Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; September 1, 2020)

As per the Unlock 4 guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), cinema halls don’t have permission to resume operations so far. However, open-air theatres can operate from September 21. The Multiplex Association of India has requested the government to consider reopening theatres as they have incurred heavy losses ever since the lockdown was implemented in March. They posted their plea with the hashtag #SupportMovieTheatres, which was trending online. Theatre owners have said that they have all the necessary precautions in place to ensure the safety of their patrons. However, the decision to not allow theatres to resume business has only lengthened their fight for survival. During the Coronavirus lockdown, many filmmakers opted to release their films on OTT platforms, a decision that didn’t go down well with the multiplex chains.

‘FOR SIX MONTHS, THE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN OPERATING WITH ZERO REVENUE’
While some films were released on digital platforms, a few were pushed ahead in the hope of a theatrical release. Shibashish Sarkar, Group CEO, Reliance Entertainment, whose films — Sooryavanshi and '83 — are awaiting release, said, “The decision to keep cinemas out of Unlock 4 is not only frustrating for the film industry, but also devoid of logic. The daily COVID-19 cases in the country have gone from 500 to 80,000, but not because of cinema halls, as they have been shut for the last six months. The entire country, every single sector, has opened up with precautions and safety measures, barring cinemas. Across the globe, by and large in all countries, cinemas are open and operating successfully. For six months, the industry has been operating with zero revenue. Loss of Rs. 9,000 crore has already been incurred. Thousands of workers and employees are on the road after losing jobs and pay cuts. The industry has been requesting grants, subsidies and support for the last six months, but nothing has come.” Recently, Christopher Nolan’s Tenet released in countries where theatres are functional.

‘HOW ARE SINGLE SCREENS SUPPOSED TO SUSTAIN?’
Film exhibitor and distributor Akshaye Rathi, who owns a chain of single-screen theatres, added, “The theatre business supports over 15 lakh people and their families. Multiplex chains may survive given their financiers, but what about single-screen owners like us? We are paying from our savings for months now, but how are we supposed to sustain? I am happy to keep my theatres shut till the vaccine is available, provided we are given some economic relief.”

ARE DRIVE-IN CINEMAS THE FUTURE?
Some multiplex owners are exploring the options of drive-in or open-air cinemas, but that is still a far-fetched idea. An exhibitor said, “Where is the space for that in a city like Mumbai? Also, for that idea to take off, you need time. It can’t happen overnight.” Exhibitor Manoj Desai added, “I am surprised that the guidelines allow open-air cinemas, which barely exist today.” Meanwhile, some multiplex chains are pleading with mall owners for a rent waiver for the months that they have been shut.

‘WILL HAVE TO RECONSIDER THE RELEASE PLANS OF OUR FILMS’
Shariq Patel, CEO, Zee Studios, said, “We were hopeful that cinemas would open in September and gradually bring people back to theatres by Diwali. But, it’s difficult to say what will happen next. We were hopeful that Khaali Peeli, which is ready, would open in cinemas, but now we will have to revisit the plan completely. We had put out a teaser hoping things will be different from September, but we will now have to reconsider the release plans for the existing films on our slate.”

‘SAFETY IS A PRIORITY’
Producer Ramesh Taurani said, “I feel conflicted because our business is suffering, but these are unprecedented times and the safety of each citizen is a priority.” Filmmaker Boney Kapoor added, “I am totally for the release of movies in theatres whenever they open. Cinemas should be supported by all of us. At the same time, I also respect the decision made by the authorities, which is to keep the patrons safe, and open the theatres when it’s the safest for us.”

— With inputs from Rachana Dubey

BOMBAY TIMES (August 24, 2020)

The makers of Ishaan Khatter and Ananya Panday’s Khaali Peeli, a masala entertainer, are all set to launch the teaser today. The film, directed by Maqbool Khan, brings Ishaan and Ananya together for the first time. The movie, which is touted to be young and edgy, also features Jaideep Ahlawat in a pivotal role.

Producer Ali Abbas Zafar says, “Khaali Peeli is a complete desi entertainer. Ishaan and Ananya’s chemistry and Jaideep’s credibility makes this ride cooler and edgier.” Producer Himanshu Kishan Mehra says, “We have made this film with a lot of heart and hard work, and I am super excited that audiences will get to experience our film soon. I hope the film entertains the audiences in such unprecedented times.”

Shariq Patel, CEO, Zee Studios, adds, “The film is a complete package with high-octane action, song-dance and emotions. It’s going to bring back the quintessential feel of Bambaiya language that has been used in the film after a long time. At a time like this, when audiences are hungry for fresh, new content, we can’t wait to bring this film.”

Khaali Peeli is produced by Zee Studios, Himanshu Kishan Mehra and Ali Abbas Zafar.

