Internationally sourced programming and stories placed alongside local content could be a solution to bring audiences back to Indian cinemas, a high-powered panel debated.
The panel was part of Indiantelevision.com’s annual industry event, The Content Hub, that recently concluded in Mumbai. Mayank Shroff, head of film distribution at Cinepolis, the Indian division of Latin American exhibition giant Cinepolis, said that while footfalls were back to 85% of pre-pandemic days, an innovative approach is required to bring the rest of the audiences back.
Shroff pointed to the success of Makoto Shinkai’s anime film “Suzume,” which accounted for 20% of the Cinepolis box office over the past weekend and “Evil Dead Rise,” which also pulled in decent numbers, both in the face of stiff competition from Eid holiday release “Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan,” starring superstar Salman Khan. Shroff also said that there was demand for Korean films and K-pop concerts,...
The panel was part of Indiantelevision.com’s annual industry event, The Content Hub, that recently concluded in Mumbai. Mayank Shroff, head of film distribution at Cinepolis, the Indian division of Latin American exhibition giant Cinepolis, said that while footfalls were back to 85% of pre-pandemic days, an innovative approach is required to bring the rest of the audiences back.
Shroff pointed to the success of Makoto Shinkai’s anime film “Suzume,” which accounted for 20% of the Cinepolis box office over the past weekend and “Evil Dead Rise,” which also pulled in decent numbers, both in the face of stiff competition from Eid holiday release “Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan,” starring superstar Salman Khan. Shroff also said that there was demand for Korean films and K-pop concerts,...
- 4/27/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
New Delhi, April 6 (Ians) Digital engineering services provider GlobalLogic, a Hitachi Group company, on Thursday, announced the appointment and role change of Piyush Jha to the position of Managing Director (MD) and Head of India and Apac.
“I am stoked to take on the new role of Managing Director and Head of India and Apac regions. With a strong focus on innovation, customer centricity, and employee development, I am confident that we can continue to grow exponentially and provide exceptional value to our clients,” Piyush Jha, Managing Director and Head – India and Apac, GlobalLogic, said in a statement.
Earlier, the position was held by Sumit Sood, who has now been appointed as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for GlobalLogic.
“As we continue to move forward, I am excited to take up the role of Chief Operating Officer for GlobalLogic. With the onset of our third decade, we are presented with...
“I am stoked to take on the new role of Managing Director and Head of India and Apac regions. With a strong focus on innovation, customer centricity, and employee development, I am confident that we can continue to grow exponentially and provide exceptional value to our clients,” Piyush Jha, Managing Director and Head – India and Apac, GlobalLogic, said in a statement.
Earlier, the position was held by Sumit Sood, who has now been appointed as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for GlobalLogic.
“As we continue to move forward, I am excited to take up the role of Chief Operating Officer for GlobalLogic. With the onset of our third decade, we are presented with...
- 4/6/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
There’s a degree of irony in the fact that Netflix unscripted dating show “Indian Matchmaking,” the most distinctly Indian content to originate from a platform aggressively expanding operations in India, was commissioned out of Los Angeles, rather than Mumbai.
Netflix launched in India in 2016, but it took a while to warm up to homegrown commissions in a market that thrives on local fare. It didn’t help optics that content execs Swati Shetty and Simran Sethi opted to resign rather than be based in Mumbai. They were replaced eventually by Monica Shergill in 2019, who joined existing director of originals Srishti Behl Arya. Amid all the restructuring, the streamer’s first Indian commission, 2018’s “Sacred Games,” a hit for the service, was commissioned by Erik Barmack out of the U.S.
Around this time, “Indian Matchmaking” executive producer Smriti Mundhra’s documentary “A Suitable Girl,” which she co-directed with Sarita Khurana,...
Netflix launched in India in 2016, but it took a while to warm up to homegrown commissions in a market that thrives on local fare. It didn’t help optics that content execs Swati Shetty and Simran Sethi opted to resign rather than be based in Mumbai. They were replaced eventually by Monica Shergill in 2019, who joined existing director of originals Srishti Behl Arya. Amid all the restructuring, the streamer’s first Indian commission, 2018’s “Sacred Games,” a hit for the service, was commissioned by Erik Barmack out of the U.S.
Around this time, “Indian Matchmaking” executive producer Smriti Mundhra’s documentary “A Suitable Girl,” which she co-directed with Sarita Khurana,...
- 7/28/2020
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Earlier we had reported that Vidya Balan would be seen in Sujoy Ghosh's Te3n alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Nawazuddi Siddiqui. Later we also gave you a glimpse of the actress shooting for the film with Amitabh Bachchan. Now we hear that Vidya who will be playing a small but pivotal role in the film will be seen in the character of a cop. Talking about the same at the recently held launch of Piyush Jha's crime fiction novel, Vidya said, "I am playing a cop, it's a special appearance. I was excited because it's a fabulous script... it's a chance to shoot again in Kolkata, with Bachchan sahab, Nawazuddin and Sujoy". As for the film Te3n that will be extensively shot in Kolkata has all the actors playing the role of local inhabitants. Interestingly, the film is not directed by Sujoy but Ribhu Dasgupta while Sujoy is the producer.
