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
SC slams Neeraj Pandey over Ghooskhor Pandat title, orders rebrand
SC says film cannot release under current title, seeks new name by February 19.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India has delivered a stern reality check to acclaimed filmmaker Neeraj Pandey, directing a mandatory name change for his upcoming Netflix project, Ghooskhor Pandat. On Thursday, a bench comprising justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan made it clear that creative freedom does not grant a licence to denigrate specific communities.
The title, which translates to Bribe-taking Brahmin, sparked a firestorm of protest from groups arguing the name was a slur against the Brahmin caste. The court’s intervention has now pushed the production into a legal corner, requiring a complete rebranding before the film can be released.
The highlights of the hearing were the sharp observations made by the bench regarding modern filmmaking and social responsibility. Justice Nagarathna pointedly questioned the necessity of using provocative titles that could incite social friction.
“Being woke is one thing. But creating this kind of unrest when there is already unrest in the country… If you use your freedom to denigrate any section of society, we cannot permit it,” the justice remarked during the proceedings.
The court emphasized that the Constitutional principle of fraternity is just as important as the right to free speech. The bench suggested that filmmakers must be mindful of reasonable restrictions, especially when a title appears to target the dignity of a particular group.
Interestingly, this was not the filmmakers’ first encounter with the legal system over this project. Earlier in February, Netflix and Neeraj Pandey had already informed the Delhi High Court that they had made a conscious decision to change the title following the initial public outcry.
Despite this earlier admission, the Supreme Court felt it necessary to formalise the matter. The judges were firm that the film would not see a digital release under its original branding, expressing concern that equating a caste identity with corruption was a step too far for a diverse society.
“Why should any section of society be denigrated? We are not here to allow people to be insulted in the name of entertainment,” the bench noted, while issuing formal notices to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Representing the makers, counsel for Pandey and Netflix clarified that the word “Pandat” was intended as a colloquial nickname for the lead character, a gritty police officer played by Manoj Bajpayee, rather than a commentary on the priesthood or the Brahmin community.
Regardless of the intent, the court has demanded a formal commitment. Neeraj Pandey has been directed to file an affidavit by 19 February 2026, proposing a new title and confirming that the film’s content does not defame any community.
With the original trailers and social media teasers already scrubbed from the internet, the film is currently in a state of creative redesign. The industry is watching closely, as this ruling sets a significant precedent for how streaming platforms handle sensitive cultural labels in India.
