Hindi
Viacom 18’s Cine Shorts returns with season 2
MUMBAI: With an aim to provide a platform to budding filmmakers with an opportunity to showcase their talent through a five-minute short film, Viacom 18 has launched the second season of Cine Shorts on 7 September.
Viacom 18 has also brought on board Inox as a partner on the Cine Shorts initiative.
The jury comprising director-producer David Dhawan, director Sriram Raghavan, Viacom18 Motion Pictures COO Ajit Andhare and cinematographer Ayananka Bose amongst others, will be evaluating the entries.
Andhare said, “This is an initiative that we at Viacom 18 Motion Picture (VMP) are very proud of. Our studio has been known to work with fresh talent and this endeavour allows us to add to the talent pool of the Indian film industry.”
Raghavan added, “We have a platform for singers on television and we have several dance reality shows – CineShorts is a platform for film makers. This is a stage for youngsters to showcase their talent, which may or may not have seen the light of day otherwise and I am glad to be a part of such an initiative.”
Expressing his views on the same, Dhawan said, “Comedy, especially romantic comedy is a tough genre to work on and I am looking forward to some exceptional short films that will not only strike a chord but also leave you in splits.”
Inox Leisure CEO Alok Tandon opined, “We are happy to be associated with Cine Shorts for the second year in a row. In a country, which is passionately excited about movies, this festival is an ideal platform for budding filmmakers to display their talent and be recognised. It also gives these filmmakers a stage to unleash their potential and creativity and showcase their filmmaking flair to the world.”
While the first season had the theme of ‘Fighting the Odds,’ the second season will now challenge participants to make a short film on the concept of ‘Falling in Love’ but with a twist.
Hindi
Zee5 and Applause Entertainment team up for whodunnit ‘Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa’
Rajat Kapoor directs star-studded murder mystery streaming from 10 April.
MUMBAI: Zee5 is serving up another killer collaboration and this time, the murder mystery comes with a generous side of dark humour and family dysfunction. The streaming platform has partnered with Applause Entertainment and Mithya Talkies to bring Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa, a fresh, twisted whodunnit written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker and actor Rajat Kapoor. The film will stream exclusively on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
The movie reimagines the classic murder mystery genre with a contemporary, darkly comic edge. It revolves around a group of friends and family who smile, drink, and celebrate together until the silence snaps and long-buried secrets spill out. The stellar ensemble cast includes Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey, Waluscha De Sousa, Saurabh Shukla, Chandrachoor Rai, Neil Bhoopalam, Koel Purie, Palomi Ghosh, and Rajat Kapoor himself.
This latest offering continues the successful partnership between Zee5 and Applause Entertainment, which has previously delivered diverse hits such as Mithya, Bloody Brothers, and Jab Khuli Kitaab.
&TV Business Head of hindi Zee5 and chief channel officer Kaveri Das said, “Our collaboration with Applause Entertainment has consistently delivered distinct, high-impact storytelling. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa is a natural progression, reinforcing our focus on genre-led content with a compelling whodunnit premise and a strong ensemble cast.”
Applause Entertainment business head for movies Sunil Chainani added, “This film adds yet another compelling layer to our slate with Rajat Kapoor’s unmistakable voice.”
Rajat Kapoor shared, “What interested me was not just the mechanics of a whodunnit, but the emotional violence that precedes physical violence. These are people who smile at each other, but there’s so much that is not said.”
The film promises razor-sharp writing, layered performances, and simmering tension, inviting viewers not just to solve the crime but to unravel the complex relationships at its heart.
If you love a good murder mystery served with wit and emotional depth, Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa looks set to be your next addictive watch. Mark your calendars, the whodunnit drops on Hindi Zee5 from 10 April.
