Nasheman

India's largest selling Urdu weekly, now also in English

You are here: Home / Archives for 2016

Archives for 2016

HCU:Striking non-teaching staff resume duties;campus peaceful

by

Rohith Vemula

Hyderabad: The non-teaching staff of Hyderabad Central University (HCU), who had gone on a strike protesting vandalisation of VC’s lodge on March 22 allegedly by a group of students, resumed their duties today as the situation on the campus remained peaceful.

Members of HCU Non-Teaching Staff Union had boycotted duties from Tuesday afternoon protesting ransacking of Vice Chancellor Appa Rao Podile’s official residence (VC’s lodge) and after being assaulted allegedly by the group of students opposing Podile resuming his duty.

As part of the strike, cooks had shut down ‘Students’ Mess’, expressing support to the Vice Chancellor (VC) after which students had set up an open kitchen yesterday.

“Messes, which had been shut down due to the strike by non-teaching staff opened today…they (non-teaching staff) have resumed their duties from today in the larger interest of the university,” HCU Registrar M Sudhakar told PTI.

Meanwhile, twenty-five students and two faculty members of HCU, who were arrested yesterday in connection with incidents of vandalism at VC’s lodge and stone pelting on police personnel, were sent to judicial remand last night and are lodged in Cherlapally Central Prison.

“The situation on the campus is peaceful today,” Gachibowli police inspector J Ramesh said.

Mother of deceased Dalit research scholar Rohit Vemula, Radhika, who had staged a sit-in protest along with scores of HCU students in front of the university last night after being denied entry, withdrew her protest at around 11.15 pm, HCU Chief Security Officer T V Rao said.

Radhika and the protesting students, who demanded Podile’s immediate removal from the post and the release of students and faculty members arrested in connection with vandalism of the VC’s lodge and stone-pelting on police, also made a vain bid to “barge” inside the campus but were stopped at the entrance itself, Rao said.

“She wanted to hold a dharna inside the campus, but we prevented her from doing so. She along with around 200 students attempted to go inside the campus, but we stopped them and they finally withdrew their protest at around 11.15 pm,” the security official said.

(Agencies)

New Zealand beat Pakistan to enter World T20 semis

by

New Zealand Pakistan

Mohali: New Zealand beat Pakistan by 22 runs here on Tuesday to qualify for the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 cricket tournament.

Electing to bat first, New Zealand rode on Martin Guptill’s 48-ball 80 to post 180 for five wickets before restricting Pakistan to 158 for five in their 20 overs.

The win saw New Zealand move to the top of the Group B table with three wins from as many matches while Pakistan’s chances of advancing further dimmed after two straight losses.

Left-hander Sharjeel Khan (47) gave Pakistan a strong start in their reply to reach 76/1 in seven overs.

Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson introduced Ish Sodhi to produce the match’s defining phase.

The leg-spinner removed the dangerous looking Shahid Afridi and conceded only 25 runs from his four overs. He also created enough pressure for Mitchell Santner to pick up two wickets and strangle Pakistan to a 22-run defeat.

Pakistan needed 52 in 24 balls with six wickets in hand. But Umar Akmal and Shoaib Malik could hardly find the gaps, as Pakistan failed to hit a boundary in its last 31 balls and finished on 158 for five.

With its third consecutive win, New Zealand became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals.

Earlier, Martin Guptill led the way with some power-packed batting as New Zealand posted a challenging total of 180/5 in their World Twenty20 Group 2 match against Pakistan at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium here on Tuesday.

Guptill smashed 80 runs off 48 balls with 10 boundaries and three sixes. Ross Taylor, who remained on 36 off 23 deliveries and Corey Anderson (21) played useful knocks in the later stages of the innings.

Pacer Mohammad Sami (2/23) was the best performer among the Pakistan bowlers, although he did take some punishment from Guptill in his first spell. Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi (2/40) also bagged a couple of wickets.

This is New Zealand’s third match of the tournament. The Kiwis have made themselves near certain candidates for advancing to the semi-finals by winning both their previous matches, against hosts India and Australia. Another victory on Tuesday will see them through to the last-four stage as the top team in the group.

Electing to bat on winning the toss, New Zealand were off to a superb start with openers Guptill and Kane Williamson going great guns.

Guptill was the more aggressive of the two, handing out some rough treatment to the Pakistan bowlers while Williamson gave him steady support from the other end as the duo put together an opening partnership of 62 runs by the eighth over.

Irfan struck the first blow for Pakistan when he outfoxed Williamson with a slower one. The Kiwi right-hander mistimed his attempted drive as Shahid Afridi pulled off an easy catch at cover.

Incoming batsman Colin Munro did not last long as Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi struck in his very first over after coming on to bowl. Attempting a switch hit of a delivery which was pitched on the middle stump, the left-handed Munro hit the ball straight to Sharjeel Khan at sweeper cover.

But that did not affect the New Zealand run rate too much as Guptill and Corey Anderson continued to score at a brisk pace. The duo added 52 runs between them before Guptill tapped the ball onto his stumps while trying to dab an incoming delivery from Sami to third man.

Anderson also went back to the pavilion in the very next over as he mistimed a googly from Afridi. But Taylor ensured that the Kiwis finished their innings on a strong note.

Brief scores:

New Zealand 180/5 in 20 overs (Martin Guptill 80, Ross Taylor 36 n.o.; Mohammad Sami 2-23, Shahid Afridi 2-40); Pakistan (Sharjeel Khan 47, Ahmed Shehzad 30, Mitchell Santner 2/29, Adam Milne 2/26)

(IANS)

Brussels attack suspects named as manhunt intensifies

by

Police comb Belgian capital for third suspect as prosecutor says two bombers were brothers involved in organised crime.

Belgian troops search people entering a subway station following Tuesday''s bomb attacks [Francois Lenoir/Reuters]

Belgian troops search people entering a subway station following Tuesday”s bomb attacks [Francois Lenoir/Reuters]

by Al Jazeera

A massive manhunt is under way for a suspect seen with two supposed suicide bombers shortly before they struck Brussels’ Zaventem Airport in the first of two attacks that also hit the city’s metro, killing 31 people and wounding 261.

Belgian Federal Prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw confirmed on Wednesday that two brothers, Khalid and Brahim el-Bakraoui, blew themselves up in Tuesday’s attacks.

Brahim had been identified using finger print records, Van Leeuw said, adding a third suspect remained on the run.

The prosecutor also confirmed police had raided an address associated with the attackers after a tip-off by a taxi driver who drove the attackers to the airport.

“There was five kilograms of explosives, oxidising liquid, and other materials for making explosives,” he said.

Van Leeuw spoke shortly after crowds of mourners gathered outside Maelbeek station, one of the targets of the attacks, to observe a minute of silence.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) claimed responsibility for Tuesday morning’s attacks.

“This is a day of tragedy, a black day,” Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said, describing the bombings as the “deadliest attacks we have ever seen in Belgium”.

But as Belgium began three days of national mourning on Wednesday, he insisted the country would not be cowed by the “blind, violent and cowardly” attacks.

Belgian authorities released pictures of two of the suspects pushing trolleys with their bombs through the terminal and said they were “actively searching” for a third man whose explosives did not go off.

