Hindi
Non-Kannada movie issue: Competition Commission raps KFCC
BANGALORE: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has rapped the Karnataka Film Chambers of Commerce (KFCC) for imposing restrictions on the screening of non-Kannada films in Karnataka.
As reported earlier, Reliance Big Entertainment (Big Pictures) had approached the CCI challenging the restrictions by the KFCC on the number of prints of a non-Kannada film that could be released in Karnataka during the simultaneous release of the Hind and Tamil versions of ‘Raavan’. As per the KFCC rules, a non-Kannada cinema can be screened only in 24 halls in the state with a maximum of 21 in Bangalore. Big Pictures is the distributor of the film.
In an interim order on 9 September, the CCI stated that the KFCC was in a dominant position in the relevant market (Karnataka) and was imposing unfair, discriminatory, arbitrary and unreasonable restrictions on the supply of films for exhibition of Big Pictures.
The order further stated: “KFCC has been restrained from taking any action and from imposing restrictions, direct or indirect, to prevent any producer/distributor in relation to supply of prints of the films (Kannada and non-Kannada) to the informant (Reliance) if the producers/distributors are willing and desirous to supply the same to the informant for exhibition in Karnataka.”
The order is effective till September 21, the next hearing date.
A few weeks ago Big Pictures had decided to put on hold its plans for Kannada cinema, sources said.
Hindi
YRF Entertainment appoints Saugata Mukherjee as head of content
Former SonyLIV content head to steer films and series at streaming arm
MUMBAI: YRF Entertainment, the streaming arm of Yash Raj Films, has appointed Saugata Mukherjee as head of content, signalling a strong push to scale its original films and series slate.
Mukherjee joins the company following a successful three-and-a-half-year stint at SonyLIV, where he served as executive vice president and head of content. In his new role, he will report to CEO Akshaye Widhani and lead the creative direction and commissioning strategy for YRF Entertainment’s growing slate.
The appointment comes on the back of YRF Entertainment’s recent global success with titles such as The Romantics, The Railway Men and Mandala Murders, which have helped position the studio as a serious player in the streaming space.
At SonyLIV, Mukherjee played a key role in shaping the platform’s identity as a premium content destination. Under his leadership, the service delivered acclaimed originals across genres, building a reputation for storytelling depth and creative risk-taking. His exit was described as “one of the harder goodbyes”, reflecting both the impact of his tenure and the strength of the team he leaves behind.
Mukherjee brings with him a wide-ranging career that spans publishing, television and streaming. Before SonyLIV, he led content initiatives at HBO Max under Warner Bros. Discovery, where he was instrumental in shaping the platform’s India strategy. His earlier roles include senior leadership positions at Hotstar and Star TV, where he worked on building original content pipelines and collaborating with top creative talent.
With a career that began in publishing at firms like HarperCollins and Pan Macmillan, Mukherjee’s journey reflects a deep-rooted understanding of storytelling across formats and platforms.
His move to YRF Entertainment comes at a time when the battle for streaming audiences is intensifying, with studios doubling down on high-quality originals to stand out in a crowded market.
For YRF, the appointment is more than just a leadership hire. It is a clear signal that the studio is ready to scale its streaming ambitions, with Mukherjee expected to play a central role in shaping its next chapter.
