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Exclusive: Venk Potula has been confirmed for The Black List fellow Nerris Nevarez-Nassiri’s upcoming indie musical Key Change.

The announcement follows the securing of an SAG-AFTRA interim agreement for the project, which has allowed the producers to push on with casting.

Potula previously made waves with his lead performance in Ravi Kapoor’s buzzy Tribeca 2022 selection and IFC and Hulu-acquired comedy Four Samosas.

The new project is described as a semi-autobiographical tale taking inspiration from the Mexican and Indian heritage of creators and writers Nassiri and Potula.

Potula will play a struggling, ambitious music producer who finds himself juggling dreams and newfound responsibilities when a long-lost half-sister walks into his life as he prepares a career-defining showcase.

The film will feature four original songs written by Nassiri, who makes his directorial debut.

Producers are Briana Frapart, Arjun Yadav for Rsa Endeavors, Potula for Khrisp Entertainment, and Nassiri.

Two star-crossed lovers. One break-up. Three years of pining about it, at least on the part of would-be rap star Vinny (Venk Potula). Four friends who conspire to steal his ex-girlfriend’s dowry from her father’s supermarket so that she won’t be able to marry someone else. 20 minutes’ worth of plot stretched over 80. Starting with the hoary old ‘However did I find myself in this wacky situation?’ set-up, this is very much filmmaking by the numbers. The only truly remarkable thing about it is how a film which works really hard to mine the idiosyncrasies of its setting, in an Indian immigrant community, could be so thoroughly, unrelentingly Californian.

It’s a sweet little film at heart, more Peshwari naan than spicy samosa, and if you’re looking to while away an hour and a bit without making too many demands on your brain, you could do a lot worse.

The brilliant comedy Four Samosas, written and directed by Ravi Kapoor is a sparky, quirky heist film with a twist. The film, now in theatres and available On-Demand, stars Venk Potula, as well as Sonal Shah, Sharmita Bhattacharya, Nirvan Patnaik, Karan Soni, Tony Mirrcandani, and Summer Bishil.

Stuck in a rut in life, when wannabe rapper Vinny discovers that his ex-girlfriend Rina is engaged, he decides to disrupt her future wedding by stealing her dowry diamonds from her father’s grocery store. Crewing up with an actor who longs to go to Bollywood, a resourceful do-gooding newspaper editor, and a malcontent immigrant engineer, Vinny and his gang somehow pull off the heist but then comes the next act. To see what happens in the end, you will need to watch it play out in all its comedic glory!

Set entirely in LA’s “Little India” in a world of sari places,...

Actor Ravi Kapoor tries his hand at directing again with his latest feature, “Four Samosas.” Previously, he had directed and co-scripted another cross-cultural comedy, “Miss India America” (2015), with his wife, actress Meera Simhan. This time, the British Indian duo come together again – though this time with a cast of mostly fresh faces – and have met a considerable amount of success so far. Kapoor’s sophomore feature premiered as a nominee for Best US Narrative Feature at Tribeca, and won the Audience Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival. It now will open the holiday season with its US theatrical release this weekend.

“Four Samosas” releases in US theaters on December 2.

“Four Samosas” follows the story of Vinny (Venk Potula), a wannabe rapper who is still hung up over his ex-girlfriend, Rina (Summer Bishil) from three years ago. When news gets out about Rina’s new engagement, Vinny realizes...

A platoon of titles hits the specialty circuit this weekend, getting in ahead of steamroller Avatar: Way of Water and the year-end deadline for Oscar eligibility. This is a soul-searching, what-lies-ahead moment for a market still much too inconsistent for comfort, but that can be pondered later. At the moment, indie distributors are quite busy “with all these movies, and these plans to release theatrically. We are not going anywhere,” said one executive.

The Gotham Awards earlier this were were a shot of goodwill. Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski recalled “the mandate that all of us share in the specialty film business” at the ceremony in NYC, kicking off awards season.

“To all our friends at A24, at Neon, at Searchlight, Sony Pictures Classics, IFC, Bleecker Street, FilmNation, Cinetic, Participant and so many other wonderful companies,” he said — accepting an industry tribute with vice chairman Jason Cassidy – “We are in there together,...

Writer-director Ravi Kapoor continues his stories about South Asians in the United States with his latest, “The Four Samosas,” described as a Wes Anderson-like homage to Artesia in Southern California.

