iWorld
Indians in New York to mark Independence Day in nostalgic show
NEW DELHI: People of Indian origin will gather at a function in New York on 15 August to reminisce over what happened around the time India attained independence in 1947.
Emmy-nominated renowned filmmaker Tirlok Malik, who recently launched www.nritvfilmclub.com for streaming Indian American movies online, has invited several NRIs who were witness to the brutalities of that time, and many of whom lost their dear ones.
It is estimated that more than one and a half million people were killed or injured in the process and 15 million people migrated from both India and the newly-created Pakistan.
The show “15th August 1947” will have senior citizens who were then children sharing their journey from 1947 to 2015 in the show. In another segment, the show will have presenters talking to the young generation of 2015 who did not witness the horrors of 1947 but heard about this from their grandparents or read in the history books. The young people will share their views what should be learned from the history and future impact.
Talking about the show, Malik told Indiantelevision.com, “What has been the emotional journey for those kids who were 10 year old at that time August 1947? Have their memories faded? What would you feel if you were 10 year old and witnessed that?”
He added, “I know many people – Indians and Pakistanis – who have witnessed 1947 but now they are living in America. Even while in America, they have never forgotten their childhood memories. Is it possible that we as human beings with the background of different religions and race can agree that we can also disagree sometimes and there should be no violence so that world can be more peaceful place?”
Malik is a pioneer making films on the experiences of the Indian American and began this with his gripping Lonely in America made around two decades earlier.
The show is being presented by NRI TV Film Club and JUS Broadcasting, which has four channels. They are the first Indian American Punjabi channels. The show will be aired in the week of 15 August on JUS Punjabi channels in US and Canada.
The site www.nritvfilmclub.com was launched with 15 films made in America by NRI filmmakers with local Indian American talent. Some of the films are award winning and have been shown worldwide. NRI TV Film Club will also be producing and showing more films, TV sitcoms, web series with Indian American and multi-cultural talents.
iWorld
Prime Video drops trailer for Lukkhe, a rap crime drama starring KING in his acting debut
Eight episodes of revenge, redemption and hard-hitting rap arrive on the streaming platform on 8th May
MUMBAI: Prime Video has unveiled the trailer for Lukkhe, an eight-episode musical action drama built around the world of rap, crime and bruised relationships — and it has done so in suitably loud fashion, launching it at a live concert in Mumbai featuring electrifying performances by KING, Amira Gill, Akshath, Raashii Khanna, Ruaa Kayy and RUTVXK. As if that were not enough, the show’s music album was also dropped at the event, in collaboration with exclusive music streaming partner Amazon Music and music label Warner Music India.
The series is directed by Himank Gaur and produced by Vipul D. Shah and Rajesh Bahl under the banners of Optimystix Entertainment and White Guerrilla LLP. It is created and executive produced by Agrim Joshi and Debojit Das Purkayastha.
The cast is the talking point. KING, the acclaimed Indian rapper and songwriter, makes his acting debut as MC Badnaam, a performer consumed by rivalry and hunger for recognition. Raashii Khanna, returning to Prime Video after Farzi, plays Gurbani. Palak Tiwari, making her streaming debut, plays Sanober. Lakshvir Singh Saran plays Lucky. The ensemble also includes Nakul Roshan Sahdev, Kritika Bharadwaj, Shivankit Parihar, Yograj Singh and Ayesha Raza Mishra in pivotal roles.
The trailer plants its flag squarely in the tension between MC Badnaam and his rival MC OG, played by Parihar, while threading in the love story between Lucky and Sanober. The soundtrack, which spans hard-hitting rap anthems to emotionally charged melodies, is as much a character in the show as any of its leads.
Gaur was candid about what drew him to the project. “Lukkhe gave me a chance to dive into a world that’s loud, emotional, and constantly on edge,” he said. “What stayed with me was how every character is chasing something personal, and music becomes their way of expressing it. Working with this cast, especially KING in his debut, along with Raashii, Lakshvir, and Palak, was incredibly rewarding because they brought honesty that elevated every moment.”
Khanna reflected on her character with evident relish. “Playing Gurbani in Lukkhe was a really intense and fulfilling experience,” she said. “What I found most interesting was how her strength comes from something deeply personal, which shapes every decision she makes. It was about finding that balance between vulnerability and grit.”
KING, stepping in front of the camera for the first time, was characteristically direct. “Stepping into Lukkhe as MC Badnaam has been a defining moment for me,” he said. “What drew me in was how real his hunger and need to be heard felt. It’s something I connect with as an artist. Bringing music into his journey made the experience even more personal.”
Tiwari described the role as a first on multiple fronts. “It was my first time working with Prime Video, and the whole experience felt new and creatively satisfying,” she said. “Being part of a story that has both intense and heartfelt moments, along with a team that brought so much honesty to it, made this journey truly memorable.”
Saran, for his part, zeroed in on what made Lucky tick. “Lucky is someone who’s trying to move forward while still carrying the weight of his past, and that push-pull made him really interesting to explore,” he said. “There’s a sincerity to his journey that I hope people connect with.”
Lukkhe premieres on Prime Video in Hindi on 8th May, across India and in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. In a streaming landscape drowning in crime dramas, this one is betting that putting a rapper at its centre – and meaning it – is enough to cut through the noise. On the evidence of the trailer, it might just be right.
