Rana Daggubati brings the happy ending to Social

Social, the first bilingual digital series by Viu has riled up quite a lot of conversation on the boon and bane that tghe world of social media has to offer. Directed by Shashi Sudigala of Cycle Kick fame, the popular digital series is releasing the highly anticipated finale on 24th November. Offering a deep insight into the world of exotic partying, and how teenagers are abused, Social is a message for all young audiences out there to be careful about to how they choose to display their personal lives on social media platforms.Wrapping things up, the last episode is a mix of bitter and sweet. While Prithvi is content that Veda is back home safely, he is overwhelmed with grief when he hears the tragic news that Neelesh, his partner in crime since childhood, is no more. Chaand, Neelesh's friend and confidante pays him a loving tribute. Taking action against the horrible crimes Yash has been involved in, Vikram Sampath (played by Rana Daggubati) confronts him and fights off a boardroom coup. After exposing his son's misdeeds against the young Veda, GK takes charge and exposes the nexus behind businessmen and politicians involved in this horrid crime of human trafficking and sex scandal. Nidhi is celebrated for her brave and unhinged investigation to report this crime with Firstpost.com and creates a sensation around the country. True to his words, Vikram announces the winner of the contest and promises to mentor them. Ending on a brighter note, we see Vikram Sampath receive the prestigious Young Acheiver Of The Year Award. At his acceptance speech he declares that SOCIAL is not the future of social media, not the future of internet, not even the future of technology. SOCIAL is the future.

Arjun Mathur lost a lot of projects because of his role in Brij Mohan Amar Rahe

Actor Arjun Mathur who started off his acting career more than a decade ago has been doing varieties of a role in Bollywood and beyond. Arjun has rubbed shoulders with industries top actors and directors and now is all set to play the lead in a thriller drama film Brij Mohan Amar Rahe which is being produced by Saregama’s new production arm Yoodlee Films.The story revolves around a man named Brij Mohan who fakes his own death to escape his boring life and his then put to trial in the court against himself. He gets the money and the girl until the inevitable hand of Karma gets him sentenced to death for his own murder. To fake his death in the film Arjun was asked by the makers to clean shave his head off. To prepare a role every actor goes through this process and Arjun was no exception but little did he knew by shaving off his head will make him pay the hefty price by losing out on many projects in the process of filming his portions for Brij Mohan Amar Rahe.Arjun lost out on two web series as well as TV Commercials because of his bald look for Brij Mohan Amar Rahe. 

Other than doing films Arjun is a known face in the commercial world and on the digital platform. But at the end, all his efforts paid off well, Arjun's performance as Brij Mohan in the film is appreciated by all. And the icing on the cake for Arjun was very soon he will commence shooting for Zoya Akhtar's upcoming web series Made in Heaven in the lead alongside Shweta Tripathi.

Richa Chadha draws inspiration from Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit?

ऋचा चड्डा 

Comedy is a genre that comparatively fewer actresses in Bollywood have attempted and were able to master. It is a genre that has managed to break stereotypes. For instance, Amitabh Bachchan was known as the ‘Angry Young Man’ till he aced comedy in ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’.  

Richa Chadha is known for her serious portrayals in films such as ‘Masaan’ but arguably is best remembered for her performance in a quirky comic role as ‘Bholi Punjaban’ from Fukrey. Even though he onscreen persona is often tough, she has great comic timing. She seeks inspiration in her work from two iconic actresses, Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit. Shekhar Kapoor recently said that his most memorable shooting experience was when Sridevi imitated Charlie Chaplin, in the film Mr.India. 

Their proven skills in comedy once ruled the Bollywood. Films like Chalbaaz, Mr. India,  Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja, Jamai Raja, Khel amongst many other comedy hit films of the time. In other words, it wouldn't be wrong saying Richa draws inspiration from these senior actresses who have the capability to bring a smile to the audience face with her quirky comedy style onscreen. Richa's next Fukrey Returns is soon to hit the theatres where she will reprise the character of Bholi Punjaban. In fact, the straightforward actress has a new-found love for comedy and made her TV debut with a comedy reality talent hunt, ‘The Queens of Comedy’ that aired last month on TLC.  

Speaking of which Richa said, “I like performance that finds humour in otherwise dark situations. Fukrey is an out and out comedy, and I had a blast playing this OTT vamp. I feel actresses in the past brought to life more dimensions, even to mundane characters and scripts. Sridevi was at once sensual and hilarious in Mr. India. Madhuri Ma’am was empowered but and an excellent mimic. Now I feel, at best, without meaning to, people often look like poor parody’s of the work of past greats.''

