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“Filmmakers keep making films for the big screen. Long live independent film.”

Sean Baker’s impassioned, post-Oscar win speech for “Anora” was a rallying cry to make the theater-going experience for independent films as accessible as it is for studio blockbusters such as “Oppenheimer” or “Avengers.” His plea, however, has no takers in India — even after a historic win.

Now that “Anora” has won Best Picture, cinephiles in India would naturally expect the movie to (finally) hit theatres, leveraging the post-Oscars surge. However, an eager audience will have to settle for watching the film on a streaming platform (JioHotstar) on March 17 instead. “Anora” was originally scheduled for a theatrical release in India on November 8, 2024, but it quietly disappeared from ticket booking websites and promotional tweets were deleted without explanation. Post Oscar-win, pvrcinemas_official (the largest film exhibitor in India) posted Sean Baker’s speech on Instagram with the caption “The...

The Sabarmati Report Box Office Witnesses 60% Monday Drop! ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Vikrant Massey’s The Sabarmati Report managed to maintain the drop on Monday, earning in the same range as the opening day. The film’s future will be decided based on the numbers coming in through the week. Currently, it stands at 7.9 crore in four days at the box office.

The Sabarmati Report Box Office Collection Day 4

On the fourth day, Monday, November 18, the film witnessed a drop of almost 60% at the box office, earning 1.23 crore, almost in the same range as the opening day. However, the drop margin should not be concerning since Sunday was obviously much higher.

Starring Vikrant Massey, Ridhi Dogra, and Raashii Khanna, the film is a decent blend of political intrigue, social commentary, and personal struggles. Moreover, positive word-of-mouth is helping it grow gradually.

Trending Scarlett Johansson Box Office Report Card 2024: Fly Me To The Moon...

The Sabarmati Report Box Office Collection Day 2 Update! (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Vikrant Massey led The Sabarmati Report continues to enjoy decent word-of-mouth at the Indian box office. The drama thriller opened to mixed reviews, largely because of its allegedly diplomatic take on the controversy. The good thing is it is showing good improvement in footfalls. Scroll below for the latest update on day 2.

The Sabarmati Report began its box office journey on a good note. Vikrant Massey scored the highest opening of his lifetime, as it minted 1.41 crores. Its day 1 collections are better than most of his successful outings, including 12th Fail (1.10 crores) and Lipstick Under My Burkha (1.22 crores). All eyes were on the growth on Saturday, and it did not disappoint.

Box Office Collection Day 2

The official numbers are out, and The Sabarmati Report made a box office collection of 2.18 crores on day 2. It has witnessed an impressive growth...

The Sabarmati Report Box Office Day 1: Turns Vikrant Massey’s Biggest Opener (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Vikrant Massey, Raashii Khanna and Ridhi Dogra’s The Sabarmati Express has opened at the box office at 1.69 crore exceeding the expecation minutely. But the silver lining is that the film has earned much better than his last opening day 12th Fail, that was a superhit at the box office.

The Sabarmati Report Box Office Collection Day 1

On the first day, November 15, Friday, the political drama earned 1.69 crore at the box office, while 12th Fail earned 1.10 crore at the box office. Vikrant’s new release has outperformed the opening day number of his last release by delivering 53% higher opening.

Will It Sail?

Since the film has performed better than 12th Fail, it instils a hope that it might be have the same fate as the Vidhu Vinod Chopra directorial, but it would be too...

National Film Development Corporation (Nfdc) Indian project market Film Bazaar has selected six features for its 2024 Work-in-Progress Lab, with five debut directors making the cut for the program running Nov. 20-24.

The 2024 selection spans multiple languages, featuring Tribeny Rai’s Nepali-language “Shape of Momos,” Shakteedhar Bir’s Bengali title “Gaangshalik” (River Bird) Mohan Kumar Valasala’s Telugu project “Yerra Mandaram” (The Red Hibiscus), Ridham Janve’s “Kaatti Ri Raatti” (Hunters Moon) in Gaddi and Nepali, Siddharth Badi’s Marathi film “Umal,” and Vivek Kumar’s Hindi feature “The Good The Bad The Hungry.”

The lab, which has established itself as a stepping stone for independent South Asian cinema, will continue its hybrid format combining online and offline sessions. This structure allows real-time collaboration between filmmakers and mentors during the post-production phase.

The program, which focuses on theatrical features, pairs directors and editors with industry veterans for one-on-one feedback sessions. Mentors include festival directors,...

The first edition of India’s Cinevesture International Film Festival (Ciff) has revealed 20 projects that will participate in its accompanying market.

Comprising 17 features and three series, several of the projects are by creators who have found acclaim both internationally and in South Asia.

From Bangladeshi auteur Mostofa Sarwar Farooki (Busan title “Something Like an Autobiography”) comes Hindi and English-language unconventional romance “To Hell With Love.” Alankrita Srivasttava (Tokyo winner “Lipstick Under My Burkha”) has English and Hindi-language drama “Girls of Orlem,” an adaptation of Lindsay Pereira’s bestselling novel “Gods and Ends.” Gurvinder Singh is prepping Hindi, Punjabi and English-language historical thriller series “The Trial.”

