Hindi
Percept Pictures, DQ Entertainment sign $25 mn deal for 3 animated films
MUMBAI: Percept Picture Company (PPC) and Hyderabad-based DQ Entertainment (DQE) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to produce three animated films with a total budget of around $25 million (approximately Rs 1 billion).
This is DQ Entertainment‘s first investment announcement after raising $56 million through its listing on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
As per the MoU, PPC and DQE will produce two films based on mythology, and the third one will be a Bollywood masala flick.
The films are slated to release in 2009 and 2010.
PPC MD Shailendra Singh said, “The Indian animation feature market today finds itself at unprecedented values since the whopper hit Hanuman (2005). The movie not only smashed records in the animation segment, but went on to achieve further heights when it broke DVD sales in 2006 followed by the release of PPC‘s Return of Hanuman in 2007.”
DQE CEO Tapaas Chakravarti said, “Bollywood‘s foray into animated Indian feature films with Hanuman has triggered many announcements of animated features by Bollywood houses. The business proposal and co-production understanding between PPC and DQE is aimed at bringing high-quality story telling and visuals and international success to India. We are excited about our plans with PPC and committed to producing high-quality animated films from India for the world.”
DQ Entertainment had earlier said that it would be producing a live action feature film every year, starting from 2008 along with an animated TV series every 18 months.
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.
