Hindi
Cineline India re-enters film exhibition business starting Q1 FY23
Mumbai: Cineline India Ltd, a part of MMRDA region-based real estate player Kanakia Group, is re-entering the film exhibition business and will launch the same under a new brand in Q1 FY23, announced the company on Thursday.
The company was present in the film exhibition business through Cinemax brand since 1997. In 2012, it sold the multiplex business along with Cinemax Brand to PVR Ltd under a non-compete clause which has already ended. Further, the company had leased out nine properties with 23 screens to PVR under leave and license agreements on which multiplex operations were run by PVR.
“In light of expiry of the license period by 31 March 2022, coupled with weakening industry dynamics for the unorganised and single-screen film exhibition players, there is a tremendous opportunity for organised players to increase their foothold in this segment. Therefore, Cineline with a strong history of operating the film exhibition business has decided to re-enter and create a strong consumer-oriented brand in this segment,” the official statement read.
Post 31 March 2022, Cineline India will have access to its own properties and thus will be able to kick start its film exhibition operations in Q1 FY23 through 9 properties with 23 screens across Mumbai, Thane, Nashik, and Nagpur having an aggregate seating capacity of more than 6,000 seats.
The company will grow the film exhibition business in due course of time by acquiring theater properties pan India on a lease basis. It believes that post-relaxation of lockdown restrictions and patrons returning to theaters, there is a huge opportunity in this space with a strong lineup of Bollywood, Hollywood, and regional content in place till the next year.
Chairman Rasesh Kanakia said, “We are delighted to re-enter the film exhibition business in India. With various leave and license agreements between us and PVR expiring on 31 March 2022, the company will launch a new brand for the film exhibition business in Q1 FY23. We plan to create a strong consumer-oriented brand in this segment.”
“Considering the fact that as the exhibition business inches closer to a return to normality, post-Covid, we see a strong pipeline of movies coming up in the next year, and patrons’ excitement to return to theaters will be quite high. We are seeing a big wave of opportunity and have big plans for growth in this business,” he added.
Hindi
Zee5 and Applause Entertainment team up for whodunnit ‘Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa’
Rajat Kapoor directs star-studded murder mystery streaming from 10 April.
MUMBAI: Zee5 is serving up another killer collaboration and this time, the murder mystery comes with a generous side of dark humour and family dysfunction. The streaming platform has partnered with Applause Entertainment and Mithya Talkies to bring Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa, a fresh, twisted whodunnit written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker and actor Rajat Kapoor. The film will stream exclusively on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
The movie reimagines the classic murder mystery genre with a contemporary, darkly comic edge. It revolves around a group of friends and family who smile, drink, and celebrate together until the silence snaps and long-buried secrets spill out. The stellar ensemble cast includes Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey, Waluscha De Sousa, Saurabh Shukla, Chandrachoor Rai, Neil Bhoopalam, Koel Purie, Palomi Ghosh, and Rajat Kapoor himself.
This latest offering continues the successful partnership between Zee5 and Applause Entertainment, which has previously delivered diverse hits such as Mithya, Bloody Brothers, and Jab Khuli Kitaab.
&TV Business Head of hindi Zee5 and chief channel officer Kaveri Das said, “Our collaboration with Applause Entertainment has consistently delivered distinct, high-impact storytelling. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa is a natural progression, reinforcing our focus on genre-led content with a compelling whodunnit premise and a strong ensemble cast.”
Applause Entertainment business head for movies Sunil Chainani added, “This film adds yet another compelling layer to our slate with Rajat Kapoor’s unmistakable voice.”
Rajat Kapoor shared, “What interested me was not just the mechanics of a whodunnit, but the emotional violence that precedes physical violence. These are people who smile at each other, but there’s so much that is not said.”
The film promises razor-sharp writing, layered performances, and simmering tension, inviting viewers not just to solve the crime but to unravel the complex relationships at its heart.
If you love a good murder mystery served with wit and emotional depth, Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa looks set to be your next addictive watch. Mark your calendars, the whodunnit drops on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
