Hindi
Films and music bridge cultures and connect people, says Rathore
NEW DELHI: Noting that films and music provided a bridge between cultures that connects people across nations, Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore has said Film Festivals provide an opportunity to understand different cultures from different regions.
Inaugurating the European Film Festival over the weekend in the capital, Rathore said the medium of cinema helps humanity to understand the people, their relationships and their emotions.
A delegation of European Union including ambassadors from European Union member states was also present on the occasion.
There was also a musical performance by Neemrana Choir. Neemrana Choir consists of 50 singers of all ages and backgrounds.
The opening film of the festival was famous Danish Film Silent Heart (Stille Hjerte) directed by Bille August. The film was premiered at the San Sebastián International Film Festival where it received a 20-minute standing ovation. Bille August is a Danish Academy Award-winning film and television director. His film Pelle the Conqueror in 987 won the Palme d’Or, Academy Award and Golden Globe. He is one of only eight directors to win the Palme d’Or twice, winning the prestigious award again in 1992.
The festival was organized by the Directorate of Film Festivals in collaboration with the delegation of the European Union of India. The festival ommenced on 30 July and will conclude on 6 August 2016. Twentythree films would be screened during the period.
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.
