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Diwali and ‘Sooryavanshi’ Promise Revival, Exhibitors Willing

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4 years ago

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There is a great sigh of relief in film exhibition circles as well as the film trade in general. With the green signal from the Maharashtra government to the cinemas to reopen from October 22 onwards, it is back to business for the film distribution and exhibition trade.

The cinemas in almost all states in the country were allowed to open up gradually, except in the state of Maharashtra. For the Bombay circuit, Mumbai city and suburbs contribute a big share to the box office. Besides, the city is also the heart of everything in Hindi films. No wise man with stakes in crores would want to release a film till the cinema lockdown is lifted in Maharashtra. Now that the new films are releasing in cinema halls, it is back to business for the film trade; back to business alright but, it is not yet back to business as usual.

Two new films released on October 22, the day cinemas reopened for the public, “Bhavai” and “Babloo Bachelor”. There is not much of a public response yet. I think the reopening as well as the opening features were not publicized enough or, rather, not at all. Was the flocking of crowds taken for granted? The reason to say so is that, had “Bhavai” released on OTT, it would have definitely received a much better response. And, that is because Pratik Gandhi, who plays the pivotal role in “Bhavai”, has established himself as a performing star material with “Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story”. And, people would have wanted to watch “Bhavai” for his sake at least (which, they may eventually do).

Since, this is about cinemas reopening, the films released on October 22 were not even expected to draw crowds. Traditionally, pre Diwali fortnight has always been considered a dull period for film business. People’s priority is to plan for the Diwali celebrations, spend money towards that end and not on watching a movie.

Unfortunately, the new generation corporate honchos have neither been taught about traditions nor have they learnt from experience. Consumer goods or even luxury items may sell during this period (the period is all about adding comfort to your family and life). Even Diwali day won’t get you the desired footfalls except in some metros. So it has never been wise to release a new film on the eve of Diwali. Diwali is a family and social festival, outings happen thereafter. It is a wise decision to release “Sooryavanshi” on November 5, a day after Diwali.

The cinemas, especially some of the multiplex managements, did try to attract viewers with schemes for their opening fare, “Bhavai” and “Babloo Bachelor”. The schemes proved to be a bonus for the few who came and not a lure for others. It is not yet time for the cinema owners to rejoice even if the long awaited “Sooryavanshi”, which stars three (these kinds of multi-starrers have not been seen since the 1970s) top actors, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn and Ranveer Singh. To add to that, it is a Rohit Shetty directorial film and he believes in delivering thorough entertainers.

“Sooryavanshi” is a high budget film and would need full capacity cinema screens to make its mark, for even if it collects between 90 per cent and 100 per cent, the real figures would amount to only half of that. And, this is because many states have allowed the cinemas to function but with the restrictions of filling only 50 per cent of the full capacity and that is not conducive to a good business for a film like “Sooryavanshi”.

But, the multiplexes, especially the top few chains, which call the shots, are acting pricey. Having come out of the year-and-a-half of lockdown, they have started dictating terms again with the makers of “Sooryavanshi”, the film which was held back for the same amount of time for the cinema release instead of going for the OTT! The multiplexes want “Sooryavanshi” to share the play time and screens 50:50 with the Hollywood release, “Eternals”. The multiplex managements’ contention is that Hollywood keeps them supplied all year long while a Hindi filmmaker gives just one film a year! Is the Hindi industry made of just one producer and one film a year?

The haggling has already started but this will definitely be a bad experience for the filmmakers. The market for Hollywood films has grown tremendously in India and their various dubbed versions in the regional languages has broadened the market for them. But, it makes little sense to sacrifice the potential of a major film like “Sooryavanshi”, that too during the Diwali festival, for a Hollywood film. It is rather selfish of cinema managements. The audience for “Eternal” is not going anywhere. The release of “Sooryavanshi” will also be the post Covid-19 pandemic test for the cinema business, it will determine if the people have come out of the pandemic fear. The film’s stay and the business at the box office will decide if the people are ready to take to cinema going, yet.

Least that is needed to boost people’s confidence some more is for the governments all over India, including and mainly Maharashtra, to allow the cinemas to function at 100 per cent occupancy as a Diwali bonus (the Delhi administration has done so this week.). Not only cinemas, all the trades will stand to gain. People have been thronging the local markets, and crowded transport services, restricting cinema occupancy to 50 per cent makes no sense, really.

