Hindi
FC Front Row: A film community for movie lovers
MUMBAI: “Only connect” E. M. Forster wrote in his 1910 novel Howards End. A hundred and ten years later, in the throes of a raging pandemic, we are all striving to connect – with conferencing technologies, messaging apps, social media. And yet, we feel more isolated than ever, lonely in our little boxes, as we appear on Zoom.
The Front Row is an online collective by Film Companion that gives movie lovers the opportunity to engage with cinema, content, creators and other people who love storytelling. For Rs 99 a month, users can participate in masterclasses, conversations, Q and A sessions with critics and filmmakers, and screenings.
The first session kicks off with a chat with Pankaj Tripathi, whose life and career exemplify that eventually talent trumps everything. 2020 has been a stellar year for Tripathi professionally with Gunjan Saxena, Mirzapur 2 and Ludo. Anupama Chopra, the editor and founder of Film Companion, will be chatting with him about the challenges of success, how an actor stays current without getting stereotyped and how he manages to create so much out of so little – look at what he did with Sattu bhaiya in Ludo. This is not a typical promotional interview. Tripathi isn’t there to sell his latest work. Instead it is an attempt to find new insights into the actor and his art. And cinephiles can participate in real time. Think of it as attending an exclusive adda.
“The Front Row is an attempt to get out of the box,” said Anupama Chopra. “One of the things I’ve missed most this year is a sense of connection around film, sitting in that dark hall with strangers, all of us laughing or screaming at the same time, those vehement debates with friends about films or shows we’ve watched, standing in line at a film festival and comparing notes with the person next to me. We may not be able to recreate these moments (at least in the near future) but we can rebuild that feeling of shared passion and community.”
That’s the beauty of the Front Row – to celebrate art and artists. When life resumes a semblance of normalcy, the online forum hopes to become an active offline community as well.
Registration link here.
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
