Film Production
Eskay Movies unveils teasers for 18 Bengali films at 18onScreen event
Mumbai: On November 11, 2024, Eskay Movies made history by revealing teasers and posters for 18 upcoming Bengali films at 18onScreen, hosted at Taj Bengal, Kolkata. This grand showcase, emceed by the dynamic Mir Afsar Ali, was a first for the Indian film industry, spotlighting the largest simultaneous film reveal by a single production house. The event attracted top industry figures, including actors, directors, journalists, distributors, and exhibitors, giving them an exclusive preview of the slate.
Eskay’s ambitious lineup spans multiple genres, including drama, romance, comedy, thrillers, psychological horror, family stories, detective fiction, supernatural, fantasy, and mystery. This diverse selection features celebrated talents like Shakib Khan, Ankush Hazra, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Raima Sen, and Ishaa Saha, among others. Esteemed directors such as Kamaleswar Mukherjee, Joydeep Mukherjee, and Moinak Bhowmik are set to helm these projects, promising a mix of fresh perspectives and cinematic expertise.
The musical scores for these films are crafted by distinguished composers, including Anupam Roy and Debajyoti Mishra, with performances from iconic singers like Javed Ali, Monali Thakur, and Usha Uthup. Collectively, 67 songs will enhance these films, further enriching the cinematic experience for audiences.
With a storied 35-year history and a catalogue exceeding 300 films and 1,000 music albums, Eskay Movies has significantly influenced Bengali cinema. The company’s contributions extend beyond film production to supporting the launch of major TV channels like Star Jalsha and Zee Bangla Cinema. Eskay is also a leader in digital cinema, operating over 80 theatres and amassing a strong digital following, including 6.5M+ YouTube subscribers and 15M+ Facebook followers.
Eskay Movies managing director, Himanshu Dhanuka emphasised the importance of this milestone: “Presenting this line-up of 18 films underscores our unwavering commitment to Bengali cinema and our audiences, marking a ground-breaking milestone for the industry. Achieving this has taken tremendous effort, and we are incredibly proud of the result. Featuring a star-studded cast and an array of genres, this slate is crafted to engage a wide audience with heartfelt, resonant stories. Each film is a valuable intellectual property that forms a legacy we are committed to preserving. We will continue to push boundaries in content creation and deliver compelling stories for years to come.
Eskay Movies founder & chairman, Ashok Dhanuka reflected on the company’s journey: “For me, the film industry is a place which has given me all. Starting from a very humble background, to be able to serve the business of Cinema as a producer, to a technical and equipment collaborator to Cinema Hall ownership, it has been an outstanding journey. And now, we want to spread our wings even further and today’s evening is a step in that direction.”
Film Production
Disney to cut 1,000 jobs under new chief executive
The entertainment giant’s freshly installed boss inherits a restructuring already in motion, with marketing and corporate roles bearing the brunt
CALIFORNIA: Walt Disney is preparing to slash up to 1,000 jobs in the coming weeks, the Wall Street Journal reported, as the entertainment giant’s freshly installed chief executive moves swiftly to trim fat and tighten the ship.
The cuts, less than 1 per cent of Disney’s global workforce of 231,000, will fall hardest on marketing and corporate roles. The planning, notably, began before D’Amaro formally took the top job in March, suggesting the new boss inherited a restructuring already in motion rather than one of his own making.
Driving the push is Asad Ayaz, Disney’s newly appointed chief marketing officer, who in January assumed command of a unified, company-wide marketing operation spanning film, television and streaming. His consolidation drive has been given a suitably cinematic internal name: Project Imagine.
The move is modest by Disney’s recent standards. Between 2023 and 2025, under former chief executive Bob Iger, the company eliminated roughly 8,000 positions across several brutal rounds of cuts, saving $7.5 billion, comfortably exceeding its own targets. As recently as June 2025, several hundred more jobs were axed across Disney Entertainment, hitting film and television marketing, publicity, casting, development and corporate finance.
Disney’s structural headaches are well-documented: shrinking streaming margins, a weakened box office, and fierce competition from Amazon and YouTube gnawing at its flanks. The company is merging its Disney+ and Hulu teams into a single app, has brought in consultants from Bain & Co to guide its broader cost strategy, and is betting heavily on digital growth.
The wider entertainment industry offers little comfort. Sony Pictures, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery have all taken the knife to their workforces in recent years, and further cuts loom if Paramount’s acquisition of Warner goes through.
For D’Amaro, the message is clear: there will be no honeymoon period. The magic kingdom still has some cost-cutting spells left to cast.
