MAM
Applause Entertainment’s ‘Rasbhari’ becomes the first Indian series to be officially selected for the Series Mania International Festival
MUMBAI: Applause Entertainment’s delightful coming-of-age series ‘Rasbhari’ is all set to create a new benchmark for Indian content, as it becomes the first ever Indian series to be selected for the Short Forms Competition at the prestigious Series Mania International Festival, in France.
Series Mania International Festival, at Lille in France, brings together the most renowned names of the global series universe together on one common platform.
Rasbhari has been selected alongside the best in the world for the Short Forms Competition, namely – Break Up (France), Drive (Singapore), Fourchette (Canada), Germain s'éteint (Canada), Hell Is Other People (Denmark), M (Argentina), People Talking (Spain), State of the Union (United Kingdom) and ZéroStérone (France). The global audience at Series Mania will also get to see the world premiere of two episodes of Rasbhari.
Produced and co-created for Applause by Tanveer Bookwala, written by Shantanu Shrivastava and directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhatt, ‘Rasbhari’ is a coming of age love story, set in the Hindi heartland of small-town Meerut. Shantanu’s sparkling writing with his delectable turn of phrase, delightful local dialect and wicked sense of humour, coupled with Nikhil’s deft direction makes every character in this delightful dramedy love story comes alive. Headlining a terrific cast of actors, the critically acclaimed actor, Swara Bhasker plays the stern English Teacher – Shanu madam, who is the object of attraction for not only our young hero Nand (Ayushmaan Saxena), but also the entire male population of Meerut. The show also features Rashmi Agdekar, Pradyuman Singh, Neelu Kohli and Chitranjan Tripathi in pivotal roles, and the title music has been composed by Chirantan Bhatt.
“'We are delighted to represent India at the esteemed Series Mania International Festival, France. Good content has a global resonance, and our selection into the much sought after Series Mania Competition is a strong validation of this belief. Working in close collaboration with Team Applause, Tanveer, Shantanu and Nikhil have created a sparkling gem of storytelling, which is now finding an audience across borders and continents. We are excited to showcase this labour of love at the festival and are looking forward to stream it soon for viewers all over the world,” says Sameer Nair, CEO Applause Entertainment.
Tanveer Bookwala, Founder – Creative Director of Ding Entertainment added, “Rasbhari (literally translated to ‘juicy’) is many parts sexy and all part social satire. We have created a delightfully quirky and heart-warming tale, set in the landscape of exotic small town India that we hope will appeal to prudes and poets alike.”
Swara Bhasker adds, “The artiste in me was thrilled to be a part of a unique narrative like ‘Rasbhari’ and I’m now beyond thrilled to know that our series has been selected for the prestigious Series Mania International Festival! Thank you Tanveer and Ding for pulling this together, Shantanu for the writing, Nikhil for bringing it to life, my wonderful co-stars, especially Ayushmaan Saxena (Nand) and Applause Entertainment for their bold belief in us.”
Rasbhari will be streaming soon on a digital platform near you.
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Maharashtra panel orders Lodha to refund Rs 5 crore to homebuyers
Consumer court flags unfair practices in long-running property dispute case
MUMBAI: In a sharp rebuke to one of India’s biggest real estate players, the Maharashtra State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed Macrotech Developers to refund nearly Rs 5 crore to a senior citizen couple, Uttam and Anindita Chatterjee. The ruling, delivered on March 13, 2026, calls out the developer for “deficiency in service” and “unfair trade practices”, bringing closure to a dispute that has stretched over a decade.
The case traces back to 2015, when the couple booked a 3-BHK flat at World Towers in Lower Parel for Rs 12.22 crore, with possession promised within a year. What followed was a series of changes that complicated matters. After deciding to exit the project, they were persuaded to shift to a 4-BHK in another development priced at Rs 8 crore, with delivery scheduled for 2018. However, within months, the price was allegedly increased to Rs 10 crore. After demonetisation reshaped the market, similar flats were reportedly being offered at lower prices, but the couple were not given the benefit.
Despite paying over Rs 2.83 crore, the couple neither received possession nor clarity. Instead, in 2018, the developer unilaterally cancelled the booking, retained part of the amount as earnest money, and argued that the buyers were investors rather than consumers. The commission rejected this claim, observing that casual references to “investment” do not take away consumer rights when the purchase intent is residential.
The bench also held that the developer could not penalise buyers for payment delays while failing to meet its own delivery commitments. It noted the lack of formal documentation for revised terms and termed the prolonged retention of funds without delivering a home as exploitative.
As part of its order, the commission directed the developer to refund Rs 2.83 crore paid by the couple, along with interest at 10 per cent per annum, amounting to around Rs 2.12 crore. In addition, Rs 1 lakh has been awarded for mental agony and Rs 50,000 towards litigation costs, taking the total payout to over Rs 5 crore. The developer has been asked to comply within two months.
For now, the ruling serves as a reminder that in real estate, shifting terms and delayed promises can carry a significant cost.