“#Jack” is a thriller film from Bhaskar Hazarika (Tribeca selection “Aamis”), while “Chhaal” (“The Skin”) by Don Palathara (Rotterdam title “Family”) is a folk thriller adapted from a story by Vijayan Detha. “Encounter” by Anurag Singh (the Jatt and Juliet franchise) is a drama-thriller in...

International Women’s Day 2024 is a time to reflect on the achievements and struggles of women worldwide. It’s a day to celebrate their resilience, strength, and contributions to society. In the realm of cinema, numerous films have captured the essence of womanhood, shedding light on their diverse experiences and challenges.

Here are five outstanding women-centric Bollywood films that resonate with the spirit of International Women’s Day:

“Thappad”: Directed by Anubhav Sinha, “Thappad” portrays the story of a woman who takes a stand against domestic violence after being slapped by her husband. The film challenges societal norms and highlights the importance of self-respect and empowerment.“Lipstick Under My Burkha”: Directed by Alankrita Shrivastava, “Lipstick Under My Burkha” follows the secret lives of four women from different backgrounds who seek freedom and fulfillment amidst societal constraints. The film explores themes of sexuality, desire, and women’s agency.“English...

Actress Konkona Sen Sharma, who is all geared up for the release of the dark comedy thriller series ‘Killer Soup’, has shared that she is ‘sick’ of doing just very earnest, good kind of roles, and loves playing women who are little ‘irresponsible’, and have shades of grey. Konkona takes on the intricate role of Swathi Shetty in ‘Killer Soup’, starring Manoj Bajpayee.

Directed by Abhishek Chaubey, the series promises a compelling blend of love, lust, thrill, and suspense, seasoned with dark humour that sets it apart.

The actress is known for her work in movies like ‘Wake Up Sid’, ‘Page 3’, ‘Omkara’, ‘Life in a… Metro’, ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’, among many others.

What process she follows in choosing such power-packed roles, Konkona told Ians: “When I look for roles, I see what script is like first. The entire script has to be cohesive. Characters have to be well-written,...

She always thought composing music for an entire film in Bollywood would mean extremely high pressure and working in a somewhat corporate structure. However, Zeb Bangash, the first Pakistani artist to serve as music director of a Bollywood film – ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’ – recalls it felt more like “coming home”.

Stressing that the movie was very special as there was a real sense of creating something new, and carving out a space that was absent before, she recalls: “Alankrita Anvita, Ankur Mukherjee, Amrit Mahajan and I shared and carried that sentiment with us. It really was like finding a community. Meetings were held, not in production houses but in homes over food and music, jokes, and poetry.”

Lamenting the current non-exchange of artists between India and Pakistan, she says for her, it is not about opportunities lost vis-a-vis audiences and markets, but the fact that it shrinks an artistic community.

She always thought composing music for an entire film in Bollywood would mean extremely high pressure and working in a somewhat corporate structure. However, Zeb Bangash, the first Pakistani artist to serve as music director of a Bollywood film – ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’ – recalls it felt more like “coming home”.

Stressing that the movie was very special as there was a real sense of creating something new, and carving out a space that was absent before, she recalls: “Alankrita Anvita, Ankur Mukherjee, Amrit Mahajan and I shared and carried that sentiment with us. It really was like finding a community. Meetings were held, not in production houses but in homes over food and music, jokes, and poetry.”

Lamenting the current non-exchange of artists between India and Pakistan, she says for her, it is not about opportunities lost vis-a-vis audiences and markets, but the fact that it shrinks an artistic community.

Filmmakers Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti (Berlin title “Gully Boy”) are basking in the success of their Prime Video series “Dahaad” and season 2 of “Made in Heaven.”

“Made in Heaven” revolves around the lives of two wedding planners in Delhi. Each episode sees traditional and modern values clashing with secrets being exposed. The first season bowed in 2019 and earned an International Emmy best actor nomination for Arjun Mathur for playing out and proud wedding planner Karan Mehra. Sobhita Dhulipala plays his business partner Tara Khanna.

Season 2 began streaming earlier this month and in its launch weekend it entered the top 10 trending titles lists on Prime Video in over 20 countries including the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia.

While season 1 tackled several hot topics, season 2 goes even further, examining a range of subjects germane to Indian society and beyond. These include Lgbtqi+ relationships, skin color, marital abuse, molestation, caste,...

Behind every powerful story lies the masterful penmanship of talented writers. In the entertainment world, some extraordinary individuals have emerged from humble beginnings in small towns, capturing hearts and leaving an indelible impact on audiences worldwide.

Here is a list of seven small-town writers and their inspiring journeys of soaring to great heights.

Sudip Sharma

Born in Guwahati, Sudip pursued an Mba from Iim-Ahmedabad in 2002. He then moved to Mumbai and joined major Fmcg companies. However, his passion for screenwriting led him to explore this field further, and after writing a short film in 2006, he immersed himself in learning the craft.

