Hindi
No film sustained after Dangal
The bad run at the box office continues as no film released after Dangal has been able to sustain. The new releases have not been able to hold their own post the opening weekend. After the midweek release of two major films, Kaabil and Raees backfired. The films could not draw enough footfalls after the 26 January national holiday.
On the other hand, the people behind last week’s releases, Raees and Kaabil, have been throwing wild figures in the market through the media. Some gullible media may publish these figures but readers have stopped believing them.
*The trade held its hopes on Jolly LLB 2 since its lead man, Akshay Kumar, has been having a decent run with most of his films lately. The Jolly franchise was also expected to help the earlier one, Jolly LLB, had done well as the box office.
Somehow, the promos of the film did not excite people. Also, there was no music with popular appeal. This showed on the film’s opening, which was below average. However, being the only film gracing the screens during the week, it did pick up some pace on Saturday and excelling on Sunday, giving it a healthy opening weekend of Rs 47.1 crore. However, for the collections to maintain through the week will be a tough call as the film has a limited merit.
*Raees has been doing badly from day one. The only good figures it has to show are on 26 January holiday. Since then, it has been only a downward slide. The film which collected Rs 111.9 crore in its first nine days, has dropped by almost 85% in its second week and collected just Rs 16.4 crore taking its two week total to Rs 128.3 crore.
*Kaabil released simultaneously with Raees. As both the films could not compete at the box office as both lacked appreciation and, hence, patronage, the competition shifted to issuing false figures to the media. Kaabil lagged behind its competition and these wrong figures were not really adding to the tally. The film did catch up with Raees in its second week as it collected a little more but that will be no help in the final tally. The film added Rs 16.85 crore in its second week taking its two week total to Rs 88.45 crore.
*Dangal has braved all new releases and finding the residual or the repeat audience even as it comes to the end of its tremendous run at the box office. The film’s seven week total stands at Rs 387.4 crore.
Hindi
Kridhan Infra enters film production with AI-led feature film
Infra firm debuts AI-powered film marking RSS centenary
MUMBAI: Kridhan Infra Limited is swapping hard hats for headsets. The infrastructure company has announced its entry into film production and media technology through its subsidiary, Kridhan Mediatech Private Limited, with the nationwide theatrical release of Shatak: Sangh Ke 100 Varsh, an AI-led feature film.
With Shatak, the company is not just stepping into cinema but staking a claim in what it describes as one of the world’s early full-length AI-driven feature films. Artificial Intelligence has been embedded across the creative and production process, from script visualisation and environment creation to modelling and production design.
The film commemorates 100 years of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, tracing defining moments, personalities and historical phases that shaped its journey. By combining archival storytelling with algorithm-powered creativity, the project attempts to blend heritage with high technology.
For Kridhan Mediatech, this is only the opening scene. The subsidiary’s broader ambition spans AI, CGI, virtual production systems and scalable content models for both theatres and digital platforms. The move signals a strategic diversification for Kridhan Infra, traditionally rooted in engineering and construction.
The timing aligns with India’s growing push to become a global AI powerhouse. At the 2026 AI Impact Summit, prime minister Narendra Modi urged innovators to design in India and deliver to the world. Kridhan Mediatech’s initiative positions itself squarely within that narrative, aiming to export technology-enabled storytelling beyond domestic audiences.
India’s media and entertainment industry, valued at over Rs 2.5 lakh crore, alongside a rapidly expanding AI economy projected to cross Rs 1.4 lakh crore in the coming years, offers fertile ground at the intersection of cinema and code.
“With Shatak, we proudly present one of the world’s first AI-led full-length feature films while marking our strategic entry into film production and media technology through our subsidiary,” the company said in a statement. “Our vision is to combine India’s rich narrative heritage with forward-looking innovation. This is just the beginning of building globally competitive, technology-enabled cinematic experiences.”
From infrastructure to imagination, Kridhan’s latest venture suggests that in today’s India, even storytelling can be engineered.