Duo teams up for the first time for a social comedy that kicks off this November and will open on July 9, 2021
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 14, 2020)

After Deepika Padukone, Yami Gautam and Taapsee Pannu, Vikrant Massey is now all set to romance Kriti Kharbanda, in an “incredibly funny love story”, 14 Phere. The actor, who plays a small town boy, Sanjay, in this social comedy which unfolds in North India, says the story by Manoj Kalwani is fresh and answers several pertinent questions. “By the title, one can guess it’s about two weddings involving the same couple which makes it interesting,” he avers.

Vikrant has been prepping for the film for over a month over video calls with director Devanshu Singh and will jump into the shoot after completing two weeks of work on Haseen Dillruba. Point out that he is now getting to romance a new actress in every film and he guffaws, “That’s a good feeling and I’m looking forward to getting to know Kriti better through the making of this film.”

Shariq Patel, producer and CEO, Zee Studios, asserts that 14 Phere is an important film for them as it highlights how, in our country, weddings most often happen between two families and not just two people. “We needed a fresh pairing and are happy to have Vikrant and Kriti on board,” he says.

Meanwhile, Kriti has also started workshops with Devanshu. “I don’t think Aditi’s character works with my voice, so I am working on voice modulation. I like to bring something new to the table with each character and Aditi is today’s girl, with a voice and mind. The lockdown helped me shape the character. I got to stalk new people over the internet and pick up nuances for Aditi. I love her and would myself want to be Aditi after this film,” she laughs. She’s equally excited to work with Vikrant. “We met in March and chatted like we had known each other forever. I am looking forward to sharing the screen with someone who is as enthusiastic as me,” she says.

The film will be shot in Lucknow, Delhi, Jaipur and Mumbai and will go on the floors by November. It is slated to release on July 9, 2021. 

BOMBAY TIMES (July 28, 2020)

The guidelines for Unlock 3.0 are expected to be announced shortly, and there is buzz that cinemas across the country, which have been shut since March 15, could possibly open their doors for patrons on August 1.

In a recent panel discussion on the Bombay Times Talk Show, when studio heads/producers and theatre owners came together, they spoke about how theatres could reboot in the unlock phase and how producers and theatre owners need to work closely to enable films to make their way back to the big screen and also get a wider release.

The panelists comprised Ajit Andhare (COO, Viacom18 Studios), Shibasish Sarkar (CEO, Reliance Entertainment), Shariq Patel (CEO, Zee Studios), Jackky Bhagnani (Managing Director, Pooja Entertainment), Ronnie Lahiri (Producer of films like Gulabo Sitabo and Pink), Kapil Agarwal (Joint MD, UFO Moviez), Kamal Gianchandani (CEO, PVR Pictures) and Akshaye Rathi (Director, Saroj Screens).

The in-depth conversation covered an array of subjects that the industry is currently dealing with, and the one thing that they unanimously agreed upon was that now, more than ever before, the industry has to come together and find solutions and a way ahead for survival.

Industry insiders weigh in on crisis brought on by Coronavirus pandemic as the face-off between exhibitors and producers escalates
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 16, 2020)

On Thursday, after the makers of the Amitabh Bachchan and Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer Gulabo Sitabo announced a digital release for their film, given the looming uncertainty over theatres reopening, the multiplex chain Inox made its displeasure clear, calling the decision “alarming and disconcerting”. Inox said it will now be constrained to examine its options, and reserves all rights, including taking retributive measures in “dealing with such fair-weather friends”. The statement ended with a request to content creators to follow the age-old, established windowing pattern, which is in the best interests of all stakeholders in the value chain. On Friday, another Bollywood film, the Vidya Balan-fronted Shakuntala Devi, was announced for a direct-to-digital release, as did five south films, Ponmagal Vandhal, French Briyani, Law, Penguin and Sufiyum Sujathayum, fuelling the debate further.

Pointing out the need to stay united in the wake of the “greatest public health and economic emergencies of our lifetimes”, the Producers Guild of India slammed the multiplex chain’s “unconstructive messaging”, maintaining that by calling for retributive measures, they do not lend themselves to constructive or collaborative dialogue, which is the way forward for the industry.

The Guild’s statement, issued on Friday, went on to reiterate that the production sector, like the exhibition sector, is suffering hundreds of crores of losses on a daily basis as insurers refuse to cover the cost. “Interest costs are mounting on amounts raised to fund films, with producers having to bear this additional burden with no date in sight for cinemas to re-open; in fact, with the knowledge that cinemas may be one of the last sectors of the service industry likely to be given permission to re-open,” it pointed out, adding that re-opening of cinemas, when it happens, is bound to be staggered across the country and the overseas market, which will impact the performance of a film. The Guild also reasoned that there will be a huge backlog of releases, and the smaller and medium scale films especially will suffer as a result.

The statement concluded by stressing on the importance of emphasising the predicament of the other, rather than adopting an adversarial stance which is counterproductive for the entire value chain. It maintained that a theatrical release will always be the preference for movies that were conceptualised as cinematic experiences.

