News

Padmakumar Narasimhamurthy's newest feature spins an ubiquitous story on family, love and healing. Inspired by the warmth you get from watching Studio Ghibli and playing with cats, “Max, Min and Meowzaki” presents a lighthearted but timely survey of social issues in India.

Max, Min and Meowzaki is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival

As we begin, “Max, Min and Meowzaki” are no more. Max (Siddharth Menon), a voice actor and rock singer, has broken up with his filmmaker girlfriend Min (Medha Shankar), who seems to have left him for an older man. The two, who once bonded over their love for Hayao Miyazaki's films, must decide who gets custody of their kitten, Meowzaki. Max refuses the kitten, citing his allergy to animal fur, but Min still leaves it with him temporarily. As Max mourns his breakup, we learn that he has also been grieving the recent loss of his mother,...

Padmakumar Narasimhamurthy’s Malayalam movie, ‘Max, Min & Meowzaki’, starring Nafisa Ali, Nassar, Adil Hussain and Mandira Bedi, has won the best feature film awards at the 20th Indian Film Festival Stuttgart 2023.

If a cat plays a key part in ‘Max, Min & Meowzaki’, a dog is at the centre of the drama in Victor Mukherjee’s vigilante action thriller ‘Lakadbaggha’ starring Anshuman Jha and Ridhi Dogra, which took home the Director’s Vision award.

Other awards included Best Documentary, which went to Nisha Pahuja for ‘To Kill A Tiger’; Best Short Film for ‘Nocturnal Burger’ by Reema Maya; Best Tvc bagged by ‘Mental Health’ by Bauddhayan Mukherji; and the Audience Award, which was picked up by the Busan Film Festival favourite ‘The Storyteller’, with Paresh Rawal and Naseeruddin Shah in prominent roles, by Ananth Narayan Mahadevan.

As the news about the awards came in, Ians spoke with ‘Lakadbaggha’ lead actor Anshuman Jha.

New Delhi, July 25 (Ians) The vigilante action thriller ‘Lakadbaggha’ starring Anshuman Jha and Ridhi Dogra, has achieved international acclaim by winning the German star of India ‘Director’s Vision’ award at the 20th Indian Film Festival Stuttgart 2023.

The categories in the ‘German Star of India’ Award 2023 are: Best Feature Film bagged by ‘Max, Min & Meowzaki’ by Padmakumar Narasimhamurthy; Best Documentary bagged by ‘To Kill A Tiger’ by Nisha Pahuja; Best Short Film went to ‘Nocturnal Burger’ by Reema Maya; Best Tvc bagged by ‘Mental Health’ by Bauddhayan Mukherji; and the Audience Award bagged by ‘The Storyteller’ by Ananth Narayan Mahadevan.

Directed by Victor Mukherjee, ‘Lakadbaggha’ is a love letter to dogs and is the story of an animal lover vigilante against an animal abuser kingpin. The film deals with the underbelly of illegal animal trade and the inhuman treatment of the voiceless creatures.

The film had its world premiere at...

The Osaka Asian Film Festival will return in March for its 18th edition with a lineup of current Asian feature and short films and a spotlight on works from Hong Kong.

The competition section, which selects from films that are currently unreleased in Japan, numbers 13 titles. These include: Kai Ko’s “Bad Education,” “December” from Japan-based Indian director Anshul Chauhan, and two Indian-made films Rima Das’ “Tora’s Husband” and Padmakumar Narasimhamurthy’s “Max, Min and Meowzaki.”

The indie section comprises a mix of Japanese feature and short films from challenging or emerging talents, with a winner set to receive the separate Japan Cuts prize.

A Spotlight section of other independent films by up-and-coming directors includes: Martika Ramirez Escobar’s “Leonor Will Never Die,” Mejbaur Rahman Sumon’s Bangladesh-France production “Hawa,” Thitipong Kerdtongtawee’s “Omg! Oh My Girl” and documentary “Jiseok.”

The Hong Kong spotlight, consisting of five titles, cuts...