10 Indian States showcase their locations at Film Bazaar, which is under the banner of IFFI and seek creative collaboration with filmmakers at the Co-Production Market on Day 1

Day 1 of Film Bazaar 2017 also saw Uttar Pradesh and Telangana highlight the benefits offered by them to Filmmakers

The first day of Film Bazaar 2017, which is under the banner of the International Film Festival of India(IFFI) began on an eventful note. The Film Offices of Delhi, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh collaborated with the Film Facilitation Office (FFO) of the Ministry of I&B and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) to showcase their locations to various filmmakers from India and abroad. Theses Offices provide a platform to showcase locations and incentives that will benefit both the States and the filmmaker.

Integration of the States with the Coproduction Market

The FFO on behalf of these States presented the various film incentives offered by them to filmmakers including giving an overview of their film policies to the participants of the Coproduction Market. In doing so the FFO, urged the filmmakers to participate in joint discussions with the States so as to understand how they can integrate the locations offered by them into their narratives and at the same time leverage the benefits offered for filming in their jurisdiction.  The fact that India has 12 international coproduction treaties with Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Korea, New Zealand, Poland, Spain and U.K and Northern Ireland, was also highlighted. Structured meetings have been set up between the State Film Offices and the filmmakers from the Coproduction Market over a period of four days ie 21st to 24th November at the Film Bazaar. It was impressed upon the filmmakers to keep in mind the guidelines, rules and regulations while filming in a location.

Co-Production Market is a platform where selected projects with South Asian themes are presented. Filmmakers get numerous avenues to find financial and artistic support from Indian and International producers, distributors, sales agents and financiers.This year 18 projects were presented in the Coproduction market from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Canada, Afghanistan and Nepal.

Open Pitches by Uttar Pradesh and Telangana at the Knowledge Series

Two interesting sessions with the official representatives of Uttar Pradesh and Telangana were held at the Knowledge Series where they spoke about the subsidies and benefits offered by them and how they plan to boost filmmaking and make it a smooth affair. The discussion was done primarily with the intent to make the filmmakers participating at the Film Bazaar aware of the benefits and services offered by them.

Mr. Awanish Kumar Awasthi, Principal Secretary, Information, Tourism and Religious Affairs, Government of Uttar Pradesh and Chairman Film Bandhu, on this occasion said “On behalf of the Uttar Pradesh Government, I would like to congratulate the IFFI and the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. We would love to continue our association with IFFI and Uttar Pradesh will continue playing a pivotal role to boost filmmaking in India. We are looking forward to developing the state into a filmmaking hub and with such associations we plan to make more creative investments like developing a film institute in Varanasi and a film city in Lucknow.”

Dulam Satyanarayana, the award winning documentary filmmaker who is working closely with the Telangana Government to promote state tourism remarked “I am glad that we have been offered such a great platform byIFFI and Film Bazaar to boost tourism and filmmaking in the state of Telangana. It has also given us an opportunity to showcase the State to producers, distributors and other members of the filmmaking fraternity as an exciting filmmaking location.”

The State Film Offices seek to understand the sensitivities involved while filming in various locationss so they can assist the filmmakers with specific requests and give them what they want.