- 12/12/2015
- by Bollywood Hungama News Network
- BollywoodHungama
Mumbai, Oct 10: Filmmaker-writer Piyush Jha says he is in talks for a TV adaptation of his novel "Mumbaistan".
"The response to the novel has been overwhelming. I'm working on various ideas and I'm also talking to a few people to adapt the novel into a TV series. As of now talks are on and we will soon convert this novel into a TV series," Jha told Ians.
"It's a crime thriller and there are many stories in it which can be easily made into a TV series," he added.
"Mumbaistan" is an anthology of three novellas about the underbelly of Mumbai.
Jha says the TV series will be in the zone of Anil Kapoor's "24", which is currently aired on Colors.
"We can't compare both the series, but yes if I may say so,.
"The response to the novel has been overwhelming. I'm working on various ideas and I'm also talking to a few people to adapt the novel into a TV series. As of now talks are on and we will soon convert this novel into a TV series," Jha told Ians.
"It's a crime thriller and there are many stories in it which can be easily made into a TV series," he added.
"Mumbaistan" is an anthology of three novellas about the underbelly of Mumbai.
Jha says the TV series will be in the zone of Anil Kapoor's "24", which is currently aired on Colors.
"We can't compare both the series, but yes if I may say so,.
- 10/10/2013
- by Anita Agarwal
- RealBollywood.com
Mumbai, July 17: Filmmaker Piyush Jha, whose last film "Sikander" failed to click at the box office, is gearing up to make a movie on his novel "Mumbaistan", which is about serial killers.
"I have been signed by Rupa Publication to write a series of crime-fiction novels based on the mean streets of Mumbai. My first novel is coming in the first week of August. It is titled 'Mumbaistan'. The novel is about serial killers and it will be turned into a movie.
"I have been signed by Rupa Publication to write a series of crime-fiction novels based on the mean streets of Mumbai. My first novel is coming in the first week of August. It is titled 'Mumbaistan'. The novel is about serial killers and it will be turned into a movie.
- 7/17/2012
- by Abhijeet Sen
- RealBollywood.com
Jagran Film Festival 2011 to be inaugurated in Kanpur
The 2nd edition of Jagran Film Festival, the traveling film festival initiated by Jagran Prakashan will be inaugurated in Kanpur on July 9, 2011. The festival will then travel to nine other cities: Allahabad, Agra, Varanasi, Patna, Meerut, Dehradun, Lucknow, Ranchi and Jamshedpur.
Dharavi directed by Sudhir Mishra will be the opening film of the festival.
The films that will be screened in the two days of the Kanpur chapter of the festival are: Radio Comes To Rampur by Asha Dutta, Sikandar by Piyush Jha, Haat: The Weekly Bazar by Seema Kapoor, Gandhi To Hitler by Rakesh Ranjan Kumar, Teesra Rasta (documentary) directed by Anwar Jamal.
There will be a Panel Discussion on Day 2 of the festival the topic for which is: “Does State Funding of Cinema restrict its reach?” Panelists in the discussion would be: Sudhir Mishra, Om Puri, Sanjay Suri, Seema Kapoor,...
The 2nd edition of Jagran Film Festival, the traveling film festival initiated by Jagran Prakashan will be inaugurated in Kanpur on July 9, 2011. The festival will then travel to nine other cities: Allahabad, Agra, Varanasi, Patna, Meerut, Dehradun, Lucknow, Ranchi and Jamshedpur.
Dharavi directed by Sudhir Mishra will be the opening film of the festival.
The films that will be screened in the two days of the Kanpur chapter of the festival are: Radio Comes To Rampur by Asha Dutta, Sikandar by Piyush Jha, Haat: The Weekly Bazar by Seema Kapoor, Gandhi To Hitler by Rakesh Ranjan Kumar, Teesra Rasta (documentary) directed by Anwar Jamal.
There will be a Panel Discussion on Day 2 of the festival the topic for which is: “Does State Funding of Cinema restrict its reach?” Panelists in the discussion would be: Sudhir Mishra, Om Puri, Sanjay Suri, Seema Kapoor,...
- 7/8/2011
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
Arunoday Sigh
By taking off his shirt and showing off his six pack in Aisha, 6 ft 4 inch tall actor Arunoday Singh earned himself a ?himbo? tag. Not just that, he also invited a flood of offers for similar roles in other films, something that the 28-year-old actor is disappointed by.
