Hindi
Monica: A real life thriller
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| Writer- Director: Sushen Bhatnagar. Cast: Divya Dutta, Ashutosh Rana, Dadhi Pandey, Tinu Anand, Kittu Gidwani, Yashpal Sharma,, Kunika. |
Monica offers all that: dirty politics, fixers, sex and scandals. The film is woven around the real life case of journalist Shivani Bhatnagar, an ambitious small town girl who aims to make it big in her profession, whatever the cost.
What she did not consider were the consequences thus of living behind a story where, in the typical North style, everybody from police to politicians seemed hand in glove to dump her case. Her quest for the top rung brings her close to the telecom minister Ashutosh Rana and industrialist Kitu Gidwani, in the process distancing her from her husband, Rajit Kapoor, and, eventually, getting her killed.
Newspaper headlines or scandals don’t usually cut ice with the moviegoers even if some of them manage to impress critics. Monica faces two drawbacks, its star cast as well as its title. The latter does not say anything about the film or its theme. If Monica is a little watchable, it is because of its court drama and some scathing lines. The court scenes get one into the background of the case and these flashbacks become a bit too much after a time.
This is a film that should count on its artistes for performances, and on that count it has some impressive ones from its lead cast as well as supporters. Divya Dutta and Ashutosh Rana lead the pack while Rajit Kapoor is duly restrained as the role demands while Kitu Gidwani, Yashpal Sharma and Sandeep Misra do well too.
Direction is generally good, backed by good photography.
While Monica may be expected to elicit some praise and good words from the media, this under-publicised film with a vague title will not make any impact on the box office.
Hindi
MIFF 2026 to return to Mumbai; film entries open till April 12
19th edition to host WAVES Doc Bazaar, spotlighting global documentary talent
MUMBAI: The 19th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival 2026 is set to take place from June 15 to 21 at the NFDC Complex, with film submissions currently open and the deadline fast approaching on April 12.
Organised by the National Film Development Corporation under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the biennial festival remains one of South Asia’s most prominent platforms for documentary, short fiction and animation films.
Filmmakers, producers and content creators from across the globe have been invited to submit entries via the Film Freeway platform for the Competition Section. Offline submissions will not be accepted, reinforcing a fully digital entry process.
MIFF 2026 continues to sweeten the deal with a robust awards pool of Rs 55 lakh. The coveted Golden Conch for Best Documentary carries a top prize of Rs 10 lakh, alongside multiple awards across categories, making it one of the most lucrative non-feature film festivals in the region.
A key highlight this year will be the second edition of the WAVES Doc Bazaar, scheduled from June 16 to 18 alongside the festival. Designed as a hub for collaboration, the Doc Bazaar will feature a co-production market, viewing rooms and a work-in-progress lab, bringing together global buyers, sellers and creators under one roof.
Since its inception in 1990, MIFF has built a reputation as a serious showcase for non-feature cinema, drawing participation from filmmakers worldwide. The previous edition saw over 350 films from more than 30 countries, underlining its growing international footprint.
With submissions closing soon and preparations underway, MIFF 2026 is shaping up to be a vibrant meeting point for storytelling, collaboration and cinematic craft, offering filmmakers both a stage and a springboard.