In 2014, Sharma made his mark in feature screenwriting with the gripping thriller ‘NH10’, drawing inspiration from real-life honor killing cases. Continuing his success, Sudip collaborated with director Abhishek Chaubey, writing the dialogues and screenplay for the crime drama ‘Udta Punjab’ and ‘Sonchiriya’. Recently, he co-wrote and created ‘Kohrra’, featuring Barun Sobti and Harleen Sethi,...

Netflix’s recently released sequel of their famous anthology from 2018, Lust Stories, is back with more stories, new actors, and new directors helming the project and helping the audience understand the concept of lust from new points of view. The 2018 one had diverse stories about the female body and needs, and it created quite a buzz, especially the short film featuring Kiara Advani. Lust Stories is an important part of the Netflix India releases because, as the country is obsessed with Hindi cinema and the industry is filled with love stories, it is fascinating to understand what happens before and after ‘they lived happily ever after’ and what would be their way to sustain the love.

This time around, there are also tales of exploring sensual pleasure from a female perspective, but not all of them landed the way they should have. Out of the four stories presented to the viewers,...

Mumbai, May 21 (Ians) Actress Aahana Kumra, who is known for films like ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’, ‘Inside Edge’ and ‘Rangbaaz’, recently lost her cool at a fan breached her personal space and touched her while she was posing for the paparazzi.

A video, shared by a paparazzi account, revealed how a fan touched her around her waist at an event in Mumbai. In the video one of her fans can be seen putting his hand around her waist. The actress was taken aback. She turned towards him and told him: “Don’t touch me!”

The video has gone viral since then with several netizens coming out in support of the actress against the fan’s behaviour.

Aahana’s fans were also angry at the man. Most of them wrote in the comment box that the actor was right.

One of them commented: “She is right. Self-respect is very important.” Another...

Mumbai, March 13 (Ians) Veteran actress and director Ratna Pathak Shah, who is remembered for playing snobbish socialite woman Maya Sarabhai in popular sitcom ‘Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai’, is happy to collaborate with Jamnadas Majethia and Aatish Kapadia again for the web series ‘Happy Family: Conditions Apply’.

However, she said that this time her character Hemlata is going to be completely different from Maya Sarabhai.

She shared: “Hemlata is a complicated character to play, it’s not easy as Maya Sarabhai, it’s also not one dimensional so it definitely was a challenge, when Atish narrated and as the episode progressed the character too was having a good graph, the both character of Hemlata and Maya are outspoken in their own completely different ways, And I hope this character works out she is not smooth but yet she is charming.”

The 65-year-old actress has done theatre, films and TV. She has been...

Leading Indian producer Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Motion Pictures has signed a multi-film production deal with Armaan Zorace’s U.S. genre label Dark Hell and prolific Hollywood producer Steven Schneider.

Under the terms of the deal, a slate of high-concept films in the thriller-horror genre will be produced in Hindi and other Indian languages jointly by the three entities. Details of the projects under this association have not yet been revealed, but they are expected to “cater to the audiences of the South-East Asian markets in India and overseas,” the signatories said in a statement.

Schneider’s credits include “Paranormal Activity,” “Blair Witch,” and M. Night Shyamalan’s “Split.” Zorace is an American filmmaker whose credits include the acclaimed short film, “God Is Dead.”

Films produced by Balaji include “Dream Girl,” “The Dirty Picture,” “Lipstick Under My Burkha,” “Once Upon a Time in Mumbai,” “Udta Punjab” and “Pagglait.”

Kapoor said,...

Rahul Dholakia To Make Debut Digital Series

Exclusive: Acclaimed Bollywood filmmaker Rahul Dholakia (Raees) is to create his debut digital series after following last month’s annual ‘Police Unity Tour’, a four-day bicycle ride from New Jersey to Washington D.C to honour Law Enforcement Officers who died on duty. Dholakia met various officers, survivors and families as he was researching for the series, which doesn’t have a platform yet. Dholakia said: “The Police Unity Tour organization has given me the permission and promised the full support and cooperation to bring this subject to light. That’s why in their 25 years, this is the first time any individual has travelled with them and been given insights into their workings. It was an eye-opener for me.” Dholakia’s forthcoming films include Excel Entertainment’s feature on a Mumbai-based firefighter as well as projects he is developing for his own banner in the U.

Photo: ‘Bombay Begums’/Netflix How much will it cost five women to live their dreams in the City of Dreams? The new Netflix show, ‘Bombay Begums’, explores this through a gripping plot line that presents twists and turns in each of its six episodes. Directed by Alankrita Shrivastava, known for exploring deep-rooted perspectives of women in Indian society through her works like ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’ and ‘Made in Heaven’, ‘Bombay Begums’, through its convincing characters and many sub-plot lines, addresses the themes of classism, sexual harassment, toxic masculinity, and sexuality in all walks of life. Related article: Karan Johar’s Newest Anthology ‘Ajeeb Dastaans’ Illustrates Four Tainted Yet Heartfelt Love Stories Related article: Exclusive: Ayushmann Khurrana Interview – India’s Tom Hanks is Transforming Bollywood and Indian Society while Destroying Toxic Masculinity 'Bombay Begums' - Five Relentless Stories The series follows five women, all in different stages of their...