Even as they start dictating terms, the exhibitors should understand that while they were facing a lockdown, a major alternate entertainment source had not only taken root but had also grown by leaps and bounds. And, that is a horde of OTT platforms with their huge repertoire from all over the world even as they go on adding the original Indian content. The OTT platforms have a lot of advantages when compared to cinemas in options, rates, comfort, sharing with family and friends and so on. The OTT needs a mention here because it brings back to mind when a Sunday evening telecast of a feature film on Doordarhan was a cause of noticeable drop in box office collections. Who could one complain to after all? Films telecast on Doordarhan were supplied by the filmmakers’ own brethren, all for Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh (middleman’s commission not excluded for nothing here worked without agents!) per telecast. If a Sunday telecast of an old film on Doordarshan affected collections, OTT is certainly going to be a bigger competition for the exhibition trade.

The OTT has managed to create its own star system (besides giving a chance to many out of work actors to showcase their talent and earn whose films would not get a fair playtime at cinemas). While the cinemas dig big star films, thinking that is their survival model, OTT don’t care for the lot. They seek content and have been successful to some extent. So far, all films had their only outlet in cinema screens. The cinemas played hard to get for small films though without them it would be hard for cinemas to fill up their 52-week playtime. After all, how many big films release a year, 6 or 12? These small films now make their films for and opt for OTT as the outlet. So, even while the exhibition trade may celebrate the reopening, they face new challenges and a rethink.

Cinema was called opium of the masses and the masses have long been driven away with the advent of multiplex and high admission rate exhibition trade. “Sooryavanshi” is expected to make the miracle happen if the exhibitors know what is good for them.

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Jannat Zubair and Elvish Yadav meet Messi, call it an ‘amazing day’

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15 hours ago

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December 15, 2025

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Mumbai, Dec 15: As Messi fever grips the entire country, ‘Laughter Chefs season 3’ contestants Jannat Zubair and Elvish Yadav also got the rare opportunity to meet the ‘G.O.A.T’.

Sharing glimpses of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity on social media, Jannat and Elvish dropped a joint post that read, “We met Messi!! What an amazing day (Sparkles emoji) Welcome to India 🇮🇳 So much love (red heart emoji) Special Thanks To @officialpuch.ai (Smiling face and red heart emoji) (Sic).”

Messi landed in Mumbai on Sunday as part of his India tour. However, he encountered an embarrassing situation in Kolkata, where he ended up spending only 20 minutes, despite a promised time of 2 hours.

The footballer was forced to leave early as the situation at the Salt Lake stadium turned unpredictable after political and influential figures tried hijacking the event, irking fans, who did not get a chance to see the football player even after paying thousands on tickets.

After Kolkata, Messi made a stop in Hyderabad and then Mumbai as part of his itinerary.

During his Mumbai visit, many bigwigs from Bollywood met the legendary footballer.

B-town beauty, Kareena Kapoor Khan, took her two boys, Taimur and Jeh, to meet Messi. Bebo was seen coming out of the Wankhede Stadium after meeting the footballer on Sunday.

While Kareena was dressed sharply in formals, her sons were seen wearing football jerseys. While Taimur wore the jersey with Messi’s name on it, Jeh was seen in a jersey with Argentina’s name.

Actress Shilpa Shetty also took her son, Viaan-Raj Kundra to meet the football legend at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.

After coming out of the stadium following the meet, Shilpa told the media stationed outside the venue, “It was very nice. Iska (Viaan) ka toh dream poora ho gaya (Viaan’s dream has been fulfilled)”.

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Celebrate Rajinikanth’s 75th Birthday: Evergreen Films Of Superstar Rajini To Stream On OTT Platform

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4 days ago

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December 12, 2025

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As India celebrates Rajinikanth’s 75th birthday, fans across the world are revisiting the timeless charm, unmatched screen presence, and iconic dialogues that have made him a living legend. Superstar Rajinikanth is fondly known as Thalaivar. The legendary actor is not just a superstar; he is a phenomenon who has shaped Indian cinema for nearly five decades. Rajnikanth’s real name is Shivaji Rao Gaikwad, who was born on December 12, 1950, in a Marathi family in Bengaluru, Mysore State (present-day Karnataka). He has acted in over 170 films across various languages including: Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, and Bengali.

The actor is professionally known as Rajinikanth. The Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke Award nominee actor received his iconic name from legendary director K. Balachander. The legendary director mentored him and suggested the name Rajinikanth for his mass fan following. Rajinikanth has turned 75 on Friday, December 12, 2025. To honour his legacy, let’s take a look at some of his evergreen films available on OTT platforms, perfect for a nostalgic binge.

Enthiran is the sci-fi spectacle that revolutionised Indian cinema. The films’ visual effects brought Rajinikanth in a double role as Dr. Vaseegaran and the unforgettable Chitti, the robot. His performance as the antagonist robot remains iconic. Even today, Enthiran continues to be a benchmark for Indian science fiction. The film was released in 2010, and it was the most expensive Indian film at the time of its release. The film received an overwhelming response, and it emerged as the highest-grossing Indian film of 2010 and won two National Film Awards in the categories of Best Special Effects and Best Production Design. The music of the film was composed by A.R. Rahman.