Police helicopters hovered over the city late into the night on Tuesday and raids were carried out across Belgium, prosecutors said, adding that a bomb, an ISIL flag and chemicals had been found in one apartment.

Police were going door-to-door throughout Brussels searching for suspects or others planning attacks. The interior minister said 600 additional police were deployed.

Al Jazeera’s Dominic Kane, reporting from Brussels, said many in the country were asking whether the attacks represented a continuing threat.

“Belgians feel this is something they’ll now have to get used to…the editor of a prominent Belgian news outlet yesterday was writing that she believed this was something that was becoming part of the system.

“[She said] this was something people have to get used to and have to explain to their children that there is a threat and life has changed.”

Kane said there was also a sense that the blasts were a calculated attack on European insitutions and the “fabric of Europe”.

On social media thousands of people shared images of beloved Belgian cartoon character Tintin in tears.

The explosions struck the heart of European officialdom where NATO headquarters is based, along with the European Union, and European Commission.

Witnesses at the airport and metro station described scenes of horror immediately after the bombings.

“When I heard the first explosion, lots of people started screaming and running,” Tom, an intern working at the airport, told Al Jazeera.

“When I heard the second explosion, which was about 30 seconds after the first one, everything got chaotic. I could see panic on everyone’s face, blood on their bodies.”

The interior ministry raised the country’s terrorism alert to the highest level after the blasts.

Belgium has been on high alert since the arrest in Brussels last week of Salah Abdeslam , a key suspect in last November’s Paris attacks that left 130 people dead.

Governments in Europe and beyond quickly responded to the Brussels attacks, calling emergency national security meetings and stepping up controls at airports and other sensitive sites.

Ticketless train passenger who refused to pay fine citing Mallya debts, jailed for 7 days

by

Railways

Mumbai: In a bizarre incident a passenger travelling ticketless refused to pay up a fine amount of Rs 260 and raked up a row asking the authorities to make Vijay Mallya pay up his dues of Rs 9000 crore before fining her.

The passenger has been sent to Byculla jail for 7 days, but has so far refused to back down from her stance.

The incident took place on Sunday afternoon when Premlatha Bhansali, a 44-year-old lady was travelling in a Mumbai local when a ticket checker asked for her ticket at Mahalaxmi station. Since she was ticketless the TC asked her to cough up the fine amount of Rs 260. Bhansali however refused to pay up the fine amount and started arguing with the TC that authorities should initially recover debts owed by Mallya instead of fining poor people like her.

Standing her ground she kept arguing with the rail authorities for nearly 12 hours demanding that she be produced before a magistrate so she could express her point.

Bhansali, who was produced before the Magistrate on Tuesday, accepted all the charges read out to her but refused to pay the fine amount for her offense which now amounted to Rs 1500.

The court even reduced the fine to Rs 460 on humanitarian grounds, but Bhansali maintained her stance saying she would not pay the fine even if she is jailed for six months or a year.

“The government does not nail the rich but are after the poor like me,” says Bhansali as reported by a daily.

The Magistrate then sent her to police custody for seven days.

(Agencies)

PM Modi under fire as middle class India still awaits ‘Achhe din’

by

Modi

New Delhi: The slogan that spearheaded the election campaign promising the “good days” of lower costs, better health care and livelihood opportunities seems to be hounding the common man of India.

Sharp rises in education and healthcare costs in the last two years have hit India’s burgeoning middle class hard, denting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity among the relatively well-off ahead of a series of state elections.

Price increases for services deemed a luxury for most Indians could also complicate the central bank’s plans to cut borrowing costs, with decades of low investment in schools and hospitals meaning they will remain expensive for some time.

“Spending on my son’s education and medicine for the family has gone up sharply,” said Sambuddha Banerjee, a 47-year-old IT professional, who works for local government in Kolkata.

“The government also cut fuel subsidies and tried to impose taxes on our pension savings. This is not acceptable.”

Banerjee is thinking twice about voting for Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the next general elections scheduled for 2019.

That view is far from universal, but is already on the radar of a government that swept to power in 2014 with promises of economic reforms and pro-business policies that appealed to aspirational Indians living in big towns and cities.

Modi has already seen support among the huge agriculture sector ebb following several crop failures, so appeasing the middle class, which accounts for about a quarter of the 1.3 billion population, looks increasingly important.

“Rising prices of commodities and services which have a higher weight in the consumption basket of middle class households is an issue that cannot be ignored,” said a senior finance ministry official.

“This is a supply side issue and can’t be addressed in the short term,” he added.

To ease some pressure on middle income earners, the government plans to hike salaries of its nearly 10 million employees by 24% this year.
Government backs down

Education costs have risen 13%, housing 10%, healthcare 14% and electricity 8% since Modi took charge in May 2014, time series data on CPI inflation collected by the ministry of statistics showed.

That puts a disproportionate strain on middle class incomes, with education costs accounting for 7% of urban households’ monthly spend compared with 3.5% of rural households, data showed.

Food and beverage prices, meanwhile, which account for more than a half of the CPI basket, fell 10.5% since Modi’s election victory, although there, too, items like milk and eggs favoured by middle income Indians have actually risen.

Owners of motorcycles and cars are further upset that the government took away some windfall gains from falling oil prices in the form of taxes, and people across the country are cutting back on discretionary spending as expenses outstrip earnings.

Underlining the government’s sensitivity to a “squeeze” on the middle class, earlier this month it agreed to roll back plans to tax pension fund withdrawals following a backlash from salaried workers.

While national elections are three years away, the BJP’s popularity faces earlier tests, with ballots in states including West Bengal and Assam later in 2016, and the key battleground of Uttar Pradesh due next year.

Rate cut

A disgruntled middle class also poses problems for Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan, who has pledged to bring down consumer price inflation to 5% by March, 2017 and 4% in the medium term.

Headline retail inflation eased to 5.18% in February from 5.69% in January, but core inflation, which strips out food and fuel, rose to 4.9% from 4.75%, mostly due to increases in education, housing and personal care.

The RBI is widely expected to cut its policy interest rate by 25 basis points on April 5, after lowering it by 125 basis points last year thanks in part to easing inflation and the government’s fiscal consolidation roadmap.

“The spare capacity in the economy is not getting reflected in the core inflation number, which means the challenge for monetary policy to control the demand side pressure is much more,” said one senior policymaker, hinting at the difficulty of deep rate cuts beyond April.

That could be a bad news for middle income Indians who are looking to the central bank to bring down their borrowing costs, particularly after deposit rates fell.

The government slashed the federal pension fund rate and deposit rates offered to millions of small savers to align with market rates, triggering protest from opposition parties.

Despite the complaints, many are willing to give Modi more time to address their concerns.

“Our expectations of him were very high, and he needs more time to solve these age-old problems,” said Kundan Mukherjee, a 51-year-old from Jharkhand, who works for a pharmaceutical company.

(Rueters)

Karnataka expat jailed in Saudi for social media post; Sushma takes up case

by

Abdul Sattar Makandar

New Delhi: Abdul Sattar Makandar, a truck driver, working in Saudi Arabia from the past 23 months has been arrested on the charges of ‘spreading misinformation’ on social media.

Recently, a video of an Indian migrant worker crying his eyes out due to bad working conditions in Saudi Arabia went viral on social media. The worker has been jailed, according to activists.