After “Sunrise” in 2014 and a double whammy with “The Wayfarers” and “Nirvana Inn” in 2019, Indian thespian Adil Hussain is back at the Busan International Film Festival this year with two more films – “The Storyteller” in the Jiseok section, and “Max, Min and Meowzaki” in the Open Cinema strand.

Hussain, best known internationally for “Life of Pi” and “Star Trek: Discovery,” also won global plaudits for “What Will People Say” and “Hotel Salvation.”

Both of the actor’s Busan films this year are by festival alumni – “The Storyteller,” is by Ananth Narayan Mahadevan, whose “Bittersweet” was in Busan 2020 and “Max, Min and Meowzaki” is helmed by Padmakumar Narasimhamurthy, who was at Busan in 2016 with “A Billion Colour Story.”

In “The Storyteller” Hussain plays Goradia, a Gujarati businessman who believes that once physical wealth is accumulated, happiness will follow, but this proves not to be the case. The film is based on a story by the late,...

KollywoodThe high-octane action drama, which also features Vijay Sethupathi and Fahadh Faasil, will be shown in the Open Cinema category at the upcoming film festival.Ptikamal Haasan With Director Lokesh Kanagaraj On Vikram Set | FACEBOOKSuperstar Kamal Haasan-fronted Tamil blockbuster Vikram is set to be screened at the 27th Busan International Film Festival (Biff), the makers announced on Monday, October 3. The high-octane action drama, which also features Vijay Sethupathi and Fahadh Faasil in pivotal roles, will be shown in the Open Cinema category at the upcoming movie gala slated to take place from October 5-14. "We are elated to announce that #Vikram has been officially selected to be screened at the 27th Busan International Film Festival, 2022," co-producer Turmeric Media posted on its official Twitter page. According to a press note issued by Haasan's banner Raaj Kamal Films International, the Open Cinema category recognises "new and internationally acclaimed films that strike...

Acclaimed Indian actor Adil Hussain will headline “Blue: The Colour of Guilt,” one of the projects being introduced at the Film Bazaar virtual co-production market. It is to be directed by first-time feature director Nilakshi Sengupta.

The India-u.K. co-production is set in Newcastle upon Tyne in England. It is a modern-day story set against the backdrop of the 1859 Indigo Rebellion in Bengal, east India, where indigo farmers crippled by debt began an uprising against indigo planters. The revolt was suppressed by the British colonial rulers and many of the farmers lost their lives.

The historical event has been depicted on stage and screen a handful of times to date. Dinabandhu Mitra’s play about the uprising, “Nil Darpan,” was written in 1859. Meanwhile, an episode of Shyam Benegal’s epic historical television series “Bharat Ek Khoj,” produced for Indian state broadcaster Doordarshan in 1989, also dealt with the movement. However, it...

Mx Player?Web Series Thinkistan review is here: The coming of age drama is set in the world of advertising and features Mandira Bedi, Naveen Kasturi, Shravan Reddy, Satyadeep Misra, and Vasuki Sunkavalli in pivotal roles. Written and helmed by ad man Padmakumar Narasimhamurthy, the web series is streaming live on Mx Player?from 24th?May. Is Thinkistan able to pitch it right and woo its audience?. Lets find out in the review of Thinkistan.

Immediate reaction when the end credits roll

Savvy baby! It?s chic though I needed more massage on my heart and soul

The Story of Thinkistan

Set in mid 1990?s, Thinkistan is a drama that involves two new entrants into the mad ad world. While the urban, smart and endearing Hema from Aamchi Mumbai having a ?set? life in an automobile industry and a steady fianc? Priya (Jayashree Venketaramanan). One night Hema decides to quit...

The fabulous Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival in London and Birmingham, is UK and Europe’s largest platform of independent cinema from the Indian subcontinent. The brilliant London festival has closed but the amazing movies continue in Birmingham until July 2nd.

