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The Indian Motion Pictures Producers’ Association (Imppa) introduced a novel networking space at this year’s International Film Festival of India (Iffi) in Goa – a three-deck luxury yacht that served as a floating venue for industry events and meetings.

The vessel, dubbed the Imppa Yacht, hosted over 1,000 visitors during the four-day Film Bazaar segment of Iffi, according to Yusuf Shaikh, Imppa’s international committee head and CEO of Janta Cinema. More than 30 producers utilized the space for launches, press conferences and networking events.

“We wanted to give our 25,000-plus members and the film fraternity a chance to explore Iffi 2024 in a unique manner and match up to the standards of the Cannes Film Festival,” said Imppa president Abhay Sinha.

The Confederation of Indian Industry (Cii) organized an event aboard featuring industry veterans Shekhar Kapur, Boman Irani, Bobby Bedi and Nikkhil Advani. The yacht also served as the launch pad for Bedi’s venture,...

Bobby Bedi, one of India’s most successful film producers, unveiled a powerful multinational production slate ranging from dance documentary to soaring fantasy.

Speaking at a private event on the sidelines of the International Film Festival of India, in Goa, Bedi introduced “Mudras,” the journey of a Spanish dancer who travels to India in the 1980s and finds her form and identity in a blend of Flamenco, Bharat Natyam and Kathakali. More than 20 years later, the woman’s daughter makes a similar journey but emerges with very different results.

Currently in post-production the feature documentary produced is by Bedi and Anna Saura through Bedi’s Contentflow Studios, with Bedi and Maria Salgado co-directing. Bedi described the film as “a story of two ladies, two countries two cultures and two generations, exploring dance, exploring themselves and discovering themselves.”

The company is in pre-production on “Bandit Queen MP,” a title that builds...

Celebrated filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has revealed plans to establish a film school in Mumbai’s Dharavi slum district, with a specific focus on AI technology in filmmaking.

The initiative builds on Kapur’s decade-long experience running The Dharavi Project alongside Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman, a hip-hop and rap initiative in Dharavi in partnership with Universal Music that has successfully launched several students to national stardom.

“Those kids have become national stars,” Kapur told Variety. “For years, people have told me, ‘Please start a film school.’ I’m going to start a film school in Dharavi, and the reason is because I think that AI is a new push in cinema.”

Kapur is known for his eclectic oeuvre that spans Indian films “Masoom” and “Mr. India,” hard-hitting biopic “Bandit Queen,” the Oscar-winning “Elizabeth” starring Cate Blanchett, “The Four Feathers” starring Heath Ledger, and rom-com “What’s Love Got to Do With It?...

Acclaimed filmmaker Shekar Kapur has been named festival director for the International Film Festival of India (Iffi).

Kapur will oversee the 55th and 56th editions of the country’s biggest government-run festival, according to a statement from India’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry. The festival is held annually in Goa and will take place this year from November 20-28.

Responding to the announcement on social media, Kapur said: “It’s an Honour. It’s a commitment. It’s a responsibility. Thank you for considering me worthy of your trust.”

Kapur began his filmmaking career in 1983 with family drama Masoom in...

Veteran filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has been appointed as the new director of the International Film Festival of India (Iffi).

Kapur will head the festival, held annually in Goa, for the 55th and 56th editions, India’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry announced with a statement this morning.

“With the approval of the Competent Authority, it has been decided to appoint Shri Shekhar Kapur as the Festival Director for the 55th and 56th editions of the International Film Festival of India, Goa,” the statement read.

Kapur welcomed the news with a post on social media.

“It’s an Honour. It’s a commitment. It’s a responsibility. Thank you for considering me worthy of your trust,” he wrote.

It’s an Honour. It’s a commitment. It’s a responsibility. Thank you for considering me worthy of your trust @MIB_India https://t.co/bVEmIjBu9p

— Shekhar Kapur (@shekharkapur) July 25, 2024

Kapur is...

From Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa to Main Khiladi Tu Anari: Celebrating 30 Years of Iconic Bollywood Movies (Photo Credit – YouTube)

We’ve reached the middle of 2024 and it’s almost unbelievable that these iconic movies are completing 30 years from the time they hit the cinema halls. The year 1994 was definitely a landmark one for the Bollywood industry. With power packed action, timeless romance, quintessential Bollywood drama and songs that have stayed on our playlists ever since, let’s take a trip down memory lane with these cinematic wonders.

1. Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (Photo Credit – YouTube)

Directed by: Sooraj R. Barjatya

If there was one movie that redefined family entertainers and weddings at large, it was Hum Aapke Hain Koun. This Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit starrer revolutionized the genre with its depiction of Indian family values and relationships. The film broke multiple box office records, won awards everywhere and became a cultural phenomenon.

Oscar-, BAFTA-, Golden Globe- and Grammy-winning composer A.R. Rahman, veteran producer Bobby Bedi and the Technicolor Group have unveiled a film project based on Middle Eastern wit Mulla Nasruddin at the Cannes Film Festival.