From a political family (he is the grandson of the Congressman, the late Arjun Singh), Arunoday found his calling in the arts during his boarding school days. Two movies, Dead Poet?s Society and On the Waterfront, awakened a desire to perform. University in America followed by acting school in New York led to odd acting jobs in New York and London. But the struggle got too much and eventually Arunoday found himself in Mumbai, armed with a wish list of directors and a dream. In 2009 he debuted in Piyush Jha?s Sikandar and since he has been in four movies ? Aisha,...
By taking off his shirt and showing off his six pack in Aisha, 6 ft 4 inch tall actor Arunoday Singh earned himself a ?himbo? tag. Not just that, he also invited a flood of offers for similar roles in other films, something that the 28-year-old actor is disappointed by.
From a political family (he is the grandson of the Congressman, the late Arjun Singh), Arunoday found his calling in the arts during his boarding school days. Two movies, Dead Poet?s Society and On the Waterfront, awakened a desire to perform. University in America followed by acting school in New York led to odd acting jobs in New York and London. But the struggle got too much and eventually Arunoday found himself in Mumbai, armed with a wish list of directors and a dream. In 2009 he debuted in Piyush Jha?s Sikandar and since he has been in four movies ? Aisha,...
- 6/16/2011
- Chakpak
Mumbai, May 21: Director Piyush Jha of 'Sikander' and 'Chalo America' fame is set to start his next project - a political action-thriller.
It's a reality-based story, which he is planning to portray in Bollywood's larger than life style and he is in talks with some leading actors to play the lead roles, said a source close to Jha.
<p.
It's a reality-based story, which he is planning to portray in Bollywood's larger than life style and he is in talks with some leading actors to play the lead roles, said a source close to Jha.
<p.
- 5/21/2011
- by realbollywood
- RealBollywood.com
June 25, 2010: Recently, a special show of the film ‘Mr. Singh Mrs. Mehta’ was held in PVR Cinemas, Juhu, Mumbai. For this special show, the film’s heroine, Aruna Shields specially flew back to India as she was abroad. Aruna, has been much in discussion on account of her controversial nude scenes in the film.
The first entries were made by the film’s director, Pravesh Bhardwaj, Boney Kapoor, Ashwini Chaudhary, Piyush Jha, Ramesh Sippy with wife Kiran Juneja, Karan Oberoi, Satish Kaushik, Rajesh Khattar with his soulmate, Anil Kapoor, one of the Bollywood’s known villain, Shakti.
The first entries were made by the film’s director, Pravesh Bhardwaj, Boney Kapoor, Ashwini Chaudhary, Piyush Jha, Ramesh Sippy with wife Kiran Juneja, Karan Oberoi, Satish Kaushik, Rajesh Khattar with his soulmate, Anil Kapoor, one of the Bollywood’s known villain, Shakti.
- 6/25/2010
- by realbollywood
- RealBollywood.com
April 8, 2010:The gala premiere of ”The Japanese Wife” was held recently in Cinemax. Apurv Nagpal, the C.E.O of Saregama welcomed the stars and guests with beautiful girls wearing red Japanese formals.
First came the director of the film, Aparna Sen with daughter Konkona wearing a white saree but Aparna looked more beautiful than her daughter and Rahul Bose wearing a dashing black suit.
First entry among the guests was made by Ramesh Sippy and his wife Kiran Juneja. Sandhya Mridul, Sudhir Mishra, Piyush Jha of film ”Sikandar” fame, Raima Sen who looked gorgeous was also wearing.
First came the director of the film, Aparna Sen with daughter Konkona wearing a white saree but Aparna looked more beautiful than her daughter and Rahul Bose wearing a dashing black suit.
First entry among the guests was made by Ramesh Sippy and his wife Kiran Juneja. Sandhya Mridul, Sudhir Mishra, Piyush Jha of film ”Sikandar” fame, Raima Sen who looked gorgeous was also wearing.
- 4/8/2010
- by realbollywood
- RealBollywood.com
The prestigious 40th International Film Festival of India is all set to screen Reliance Big Pictures' four major productions, Rituparno Ghosh's Bengali film Shob Charitro Kalponik, M.S. Sathyu's Kannada film Ijjodu, Buddhadev Dasgupta's Bengali creation Janala and Shaji Karun's Malayalam film Kutty Srank in Indian Panorama Section, starting from November 23 - December 3. Also, Reliance Big Pictures' strong run in the international festival circuit continues as Piyush Jha's Sikandar and Shyam Benegal's comedy Well Done Abba in addition to Janala and Shob Charitro Kalponik will be screened at 9th Miaac Film Festival 2009, to be held between November 11 - 15.
- 11/11/2009
- by Taran Adarsh
- BollywoodHungama
The prestigious 40th International Film Festival of India is all set to screen Reliance Big Pictures' four major productions, Rituparno Ghosh's Bengali film Shob Charitro Kalponik, M.S. Sathyu's Kannada film Ijjodu, Buddhadev Dasgupta's Bengali creation Janala and Shaji Karun's Malayalam film Kutty Srank in Indian Panorama Section, starting from November 23 - December 3. Also, Reliance Big Pictures' strong run in the international festival circuit continues as Piyush Jha's Sikandar and Shyam Benegal's comedy Well Done Abba in addition to Janala and Shob Charitro Kalponik will be screened at 9th Miaac Film Festival 2009, to be held between November 11 - 15.
