Movies
Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films continues association with Mami Mumbai Film Festival
Mumbai: Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films is once again partnering with Mami Mumbai Film Festival 2024. As part of the association, the brand is championing select and distinctive narratives for discerning viewers. This initiative reinforces the brand’s focus on curating content “For the Select Ones” by celebrating creativity, originality, and collaborating with the choicest storytellers and renowned artists.
This year’s collaboration will feature a short film contest and the premiere of two original Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films shorts on 23 October 2024.
1. Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films Premieres: Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films will premiere two new original short films at the festival, featuring renowned talent from the industry. The event promises a captivating evening, highlighted by a panel discussion, and select conversations with the cast.
● Gul Panag’s Aloo Bhujia, starring Rannvijay Singha, Arnav Maggo, Padma Damodaran; directed by Lakshmi R Iyer.
● Tigmanshu Dhulia’s The Promise, starring Jim Sarbh and Priya Mani.
2. Short Film Contest: The contest offered aspiring filmmakers an exciting opportunity to showcase their creativity and storytelling, with the top 10 shortlisted films scheduled to be screened at the festival. Of the shortlisted films, winners under the ‘Best Film’ category will also be announced. The special jury, comprising some of India’s top voices in the industry – Hansal Mehta, Aditi Rao Hydari and Rajshri Deshpande – will be present for the Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films Premieres.
Pernod Ricard India chief marketing officer and head of global business development Kartik Mohindra said, “Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films has become ‘the’ destination for short films over the years for viewers to experience great filmmaking. The platform has been a pioneer in transforming the way individuals perceive the short film genre and has evolved to create an ecosystem for aspiring and established storytellers alike to bring select short films to our audiences. We are thrilled to continue our association with MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024, which is a testament to our dedication towards crafting the next chapter of select storytelling. This strengthens our endeavour of fostering a dynamic environment that empowers storytellers, and curating select narratives for our discerning audiences.”
MAMI Mumbai Film Festival artistic director Deepti DCunha shared, “We are delighted to continue our long-standing association with Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films, united by our shared passion for exceptional storytelling and empowering talented filmmakers. Together, we remain committed to curating compelling content that resonates with evolving audience preferences and shifting consumption trends.”
The festival is set to take place from 19 October to 24 October 2024.
Hindi
Jio Studios, Sanjay Dutt team up to revive Khal Nayak
Rights acquired for new version, format under wraps as remake plans take shape.
MUMBAI: The villain is back and this time, he’s rewriting his own script. Jio Studios has partnered with Three Dimension Motion Pictures and Aspect Entertainment to revive the 1993 cult classic Khal Nayak, marking a fresh chapter for one of Bollywood’s most iconic anti-hero stories. The original film, directed by Subhash Ghai under Mukta Arts, was a commercial and cultural milestone, with Sanjay Dutt’s portrayal of Ballu becoming one of Hindi cinema’s most memorable performances.
Dutt, along with Aksha Kamboj, has now acquired the rights from the original creators, bringing on board Jio Studios and its President Jyoti Deshpande to steer the project creatively.
While the exact format whether remake, sequel, prequel, or a completely new narrative remains undisclosed, the collaboration aims to reinterpret the story for contemporary audiences while retaining the essence that made the original a defining film of the 1990s.
The move taps into a broader industry trend of reviving legacy intellectual property, particularly characters with strong recall value. “Khal Nayak” was notable for pushing mainstream Hindi cinema into morally grey territory at a time when heroes were largely one-dimensional, making Ballu’s character a standout.
The project also marks the film production debut of Aspect Entertainment, signalling a push towards more technology-led storytelling frameworks. Meanwhile, Jio Studios continues to expand its slate, having built a library of over 200 films and series, with more than 60 titles collectively winning 500-plus awards.
For Dutt, the revival is as much personal as it is strategic, a return to a role that reshaped his career. For the industry, it is another sign that nostalgia, when paired with scale, remains a powerful box-office proposition.
Because in Bollywood, some villains never fade, they just wait for the perfect comeback.