Abdul Sattar Makandar, a truck driver and a native of Dandeli, Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka, has been working in the Arab country from the past 23 months. He had applied for leave to come home over five months ago.

In the video, Abdul talks about his grievances and explains how his employer is not giving him proper salary or any money for food.

The video was posted by Indian human rights activist Kundan Srivastava but was soon taken down after the legal representatives of Al Suroor United Group approached him. “I urge the Government, Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, PMO India Narendra Modi to help Abdul Sattar Makandar to come back to India,” said Srivastava, reports The Independent.

Abdul was arrested on charges of ‘spreading misinformation’ on social media

The Al Suroor United Group has denied the claims made by Abdul and said all workers were entitled leave after two years of service and he is six weeks away from it.

(Agencies)

Foreign Films Round Up

by

CURON TO TOPLIN AT CHINA – US SUMMIT

Gravity director Alfonso Cuaron will return to China later this month to speak at 2016 China – US Motion Picture Summit. Cuaron previously travelled to the Beijing Film Festival with Gravity, which scored $70.7 million at the Chinese box office. Also joining the speaking line up are: Andrew Cripps, IMAX executive VP; Zhang Xun, chairman of Max Screen Distribution; producer Ann An & Richard Fox, executive VP of International at Warner Bros. Entertainment. Cripps will speak about the implications of technology on the future of the motion picture industry. Previously announced speakers include: Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Gary Lucchesi, Elizabeth Daley, Zhang Xun, Andrew Cripps, Bill Borden. The conference on 25th Mar, 2015 will be held in Grand Epoch City near Beijing. It is backed by Citic Guoan, Dick Cook Studios, and Film Carnival Production, with the support of China Media Culture Promotion Association, China Film Association & Beijing Film Academy. Winston Baker is event producer.

2 OF FOX UNIT COMBINE FORCES

2 of 20th Century Fox divisions — Fox International Productions
& Fox Networks Group Asia –have joined forces to expand their commitment to production of Chinese language content. Both have been active in the region on their own accounts. Combining their efforts is intended to create a larger & more diversified platform for local creatives to work with the studio. The joint remit spans local development, co – production & remakes, with output including feature films, mini – series & TV series. The 1st project will likely be unveiled this year and start production in 2017. “Greater China, and Asia overall, represent a very significant portion of our strategic focus on the production of feature films globally. FIP joining forces with Fox Networks Group Asia will now solidly position us as a go – to, one – stop shop for our local partners, and amongst the creative community overall in the region,” said Tomas Jegeus, president of FIP.

HUAYI & TENCENT PREPARE VEHICLES

Annual results for China Jiuhao Health, being taken over by entertainment giants Huayi Brothers & Tencent as a vehicle for foreign acquisitions, reveal it to be an almost perfectly clean shell company. The only flaw revealed by Jiuhao’s 2015 annual results announcement, is that one of its non -executive directors is shown to have been detained by Chinese police for more than a year. “For the reason of assisting relevant Mainland authorities in their investigation since Jan, 2015, Mr. Wei Xin did not attend any general meetings of the company held in 2015,” Jiuhao said on page 44 of a regulatory filing on Fri. The company, which is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, says it is now on the lookout for acquisitions in Hollywood & Korea. Jiuhao recorded a loss of US$64.1 million (HK$497 million) in 2015, with most of that — US$47 million (HK$364 million) — attributable to the health, golf club & hotel operations that will not be continued by the new controlling shareholders.

S0NY PICTURES TELEVISION BACKS FABLE PICTURES

Sony Pictures Television has taken a minority stake in Fable Pictures, UK film & television production company run by creative director Faye Ward, who produced “Suffragette” alongside Alison Owen & managing director Eugenio Perez. Fable will focus on high – end drama series that can travel internationally, with SPT distributing around the globe. Its current project is film Stan And Ollie, written by Jeff Pope, directed by Jon S. Baird & starring Steve Coogan & John C. Reilly. It is due to shoot later this year. Ward’s other credits include feature film Jane Eyre (Focus Features), TV series Small Island (BBC), Golden Globe nominated series Dancing On The Edge (BBC), Toast (BBC) and episodes of The Crown for Left Bank Pictures & Netflix.

THE NIGHT MANAGER PRODUCERS IN TALKS WITH BBC

The producers of BBC -AMC spy thriller The Night Manager, starring Tom Hiddleston, Olivia Colman & Hugh Laurie, are in talks with UK broadcaster to greenlight a 2nd season after stellar ratings in UK for the new show. The £20 million ($28.7 million) 6 episode 1st season, which launches in US on AMC on 19th Apr, 2016, has been attracting up to 8 million viewers to its Sun evening slot on flagship channel BBC One. The adaptation of John Le Carré’s novel even beat latest drama series from Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, Doctor Thorne. Now it appears the public broadcaster wants more. Talks with the lead producers, Le Carré’s sons Simon Cornwell & Stephen Cornwell, for another 6 episode season have reached “an advanced stage,” according to reports.

BBC & ITV IN TALKS TO LAUNCH VIDEO STREAMING SERVICE

Brit pubcaster BBC is in early stage discussions with rival channel ITV about launching a Netflix style subscription video streaming service, according to The Guardian. The UK based paper said the 2 channels were looking at developing a subscription TV service that would likely provide older, archive TV content rather than a 1st run of shows. But, says the report, there is understood to be a “certain amount” of original commissions. NBC Universal, which is behind programs such as BBC’s Downton Abbey, is also understood to be involved in the discussions. Both the Beeb & commercial broadcaster ITV make their content available to audiences digitally for 30 days. Britons pay £145.50 ($207.95) per year for access to BBC content, including the BBC iPlayer and after content moves off the service, it can be accessed through pay – TV service UKTV, online outlet BBC Store or DVDs & Netflix, the latter of which houses shows like Top Gear.

02 FILMES PUTS SURIA INTO PRODUCTION

Helmer Fernando Meirelles’ O2 Filmes, one of Brazil’s largest indie production companies in Brazil, will produce animation series Suria, O2’s founding partner Andrea Barata Ribeiro told Variety in an exclusive interview in Rio Content Market 2016. The kids’ series, which will have 26 episodes of 11 minutes, will be helmed by Fabio Mendonca. “The series is designed for the Latin American market. We are negotiating the distribution with regional pay – TV networks,” Barata Ribeiro said. She added the series will be made in O2’s production center in Sao Paulo and will take about 2 years to be finished. O2, which is a major producer of TV commercials, live – action series & features, such as Meirelles’ City Of God & Blindness, recently created an in – house animation production unit, Barata Ribeiro said. The unit’s 1st production was for Pedro Morelli’s feature Zoom, a Brazil / Canada co -production starring Gael Garcia Bernal, which included animation sequences.