FilmsThe decision has been reportedly taken by the Ministry of Law and Justice with immediate effect.IANSThe Ministry of Law and Justice has reportedly abolished the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (Fcat) with immediate effect. Filmmakers and producers took to Twitter to express their disappointment. Filmmaker Hansal Mehta tweeted on Wednesday: "Do the high courts have a lot of time to address film certification grievances? How many film producers will have the means to approach the courts? The Fcat discontinuation feels arbitrary and is definitely restrictive. Why this unfortunate timing? Why take this decision at all?" "Such a sad day for cinema. Film Certification Appellate Tribunal Abolished | 6 April, 2021," expressed filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj. Producer Guneet Monga reacted: "How does something like this happen? Who decides?" Producer and trade business analyst Girish Johar tweeted: "With #Fcat dissolved by Govt, mayb a larger body may come up, setup by Govt, which will not only address censor grievances of films,...

The Indian federal government has passed an order that scraps the Information and Broadcasting ministry’s Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (Fcat), the first avenue of appeal if a filmmaker disagrees with a certification decision. Instead, filmmakers will have to go to court.

The Fcat was set up in 1952 under the Indian Cinematograph Act. It was headed by a government appointed chairperson, assisted by four members and a secretary, and heard “appeals filed under Section 5C of the Act under which any applicant for a Certificate in respect of a film who is aggrieved by an order of the Central Board of Film Certification (Cbfc), can file an Appeal directly.”

The new order, passed on April 4, Easter Sunday, signed by the President of India Ram Nath Kovind, amends the Cinematograph Act and substitutes the words “Appellate Tribunal” with “High Court.” That means that filmmakers’ first option will be to lawyer up and petition the High Court.

Mumbai, March 24 (Ians) Filmmaker Alankrita Shrivastava, who is known for her directorials as "Turning 30" and "Lipstick Under My Burkha", and her recent web series "Bombay Begums", says cinema needs to be more accepting of different points of view.

"I think there is some change. Since the last five to seven years, there is more consciousness of objectification of women. The way the camera is used has changed and women are no longer looked only as trophies. I feel like alternate perspectives must get their place in cinema," she told Ians.

The filmmaker adds that everyone should have an equal chance to present their work.

"There should be an equal playing field. My problem has never been why do mainstream spectacle films exist. They have a right to. My point is when they close up space and say no film with another point of view that challenges patriarchy will exist. When...

ControversyObjecting to a particular scene from the series, the commission said this type of content will pollute the young minds and result in abuse and exploitation of children.Tnm StaffNetflixThe apex child rights body Ncpcr has asked popular streaming platform Netflix to stop streaming the recently released web series Bombay Begums citing an ‘inappropriate’ portrayal of children in the web series. In a notice to Netflix on Thursday, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (Ncpcr) has asked the Ott (Over The Top) platform to furnish a detailed action report within 24 hours, failing which it said it will be constrained to initiate appropriate legal action. The Commission has taken note of tweets by the handle @GemsOfBollywood, as well as those by documentary filmmaker and men's rights activist Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj. Deepika had tweeted a screengrab from the series and said, “From normalisation of minors indulging in casual sex we...

ReviewThe film traverses age groups and socio-economic strata to tell the story of four women and a girl who are each going through their own journeys.Saraswati DatarScreengrabFemale ensembles and female driven narratives are Alankrita Shrivastava’s strong suit. Whether it was Lipstick Under My Burkha or Dolly, Kitty aur woh Chamakte Sitare, women, their aspirations, their repressed or unfulfilled sexual desires and their fundamental desire to be treated with dignity, are recurring themes in Alankrita’s work. Bombay Begums, now streaming on Netflix, traverses age groups and socio-economic strata to tell the story of four women and a girl who are each going through their own journeys of love, pain, sexual exploration, and discovering a true sense of self. Rani Singh Irani (Pooja Bhatt) is the CEO of the Royal Bank of Mumbai, a position that the male dominated boardroom is trying to take away from her. Her second...

Bombay Begums (web series); Cast: Pooja Bhatt, Shahana Goswami, Amruta Subhash, Plabita Borthakur, Aadhya Anand; Direction: Alankrita Shrivastava; Rating: * * * (three stars)

By Vinayak Chakravorty

A bank CEO's son runs over a lower-class boy. The victim's poor parent spots a get-rich-quick scheme through blackmail. A public scandal could end the CEO's career and so it is best to pay up, and then pay some more.

Sounds like standard soap opera drama? Okay, imagine the picture again: The bank CEO is a woman fighting to hold onto that position, in an otherwise all-male board of directors waiting with bated breath to bring her down. The victim's parent is a sex worker, who has incidentally serviced the CEO's son who will run over her boy, only minutes before the incident takes place.

