GECs
Veteran film director Robert Altman dies
MUMBAI: Veteran filmmaker Robert Altman who influenced film narrative with classics like Nashville and Short Cuts has passed away. He was 81 years old and died in a Los Angeles hospital.
Altman was known for his experimental style. One of his unique traits including his last film released a few monthsd back A Prairie Home Companion was overlapping dialogue. Another trait was having multiple storylines skillfyully interwoven into one another with a large ensemble cast. The subjects varied. There was Nashville which looked at country music. Short Cuts dealt with life in Los Angeles. Gosford Park was a classy British film about a murder and secrets as well as class conflict. The one challenge in these films particularly Gosford Park is that the viewer has to pay careful attention.
Altman like Martin Scorcese never won an Oscar. However he was given a lifetime achievement Oscar at this year’s ceremony by Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin who both star in A Prarie Home Companion.
Tommy Lee Jones who also starred in that film says that Altman was very good at letting actors think that they had more control than they actually did.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… connection because this time, the game isn’t just about winning, it’s about who’s with you. Sony Pictures Networks India is gearing up to launch a new reality game show, Tum Ho Naa, expanding its unscripted slate with a format that promises both emotion and engagement.
The show will premiere soon on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV, with Rajeev Khandelwal stepping in as host. Known for his measured screen presence and selective choices, Khandelwal’s return to television adds a layer of familiarity and credibility to the upcoming format.
While specific details of the gameplay remain under wraps, the positioning suggests a reality format that leans as much on emotional resonance as it does on competition, an increasingly popular blend in Indian television, where audiences are gravitating towards content that offers both stakes and storytelling.
Khandelwal, reflecting on his return, noted that his choices have often been guided by instinct rather than convention, describing Tum Ho Naa as a project that feels “close to the heart”. His association also signals Sony’s continued focus on anchoring new formats with recognisable faces who bring both relatability and depth.
The launch comes at a time when broadcasters are doubling down on original non-fiction formats to drive appointment viewing, even as digital platforms expand parallel reach. By placing the show across both linear television and OTT, Sony appears to be aiming for a dual-audience strategy capturing traditional viewers while engaging digital-first consumers.
As the countdown to premiere begins, Tum Ho Naa positions itself not just as another game show, but as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest prize on screen isn’t the jackpot, it’s the journey shared along the way.
