iWorld
Netflix acquires ‘Audrie & Daisy’ at Sundance
MUMBAI: Netflix has acquired Audrie & Daisy, a documentary film in competition at the Sundance Film Festival. The Netflix Original Documentary will premiere globally on Netflix in 2016.
Directed by award-winning filmmakers Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk, Audrie & Daisy charts the parallel stories of two teenage girls from opposite sides of the country, both sexually assaulted by boys they considered to be their friends. Harassed online and taunted at school in the wake of their assaults, each girl is driven to attempt suicide.
The critically-acclaimed film examines the teen assault epidemic, the role of social media, and the impact of bullying directly from the perspective of the assailants whose interviews were secured as part of a landmark settlement agreement in their court case. Audrie & Daisy tells the rare story of a handful of girls and their families willing to speak out and fight back.
By highlighting the stories of these girls and their families and friends, Audrie & Daisy brings viewers closer to questions about truth, power, memory and trauma. Addressing a legal system that struggles to prosecute these type of cases and a society that struggles with victims rights, the film explores the pursuit of justice against the backdrop of powerful social media and communities that don’t want to believe this can happen in their own towns.
“From the early days of production on Audrie & Daisy, we dreamed of distribution for the film that could reach millions of teenagers and their families. With Netflix, our dream has come true. We are excited to work with a company that has helped the best documentaries reach the widest possible audience,” said Cohen and Shenk.
“We are inspired by the incredible filmmaking process and storytelling, as well as the great care and integrity Bonni and Jon brought to Audrie’s and Daisy’s stories. This is an important film for boys, girls and their families as a tool to address the complex terrain that teenagers around the world must navigate as they come of age. We are honored to be able to provide a global platform for kids and adults alike to engage with this courageous film and to support a vital conversation,” said Netflix vice president of original documentary programming Lisa Nishimura.
Audrie & Daisy is an AfterImage Public Media production, in association with Impact Partners and Actual Films.
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.