Alankrita Srivastava's web series uses many familiar vignettes to set up a slice of Mumbai, with its hopes, despairs, dreams and struggles.

Mumbai, March 5: Filmmaker Alankrita Shrivastava, whose web series Bombay Begums will soon be streamed, says that making women-oriented films is not easy in Bollywood. Right from shooting to distribution, it is tough to get the appropriate budgets and provisions.

"Budget problems are not specific to me and my films. It is the same story for all female filmmakers. If you want to make films with women who are not big stars, it is a problem. Even with big stars - Meghna (Gulzar) made Raazi (with Alia Bhatt) - she had to shoot within limited budget and had to shoot for long hours," informs Alankrita.

The filmmaker who made a mark directing Lipstick Under My Burkha in 2017, adds that this is because women-centric films don't get distribution. "The budget is justified through the exhibition and distribution system. These distributors feel that these films cannot make that much money," she says.

New Delhi, Feb 19 (Ians) Female-centric themes have found a fresh lease with the rise of Ott platforms. A string of women-oriented series have grabbed audience attention. More than television and the big screen, filmmakers have found an ideal platform to experiment more freely with subjects focussing on womanhood and issues related to women in the digital space.

Be it the story of a smalltown girl playing a phone sex operator or women asserting their rights across society, there are diverse shades being served.

Actress Nyra Banerjee, who plays the role of a phone sex operator in the series "Hello Jee" says: "I think people find the situations and characters more relatable. Also, Ott has an audience which is comparatively more open to various scenarios the women are. They are more accepting."

Actress Maanvi Gagroo, who will soon start shooting for the third season of Four More Shots Please, says: "Till...

Mumbai, Feb 19: Bollywood Czarina Ekta Kapoor, who has successfully tapped the domains of film, TV and Ott, says in most countries, sexuality of a woman is considered a sin.

It is a conscious decision on her part to push strong women-centric stories such as 'Lipstick Under My Burkha', 'The Dirty Picture' and 'Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitaare', she adds.

"It is a conscious decision. In most of the countries, the sexuality of a woman is considered as sin. That's a big problem and I was told many times that I was a big part of that journey - by showcasing women wearing sarees and sindoor (on her TV shows). I have somehow stunted the growth of women in this country. I don't agree to this because I felt that a woman in a saree is a choice, as a woman in a swimsuit," says Ekta.

The web series, Bombay Begums will release on March 8, on the occasion of International Women's Day. The show casts Pooja Bhatt, Shahana Goswam, Amruta Subhash and Rahul Bose in pivotal roles, and is created and directed by Alankrita Shrivastava of Lipstick Under My Burkha fame.

The series touches upon themes of ambition, desire, struggle for power and vulnerability through the stories of five modern Indian women in Mumbai. 

Said Shrivastava: "'Bombay Begums' is a story about Indian women that I hope women in India and across the world will connect with. 

"The series explores the complex journey of working Indian women who are ambitious for power and success, but have many other battles to fight too. It's the story of their daily hustle, the story of their dreams - sometimes buried, sometimes fulfilled," she added.

"It's the story of glass ceilings shattered, and also of the hearts broken in the process.

Actress Plabita Borthakur feels that there is casual sexism all around, and her upcoming film will make people aware of how language can also objectify women.

Plabita, who shot to fame with her role in "Lipstick Under My Burkha", plays the free-spirited rebel Fauzia in Kumud Chaudhary's film "Chote Nawab", expected to release in India soon.

"It was very rewarding to play Fauzia because she represents so many young women trying to assert their individuality. She lives fiercely, speaks her mind, flirts with danger but her priorities are very clear. She knows what she wants from her life. She has seen the women in her family being oppressed, denied all happiness and she is not willing to settle. This last quality is what bonded me to her. The fact that she is not willing to settle," said Plabita.

"The film on the surface is about a family wedding, but...

MollywoodWe are still at a stage where even a woman suggesting foreplay to her husband is considered something radical in Malayalam cinema.Neelima MenonIn the middle of a heated argument between a married couple in the recently released short film, Freedom at Midnight, when the wife asks the husband whether he is aware of her “favourite sex position,” it suddenly seemed like a ray of hope. Did that mean our cinema had finally come out of its self-imposed exile around addressing women’s sexual agency/ female desire in their narratives? Are we finally tackling the elephant in the room? But, that ostensible show of liberation turned out to be a delusion as the narrative soon drifts into a usual plot line around a wife who finds out her husband’s extramarital affair and therefore has such a dramatic confrontation. But disappointingly, it turns out that the whole confrontation was imagined...

'Lipstick Under My Burkha' actress Aahana Kumra, despite attaining popular success in cinema and web entertainment, remains deeply attached to the stage and theatre acting.

Sharing about her tryst with theatre and how was it like when she got on stage for the very first time, the 35-year-old actress shared, "I was very actively involved in theatre in school, and I think I took to being on stage and I absolutely loved the idea of performing and constantly being on stage when I was like 10-11 or maybe younger. But my first professional tryst with theatre was I think when I was 15, when I performed with Neeraj Kabi for a play called 'Aham' and I was still in college at that time. It was pretty fantastic and it was the first time I performed at Prithvi Theatre."

