Hindi
Joy Mukherjee passes away
MUMBAI: Joy Mukherjee, who had mouthed lilting songs like ‘Bade miyan deewane aise na bano‘ and ‘Sawere ka suraj tumhare liye hai‘ breathed his last this afternoon at the Lilavati Hospital.
The 73-year old star, Mukherjee, was put on a ventilator a few days ago after he was admitted to the hospital in a critical condition. He had not been keeping well for some time.
Mukherjee made his acting debut in 1960 with Love In Simla. Post that he became popular with films like Shagird, Love in Tokyo, Bahu Beti, Ziddi, Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon, Ek Musafir Ek Hasina, Puraskar, Ishaara and Hum Hindustani.
He also directed movies like Love in Bombay (1974), Chhaila Babu (1977), Saanjh Ki Bela (1981) and Umeed (1989).
Mukherjee hailed from a film family; his father Sashadhar Mukherjee, who had married legendary actor Ashok Kumar‘s sister Sati Devi, was the co-founder of Filmalaya Studios. His brothers are Deb and Shomu Mukherjee, father of Kajol and Tanisha Mukherjee.
Mukherjee leaves behind wife Neelam and three children.
Hindi
AI directors take the spotlight at India AI Impact Summit
LTM, NFDC and Waves Bazaar curate first AI Cinema Showcase with human-hearted films.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera, algorithm action! India’s film scene is about to get a futuristic twist as artificial intelligence steps into the director’s chair (well, sort of) at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. LTM, in partnership with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and Waves Bazaar, is rolling out the AI Cinema Showcase under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s watchful eye. The event runs from 16 to 20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, pulling in policymakers, tech innovators, global creators and crucially storytellers who’ve already let AI into their edit suites.
This isn’t about robots churning out blockbusters overnight. The showcase spotlights a hand-picked collection of short films made by Indian filmmakers solo creators, collectives, studios and even students who’ve used AI as a genuine creative collaborator rather than a shortcut. Every selected piece has been judged on narrative punch, artistic vision, cinematic polish and, importantly, responsible AI use. The lucky films will screen in the sleek Immersive Room AI Theatre inside the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting pavilion.
The move builds on last year’s momentum, back in November 2025 at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, the same trio Waves Film Bazaar, LTM and NFDC staged India’s debut AI Film Festival and Hackathon. That experiment proved there’s real appetite for exploring where code meets creativity.
By bringing the conversation into the cultural spotlight, the AI Cinema Showcase aims to nudge discussions beyond dry policy papers and tech specs into something far more human, how emerging tools can amplify storytelling without drowning out the soul. It’s part of a bigger push for ethical, human-centred AI that keeps the artist firmly in the driving seat.
So while the rest of the summit debates algorithms and governance, this corner of Bharat Mandapam will be quietly proving that the future of Indian cinema might just feature a very clever co-writer, one that never asks for coffee breaks. Catch the screenings if you’re in Delhi next week; who knows, you might spot the next big twist coming from a prompt rather than a pen.
