Hindi
Ananth Mahadevan to adapt short story of Satyajit Ray
MUMBAI: In his zest to pay a tribute to Satyajit Ray, actor-director Ananth Mahadevan has decided to adapt a short story Golpo Boliye Tarini Khuro of the master filmmaker.
Golpo Boliye Tarini Khuro follows the sojourn of a man, who after retirement, looking to keep himself engaged, is invited to be a storyteller of a rich businessman. It is a piquant situation he finds himself in. Thereafter, Ray springs two magnificent surprises in the narrative, quips Mahadevan. The director has thought of Amitabh Bachchan to reprise the role of the retired person.
Talking about the story, Mahadevan observes, “A writer friend of mine Tapobrati Das Sammaddar approached with me with the story. It set my adrenaline pumping. A tribute to Ray was a rare opportunity and after hearing the charming story he had penned, I wrote to Sandip Ray for permissions hoping that he wouldn‘t have any reservations.”
After all, it‘s better to keep the master‘s story confined within the pages of a book rather than let it turn into a wrongly made film, he felt. “But I guess my track record of 4 National awards and my penchant for challenging subjects turned the tide in my favour. Sandip was prompt and gracious in giving me the requisite permission,” Mahadevan avered.
Mahadevan has already written to Amitabh Bachchan. “I am waiting for Mr Bachchan to revert,” the filmmaker maintained. Right now, he is working on the rest of the cast and crew.
The film will be christened The Storyteller.
Hindi
MIFF 2026 to return to Mumbai; film entries open till April 12
19th edition to host WAVES Doc Bazaar, spotlighting global documentary talent
MUMBAI: The 19th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival 2026 is set to take place from June 15 to 21 at the NFDC Complex, with film submissions currently open and the deadline fast approaching on April 12.
Organised by the National Film Development Corporation under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the biennial festival remains one of South Asia’s most prominent platforms for documentary, short fiction and animation films.
Filmmakers, producers and content creators from across the globe have been invited to submit entries via the Film Freeway platform for the Competition Section. Offline submissions will not be accepted, reinforcing a fully digital entry process.
MIFF 2026 continues to sweeten the deal with a robust awards pool of Rs 55 lakh. The coveted Golden Conch for Best Documentary carries a top prize of Rs 10 lakh, alongside multiple awards across categories, making it one of the most lucrative non-feature film festivals in the region.
A key highlight this year will be the second edition of the WAVES Doc Bazaar, scheduled from June 16 to 18 alongside the festival. Designed as a hub for collaboration, the Doc Bazaar will feature a co-production market, viewing rooms and a work-in-progress lab, bringing together global buyers, sellers and creators under one roof.
Since its inception in 1990, MIFF has built a reputation as a serious showcase for non-feature cinema, drawing participation from filmmakers worldwide. The previous edition saw over 350 films from more than 30 countries, underlining its growing international footprint.
With submissions closing soon and preparations underway, MIFF 2026 is shaping up to be a vibrant meeting point for storytelling, collaboration and cinematic craft, offering filmmakers both a stage and a springboard.
