Hindi
Plex owners bank heavily on Dashavtar
MUMBAI: With the producer-multiplex tangle yet to be resolved, the producers‘ strike enters its second week this Friday. And for this week, multiplex owners hope to gain with the release of four films including Kamal Haasan‘s Dashavtar, Anjan Dutt‘s Chowrasta-Crossroads of Love (both in Hindi), Bokya Saatbande (Marathi) and the Hollywood science fiction Monsters vs Aliens.
The focus of attention would, however, be on the dubbed Hindi film Dashavtar that is being distributed by Shringar Films on an all-India basis. Chennai-based Oscar Films‘ mega budget movie, besides opening in other multiplexes, is releasing in eight multiplexes of Fame in Mumbai itself. Shringar Group runs a chain of multiplexes across the country.
Says Fame Cinemas chief programmer Aditya Shroff, “We are releasing the film with 60 prints all over along with 180 UFO centers.”
The plex owners hope that Anjan Dutt‘s new film would follow his earlier hits like Mr & Mrs Iyer, Bow Baracks Forever and The Bong Connection. “We are of the opinion that his Chowrasta -Crossroads of Love should be a good film since it is based on the Gorkhaland issue,” says Shroff.
The boost may also come from the Marathi film Bokya Saatbande. The last Marathi release Mi Shivajiraje Bhosle Boltoy is still running to full capacity on the multiplexes and single screens.
“The English film Monsters vs Aliens, that is also releasing in the 3D format, should also do well as it is the first computer-animated movie which was directly produced in stereoscopic 3-D. The expected performance of these films should come as a shot in the arm for us multiplex owners who have been petrifed with the last week‘s releases that were a washout,” says Shroff.
Agrees 24 Karat Multiplex CEO Padam Sacheti, “A Kamal Haasan film always has a good draw at the box-office and hence I don‘t think Dashavtar will perform badly. As for Bokya Saatbande, we have taken the film because there are lots of Maharashtrian locals in the vicinity of our multiplex. Moreover, there is an option: viewers who don‘t get tickets for the Mahesh Manjrekar film Mi Shivajiraje Bhosle Boltoy can opt for the new release.”
Things are a little different up North. Says PVR CEO Amitabh Bardhan, “In Delhi and other parts around, we are releasing two films: Dashavtar and Monsters vs Aliens. I think both these films have the potential to draw in crowds, the first being kids-centric while the second being a lavishly made film starring Kamal Haasan.”
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
