Hindi
Anurag Basu’s Barfi! gets 13 nominations at IIFA 2013
MUMBAI: The votes for the 14th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards are in, after the IIFA voting weekend ended in March.
The nominations reflect the diverse and thriving landscape of the Indian Film Industry today, showcasing 2012 as an eventful year for Bollywood with more than 155 new releases receiving global acclaim.
Taking the lead with an impressive total of 13 nominations is Anurag Basu’s Barfi, followed by Shoojit Sircar’s comedy Vicky Donor that has garnered nine nominations. Following closely is Gangs of Wasseypur 1 and Dharma Productions‘ remake of Agneepath. Films like Cocktail, Kahaani, Paan Singh Tomar and the Yash Chopra‘s last film as a director Jab Tak Hai Jaan have also secured themselves a place in the 14th IIFA nominations.
This year’s award will have directors, Anurag Basu (Barfi), Anurag Kashyap (Gangs of Wasseypur-1), Sujoy Ghosh (Kahaani), Tigmanshu Dhulia (Paan Singh Tomar) and Shoojit Sircar (Vicky Donor) compete for the accolade of being the best director.
Hrithik Roshan (Agneepath), Ranbir Kapoor (Barfi!), Manoj Bajpayee (Gangs of Wasseypur-1), Shahrukh Khan (Jab Tak Hai Jaan), Irrfan Khan (Paan Singh Tomar) and Ayushmaan Khurrana (Vicky Donor) are all contenders for the prized IIFA Award for Best Performance in a Leading Role (Male) while among leading ladies Priyanka Chopra (Barfi!), Deepika Padukone (Cocktail), Sridevi (English Vinglish), Huma Qureshi (Gangs of Wasseypur-1), Kareena Kapoor (Heroine) and Vidya Balan (Kahaani) will battle it out for the Best Performance in a Leading Role (Female).
Pritam has got two nominations in the category of Best Music Direction for his scores in the films Barfi! and Cocktail. Other nominees in the category include A.R. Rahman (Jab Tak Hai Jaan), Ajay-Atul (Agneepath) and Sneha Khanwalkar (Gangs of Wasseypur-1).
Mika Singh for ‘Pungi’ (Agent Vinod), Sonu Nigam for ‘Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin’ (Agneepath), Ajay Gogavale for ‘Deva Shree Ganesha’ (Agneepath), Mohit Chauhan for ‘Main Kya Karoon’ and ‘Aashiyan’ (Barfi!) and Ayushmann Khurrana for ‘Paani Da Rang’ (Vicky Donor) are in contention for the Best Playback Singer Male award.
In the female category, those battling for the Best Playback Singer Female are Shreya Ghoshal for the songs ‘Chikni Chameli’ (Agneepath) and ‘Ashiyan’ (Barfi!) along with Rekha Bhardwaj for ‘Phir Le Aya Dil’ (Barfi!), Kavita Seth for ‘Tumhi Ho Bandhu’ (Cocktail) and Shalmali Kholgade for ‘Pareshan’ (Ishqzaade).
Wizcraft International Entertainment and IIFA director Sabbas Joseph said, “It’s been a phenomenal year for the Indian Film Industry and the nominations for this year will definitely reflect this. The growth has been remarkable. 2013 will witness the 14th year of the IIFA celebrations, honouring the best of the year gone by.”
Hindi
Kridhan Infra enters film production with AI-led feature film
Infra firm debuts AI-powered film marking RSS centenary
MUMBAI: Kridhan Infra Limited is swapping hard hats for headsets. The infrastructure company has announced its entry into film production and media technology through its subsidiary, Kridhan Mediatech Private Limited, with the nationwide theatrical release of Shatak: Sangh Ke 100 Varsh, an AI-led feature film.
With Shatak, the company is not just stepping into cinema but staking a claim in what it describes as one of the world’s early full-length AI-driven feature films. Artificial Intelligence has been embedded across the creative and production process, from script visualisation and environment creation to modelling and production design.
The film commemorates 100 years of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, tracing defining moments, personalities and historical phases that shaped its journey. By combining archival storytelling with algorithm-powered creativity, the project attempts to blend heritage with high technology.
For Kridhan Mediatech, this is only the opening scene. The subsidiary’s broader ambition spans AI, CGI, virtual production systems and scalable content models for both theatres and digital platforms. The move signals a strategic diversification for Kridhan Infra, traditionally rooted in engineering and construction.
The timing aligns with India’s growing push to become a global AI powerhouse. At the 2026 AI Impact Summit, prime minister Narendra Modi urged innovators to design in India and deliver to the world. Kridhan Mediatech’s initiative positions itself squarely within that narrative, aiming to export technology-enabled storytelling beyond domestic audiences.
India’s media and entertainment industry, valued at over Rs 2.5 lakh crore, alongside a rapidly expanding AI economy projected to cross Rs 1.4 lakh crore in the coming years, offers fertile ground at the intersection of cinema and code.
“With Shatak, we proudly present one of the world’s first AI-led full-length feature films while marking our strategic entry into film production and media technology through our subsidiary,” the company said in a statement. “Our vision is to combine India’s rich narrative heritage with forward-looking innovation. This is just the beginning of building globally competitive, technology-enabled cinematic experiences.”
From infrastructure to imagination, Kridhan’s latest venture suggests that in today’s India, even storytelling can be engineered.