Another blockbuster film of Rajinikanth is Sivaji The Boss, which is helmed by S. Shankar. Sivaji is a visually grand entertainer that narrates the story of an NRI fighting corruption, which struck a chord with audiences, while Rajini’s charismatic performance and stylish transformation in “Oru Koodai Sunlight” became instant fan favourites. The film remains a must-watch for its powerful message and mass sequences. The film emerged as one of the highest-grossing Indian films at its release and won a National Award in the category of Best Special Effects. The music of the film was composed by A. R. Rahman.

Baashha remains one of Rajinikanth’s most celebrated blockbusters. The film, known for its gripping storyline and the iconic dialogue “Naan oru thadava sonna… nooru thadava sonna madhiri,” showcases Rajini in a dual shade of a calm, humble auto driver by day and a fierce don with a past. Even today, Baashha is widely considered the film that defined Rajinikanth’s superstar aura.

In Kabali, Rajinikanth shed his larger-than-life image and delivered a more grounded, emotional performance. The film narrates the story of an aging gangster searching for his family, bringing a new depth to his acting repertoire. With stylish action and soulful storytelling, Kabali is a top pick for serious cinema lovers.

Kaala is an action-drama film directed by Pa. Ranjith. The film is set in the heart of Dharavi and explores themes of power, identity, and justice. Rajini’s portrayal of a charismatic leader of the oppressed added another dimension to his legacy. The film is appreciated for its socio-political undertones and raw cinematic mood.

Rajinikanth never fails to surprise his fans with his different looks and styles. In Jailer, you will definitely see the charismatic look, a lot of action sequences, and his powerful dialogue delivery, which will definitely keep you hooked to the edge of your seat till the end. The movie was released in 2023 and emerged as the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2023, the sixth highest-grossing Indian film of 2023, and the second highest-grossing Tamil film of all time. The music of the film is composed by Anirudh Ravichandran.

Petta is a Tamil-language action drama film in which Rajinikanth plays the role of Kaali, a mysterious, older man who takes a job as a college hostel warden, but is secretly a powerful figure. The film emerged as one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of all time and the second-highest-grossing Tamil film of 2019.

Apoorva Raagangal is Rajinikanth’s debut film. The film is directed by his mentor K Balachander, in which he played the role of the abusive ex-husband. The film also features Kamal Haasan. The film won three National Film Awards, including Best Feature Film in Tamil.

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The Great Indian Kapil Show Season 4: Will Virat Kohli Be The Next Guest? Kapil Sharma Responds To Fan Requests

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1 week ago

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December 8, 2025

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Will Indian cricketer Virat Kohli be Kapil Sharma’s next guest on The Great Indian Kapil Show? When a fan asked Kapil about inviting the cricketer to his show, he responded by saying “zaroor karunga.”

During an #AskKapil session, a fan wrote, “Virat Kohli ki aapke show paar kab invite kaar rahe ho ya aapki is bare me unse baat hui ya nahi sir (When are you inviting Virat Kohli to your show, or have you spoken to him about this or not, sir).” To this, Kapil replied, “Kabhi mila to zaroor request karunga unse (sic).”

Following Kapil’s reply, fans continued urging The Great Indian Kapil Show host to invite more Indian cricketers as well. One user even requested, “Dhoni aur Sachin Tendulkar ko Kab request karoge.”

Kapil Sharma will next be seen in Kis Kis Ko Pyaar Karoon 2, releasing in cinemas on December 12, 2025. The film stars Kapil in the lead role alongside Manjot Singh, Ayesha Khan, Hira Warina, Tridha Choudhary, Parul Gulati, Triptii Dimri, and Vipin Sharma.

Today, Kapil Sharma took some time out of his busy schedule to respond to fans’ questions. When one user asked, “Sir aapke show ka new season kab aa raha,” Kapil replied, “It’s starting on 20th December on @NetflixIndia.”

Another fan asked, “Kapil bhai aapne dhurandhar movie dekhi ky agr dekhi he to aapko movie kaise lagi ??” Kapil responded, “Busy in promotions, couldn’t watch it, but try to watch it tonight agar jaldi free ho gya to, mere bhai @RanveerOfficial ki movie hai, how can I miss it (sic).”

Season 4 of The Great Indian Kapil Show will premiere on December 20, 2025. As per reports, the first episode will feature Navjot Singh Sidhu and Harbhajan Singh as guests, appearing along with their wives. Besides them, the regular cast; Kapil, Sunil Grover, Krushna Abhishek, Kiku Sharda, Archana Puran Singh, and Rajiv Thakur, will also return to the show.

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