FORMATA & ITV INK FORMATS DEAL FOR BRAZIL

Local TV format’s company Formata inked on 17th Feb, 2016 a deal with ITV Studios Global Ent. (ITVSGE), under which the Sao Paulo based company will represent UK’s TV’s formats exclusively in Brazil, Formata’s CEO Daniela Busoli told in an exclusive interview during the 2O16 Rio Content Market. “We will be selling licenses of ITV formats to Brazilian networks, as well as adapting ITV formats to be aired in local Brazilian networks,” Busoli said. Busoli has experience with the other 2 world TV format giants. Before founding Formata in May 2015, she was the CEO of FremantleMedia Brasil and previously served as the managing director of Endemol Brasil. Prior to the agreement, Formata had already adapted 2 ITV’s cooking series formats for Brazilian TV. The company made the 3rd season of Hell’s Kitchen: Cozinha sob Pressao, which aired on local free – to – air – TV net SBT in the Fall 2015 -Jan. 2016 period, with Carlos Bertolazzi performing the role of Gordon Ramsay.

MOONSHOT TAKES DISTURBIA FOR BRAZIL

Local production company Moonshot has recently inked an agreement with London based production company Bedlam Productions for the making in Brazil of horror series Disturbia, Moonshot CEO Roberto d’Avila told Variety in an exclusive interview at the 2016 Rio Content Market. The Brazilian series will have 6, stand – alone episodes of 1 hour. Alex Gabassi, a director of local series for HBO & MTV, will helm. “We will produce Disturbia 1st in Brazil, air it here, and then sell the format in the world market. The fact we will have an actual series to show will definitely help the format’s sales abroad.” said D’Avila, stressing that horror productions, as opposed to comedies, translate well to other cultures.

HULU CONFIRMS BRAZILIAN SHOW IN DEVELOPMENT

The 2016 Rio Content Market the largest TV / new media market in Latin America, wrapped its 5th edition 11th Mar, 2016, with a record number of 3,700 participants, up 16% from last year, and 325 speakers. Nearly 1,900 attending producers took a total 1,180 business meetings. To put that in perspective, Mipcom, the world’s biggest TV trade fair, attracted 13,700 last year. The increasingly international market attracted executives from 32 countries in Rio’s Barra beach front hotel, including keynote speakers producer Steve Golin, producer & writer Howard Gordon, producer & writer Melissa Rosenberg & Lionsgate’s president, international TV & digital distribution, Peter Iacono. On 2016’s RCM opening day, in the latest twist in an affair which have been of large concern to the local TV industry, participants celebrated the most recent development in a court battle between Brazil’s Cinema Agency Ancine and its association of telecom corporations SindiTeleBrasil.

WANDA POISED FOR FILM UNIT CONSOLIDATION

China’s Dalian Wanda group is to inject film production unit Wanda Pictures into its Wanda Cinema Line theaters division. The move is part of an ongoing reshuffle of its film businesses that will follow completion of the $3.5 billion acquisition of Legendary Entertainment. Wanda last week revealed that Wanda Pictures and its physical studio operations in Qingdao would receive a total of $384 million capital injection from a friendly property company Oceanwide. Shares in Wanda Cinema Line, which are normally traded on the Shenzhen stock exchange, were suspended in late Feb pending an acquisition. That acquisition now appears to be the transfer of assets from the Wanda parent company.

HUAYI HIRES JOE AGUILAR TO HEAD WINK ANIMATION DIVISION

Joe Aguilar, former head of production for features & TV at Oriental DreamWorks, has been appointed as CEO of Wink Animation, a new, wholly owned animation division at China’s Huayi Brothers Media. Aguilar, who has credits including Kung Fu Panda & The Croods will head the Shanghai based division for Huayi. Markus Manninen, a visual effects supervisor with credits including Shrek The Musical, The Croods & Over The Hedge, is to be Wink’s artistic director. The company will set up a creative center to produce animation, initially for the Chinese market, where local & imported animated content is growing in popularity. The box office this week is headed by Disney Animation’s Zootopia. Kung Fu Panda 3, co – produced by Oriental DreamWorks & DreamWorks Animation, recently broke the box office record for a Chinese made animated feature.

ZOOTOPIA RULES. 2ND WEEKEND & GODS OF EGYPT FOLLOWS

Disney Animation’s Zootopia was the runaway winner at the Chinese Box Office over the weekend. Topping the charts on each day, it scored $57.5 million between Fri & Sun, giving a 10 day total of $110 million. Data from Ent Group showed the film scoring $25.5 million on Sat alone. Gods Of Egypt, acquired by Chinese firm Le Eco in a deal announced at the American Film Market in Nov, 2016 came a creditable 2nd with $19.6 million over its opening 3 days. The 2 Hollywood titles nudged aside Ip Man 3, the martial arts biopic which topped the chart last week, but whose Box Office reporting is now being probed by regulators. It earned $13.1 million in its 2nd weekend, down from the reported $71.3 million in its 1st weekend, and stands on a 10 day cumulative of $112 million.

HONY & TENCENT INJECT $76 MILLION INTO CHINA’S LINMON

Chinese private equity firm Hony Capital & social media giant Tencent are among the financiers providing a new round of funding for boutique Chinese TV producer Linmon Pictures. Hony, which is a backer of Shanghai Media Group, is one of the major financiers of Robert Simonds’ & Gigi Pritzker’s STX Entertainment production venture, alongside US based finance giant TPG. Linmon was established 2 years ago by former SMG head of film Zhou Yuan, and co – founders Su Xiao, Chen Fei & Xu Xiao’ou. It raised a $15 million (RMB100 million) A round of capital from Tencent in 2015, was used to produce 3 TV dramas, including Chronicle Of Life & To Be A Better Man.

3 MOVIES SET FOR TOULOUSE FILMS IN PROGRESS

Christopher Murray’s The Blind Christ, Maite Alberdi’s Children & Emilio Torres’ The Winter are set for France’s 29th Toulouse Cinelatino Fest Films in Progress, a traditional launch pad for titles bound for Cannes and beyond. The 2 day screenings of movies in rough cut unspools 16th Mar, 2016 & 17th Mar, 2016 in the city of Toulouse, nestling in the lap of the Pyrenees. A biannual event, Toulouse’s Films in Progress selection features 7 filmmakers who all have a feature film track record, quite possibly a record in Toulouse / San Sebastian twice – a – year event. Equally, 3 of the movies are Chilean as at San Sebastian’s Films in Progress in Sept, 2015, and 5 of the 6 co – productions with France. Tellingly, 4 are multi – 6 lateral co -productions with Europe, as directors & producers seek to scale up on movies, put films through multiple labs & tap expertise from multiple sources.

ASIAN SCRIPT WORKSHOP SEAFIC TO LAUNCH

South East Asia is to get its 1st dedicated script workshop with the launch of the Southeast Asian Fiction Film Lab later this year. The lab takes as its role models the Sundance Institute, Italy’s TorinoFilmLab, and the Jerusalem International Film Lab. It will select 5 film makers with work – in -progress scripts. The participants will work with script consultants over a period of 9 months to develop & refine their screenplays. The lab provides 2 week long sessions in Chiang Mai, Thailand and a final session in Singapore in Jun, 2017. Projects are to be selected & prizes awarded by juries that include the Cannes festival’s Christian Jeune, Tokyo Filmex program head Shozo Ichiyama, and Thai New Wave film maker Pen – Ek Ratanaruang.