Calling Prithvi Theatre "a very special place" for her, she says...

Dolly and Kitty could be any small town cousins. In the world of Alankrita Shrivastava, they become fictional case studies of real desires that the Indian woman of today might harbour, even as she grapples with an innate conservative mindset and a society that is still too inflexible while accepting her sexual mores.

In a way, Shrivastava was setting up a desi Fleabag of sorts, narrating the story of Radha, or Dolly (Konkona Sen sharma), and her cousin sister Kajal (Bhumi Pednekar), or Kitty from Darbhanga, Bihar. Dolly (Sen Sharma) is married and a mother of two. Along with her husband Amit (Aamir Bashir), she is trying to close installments for their dream home in an under-construction Greater Noida high rise. Kajal arrives from Bihar and puts up with Dolly and family, in search of a job and life in the big city.

Watch Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare Trailer

https://youtu.

The upcoming film, Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitaare, is spearheaded by an all-girls crew, and Bhumi Pednekar, who plays a starring role, says the fact makes a big statement in the Hindi film industry.

"I think just the idea of an all-girls team spearheading 'Dolly Kitty…' was super cool! Women who are vocal and all for progressiveness were headlining the project, be it (producer) Ekta (Kapoor), (director) Alankrita (Shrivastava), (co-actress) Konkona (Sen Sharma), me and even the other members of the cast. We are all such empowered women and the experience was so satisfying and beautiful and just easy," Bhumi said.

She added: "It's a hugely relevant and important film for the country as it will make a big statement about womanhood, and it is fascinating how girls have come together to have such an important conversation."

Bhumi Pednekar is thrilled with her experience of working with Alankrita Shrivastava and Ekta Kapoor.

Mumbai, Sep 5 (Ians) Filmmaker Alankrita Shrivastava says her upcoming film, Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare, is a very personal effort for her.

"'Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare' has these two quirky, layered characters at its heart -- Dolly and Kitty. They are cousins trying to break through the many visible and invisible shackles in order to live life on their own terms," said Shrivastava, who shot to fame directing the 2016 black comedy, "Lipstick Under My Burkha".

About her new film, she said: "It's a film with a light and fun tone. Although the film is entirely fictional, for me it is very personal and there is a certain truth about the bond Dolly and Kitty share. It is real and relatable. Their journey is unexpected and funny, and sad and joyful at the same time. I hope their rollercoaster ride is engaging and entertaining for audiences."

Konkona Sensharma...

The Bhumi Pednekar and Konkona Sensharma-starrer Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare will release on September 18.

The film narrates the story of two cousins in search of freedom. Konkona will be seen as Dolly while Bhumi plays Kitty.

"Dolly's life is one we see so often -- a bickering wife who is not satisfied with her husband's unambitious ways, the mother of two young boys who she barely understands, all while dreaming of a life of luxury that is far beyond her reach. While she believes herself to be quite the rebel, she is blissfully unaware of how deeply conditioned she is in certain ways. It's her journey of realisation and that to freedom that makes the story a fun yet heartwarming ride," said Konkona about her character.

Bhumi plays Kitty or Kajal, a quintessential smalltown girl who comes to the city, expecting all her dreams to come true.

"With...

The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (Iffla) today announced its full lineup of narrative and documentary features, and shorts for the festival’s 18th edition, which boasts 5 World, 1 North American, 4 U.S. and 10 Los Angeles premieres, spanning 12 languages, with 50% of all films premiering directed by women. The renowned premiere global showcase for groundbreaking Indian cinema, Iffla will take place this year April 1-5 at Regal L.A. Live: A Barco Innovation Center in Los Angeles. The Opening Night Gala presentation will take place at ArcLight Hollywood, with an after-party to follow hosted by Spice Affair in Beverly Hills. Passes and Gala tickets go on sale today, February 19. Individual tickets will go on sale on February 25 at www.indianfilmfestival.org.

The festival will open with An Evening with Imtiaz Ali, one of Hindi cinema’s most respected and charismatic writer-directors. Ali will be joined onstage by celebrated Indian filmmaker Anurag Kashyap (Gangs of Wasseypur,...

SandalwoodThe 'Work In Progress' lab is open only to fictional feature films that are looking for theatrical release.Tnm StaffCourtesy: Film Bazaar/FacebookKannada film Pedro, directed by Natesh Hegde, is one among the five Indian films selected for the prestigious Nfdc Film Bazaar’s Work In Progress (Wip) Lab, which will be held in Panjim from November 20 to 24. Wip Lab is open only to fiction features looking for theatrical release. According to information on Nfdc Film Bazaar’s website, “the director and editor of the selected film screen their rough cuts to the panel of mentors and receive an in-depth one-on-one feedback. The international editor assigned to the film guides the director and editor of the selected film through two sessions of the editing lab which takes place at Film Bazaar itself.” Those who mentor the director and editors include a film festival director, producer and film editors. Since the...

Selected projects include four debut features and the second fiction feature from Pushpendra Singh.

