Hindi
Government keen on promoting children’s films: Prakash Javadekar
NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar has said that the government is keen on promoting children’s’ films by facilitating expansion of their reach as this would help in the all-round development of the young.
The Minister was speaking at a review meeting with the Children’s Film Society India (CFSI), in Mumbai on 21 June. He also held review meetings of media units like the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), the Films Division and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
The Minister said the films produced by the CFSI needs to be promoted and marketed well. “If the films are made and we are not able to release them, then the end result will be nil,” he observed.
Agreeing with a suggestion, Javadekar said the budget for promotion and marketing should be a built-in component of CFSI films’ overall budget. The minister observed that though CFSI films win national and international awards, they fail to reach wider audience due to weak distribution “We need to explore all options, including outsourcing of distribution to make our films reach far and wide,” he added.
The Minister complimented CFSI for organising the biennial Golden Elephant International Children’s Film Festival in Hyderabad, but said that there was a need to take the children’s film festival culture to many other cities and states. He said his Ministry would lend support to organising such film festivals in all the states of the country.
Besides promoting films through conventional distribution channels, Javadekar also stressed on distributing them through informal rural communication channels with the help of Directorate of Field Publicity, supported by the Song and Drama Division. He said for this purpose, various religious and community fairs, jatras etc could be targeted to reach out to maximum audience.
The Minister also held a meeting with a group of film producers and television industry leaders. Those participating in the meeting briefed the minister about various challenges being faced by the film industry and drew his attention to action required from his Ministry. Additional secretary (Films) Raghavendra Singh was also present in the meeting coordinated by Shaina N C and attended by Dalip Tahil, Durga Jasraj, Manish Goswami, and Raveen Kohli among others.
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.