FREELANCE LEADS THE WAY AT SUBHANAHONGSA AWARDS

Freelance, a comedy drama from the now defunct GTH studios, dominated proceedings at the Thailand National Film Association Awards, better known as the Subhanahongsa Awards. The film, also known as Heart Attack, was released in Sept, 2015 and grossed close to $500,000 (THB16 million) in Thailand. At a ceremony on Sun night in Bangkok, it scooped “Best Director Award for as well as most of the acting prizes on offer. Subhanahongsa Awards — 2016 Winners “Best Film”: Freelance by GT “Best Director”: Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit for Freelance “Best Screenplay” (joint): Snap by Kongdej Jaturanrasamee & Freelance by Nawapol Thamrongratanarit “Best Actor”: Sunny Suwanmethanon in Freelance “Best Actress”: Davika Hoorne in Freelance.

WANDA & WARNER ON BOARD OF THE VILLAGE THAT FORGETS

Independent Taipei based sales agency, Ablaze Image is handling The Village That Forgets, a Taiwanese martial arts comedy that includes China’s Wanda Pictures & Warner Bros. (FE), the Taiwanese unit of Warner, amongst its investors. Albaze will fire up international sales on the picture at this week’s FilMart in Hong Kong. It is also unveiling Foret Debussy a dark drama starring Gwei Lun – Mei. The Village That Forgets is directed by successful Chen Yu – Hsun and is the story of a mysterious event happening in a rural village by the end of the Qing Dynasty. The film stars Shu Qi, Wang Qianyuan, Hong Kong’s Eric Tsang, Chang Hsiao – Chuan, Tony Yang & Lin Mei – Hsiu.

“PIG LADY” WINS TOP PRIZE

Korean director Jang Moon -il’s My Sister, The Pig Lady was awarded the Grand Prix at the 11th Osaka Asian Film Festival’s closing ceremony in Osaka on Sun. Released in Korea last Sept, the film about a woman raising pigs while trying to attract one of her village’s few eligible bachelors was praised by jury president Yee Chih – Yen for “successfully balancing the commercial & the artistic fields of filmmaking.” The “Most Promising Talent Award went to Uisenma Borchu, the director, scriptwriter & actress of the German /Mongolian production “Don’t Look At Me That Way.” The “Japan Cuts Award” was given to Keihiro Kanyama for his short Somewhere In My Memory.” The festival, which unspooled 4th Mar, 2016 – 13th Mar, 2016 featured sections on South East Asian, Taiwanese, Hong Kong & Japanese indie films, in addition to its competition.

LOTTE OPENS HONG KONG’S THEATER EYES CHINA

Korea’s 2nd largest exhibitor, Lotte Cinema has opened its 1st theater in Hong Kong. The new complex, named L Cinema, in Shau Kei Wan, comes with just 2 auditoria of 87 seats each. It was originally set to open on 29th Jan, 2016, but due to a license issue the opening was pushed back a week to Feb. 5. It opened just in time for Chinese New Year with The Good Dinosaur in 2D & 3D, and Hong Kong director Wong Jing’s From Vegas To Macau 3. Hong Kong is the 3rd territory that Lotte has entered, following Vietnam & China, where it operates 23 & 11 theaters, respectively. Yet the company remains discrete about its Hong Kong launch. The L Cinema is located in Shau Kei Wan at the eastern tip of Hong Kong Island, a site that is not a typical cinema location, being neither a major retail destination, nor a position with significant through traffic.

ASIAN DISTRIBUTORS ON “GIANT PEAR”

European 2D animated film The Incredible Story Of The Giant Pear is set for release in Asia following the picture’s launch last month at the European Film Market in Berlin. Sales are handled by LevelK, the Danish sales agency which last year opened a Hong Kong office, headed by Derek Lui. The film which is now in production, has been pre -sold to South Korea’s Yejilim Entertainment, as well as to Century 21 for Iran and to ADS Service for Hungary & Romania. The kids and family targeted film is being co – directed by Philip Lipsky Einstein & Joergen Lerdam. Production on a Euros 3 million budget is by Thomas Heinesen & Trine Heidegaard at Nordisk Film, with animation by A Film.

TOP ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK RTL GROUP SEES NET PROFIT

RTL Group, Europe’s leading entertainment network, reported Thurs that its net profit rose 21% to €789 million ($865 million) last year. Revenue increased 3.8% to €6.03 billion ($6.61 billion), mainly driven by higher revenue at its German broadcaster Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, growing digital revenue and the effect of favorable exchange rates. Revenue reflected the group’s diversified portfolio, with 53.7% from TV & radio advertising, 22% from content sales, 8.4% from digital activities, 4.1% from platform revenue & 11.8% from other revenue. Digital has become a significant driver of growth for RTL Group: digital revenue was up 72.2% to €508 million ($557 million).

TIME RENEGADES HEADS CJ ENTERTAINMENT’S SLATE

My Sassy Girl director Kwak Jae – Yong is returning to Korean film making with Time Renegades, after making Chinese romantic comedy Meet Miss Anxiety. Time Renegades will be launched by sales agent CJ Entertainment at Hong Kong FilMart. Renegades is a time shifting romantic thriller about a high school teacher in 1983 and a detective in 2015 who join forces to change the fate of a woman they both love. Set for an Apr, 2016 opening in Korea, the picture stars Lim Soo – Jung, Jo Jung-suk & Lee Jin – Uk. CJ is also launching 2 other new titles at FilMart: action noir Phantom Detective & Vietnamese horror The Housemaid. Directed by A Werewolf Boy film maker Jo Sung – Hee, Phantom focuses on a private investigator with outstanding memory & a quirky personality who is entangled in a conspiracy while chasing the only target that he failed to catch.

SOUTH KOREA PROPOSES QUOTAS FOR ART MOVIES

The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) floated the proposal Thurs as part of a 3 year action plan to promote local films. The Government agency, which is both a regulator and a financier of the industry, said that it may introduce the new system as a variation of the existing screen quota for local movies. These currently require all movie theaters in Korea to screen local films for a minimum of 73 days a year. With Korean made films enjoying a more than 50% share of ticket sales in the country the existing quotas currently have little operational impact on theaters. Details & timetable for adoption of the new quota system for art films has yet to be firmly decided. “We understand that it is practically impossible to impose the same rules on all exhibitors. Depending on the population of the city where each theater is located, and also the size of the theaters, unique requirements will be imposed,” said KOFIC chairman Kim Sae – Hoon at a press conference.

QUMRA EVENT WRAPS UP REAFFIRMING ITS KEY ROLE

The Doha Film Institute’s innovative Qumra workshop wrapped up its 2nd edition on 9th Mar, 2016 reaffirming its role as formidable facilitator for new voices in Arab cinema and beyond thanks to a format that’s getting great word of mouth, has attracted a larger North American presence this year, and looks set to build on its success going forward. Funa Maduka, global content buyer for Netflix; Matthew Takata head of the Sundance Institute’s international feature film program; Cara Mertes, who runs the Ford Foundation’s JustFilms; and Oscar winning British producer David Parfitt were amongst the roughly one hundred invited industryites attending the 3rd Mar, 2016 – 9th Mar, 2016 workshop with festival elements held this year in Doha’s inspiring I. M. Pei designed Museum of Islamic Art and the nearby funky Souq Wakif.

