Hindi
Defunct Bombay Talkies reopens after 58 years
MUMBAI: Besides marking the centenary of Indian cinema, the year 2012 will also see the revival of Bombay Talkies.
The iconic studio, which was established in 1934, was closed down in 1954. Owned by Dube Industries, the studio will start with the launch of two films in June.
As the first public limited film company, Bombay Talkies was registered under the Indian Companies Act and soon emerged as an organised company with well-managed financials, acquiring a reputation for public issues, dividends and bonuses.
Studio manager Satish Mahajan revealed that the studio had to close down because of financial mismanagement by Sashadhar Mukherjee after the release of the Ashok Kumar-starrer Mahal in 1949. “Last year, we took a conscious decision to restart the company on the occasion of the centenary celebration of Indian cinema,” he added.
The first film to be launched by the re-emerging studio has been titled Zakhmi that will feature Abhay Kumar, grandson of one of the studio’s original owners Rajnarayan Dube. It will also star Sayali Bhagat along with Mithun Chakraborty.
Though the second film is yet untitled, those being considered for it are Mallika Sherawat, Tusshar Kapoor and Vinay Pathak.
Incidentally, the studio had launched some of the biggest stars of Hindi cinema like Devika Rani, Ashok Kumar, Leela Chitnis, Raj Kapoor, Mehmood, Madhubala and Dilip Kumar.
The newly-opened studio operates from Lokhandwala.
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.
