Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has confirmed Gaurav Banerjee as its new managing director and CEO. He will take the reins on or before Aug. 26, pending approvals.
04.06.2024 - 20:39 / variety.com
Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had anticipated. Far from the pre-election sloganeering that predicted 400 seats out of 543 in India‘s lower house of parliament, the Lok Sabha, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) managed 294, more than the 272 required to form the next government. The number was significantly lower than the 353 the alliance secured in the 2019 general election.
The BJP lost its outright 2019 majority of 303 seats and saw its tally reduced to 241 in 2024. To form the next government and rule for a third consecutive term, it will need the support of its electoral allies. The Indian National Congress-led opposition on the other hand made massive gains compared to 2019.
Then called the United Progressive Alliance, the opposition had secured 91 seats, including 52 for the Congress. In 2024, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) won 231 seats, which include 99 for the Congress. Proclaiming victory, Modi posted: “People have placed their faith in NDA, for a third consecutive time! This is a historical feat in India’s history.
I bow to the Janata Janardan [the electorate] for this affection and assure them that we will continue the good work done in the last decade to keep fulfilling the aspirations of people.” The BJP returned to power on a manifesto that extolled its governance since the Modi wave that began in 2014 and continued in the 2019 general election. From a global entertainment industry perspective, the BJP government’s biggest achievement was implementing a 30% reimbursement scheme for international productions shooting in India in 2022. This went up to 40% in 2023 and the cap limit for the reimbursement was also significantly
.Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has confirmed Gaurav Banerjee as its new managing director and CEO. He will take the reins on or before Aug. 26, pending approvals.
Naman Ramachandran India’s Doc Film Bazaar, which is part of the Mumbai International Film Festival, has unveiled the winners of its inaugural edition. The awards, sponsored by Prasad Lab, are aimed at supporting post-production efforts, particularly in digital intermediate (DI) services.
Sony Pictures Entertainment has hired Nachiket Pantvaidya as general manager of productions in India.
EXCLUSIVE: Here’s a first in India: Disney+ Hotstar‘s ratings charts have seen animated shows take the top two places on its Hindi-language viewing charts for the first time.
Naman Ramachandran India‘s Handmade Films has boarded two Indian shorts pitching at Annecy, “Hide & Seek” and “Rising Tides,” as producer. In addition, France’s NoJo Studio Animation will also serve as a producer on “Hide & Seek.” Both films are at the Annecy Animation Festival‘s MIFA Pitch and the Namaste MIFA initiative that focuses on India. “Rising Tides” is directed by Pari Satarkar and produced by India’s Studio Mikudi and Satarkar.
Naman Ramachandran In a significant development for the Indian entertainment industry, Artist International Group (AIG), under the leadership of David Unger, and Creativeland Studios, helmed by Sajan Raj Kurup, have unveiled a joint venture to establish AIG India. This new talent and production company aims to bridge the gap between Hollywood and India’s vibrant creative scene. AIG India will focus on discovering, nurturing, and promoting Indian talent across various artistic fields, leveraging AIG’s global reach and Creativeland Studios’ in-depth knowledge of the Indian market.
Katcy Stephan UTA has signed rising global star India Amarteifio for representation. In 2023, Amarteifio starred in the eight-part Netflix series “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story,” written and produced by Shonda Rhimes.
Naman Ramachandran India’s Dream Slate Pictures is commencing a biopic of Kiran Bedi, the first woman officer in the Indian Police Service (IPS). Formerly India’s national junior tennis champion, Bedi joined the IPS in 1972. She earned fame for her campaign against drug abuse in Delhi.
Lada Guruden Singh Steps Down From Sony Pictures India Role
Tributes have been paid to the Indian media baron Ramoji Rao, who has died at the age of 87.
Tim Chan If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. The 2024 ICC T20 Cricket World Cup is underway and one of the most anticipated matchups takes place this weekend as India faces off against Pakistan in a group stage match airing live on Willow TV. Pakistan is coming off a stunning loss to the U.S.
Naman Ramachandran India enjoyed a record year at the Cannes Film Festival — winning three major awards and an honor — and this is likely to have a positive impact on the country’s independent cinema scene, according to industry experts. Payal Kapadia’s “All We Imagine as Light” won the competition grand prix, Anasuya Sengupta was awarded best actress at the festival’s Un Certain Regard strand for “The Shameless” and Chidananda S. Naik’s “Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know” was crowned the best film at the La Cinef section.
Siddhant Adlakha India’s premiere DIY documentarian Anand Patwardhan turns his lens homeward in “The World Is Family,” a personal chronicle of India’s freedom movement and its contemporary cultural milieu. Through interviews with his aging parents and their friends and family, the director transforms his collection of lo-fi footage and old, monochrome photographs into a patchwork of political memory, resulting in one of the most moving films this year.
Naman Ramachandran Siddharth Roy Kapur‘s Roy Kapur Films (RKF), in collaboration with Trickitainment Media, is set to produce a biopic on Sukumar Sen, India’s first Chief Election Commissioner. RKF’s latest project follows the success of SonyLIV series “Rocket Boys,” a fictionalized version of the story of Dr. Homi J.
Naman Ramachandran Revered Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova and ace Indian soccer player Bhaichung Bhutia are among the subjects of projects selected at the inaugural edition of India’s Doc Film Bazaar. The Bazaar has unveiled 15 projects that will participate in its Co-Production Market and the five films selected for its Work-in-Progress Lab. As revealed by Variety, the market is a documentary-focused sister edition of the Film Bazaar that takes place in Goa annually in November.
Naman Ramachandran Filmmaker and actor Anurag Kashyap (“Leo”) and Gulshan Devaiah (“Duranga”) will headline Disney+ Hotstar Indian series “Bad Cop.” The series marks the fiction series debut for Fremantle India, hitherto known for reality shows “India’s Got Talent” and “Indian Idol.” The series, adapted from RTL’s German show “Bad Cop: Kriminell Gut” (2017) by Rensil D’Silva (“Bambai Meri Jaan”), is directed by Aditya Datt (“Crakk”). Devaiah plays Karan, a fierce cop trying to chase down Kazbe (Kashyap) a villain more powerful and deadly than him while simultaneously managing his personal relationships.
Naman Ramachandran LevelFilm has acquired a brace of festival favorite films from Metrograph Pictures for Canadian distribution. India Donaldson’s feature directorial debut “Good One” world premiered at Sundance and screened at the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes. In the coming-of-age drama, 17-year-old Sam (Lily Collias) embarks on a three-day backpacking trip in the Catskills with her dad, Chris (James Le Gros) and his oldest friend, Matt (Danny McCarthy).
Naman Ramachandran Tarsem Singh Dhandwar’s “Dear Jassi” and Arati Kadav’s “Mrs” will open and close this year’s New York Indian Film Festival. Punjabi and English-language “Dear Jassi,” a tale of star-crossed lovers based on a true story, arrives in New York after a glittering festival run that began in 2023, at Toronto, where it won the Platform Prize.
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The 15th anniversary edition of the London Indian Film Festival will open on June 26 with the European Premiere of U.S. indie, tear-jerker drama “Paper Flowers,” directed by Mahesh Pailoor (“Brahmin Bulls”), starring “Deadpool’s” Karan Soni. It will close on July 7 with a screening of ultra-violent Indian actioner “Kill,” which is produced by Karan Johar and Guneet Monga and which represents Lionsgate’s first foray into South Asian film production.
One of Greater Manchester’s most popular beer and cider festivals is returning next month and will feature what has been described as the ‘largest selection’ of drinks on offer at a beer festival in the region.