Film Bazaar, organised by India’s National Film Development Corp (Nfdc), has selected five projects to participate in this year’s Work-in-Progress (Wip) Lab, four of which are from first-time directors.

The four debut features are Kannada-language Pedro, directed by Natesh Hegde, and Hindi-language titles Shankar’s Fairies, directed by Irfana Majumdar, Switzerland, from Ajitpal Singh, and The Knot (Uljhan), from Ashish Pant. The one project from a returning director is the Gujari-language The Shepherdess And The Seven Songs, directed by Pushpendra Singh (Lajwanti).

The mentors...

National Award-winning actress and filmmaker Konkona Sen Sharma says she loves to watch and share films at film festivals because she feels the audience comprises pure movielovers and she belongs to that "moviewatching" community.

Konkona was present at Jio Mami 21st Mumbai Film Festival with Star, where Seema Pahwa's directorial debut "Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi", which features her, was screened.

"I have been attending Mami from even before I shifted base to Mumbai. I was so young then, I would come here with friends, sit in a bus and run around to watch films from one venue to another. I love film festivals because I feel that I belong to the film-watching community. These people, standing in long queues and watching films one after another, are the true filmlovers," Konkona told a publication:

She added: "They do not care about box-office numbers and other commercial aspects. What matters to them is...

The sparkling female stars of Alankrita Shrivastava’s “Dolly Kitty and Those Twinkling Stars,” produced by Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms, have plenty going on in their careers.

Bhumi Pednekar has had a very brief career so far, but she has made each role count. She made her debut in 2015’s “Dum Laga Ke Haisha” as an overweight housewife dealing with an arranged marriage, and went on to star in 2017’s “Toilet – Ek Prem Katha” where she refuses to defecate in the fields and demands a toilet at home.

Also in 2017, she starred in “Shubh Mangal Savdhan” where she played a bride whose groom suffers from erectile dysfunction, while in 2018 Netflix Original anthology film “Lust Stories” she plays a maid in a sexual relationship with a bachelor, who suffers silently when his parents seek an arranged marriage for him. In 2019 bandit drama “Sonchiriya” she plays a strong-willed woman who braves...

He rose to fame with his stint in the TV show "Balika Vadhu" and has grabbed eyeballs with his roles in films such as "Dil Dhadakne Do" and "Lipstick Under My Burkha", and the web series "Mirzapur". Actor Vikrant Massey makes no bones about nepotism playing spoilsport but dismisses such traits as "minor road bumps".

Vikrant, who comes from a non- filmy background, has previously openly said that nepotism does exist in Bollywood. Has it ever played spoilsport for him?

"Yes, in certain cases. At the same time, I have also maintained that fair opportunities also exist. So in case of things like nepotism, I take these as minor road bumps. They are bound to happen on a smooth and straight highway. One is bound to encounter a few hiccups, which is fine. It is all part of a longer journey," Vikrant told a publication.

The 32-year-old actor made his...

Screenplay writer Gazal Dhaliwal is a storyteller who has worked on films like "Wazir", "Lipstick Under My Burkha" and "Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga", but is often introduced to the world as a transwoman. She says as long as she represents the community and inspires many dreamers, she is okay with the constant emphasis on her gender identity.

Also read:? Shubh Mangal Saavdhan Movie Review

Asked if it bothers her when people highlight her sexuality before her work, Dhaliwal told Ians: "Look the question that you are asking is complex, so the answer cannot be a 'yes' or 'no'. In the professional world, I want to be known for my work rather than my status as a transwoman. My gender cannot be my only identity when I am writing a story because a story has no gender.

"Having said that I have a substantial reason to be...

Acclaimed actress Konkona Sen Sharma, daughter of Bengali filmmaker Aparna Sen and protagonist of films like “Omkara”, Page 3″ and “Lipstick under my Burkha”, directs this impressive film, which lingers between family drama and thriller.

“A Death in the Gunj” screened at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles

Based on a short story by Mukul Sharana, inspired by real events, the story is set in 1979, at the vacation house of a wealthy Anglo-Indian family in the town of McCluskiegunj. The members include the elders Anupama and Bakshi, the son Nandu, his wife Bonnie and their daughter Tani, and their timid cousin Shutu. Bonnie has brought along her friend, Mimi, and Nandu his friends, Vikram and Brian.

Everybody seems to have fun and enjoying each other’s company. However, soon a number of issues arise. Vikram, despite being married, seems to have a thing for Mimi, and, as the feeling is mutual,...

The Indian film industry has historically been a male-dominated one, but the winds of change are blowing across the country, albeit slowly.

Better-served than the rest of the country is the Mumbai-based Hindi-language industry, where there are several active female filmmakers including Zoya Akhtar (“Gully Boy”), Reema Kagti (“Gold”), Leena Yadav (“Rajma Chawal”), Gauri Shinde (“Dear Zindagi”), Meghna Gulzar (“Raazi”), Shonali Bose (“Margarita With a Straw”), Farah Khan (“Om Shanti Om”) and Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari (“Bareilly ki Barfi”), to name just a few.