The festival has grown significantly in stature and reputation, with pan-Indian and Indian sub continental cinema in several languages, all subtitled in English, Bsl (British Sign Language) incorporated in some talks, and this year attracted major award winning films including Newton, Hotel Salvation and The Cinema Travellers, as well as world premieres like the Tamil comedy, Ticket – The Movie.

Festival executive and programming director Cary Rajinder Sawhney said: “It is wonderful that the festival continues to lead the debate and not simply reflect the changing shape of Indian cinema; from this year’s Indian virtual reality showcases to bringing carefully curated important new talent to the world stage...

Drama takes top prize at 8th edition of festival.

A Billion Colour Story has walked away with the top prize, the audience award, at the 8th edition of the London Indian Film Festival.

The festival, which is held in Birmingham as well as London, showcases independent cinema from the Indian subcontinent.

Directed by Padmakumar Narasimhamurthy and produced by Satish Kaushik, A Billion Colour Story follows an 11-year-old boy living in Mumbai whose parents are forced to downsize their house as they struggle with the financial burden of trying to complete a feature film.

Narasimhamurthy and Kaushik commented: “We’re thrilled and truly, absolutely honoured, to receive this award.

“It’s incredibly special for us that A Billion Colour Story resonates with audiences across countries and continents. It continues to vindicate our faith that people and their hearts are the same across cultures and horizons. We dedicate this award to the victims of the recent lynchings, in India.”

The...

It’s over but it opened L.A.’s newest spring season of unlimited international film screenings all over the city throughout the month of April and into Cannes.

The 15th annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (Iffla) opened with “Lipstick Under My Burkha” and its impressive ensemble cast of Konkona Sen Sharma, Ratna Pathak, Aahana Kumra and Plabita Borthakur in a dramatic, but irreverent and vibrant film about women and faith. The film premiered at the Tokyo Film Festival 2016 and has been lighting up the festival circuit, including just winning the Audience Award at the Glasgow Film Festival. Director Alankrita Shrivastava is confirmed to attend and additional talent to be confirmed.

“Lipstick Under My Burkha”

Iffla concluded on April 9 with a red carpet and gala that featured the Los Angeles premiere of Shubhashish Bhutiani’s “Hotel Salvation” starring Adil Hussain who was in attendance, as well as the...

A Billion Colour Story wins audience award for best narrative.

The 15th annual Indian Film Festival Of Los Angeles (Iffla) wrapped on Sunday with a screening of Shubhashish Bhutiani’s Hotel Salvation and the presentation of the awards.

Bobby Sarma Baruah’s The Golden Wing (pictured) won the grand jury prize for best feature, while Karishma Dube’s Devi earned the best short prize.

In the audience awards, Padmakumar Narasimhamurthy’s A Billion Colour Story won best feature (narrative) and An Insignificant Man by Khushboo Ranka and Vinay Shukla took the best feature (documentary) prize.

Amar Kaushik’s Aaba was named best short.

The 15th annual Indian Film Festival Of Los Angeles took place from April 5-9 at Regal L.A. Live.

For further details click here.

The 15th edition of the Indian Film Festival Of Los Angeles (Iffla) features two world premieres, five North American premieres.

The Los Angeles premiere of Alankrita Shrivastava’s Lipstick Under My Burka and Shubhashish Bhutiani’s debut feature Hotel Salvation bookend the festival, set to run from April 5-9.

Iffla top brass announced a line-up of narrative and documentary features on Tuesday that includes two world premieres, five North American premieres and five Us premieres.

The festival includes several directing debuts. Actress Konkona Sen Sharma will screen A Death In The Gunj, while Ananya Kasaravalli brings The Chronicles Of Hari and Padmakumar Narasimhamurthy will present Billion Colour Story.

Highlights are expected to include the Us premiere of Khushboo Ranka and Vinay Shukla’s documentary An Insignificant Man, about polarising political figure Arvind Kejriwal and his progressive Aam Aadmi Party at the 2013 Delhi state elections.

“As India’s diverse array of talented filmmakers continues to be recognised around...