Hindi
Benegal elected NFA upgradation committee chairperson
NEW DELHI: Eminent filmmaker Shyam Benegal was unanimously elected as chairman of the Expert Committee for upgradation of the National Film Awards.
Speaking to the Committee members, I & B Minister Ambika Soni suggested that every effort should be made to ensure that the recommendations should be proper, democratic and transparent to minimise litigation. She also wanted that a time schedule should be set up for the National Film Awards (NFA) so that these become an annual feature in the film calendar of all film buffs.
Replying to her suggestions, the committee said that it would submit its recommendations by 15 March next year to be able to make qualitative changes for NFA 2009.
The committee will also make recommendations regarding upgradation of National Film Awards for feature, non-feature and best writing on cinema and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award and the resultant changes to be made in the Regulations.
The members acknowledged that National Film Awards carry a dignity and importance unrivalled by any other Awards in the industry, purely because National Film Awards give due recognition to the pan-Indian cinema in the country.
However, the members suggested that newer formats such as digital and newer media should be recognised, keeping in view the technological advancements. The Members were also of the view that a two-tier juries – regional and national – should be appointed to do justice to the language nuances/regional significance.
Members also suggested that in keeping with the earlier recommendations of the Satyajit Ray Committee and Karanth Committee reports, a ‘Chalchitra Academy’ should be established.
Increasing the cash components of the Awards and rationalizing the censorship procedures were also discussed.
Among those who attended the meeting today were Benegal, Ashoke Vishwanathan, Jahnu Barua, Mohan Agashe, Nagesh Kukunoor, Rajiv Mehrotra, Shaji N Karun, Vishal Bhardwaj, Sai Paranjapye and Central Board of Film Certification Chairperson Sharmila Tagore. Senior officials of the Ministry and Directorate of Film Festivals were also present.
Hindi
Dhurandhar the revenge storms past Rs 1,000 crore in a week, rewrites box office records
Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller sets fastest run to Rs 1,000 crore with record-breaking weekday hold
MUMBAI: The box office has a new juggernaut—and it is moving at breakneck speed. Dhurandhar the revenge has smashed past the Rs 1,000 crore mark worldwide in just a week, clocking a staggering Rs 1,088 crore and resetting the rules of the blockbuster game.
Backed by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, and directed by Aditya Dhar, the spy action sequel opened to the biggest weekend ever for an Indian film globally—and then refused to slow down. Unlike typical tentpole releases that taper off after Sunday, this one powered through the weekdays with rare muscle, posting Rs 64 crore on Monday, Rs 58 crore on Tuesday, Rs 49 crore on Wednesday and Rs 53 crore on Thursday.
The numbers stack up to a formidable first-week haul. India collections stand at Rs 690 crore nett and Rs 814 crore gross, while overseas markets have chipped in Rs 274 crore, taking the worldwide total to Rs 1,088 crore in just eight days.
The film’s opening weekend alone delivered Rs 466 crore, laying the foundation for what is now being billed as the fastest climb to the Rs 1,000 crore club in Indian cinema. Every single day of its first week has set fresh benchmarks, from the highest opening weekend to the strongest weekday hold—metrics that typically separate hits from phenomena.
A sequel to the earlier hit Dhurandhar, the film has not just built on its predecessor’s momentum but obliterated previous records, emerging as the biggest global blockbuster run by an Indian film to date.
At this pace, the film is not merely riding a wave—it is creating one.
