GECs
&pictures to air the World Television Premiere of the critically acclaimed Mukkabaaz on Saturday, 23rd June at 8pm
MUMBAI: In a love story of a sportsman set in Bareilly, Vineet Kuma Singh plays a Kshatriya boxer who falls in love with a deaf-mute Brahmin woman. Co-produced and directed by National Film Award winner Anurag Kashyap, Mukkabaaz was screened at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival and the 2017 Mumbai Film Festival. Starring Vineet Kumar Singh, Zoya Hussain, Ravi Kishan and Jimmy Sheirgill in the lead, the movie is all set for its World Television Premiere on &pictures, Naye India Ka Blockbuster Movie Channel, on Saturday, 23rd June 2018 at 8pm.
Set in the backdrop of the misery of the middle class, the movie has a generous blend of love & humor and captures the banter between a father-son and a husband-wife relation. A film that highlights the existing politics of caste and sports, Mukkabaaz also takes a bold and brave dig on the system and hypocrisies prevalent in the society.
Anurag Kashyap, the man behind gritty dramas exploring the dark worlds of criminals, said he has learnt that the way to an Indian cine goer’s heart is through a love story. “I have learnt that in India whatever you have to say, say it through a love story. This is what people understand. This is my first full love story,” said Anurag Kashyap.
The film is a sharp social commentary on the battles that Shravan Singh (Vineet Kumar Singh), a common man who dares to have a spine has to fight for his love and boxing career. Out of the many battles that Shravan has to face, one is with a local goon named Bhagwan Das Mishra (Jimmy Sheirgill) who also heads the State Boxing Federation. A war breaks out between the two when Shravan falls in love with Bhagwan’s feisty, mute niece Sunaina Mishra (Zoya Hussain). Bhagwan Das is determined to sabotage Shravan’s boxing career as well as keep him away from his niece. The story follows Shravan’s struggle towards fulfilling his dream and winning his love while facing hardships in form of uphill classism and corruption of the Boxing Federation which is heightened by the political atmosphere of Uttar Pradesh.
Vineet Kumar Singh who plays the lead said, “Mukkabaaz is about a boxer who wants to make a name for himself in the industry. The movie talks about his journey by portraying the various issues and difficulties a sports person has to overcome to taste success in India. According to me, the film has been made out of pure passion, and with the intention to reveal the lesser known truth about young and passionate sportsmen of our country. We only hear of winner stories, but this movie goes out to those talented sportsmen who never make it because of various reasons that pose as a hindrance for them.”
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.
