Hindi
Wilson Louis in scripting stage of film on Nightmares
MUMBAI: Through his earlier films like Ho Sakta Hai, Mallika and Kaalo, Wilson Louis has been mastering the ‘horror genre’. Besides, he is always been on the look out for good and catchy subjects.
Currently, on the finishing stages of his fourth film Shout, a psychological paranormal thriller about evil black magic and negative forces, Louis is scripting his fifth venture on sleep paralysis or the Old Hag Syndrome.
What is the Old Hag Syndrome? “It‘s a situation where your body gets locked and you can only get hallucinations which leads you to hallucinate about devils. But in some cases there have been deaths too,” Louis reveals adding, “this film will be titled 3.33.”
Why 3.33? “It refers to 3.33 am which is considered as the devil‘s hour or the witch‘s hour and the effect of witches at this particular time is the strongest. It is the hour opposite to the death time of Jesus Christ which is 3.33 pm and also symbolises love,” Louis reveals. “It will take me another month to complete the scripting with dialogues. Right now, I am approaching a good studio for it,” he adds.
This being a serious subject, which star would he approach? “To me, script is the king. Once you have a good script, the rest follows and you get some fine results even from amateur artistes. The only thing that is vital is that you need a good backing from a studio.”
But where did he get the inspiration? “I have been a victim of this syndrome from childhood and am still facing it. Being a science student, I consider it a subconscious mind from a sleeping zone going to Rapid Eye Movement (REM) process. But the visuals are so strong that defies all logic. So I decided to make a film out of it and reach out to the ones who are disturbing me,” Louis adds.
In spite of Kaalo getting several international awards and great reviews, why didn’t the film do well in India? “The film was not well publicised. Kaalo was well-appreciated and recovered its cost with Star TV buying its satellite rights for Rs 12.5 milion. The DVD of Kaalo is now out and is seen with great interest. A lesson that I learnt from Kaalo is that you shouldn’t make a film with people who can’t promote it,” Louis avers.
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.