FILM BUSINESS POISED FOR A REBOUND

Indonesia’s stagnant media sector may get a shot in the arm after President Joko Widodo announced that the film industry would be taken off the so – called negative list of businesses in which foreign ownership was banned. The Feb, 2016 proclamation removes barriers in film production, distribution & exhibition, and holds out the possibility of huge changes in those areas. But there are still questions to be answered before foreigners can make more money in a market of 255 million. “This is a great, positive development for Indonesia. The lack of investment over the years has caused cinema to stagnate,” says Brian Riady, CEO of Cinemaxx, which has 150 screens in Indonesia.

2 MOVIES TOP GUADALAJARA FESTIVAL

Graced by Alfonso Cuaron, Antonio Banderas, Diego Luna, Danny Glover & Maya Rudolph, Mexico’s Guadalajara Festival gave its 2 biggest prizes to feature debuts, Mexico’s Pan – American Machinery & Colombia’s Oscuro Animal at Mexico’s Guadalajara Festival. Relocated, largely successfully, in the city’s stylish colonial MUSA Arts Museum, Guadalajara’s 31st edition was marked by 2 big new Mexican films, The 4th Company & Me Estas Matando, Susana, a heavyweight Mexican industry presence led by Argos, Canana, Alebrije Film & TV & Alazraki Ent., and the huge excitement generated by Latin America’s build in SVOD operators and their production financing, however narrow indie producers’ potential profit margins.

3 PRODUCTION UNITS TEAM UP ON ATTITUDE TEST

Jirafa Films & Forastero, 2 of Chile’s very top production outfits, are teaming to make Prueba De Actitud (Attitude Test), signalling the entry into more mainstream comedy, though still with social point, of 2 of Chile’s most prestigious production houses. Unveiled Thurs in early rough cut at the Miami Festival’s Encuentros pix -in – post competition, Attitude Test also marks the feature directorial debut of producer Augusto Matte & star Chilean stand – up comedian – actor -scribe Fabrizio Copano. Produced by Forastero partner Florencia Larrea, and co – directed by Jirafa Films producer Matte, teen comedy Attitude Test also reps a still relatively rare play for the young adult audience in Chile – addressed most notably to date by Nicolas Lopez in his F…k My… trilogy as well as a hallmark mix for Chile of genre – here suave party party comedy – and social issue concern.

ARGOS CINE TEAMS UP WITH BOB YARI

Mexico’s Argos Cine is teaming with both Bob Yari, producer of Crash & The Illusionist, to co – produce Luciérnagas En El Mozote (Fireflies At El Mozote) and with Spain’s Arturo Perez Reverte, author of Queen Of the South,” for a 2nd movie, The Man From Rome, an English language big – screen makeover of Reverte’s Seville, set thriller La Piel El Tambor, in deals that mark out Argos Cine and parent Argos Comunicacion as an ambitious go – to production partner in Mexico for both film & TV. Moving forward on the series Burn The Bridge, Argos Cine struck no fewer than 9 co -production deals at Mexico’s Guadalajara Festival, boarding 3 titles at its Co – production meeting – Chile’s Another Lake, Costa Rica’s Ballroom, and Mexico’s Night Of July – and 2 genre pic projects from Spanish producer Antonia Nava, agreeing to co -produce Ahinoa Menendez’s Eco & Gustavo Moheno’s Melisa. Argos Cine is the leading deal maker at Mexico’s Guadalajara Fest, which wrapped on 13th Mar, 2016.

LATIN AMERICA VOD ON THE APOSTATE

Who said distributors can no longer rely on TV sales? In a deal model which looks set to multiply in the Mexico, as competition in Latin America’s VOD space heats up, Eckehardt Von Damm’s Corazon Films has acquired all rights for Mexico and VOD for the whole of Latin America – both SVOD & TVOD, to Federico Veiroj’s The Apostate. “New VOD platforms in the region allow local distributors to be more aggressive as Latin American films become more palatable,” said Sandro Halphen, Corazon head of development & rights’ manager. Pick – up by Corazon Films, a production – distribution shingle that releases a mix of US Mexican movies, ticks off another major territory for The Apostate, an irreverent belated coming – of – age comedy from Spanish -Uruguayan director Veiroj which, world premiering at Toronto, won a Fipresci award & Special Jury Prize at San Sebastian.

GIANNI AMELIO SHOOTING THE TEMPTATION TO BE HAPPY

Pluriprized Italo auteur Gianni Amelio is back behind camera on an adaptation of The Temptation To Be Happy, a hot Naples set novel about a cynical old widower whose life is changed by a woman who is a victim of domestic violence. Neapolitan stage actor Renato Carpentieri, who starred in Amelio’s Oscar nominated Open Doors’, is playing the lead amid an A – list Italian cast also comprising Elio Germano; Giovanna Mezzogiorno & Micaela Ramazzotti. Pic is inspired by Neapolitan author Lorenzo Marone’s local bestseller “The Temptation to Be Happy,” which was among the Berlin Film Festival’s 2015 “Books At Berlinale,” selected in tandem with the Frankfurt book fair as tomes that could be the basis for good movies. Tale of wry self -centred 77 – year – old widower Cesare Annunziata who eventually rescues Emma, a younger woman who moves into his building and has a shady husband who beats her, has been a local best-seller. It is being published internationally in UK, France, Germany and other countries. Naples is becoming the Italian city attracting most attention from international culture vultures lately thanks to Elena Ferrante’s “Neapolitan Novels” now being made into a TV series by Fremantle & Fandango.

AMAZON PRIZE PRIME BOARDS BULLYPARADE – DER FILM

Amazon has acquired Warner Bros.’ upcoming comedy feature Bullyparade — Der Film from German multihyphenate funnyman Michael Bully Herbig. Based on Herbig’s cult TV comedy show that ran on German TV broadcaster ProSieben from 2001 to 2002, the pic will premiere on the premium Amazon Prime subscription VOD service 6 months after its theatrical run, Amazon said Thurs. Following his hit TV show, Herbig went on to make German cinematic history with such megahits as 2001’s comedy – western Der Schuh Des Manitu and 2004’s (T)Raumschiff Surprise — Periode 1, 2 of the highest earning German films of all time. Herbig’s Bullyparade co – stars Rick Kavanian & Christian Tramitz will also return for the big screen treatment. Herbig will direct from a script he co – wrote with Kavanian, Tramitz Alfons Biedermann. His herbX film is co -producing with Warner Bros.

ANTONIA ZEGERS SET FOR THE DOGS

Alfredo Castro, star of Venezuela’s 2015 Venice Golden Lion winner From Afar and all of fellow Chilean compatriot Pablo Larrain’s movies through the upcoming Neruda, and Antonia Zegers
will topline Los Perros (The Dogs), the anticipated 2nd feature by Chile’s Marcela Said. The Dogs” marks Said’s follow – up to The Summer Of Flying Fish, her debut, a critique of Chile’s bourgeoisie’s disavowal of political realities that was selected for Cannes’ 2013 Directors’ Fortnight, proved one of the new Latin American AMC – Sundance Channel’s 1st 2 pick – ups from Latin America, and established Said as one of Latin America’s distaff directors to track. Zegers will play Mariana, 40, a lonely upper – class woman who chafes at the role her father & husband have created for her of conceiving children.

