Hindi
Marathi film and theatre awards now at Dubai
MUMBAI: In recent times, Marathi films have been gaining popularity the world over, what with the immense critical acclaim of films like Mee Shivajirao Bhonsle Boltoy and Mee Sindhutai Sapkal among others.
So much is the popularity that the first Marathi International Film and Theatre Awards (MIFTA) will be held on 17 December at Dubai. And the organisers have decided to honour Amitabh Bachchan who will be the guest at the event.
MIFTA is the brainchild of Indian actor-director Mahesh Manjrekar. He said, “At one point, Marathi films were a pioneer in bringing good cinema into India. We should not forget that Dada Saheb Phalke pioneered filmmaking in India by making the first feature film. But with Mumbai‘s Hindi-language Bollywood industry getting global attention in recent years, Marathi films have taken something of a backseat.”
Films like Harishchandrachi Factory, Vihir, Lalbaug-Parel, and Gabhricha Paus among others, and acclaimed plays White Lilly and Night Rider, Katkon Trikon, U-Turn and Mann Udhan Varyache, will compete for top prizes at MIFTA.
The show, supported by the likes of Salman Khan and Farah Khan, will have Marathi film stars including Nana Patekar, Atul Kulkarni, Vikram Ghokale and Sachin Khedekar gracing the evening.
Hindi
ZEE5, Applause announce new film Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa
Rajat Kapoor’s dark comedy thriller to stream on ZEE5 from April 10
MUMBAI: ZEE5 and Applause Entertainment have announced their next direct-to-digital collaboration, Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa, a darkly comic whodunnit set to stream from April 10.
Produced in association with Mithya Talkies and written and directed by Rajat Kapoor, the film marks the latest addition to a growing slate of genre-diverse titles from the two partners. Their previous collaborations include dramas, psychological thrillers and dark comedies, with this outing leaning into a layered murder mystery.
The film features an ensemble cast including Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey, Waluscha De Sousa and Saurabh Shukla, among others. The narrative promises a mix of satire, strained relationships and hidden tensions, inviting viewers to look beyond the crime to the dynamics that lead up to it.
ZEE5 business head hindi and chief channel officer Andtv Kaveri Das said, “Our collaboration with Applause Entertainment has been instrumental in building a strong slate with titles such as Bloody Brothers, Mithya and Jab Khuli Kitaab. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa is a natural progression, aligning with our focus on genre-led content that resonates with audiences.”
Applause Entertainment business head movies Sunil Chainani said, “This collaboration with ZEE5 continues to stand out for its diversity of genres and narrative styles. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa adds a sharp, darkly comic whodunnit to that mix, driven by Rajat Kapoor’s distinct voice.”
Sharing his creative approach, Rajat Kapoor said he was drawn to the emotional layers behind the genre. “I was interested not just in the mechanics of a whodunnit, but the emotional violence that precedes physical violence. These are people who appear close, yet carry unspoken tensions that eventually surface.”
The partnership between ZEE5 and Applause continues to build on a shared focus on distinctive storytelling, with each project exploring a different tone and genre.
With its mix of humour, tension and ensemble storytelling, the film aims to offer more than just a mystery. It promises a closer look at the secrets people keep, and the consequences when they finally come to light.
