Hindi
Indian short film Kush in Oscar race
MUMBAI: It’s always a proud moment for the Bollywood industry when any movie enters the race to the Oscars. Walking on those lines, Indian director Shubhashish Bhutiani’s short film Kush has been short-listed by the Academy for 10 live-action shorts that will advance in the Oscar race.
Three or five films out of these 10 films will be selected for Oscar nomination by the Short Films and Feature Animation Branch members.
Kush, a 25 minute film, stars Sonika Chopra, Shayaan Sameer and Anil Sharma. It has been produced by Shubhashish’s father Sanjay Bhutiani through their Red Carpet Moving Pictures banner.
Bhutiani made the film, inspired by a true story, for his graduation project at New York’s School of Visual Arts.
The film’s story takes place during the riots that followed the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984. The story revolves around a school picnic where a teacher is trying to protect Kush, the only Sikh child in the group from the violence raging around them.
To top it all, Kush won the Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film at the 70th Venice International Film Festival 2013 and jury prize at Hamptons International Film Festival.
The other nine short listed films include ‘Aquel No Era Yo’ (That Wasn’t Me) by director Esteban Crespo, ‘Avant Que De Tout Perdre’ (Just before Losing Everything) by director Xavier Legrand, ‘Dva’ (Two) by Mickey Nedimovic, ‘Helium’ by director Anders Walter, ‘Throat Song’ by director Miranda de Pencier, ‘Tiger Boy’ by Gabriele Mainetti, ‘The Voorman Problem’ by Mark Gill, ‘Pitaako Mun Kaikki Hoitaa?’ (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?) by Selma Vilhunen and ‘Record/Play’ by Jesse Atlas.
The Short Films and Feature Animation Branch Reviewing Committee viewed all the eligible entries for the preliminary round of voting at screenings held in Los Angeles. Branch screenings will be held in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco in December.
The 86th Academy Awards nominations will be announced on 16 January while the Oscar ceremony will take place on 2 March, 2014 at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood and Highland Center.
Hindi
Marico founder Harsh Mariwala’s book Harsh Realities set for film adaptation
Almighty Motion Picture taps Karan Vyas to script Marico story
MUMBAI: Almighty Motion Picture is turning its lens on India Inc., with plans to adapt Harsh Realities: The Making of Marico into a screen project. The story charts the rise of Harsh Mariwala, the chairman and founder of Marico, and is currently in early development, according to a report by Variety.
Writer Karan Vyas, known for his work on Scam 1992, Scoop and Made in India – A Titan Story, is attached to pen the screenplay. The project continues the studio’s growing interest in real-life Indian narratives that blend business with human drama.
At the heart of the story lies a defining moment in 1987, when Mariwala chose to step away from the family-run Bombay Oil Industries and strike out on his own. What followed was not just the creation of a company, but the reinvention of a legacy. Marico would go on to become a global FMCG player, with brands like Parachute, Saffola, Set Wet and Livon becoming household names, reaching nearly one in three Indians.
The source material, co-authored by Mariwala and renowned business strategist Ram Charan, offers more than a boardroom chronicle. It captures the grit behind the growth, the risks behind the rewards and the leadership lessons forged along the way.
The adaptation aims to move beyond balance sheets and brand milestones, focusing instead on the person behind the enterprise. Expect a narrative that leans into the emotional stakes of entrepreneurship, where decisions are as personal as they are professional.
Today, Marico draws about a quarter of its revenue from international markets across Asia and Africa, reflecting its steady transformation from a domestic player into a multinational force. Yet, if the makers have their way, the screen version will remind audiences that every global success story begins with a leap of faith.
With development set to begin soon, this is one business story that may just trade spreadsheets for storytelling, and profit margins for moments that linger
