Hindi
Ghoomer cast bowl over 100 young, underprivileged beneficiaries’ hearts with BookASmile
Mumbai: The enchanting world of cinema knows no bounds in its ability to inspire and entertain. The transformative influence of movies and their capacity to positively impact the lives of young individuals is massive. Through gripping narratives, reels and real stories hold a unique influence over the minds of young audiences, inspiring them to ignite their imaginations and aspire to great heights!
Continuing its efforts to create impact through entertainment, BookASmile, the charity initiative of BookMyShow, India’s leading entertainment destination, arranged a special screening of R Balki’s latest directorial, Ghoomer, an inspiring sports-drama starring Abhishek Bachchan and Saiyami Kher in Mumbai, at PVR Cinemas, Juhu, for over 100 young beneficiaries from underprivileged backgrounds. In partnership with Oscar Foundation, a community based Sports for Development (S4D) organisation, BookASmile orchestrated this exclusive screening for these aspiring young athletes seeking to carve a future in sports.
The experience was elevated to a whole new level for the young audience, as the film’s leads, Abhishek Bachchan and Saiyami Kher, graciously engaged with them, delving into discussions about various aspects such as movies, sports, dreams and life! These stars left the youngsters brimming with emotions and sporting broad smiles on their faces. Ghoomer, with its seamless blend of sports and cinema, was carefully selected to resonate with young viewers, inspiring them with its powerful narrative of conquering obstacles and attaining greatness.
Speaking about the special initiative, BookASmile head Farzana Cama Balpande said, “We are thrilled to witness the ecstatic reactions from the young audience as they watched the film on the big screen, today. It was truly heartwarming to see their enthusiasm double as Abhishek Bachchan and Saiyami Kher paid a surprise visit after the screening! Watching them glued to screen at the edge of their seats during the screening reaffirmed our belief in the power of cinema to inspire and uplift. Since many of these youngsters aspire to build their careers in sports, they resonated deeply with the film and left the screening with big hopes and even bigger dreams! We’re extremely grateful to both actors for giving us their time from packed schedules and bringing about a change in the lives of this young audience. Through initiatives like these, we aim to not only provide entertainment but also to plant seeds of inspiration that can lead to new possibilities and dreams!”
Commenting on being a part of the initiative, Bachchan said, “Every child deserves the chance to dream and sometimes, all it takes is a little bit of magic to light up their world. Ghoomer holds a really special place in our hearts and watching these young guns training to be sportspersons who are so passionate about their journey, immersed into the movie and resonating with the sportsmanship is so heartening. A tale of redemption and resilience, Ghoomer reminds us that in life, just like in sports, one can always turn the game around. I’m grateful to BookASmile for arranging this special screening and bridging the gap for these future stars! Let’s continue to spread smiles and inspiration, for it is in these moments, that we discover the true power of dreams.”
Adding to this, Kher said, “To be a part of an initiative that teaches young children that no hurdle is insurmountable and dreams can still take flight even when life throws a curveball is something that makes my heart so happy. The sheer excitement and energy in the theatre was palpable and we’re so thrilled that our work has made such an impact. It’s truly heartwarming to see that BookASmile has been instrumental in providing these cultural experiences and supporting the growth and dreams of young beneficiaries by channeling the power of entertainment through sports. These young kids have so much to offer to the world and I hope Ghoomer can power their aspirations to make it happen!”
Through this special screening of Ghoomer, the theatre was filled with a range of emotions, applauses and nail-biting moments as the youth enjoyed this inspiring flick on the silver screen, immersed in every bit of the cinematic experience as the film unfolded the various twists and turns in the story!
Hindi
Remembering Gyan Sahay, the lens behind film, television and advertising
From a puppet rabbit selling poppadums to Hindi cinema, he framed it all.
MUMBAI: There are careers, and then there are canvases. Gyan Sahay, the veteran cinematographer, director, and producer who passed away on 10 March 2026 in Mumbai, had one of the latter. Over several decades in the Indian film and television industry, he turned lenses, lights, and the occasional puppet rabbit into something approaching art.
A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune, Sahay built his reputation as a director of photography across a career that stretched from the early 1970s all the way to the digital age. He was the kind of craftsman who understood that a well-composed shot is not merely a technical achievement but a quiet act of storytelling.
For most Indians of a certain age, however, Sahay will forever be the man behind the rabbit. His direction of the iconic long-running television commercial for Lijjat Papad, featuring its now-legendary puppet bunny, gave the country one of its most cheerfully persistent advertising images. It was the sort of work that sneaks into the national subconscious and takes up permanent residence.
His big-screen credits as cinematographer include Anokhi Pehchan (1972), Pagli (1974), Pas de Deux (1981), and Hum Farishte Nahin (1988). In 1999, he stepped behind a different kind of camera altogether, making his directorial debut with Sar Ankhon Par, a drama that featured Vikas Bhalla and Shruti Ulfat, with a cameo by Shah Rukh Khan for good measure.
On television, Sahay was particularly prized for his command of multi-camera production setups, a skill that made him a go-to technician for large-scale shows and reality programmes. In an industry that has never been especially patient with complexity, he was the calm hand on the rig.
In later life, Sahay turned teacher. He participated regularly in masterclasses and Digi-Talks, often hosted by organisations such as Bharatiya Chitra Sadhna, sharing hard-won wisdom on cinematography, the comedy of timing in a shot, and the sweeping changes brought by the shift from celluloid to digital. He was also said to have been involved in a project concerning a biographical film on Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy.
Tributes from the film industry poured in following the news of his passing, with colleagues remembering him as a senior cameraman who served as a rare bridge between two entirely different eras of Indian cinema. That is, perhaps, the finest thing one can say of any craftsman: he kept up, and he brought others along with him.
