Hindi
Titus Upputuru’s short film shines bright at Indian Cine Film Festival 2022
MUMBAI: “Nip in the bud”, a short film by the media conglomerate, Times Internet, has won big at the Indian Cine Film Festival. Written by famous adman, Titus Upputuru, it has been awarded the Best Screenplay award and the Best Public Service award at the event.
Titus is the man behind the screenplay and has also directed the film. Elaborating on the win, The Titus Upputuru Company founder and chief creative officer Titus said, “Wow, I am so thrilled! I thank God for these awards and dedicate them to every voice that had the courage to share the abuse that happened at their workplaces. I am also glad that a film like this has been recognized and awarded at so many award shows as I believe that voices like these influence, inspire and contribute towards rooting out this very diabolic, sickening culture from our society.”
The film opens on a young girl weeping profusely and with a determined look, she knows what she wants to do. The very fact that her business role model, a business tycoon, tried to get awkwardly close to her, breaks her apart. But it obviously doesn’t break her confidence and grit to make sure that the world knows about his misdeeds – she walks into a café and pens a note on social media to share the horrific experience. The film takes a twist when we see the post being read by a woman, realising to her horror that it was the same man who abused her years ago. A photograph on the mantle reveals that the two women were related and happen to be mother and daughter. The film ends with the message ‘If you are delaying, you may be encouraging’.
For the record, “Nip in the Bud” also won the prestigious DadaSaheb Phalke Award earlier this year.
Hindi
ZEE5, Applause announce new film Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa
Rajat Kapoor’s dark comedy thriller to stream on ZEE5 from April 10
MUMBAI: ZEE5 and Applause Entertainment have announced their next direct-to-digital collaboration, Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa, a darkly comic whodunnit set to stream from April 10.
Produced in association with Mithya Talkies and written and directed by Rajat Kapoor, the film marks the latest addition to a growing slate of genre-diverse titles from the two partners. Their previous collaborations include dramas, psychological thrillers and dark comedies, with this outing leaning into a layered murder mystery.
The film features an ensemble cast including Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey, Waluscha De Sousa and Saurabh Shukla, among others. The narrative promises a mix of satire, strained relationships and hidden tensions, inviting viewers to look beyond the crime to the dynamics that lead up to it.
ZEE5 business head hindi and chief channel officer Andtv Kaveri Das said, “Our collaboration with Applause Entertainment has been instrumental in building a strong slate with titles such as Bloody Brothers, Mithya and Jab Khuli Kitaab. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa is a natural progression, aligning with our focus on genre-led content that resonates with audiences.”
Applause Entertainment business head movies Sunil Chainani said, “This collaboration with ZEE5 continues to stand out for its diversity of genres and narrative styles. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa adds a sharp, darkly comic whodunnit to that mix, driven by Rajat Kapoor’s distinct voice.”
Sharing his creative approach, Rajat Kapoor said he was drawn to the emotional layers behind the genre. “I was interested not just in the mechanics of a whodunnit, but the emotional violence that precedes physical violence. These are people who appear close, yet carry unspoken tensions that eventually surface.”
The partnership between ZEE5 and Applause continues to build on a shared focus on distinctive storytelling, with each project exploring a different tone and genre.
With its mix of humour, tension and ensemble storytelling, the film aims to offer more than just a mystery. It promises a closer look at the secrets people keep, and the consequences when they finally come to light.