- 11/11/2009
- by Taran Adarsh
- BollywoodHungama
He popularised the line 'Tussi na jao' (Please don't go) as the cute Sikh kid in Karan Johar's 1998 hit 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hain'. Parzaan Dastur, now 17, plays the protagonist in new film 'Sikandar' and says he would love to take up acting as a career and work with Shah Rukh Khan again.'Acting is something I have been doing for long. I have loved doing it and enjoyed every moment of it. But that time (during 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hain') it was a hobby. If it turns out to be a career, I will love it because I just enjoy being in front of the camera. I enjoy taking commands from the director, performing and getting the appreciation,' Parzaan told Ians in an interview.Parzaan wants to act with Shah Rukh and Kajol again. They played the lead in 'Kuch Kuch...'.'I would love to...
- 8/29/2009
- Filmicafe
Sikandar director Piyush Jha has revealed that he plans to cast Aamir Khan in his new film. Jha announced that he would offer the leading role in Door (Distant) to Khan because he believes the Bollywood superstar understands the social problems facing India. He told The Times of India: "It's the role of a man of the masses. I can only see Aamir in the role. "In the cities you see (more)...
- 8/26/2009
- by By Sanjay Odedra
- Digital Spy
Piyush Jha whose film on Kashmiri militancy Sikandar has just opened to substantial critical acclaim is all set to start his next film.
Entitled Door (distant) Piyush’s next project will take a deep penetrating look at the divide between the haves and the have-nots.
Aamir Khan is the director’s first choice for the protagonist’s part. “It’s the role of a man of the masses. I can only see Aamir in the role,” says Piyush.
The Sikandar experience has made the director realize the importance of A-listers stars in the cast. “I now understand the star hierarchy. This is.
Entitled Door (distant) Piyush’s next project will take a deep penetrating look at the divide between the haves and the have-nots.
Aamir Khan is the director’s first choice for the protagonist’s part. “It’s the role of a man of the masses. I can only see Aamir in the role,” says Piyush.
The Sikandar experience has made the director realize the importance of A-listers stars in the cast. “I now understand the star hierarchy. This is.
- 8/25/2009
- by realbollywood
- RealBollywood.com
Ayesha Kapoor has admitted that she found it difficult to relate to her character in Sikandar. Kapoor, who plays a shy Kashmiri girl in Piyush Jha's film, revealed that she is far more modern because of her family upbringing. She told Ians: "It was hard for me to relate to my character in the film since I'm a completely different in real life. Nasreen, my character, is conservative. That's the (more)...
- 8/25/2009
- by By Sanjay Odedra
- Digital Spy
Sikandar has released in theaters over the weekend gone by and it is seeing appreciation coming from some of the renowned film makers in Bollywood. One such film maker is Vidhu Vinod Chopra who was immensely touched by this effort from writer-director Piyush Jha and is letting his views known about the film. "For me, watching Sikandar was a nostalgic trip and going back home and seeing that my home is burning still. I can only hope and pray that it stops, like the film does", s...
- 8/25/2009
- GlamSham
Piyush Jha whose film, Sikandar, based on Kashmiri militancy has just opened to substantial critical acclaim is all set to start his next film. Entitled Door (distant), Piyush's next project will take a deep penetrating look at the divide between the haves and the have-nots. Aamir Khan is the director's first choice for the protagonist's part. "It's the role of a man of the masses. I can only see Aamir in the role," says Piyush. The Sikandar experience has made the director realize the importance of A-listers stars in the cast. "I now understand the star hierarchy. This is just what my next film has to say. Before bridging the gap between the haves and have-nots we need to understand that chasm." Says the director, "In the cities you see this huge disparity between the way the various classes of people live. But move away from the city and go...
- 8/25/2009
- by Subhash K. Jha
- BollywoodHungama
Piyush Jha whose film, Sikandar, based on Kashmiri militancy has just opened to substantial critical acclaim is all set to start his next film. Entitled Door (distant), Piyush's next project will take a deep penetrating look at the divide between the haves and the have-nots. Aamir Khan is the director's first choice for the protagonist's part. "It's the role of a man of the masses. I can only see Aamir in the role," says Piyush. The Sikandar experience has made the director realize the importance of A-listers stars in the cast. "I now understand the star hierarchy. This is just what my next film has to say. Before bridging the gap between the haves and have-nots we need to understand that chasm." Says the director, "In the cities you see this huge disparity between the way the various classes of people live. But move away from the city and go...