Also known as Nasreddin Hodja, Nasruddin was a 13th century folklore character from what is now Turkey, known for his pithy wit and humorous wisdom. Stories about him appear in the Islamic folklore of the Middle East, the Balkans and China and the character is enormously popular in India as well. The International Nasreddin Hodja festival is celebrated every year in Turkey.

Bedi’s credits include some of the landmark titles of Indian cinema, including Shekhar Kapur’s international breakthrough film “Bandit Queen” (1994), Deepa Mehta’s controversial “Fire” (1996), Rani Mukerji-starring relationship drama “Saathiya” (2002), Vishal Bhardwaj’s “Macbeth” adaptation “Maqbool” (2003), Stanley Tong’s Jackie Chan starrer “The Myth” (2005) and Gurvinder Singh’s Rotterdam title “Crescent Night” (2002).

Frequent collaborators,...

Acclaimed filmmaker Hansal Mehta is currently occupied with the shooting of his upcoming series ‘Gandhi’, starring Pratik Gandhi in the titular role. Hansal, who recently delivered another impressive show with ‘Lootere,’ met legendary filmmaker Shekhar Kapur in London.

The ‘Aligarh’ director took to Instagram and shared pictures from their meeting.

Shekhar visited the sets of ‘Gandhi’ in London and chatted with Hansal, gaining insight into how the show was coming together. The two also took a stroll through the streets of London.

In the caption, Hansal wrote: “Look who visited our sets today! Thank you @shekharkapur for inspiring us. #Gandhi.”

Shekhar is one of the influential Indian filmmakers who has left a global impact.

The filmmaker made his directorial debut with the cult-classic ‘Masoom’, adapted from the Erich Segal novel ‘Man, Woman and Child’. He went on to dole out films like ‘Mr. India’, ‘Bandit Queen’, and ‘Elizabeth’, which received...

Mumbai, April 7 (Ians) Gangu Ramsay, the veteran cinematographer, filmmaker, and producer of the Ramsay Brothers, passed away on Sunday at the age of 83.

While, he has been a part of many iconic films like ‘Veerana’, ‘Purana Mandir’, ‘Bandh Darwaza’, ‘Tahkhana’, and ‘Purani Haveli’, his banner of the Ramsay Brothers shaped the contours of the horror genre in India.

The Ramsay Brothers banner was started by Fatehchand U. Ramsay, whose second-eldest son was Gangu Ramsay. The family landed in Mumbai after the partition of India. F.U. Ramsay came to India with his extended family, including his wife, seven sons, and two daughters. He, along with his elder sons, set up a tiny electronics shop on Lamington Road, an area famous for computer accessories and electronics.

Though the shop did reasonably well, the family was large, and generating money to take care of everyone in the family seemed difficult. That’s when F.

One of the highlights at India’s Cinevesture International Film Festival and market was a frank, philosophical on-stage chat between veteran filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and his singer-songwriter-composer daughter Kaveri.

Shekhar Kapur is known for his eclectic oeuvre that spans Indian films “Masoom” and “Mr. India,” hard-hitting biopic “Bandit Queen,” the Oscar-winning “Elizabeth,” starring Cate Blanchett, “The Four Feathers,” starring Heath Ledger, and recent romcom “What’s Love Got to Do with It?”

When asked to reveal something unknown about himself, Shekhar Kapur spoke about his hidden fears, saying that people who think he is cool don’t “see the panic in my head every morning.”

“Fear drives me. I find panic is a huge form of creativity. When I, for example, shoot a film, I plan like a general going to war because you never know where the bullet is coming from. And then when I get to the set… suddenly,...

Mumbai, March 24 (Ians) Actress Ankita Lokhande went down memory lane and recalled her conversation with late Bollywood star and former beau Sushant Singh Rajput about his 2015 film ‘Detective Byomkesh Bakshy’.

Talking to Ians about the world of cinema giving different learnings, producer Sandeep Singh said: “ ‘Mughal-e-Azam’, ‘Mother India’, ‘Do Bigha Zamin’, ‘Deewar’, ‘Mandi’, ‘Mausam’ and ‘Aandhi’ taught us.”

” ‘Satya’ gave us a different world and so did ‘Bandit Queen’, which gave us a completely different world (onscreen).”

Chiming into the conversation, Ankita said: “I just remembered something, when ‘Byomkesh Bakshy’ released, then Sushant used to say that today people wouldn’t understand the film, but there will be a time when people will understand this kind of cinema.”

‘Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!’ is directed and co-written by Dibakar Banerjee, which is based on the fictional detective Byomkesh Bakshi, created by the Bengali writer Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay.

Sushant Singh Rajput died by suicide...

As the country celebrates Bihar Diwas on Friday, Ians has compiled a list of actors from the state who have made it big on the big screen and are making waves in Bollywood.

Manoj Bajpayee: The National Film Award winner, who is from village Belwa in West Champaran district, applied for admission into the National School of Drama (Nsd) four times, but got rejected on each occasion. That did not stop him from pursuing his celluloid dreams and attaining the fame he could never have dreamt of.

