Movies
LPU student honoured at Dadasaheb Phalke Film Festival
NEW DELHI: Lovely Professional University (LPU) student Ahsif Khan from Bangladesh has been honoured with the ‘Dada Saheb Phalke 2014 Award’ for his ‘brilliantly executed’ short piece of the year ‘The Poster’.
The award was given on the conclusion of the Dadasaheb Phalke Film Festival in Delhi, aimed at recognising the enlightening, entertaining and progressive new age cinema of youth and experienced filmmakers every year.
The 15-minutes low-budget film ‘The Poster’ won “Special Festival Mention Award” in short film category for students. Ahsif received ‘Certificate of Excellence’ from national award winning producer Savita Raj Hirmath.
Ahsif’s production has been adjudged excellent over other entries from all across India and 45 other countries. The LPU forwarded itself as title sponsor of the film.
‘The Poster’ is a moving depiction of everyday anguish of common man, his endangered dreams, frustration over work and family, and the final march toward social reform. ‘The Poster’ is based on the story of Zahir Raihan-a legendary and revolutionary figure in the annals of Bangladesh, and is directed and produced by Ahsif khan.
The film is in Bengali language with sub-titles in English and has earned success under various shows.
LPU identified Ahsif’s creative power when he was motivated for a documentary, ‘Song of Padma’ in 2013, and it bagged the title of “Best Documentary” at the LPU Film Festival (India).
The documentary was further appreciated at the 6th International Film Festival in Dhaka (Bangladesh). He has also won the first prize at Youth Vibe 2013 (India) for ad making and architectural photography.
LPU chancellor Ashok Mittal said, “We are happy that our talented student put up his passion in a well-knit manner, and got such a prestigious award. We always inspire the students who reveal their zeal to do something innovative, creative and research oriented. We further make such students to reach to global heights for the ultimate benefit of the society. We wish all the best to the creative student to enable himself to get nominated for prestigious Oscar award!”
Ahsif said, “I got admission at LPU on scholarship basis. My financial condition was not good and on getting help from LPU, I came thousands of miles away from my country to join LPU. Here I got the best opportunity to get wings to my passion. In spite of my being a student of medical field, my LPU teachers motivated me to carry on my film-making creation. LPU sponsored my project and result is before all. I have no words to thank my teachers and LPU top administration which has raised my status from a simple without any resource-student to an acclaimed director, writer, and even as an actor.”
The central character of the film, ordinary middle class man Amzad, believes that the government is doing everything for its people until the day he falls in a trap. He learns about the drawback of capitalism as he loses his job. A salaried government employee, Amzad lives his life with resigned acceptance. He is a critic of the likes of Afzal – a firm believer in the revolutionary zeal of the youth. However, it sketches Amzad’s final disillusionment as he is fired for no reason from his job.
The festival celebrates the cinema and work of aspiring, young, independent and professional filmmakers. The festival attracts filmmakers from across India and 45 nations across the world. The festival has sections for feature films, short films, documentaries, animations, music videos and ad films. The festival awards the filmmakers in production, creative and performance categories.
Movies
Tamil film Made in Korea tops Netflix global chart, storms 24 countries
Cross-cultural drama races to No.1, marking a global breakthrough for South Indian cinema
MUMBAI: A Tamil tale has gone global at speed. Netflix’s Made in Korea has shot to No.1 on its Global Top 10 Non-English Films list, trending across 24 countries within days of release.
Premiering on March 12, the film, directed by Ra.Karthik and starring Priyanka Mohan, is the only South Indian title to claim the top spot across both licensed and Netflix original films, underlining the growing global pull of regional Indian cinema.
The story, which follows Shenba’s journey from Tamil Nadu to Seoul, has struck a chord for its emotional warmth, scenic visuals and cross-cultural appeal. Early word-of-mouth has powered its rapid climb, turning a modest release into a global talking point.
Monika Shergill, vice-president, content, Netflix India, said, “We are proud that a story like Made in Korea has become the first ever film from our south slate to land at the No.1 spot on our Global Top 10 Non-English Films list. It reaffirms our belief that there is so much more from India for the world to discover and embrace. This film stands out for blending two distinct cultures into one powerful story that explores universal emotions of love, friendship, belonging and family. At Netflix, we remain committed to championing authentic, locally rooted stories and it’s incredibly exciting to see a film like this travel so widely and connect with audiences around the world.”
Priyanka Mohan called the moment deeply personal. “Moments like these are what every artist truly hopes for. We always strive to give our best, but some films become very special in our journey as performers, and Made in Korea is one of them for me. Shenba is a character that touched my heart from the moment I read the script, and bringing her story to life has been incredibly meaningful. Working with Ra.Karthik sir was a wonderful experience. He has such clarity and sincerity in the way he tells stories. I’m also grateful to our producer Sreenidhi Sagar sir and the entire team for their constant support. And of course, my heartfelt thanks to Netflix for giving this story such a wonderful platform and helping it reach audiences everywhere.”
Ra.Karthik struck a similar note. “There are certain films you make with complete faith in the audience, believing they will connect with the emotions you are trying to convey. It is truly heartening to see Made in Korea trending on Netflix and receiving such encouraging responses from viewers, not just in India but across the world. Priyanka Mohan brought incredible dedication and sincerity to Shenba’s character, and that commitment reflects beautifully on screen. I’m grateful to producer Sreenidhi Sagar for trusting this story and to Netflix for providing such a wonderful platform for the film to reach audiences across countries.”
As the film continues to travel across borders, its success signals more than just a hit. It marks a shift, where local stories, told with authenticity, are no longer confined by language or geography. In the streaming wars, the South is not just rising. It is rewriting the script.
