GECs
Ram Gopal Varma to float Rs 1 billion IPO
MUMBAI: After Subhash Ghai, it is the turn of noted film maker Ram Gopal Varma to take his production company public. RGV Film Factory Limited (RGVFFL) plans to raise Rs one billion through an Initial Public Offering (IPO).
UTI Securities Limited has been appointed as the lead manager to the issue. The funds will be mainly used for movie production, says UTI Securities president K Srinivas. “The company may get into film distribution as well, but that is only in the second stage,” he adds.
The entertainment industry can be systemized and corporatised.Not only is India the worlds largest producer of feature films, but in terms of the audience size, it is also the largest market. Additionally, I also believe that Indian films can become a much bigger commercial force in the global arena. Being a publicly listed company will help RGVFFL towards this end by making fund raising a relatively simpler exercise, says Varma.
Varma has so far produced 53 films, in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil. He has himself directed 24 films in these three languages.
Varma already has a deal with Adlabs for production of 12 movies. Reacting to a question on his deal with Adlabs Films Ltd, Mr Varma said, The deal I have with Adlabs is for specific projects which have already been identified. Now they will be executed by RGV FFL which basically means that RGV FFL already has work orders. The money raised from the public issue will be to create and execute further new projects.
Speaking about the IPO K Srinivas, President, UTI Securities Ltd, said, While film production companies in the US are publicly traded multi-billion conglomerates, in India, barring a few production houses, the industry continues to fragmented and disorganized. There are very few companies in this space which are corporatized and conceive and execute projects on time and in budget. Among these RGVFFL is by far the most prolific.
GECs
Sony PAL to air Sankat Mochan Hanuman from May 4 at 9 PM
Mythological series brings Lord Hanuman’s tale of devotion and courage back to TV
MUMBAI: Sony PAL is set to bring back the timeless mythological series Sankat Mochan Hanuman, with its premiere scheduled for May 4 at 9 PM. The show revisits the legendary journey of Lord Hanuman, offering viewers a chance to reconnect with one of Indian mythology’s most revered figures.
Centred on themes of devotion, courage and righteousness, the series traces Hanuman’s unwavering loyalty to Lord Ram and his fearless stand against evil. With its mix of dramatic storytelling and visually rich sequences, the show aims to deliver both entertainment and spiritual resonance, appealing to audiences across age groups.
The narrative unfolds as a larger-than-life saga, positioning Hanuman as the ultimate protector and a symbol of strength and selfless service. His journey, rooted in faith and duty, continues to strike a chord with viewers, making the series as relevant today as ever.
The cast features Gagan Malik as Lord Ram, Debalina Chatterjee as Sita, Nirbhay Wadhwa in the titular role, and Saurav Gurjar as Raavan. Their performances bring depth and authenticity to characters deeply embedded in Indian cultural memory.
With its return to television, the show is positioned as more than just a rerun. It taps into a renewed appetite for mythological storytelling, blending nostalgia with timeless values.
As audiences increasingly seek content that resonates beyond entertainment, ‘Sankat Mochan Hanuman’ offers a familiar yet powerful narrative, reminding viewers that stories of faith and courage never really go out of style.
