Ameen Sayani, Beloved Indian Radio Presenter of ‘Binaca Geetmala,’ Dies at 91

Naman Ramachandran Shreyom Ghosh’s “The Vampire of Sheung Shui” is unique in that it is a Hong Kong-set horror-comedy with a protagonist of Indian origin. It has been selected for the 22nd Hong Kong — Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), the project market that operates concurrently with FilMart. Written by D.F.W.

Naman Ramachandran Upamanyu Bhattacharya‘s animated feature “Heirloom” has the emerged from the crucible of Annecy, one of the world’s top animation festivals. The Indian work-in progress film has been selected for the 22nd Hong Kong — Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), the project market that operates concurrently with FilMart. In the film, Sonal, a teacher, grapples with a hereditary disease, mirroring her mother’s untimely demise.

Naman Ramachandran Indian sales outfit Indywood Distribution Network has sold Rupesh Paul’s “Kamasutra – The Revenge” wide ahead of Hong Kong’s film rights market FilMart. Starring Sherlyn Chopra, Milind Gunaji and Gajendra Chauhan, and produced by San2Creations, the film follows two princesses – one who is robbed of her dreams when forced to accept a middle-aged king as her husband, and another thirsty for revenge. Indywood has sold the film to Twin (Japan, all rights); A2 Filmes (Latin America TV/VOD); Filmbridge (Mongolia, all rights); Pioneer Film (Philippines, all rights) and RFT Films (U.K./Ireland, theatrical).

A simmering, years-long row between JK Rowling and broadcaster India Willoughby has spilled over into a police complaint against the Harry Potter author over alleged transphobia.

Novak Djokovic is back on tennis courts. The number 1 tennis player in the world hadn’t played since he won the Australian Open, and made his comeback alongside none other than Charlize Theron. Djokovic made an appearance at the Desert Smash charity event, with proceeds funding Theron’s Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project, which benefits young people living in Southern Africa.

Naman Ramachandran The Indian media industry is improving when it comes to women in significant positions but there is a way to go before gender parity is reached, a high-powered panel debated at Mumbai’s Frames conference. The annual media industry conference is organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Aparna Purohit, head of India and Southeast Asia originals, Amazon Prime Video, talked about the early “tough days” when she started her journey.

Naman Ramachandran Bollywood A-list star Rani Mukerji was in refreshingly candid form at Mumbai’s FICCI Frames media industry conference, proffering frank opinions on the Indian theatrical business. The usual Hindi-language domination of the all-India box office was reversed for a period in 2021-22, when films from the south of India, including “RRR,” “Kantara,” “Ponniyin Selvan” and “Vikram” dominated, and the northern counterparts from’ Bollywood’ struggled to become hits. Since then, the north-south competition has evolved again.

Naman Ramachandran The Indian media and entertainment industry grew 8% in 2023 to reach a value of $27.9 billion, according to the annual EY report released during the ongoing Frames conference in Mumbai, organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). The growth was 21% above its pre-pandemic levels in 2019. The report collates data from television, digital media, film, animation and VFX, out of home media, live events, music, radio, online gaming and print.

Ivanka Trump was one of the guests at Anant Ambani’s pre-wedding party. The celebrations were lavish, welcoming guests on a three day experience hosted over the weekend. Ivanka shared photos on her Instagram, sharing with the world some of her and her family’s looks and the excitement she shared over being involved in the exclusive wedding party.Melania and Ivanka Trump’s relationship and the reason behind her ‘I Don’t Care’ jacket: New book claimsIvanka Trump shares hilarious ChatGPT life adviceA post shared by Ivanka Trump (@ivankatrump)Photos shared show Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner dressed up for the occasion.

Rihanna is back on stage… but fans aren’t exactly amazed by her performance!

Busan Names Asian Contents & Film Market Director

“work, work, work.”Rihanna has been panned for her “lazy” and “boring” performance at a pre-wedding bash for Indian billionaire Anant Amban— despite reports she was paid over $6 million for the 90-minute appearance. The “S.O.S” singer, 36, took to the stage at the lavish event in Jamanagar, India on Friday, performing in front of some of the world’s richest and most powerful people. Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerbergh and Ivanka Trump are among the attendees who have jetted into the city for the festivities.

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky are on the move!

EXCLUSIVE: Vertical has acquired North American rights to The Speedway Murders, a true crime doc examining the real-life unsolved Burger Chef murders that made national headlines and gripped 1970s Speedway, Indiana, home to racing spectacle, the Indy 500.

$10 billion Sony-ZEE merger plans and late February’s confirmation that Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries (which incorporates Viacom18 and streamer JioCinema) is to tie up most of Disney’s streaming and pay-TV businesses in an $8.5 billion deal, Indian media is set to gain a new market leader. For local and international operators in the world’s most populous nation, the consequences of those tectonic shifts extend across streaming, pay-TV, channels, advertising, sports and content.

Drishyam,” a hit Indian thriller in which an ordinary man confounds the police in order to protect his family, is to be re-made in English. Production is by India’s Panorama Studios with U.S. companies Gulfstream Pictures and JOAT Films.

Walt Disney Company and billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries have merged their massive Indian TV and streaming businesses, ending months of speculation. As per the agreement, Reliance’s Viacom18 is merging with Disney’s Star India. The deal is estimated to be worth $8.5 billion on a ‘post-money basis,’ the companies said.

Christopher Vourlias London-based world sales company Taskovski Films Sales has acquired the sales rights to “Until I Fly,” a coming-of-age story by directors Kanishka Sonthalia and Siddesh Shetty, ahead of its world premiere March 10 at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival. Produced by Sonthalia at Kopuku Films, in co-production with Christilla Huillard Kann of Elda Productions, the film tells the story of Veeru, a resilient young boy of Indian Nepalese heritage, who has to face the daily challenges of cultural rejection in an Indian Himalayan village, where most of the inhabitants look down on his mixed identity.

Charles Dierkop, best known for his roles in The Sting, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Police Woman, died Sunday at a Sherman Oaks Hospital. He was 87.

Naman Ramachandran Pankaj Udhas, the Indian singer renowned as an exponent of the ghazal form of musical poetry, died in Mumbai after a prolonged illness. He was 72. Udhas’ daughter Nayaab revaled the news via an Instagram post: “With a very heavy heart, we are saddened to inform you of the sad demise of Padmashri Pankaj Udhas on 26th February 2024 due to a prolonged illness.” Udhas debuted with ghazal album “Aahat” in 1980.