Knowledge Series, has over the years tried to evolve into a convergence point for the film industry to engage in conversations around emerging trends, their genesis and therefore the way forward - in cinema aesthetics and the business of it. The focus is on providing conversation starters to filmmakers from the various labs that define Film Bazaar. There are sessions this year that introduce them to sales agents who engage in Asian content like Asian Shadows and Shoreline Entertainment , provide them a platform to interact with the Festival Directors and Programmers from the top most festivals of the world Cameron Bailey (Artistic Director, TIFF), Marco Müller (Festival Director, PYIFF), Paolo Bertolin (Correspondent Programmer, di Biennale Venezia,  Venice Film Festival), Dorothee Weneer (Programming - Berlinnale, Berlin International Film Festival ) and get insights into how content aggregators and platforms like Vista,  Reel Monk, 1018mb, Movie Saints et al help deliver monetizing opportunities using the digital and innovative outreach methods. There are throwback sessions with Sudhir Mishra , Laurence Kardish (Artistic Director, Film Columbia) from his MoMA days and with Michael Werner from his more than 3 decades of experience with Asian cinema. In the year of Small is Big there are sessions with Lijo Jose Pellisery (Angamally Diaries) , Sandeep Mohan (Shreelancer, Hola Venky), Rima Das (Village Rockstars), Shlok Sharma (Zoo) - filmmakers who created news with their small resource films across festivals , markets and often the box office. This year we have focussed on the Cinema of the North East with filmmakers Pradip Kurbah (Oonatah, Khasi), Kenny Basumatary (Local Kung Fu 1 & 2 , Assamese),  Dominic Sangma ( Rong Kuchak, Garo  ),  Jaicheng Dohutiya (Haanduk, Moran), Haobam Paban Kumar (Loktak Larambee,)   in conversation with Raam Reddy (Director, Thithi) exploring the Indie to Industry journey of their cinema. Its also a Big Year for New technologies - from Google Daydream to Artificial Intelligence. The Knowledge Series will close with Artificial Intelligence and the Art of Content Creation- a conversation between Jack Zhang, Founder & Ceo - Greenlight Essentials and Sudhir Mishra . Can human creativity can be replicated? Can an Algorithm provide Screenplay solutions ? This and more to be discovered this year at the Knowledge Series in NFDC's Film Bazaar 2017.

Other Key Developments at Film Bazaar

Screenwriters Lab and Studio worked with 16 writers over a period of 5 months in an intensive residential script development programme. Writers were mentored by Yann Apperry, Urmi Juvekar and Asad Hussain.

The work in progress lab had editing sessions for two films : Aranya (Forest) and Balekempa ( The Bangle Seller). Moothon by Geethu Mohandas and Soni by Ivan Ayr was screened for the WIP Lab mentors followed by a feedback session.

Viewing Room had its first day today. It opened at 9 am and closed at 7 pm. It is showcasing total of 200 films. 40 people came to view films at the viewing room. The reports of views were sent to filmmakers by 7 pm.

About Film Bazaar

Film Bazaar is the largest South Asian film market. It encourages creative and financial collaboration between the South Asian and International film communities.

Created and organized by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), Film Bazaar has evolved into South Asia’s global film market from its humble beginnings in 2007. Every edition witnesses increased national and international participation. Over the years, films such as Lunch Box, Margarita With A Straw, Chauthi Koot, Qissa, Ship of Theseus, Titli, Court, Anhe Ghode Da Daan, Miss Lovely, Dum Lagake Haisha, Liar’s Dice and Thithi have been through one or more programmes of the Bazaar. 

Over the course of five days, Film Bazaar becomes the converging point for film buyers and sellers from all over the world. The focus is on discovering, supporting and showcasing South Asian content and talent in filmmaking, production and distribution. The Bazaar also facilitates the sales of world cinema in the South Asian region. 

Film Bazaar is held every year at the Marriott Resort, Goa, India, between 20th and 24th November 2017. This year it is under the banner of the International Film Festival of India.

Ssharad Malhotraa’s adventures in Singapore

Actor Ssharad Malhotraa has been keeping busy. The actor, who is part of Kasam Tere Pyar Ki, recently visited Singapore. While he was there for some work, he decided to make it a fun trip as well. “It was not my first visit there. I have visited a couple of times earlier for work only. But this time it was more of leisure trip and less of work,” he says. 

After working continuously for years, Ssharad decided that it was time to take a break. “I took this break of four consecutive days after nearly four years of working constantly on daily soaps. Playing the lead, we barely get any time for a breather and having said that short breaks are a must as they help you de-stress, re-energise, revitalise and calm your body too,” he says. 

In fact, he explored the place. “Universal studios is my favourite and I went there this time as well. I also visited Sentosa island, China Town, Little India, Clark Quay riverfront, casinos, Marina Skydeck and the list goes on and on,” he says. 

Ssharad adds, “I was lucky to visit the Google headquarters in Singapore and I had an Alice-in-Wonderland kind of moment. There were sleeping pods, seven course meals, fancy cafeterias, gymnasiums, salon and spas. You name it and it was there. Of course, this does not take away from the fact that the various technical departments were right up to the mark, thanks to Mr Karim and his team of nearly 1000 employees working efficiently round the clock.” 

Ask him what his favourite mode of recreation is, and he says, “Anything that gets you away from your mundane routine and in return makes you happy with peace of mind. It could be travelling, playing sports, watching films, trekking, swimming or sleeping too!”