Hindi
CBFS prodding has makers change film name
MUMBAI: For the first time, a film‘s title had to be changed because the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFS) had some reservations.
Though it released on 9 March, the makers of the Bengali film Macho Mustafa had to go through prodding times at the hands of the CBFS. The reason: the censoring authority didn‘t like the original title Macho Mastana.
“As the Censor Board expressed reservations about the title, we sought feedback from community leaders and accordingly the name was changed less than a month before the film‘s release,” director Reshmi Mitra has reportedly said.
“We were told that the term ‘Macho‘ cannot be prefixed to God (Allah) and this may hurt religious sentiments,” she explained.
The budget for the film, of which Rs 70 million had already been spent, went up by at least Rs 3 million more on account of frame-by-frame correction in the computer generated imagery (CGI), which was essential.
The budget has further swelled because the correction of shots were done at a Chennai studio, Mitra said. The film‘s old name and logos were displayed in some shots, which had to be changed and the whole title track, with the emblazoned old name, had to be re-recorded after building a new set, she pointed out.
However, things would be better if they were made aware of the title‘s sensitivity beforehand as posters, publicity materials and hundreds of audio CDs bearing the old name had already been printed, she observed.
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.