He made his film debut with a one-minute role in the 1994 Naseeruddin Shah-Om Puri-starrer ‘Drohkaal’, followed by a minor role as a dacoit in Shekhar Kapur’s much-acclaimed ‘Bandit Queen’. Fame came Bajpayee’s way when he played the gangster Bhiku Mhatre in Ram Gopal Varma’s 1998 crime drama ‘Satya’.

The 54-year-old actor is well known for his roles in movies such as ‘Kaun?...

The B2B meetings at Mumbai’s annual Frames media conference have now bloomed into the full-fledged Global Content Market under the guidance of veteran producer Bobby Bedi.

Bedi’s credits include some of the landmark titles of Indian cinema, including Shekhar Kapur’s international breakthrough film “Bandit Queen” (1994), Deepa Mehta’s controversial “Fire” (1996), Rani Mukerji-starring relationship drama “Saathiya” (2002), Vishal Bhardwaj’s “Macbeth” adaptation “Maqbool” (2003), Stanley Tong’s Jackie Chan starrer “The Myth” (2005) and Gurvinder Singh’s Rotterdam title “Crescent Night” (2002).

The market, which was buzzing from the get go, boasted a significant international presence from the U.K., Korea, Turkey, Spain, Germany and Saudi Arabia, besides a sizeable Indian contingent. Bedi said that the word ‘Asian’ suggests mainly content from the Far East and the Frames market plugs the gap for South Asian and Middle Eastern content. Differentiating the market from the Indian government’s Film Bazaar in Goa,...

Bollywood personalities such as Manoj Bajpayee, Vishal Bharadwaj, Pratik Gandhi and Guneet Monga talked about how South Asian content has broken barriers and gone ahead creating waves internationally.

ZEE5 Global has announced a strategic move to aggregate multiple South Asian streaming platforms within the ZEE5 Global platform with the launch of Add-ons in the US.

The ZEE5 Global Add-ons will offer subscribers in the US a single-window to access South Asian entertainment platforms on the platform itself.

In a panel, when asked how the audiences have changed viewing content, Manoj saidthat earlier he would visit his friends or relatives in the US, “there was someone in that crowd and in that party who would come and talk to me and there was one person who always came to me and not just to me but to whole lot of people who were making the kind of cinema that the whole...

Bollywood personalities such as Manoj Bajpayee, Vishal Bharadwaj, Pratik Gandhi and Guneet Monga talked about how South Asian content has broken barriers and gone ahead creating waves internationally.

ZEE5 Global has announced a strategic move to aggregate multiple South Asian streaming platforms within the ZEE5 Global platform with the launch of Add-ons in the US.

The ZEE5 Global Add-ons will offer subscribers in the US a single-window to access South Asian entertainment platforms on the platform itself.

In a panel, when asked how the audiences have changed viewing content, Manoj saidthat earlier he would visit his friends or relatives in the US, “there was someone in that crowd and in that party who would come and talk to me and there was one person who always came to me and not just to me but to whole lot of people who were making the kind of cinema that the whole...

The upcoming 54th edition of the International Film Festival of India, which is set to be held in Goa, has announced its International Jury panel. The jury will be headed by acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who is known for films like ‘Bandit Queen’, ‘Mr. India’ and ‘Masoom’.

The international jury members include Spanish cinematographer Jose Luis Alcaine, who is known for his collaborations with Pedro Almodovar, producer Jerome Paillard, producer Catherine Dussart and producer Helen Leake.

They will judge the International Competition and Best Debut Feature Film of a Director Award at the Festival.

The ‘International Competition’ is a selection of 15 acclaimed feature films of important genres, representing the emerging trends in the aesthetics sense and politics of film as envisioned by masters and young voices alike.

The international jury will select the winner of the coveted Best Film Award which includes the Golden Peacock, Rs 40 lakh monetary component and...

The upcoming 54th edition of the International Film Festival of India, which is set to be held in Goa, has announced its International Jury panel. The jury will be headed by acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who is known for films like ‘Bandit Queen’, ‘Mr. India’ and ‘Masoom’.

The international jury members include Spanish cinematographer Jose Luis Alcaine, who is known for his collaborations with Pedro Almodovar, producer Jerome Paillard, producer Catherine Dussart and producer Helen Leake.

They will judge the International Competition and Best Debut Feature Film of a Director Award at the Festival.

The ‘International Competition’ is a selection of 15 acclaimed feature films of important genres, representing the emerging trends in the aesthetics sense and politics of film as envisioned by masters and young voices alike.

The international jury will select the winner of the coveted Best Film Award which includes the Golden Peacock, Rs 40 lakh monetary component and...

New Delhi, Sep 10 (Ians) Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who is on a visit to UK, shared a sweet anecdote of an interaction with the immigration officer in London, and how the latter congratulated him for India’s ‘Chandrayaan-3’ success.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the ‘Mr India’ director shared a picture of his Indian passport.

Along with that, he wrote: “The question today from the immigration officer in London was not ‘How long are you staying , Sir’.. but ‘Congratulations Sir, on your ‘Moon Landing’. .. #passport”.

Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has recently achieved the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the South Pole of the Moon.

Shekharmade his directorial debut with cult classic ‘Masoom’ in 1983. He then gained international recognition and acclaim in 1994 with biographical film ‘Bandit Queen’, based on the infamous Indian bandit and politician Phoolan Devi.

He also produced the 1998 romantic thriller ‘Dil Se’, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Manisha Koirala and Preity Zinta.

Mumbai, July 22 (Ians) Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who is known for films like ‘Bandit Queen’, ‘Elizabeth’, ‘Masoom’, is set to work on the sequel of ‘Masoom’.

Shekharis currently busy with working around the score for the ‘Masoom: The Next Generation’.

Currently based in London for the past two weeks, the filmmaker was recently honoured with the Lifetime Contribution to UK-India Relations award at the Igf’s UK-India Awards.

According to sources, the director’s visit to London holds more significance than the accolades.

“He has been collaborating with a renowned music producer from England, on the music for the movie. The director will also be working with one of the most sought after music composers in India for another soundtrack for ‘Masoom: The Next Generation.’ He is also scouting locations while he’s in London to finalise the setting for the movie,” the source said.

The original film, ‘Masoom,’ directed by...

Acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who has helmed renowned films such as ‘Bandit Queen’ and ‘Elizabeth’, has revealed the theme for the sequel to his 1983 directorial debut ‘Masoom’.

Written by legendary Gulzar, ‘Masoom’ was an adaptation of Erich Segal’s 1980 novel ‘Man, Woman and Child’. It followed a happily married couple and their two daughters whose lives are disrupted with the arrival of a boy who is the man’s son from an earlier affair.

The cast included Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Jugal Hansraj, Supriya Pathak, Saeed Jaffrey and Urmila Matondkar.

The sequel, titled ‘Masoom…The New Generation’, is about the “idea of home,” the filmmaker told ‘Variety’.

Shekhar was in London for the National Film Awards where his last film, Working Title/Studiocanal production ‘What’s Love Got to Do with It?’ scored nine nominations and won four awards including Best Director, Best British Film, Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor.

Renowned filmmaker Shekhar Kapur (“Bandit Queen,” “Elizabeth”) has revealed the theme for the sequel to his 1983 directorial debut “Masoom.”

Written by Gulzar (Oscar-winner for “Slumdog Millionaire” song “Jai Ho”), “Masoom” was an adaptation of Erich Segal’s 1980 novel “Man, Woman and Child.” It followed a happily married couple and their two daughters whose lives are disrupted with the arrival of a boy who is the man’s son from an earlier affair. The cast included Naseeruddin Shah (“Taj: Divided by Blood”), Shabana Azmi (“Halo”), Jugal Hansraj (“Nri Wives”), Supriya Pathak (“Tabbar”), Saeed Jaffrey (“The Man Who Would Be King”) and Urmila Matondkar (“Rangeela”).

The sequel, titled “Masoom… The New Generation,” is about the “idea of home,” Kapur told Variety. Kapur was in London for the National Film Awards where his last film, Working Title/Studiocanal production “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” scored nine nominations and won four awards including best director,...

Renowned filmmaker Shekhar Kapur (“Bandit Queen,” “Elizabeth”) is planning a sequel to his 1983 directorial debut “Masoom,” Variety can reveal.

The film is titled “Masoom… The New Generation.” Details of the plot, studio and cast are under wraps at the moment.

Written by Gulzar (Oscar winner for “Slumdog Millionaire”), “Masoom” was an adaptation of Erich Segal’s 1980 novel “Man, Woman and Child.” It followed a happily married couple and their two daughters whose lives are disrupted with the arrival of a boy who is the man’s son from an earlier affair. The cast included Naseeruddin Shah (“Taj: Divided by Blood”), Shabana Azmi (“Halo”), Jugal Hansraj (“Nri Wives”), Supriya Pathak (“Tabbar”), Saeed Jaffrey (“The Man Who Would Be King”) and Urmila Matondkar (“Rangeela”).

The film was warmly received upon release in India and won Filmfare awards for best actor for Shah, Gulzar’s lyrics, Rahul Dev Burman’s music, Aarti Mukherji...

This post contains spoilers for Season 2, Episode 7 of "Star Wars: Visions," "The Bandits of Golak."

The latest season of "Star Wars: Visions" continues the tradition of telling diverse, poignant stories about the many, many pockets of rebellion scattered across the galaxy. Almost every story in season 2 contains the throughline of stepping into one's power, where a sense of personal purpose unlocks the path to challenging the Empire in small, yet meaningful ways. The biggest, boldest stories are the ones steeped in specific cultural traditions, wherein creators are able to weave their own cultural backgrounds into the DNA of "Visions," allowing fresh, interesting perspectives to emerge in a franchise with limitless possibilities.

One such story is Ishan Shukla's "The Bandits of Golak" from the Indian animation studio, 88 Pictures. "The Bandits of Golak" centers around Rani (voiced by Sonal Kaushal), a Force-sensitive kid who does not quite understand the true...

