Event Coverage
An unending search for a hit-making formula
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MUMBAI: Is there any formula that could go on to prove that a film being made would become a hit with the audiences?
Speakers at a session at the ongoing Ficci-Frames here symbolically put up their hands in despair.
“Sadly, there is no such formula. All that one needs is a good plot that would relate to the audience,” said noted filmmaker Shyam Benegal. He along with scriptwriter Anjum Rajabali, filmmaker Ramesh Sippy, storywriter Shibani Bathija and Australian filmmaker Ian Booth were debating the subject of ‘The Business of Filmmaking’.
“Unlike the early days, today a lot of investment goes into a film project: so one has to be abundantly clear of the film he wants to make, scrutinizing each and every detail, from story to script to other parts of the filmmaking process. He should work in such a way that his money does not go down the proverbial drain and he is able to recover his investment in the project,” Benegal added. Besides, there are umpteen other ways in today’s world to recover the money – cable rights, satellite rights, home video etc.
Talking of why Indian films do not work in the West, Bathija said, “Most of our filmmakers still follow our traditional ways of filmmaking of incorporating the nine emotions – Music, love, tragedy comedy, society, children, the slap, God, S-X, and goodness – in their films whereas filmmakers in the West have moved to films on genres like tragedy, comedy, family drama, musical and thriller. We understand and applaud films from the West, and it is for them to also understand our films.”
Cautioned Rajabali, “Filmmakers should always bear in mind that if they feel a project is not viable, there is no point making a film.” For example, he said if one were to invest enormous funds in a film starring Boman Irani, then the film would not give the kind of returns that a Salman Khan film or a Shah Rukh Khan would give. “He should never do the film,” Rajabali added.
It is amazing to note that the country which produces 800 films a year is yet to find the answer to why 85 per cent of the films flop every year, Rajabali said, adding “there are people in states like UP, MP, Bihar, Bengal and Orissa whose one day salary equals the price of a cinema ticket but they still line up to see a film that may turn out to be bad.”
“Films do not flop, it is the budget of the film that falters,” felt Sippy, adding that once a filmmaker finishes his film, his project is taken over by distributors and exhibitors who want him to effect several changes to make the film look more groovy from their perspective. “For the changes, the filmmaker spends quite a lot and eventually when the film flops, it is he who suffers by way of the loss,” Sippy added.
Talking of collaborations and joint ventures, Sippy said, “While initially planning out Chandni Chowk to China, it sounded nice that there would be a story of an Indian based in China. When I took the storyline to the Warners, they lapped up the idea. But the film failed and the Hollywood studio burnt its fingers.”
But such films would get made by the dozen in the future, Sippy hoped, adding, “story-telling is bound to change and then we would see good days returning to Indian cinema.”
Event Coverage
Anime India announces Amazon MX Player as co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata 2026
MUMBAI: Riding high on the success of its blockbuster Mumbai debut, Anime India is accelerating its nationwide expansion with the announcement of Amazon MX Player as the co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata. The partnership marks a significant step forward in the festival’s mission to deliver large-scale, accessible, and fan-first anime experiences across the country.
Scheduled for 14 and 15 February 2026 at the iconic Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan, Anime India Kolkata will launch the first regional chapter of what is set to be a year-long, multi-city tour. As the curtain-raiser for the 2026 circuit, the Kolkata edition aims to fuse the energy of global Japanese pop culture with India’s fast-growing community of anime, manga, and pop-culture fans.
A household name in digital entertainment, Amazon MX Player brings unmatched reach and cultural relevance to the Anime India platform. With its expanding focus on anime and youth-driven content, Amazon MX Player’s involvement as co-presenting partner reinforces Anime India’s vision of making anime culture more inclusive breaking barriers of language, geography, and accessibility to connect with fans nationwide.
Anime India Kolkata 2026 will showcase cosplay competitions, interactive zones led by the Indian Gunpla Community, India-39 Vocaloid Community, The Japan Curry, and Adda-o-Otaku by The Otaku Guild. Fans can join tournaments across fighting games, Pokémon VGC, and more. Acclaimed Japanese director Susumu Mitsunaka (Haikyu!!) will attend as guest of honour, appearing in panels and live sessions. Positioned as an immersive celebration of fan culture and industry collaboration, the Kolkata edition marks the beginning of Anime India’s nationwide expansion.
Sharing their perspective on the partnership, Amazon MX Player director Aruna Daryanani expressed, “Anime in India has evolved from a niche interest into a mainstream cultural movement, driven by an increasingly engaged and passionate fanbase. At Amazon MX Player, our focus is on expanding access by bringing anime to audiences across the country for free and in multiple local languages. Our association with Anime India reflects our commitment to supporting the growth of anime in India and deepening connections with fans, while continuing to build Amazon MX Player as a trusted destination for free, high-quality entertainment.”
“Anime India Kolkata is a celebration of how anime has grown beyond entertainment into a powerful cultural and creative force. By bringing fans, creators, and industry leaders onto one shared platform, the festival is helping define the future of pop culture in India,” said Anime India co-founder and director Neha Mehta.
The debut edition of Anime India 2025 in Mumbai attracted over 29,000 fans, quickly cementing its status as a landmark celebration of anime and Japanese pop culture. Riding on this overwhelming response, the Kolkata chapter is projected to draw more than 40,000 visitors across two days, positioning it as one of the biggest anime conventions ever held in eastern India.
Anime India is focused on bringing together fans from across the country to create a truly pan-India celebration of anime, manga, cosplay, gaming, and Japanese culture. With plans to expand into four key metropolitan hubs in 2026—east (Kolkata), north (Delhi), west (Mumbai), and south (Hyderabad)—the festival seeks to deliver globally benchmarked experiences while supporting and uplifting creators, artists, and fan communities throughout India.