- 8/25/2009
- by Subhash K. Jha
- BollywoodHungama
Sikandar has hit the screens and has seen mixed reviews coming its way. However, writer-director Piyush Jha continues to stand by his film as well as actors. He explains the reasons behind selecting Parzan and Ayesha in the lead roles and how newcomer Arunoday Singh (who has created an instant impression in a relatively shorter role) could well be the superstar of tomorrow. You chose Parzan and Ayesha as the lead protagonists for your films. Were they your first choices?...
- 8/24/2009
- GlamSham
She earned rave reviews for her performance as a blind and deaf girl in the critically acclaimed Â.BlackÂ., but 14-year-old Ayesha Kapoor says she wasnÂ.t able to relate to her character of a conservative Kashmiri girl in her latest film Â.SikandarÂ..Â.It was hard for me to relate to my character in the film since IÂ.m a completely different in real life. Nasreen, my character, is conservative. ThatÂ.s the opposite of me,Â. Ayesha told Ians.Â.From a very young age, I have lived in an international community. My friends are from all over the world. I get to meet people from different cultures. ThatÂ.s made me quite modern. Also, I am half German, so my thinking is very different,Â. she added.Directed by Piyush Jha, Â.SikandarÂ. released Friday and has got mixed reviews. In the film, Ayesha plays protagonist...
- 8/23/2009
- Filmicafe
Movie Review: Sikandar; Star cast: R. Madhavan, Sanjay Suri, Parzaan Dastur, Ayesha Kapoor, Ketaki Thatte and introducing Arunoday Singh; Director: Piyush Jha; Rating: *** - An engrossing fare.
Parents less Sikandar (Parzaan) is a 14 year old boy who stays with his uncle and aunt in Kashmir. He is a passionate footballer player but is often bullied by his three school mates. The loner Sikandar becomes friends with Nasreen (Ayesha Kapoor) who is new in his school and town. At the same time terrorism activities are on the rise in the state with militant Zahgeer (Arunoday) arriving.
Parents less Sikandar (Parzaan) is a 14 year old boy who stays with his uncle and aunt in Kashmir. He is a passionate footballer player but is often bullied by his three school mates. The loner Sikandar becomes friends with Nasreen (Ayesha Kapoor) who is new in his school and town. At the same time terrorism activities are on the rise in the state with militant Zahgeer (Arunoday) arriving.
- 8/21/2009
- by realbollywood
- RealBollywood.com
Piyush Jha (not be mistaken for Piyush Mishra) started his career with a youth flick Chalo America (1999). A small budget film, it was a light hearted take on the fascination that millions of youngsters have for America. The film's cast was led by Ashish Chaudhry who was pretty much a young boy then. Piyush followed it up with the Bollywood satire King Of Bollywood (2004) which was about this aging evergreen hero [played by Om Puri] who refused to face reality and call it a day in...
- 8/20/2009
- GlamSham
Piyush Jha has come home. Ten years ago he made a spoof film Chalo America about the compulsive and rampant Nri-ship among young Indians. Now Jha is totally on home turf with a film about a burning Indian issue. Sikandar takes us into the heartland of Kashmir militancy and was shot completely on location to the sound of booming guns and screaming bullets. That a filmmaker of Sudhir Mishra’s strong political leanings had enough faith in Piyush to let him do a film on Kashmir says it all. Piyush Jha talks to Subhash K Jha.
Sikandar takes you to the ‘forbidden’ land of Kashmir..
Sikandar takes you to the ‘forbidden’ land of Kashmir..
- 8/19/2009
- by realbollywood
- RealBollywood.com
Filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra inaugurated a photo exhibition of scenic Kashmir taken during the filming of Sikandar , a film written and directed by Piyush Jha produced by Big Pictures . The film is scheduled to release on 21 August , 2009 in India, Us, UAE with the film rights been sold in Israel, Malaysia, Sri Lanka.The entire cast of Sikandar was present at the inauguration of the photo exhibition – R Madhavan, Sanjay Suri, Parzaan Dastur, Ayesha Kapur, debutant Arunuday Singh along with Jha and producer Sudhir Mishra, who were ecstatic to bring their Kashmir ...
- 8/18/2009
- BusinessofCinema
Piyush Jha is one director who likes to experiment with new talents and small actors. His forthcoming film Sikandar too has two children as protagonists and he has been waiting patiently for his film to release. Sikandar was to earlier release on 27 March but could not be released due to the standoff between the multiplexes and producers.Sikander will now finally hit the screens on 21 August and Jha speaks to Businessofcinema.com about his film.Excerpts:Tell us about your forthcoming film Sikandar.The film is a ...
- 8/18/2009
- BusinessofCinema
Seven years back, the trio of Sanjay Suri, Madhavan and Jimmy Sheirgill had come together in Ananth Mahadevan directed romantic musical entertainer Dil Vil Pyaar Vyaar (2002). Circa 2009: Sanjay Suri and Madhavan would be seen together again in Piyush Jha directed Sikandar, though on opposite side of the fence. Set in Kashmir, the film sees Sanjay enacting the role of a politician while Madhavan plays an Army officer. Since Sanjay reunited with Madhavan years after Dil Vil Pyaar Vyaar, it must indeed have been nostalgic times, right?...
