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Zee Telefilms set to release three films including ‘Bhagmati’
MUMBAI: Zee Telefilms’ long-in-the-offing 2D animation film Bhagmati is finally ready for release. An early September opening of the film, that wrapped up in December 2003, is being planned.
The other two films coming up from the Zee stable in September are Khosla Ka Ghosla and One Dollar Curry.
Talking to Indiantelevision.com, Zee Telefilms Ltd Films Division CEO Nitin Keni said they would watch the first print of Bhagmati by next week and then will start the release process. Holding on to his theory that Indian market is not ready for theatrical animation films, Keni said that they would decide the release and distribution strategy of Bhagmati by analysing the response its promos would generate.
“We are planning 60 to 90 days of promotion for Bhagmati. Since Bhagmati is an adult love story, the general public is our target group. Though it is partially an animation film, it is a proper love story of two and half hours duration and here I can’t adopt a strategy that would work for children’s films,” said Keni. He didn’t revealBhagmati’s promotional strategy saying it is yet to be finalised.
Zee has co-produced One Dollar Curry with France TV and Silhouette Films. Zee is now marketing the film through overseas territories. Keni said the film was not targeted at India though they would release it here in some multiplexes. Directed by Vijay Singh, the movie stars Smriti Mishra of Sardari Begum fame.
Khosla ka Ghosla, targeted at the artistic circuit, is co-produced by Padmalaya Telefilms and Delhi-based Tandav Films. Zee will distribute the Dibakar Banerjee-directed movie starring Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Praveen Dabbas, Tara Sharma and Naveen Nischol.
Keni said that Zee was looking at different genres of films these days. “We have identified the business potential these short and low/mid-budget films have. We are in all areas of films now, taking up different genres.”
According to Keni, Zee Telefilms has commissioned one Telugu film with Jayapradha in it, apart from the Hindi remake of the Tamil movie Dhool starring Sunny Deol. When queried about the chances of launching another Gadar, he said it would take some time, though he has short listed two scripts.
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Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
