Hindi
Vibgyor Festival to focus on political filmmaking
MUMBAI: The 6th edition of the Vibgyor International Film Festival, now on in Thrissur in Kerala, is this year focusing on political filmmaking and media activism in South Asia.
The five-day festival has been dedicated to the memory of filmmaker, media activist and co-founder of the festival, the late C. Saratchandran.
“The Festival will attempt to bring into light Academic and non-Academic documentations or studies in the area of political film-making and also provide space for filmmaker’s first- person accounts of political filmmaking practices,”an official statement said.
The Festival believes in representing basic social issues and celebrating human spirit through cinema.
`South Asia’ has been in focus since the 2010 edition of the festival while the theme last year was `South Asia: Democracy-Justice-Peace’. The special focus this year has been chosen in keeping with Saratchandran’s vision.
Besides film screenings from across the globe, there will be activities like the South Asian Conference/Memorial Lecture, Meet the Directors, Mini Conferences and Campaigns that will explore contemporary independent filmmaking practices in South Asia in relation to their history and politics, ownership, technology and agency.
There will also be mini conferences that will highlight issues like `Rethinking ownership, authorship and viewership’ ` Persistence and Resistance’, ‘Media activisms and contemporary practices of digital documentary filmmaking’, among others.
The festival that got off to a sedate start on 12 January will go on till the 16th of this month.
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.