- 8/18/2009
- GlamSham
Bollywood actor R Madhavan, whose upcoming film Sikandar is due to hit theatres on the 21st of August is kicked about his act in the film. The film which deals with the subject of terrorism has been directed by Piyush Jha and it takes a critical look at the subject of violence and its impact on the younger generation. Madhavan, who plays the role of an upright army officer in the film, thus narrates the experience of shooting for Sikandar. He says, ''I play the role of an army...
- 8/17/2009
- GlamSham
So what if R Madhavan.s plans to join the Indian army were thwarted? He has kept alive his love for the defence force through his films. After he played a dashing air force pilot in Rang De Basanti, he plays Lieutenant Colonel Rajesh Rao in his next film, Sikandar. Madhavan, who wanted to be an army officer ever since he was a young boy, plays an army commander of the area where Sikandar, whom the film is based on, lives.Talking about Madhavan.s reaction after he heard the script, director Piyush Jha said, .After the narration, I sat back wondering where this was leading. Then Madhavan suddenly smiled and said that he believed the role of Lt Col Rajesh Rao was made for him. He told me that he was a diligent Ncc cadet in his growing years. He wanted to join the army but his application...
- 8/16/2009
- Filmicafe
If things would have gone as per the plans, Sikandar would have released in the month of March. However, the producers v/s multiplexes standoff turned the entire release calendar upside down and Sikandar was one of the films that did get impacted. However, the film is now being readied for a 21st August release and director Piyush Jha is going all out to ensure that there is enough visibility around the film. "It's okay even if the film is arriving a few months after its int...
- 8/7/2009
- GlamSham
Arunoday Singh will make his Bollywood debut by playing a Kashmiri terrorist in Piyush Jha's Sikandar. However, Arunoday, who is the grandson of Indian politician Arjun Singh, denied rumours that he was cast as a result of family contacts. The 26-year-old told Ians: "My grandfather is an important man, but he doesn't know any filmmaker. He doesn't know anybody in the industry. I (more)...
- 7/31/2009
- by By Sanjay Odedra
- Digital Spy
Germany's only annual festival celebrating Bollywood cinema in Stuttgart concluded on July 19. And the highest honour went to Santosh Sivan's Hindi film Tahaan. But the cinematographer-filmmaker shooting for Mani Ratnam's Raavan in distant inaccessible Chalakudy in Kerala didn't know about the triumph until three days after it happened! Yes, the winner of the top award 'The German Star Of India' award at Stuttgart Film Festival was Santosh Sivan's film Tahaan about the adventures of a little boy and his pet donkey in militant Kashmir. Kunal Kohli who was the only Indian jury member at the awards said, "There were other top contenders like Neeraj Pandey's A Wednesday, Piyush Jha's Sikandar, Nishikant Kamat's Mumbai Meri Jaan, Umkanth Thumrugoti's 7 Days In Slow Motion , and Gabricha Paus' The Damned Rain. All the jury members loved the innocence of Tahaan. It reminded all them of Robert Benigni's Life Is Beautiful.
- 7/24/2009
- by Subhash K. Jha
- BollywoodHungama
Germany's only annual festival celebrating Bollywood cinema in Stuttgart concluded on July 19. And the highest honour went to Santosh Sivan's Hindi film Tahaan. But the cinematographer-filmmaker shooting for Mani Ratnam's Raavan in distant inaccessible Chalakudy in Kerala didn't know about the triumph until three days after it happened! Yes, the winner of the top award 'The German Star Of India' award at Stuttgart Film Festival was Santosh Sivan's film Tahaan about the adventures of a little boy and his pet donkey in militant Kashmir. Kunal Kohli who was the only Indian jury member at the awards said, "There were other top contenders like Neeraj Pandey's A Wednesday, Piyush Jha's Sikandar, Nishikant Kamat's Mumbai Meri Jaan, Umkanth Thumrugoti's 7 Days In Slow Motion , and Gabricha Paus' The Damned Rain. All the jury members loved the innocence of Tahaan. It reminded all them of Robert Benigni's Life Is Beautiful.
- 7/24/2009
- by Subhash K. Jha
- BollywoodHungama
For film maker Piyush Jha, it has been one long journey to get his Sikandar to theaters. First and foremost it was increasingly difficult for him to get people who would be willing to back his project. Secondly, just when his film was getting ready to release in the month of March earlier this year, the producers announced strike due to which his film had to be placed on backburner. Now he is elated again as his 'suspense thriller' is confirmed for a 21st August release. Says a...
- 7/2/2009
- GlamSham
Before the stand off between multiplexes and producers began, Sikandar started, Big Pictures’ Sikandar was scheduled for a March 27th release date. But then with the strike declared by the Producers’ forum the film could not get released. This suspense thriller is now finally gearing up for a release on August 21st that is four months after its earlier planned date.