Toronto film festival: Shekhar Kapur returns with a solid cross-cultural attempt to recall the heyday of Working Title rom-coms

At the same festival where Billy Eichner just attempted to revive the once-lucrative Apatow formula of sweet and salty with his queer comedy Bros, Shekhar Kapur, director of Elizabeth and Bandit Queen, is returning after an extended absence to try to resurrect the equally popular and equally dormant Working Title romcom with What’s Love Got to Do with It?, a fun, frothy and forgettable itch-scratcher. Both stick to a familiar playbook for subgenres that essentially come with a strict style guide attached but both also try to find a diverse retelling of stories that have been traditionally told with white, straight people at the centre.

Kapur’s isn’t quite as successful or specific as Eichner’s but it’s a slick reminder of the calming comfort that comes from...

Renowned filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who’s known for films such as ‘Bandit Queen’ and the British period biographical drama ‘Elizabeth’, has been signed to direct a series based on ‘The Immortals of Meluha’, the first of the ‘Shiva Trilogy’ penned by Amish Tripathi. Suparn S. Varma, dialogue writer of the hit Prime Video series ‘Family Man’, […]...

Global entertainment studio International Art Machine is venturing into India with a heavyweight slate fronted by A-listers Shekhar Kapur, Preity Zinta, Amish Tripathi, Dibakar Banerjee and Suparn S. Varma.

First up is “Shiva,” a series adaptation of Amish Tripathi’s bestselling Shiva Trilogy novels set in the land of Meluha, beginning with the first book “The Immortals of Meluha,” which will be directed by “Elizabeth” and “Bandit Queen” filmmaker Shekhar Kapur. Suparn S. Varma (Amazon Prime Video series “The Family Man” season 2) will serve as showrunner and will also direct.

Kapur said: “Amish’s Shiva Trilogy has been India’s great publishing sensation, crossing every age and class. It’s not just mythology, it’s modern storytelling at its best. Lending itself to a beautiful international series.”

Varma said: “The Meluha trilogy by Amish Tripathi is a genre-defining book and has become part of the pop-culture of the country. I...

DeathThe 63-year-old actor was best known for his work on the TV show ‘Mann Kee Awaaz: Pratigya’ and appearances in films like ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and ‘Bandit Queen.’PTITwitterVeteran actor Anupam Shyam, who was admitted to a city hospital in Mumbai due to kidney infection last week, died on Monday following multiple organ failure, his friend actor Yashpal Sharma said. The 63-year-old actor, best known for his work on the TV show Mann Kee Awaaz: Pratigya and appearances in films like Slumdog Millionaire and Bandit Queen, was admitted to Lifeline hospital in suburban Goregaon four days ago. Sharma said Shyam breathed his last at the hospital amid the presence of his two brothers, Anurag and Kanchan. "The doctors informed us about his death 40 minutes ago. I was at the hospital with his brothers Anurag and Kanchan. His body is still there in the hospital. His body will be brought to his residence,...

Core business is a phrase that got familiar with the arrival of corporate houses in the film business. Which is to say, they would stick to the business they came to do and know it better, rather than branch out into other businesses that may look lucrative but you knew little about.

In the film industry, too, the jobs were marked out for people who specialised in or were trained for the task.

But, when it comes to the film industry, every aspirant hopes to become an actor to start with, and aim for stardom. But, there are also those who just want to be a part of the filmmaking process and train to be a cinematographer, choreographer, editor, sound recordist, action director and so on - loosely defined in film parlance as technician.

Be it a star or a star secretary, a technician or an assistant in any department of filmmaking,...

Veteran Indian filmmaker Shekhar Kapur (“Elizabeth”) has revealed thematic details about his Working Title romantic comedy “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” starring Lily James (“Yesterday”) and Emma Thompson (“Last Christmas”).

“It’s a story of identities,” Kapur said. “It’s about cultural clashes and it’s a comedy, but it’s about hiding behind an identity and how identities can become tribal, and how tribalism can lead to clashes and fundamentalism. It’s a romcom, but based on this fundamental idea of people adopting identities out of fear of marginalization.”

Kapur was speaking on Tuesday at the Asia society’s annual U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit, being held virtually this year, at a panel titled ‘Cinemas to Smartphones: Streaming Wars and the Future of Bollywood and Indian Content.’ Kapur is currently conducting rehearsals in London.

First rehearsals with the amazing actor Emma Thompson today. So looking forward to...

Mumbai, Oct 19 (Ians) Acclaimed director Shekhar Kapur says many filmmakers call him with complaints about how several Ott executives try to control them without even knowing the field properly.

The director, who is President of the Pune-based Film and Television Institute of India (Ftii) Society, and Chairman of the institute's governing council, is going to try and rectify the situation.

"So many filmmakers calling me complaining about production executives at Studios and Ott's telling them what to do, but with no knowledge of filmmaking. I am going to suggest a 'Producing and Film Appreciation Course' at the f@FTIIOfficial as prerequisite for studio executives," Kapur tweeted.

Last month, Kapur was announced as the President of Ftii Society, and Chairman of its governing council.

Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Prakash Javadekar, had tweeted to confirm the news: "Happy to inform that renowned international film personality #ShekharKapur has been appointed as...

Guess there is a lot more that would be heard and spoken about Mr. India 2 and the controversy surrounding it for many more days and weeks to come. Ever since it was announced that filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar would help a trilogy on the subject, filmmaker Shekhar Kapoor has brought out his daggers condemning the announcement of the film. While there are many who have welcomed the announcement of the film(s), considering the cult status that the Anil Kapoor, Sridevi and Amrish Puri starrer has enjoyed for decades, there are detractors too.

As a matter of fact Shekhar Kapoor has hinted that he may take a legal recourse pertaining to the film’s announcement since he wasn’t involved in its conceptualization and subsequently the announcement. This is where certain members of the industry are wondering if the move would indeed be justified. Reason being that a long time back,...

In the first part of our exclusive interaction with the blockbuster writer director Anees Bazmee, the maverick story teller spoke about his unique initiative that will fill the hearts of upcoming writers with a new hope. In the second part Anees Bazmee, speaks about the value of a writer in a movie, the changing trends, his language of cinema and more..

Over to Annes Bazmee

How simple conversations like ?Be Positive? from your evergreen entertainer No Entry, or ?Kitne Aadmi Thein? from Sholay or say ?All Is Well? from 3 Idiots become the never ending talk of the nation?. Is simple writing easy or difficult?

Simple writing is the most difficult thing to do. As I told you earlier I am a great admirer of Salim Javed saab and Gulzar bhai. The ?saadgi? (simplicity) in Gulzar?s writings and the brilliant amalgamation of fact with fiction in simple easy language by...

Many people had urged Shekhar Kapur to change the script of his 1983 debut directorial feature, "Masoom", and the filmmaker says he is glad that he had the courage to silence those voices, and follow his vision.

"So many people that 'knew' wanted me to change the script of 'Masoom'," Kapur wrote on Twitter while sharing a poster of the film, adding: "People that were famous, experienced and 'knowledgeable' told me it had no drama, no villain. I was naive, unknown, unskilled and untrained. But rebellious. Thank God for that."

Also Read:?Hrithik Roshan's brilliant performance in Super 30 overwhelms Shekhar Kapur!

Released in 1983, "Masoom" narrates story of a man whose life turns upside down when he gets to know that he has an illegitimate son from a past affair. The film featured Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi, with Jugal Hansraj and Urmila Matondkar as child actors.

Kapur's...

Acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur believes his life is not exciting enough to be turned into an interesting movie.

A social media user on Twitter asked Kapur: "We all know you as an expert of showing people your imaginary world. For a change, it would be fine if you make a movie on your own life experiences that will guide so many people who are in the state of confusion about life."

Kapur, who has made films like Bandit Queen, Masoom and Mr. India, replied: "I am not arrogant enough to believe my life would make an interesting movie. All I have done is flowed with the river of my heart. My heart has always dominated my mind. But it's not what I advise others to so."

"Am lucky I am still surviving, still flowing, and still relevant."

Kapur gained international recognition with Bandit Queen, based on the life of Phoolan Devi,...

Acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur finds it silly to own a car in Mumbai and says he does not need them to prove his self esteem.

A Twitter user wrote to Kapur: "I derive a strange comfort to know to know that celeb's like you still use a Rickshaw."

To which the filmmaker replied: "I don't own a car. It's silly to own a car in Mumbai. It's takes 600,000 litres to make an average size car. Shouldn't we use that water to grow food instead?"

A social media troll then questioned Shekhar Kapur about him not having a car and said that "Bollywood celebrities have 20 plus imported cars".

Kapur, who has made films like Bandit Queen, Masoom and Mr. India, replied: "I don't need to own 20 imported cars to prove my self esteem."

Also Read:?Anil Kapoor, Shekhar Kapur tease new project

Another user asked him if he uses rickshaws.

Kapur...

Braj Bhoomi, the Shri-Krishna land from Bateshwar to Kosi is now drawing a large number of film makers amd video film producers, who find the regions rich history, cultural and religious traditions - and the terrain a complete package for essaying ambitious projects.

While Mathura and Vrindavan provide the religious and spiritual content, Agra is a treasure house of romantic tales and adventurous forays that captivate the audience.

"The era of the dacoit tales shot extensively in the dreaded Chambal ravines, with such memorable films like "Ganga Jamuna", "Jis Desh mein Ganga Bahti hai", "Mujhe Jeene Do" and later "Bandit Queen", is over. Now the focus has shifted to soft stories, religious anecdotes and even family dramas, using the Braj culture and traditions to advantage," says Mahesh Dhakar, who has keenly watched the film scene eveolve in the region.

"I think one reason is the growth of the hospitality industry and better class hotels.

Canadian-Indian actress Lisa Ray is lending her voice to "Phoolan", an upcoming live-action and animated documentary about Phoolan Devi.

