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Birla’s Applause to produce ‘Lord of the Ring’ visual effects
MUMBAI: The last of the Lord of the Ring troika – Return of the King – scheduled to hit the theaters in December has an Indian angle to it. Applause Entertainment will be producing the visual effects of the movie.
According to media reports, the prestigious audio visual contract for the Warner Brothers production, under the New Line Cinema banner, are expected to cost between $130-140 million.
A vehicle for the AV Birla group’s media and entertainment investments, Applause is the first Asian company to bag a contract of such a magnitude.
While the movie has been shot extensively in New Zealand, the visual effects will be produced in the company’s Mumbai office. According to reports, the work on the project began in May after Applause made a presentation and completed the trial project in record time.
The FXs of the first and second part were created by New Zealand-based Weta Production owned by Peter Jackson, the director of the movie, with support from industry biggies like Sony Images and Digital Domain.
Recently in the news for first taking a 25 per cent stake in Media Content and Communication Services (MCCS) and then opting to exit the venture, by turning over the stake to adman Suhel Seth, Applause has a slew of projects ranging from film production, television to events up its sleeve.
Its latest foray into film production will be through Stamp Collectors, an English co-production with a US film distribution company Miracle Entertainment and a crossover Hindi movie directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali with Amitabh Bachchan – Black,, reports say.
In the television arena, Applause is already doing television software like Bollywood Tonight on Zee Cinema and plans to tap the educational programming genre too. Reports say the southern market would be important for the company in television software business too.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
