Hindi
Faced with shortage of good films, MIFF 2014 to do away with Indian animation competition
NEW DELHI: The Films Division, which organises the Mumbai International Film Festival for Short, Documentary and Animation films every second year, has decided to do away with the Animation category under the Indian competition section in view of the poor quality of entries received in previous editions.
It has decided that all Animation films will now be entered into the International competition section of the Festival expected to be held from 3 to 9 February next year at the National Centre for Performing Arts (also known as Tata Centre) in Mumbai.
The Division has already held two meetings in Mumbai and Delhi to seek opinion of filmmakers and others on its proposals for the next edition. It has now sought written views on its proposals for MIFF 2014.
To avoid confusion with regular feature films, it has decided to rename its category of fiction films as ‘Short Fiction Films’ and to restrict the maximum duration to 40 or 50 minutes instead of 70 minutes.
There will be two sections of documentary films in the international competition: one below and the other above forty minutes. There will also be a fiction section of up to forty to fifty minutes in both Indian and international sections. There will be a documentary section in the Indian competition and an animation category in the international competition.
The Festival will also have Information Section, Retrospectives / Special Packages, and a Marketing Section.
There is a proposal to have two cut-off dates (for sending entries for selection in Indian Competition section only) to ease the process of pre-selection of films: 31 July for films completed before 30 May and 15 September for films being completed by 31 August.
Apple ProRes (HQ) is being proposed the default screening format for the festival and also for sending competition entries.
Hindi
Zee5 and Applause Entertainment team up for whodunnit ‘Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa’
Rajat Kapoor directs star-studded murder mystery streaming from 10 April.
MUMBAI: Zee5 is serving up another killer collaboration and this time, the murder mystery comes with a generous side of dark humour and family dysfunction. The streaming platform has partnered with Applause Entertainment and Mithya Talkies to bring Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa, a fresh, twisted whodunnit written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker and actor Rajat Kapoor. The film will stream exclusively on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
The movie reimagines the classic murder mystery genre with a contemporary, darkly comic edge. It revolves around a group of friends and family who smile, drink, and celebrate together until the silence snaps and long-buried secrets spill out. The stellar ensemble cast includes Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey, Waluscha De Sousa, Saurabh Shukla, Chandrachoor Rai, Neil Bhoopalam, Koel Purie, Palomi Ghosh, and Rajat Kapoor himself.
This latest offering continues the successful partnership between Zee5 and Applause Entertainment, which has previously delivered diverse hits such as Mithya, Bloody Brothers, and Jab Khuli Kitaab.
&TV Business Head of hindi Zee5 and chief channel officer Kaveri Das said, “Our collaboration with Applause Entertainment has consistently delivered distinct, high-impact storytelling. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa is a natural progression, reinforcing our focus on genre-led content with a compelling whodunnit premise and a strong ensemble cast.”
Applause Entertainment business head for movies Sunil Chainani added, “This film adds yet another compelling layer to our slate with Rajat Kapoor’s unmistakable voice.”
Rajat Kapoor shared, “What interested me was not just the mechanics of a whodunnit, but the emotional violence that precedes physical violence. These are people who smile at each other, but there’s so much that is not said.”
The film promises razor-sharp writing, layered performances, and simmering tension, inviting viewers not just to solve the crime but to unravel the complex relationships at its heart.
If you love a good murder mystery served with wit and emotional depth, Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa looks set to be your next addictive watch. Mark your calendars, the whodunnit drops on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