The feature documentary, to be directed by Iranian-Canadian filmmaker Hossein Martin Fazeli, follows Devi from being born into a poor village family, sold off as a child bride and enduring multiple gang rapes, before responding by leading a bloody gang of male bandits as a female Robin Hood, reports hollywoodreporter.com.

Upon being captured, she was charged with many crimes and was imprisoned for 11 years. But the government ultimately dropped all charges and she was released.

Devi then ran for and won an election to the Parliament of India to champion the rights of lower-caste women, only to be assassinated in 2001 by an upper-caste man.

Lisa, as the main voice-over artist, will also executive produce the project, which depicts Devi as a sexual abuse victim.

"It's a true honour to be...

Acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur says his directorial Bandit Queen, which released in 1994, is his best film because it was shot completely intuitively. Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma on Wednesday had praised Kapur's film, which was based on the life of Phoolan Devi.

"Hey Shekhar Kapur, I see Bandit Queen every few years since it released. I always thought it was fantastic but everytime I see it again I realise that it's even more fantastic than what I last remembered. The only two films who did this to me is Godfather and Bandit Queen," Varma tweeted.?

To which, Kapur replied: "Thank you Ram Gopal Varma. You have always said that, and I appreciate your comment on Bandit Queen. I think its my best film because it was shot completely intuitively. And hope I can make another film like that."

Bandit Queen, which featured Seema Biswas and Nirmal Pandey, has won the National...

Sonchiriya releases today and here is the movie review. Starring Sushant Singh Rajput, Bhumi Pednekar, Manoj Bajpayee, Ranvir Shorey and Ashutosh Rana in lead, the movie is directed by Ishqiya series and Udta Punjab fame Abhishek Chaubey. Set in the 70s, the movie is about the gang of dacoits and their struggle in the Chambal ravines. Does it cut the edge like Abhishek Chaubey?s earlier movies?. Find out in the Sonchiriya movie review.

The most unique feature of Sonchiriya

From Birju in Mother India (1957), to Gabbar in Sholay (1975) to Phoolan Devi in Bandit Queen (1994) to Paan Singh Tomar in 2012, Bandits/dacoits have been a constant reminder of the people in the Chambal ravines and their struggles. An all evil like Gabbar to victims of class struggles like Birju, Phoolan, Pan Singh, Dacoits/bandits have fascinated the Indian silver screen like cowboys in Hollywood westerns. The terrifically mind blowing Bandit Queen...

Though he has been a part of the Hindi film industry for over 25 years, Manoj Bajpayee hasn’t seen busier times. In 2017 he had three releases, Naam Shabana, Sarkar 3 and Rukh. However, 2018 turned out to be even bigger with the count of releases turning double, what with films as diverse as Satyameva Jayate, Baaghi 2 and Aiyaary to Missing, Love Sonia and Gali Guleiyan releasing one after another. While he is already gearing up for the release of his next, Sonchiriya, congratulations calls are continuing to flow in for his Padma Shri award win.

Guess it is time to celebrate?

“Well yes, the celebrations are indeed on and that too without me even throwing a party,” laughs Manoj Bajpayee, who was recently recognized by the government for his contribution towards cinema, “There is so much love that is coming in from the fraternity as well, while I am happily busy making...

Shekhar Kapur, best known outside India for “Elizabeth,” his 1998 biopic about the 16th Century British queen, is readying a new “Elisabeth” film. Based on a musical about one of the most famous members of the Austrian royal family, the film is to be shot in German.

Together with Michael Kunze and Sylvester Levay, Kapur is developing “Elisabeth.” This one is based on the life and death of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, the wife of Emperor Franz Joseph I, and better known as Sissi. Kunze and Levay’s “Elisabeth” is a stage musical based on the Empress’ life that has been watched by more than 10 million people and which rates as the most successful German musical of all time. There have been 12 language adaptations of the stage show, with the most popular Asian adaptations being in Korean and Japanese. Kapur will direct the film adaptation of the musical in German.

“Sissi,...

A lot of Indian films have come under the scanner for allegedly distorting history or for overdramatizing the characters portrayed in their films. A few of such Indian films are Bandit Queen, Aśoka, Mangal Pandey: The Rising, Jodhaa Akbar, Mohenjo Daro, 7aum Arivu, Padmaavat etc. Even English (Hollywood) films like Saving Private Ryan, based onRead More

The post Do filmmakers have rights and liberties to distort history? appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.

Shekhar Kapur is one of the most prolific directors of our times not only in India but also globally. The director who has given us iconic films like Masoom, Mr India, Bandit Queen and also international classics like Elizabeth has been missing from the film space for a while now. Post the shelving of hisRead More

The post Kangana Ranaut to play 85 year old woman in Shekhar Kapur’s next appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.

Shekhar Kapur has been one of the most significant filmmakers who not only made a mark in Bollywood but also succeeded in Hollywood. He showed his worth in Bollywood by directing films like Masoom, Mr India and Bandit Queen and later impressed Hollywood industry and its audience with Elizabeth and its sequel, Elizabeth: The GoldenRead More

The post Shekhar Kapur to be the master juror at the 28th Singapore International Film Festival appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.

