Indian cinematographer Pankaj Kumar (“Tumbbad,” “Ship of Theseus”) is set to make his feature directorial debut with “Konyak,” a tribal action drama set in northeast India. The project, was selected for the NFDC Screenwriters Lab 2024, part of the Film Bazaar, will be produced through Kumar’s newly established Jiboom Studios. Written by Uddhav Ghosh, the […]

Dua Lipa is on the Asia leg of her “Radical Optimism” tour, and the singer-songwriter is teasing fresh elements for her devoted fanbase across the continent. The Asia tour kicked off in Singapore and continued across Philippines, Japan, Taiwan and Malaysia, with India and South Korea to come. After incorporating Jane Fonda-inspired workout routines into […]

Celebrated actor Manisha Koirala (“Bombay,” “1942: A Love Story,” “Khamoshi”) and filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane (“Udaan,” “Trapped”) discussed the evolving landscape between theatrical and streaming platforms during a session at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, where Koirala also revealed plans to write a comedy book about 1990s and 2000s actresses adapting to […]

A panel of leading television executives and creators at Film Bazaar discussed the intricacies of adapting international series for Indian audiences. Banijay Asia’s Mrinalini Jain said that successful adaptations require more than simple translation. “There is a very fine line between translating a format and transposing it, and transposing is where the magic happens,” Jain […]

Tamil cinema star Sivakarthikeyan revealed his unlikely path from computer science engineering to entertainment during a conversation with actor-politician Khushbu Sundar at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. The actor, whose recent military drama “Amaran” has performed strongly at the box office, traced his beginnings as a mimicry artist during his engineering […]

Led by former Cannes film market head Jerome Paillard, who is now advising India’s Film Bazaar, leading international producers discussed India-Europe co-productions during a panel at the event in Goa. Producer Guneet Monga Kapoor recounted how her breakthrough film “The Lunchbox” emerged from Film Bazaar itself. “I’ve been coming to Film Bazaar since 2008 and […]

The evolving partnership between India and Australia’s film industries took center stage at Film Bazaar, as key players outlined pathways for collaboration and funding opportunities. Screen Australia COO Grainne Brundson detailed multiple routes for Indian producers to work in Australia, including official co-productions and location-based production. While co-productions require creative and financial contributions from both […]

Fresh off his Cannes 2024 success with “In Retreat,” producer Thanikachalam S.A. is backing “Kurinji (The Disappearing Flower)” from debut feature director Payal Sethi at India’s Film Bazaar co-production market. Sethi’s previous work includes the award-winning shorts “Leeches” (2016), which won the Grand Prix Internationale at Brussels Short Film Festival, and “Grant St. Shaving Co.” […]

Raja Krishna Menon’s Bandra West Pictures is producing “Harbir,” the debut feature from Angad Bawa. It is being presented at Film Bazaar in Goa. The film follows Harbir, a 15-year-old Sikh boy who is scouted for an admission trial at Mumbai’s prestigious Bombay International School of Swimming. During the trial, concerns are raised about his […]

A new streaming series centered on Kerala’s ancient martial art Kalaripayattu is being developed by director Abhilash Vijayan (“That Elephant From the Bridge”) and producer Nithin Lukose (“Paka: River of Blood”) and is participating at India’s Film Bazaar. Set in 16th century Kerala, “Chekavar” follows a teenage warrior who secretly takes on a mission from […]

Venice Fedeora award winner Aditya Vikram Sengupta (“Labour of Love”) brings his new Hindi-language project “The Employer” to India’s Film Bazaar co-production market. The film follows Michael, a recently widowed chauffeur in Mumbai working for a veteran actress with political aspirations, whose life becomes entangled in both a missing diamond earring case and his maid’s […]

CAA has taken North American sales rights to psychological horror-thriller “Feral.” The project, set in 1950s India, already has Oscar-nominated producers Ron Yerxa and Albert Berger (“Little Miss Sunshine,” “Nebraska”) attached as executive producers. It heads to Film Bazaar as its creative team pursues further co-production partners and final financing. The film follows two part-tribal […]

Director Arun Karthick (Rotterdam selection “Sivapuranam,” Rotterdam winner “Nasir”) returns to Film Bazaar with “Aanaikatti Blues,” a story of young love set against the backdrop of rural gang culture in an Indian mountain village. The film follows Gopi, 22, and Vishnupriya, 20, as they navigate a controversial live-in relationship while Gopi becomes increasingly entangled with […]

Acclaimed actor-filmmaker Anupam Kher has announced his next directorial venture “The Return,” a co-production between Australia and India, at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa. The project emerges as Anupam Kher Studio wraps production on “Tanvi The Great,” directed by Kher, slated for international release in late 2025. “The Return” will be produced […]

During an extensive masterclass at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, veteran Indian filmmaker Mani Ratnam engaged in conversation with actor-director Gautham Vasudev Menon about adapting literature to screen, his approach to period filmmaking, and his creative process. Discussing his recent two-part historical epic “Ponniyin Selvan,” based on Kalki Krishnamurthy’s 1950s Tamil […]

Indian actor Konkona Sen Sharma (“Killer Soup,” “Wake Up Sid”) has been cast as the lead female protagonist opposite Carlos Bardem (“El Cid”) in the comedy feature “Mis(s)chief,” it was revealed at the Film Bazaar in Goa. The project hails from U.K. and India-based production outfit Avani Films and is currently in development. It has […]

During a panel at India’s Film Bazaar, Prime Video India’s content licensing head Manish Menghani and filmmaker Nikkhil Advani (“Freedom at Midnight”) discussed the evolving landscape of streaming content development in India, with “Delhi Crime” creator Richie Mehta moderating. Menghani traced how the Indian streaming space has transformed since Prime Video’s 2016 launch, identifying COVID-19 […]

U.K. and India-based production company Civic Studios is presenting “Just Like Her Mother,” a series exploring the women’s rights movement through an intergenerational story, at India’s Film Bazaar co-production market. Venice Film Festival winner Ruchika Oberoi (“Island City”) is in talks to direct. The series follows a daughter’s investigation into her mother’s disappearance, while examining […]

A panel of film industry veterans at Film Bazaar highlighted both opportunities and challenges facing independent Indian cinema, particularly in distribution and theatrical exhibition. During a discussion moderated by Rajeev Masand, COO of Dharma Cornerstone Agency, panelists addressed the complex ecosystem required to sustain independent filmmaking in India. “There is absolutely no independence,” said filmmaker […]