Film Production
TV production temporarily impacted by cursed Rs 500-1000 notes
MUMBAI: In what may be called a Herculean step, PM Narendra Modi banned Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notes as of midnight intervening 8 and 9 November. His live television broadcast came as a surprise to millions of unassuming Indians and the world at large, to say the least.
Once understanding of the gravity of his announcement hit, throngs rushed to the ATMs, super markets, and chemist shops in a bid to rid themselves of the cursed notes which were to transform into waste paper overnight. In fact, retail shopping giant Big Bazaar, luxe watch chain Ethos, among many others seized this opportunity and allowed shoppers in till midnight, rightly expecting a rush. Petrol stations saw long queues even as late as the night of 9 November as desperate Indians tried to shed their 500 and 1000 notes. Foreign tourists despaired about the dud notes they had in their possession, as they neither hold bank account or post office accounts; the only currency they had was useless to them.
By demonetizing Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, Modi has taken a bold stance to curb the raging black money menace and counterfeit currency that has been gnawing at the country’s economy for decades. The speed at which everything had transpired was astonishing, and many netizens lauded the move on social media.
While this historic move is expected to contribute greatly towards nation-building, the transition phase will not be smooth. With banks shut for another day, ATMs dysfunctional temporarily until new legit denominations are restored in the banking system, life is proving tough for the public, to put it mildly. Different sectors have braced up for the varied impact this decision will bring, including the Indian television production industry.
“For production houses like us, there are certain requirements for action props — flowers, food items, etc, which we usually buy in cash. Moreover, everyone’s travel and other conveyance compensation are also paid in cash. Not to mention the daily labour and daily-wage workers that a shoot employs… so yes, this ban has definitely created an a problem, especially with the banks shut,” explains Sol Production’s Fazila Allana.
“Our ongoing shooting in Delhi for the show ‘Small Money Big Makeover’ which airs on FYI is currently stuck. It requires us to go out and buy stuff from the local market, and with today’s cash crunch situation, that is difficult,” she adds.
Allana isn’t hindered by that, however, as she strongly believes that it is only temporary. “In the long term, I believe it is good for the industry. “A lot of these union workers often used to insist on cash payments, but now this sector can be regulated more effectively.”
Asked if any of the long-running daily shows would be affected by this temporary turmoil, Allana reassured that it was highly unlikely. “Mega serials, as they are often called, will be the least affected as their shoots and contracts with artistes etc mostly operate on a monthly basis. They might be slightly inconvenienced by the sudden prop requirements, but that is all.”
Allana, however, expressed concern over the lack of clarity on the upper limits of withdrawal for companies and the corporate, as it will be next to impossible to function if the cap for company usage is also Rs 2000 per day.
BBC Worldwide India SVP & GM Myleeta Aga has welcomed the Prime Minister’s bold move calling it ” good to happen” to our industry.
“There will be inconvenience, but we should all manage the inconvenience. It won’t stop our work. We mostly function with partners with whom we have long-term associations. They too understand the current situation, and are cooperating accordingly. We can use credit notes and the right available denominations for the next few days. As long as they are providing a legit service and are being paid in a legit way, there is nothing to worry about,” she adds.
“The industry simply needs to be mindful while making cash payments in these two to three days,” says the optimistic CEO of The Contiloe Entertainment, Abhimanyu Singh.
Asked if the TV industry will be majorly affected by this crackdown on black money hoarders, Singh says, “I don’t think the TV industry has something to worry about, most of our accounts are clean and every transaction is accounted for.”
“In the short run, businesses will have to compromise with the change but I have faith the government has thought this out, and will effectively take action to normalise the situation. I don’t believe the prime minister would want businesses to shut down,” Singh added.
Film Production
Arka Mediaworks onboards 88 Pictures as animation studio partner on ‘The Eternal War – Part 1’
Arka Mediaworks announces that 88 Pictures, the acclaimed animation and visual storytelling studio known for its cutting-edge CGI and cinematic artistry, is on board as the animation partner for the highly anticipated Baahubali: The Eternal War, a groundbreaking two-part 3D animated feature film set in the globally beloved Baahubali universe.
Baahubali: The Eternal War represents a bold new chapter in the Baahubali saga envisioned for national and international audiences and crafted with the ambition of delivering one of India’s most ambitious and globally benchmarked animation projects to date.
88 Pictures will execute the animation production, bringing to life the film’s richly detailed worlds, epic battle sequences, and larger-than-life characters with its signature blend of artistic vision, performance-driven animation, and advanced production pipelines. Working closely with the film’s creative leadership and technical partners, the studio aims to set new benchmarks in animation quality, cinematic storytelling, and global scalability.
This animated epic follows the successful re-release of Baahubali: The Epic (the combined theatrical version of the original live-action films) on 31 October 2025 across India and the USA. During the film’s interval, legendary creator and director S.S. Rajamouli (Baahubali 1 & 2, RRR) stunned audiences with a surprise teaser for The Eternal War – Part 1. The video immediately went viral, garnering widespread national and international acclaim across LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube for its ambitious visual style and scale.
Produced by Arka Mediaworks and led by co-founder and CEO Shobu Yarlagadda – producer of the iconic Baahubali duology, The Eternal War brings together fantastic storytelling and cutting-edge animation.. The film is directed and written by acclaimed animation filmmaker Ishan Shukla (Schirkoa: In Lies We Trust, Star Wars: Visions – “The Bandits of Golak”) and screenplay by Scott Mosier (The Grinch). Mihira Visual Labs, the studio co-founded by Yarlagadda anchors the film’s animation, visual development, and execution.
The partnership with 88 Pictures brings significant pedigree to the project; the studio is well-regarded for its work on high-profile international titles including DreamWorks’ series Trollhunters, the HBO Max original series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, Disney’s animated short An Almost Christmas Story to name a few.
Yarlagadda shared, “We are happy to onboard 88 Pictures as the animation studio partner for our prestigious and most expensive animated film from India. We believe that their expertise and capabilities will allow us to produce a first-of-its-kind, world-class animated feature film from India.”
88 Pictures founder & CEO Milind D. Shinde said, “Baahubali changed the way cinema is perceived and became a defining milestone that turned the tide for Indian live-action filmmaking. Expanding the franchise into an entirely new universe—at a never-seen, never-done scale—through an animated feature created in India for a global audience is set to redefine how the world views Indian animation. We are truly thrilled to be part of this landmark project and to bring it to life under the visionary direction of Ishan Shukla, guided by the experience and leadership of acclaimed producer Shobu Yarlagadda.”
Shukla expressed, “Eternal War requires a level of visual and emotional precision that can only come from teams who truly understand both craft and intent. Working with 88 Pictures, alongside Mihira Visual Labs, has been a deeply collaborative experience. This association brings together technical excellence and creative sensitivity, enabling us to translate an ambitious vision into a compelling cinematic reality.”
Baahubali: The Eternal War – Part 1 is scheduled for release in 2027