Written and directed by Piyush Jha, shot in location in Kashmir, the film is about Sikandar who lives with his uncle and aunt in a small Kashmiri town. Now his life revolves round his foster parents, football, Nasreen, the new girl.
Written and directed by Piyush Jha, shot in location in Kashmir, the film is about Sikandar who lives with his uncle and aunt in a small Kashmiri town. Now his life revolves round his foster parents, football, Nasreen, the new girl.
- 7/1/2009
- by realbollywood
- RealBollywood.com
Big Pictures, motion pictures brand from Reliance Big Entertainment in association with Sudhir Mishra will release its suspense thriller movie Sikandar on 21st August 2009. Written and directed by Piyush Jha, shot in the beautiful locales of Kashmir, the film is about Sikandar who lives with his uncle and aunt in a small Kashmiri town. Now his life revolves round his foster parents, football, Nasreen, the new girl in town and dealing with some bullies. But life takes an unexpe...
- 7/1/2009
- GlamSham
Sanjay Suri is suddenly back in news in a big way. Over the Friday gone by he was seen in Anubhav which got some recognition mainly due to his presence in the film. Though the film is pretty much a wipe off, Sanjay Suri has a lot to look forward to in weeks to come. That's because due to the strike being finally off, his Sikandar is now gearing up for release this month. Directed by Piyush Jha, the film was almost ready for release before the stand off between producers and multip...
- 6/8/2009
- GlamSham
New Delhi, Hrithik Roshan starrer mega-budget "Kites" will be among a bouquet of films that will be marketed by Reliance Big Pictures at the 62nd International Cannes Film Festival, starting May 13. Directed by Anurag Basu, "Kites" also stars Barbara Mori, Kangana Ranaut, Nick Brown and Kabir Bedi in pivotal roles. The entertainment arm of Indian business conglomerate Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group will market 18 films in all including various films in world cinema and popular cinema categories. Hindi films such as director Piyush Jha's "Sikandar", comic capers "Do Knot Disturb" directed by David Dhawan, "Well Done Abba" by Shyam Benegal and Vinod Pande's "Chaloo Movie", which are in various stages of production, will also be promoted at the ...
- 5/14/2009
- Bollywoodworld.com
Over the years one has heard horror stories from film makers who have attempted to shoot in the valley of Kashmir. Rahul Dholakia's Lamhaa is the recent example of a film that faced issues in Kashmir when Bipasha Basu returned to Mumbai in the middle of shoot due to safety concerns. However, Piyush Jha, director of Sikandar, says that he didn't find shooting in the valley troublesome at all and had a peaceful and productive stint in the state....
- 4/20/2009
- GlamSham
New Delhi, Sudhir Mishra's "Sikandar", a suspense thriller about an adolescent whose life changes drastically when he comes across a gun, will be screened at the seventh Annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (Iffla), starting April 22. Written and directed by Piyush Jha and shot in Kashmir, the 110-minute film is about Sikandar, played by Parzaan Dastur, who lives with his uncle and aunt in a small town. His life revolves round his foster parents, football, the new girl in town Nasreen and dealing with some bullies. But life takes an unexpected turn when he picks up a gun from the ground. And thus, he gets drawn into the web of militants, power and violence. "The film deals with violence, but the central theme of the film is that of peace. The film does ...
- 4/12/2009
- Bollywoodworld.com
The seventh annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles will offer two separate panels focusing on Indian entertainment and filmmaking through the lens of the business community at CAA's Ray Kurtzman Theater in Century City on April 24.
Topics will be "Producing Indian Content for the Indian and International Market," with panelists Ashok Amritraj of Hyde Park Entertainment, Fox Searchlight's Jill Gwen, actor-producer Anil Kapoor and LDisney's Jason Reed, and "Film Financing: Co-productions and Alternatives," with panelists Karim Ahmad of Independent Television Service, Phat Phish's Sanjay Bhattacharjee, National Film Development Corporation's Nina Gupta and Split Image Pictures' Govind Menon.
In other news, Iffla has added to its lineup a screening of Big Pictures' dramatic thriller "Sikandar," written and directed by Piyush Jha.
Topics will be "Producing Indian Content for the Indian and International Market," with panelists Ashok Amritraj of Hyde Park Entertainment, Fox Searchlight's Jill Gwen, actor-producer Anil Kapoor and LDisney's Jason Reed, and "Film Financing: Co-productions and Alternatives," with panelists Karim Ahmad of Independent Television Service, Phat Phish's Sanjay Bhattacharjee, National Film Development Corporation's Nina Gupta and Split Image Pictures' Govind Menon.
In other news, Iffla has added to its lineup a screening of Big Pictures' dramatic thriller "Sikandar," written and directed by Piyush Jha.
