Movies
FNP Media unveils “The Date” with a stellar cast
Mumbai: FNP Media, the esteemed media wing of the renowned Ferns N Petals brand, has kickstarted 2024 on an exhilarating note with the release of its much anticipated short film, “The Date,” on 5 January.
Crafted under the direction of filmmaker Shubham Sinha, the film boasts Vinayak Pathak in the lead role, supported by the talented Karan Sharma and Heer Kaur. Unfolding over a captivating runtime of 14 minutes and 31 seconds, “The Date” invites audiences into a suspenseful drama, highlighting the profound real-world consequences of one’s choices in life.
FNP Media & Ferns N Petals founder & MD Vikaas Gutgutia expressed, “So far, FNP Media has consistently received recognition and love for its cinematic endeavors. Our mission has been to continually present thought-provoking narratives and offer something fresh with each project. With ‘The Date’ as our inaugural film for the year, we aimed to deliver exceptional acting and a storyline that intrigues audiences”
This film stands as yet another milestone for FNP Media, showcasing its commitment to delivering compelling content. “The Date” is set to captivate audiences with its enthralling storyline, expert direction, and stellar performances by the cast. Delving into the complexities of human connections, the film promises an experience that explores the profound concept of redemption. Now available on FNP Media’s YouTube channel, the film beckons viewers into a realm of suspense and thrills.
FNP Media, a venture under the Ferns N Petals brand, specialises in producing captivating short films, web series, and TV commercials. With an impressive portfolio that includes hits like “Happy Birthday,” “2 Rupey ka Sikka,” “2100 FT,” “Gudgud,” “Aaina,” “Purple Scarf,” and more, the media entity has garnered millions of viewers worldwide. From compelling advertisements to engaging web series and gripping short films, FNP Media is dedicated to delivering compelling storytelling, ensuring an entertaining and unforgettable experience for its global audience.
Hindi
Remembering Gyan Sahay, the lens behind film, television and advertising
From a puppet rabbit selling poppadums to Hindi cinema, he framed it all.
MUMBAI: There are careers, and then there are canvases. Gyan Sahay, the veteran cinematographer, director, and producer who passed away on 10 March 2026 in Mumbai, had one of the latter. Over several decades in the Indian film and television industry, he turned lenses, lights, and the occasional puppet rabbit into something approaching art.
A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune, Sahay built his reputation as a director of photography across a career that stretched from the early 1970s all the way to the digital age. He was the kind of craftsman who understood that a well-composed shot is not merely a technical achievement but a quiet act of storytelling.
For most Indians of a certain age, however, Sahay will forever be the man behind the rabbit. His direction of the iconic long-running television commercial for Lijjat Papad, featuring its now-legendary puppet bunny, gave the country one of its most cheerfully persistent advertising images. It was the sort of work that sneaks into the national subconscious and takes up permanent residence.
His big-screen credits as cinematographer include Anokhi Pehchan (1972), Pagli (1974), Pas de Deux (1981), and Hum Farishte Nahin (1988). In 1999, he stepped behind a different kind of camera altogether, making his directorial debut with Sar Ankhon Par, a drama that featured Vikas Bhalla and Shruti Ulfat, with a cameo by Shah Rukh Khan for good measure.
On television, Sahay was particularly prized for his command of multi-camera production setups, a skill that made him a go-to technician for large-scale shows and reality programmes. In an industry that has never been especially patient with complexity, he was the calm hand on the rig.
In later life, Sahay turned teacher. He participated regularly in masterclasses and Digi-Talks, often hosted by organisations such as Bharatiya Chitra Sadhna, sharing hard-won wisdom on cinematography, the comedy of timing in a shot, and the sweeping changes brought by the shift from celluloid to digital. He was also said to have been involved in a project concerning a biographical film on Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy.
Tributes from the film industry poured in following the news of his passing, with colleagues remembering him as a senior cameraman who served as a rare bridge between two entirely different eras of Indian cinema. That is, perhaps, the finest thing one can say of any craftsman: he kept up, and he brought others along with him.
