Movie Channels
NFDC’s Raja Chhinal passes on
MUMBAI: The National Film Development Corp of India lost one of its flag bearers on 17 May. Deputy general manager Raja Chhinal died in BLK Hospital in New Delhi where he was undergoing treatment after suffering from a brain abscess and undergoing surgery for the infection. He had been ailing for a while. He was only 47 and leaves behind his wife and twin daughters.
The reason why indiantelevision.com is writing about his is because he was the man who worked on a lot of the Indian independent film maker delegations that made their way to the Cannes Film Festival, Berlinale and MIPCOM and MIPTV, Hongkong Filmart and many other markets. And he was key to the pavilions that were set up there.
A mild and unassuming professional he was a hardcore long-term NFDC executive and played an important role – along with the then managing director Nina Lath Gupta – in transforming the film funding corporation into the outfit that it is today. For her, he was the go-to man for international markets. And for Film Bazaar, held in Goa, which has become the annual event for the independent film making community the world over.
Social media was full of expressions of shock and condolences to Raja.
“So sad to hear. A good soul,” wrote Lunchbox director Ritesh Batra.
“Very, Very Tragic,” expressed film maker Onir.
Said Indo German Films founder Stephen Ottenbruch: “ “We will miss you Raja. Rest in peace.”
“God bless his soul with eternal peace. A luvly human being…gone too soon.
Heartfelt condolences to his family. Sad,” opined VR Films joint managing director Krishi Dutt.
“Dear Raja, There's so much to write and say on the little ways in which you made a difference to the Indian indie scene and to NFDC! All I can say here is thank you, god bless & you will be missed. Rest in Power! And in Peace,” penned MovieSaints India head Anupama Bose, who worked with him closely at NFDC some time back.
We at indiantelevision.com also offer our condolences to his family and to his colleagues – former and current – at NFDC.
Picture courtesy: Svetlana on twitter
Movie Channels
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat Premieres 14 Feb on Zee
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat world TV premiere 14 Feb at 8pm passion meets politics.
MUMBAI: Cupid’s arrow just got a plot twist and it’s heading straight for your TV screen. This Valentine’s Day, Zee Cinema is turning up the heat with the world television premiere of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, a raw, rule-breaking romantic drama that proves love doesn’t always come wrapped in roses.
Set to air on Saturday, 14 February at 8pm, the film stars Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa, directed by Milap Zaveri. It dives headfirst into obsession, heartbreak, and the kind of unconditional love that leaves scorch marks. Rane plays Vikramaditya, a powerful politician whose all-consuming passion for actress Adaa spirals into chaos when his feelings go unreturned unleashing a storm of emotion, misunderstanding, and life-altering consequences.
The timing couldn’t be sharper. Audiences are clearly craving intense love stories over sugar-coated ones, and this film taps straight into that vein. Harshvardhan Rane already has a loyal fanbase from his cult hit Sanam Teri Kasam, which cemented his status as the go-to guy for heart-wrenching romance especially among younger viewers who keep the film on repeat.
Milap Zaveri captured the film’s beating heart, “This film is about love that doesn’t follow rules. With Valentine’s Day being a time when audiences gravitate towards romantic narratives, the television premiere of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat on Zee Cinema felt like the perfect fit. The continued love for intense romances shows there is a strong emotional appetite for such stories.”
Rane himself called it a story rooted in messy, honest emotion, “Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat explores love in its most intense and vulnerable form where emotions are messy and deeply human. It’s a story that doesn’t shy away from passion or pain on Valentine’s Day making it even more special as it reflects the many shades of love people experience.”
Sonam Bajwa added her take, “Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat is not a conventional love story, it’s raw, intense and emotional. Valentine’s Day is usually associated with happy romance but this film explores love in its most vulnerable form.”
So if your Valentine’s plans include more than chocolates and clichés, tune in to Zee Cinema at 8pm on 14 February. Because sometimes the most unforgettable love stories aren’t the ones that end neatly, they’re the ones that leave you questioning just how far passion can push before everything changes.