Mumbai, Director Rahul Dholakia had to shift his "Lamhaa" shoot out of Jammu and Kashmir over security issues and protests, but "Sikandar" director Piyush Jha says it's "an absolutely beautiful place" and he didn't find shooting in the valley a problem at all. "Really, I didn't actually find it so challenging to shoot in Kashmir," said Jha who has moved on to a sensitive subject after making two comedies "Chalo America" and "King of Bollywood". "Kashmir was an absolutely beautiful place to be in. We shot in spring time because the view of the valley in that season is so spectacular. Also, I wanted to show Kashmir the way it was portrayed in the films of the 1960s and 70s. We didn't really have any issues shooting there as people were very ...
- 3/30/2009
- Bollywoodworld.com
New Delhi, From a village in Jammu and Kashmir to the recording studio of Bollywood, 13-year-old singer Mehrajuddin Rassar has made a journey that few boys his age manage to do. The little prodigy is now dreaming of "making a career in music". Mehrajuddin, who hails from Aru village in the Kashmir valley, was picked by director Piyush Jha to sing the song "Arzoo" in "Sikandar". "Piyush sir had come to Aru to select a location for his film, that's when he heard my voice while I was singing in my school assembly. He liked my voice and offered me 'Arzoo'," Mehrajuddin told Ians over phone from Srinagar. Mehrajuddin, a Class 9 student, loves singing and dreamt of lending his voice in films one day. Little did he know that opportunity will knock on ...
- 3/30/2009
- Bollywoodworld.com
It was regular browsing through newspapers that caught attention of director Piyush Jha (Sikandar) towards a topical issue. No, it wasn't terrorism but instances of children who happened to get hold of a weapon and went on a killing spree without any aim, rhyme or reason. "I have been reading so much about underage children having weapons with them", states Piyush who decided to move to thriller genre after directing two comedies Chalo America and King Of Bollywood, "Time and again, we come across newspaper reports with students from some American or European countries killing other children in schools. Now we have started seeing something similar in Indian as well."...
- 3/29/2009
- GlamSham
Talk about a film based in Kashmir and two immediate thoughts that come to mind are - a) It will involve a terrorism angle, b) It will aim at conveying a message in the end. "You are right about the first part to some extent though the second part isn't entirely true", smiles Piyush Jha, the director of this Parzan-Ayesha starrer, "Even otherwise, the terror element is just a backdrop. Otherwise the film is mainly centered on the story of this young teenage boy called Sikandar (Parzan), who stumbles upon a pistol....
- 3/19/2009
- GlamSham
It has never been done before. After seeing Sikandar, Piyush Jha's film on Kashmir militancy, Prasoon Joshi was so inspired that he wrote a song based on the film. And now producer Sudhir Mishra is so inspired by Prasoon's song on Sikandar that he has decided to incorporate it into the film, and also shoot a music video based on the song. Says Sudhir Mishra, "You're right. This has never happened before. Prasoon Joshi saw Sikandar. He fell in love with the idea and theme of the idea. And he offered to write a song. We thought we'd use the song to promote the film. But it was too evocative to not incorporate into the film." Now, Piyush Jha has shot extra scenes to accommodate Prasoon's song into the narrative. The song also recurs in the film's soundtrack. "It adds a whole new dimension to the film. Prasoon's song...
- 3/17/2009
- by Subhash K. Jha
- BollywoodHungama
It has never been done before. After seeing Sikandar, Piyush Jha's film on Kashmir militancy, Prasoon Joshi was so inspired that he wrote a song based on the film. And now producer Sudhir Mishra is so inspired by Prasoon's song on Sikandar that he has decided to incorporate it into the film, and also shoot a music video based on the song. Says Sudhir Mishra, "You're right. This has never happened before. Prasoon Joshi saw Sikandar. He fell in love with the idea and theme of the idea. And he offered to write a song. We thought we'd use the song to promote the film. But it was too evocative to not incorporate into the film." Now, Piyush Jha has shot extra scenes to accommodate Prasoon's song into the narrative. The song also recurs in the film's soundtrack. "It adds a whole new dimension to the film. Prasoon's song...
- 3/17/2009
- by Subhash K. Jha
- BollywoodHungama
There is an interesting story that goes behind the selection of Madhavan for the role of an Army Commander in soon to be released Sikandar. Apparently, Madhavan was always interested in getting into the army but could not make it there eventually. When director Piyush Jha got to know more about his background, he immediately approached the actor for an important role in his film. "I was doing some research and found that Madhavan was always interested in being an Army officer....
- 3/16/2009
- GlamSham
Here is one film maker who, while talking about his own film, feels a sense of pride that he has been inspired by world cinema. Unlike quite a few of his contemporaries who would rather love to boast about the entire ideation to conceptualization to execution as their own work, Piyush Jha doesn't have qualms in admitting that he had films made in Iran and Iraq at the back of his mind when he was putting together Sikandar....
- 3/11/2009
- GlamSham
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.