Movies
Eros’ maiden Malayalam film ‘Life of Josutty’ to release on 18 September
MUMBAI: Riding high on the success of their last regional hit – the Mahesh Babu starrer Telugu film Srimanthudu, Eros International Media is set to carve a niche in the Malayalam movie market with the release of its debut production, Life of Josutty.
Co-produced by Eros with Jayalal Menon and Anil Biswas’ Backwater Studios, the film is set for a worldwide release on 18 September, 2015.
After the critically acclaimed Drishyam, Life of Josutty marks the next directorial venture of Joseph.
Life of Josutty is a family drama starring Malayalam superstar Dileep along with Rachana Narayanankutty, Jyothikrishna, Harish Peradi, Sunil Sugatha, Suraj Vengharamoodu and Kalabhavan Mani. The film sees Jeethu and Dileep work together once again after Boss. Anil Johnson, who has previously composed music for Drishyam has composed music for Life of Josutty as well.
After Eros’ significant inroads into Tamil and Telugu cinema, the studio is now gearing up to make its mark into the Malayalam market.
Eros International managing director Sunil Lulla said, “Malayalam cinema has been blessed with a plethora of gifted directors, writers, actors and produces such diverse range of brilliant stories for discerning audiences. We are very happy to tap into this rich pool of talent by working with notable names like Dileep and Jeethu. Life of Josutty promises solid content for movie lovers with its unique story line backed by such a creative team.”
Joseph added, “Life of Josutty is not just a family entertainer but a journey through the realities of life.”
Life of Josutty is a drama set against the backdrop of a family with a fantasy edge. The film went on floors on 2 January, 2015 and was shot across Idukki in Kerala and New Zealand.
Hindi
Jio Studios, Sanjay Dutt team up to revive Khal Nayak
Rights acquired for new version, format under wraps as remake plans take shape.
MUMBAI: The villain is back and this time, he’s rewriting his own script. Jio Studios has partnered with Three Dimension Motion Pictures and Aspect Entertainment to revive the 1993 cult classic Khal Nayak, marking a fresh chapter for one of Bollywood’s most iconic anti-hero stories. The original film, directed by Subhash Ghai under Mukta Arts, was a commercial and cultural milestone, with Sanjay Dutt’s portrayal of Ballu becoming one of Hindi cinema’s most memorable performances.
Dutt, along with Aksha Kamboj, has now acquired the rights from the original creators, bringing on board Jio Studios and its President Jyoti Deshpande to steer the project creatively.
While the exact format whether remake, sequel, prequel, or a completely new narrative remains undisclosed, the collaboration aims to reinterpret the story for contemporary audiences while retaining the essence that made the original a defining film of the 1990s.
The move taps into a broader industry trend of reviving legacy intellectual property, particularly characters with strong recall value. “Khal Nayak” was notable for pushing mainstream Hindi cinema into morally grey territory at a time when heroes were largely one-dimensional, making Ballu’s character a standout.
The project also marks the film production debut of Aspect Entertainment, signalling a push towards more technology-led storytelling frameworks. Meanwhile, Jio Studios continues to expand its slate, having built a library of over 200 films and series, with more than 60 titles collectively winning 500-plus awards.
For Dutt, the revival is as much personal as it is strategic, a return to a role that reshaped his career. For the industry, it is another sign that nostalgia, when paired with scale, remains a powerful box-office proposition.
Because in Bollywood, some villains never fade, they just wait for the perfect comeback.
