Hindi
IBFA awards in Thailand on 9 June
MUMBAI: In its endeavour to cement the increasing global image of Bengali films, the organisers of the International Bangla Film Academy (IBFA) has decided to host its own award ceremony in Thailand from 9 to 11 June.
Touted as the most glittering award ceremony to be held for Bengali cinema, the award will be given in 19 categories, with films released between 1 January and 31 December 2011 coming under the scanner, an IBFA spokesperson said.
The best film nominations include critically acclaimed films like Baishe Shrabon, Icche, Noukadubi, Ranjana Ami ar Ashbona while actresses Konkona Sen Sharma (Iti Mrinalini), Raima Sen (Noukadubi), Sohini Sengupta (Icche) and Koel Mallick (Paglu) were among the nominees for best actor (female) category.
Among the male actor nominees are actor-turned-director Anjan Dutta, Jishu Sengupta, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Rudranil Ghoshand Sabyasachi Chakraborty.
Those nominated in the best director category are Anjan Dutta (Ranjana Ami ar Ashbona), Rituparno Ghosh (Noukadubi), Sandip Ray (Royal Bengal Rahasya), Anindya Bannerjee (Chaplin) and Shibuprasad Mukherjee (Icche).
The awards were originally scheduled to take place from 9 to 11 March but postponed to June due to the Bangkok bomb blasts and cancellation of Kingfisher flights.
Hindi
ZEE5, Applause announce new film Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa
Rajat Kapoor’s dark comedy thriller to stream on ZEE5 from April 10
MUMBAI: ZEE5 and Applause Entertainment have announced their next direct-to-digital collaboration, Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa, a darkly comic whodunnit set to stream from April 10.
Produced in association with Mithya Talkies and written and directed by Rajat Kapoor, the film marks the latest addition to a growing slate of genre-diverse titles from the two partners. Their previous collaborations include dramas, psychological thrillers and dark comedies, with this outing leaning into a layered murder mystery.
The film features an ensemble cast including Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey, Waluscha De Sousa and Saurabh Shukla, among others. The narrative promises a mix of satire, strained relationships and hidden tensions, inviting viewers to look beyond the crime to the dynamics that lead up to it.
ZEE5 business head hindi and chief channel officer Andtv Kaveri Das said, “Our collaboration with Applause Entertainment has been instrumental in building a strong slate with titles such as Bloody Brothers, Mithya and Jab Khuli Kitaab. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa is a natural progression, aligning with our focus on genre-led content that resonates with audiences.”
Applause Entertainment business head movies Sunil Chainani said, “This collaboration with ZEE5 continues to stand out for its diversity of genres and narrative styles. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa adds a sharp, darkly comic whodunnit to that mix, driven by Rajat Kapoor’s distinct voice.”
Sharing his creative approach, Rajat Kapoor said he was drawn to the emotional layers behind the genre. “I was interested not just in the mechanics of a whodunnit, but the emotional violence that precedes physical violence. These are people who appear close, yet carry unspoken tensions that eventually surface.”
The partnership between ZEE5 and Applause continues to build on a shared focus on distinctive storytelling, with each project exploring a different tone and genre.
With its mix of humour, tension and ensemble storytelling, the film aims to offer more than just a mystery. It promises a closer look at the secrets people keep, and the consequences when they finally come to light.
