Movies
NH Studioz becomes world’s largest holder of Tamil movies
MUMBAI: NH Studioz has raced to the top of global Tamil cinema ownership after acquiring 1,677 feature films from Columbia Video Films, the Malaysia-based distributor with one of the region’s most prized South Indian libraries. The deal hands NH Studioz complete negative and copyright control, marking one of the biggest single transfers of Tamil film IP to an Indian company.
Founded in the 1970s, Columbia Video Films built a formidable catalogue and distribution network across Southeast Asia, turning its library into a treasure trove of Tamil classics. The haul now landing with NH Studioz stretches across the golden eras of M.G. Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, Jayalalithaa, Rajinikanth, Kamal Hassan, Ajith Kumar and Vijay, films that shaped the cultural identity of Tamil cinema and continue to enthral audiences.
NH Studioz director Shreyans Hirawat called the acquisition a cultural and commercial milestone. Tamil cinema’s global footprint, he said, makes preservation and worldwide distribution the company’s next priority, with restoration and platform-ready versions set to power TV, OTT, FAST channels and international syndication.
The grab lifts NH Studioz’s Tamil catalogue to 2,100 titles, cementing its position as the world’s biggest holder of Tamil films at a time when nostalgia-fuelled demand is surging across Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and diaspora markets. The firm plans to partner with free-to-air networks and digital platforms to bring these classics back into circulation and introduce new viewers to Tamil cinema’s roots.
NH Studioz will parade its expanded library at ATF 2025 in Singapore, inviting broadcasters and global buyers to tap into its multilingual vault. With this haul, the company isn’t just scaling up, it is turbocharging its march into the global content big league.
Hindi
Zee5 and Applause Entertainment team up for whodunnit ‘Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa’
Rajat Kapoor directs star-studded murder mystery streaming from 10 April.
MUMBAI: Zee5 is serving up another killer collaboration and this time, the murder mystery comes with a generous side of dark humour and family dysfunction. The streaming platform has partnered with Applause Entertainment and Mithya Talkies to bring Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa, a fresh, twisted whodunnit written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker and actor Rajat Kapoor. The film will stream exclusively on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
The movie reimagines the classic murder mystery genre with a contemporary, darkly comic edge. It revolves around a group of friends and family who smile, drink, and celebrate together until the silence snaps and long-buried secrets spill out. The stellar ensemble cast includes Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey, Waluscha De Sousa, Saurabh Shukla, Chandrachoor Rai, Neil Bhoopalam, Koel Purie, Palomi Ghosh, and Rajat Kapoor himself.
This latest offering continues the successful partnership between Zee5 and Applause Entertainment, which has previously delivered diverse hits such as Mithya, Bloody Brothers, and Jab Khuli Kitaab.
&TV Business Head of hindi Zee5 and chief channel officer Kaveri Das said, “Our collaboration with Applause Entertainment has consistently delivered distinct, high-impact storytelling. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa is a natural progression, reinforcing our focus on genre-led content with a compelling whodunnit premise and a strong ensemble cast.”
Applause Entertainment business head for movies Sunil Chainani added, “This film adds yet another compelling layer to our slate with Rajat Kapoor’s unmistakable voice.”
Rajat Kapoor shared, “What interested me was not just the mechanics of a whodunnit, but the emotional violence that precedes physical violence. These are people who smile at each other, but there’s so much that is not said.”
The film promises razor-sharp writing, layered performances, and simmering tension, inviting viewers not just to solve the crime but to unravel the complex relationships at its heart.
If you love a good murder mystery served with wit and emotional depth, Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa looks set to be your next addictive watch. Mark your calendars, the whodunnit drops on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
