Documentary
Javed Jafferi takes to documentary making
MUMBAI: With the formation of his new company Indian Documentary Foundation, noted comedian Javed Jaaferi has taken a plunge into documentary making.
“Indian Documentary Foundation is a non-profit organisation that will help raise funds for financing and marketing documentary films, create awareness and raise the bar for Indian documentaries,” Javed said.
Earlier, he was the co-producer of Inshallah, Football, a documentary on the game of soccer. Now, Jaaferi hopes to create a market for such movies that act as an eye-opener and share hard-hitting information.
“Documentaries act as an eye-opener and say a lot about society, whether it`s Malegaon Ka Superhero or Final Solution. These films provide some amazing and hard-hitting information in a condensed form. There are so many different areas that they touch upon, which people are not actually aware of,” he observed.
The 48-year-old Jaaferi blames the ‘escapist’ attitude of people for the dwindling state of documentary filmmaking.
Jafferi, son of veteran comedian Jagdeep, has been the mainstay of films like Double Dhamaal, Hello Darling, Lafangey Parindey, 3 Idiots, Daddy Cool: Join the Fun and Kambakkht Ishq, among others.
Documentary
Netflix and Warner Music ink landmark documentary deal
The streaming giant has just unlocked one of the richest vaults in music history. Its rivals should be worried
CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK: Netflix and Warner Music Group have signed an exclusive multi-year deal to produce documentary series and films drawn from the label’s storied artist roster, the companies announced on Friday — a move that hands the streaming platform access to one of the most formidable catalogues in music history.
Warner Music Group represents legends including David Bowie, Cher, Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin and Joni Mitchell, alongside contemporary superstars such as Charli XCX, Coldplay and Bruno Mars. That is a staggering breadth of material for a platform hungry for prestige content and subscriber growth to match.
Under the agreement, Warner Music will work with Unigram, the production company aligned with the label, which will serve as the studio for its long-form projects. Each title will be developed in collaboration with the artists themselves or their estates, ensuring the kind of intimate access that turns a documentary into an event.
The deal reflects an intensifying race between music-rights owners and streaming platforms eager to turn deep catalogues into premium visual content. Music documentaries have become a vehicle for fan-driven, culturally resonant programming — a trend underscored by Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” film, which grossed over $260 million globally and reminded every platform chief just how lucrative the genre can be.
Netflix already boasts formidable credentials in music storytelling, with “Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé” and “Quincy” among its highest-profile releases. The Warner deal sharpens that edge considerably. Rival platforms have not been idle: Disney+ has released “The Beach Boys”, while Max has drawn attention with “Stax: Soulsville U.S.A.” Apple Music, meanwhile, has pushed into original content through its Apple Music Live series, producing documentaries and livestreamed concerts featuring Harry Styles and Billie Eilish.
The battle for music’s visual soul, then, is well and truly on. Netflix has just made its boldest move yet.
