Movies
Planet Marathi announces Marathi-Hollywood title ‘Chhatrapati Tararani’
Mumbai: Akshay Bardapurkar’s Planet Marathi and Piiyush Singh’s Golden Ratio Films have collaborated with UK-based independent production house Black Hangar Studios for a first-ever Marathi-Hollywood film “Moghul Mardini Chhatrapati Tararani.” Directed by Rahul Jadhav, the film will be produced in Marathi and English and it will feature Sonalee Kulkarni in the lead role. The makers are planning a Diwali 2022 release in India and overseas.
Based on the life of the warrior queen Chhatrapati Tararani who fought against the Mughals, Nizamshahi, Aadilshahi, Qutubshahi, Dutch, British, Portuguese, and Siddis, the story of the greatness of Maratha women, Marathi pride, and Swarajya, said the statement.
“Chhatrapati Tararani is going to be a golden page in the history of Marathi cinema. Planet Marathi and Golden Ratio are proud to take the story of the Maratha warrior queen to the world. This will be the first and one of the biggest Marathi-Hollywood films to go on floors with an international film studio,” said Planet Marathi CMD Akshay Bardapurkar. “It is too soon to reveal more details about the film but we have a talented blend of filmmakers, musicians, and artists that are working hard to bring this beautiful presentation to our Marathi audiences. I strongly believe this film has the potential to take Marathi cinema at a newer height,” he added.
Black Hangar Studios has to its credit Hollywood productions such as “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” “Dark Tide,” “The Grand Tour,” and “24: Live Another Day,” as well as the Indian superhero film “Ra.One,” released in 2011. “After working with the Indian Sci-fi genre we are excited to create the experience for a historical period drama,” stated Black Hangar Studios CEO Jake Seal. “The story itself moves us and with the promise that Planet Marathi brings in filmmaking we are thrilled to see where this journey leads us. We aim to make films more engaging for global audiences irrespective of the language and medium and we are committed to making this story come alive.”
“We are excited for the first-ever Marathi Hollywood historical film which will definitely be the most awaited one for 2022. The title itself comes with a huge responsibility to us and the entire team is working to bring out the best for the viewers,” commented Golden Ratio Films co-founder Piiyush Singh.
Hindi
YRF Entertainment appoints Saugata Mukherjee as head of content
Former SonyLIV content head to steer films and series at streaming arm
MUMBAI: YRF Entertainment, the streaming arm of Yash Raj Films, has appointed Saugata Mukherjee as head of content, signalling a strong push to scale its original films and series slate.
Mukherjee joins the company following a successful three-and-a-half-year stint at SonyLIV, where he served as executive vice president and head of content. In his new role, he will report to CEO Akshaye Widhani and lead the creative direction and commissioning strategy for YRF Entertainment’s growing slate.
The appointment comes on the back of YRF Entertainment’s recent global success with titles such as The Romantics, The Railway Men and Mandala Murders, which have helped position the studio as a serious player in the streaming space.
At SonyLIV, Mukherjee played a key role in shaping the platform’s identity as a premium content destination. Under his leadership, the service delivered acclaimed originals across genres, building a reputation for storytelling depth and creative risk-taking. His exit was described as “one of the harder goodbyes”, reflecting both the impact of his tenure and the strength of the team he leaves behind.
Mukherjee brings with him a wide-ranging career that spans publishing, television and streaming. Before SonyLIV, he led content initiatives at HBO Max under Warner Bros. Discovery, where he was instrumental in shaping the platform’s India strategy. His earlier roles include senior leadership positions at Hotstar and Star TV, where he worked on building original content pipelines and collaborating with top creative talent.
With a career that began in publishing at firms like HarperCollins and Pan Macmillan, Mukherjee’s journey reflects a deep-rooted understanding of storytelling across formats and platforms.
His move to YRF Entertainment comes at a time when the battle for streaming audiences is intensifying, with studios doubling down on high-quality originals to stand out in a crowded market.
For YRF, the appointment is more than just a leadership hire. It is a clear signal that the studio is ready to scale its streaming ambitions, with Mukherjee expected to play a central role in shaping its next chapter.