“The new generation of young women directors is now making ad films, web series, corporate films, short fiction, documentaries and feature films, so it’s getting to be quite a level playing field,” says Priya Krishnaswamy, who works in Mumbai. Her Tamil Nadu set Tamil-language film “Baaram” is making the rounds at festivals.

Mumbai-based Yadav recalls being amused when a potential second assistant director thought working for...

Six projects from Indian scriptwriters will be presented at this year’s Hong Kong Filmart.

India’s National Film Development Corporation (Nfdc) is holding the pitching event for its annual Screenwriters Lab (Swl) at this year’s Hong Kong Filmart from March 18-21.

Six projects from Indian scriptwriters will be presented to potential co-producers, financiers, distributors and sales agents at the Nfdc’s Filmart booth at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Hkcec).

Writers and directors who will be pitching projects include Akhilesh Jaiswal, who worked on Gangs Of Wasseypur as a writer; Ajitpal Singh, who was associate director...

For her role as Priyanka Gandhi in The Accidental Prime Minister, Aahana sported short hair and a simplistic look -- diametrically different from what the audience had seen so far of her in a show like "Yudh" or a film like Lipstick Under My Burkha. She feels the role will help the film industry look at her differently.

"People often look at you (me) as a girl next door, and not sometimes as a character. And I think what is interesting is that because there was a different look, and a different hairdo, I think now they will be open to giving me a different get-up altogether."

"I don't know why do they (filmmakers) get scared to make women look different. We don't even live in a country where everyone looks the same," Aahana told.

She finds it unfortunate how all the actresses today look the same.

"There's no difference from one to the other.

Kirill Serebrennikov, Oleg Sentsov and Wanuri Kahn are just a few of the filmmakers who have been threatened, censored or blacklisted over the last two years.

Russian auteur Kirill Serebrennikov has been on trial in Russia, accused of embezzling. Ukrainian director Oleg Sentsov is still in prison (where he is said recently to have completed a novel).

Director Alankrita Shrivastova was attacked by censors in India because her film, Lipstick Under My Burkha, initially banned in the country, was considered too “lady oriented.”

Wanuri Kahn’s Rafiki, the hit Kenyan drama screening in Iffr’s Voices, fell foul of the...

Her last film Lipstick Under My Burkha after much controversy wooed hearts around when it hit the theatres. Followed by the positive word of mouth, many of its celebs weaved their own way within the industry. One such actress who gained immense popularity with this 2017 release is Aahana Kumra. Now the actress is dedicatingRead More

The post Aahana Kumra hosts a special travel show on cricket appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.

Her last film Lipstick Under My Burkha after much controversy wooed hearts around when it hit the theatres. Followed by the positive word of mouth, many of its celebs weaved their own way within the industry. One such actress who gained immense popularity with this 2017 release is Aahana Kumra. Now the actress is dedicatingRead More

The post Aahana Kumra hosts a special travel show on cricket appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.

Cinema The film is about two sex workers who come together to run a co-operative and eliminate the middlemen. Tnm StaffWriter and filmmaker Aditya Kripalani, who recently turned his third international bestseller, Tikli and Laxmi Bomb into a film of the same title has another feather in his cap. The film has won Best Feature in the 10th edition of the Berlin Independent Film Festival on Sunday. Featuring Vibhawari Deshpande, Chitrangada Chakraborty, Suchitra Pillai, Upendra Limaye and Saharsh Kumar Shukla, the film will be screened in the UK Asian Film Festival at London’s oldest cinema house. Last year A Death in the Gunj and Lipstick Under My Burkha were selected from India. The book and film trace the unusual story of two sex workers who come together to run a co-operative and eliminate the middlemen in sex work. In an interview to Tnm, Aditya revealed that he had always wanted to make an anti-patriarchy film with the theme of ‘Sisterhood above all’, and this is what led him to pick an entirely woman-oriented subject. An alumnus of the prestigious Ftii in Pune, Aditya said that the idea for Tikli and Laxmi Bomb originated in 2003, after watching Thelma and Louise in college. “(I) have wondered ever since why we aren't making a film with that wild a spirit, with that acerbic a telling, in India,” he said. On the research on sex work that went into writing the story, Aditya said, “I spent a lot of time talking to sex workers around the Sv road area (Mumbai). This would only work practically if I paid them for the sex and had a chat instead. As they're at work and making their living for the night, money is of primary importance and not some pesky guy's questions.” “A lot of them also opened up after the second or third time. And spoke of their lives, what drove them, urges, feelings, they shared their laughter. The most beautiful thing was that on their own, they're not 'martyrs' or sad at all. They're about as happy as women working in advertising or banking. It's just that they've seen patriarchy in its worst colours and so are wiser for it, in terms of how to deal with it,” he added Just like the research done on the book, the film too has been shot in real locations in Mumbai in tough conditions. Apart from Tikli and Laxmi Bomb, the filmmaker has also written two other books, Frontseat and Backseat which went on to become international bestsellers as well.