Movies
Warner Bros India forays into regional film production, sews deal with Soundarya Rajnikanth
MUMBAI: Warner Bros Pictures India is set to foray into regional film production. The Hollywood major has stitched an exclusive multi-movie deal with Soundarya Rajnikanth’s Ocher Studios to get a footprint across the four southern languages.
According to the terms of the deal, Warner Bros will be involved in funding the film projects. The pact covers the production and distribution of Live-Action South Indian language films to be released by Warner Bros.
Soundarya Rajnikant, the daughter of superstar Rajnikant, said that it is a great privilege for her company to associate with a world leader in the entertainment industry. “Ocher Studios has always strived towards achieving high standards in quality content creation, and with Warner’s expertise in the marketing and distribution space this association will definitely create an impact in the film industry,” she added.
While Warner Bros specializes in the creation, production, distribution, licensing and marketing of all forms of entertainment and their related businesses, Ocher Studios offers its services ranging from VFX, digital film lab, non-linear editing, CGI, and pre-production.
“We are thrilled with this opportunity to expand our local production business across all four southern languages by getting into a strategic alliance with Soundarya Rajnikant of Ocher Studios. As is our practice, we will work closely with our partners to impart our experiences and expertise in a collaborative way,” said EVP Warner Bros International Richard J Fox.
Added Warner Bros. Pictures India country head Blaise Fernandes: “We are excited and proud to be working with Soundarya Rajnikant who is extremely talented, has good insight into film making and knows the pulse of the southern market. Given Soundarya and Ocher Studios’ creative skills combined with our marketing and distribution network, this is a perfect synergy between the two companies to come together.”
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.