It’s always something with the Indian censors.

This time, it’s the refusal of the Central Board of Film Certification (Cbfc) to grant filmmaker Alankrta Shrivastava’s “Lipstick Under My Burkha” certification for a theatrical release in India. The film, a drama following four women in small-town India exploring sexual empowerment, freedom from patriarchy, and personal fulfillment won the Oxfam Award for Best Film on Gender Equality at the Mumbai Film Festival last October and the Spirit of Asia Award at the 2016 Tokyo International Film Festival, with upcoming screenings at festivals everywhere from Miami to Glasgow. The board’s rejection of the film reignites familiar outrage, as the filmmakers and audiences alike have taken to social media to slam the decision as an “assault on women’s rights.”

Infuriating as it is, this is hardly the board’s first frustrating clampdown. The Cbfc has long been the bane of...

Last night at the closing night of the The Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival the final tally of awards throughout the festival came to four gongs. Recipients included acclaimed Indian actress Sharmila Tagore (Apur Sansar -1959), Days and Nights in The Forest – 1970), director Shekhar Kapur (Mr India – 1987), Bandit Queen – 1994) & the Oscar winning Elizabeth films, and also winners of this year’s Satyajit Ray short film award and Liff Audience Award for best film.

• Icon Awards© for outstanding contribution to world cinema from Sun Mark Ltd went to Shekhar Kapur, and Sharmila Tagore.

• Satyajit Ray Short Film Award in association with the Bagri Foundation went to Mochi (The Cobbler), by Saqib Pandor

• Liff Audience Award went to Song of Lahore, by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Andy Schocken

The awards included the festival’s rarely presented Icon Award© for outstanding contribution to Indian and world cinema, which was won by Bengali actress Sharmila Tagore,...

For the amazing NH7 Weekender last month in Pune, music composer and singer Vishal Dadlani paid tribute to Ustaad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Along with his incredible performance, he brought in some fabulous musical guests and he even roped in Shekhar Ravjiani to take center stage! And of course as expected Shekhar killed it! Check out this tweet from Vishal.

You killed it, man! As always! I’m fortunate to have you as a friend & teacher! The crowd Loved you! Told you so! https://t.co/6aWlaWGYaL

— Vishal Dadlani (@VishalDadlani) December 5, 2015

The crowd absolutely loved hearing his rendition of ‘Sanware’ from Bandit Queen! And as a special treat check out this video that we had to share from his performance at the Weekender. Enjoy!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=mu3oZr-YoVk

See why we love to hear him sing?

The post Video: Shekhar Ravjiani’s Incredible Live Performance of ‘Sanware...

Films include a collaboration between Sing Sing prison inmates and a leading contemporary dance company from Turner Prize nominated visual artist Phil Collins.

Scroll down for full list of projects

Sheffield Doc/Fest (June 5-10) has revealed the titles that will pitch for funding at its MeetMarket initiative, celebrating 10 years in 2015.

A total of 64 filmmaker teams from 19 countries will pitch to international and UK decision makers for research, development and production funding

At Crossover Market, which includes digital titles, a further 26 interactive projects from 12 countries will pitch in one-to-one meetings to a range of specialist decision makers.

Among the Crossover projects being pitched are the latest from Oscar Raby who won last year’s Interactive Audience Award with Assent; and Ram Devineni who attracted funding at last year’s Crossover Market and Tribeca New Media Fund for Priya’s Shakti.

New pitch opportunities this year include a BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra Stories commission for young filmmakers, the Guardian...

The World Premiere performances of Phoolan Devi: The Bandit Queen, a multi-media chamber opera by Shirish Korde, with a libretto by playwright Anusree Roy and directed by Tom Diamond, take place in New York City on June 26 and 27. The full-length, semi-staged shows are at 8pm at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater and are co-presented by the Indo-American Arts Council and Da Capo Chamber Players.

The opera is a series of musically compelling and visually stunning scenes, a riveting dramatization that explores real (and re-imagined) events in the life of the notorious Phoolan Devi, an iconic woman in modern India. Born into poverty, sold as a child bride, abducted by bandits, abused and victimized, imprisoned, elected to India’s Parliament and then tragically gunned down in the streets of New Delhi in 2001, the Bandit Queen was just 37 at the time of her death.

The composer Shirish Korde states: “Phoolan Devi’s...

By John Whalen

An eleven-year old Indian girl is sold by her father to a thirty-year-old man for a cow and a rusty bicycle. Torn from her mother’s arms the child is taken home, beaten, raped and turned into a slave, all the while being abused and taunted by the local villagers because she is from a lower caste. She runs away and tries to go home, but is looked upon as an outcast. In a society where women are considered lower than cattle, she grows up enduring terrible punishment, including more beatings, rapes and eventual homelessness. She is kidnapped by bandits falls in love with the bandit leader and becomes a legend known throughout India as “Bandit Queen,” stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. She kills the 21 men she accused of gang-raping her, and surrenders to authorities before a crowd of 10,000 supporters. She serves 11 years in prison and when freed,...