direct to digital releases, blockbuster post-theatrical launches and intriguing docu-series.

For the slate, ZEE5 has partnered with creators such as Dharma Productions, Salman Khan Films, Guneet Monga’s Sikhya Entertainment, Bhanushali Studios, The Viral Fever (Tvf), Goldie Behl’s Rose Audio Visuals, Applause Entertainment, Sudhir Mishra, Vikas Bahl, Vivek Agnihotri, and Nagraj Manjule.

Bringing a bouquet of genres, the much-awaited line-up features sequels of prominent original series like ‘Sunflower’ S2, ‘Taj: Reign of Revenge’, Tvf’s ‘Humorously Yours’ S3 and ‘Aam Aadmi Family’ S4, ‘The Kashmir Files’, ‘Unreported’, ‘Duranga S2’, ‘Mithya S2’, ‘The Broken News’ S2, ‘Gyarah Gyarah (11:11)’, Sudhir Mishra’s ‘Crime Beat’.

Direct to digital movies Manoj Bajpayee’s...

South Asian focused streamer ZEE5 has unveiled a 111-strong 2023 slate on the occasion of its fifth anniversary.

The lineup is across the Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bangla, Punjabi and Marathi languages. The content is from top producers including Dharma Productions, Salman Khan Films, Oscar winner Guneet Monga’s Sikhya Entertainment, Bhanushali Studios, The Viral Fever, Applause Entertainment, Rose Audio Visuals, Vikas Bahl, Vivek Agnihotri, Nagraj Manjule and Sudhir Mishra.

A-list performers in the shows and films include Manoj Bajpayee, Pankaj Tripathi, Huma Qureshi, Arya, Parambrata Chatterjee, Vijay Sethupathi, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte.

Titles revealed so far include films and series including Manoj Bajpayee’s “Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai”; Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s “Haddi” and “Love is Blind,” Pankaj Tripathi’s “Kadak Singh”; Huma Qureshi’s “Tarla”; Sunny Deol’s “Gadar 2”; Vetrimaaran and Vijay Sethupathi’s “Viduthalai – Part 1”; Arya’s “Kathar Basha Endra Muthuramalingam”; Nagraj Manjule...

Mumbai, May 16 (Ians) Right after the screening of ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’ at the New York Indian Film Festival, Manoj Bajpayee drops a sneak peek at his new song from the courtroom drama ‘Sahara Tu Mera’.

The number has been composed and crooned by Sangeet and Siddharth Haldipur along with Asees Kaur. The lyrics are by Garima Obrah.

Bajpayee plays a lawyer in the film. Its trailer attracted a legal notice from Asaram Bapu, the godman charged with rape.

The actor tweeted: “Jab Yah #Bandaa Hoga Saath, Naa Hoga Koi Daar, Naa Hone Dega Annay Apke Saath #SaharaTuMera teaser out now only on @HitzMusicoff, #SirfEkBandaaKaafiHai premieres on #Zee5 & #Zee5Global on 23rd May.”

The song will be out on Wednesday. Earlier, the makers had shared the title track and it found its audience instantly.

A heartwarming story, the film’s takeaway message is that in the battle between an...

Mumbai, May 16 (Ians) Actor Manoj Bajpayee, who is awaiting the release of his streaming film ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’, has revealed that he practised his monologue for the film more than 100 times.

The film was recently screened in New Jersey in the presence of Bajpayee and prominent people from the South Asian community and the media.

Speaking about his character, the actor said, “It’s a story of an ordinary man doing an extraordinary job, which becomes an example for the society.”

While sharing insights into his preparation for a challenging monologue which he delivered in a single take, Bajpayee said, “I rehearsed my monologue more than 100 times before starting the shoot.”

The film, which is inspired by true events, follows high court lawyer P.C. Solanki, who single-handedly fights a case against the country’s biggest godman for the rape of a minor under the Pocso Act.

Speaking at the screening,...

Mumbai, May 15 (Ians) National Award winning actor Manoj Bajpayee’s upcoming film ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’ recently received a standing ovation after its screening at the New York Indian Film Festival. Manoj was particularly chuffed with the response that the film garnered at the prestigious film festival.

He said: “It’s an overwhelming feeling to see such an amazing response from the audience on the International stage. I literally got goosebumps when our film received a standing ovation at the New York Indian Film Festival. I am thankful to everyone.”

The film shows that in the battle between an ordinary man’s willpower and the power of a self-styled godman, it is always the victory of willpower and no man is above the law. It shows the fight of a rape survivor.

Director Apoorv Singh Karki shared: “A film made with all heart and hard work to send out...