Hindi
Aalaap is an aimless effort
MUMBAI: Aalaap, the title would suggest this to be a musical film; it is not a musical in that sense of the word for there is not a single tune you would hum on your way back. It is about a group of likeminded young boys who share their love for music and try to spread happiness and message of patriotism and such to the masses of Naxal violence infested Jharkhand. The inspiration is claimed to be from Rang De Basanti and 1942: A Love Story but the plot of the film resembles more to Jis Desh Mei Ganga Bheti Hai.
Amit Purohit is an ideal student who also excels in extracurricular activities one of which is music. He has a gifted voice. He wins a competition and becomes a local star, an exemplary youth so much so that he is all over local TV and soon noticed by the district administrator who grants him all the funds he may need, a car and a mentor, Vijay Raaz, to spread the message of good will! He finds three more young men, Pitobash, Aabid Shamim and Harsh Rajput and together they form a band.
The band‘s fame spreads; it has reached the boss of the Naxal movement, Murali Sharma, too. They are invited to perform for Sharma and his people in a jungle hideout. All this while the police, lead by Abhimanyu Singh, has decided to go all out to get the Naxals. People are shot dead on both sides and the boys manage to escape barring Purohit. Others decide to hijack a police van and come back for him and are shot by Naxals taking them to be the police because of the police vehicle.
Aalaap not only fails to entertain but will also fail in taking its message through about the Naxal problem; the effort looks aimless.
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.
