Hindi
Indian documentary becomes eligible for entry into Academy awards
NEW DELHI: Love.Love.Love directed by FTII alumna Sandhya Daisy Sundaram, which won the Silver Hugo for Best Short Documentary at the 50th Chicago International Film Festival, has now become eligible for being nominated to the documentary section of the Academy awards.
It has been screened at over 40 festivals and won eight awards till date including Special Jury Mentions at Sundance Film Festival and Indian Film Festival, Los Angeles 2014.
Love.Love.Love was made as part of Cinetrain, a Russian winter project held in Russia in January 2013. Set against the Russian winter landscape, it is a film about a Russian woman and her big love. It explores the different voices of the Russian women and examines themes such as love, sacrifice, family and values that are ingrained in the Russian women.
During the 1930s in Soviet Russia, film crews, under the guidance of Aleksandr Medvedkin, used to travel through the Soviet Union in specially equipped wagons, with the idea of giving power of speech to people who did not normally have the opportunities to voice out opinions. Cinetrain is based on this concept, where filmmakers from across the globe set out to make documentaries travelling about in trains. Every other year, a different route and a theme is chosen.
In 2013, the topic was Russian stereotypes set in the Russian winter. Seven films were made, of which Love. Love. Love. was one. The sub themes were pre-decided when the applications were out and the film was based on stereotypes about the Russian women. The team included director of production from Russia, Alexey Filippov, sound designer from Poland, Marcin Knyziack, producers from Russia and France – Tanya Petrik and Guillaume Protsenko and the director and editor.
Over a period of a month, all participants travelled through the vast landscape of Russia in the extreme Russian winter, shooting and editing on the go. It was shot in Moscow, Irkutsk, St. Petersburg, Tomsk, Murnmask and the Baikal. The journeys were set in the train and for the most part of it, the trains became the base for all post-production.
Hindi
Edstead unveils ambitious H1 2026 content slate
New originals feature Adarsh Gourav in Northeast docu-series, Aditi Kotak in Next Class, and Adil Hussain in Stories of India.
MUMBAI: Edstead just dropped a content menu so rich it could make even the pickiest viewer say “encore” because when storytelling meets substance, the binge becomes inevitable. The fast-rising Mumbai-based studio, founded by Shekhar Bhattacharjee, today revealed its H1 2026 slate, a bold expansion of premium non-fiction that blends cultural depth, innovation, and legacy into cinematic factual narratives. The lineup cements Edstead’s niche at the crossroads of authenticity and global appeal, delivering research-driven stories that stay rooted in the Indian experience while aiming for wider resonance.
Headlining the fresh originals:
- An untitled docu-series starring Bollywood actor Adarsh Gourav, who journeys through Northeast India to spotlight living cultural traditions, indigenous voices, music, oral histories, and everyday resilience. Presented by Air India Express, with Dentsu Sports and Entertainment as integration partner.
- Next Class, an eight-episode impact series fronted by entrepreneur and former Miss India Aditi Kotak, decoding career pathways, emerging fields, and real-world outcomes through leading institutions and forward-thinking disciplines.
- Stories of India with Adil Hussain, India’s first weekly OTT series dedicated to social impact, profiling organisations driving meaningful change and connecting purpose with tangible results.
- Toast to Tomorrow, exploring how leading alcohol brands craft immersive, culture-led experiences that celebrate regional identities and redefine legacy.
- No Cap Abroad – UAE Edition, following Indian students through their first week at UAE colleges—navigating homesickness, culture shock, and independence in a heartfelt coming-of-age tale.
Edstead is also returning with expanded seasons of breakout hits, The Future School (progressive Indian education), Molecules of Hope (healthcare innovation), and Great Indian Residential Schools.
Edstead founder Shekhar Bhattacharjee said, “At Edstead, we are focused on building narratives that carry depth, context, and long-term relevance. Every project begins with research and a clear purpose… Our ambition is to create globally competitive factual content from India that remains culturally grounded while shaping conversations, inspiring trust, and contributing to the growing culture economy.”
From education and healthcare to enterprise and cultural revival, the slate reflects Edstead’s full-stack approach developing original IPs and guiding them through a robust distribution network spanning digital, OTT, and broadcast. In a content world chasing quick trends, Edstead is quietly betting on stories built to last, ones that don’t just entertain, but linger long after the credits roll.