After playing at the Tribeca film festival “Four Samosas” was picked up by IFC Films and opens in theaters and on-demand Dec. 2.

Kapoor drew a number of desis to work before and behind the camera. His wife, Meera Simhan, and daughter Maya were cast in the film and his son contributed music; plus Venk Potula (“Veep”), Sonal Shah (“The High Note”), Sujata Dey (“Definition Please”), among others worked on the film. Potula and Utkarsh Ambudkar (“Ghosts”) were recruited as producers while Aakash Raj was the Dp and Anisha Acharya was the editor. His costume designer, Venk Modur, is another desi.

“I’m always looking out to tell South Asian diasporic stories,” Kapoor says. “That’s definitely an inspiration for me.

There are some cinematic affectations that immediately let you know what kind of movie you’re getting into. A wide aspect ratio might prep viewers for sweeping, grandiose visuals; black-and-white coloring tends to invoke pretension. Such choices must be made judiciously, so as not to disrupt or overwhelm the film.

“Four Samosas,” the second feature directed and written by the actor Ravi Kapoor (“Miss India America”), is presented in a square aspect ratio with rounded corners. A warm tint washes over each frame. When text appears on screen, it is bright yellow, the font Cooper Black. This film seems destined to be gratingly twee. Unfortunately, it never shakes that first impression.

Excessive hipsterness can be endearing, if done right, but “Four Samosas” woefully lacks the substance needed to buoy such overstylization. This self-proclaimed heist comedy is woefully lacking in both heists and comedy. Imagine if “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World...

Artesia is a small city in Los Angeles County in California, possibly home to an artesian well, but definitely home to Vinny (Venk Potula), an underachieving wannabe rapper. Vinny feels that his creativity and confidence have been stifled after being dumped by his girlfriend Rina (Summer Bashil) three years earlier. Everyone who knows Vinny points out that he probably should have found a way to move on by now. Vinny now channels his rapper skills into sales pitches for sarees in the shop he works in. When he discovers Rina is getting married, and to Sanjay (Karan Soni), whom he considers an idiot, Vinny is jolted out of his state of inaction to finally do something. Along with the help of his friends Zak (Nirvan Patnaik), who works at the local Chaat House restaurant, Anjali (Sharmita Bhattacharya), the perky creator and writer of the Great Little India Times, and Paru...

On Friday, December 2nd, Ravi Kapoor’s acclaimed new comedy Four Samosas will opens both In-Theaters and premiere On-Demand. And we have the deets and a trailer!

The comedy stars Venk Potula (Veep) along with an ensemble cast that includes Sonal Shah (The High Note), Sharmita Bhattacharya (Grown-ish), Nirvan Patnaik, Karan Soni (Deadpool), Summer Bishil (Under the Silver Lake), Meera Simhan (Hello I Must Be Going) and is Executive Produced by actor and rapper Utkarsh Ambudkar.

When wannabe rapper Vinny discovers that his fatalistic ex-girlfriend Rina is now engaged to a goat-shit recycler named Sanjay, Vinny decides to disrupt her future wedding by stealing her dowry diamonds from her father’s grocery store. Crewing up with an actor who longs to go to Bollywood, a resourceful do-gooding newspaper editor and a malcontent immigrant engineer, Vinny and his gang somehow pull off the heist despite their obvious ineptitude. But will the...

"First, I will need snacks!" Yes, me too. IFC Films has revealed an official trailer for a kooky indie comedy titled Four Samosas, made by British-Indian actor / filmmaker Ravi Kapoor. This originally premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year, and also played at the Heartland, Newport Beach, and Raindance Film Fests; and it's also screening at the Denver Film Festival soon, too. An unmotivated South Asian American rapper, along with three other first time thieves, plans a heist on a grocery store owned by his ex-girlfriend's father, in order to steal her wedding diamonds and disrupt her pending engagement. Set entirely in Los Angeles' "Little India" (see Google Maps) in a world of sari places, curry restaurants, Indian amateur-dramatic groups and South-Asian revolutionaries, Four Samosas is a love letter to all the “Little India's" around the world, and a celebration of re-discovering your voice and finding your crew.

Indian-American film ‘Four Samosas’ has been acquired by IFC Films after it premiered at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. “Four Samosas,” a romantic comedy set in the Little India neighborhood of Los Angeles. IFC will release it in theaters and on demand on December 2, 2022, reports variety.com.

