Hindi
UFO Moviez Q1 FY23 revenues up to Rs 90.6 crore; loss down to Rs 2.5 crore
Mumbai: In-cinema advertising platform UFO Moviez reported its first quarter results for the financial year 2023. The company reported revenue of Rs 90.6 crore versus Rs 28.2 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. It saw a loss of Rs 2.5 crore versus Rs 26.7 crore in Q1 FY22.
The company reported earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) of Rs 9.8 crore compared to Rs 18.1 crore year-on-year.
While theatrical revenues are increasing due to the consistent and uninterrupted release of films by both the Hindi and regional film industries, advertisement revenues are slowly recovering due to lower government advertising spending. The corporate advertising segment has, however, shown a significant recovery.
“The steady release of movies has resulted in a fuller resumption of operations and a revival in revenues,” said UFO Moviez executive director and group CEO Rajesh Mishra. “The success of big budget movies in April’22 and May’22, provided an impetus to all revenue streams, especially the corporate advertisement revenue that has seen a substantial recovery. Whereas, the lag in government advertising spending continued to put pressure on the overall advertisement revenue. We have already turned Ebitda positive and we expect this upward trend to continue. Meanwhile, the increasing appetite of audiences to consume movies in different languages and genres will continue to benefit our theatrical revenues.
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.