2 COUNTRIES MAKING 1ST FICTION CO – PRODUCTION

Underscoring the rising collaboration among Latin American film makers, the 1st Panamanian – Argentinean fiction co – production is primed to start shooting in May, 2016. Panama Meets director Arianne M. Benedetti will be making her feature debut Mas Que Hermanos (Beyond Brotherhood) with Argentina’s Magma Cine (El Ardor) on board to co -produce with Benedetti’s Treehouse Studios & VFX Panama. 212 Productions, Ingrid Barajas’ US – based event organiser publisher of Flaunt Magazine, also co -produces and will handle the red carpet premiere of the pic in Los Angeles. At the end of the day, Hermanos will boast a cast and a crew from Panama, Chile, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia & US, said Benedetti. Dialogue will be in both Spanish & English. “Around 90% of the above – the – line crew will be female,” noted VFX owner senior producer Regina Barletta.

Swati Sharma records sad song for Krushna Abhishek’s film

by

Swati Sharma

Singer Swati Sharrma of “Banno Tera Swagger” fame from Tanu Weds Manu Returns recently recorded a sad melancholic song for Krushna Abhishek starrer film Jhunjhunaa at LM Studio, Andheri – Mumbai.

Nilkanth Regmi, Vanshmani Sharma & Kamal Kishor Mishra of Rock Mountain Productions recorded the sad song for their debut film Jhunjhunaa. Swati Sharrma who got fame after singing her 1st ever song “Bano Tera Swagger” sang this song written & composed by Praveen Bhardwaj. Jhunjhunaa stars Krushna Abhishek, Mugdha Godse, Himani Shivpuri, Mushtaq Khan, Mukesh Tiwari & Rakesh Shrivastava and MSanoj Sharma is the director of film.

Southern Film Round Up

by

Amulya

Amoolya’s Resolution

The profound actress with beauty & brain Amoolya has decided to give up stereo type role with fiery dialogues for some time. A series of films of Amoolya was hot tempered and it has come to her notice that audience, media is talking about this monotony.
Amoolya once a college vacation actress is now ready with full prominence to cinema. She has completed graduation in commerce. The post graduation she is taking up in a foreign university. That is because there will be no need to go to college and the course also finishes very quickly.

Arrambam Actress To Play A Cop In Jayam Ravi’s Bogan

Jayam Ravi will team up again with his Romeo Juliet director Lakshaman for a new film titled as Bogan. Hansika who played the female lead in Romeo Juliet will be Ravi’s heroine in Bogan & Thani Oruvan villain Arvind Swamy will be playing an important role in the flick. Ravi will be playing a cop in this film. Akshara Gowda who made an appearance in Ilayathalapathy Vijay’s blockbuster Thupakki and Ajith starrer Arrambam will be acting as a cop in the film. The actress also revealed that as she plays a cop she will have some action sequences and she will also shake a leg with the film’s hero Jayam Ravi in the latter’s intro song. The shooting which is all set to begin soon, will start with the shoot of this song choreographed by Raju Sundaram master & composed by the film’s music director D. Imman.

Censor Target Fixed For Vijay’s Theri

Vijay’s Theri is getting ready to hit the screens on 14th Apr, 2016 as a grand Tamil New Year treat for the fans of Ilayathalapathy as well as the general movie buffs. The film’s producer Kalaipuli.S.Thanu has confirmed the release plan.

The Theri team headed by director Atlee has been working round the clock to complete the post production as early as possible so that the film will hit the release target. Theri will be sent for Censor Certification process by the last week of Mar, and hence the film has to be completed within a couple of weeks.

Gautham Starts Shooting His Film With Dhanush

The shooting of director Gautham Menon’s film with Dhanush has begun recently.
The shooting has started in SSN Engineering College located in the outskirts of Chennai. Apparently some romance scenes are being canned. Jomon T John of Malayalam super hit Ennu Ninte Moideen & Charlie fame makes his Kollywod debut as the cinematographer of the film.

Sasikumar’s Next Big Announcement

After director Bala’s Tharai Thappattai, actor Sasikumar has completed acting in the film Vetrivel directed by debutante Vasanthamani, The shooting of the film set in Tanjore and the near by towns & villages has been completed a few months back and the 1st look poster was released a couple of weeks ago. The next will be the audio launch which is scheduled to happen soon. Sasikumar has confirmed the news in his official Facebook page. D. Imman has composed music for the film.

Vetrivel stars Sadikumar & Miya George in lead roles while Prabhu. Thambi Ramiah & Samuthirakani have acted in supporting characters.

Amala Paul’s Bold Attempt For Amma Kanakku

Amala Paul is doing the lead role in Amma Kanakku produced by Dhanush under Wunderbar Films. The film is the Tamil remake of the Hindi flick Nil Battey Sannata and Ashwini Iyer, who directed the original, is directing the Tamil version as well. Interestingly, Amala Paul will be seen playing the mother of a 13 year old in this drama. Dhanush wanted her to come to his office and watch a film. She watched the film and felt that it would be great if she gets to play the mother’s role in the remake. Dhanush said he wanted her to play the role and she instantly gave the nod.
The shooting of Amma Kanakku was completed last month.

Heroine finalized for Chiranjeevi’s 150th Film

While Chiranjeevi’s 150th film is likely to be launched officially in the 3rd week of Apr, 2016 it’s learnt that Nayanatara has been finalized to play the female lead. The 1st name that did the rounds earlier was Nayanatara’s. It was said that the fee quoted by the damsel is astronomical and so, the makers ruled her out. However, latest updates reveal that the supposedly high remuneration is a non -issue for the makers. After all, this one will be a mega – budgeted film and Chiru being a veteran who is almost 60 years old, there are not many star heroines who can match his stupendous mega glamour. Nayanatara must have been a default choice. A remake of Vijay -starrer Kaththi, this film has a message built into the story.

Heebah Patel And “Her” many Boy Friends

Heebah Patel, who shot to fame with the Sukumar -written Kumari 21F, has been roped in for yet another youthful entertainer. Titled as Nenu…….Naa Boy Friends, this film will go on the floors from the 1st week of Apr, 2016. Producer Bekkam Venu Gopal, who has produced films like Tata…….Birla……. Madhyalo Laila, and Cinema Choopistha Mava, will produce this movie on Lucky Media. If her 1st film was directed by a Sukumar protege, this film will be directed by a V V Vinayak protege.

Pop Talent Smita Pips Records

Smita has blown to smithereens many a record. Her recently released song coming with the theme of Baahubali’s Kilkili language, titled Baha Kilikki, featuring herself along with Baahubali Prabhakar and others, has crossed the coveted mark of a whopping 1 million hits.

Speaking media to Smita averred that she wanted to do an exciting concept. Right from Deva Katta, cinematographer Sameer, music director Acchu, everyone helped her do the song. She wanted to do a racy song. The shoot was completed in 2 nights. Smita, who has come back in the reckoning after years of sabbatical, recently made a devotional album titled Nirvana Shatakam and released it on the Maha Shivratri day.

Darvinte Parinamam Trailer Released

The trailer of Darvinte Parinamam has been released. The movie stars Prithviraj & Chandini in lead roles. Chemban Vinod also essays a prominent role in the movie. The teaser was released recently. The trailer of the movie looks very promising.
Another Prithviraj blockbuster can be expected with this movie. Prithviraj plays a satellite TV operator in the movie. Chandini plays his love interest. She had made a noticeable debut with ‘KL 10 Pathu’.

