Showing posts with label Yoodlee Films. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yoodlee Films. Show all posts
Pakeezah: Bilal Amrohi traces back the heartbreak behind the magnum opus
8:23 AM
After announcing series based on Pakeezah’s making, Amrohi’s grandson undecided on format; says it will tell Meena Kumari-director’s love story
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; February 10, 2023)
Pakeezah (1972) may be a grand, sweeping romantic drama that caught the country’s attention on its release. But the making of the classic is a far richer story. Filmmaker Kamal Amrohi dedicated 16 years to make his labour of love that, in one of fate’s cruel twists, became his actor-wife Meena Kumari’s swansong.
In early 2022, Amrohi’s grandson Bilal had announced a web series that would trace the making of the Kumari, Ashok Kumar and Raaj Kumar-starrer. A year on, as the team is neck-deep in research, we hear Bilal and Yoodlee Films are now contemplating turning the material into a feature film.
Kausar Munir is said to be attached as a writer on the project that is being envisioned as the tragic story of two lovers. A source says, “Through this project, Bilal wants to showcase the love story of Meena Kumari and Amrohi, who set out to make a magnum opus together in 1956. Even though their marriage turned sour during Pakeezah’s making, many know that Amrohi had conceptualized the film as a tribute to his actor-wife. The story will dive deep into the pressures of making the movie, how it took a toll on Amrohi, and why the couple went their separate ways in 1964 before resuming their professional collaboration in 1969.”
The offering will also revisit the classic songs. The source adds, “After the research is complete, Bilal and Siddharth Anand Kumar of Yoodlee Films will take a call on whether it should be made into a movie or a web series.”
To Bilal, who serves as the producer, the offering is his tribute to his grandfather. He says, “I’ve planned it as an ode to my grandfather’s efforts. It would be a [retelling] of what it took for one man and the lady, who stood beside him, to make something as iconic as Pakeezah. My father Taajdaar and his sister Rukhsar possess the sole rights to [the 1972 movie].”
Asked whether they will take the long-format storytelling route, Kumar says, “It is too early to tell if this will be a film or series. A lot will depend on the director and cast.”
Suniel Shetty set to make his web debut with noir action thriller titled Invisible Woman
8:16 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 1, 2021)
With the past year proving that digital entertainment is the way to go forward, many Bollywood actors have dived into the OTT world. The latest to join the bandwagon is Suniel Shetty. Given his penchant for action, it’s only fitting that the actor is making his web debut with a noir action thriller titled Invisible Woman. He will be joined by Esha Gupta in the series that will be helmed by Tamil director Rajesh M Selva.
Excited as he is by the dynamic nature of OTT entertainment, Shetty says he was waiting for a compelling story to foray into it. “Today, a web series must have something to set it apart from the barrage of narratives that already exist. The story of Invisible Woman immediately captured my attention,” says the senior actor, who believes that the thriller’s “unique” plot will grab eyeballs. The series — backed by Yoodlee Films — is expected to go on floors in Mumbai in the next few days.
Vikram Mehra, managing director, Saregama India, says that the project also marks the studio’s foray into the web. “We have been itching to get into the space, given how the consumption patterns of consumers have seen a tectonic shift. Invisible Woman, an edgy action thriller, is just the right one to augur this transition,” he states.
Unit of Saqib Saleem and Shweta Basu Prasad-starrer Comedy Couple to have a COVID officer on sets
8:14 AM
Saqib Saleem undergoes a pulse oximeter test before shoot
From monitoring safety measures to trimming down staff to 25, makers of Comedy Couple discuss kicking offshoot post Coronavirus lockdown
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 25, 2020)
While some filmmakers returned to the set to complete their pending shoots, Yoodlee Films' Comedy Couple — featuring Saqib Saleem and Shweta Basu Prasad — became the first Bollywood movie to kick off production from scratch. The comedy, that was initially slated to be shot in Mumbai, went on floors in Gurugram last week.