Reiterating this, Kamal Gianchandani, CEO, PVR Pictures, pointed out that his multiplex chain believes that a theatrical release is the best way for audiences to experience the labour and creative genius of filmmakers, not just in India but globally. He is confident that once this crisis is over, there will be a demand from cinegoers, who’ve been cooped up at home for several weeks, to open theatres.

“We are disappointed with some producers for going straight to streaming platforms instead of acceding to our request to hold back releases till cinemas reopen. That said, this is not the first time films are being premiered on OTT. Cinema exhibition has regularly faced competition from new emerging distribution platforms over the last many years and still continued to enjoy the patronage of cinegoers,” he pointed out, saying that they appreciate producers who have publicly supported theatres and decided to reschedule their releases.

Shariq Patel, CEO of Zee Studios, who is co-producing Khaali Peeli and Gunjan Saxena, says he can understand theatre owners being disappointed, but points out that halls have been shut for the last two months and no one knows when they will re-open across India and the world. “So, every producer is well within his right to monetize asset that has been ready for a while. It’s a rational call and not a vindictive step. As and when cinemas open, there will be a steady flow of films again,” he promises, saying they are considering options like everyone else in the industry but no contracts have been signed yet and conversations are happening between theatre chains and distributors. “Equilibrium will be restored once normalcy returns.”

Shibasish Sarkar, CEO, Reliance Entertainment, reveals that they have been approached by digital platforms for all their films, including Sooryavanshi, ’83, The Girl On The Train and Anurag Kashyap’s next. “But we, along with our directors and the creative team, are clear on a theatrical release and be patient for the next three to six months,” he says, but concedes that both sides are right, in that every filmmaker aspires to take their film to the big screen, but given the current scenario, most are under a lot of financial stress. “At the same time, the theatre owners are also bleeding, so it natural for them to be disappointed. Ultimately, the ecosystem has to survive. But the tone of appeal is important, there has to be some warmth in every discussion. Both OTT and cinema halls will co-exist in the longer run.’

Akshaye Rathi, theatre owner, argues that exhibition and production are two sides of the same coin and it is critical that the sectors engage in dialogue before taking any action. “The least we can expect is the courtesy of getting a call given our long-standing relationship. Dream Girl and Bala did a business of Rs 100 crore theatrically, so in Gulabo Sitabo, the exhibitors would have been a solid stakeholder,” he avers, confident that Sooryavanshi, ’83 and Radhe will wait to come to the cinemas so people can enjoy an outing. “Some films are meant for big screen consumption. For instance, you wouldn’t enjoy a horror film on the small screen as the ambiance enhances the experience.”

Tanuj Garg, producer of Neerja and Tumhari Sulu, informs that seven-10 films due for release this year will have straight-to-digital premieres. “If these platforms record disproportionate subscriptions and viewership, this could well open the floodgates for more commissioning and acquisition of OTT movies, thereby creating a parallel economy in itself,” he reasons, but at the same time doesn’t think cinemas will or can disappear. “No one is denying the power of the big screen experience. But I see no issue with the digital medium emerging as a credible alternative to its cinematic counterpart. It just means that we’re going to have a lot more movies, and therefore a lot more new stories and new talent in our midst.”

Manoj Bajpayee unites with singer-actor for director Abhishek Sharma's quirky comedy revolving around wedding detective and the prospective groom
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; December 24, 2019)

Even as he awaits the release of Good Newwz, Diljit Dosanjh has signed his next Bollywood project, Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari. The quirky comedy sees Dosanjh's character — a prospective groom — engage in a battle of wits with Manoj Bajpayee who plays a wedding detective.

Director Abhishek Sharma, who developed the material with the two actors in mind, says the film will beautifully highlight their contrasting personalities. "Diljit essays the role of an eligible bachelor who is planning to get hitched. His character lands in a soup when he crosses paths with Manoj sir, who plays a wedding detective. It's an interesting family comedy with a heavy dose of satire," says the director, adding that Fatima Sana Shaikh completes the trio.

The filmmaker, who is currently organising workshops with the lead cast, reveals that the story is set in the '90s. Reason — Sharma intends to capture the "innocence of people" before they were exposed to social media. "The story is relevant to that era as we didn't have Facebook or Instagram to stalk people then. That's why wedding investigators were hired."

Shariq Patel, CEO, Zee Studios, reveals that the movie will roll in Mumbai in the first week of January and is eyeing a release by end of 2020. "It's a new concept with a powerful cast," he shares.

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 26, 2019)

Considering Anthony Maras’ Hotel Mumbai is a tribute to those who laid their lives in order to save others during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, it is only fitting that the makers have planned a special screening for the bravehearts of that fateful night. To mark the 11th anniversary of the attacks today, the team has invited chef Hemant Oberoi, his team at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and several cops for a screening of the movie. Oberoi will also be felicitated for his bravado, at the event.

Confirming the news, Shariq Patel, CEO, Zee Studios, says, “We wanted to share the film with the people whose stories it is based on. Their validation matters the most to us. Often, we forget to celebrate the real heroes in this country. To honour chef Hemant Oberoi, who is one of the heroes of that night, is a privilege.”