Ravi Kapoor directs and Venk Potula (“Veep”) leads an ensemble cast that includes Sonal Shah, Sharmita Bhattacharya, Nirvan Patnaik, Karan Soni, Summer Bishil, and Meera Simhan.

The film centers on wanna-be South Asian American rapper, Vinny (Potula), who along with three friends – all of them first-time thieves – plans to rob a grocery store owned by his ex-girlfriend’s father, in order to steal her wedding diamonds and disrupt her pending engagement.

“Ravi has made a hilarious film that is part comedy and part heist movie with a spirit and style reminiscent of Wes Anderson,” Arianna Bocco, president of IFC Films said.

“It...

IFC Films has acquired North American rights to “Four Samosas,” a romantic comedy set in the Little India neighborhood of Los Angeles. The film premiered at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival.

IFC will release “Four Samosas” in theaters and on demand on Dec. 2, 2022.

Ravi Kapoor directs and Venk Potula (“Veep”) leads an ensemble cast that includes Sonal Shah, Sharmita Bhattacharya, Nirvan Patnaik, Karan Soni, Summer Bishil, and Meera Simhan. The film centers on wanna-be South Asian American rapper, Vinny (Potula), who along with three friends — all of them first-time thieves — plans to rob a grocery store owned by his ex-girlfriend’s father, in order to steal her wedding diamonds and disrupt her pending engagement.

“Ravi has made a hilarious film that is part comedy and part heist movie with a spirit and style reminiscent of Wes Anderson,” Arianna Bocco, president of IFC Films said. “It features an incredible ensemble...

Amazon Prime Video is developing a TV adaptation of the QCode podcast “Last Known Position” with Gina Rodruguez set to star and executive produce.

The podcast is a scripted project also starring Gina Rodriguez and charts the fallout of a brand-new, state of the art American commercial jetliner vanishing on its maiden voyage over the Pacific. The ensuing air crash investigation discovers evidence of a creature of the deep that may have been responsible. James Purefoy, Manny Jacinto, Olivia Cheng, Ashley Bell, Jr Bourne, Travis Joe Dixon, Matthew Henerson, Jessica Oyelowo, Venk Potula and Giovanna Quinto also starred.

“Last Known Position” debuted in December 2021. Luke Passmore served as creator and writer while John Wynn directed and executive produced. Passmore is attached to adapt the TV adaptation and will executive produce alongside Rodriguez; QCode’s Rob Herting, Sandra Yee Ling and Michele Zarate; Automatik’s Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Fred Berger, Justin Levy...

A TV version of the mystery thriller podcast Last Known Position is taking flight at Prime Video, with Gina Rodriguez firmly entrenched in the cockpit.

Per Deadline, the Jane the Virgin vet is set to headline and exec-produce the series, which is based on the aforementioned Lost-esque podcast (which also starred Rodriguez).

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Last Known...

Exclusive: Amazon is lining up a TV series adaptation of QCode mystery thriller podcast Last Known Position and has set Jane The Virgin star Gina Rodriguez — who starred in the scripted pod — as lead actress and executive producer.

Last Known Position charts the fallout of a brand new state-of-the-art American commercial jetliner vanishing on its maiden voyage over the Pacific. The ensuing air crash investigation discovers evidence of a creature of the deep that may have been responsible.

Premiering in late December 2021, the podcast was created by writer Luke Passmore (Archenemy) and directed and executive-produced by John Wynn (The Rising Hawk). Passmore is attached to adapt and executive-produce the series.

Along with Gina Rodriguez and Luke Passmore, executive producers for the series will be Rob Herting, Sandra Yee Ling, and Michele Zarate on behalf of QCode; Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Fred Berger, Justin Levy and Jeremy Platt on behalf of Automatik; and...

Exclusive: Utkarsh Ambudkar, who stars as Jay on CBS’ breakout comedy Ghosts, has boarded the Tribeca-bound indie Four Samosas as an executive producer, with Verve Ventures coming aboard to handle sales.

