Hindi
Zee Kannada ‘stays real’ on movie rights prices
BANGALORE: Zee Kannada has confirmed picking up the satellite rights of the Kannada movie Preethi Yeke Bhoomi Mele Ide (PYBMI) but denies having paid Rs 10.8 million for the acquisition.
Zee Kannada Business Head Anup Chandrasekharan said that the amount paid was nowhere in the region. “We have paid a much lesser sum, which cannot be revealed due to the nondisclosure clause in the agreement signed with the producers of the movie,” said Chandrasekharan.
Chandrasekharan also denied that Zee Kannada had acquired the rights of the film, Sathya in Love, for Rs 8.1 million.
“Zee Kannada does not believe in paying unrealistic prices for movies, even at the cost of losing them to rival channels. Zee Kannada will not purchase a movie for a price higher than its market worth,” an official Zee Kannada statement noted.
“The figure of Rs 10.8 million is just hype created by Prem, the director of the movie when he made a statement to the media recently. Zee has actually paid less than a third of that figure,” said an industry source while speaking to indiantelevision.com, on condition of anonymity. “Even blockbusters like Mangaru Male and Duniya have been sold for less than Rs 4 million each, and the figures of Rs 6 million to 6.5 million are being bandied by the industry,” informed the source.
PYBMI was procured by Zee Kannada in December and is one among the 27 Kannada movies it acquired last year.
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.