Prithviraj Is Vidya Balan’s her In Madhavikutty’s Biopic

In a movie which will star Vidya Balan in the lead role, Prithviraj is all set to play the supporting role. The movie is based on Madhavikutty’s life and this biopic will have Vidya essaying the writer. Kamal is helming the movie. The movie will be made simultaneously in Malayalam & Hindi. Prithviraj and Vidya has previously acted together in Urumi. This will be their 2nd association. Kamal has been consciously choosing interesting & realistic narratives. Gadamma, Celluloid point to his sensibilities.

Hunsur Married Spoorthi

The programming & business head Raghavendra Hunsur of Zee Kannada has entered into wedlock with Spoorthi Byrappa on 4th Mar, 2016. The grand reception was held in Bengaluru Palace grounds and marriage was held at Sri Manjunatha Temple in Dharmasthala. For the wedding reception crazy star V Ravichandran, Dr Shivarajakumar, Ganesh, Yash, Darshan, Jaggesh, Vijaya Raghavendra, Pooja Gandhi, Priyanka Upendra attended to bless the newly married couple.

 

As of now in Dhuniya Vijay Masthi Gudi, Amoolya is having the traditional costume role. It is a deglamorised role. 3 scripts she has heard so far for coming years.

Bhojpuri Films Round Up

by

Kab Hoi Saiyan Se Milanwa Hamar All Songs Recorded

All the 11 songs of Hamrahi Films’ Kab Hoi Saiyan Se Milanwa Hamar has been recorded recently, under the baton of music director Rajesh Gupta. The songs were rendered by Udit Narayan, Mohan Rathod, Alok Kumar, Indu Sonali, Manoj Mishra, Khushboo Jain, Khushbu Uttam, Alka Pahadiya and Amrita Dixit. They were penned by Virendra Pandey, Sagar Shahri & Manish Mahi. The other credits are produced by Manoj Singh & Varun Pandey, directed by Ajeet Kumar, story by Pradeep Hamrahi, screenplay & dialogues by Manish Mahi, choreography by Kaanu Mukherjee, action by Pradeep Khadka, cinematography by Babloo Shoaib & associate director is Rajesh Rajput. It stars Pradeep Hamrahi, Priya Rajput, Puja Sinha, Pankaj Singh, Gopal Rai, Ali Khan, Ritu Pandey, Ratnesh & Uday Shreevastav. The film will mount the sets on 28th Mar, 2016 at Ara, Patna & Rajgir in Bihar with a 25 days start to finish shooting schedule.

Jaan Hamaar Shooting Progresses in Allahabad

A 16 days 2nd shooting schedule of Koyal Films’ Jaan Hamaar is currently in progress in Allahabad (UP). The credits are produced & directed by Kashinath Jaiswal, written & lyrics by Mritunjay Shrivastav, music by Raja Bhattacharya, cinematography by Shahbaaz Khan “Pappu” & creative director is Paras N. Singh. It stars Shahbaz Khan, Kalpana Shah, Ali Khan, Anand Mohan, Seema Singh & debutate Prem Singh.

Gaon Ke Lal Dubbing Starts

The dubbing of Janub Art Movies’ Gaon Ke Lal has started at Guru Kripa Studio. The credits are produced by Er. A. N. Tripathi & M. A. Siwani, directed by Jagdish Singh, story by A. N. Tripathi, screenplay & dialogues by Santram, music by Vijay Nanda, lyrics by Subhash Yadav, Vishwanath Rajpuri & Durgesh Tiwari, action by Pradip Khadka, editing by Kamal Sahgal choreography by Santosh Sarvadarshi, cinematography by D. K. Sharma & creative director is Santram. It stars Satyendra Singh, Priya Kapoor, Bipin Singh, Santosh Shrivastav, Julie Michael, Jay Tilak, Reena Mishra, Nazar, Neelam Pandey & Seema Singh.

Hitler Editing Starts

The editing of A. K. Creation’s Hitler has started at Shakuntalam Studio under the supervision of editor Kamal Sahgal. The credits produced by Mohammad Nasim, directed by Santram, story – screenplay -dialogues by Nanhe Pandey, Som Bhushan & Santram, lyrics by S. Kumar, Santram & Tasavur Ali, music by S. Kumar, action by Shahabuddin & choreography by Santosh Sarvadarshi & Bhoopi. It stars Viraj Bhatt, Monalisa, Sanjay Pandey, Manoj Tiger, Murlidhar, Bhoomika, Sanjay Verma, Tanveer Shaikh, Pooja, Anara Gupta, Janardan Bhardwaj, Ashok, Jayraj Singh, Javed Rehman, Aman Samani & Mohammed Nasim.

Bam Bam Bol Raha hai Kashi – Shooting completed

The entire shooting of Purple Pebble Pictures maiden venture Bam Bam Bol Raha Hai Kashi was recently completed at varied locales of Gujarat. The credits are Santosh Mishra is writer & director, associate producer is Ravi Shankar Jaiswal is Associate producer, music by Madhukar Anand & Rajnish Mishra, cinematography by Rafik Sheikh, choreography by Kanu Mukhrajee, line producer is Mahesh Upadhyay, Raman & Manohar, art by Rubel Sarkar. It stars Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirahua, Aamrapali Dube, Antra Banarjee, Deepak Sinha, Prakash Jais, Manoj Tiger, Ayaz Khan, Samarth Chaturvedi, Dhananjay Singh, Dr Archana Singh & Sanjay Pandey.

Balam Ji Jhuth Na Boli Editing Start’s

The Editing of Mithila A – 1 Films & Radha Mohan Films, Balam Ji Jhooth Na Boli has started in l minute studio. The credits are produced by Naval R. Singh, directed by Akhilesh Kumar Upadhyay (Raju Baba), story by Anavika Panday, screenplay & dialogues Vishwanath Rajpuri, music by Ganesh Panday, lyrics by Dinesh Sharma & Ganesh Panday, choreography by Kedar Subba & cinematography by Dilip. It stars Anandder Mishra, Pratibha Panday, Naval R Singh, Gajendra Brijraj
Natasha, Sanjay Yadav, Rupali Mishra, J. P. Singh, Abhishek et al.

Chhath Mai Ki Mahima Musical Muhurat Held

The musical muhurat of Dela Films, Associate Melody Max & A. R. Films Presents Avadhi (Hindi Mix) Film Chhath Mai Ki Mahima was held at Zip Zap Recording Studio on march 6th Mar, 2016 with a song recording. The muhurat song was crooned by Khushboo Jain, penned by Pyarelal Yadav & composed by Sudhakar Sneh. The credits. are produced by Aishwarya Rajput & D. M. Tripathi, directed by Rampal Singh, story by S. K. Chauhan, screenplay & dialogues by Vikas Vishwakarma, choreography by Kanu Mukharji, cinematography by T. Hegde, creative director & H.O.P. is Anil Pathak, co – producer is Razzak Khan, executive producer is Shailendra Singh & production manager is Umesh Sharma. It stars Anjana Singh, Aishwarya Rajput, Sanjay Pandey, Ritu Panday, Anil Pathak, Soniya Mishra, Rajni Pandey & Ramesh Trivedi.

KNOW US

GET INVOLVED

PROMOTE

Archives