The comedy from writer-director Ravi Kapoor (Miss India America) centers on a wannabe rapper in L.A.’s Little India, who concocts a backwards plan to disrupt his ex-girlfriend’s wedding by stealing her wedding diamonds. It will be one of just 10 feature films in US Narrative Competition at Tribeca in June—premiering in New York on June 10th, with several other screenings to follow throughout the festival week. Venk Potula leads the cast, which also includes Karan Soni, Sonal Shah, Sharmita Bhattacharya, Nirvan Patnaik, Summer Bishil, Meera Simhan, Sujata Day, Samrat Chakrabarti and Tony Mirrcandani.

Kapoor produced Four Samosas alongside Potula for Khrisp Entertainment, and Rajiv Maikhuri and Craig Stovel for Creative Rebel Productions. Additional executive producers on...

Taking place in its newly minted summer slot of June 8-19, the 2022 edition of Tribeca Festival has now unveiled its film lined up. First, some stats: The features program spans ten categories and showcases 110 feature films and 16 online premieres from 151 filmmakers across 40 countries. The lineup includes 88 world premieres, 2 international premieres, 7 North American premieres, 2 U.S. premieres, and 11 New York premieres. There are 32 directors returning to Tribeca with their latest projects, and 50 first-time directors. More than 64 (81) of the feature films are directed by female, Bipoc, and LGBTQ+ filmmakers––46 (58) female directors, 34 (43) Bipoc directors, 8 (10) LGBTQ+ directors.

As for the films, highlights include Andrew Bujalski’s new feature There There, Ray Romano’s directorial debut Somewhere in Queens, Hannah Marks’ Don’t Make Me Go (pictured above), the Jon Hamm-led Corner Office, Andrew Dosunmu’s Beauty, Alexandre O. Philippe’s Lynch / Oz, which explores Victor Fleming’s 1939 classic through David Lynch’s ouevre,...

Exclusive: James Purefoy (Altered Carbon), Manny Jacinto (Nine Perfect Strangers) and Olivia Cheng (See) have joined Gina Rodriguez (Diary Of A Future President) in QCode podcast Last Known Position.

The mystery-thriller, whose first ep drops Here today, also stars Ashley Bell, Jr Bourne, Travis Joe Dixon, Matthew Henerson, Jessica Oyelowo, Venk Potula and Giovanna Quinto.

Created by writer/director Luke Passmore (Archenemy) and directed by John Wynn (Grand Isle), the series charts the fallout when a brand new state-of-the-art American commercial jetliner vanishes on its maiden voyage over the Pacific. The ensuing air crash investigation discovers evidence of a creature of the deep that may have been responsible.

Executive producers include Rodriguez, John Wynn, Jeremy Platt and Luke Passmore, Qcode and Automatik.

QCode has a track record for converting its starry podcasts into film and TV projects. Productions to date include iHeart Podcast and Webby Award-winning Blackout starring Rami Malek...

Exclusive: Fox 2000’s The Hate U Give has been selected as the closing night film at the 22nd annual Urbanworld Film Festival, which runs from September 19-23 in New York. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion led by Ava DuVernay with director George Tillman Jr. and stars Amandla Stenberg and Algee Smith in attendance.

In addition, Steve McQueen’s Viola Davis-starring heist thriller, Widows has been added to the fest’s screening lineup, as well as the Bet original film Running Out of Time, and Smallfoot, the Warner Bros animated film that features the voices of Channing Tatum, James Corden, Zendaya, Common, LeBron James, Danny DeVito, Gina Rodriguez, and Yara Shahidi.

The festival will also be celebrating the 30th anniversal of the John Landis-directed cult classic Coming to America with a special spotlight screening of the film Friday, September 21 and a Q&A moderated...

Universal Pictures’ “Night School,” starring Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish, will open the 22nd annual Urbanworld Film Festival.

“Night School” is one of more than 60 films and TV shows being screened at the fest — an annual showcase of diverse culture — including the debut of the Fox show “Rel.” “Get Out’s” Lil Rel Howery stars in the series and will take part in a Q&A following the screening at New York City’s AMC Empire 25.

HBO will also screen two spotlight selections: first-time filmmaker Rudy Valdez’s “The Sentence,” a documentary about mandatory minimum sentencing, and Dyana Winkler and Tina Brown’s “United Skates,” a doc about some of America’s last standing roller rinks.

Passes for the festival, which runs from Sept. 19 to Sept. 23, are available at the Urbanworld website, and tickets for official selections and spotlights will be available in September.

Here’s the full list of...