Siddharth Anand Kumar, vice-president, films and events, Saregama, informs that adhering to safety guidelines, the crew headed to the city 14 days before the shoot and practised self-quarantine. In a crucial step, the production house has employed three COVID officers — hospitality professionals who have been trained in preventive measures — who monitor the crew members for symptoms as well as check their temperatures every morning before shoot, on a rotational basis. "The regulations bar us from having a doctor or ambulance on set as they are required at hospitals. So, we have a designated COVID officer, who is in charge of ensuring that the strictest measures of hygiene and sanitisation are followed. Everyone on the set wears gloves, masks or face shields; we also have built a sanitisation tunnel. Actors have to mandatorily wear masks between takes," says Kumar.
Though the original crew comprises 60 people, only 25 are on the set at a time. The make-up and hair styling department has been trimmed down to four artistes. "We have two artistes who handle the hair and make-up of the leads while two others take care of the rest of the cast. "
Giving shape to a film — while working with a slim crew and maintaining physical distancing — is no mean feat. Director Nachiket Samant hopes to wrap up the project in a start-to-finish 40-day schedule. "Shooting under such circumstances is a different experience altogether. We find ourselves in a curiously strange situation. But we are taking precautions, and safety to the highest standard is being ensured for all," he says.
Shweta Basu Prasad's hair and makeup artistes take preventive measures before attending to her
Producer Kumar at the monitor
Cut down on intimate scenes in the times of Coronavirus outbreak?
8:25 AM
Keeping social distancing and actors' safety in mind, Yoodlee Films to employ blocking to shoot kissing scenes for their untitled next; requests writers to cut down on intimate scenes for future
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 18, 2020)
In a post-Coronavirus pandemic world, the entertainment industry will witness an overhaul in the way films and television shows are shot. Even as cine bodies are in the process of developing a set of guidelines that can be followed by the cast and crew, shooting intimate scenes will pose a problem from a safety point of view. Saregama's movie production wing, Yoodlee Films, in a pre-emptive measure, is considering reducing sequences of physical intimacy from their offerings.
Citing an example of their yet-untitled next — a direct-to-web film commissioned by a leading OTT platform — Siddharth Anand Kumar, vice-president, films and events, Saregama India, says they will employ the blocking technique (where each actor shoots his/her portion separately) to depict intimate scenes. "We hope to take the project on floors in July. Since the film revolves around a couple who pose as siblings, some amount of intimacy is crucial to the story. We will choreograph those scenes in advance, and use blocking to depict the kisses," he explains. Furthermore, these sequences will be scheduled for the last leg of the shoot. He reasons, "That way, if anything were to happen, it won't jeopardise the entire project." The studio also plans to function with a skeletal crew of 30 on set.
As for the projects in the development stage, the studio has asked writers to minimise intimate scenes in their stories. "Writers develop stories with a certain freedom, [but] in such a scenario, we will be requesting changes at the writing stage. Doing away with intimate display of romance could be a reality for the near future, keeping the safety of the actors in mind. Eventually, we will find a way to work them out with clever camera [angles]."
We will think of Hamid's release when the situation has mellowed down-Aijaz Khan
8:08 AM
In light of the Pulwama terror attack on Thursday, Hamid director Aijaz Khan pushes March 1 release of drama that revolves around CRPF jawans in Kashmir
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; February 16, 2019)
Rasika Dugal-starrer Hamid, that explores the conflict in Kashmir through the perspective of an eight-year-old boy who develops an unlikely friendship with an Army soldier, was slated to hit theatres on March 1. However, in light of the Pulwama terror attack on Thursday, the makers have decided to postpone the release of the Aijaz Khan-directed drama."Our film talks about the socio-political situation in Kashmir. But at this juncture, we wish to stand in solidarity with the jawans. We will think of a release when the situation has mellowed down," asserts the director.
The film's team was to kick off the promotions with a special screening for the CRPF jawans in Srinagar on February 18. "It is shocking for us because we were to leave for Kashmir yesterday. How can we promote a film given the present scenario? Right now, we need to take a stand."
Dugal, who plays the mother of the young protagonist, offered her condolences to the kin of the martyrs. "This is a time to quietly grieve with them. I stand by Yoodlee Films' [production house] decision to push the release. I hope that when the movie comes out, it will contribute to a gentle dialogue around the situation in Kashmir."
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