All posts tagged: Niren

Satluj’s IMDb rating disappears, film’s writer Niren Bhatt says ‘no communication as to why’; Sanjay Gupta also reacts

Satluj’s IMDb rating disappears, film’s writer Niren Bhatt says ‘no communication as to why’; Sanjay Gupta also reacts

With each passing day, a new development around Satluj creates headlines. The biopic of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, starring Diljit Dosanjh, Kanwaljit Singh, Arjun Rampal, Savinderpal Vicky, among others, was among the highest rated Indian films on IMDb- until the ratings disappeared. A still from Satluj. When this author checked the rating aggregator website on Wednesday afternoon, there were IMDb ratings available for other recent releases such as Alia Bhatt‘s Alpha, Akshay Kumar’s Welcome To The Jungle, but the 9.5 rating for Satluj (previously titled Panjab’95) was missing. The film has been at the center of a massive controversy ever since it was dropped last week on Zee5- before being pulled down within two days. Before this, the Honey Trehan-directorial had been stuck, with the Censor Board asking for 127 cuts originally. Honey and Trehan both refused their name to be associated with the film if even one cut had taken place. Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta has also noticed the IMDb rating removal. He took to X on Wednesday. Check it out here: When …

Exclusive| It’s a difficult film to watch but was getting a positive word of mouth: Satluj writer Niren Bhatt

Exclusive| It’s a difficult film to watch but was getting a positive word of mouth: Satluj writer Niren Bhatt

Diljit Dosanjh starrer Satluj (formerly Panjab 95) was removed from the ZEE5 streaming platform in India just two days after its July 3 digital premiere. Satluj Writer Niren Bhatt who co-wrote the film with Utsav Maitra and director Honey Trehan backs his film. He says, “Whatever we have shown in the film is backed by newspaper articles, reports, documentaries, it’s all out there. Also, Supreme Court lawyer Rajvinder Singh Bains, who served as the lawyer for human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra has also said that this is the judicial history of the country. I was hoping that once the film is out people will see there is nothing problematic about it. It’s just a common man’s story who showed tremendous courage to fight for death certificates of people by putting himself and his family on the line. There is nothing controversial or political about it, it’s a human rights story.” Speaking about the reception he says it was overwhelming, “Whoever has seen the film has been asking why was it kept under wraps for …

Satluj writer Niren Bhatt slams ‘anti-India’ charge on film: ‘If The Kashmir Files can exist, why is our film chosen’

Satluj writer Niren Bhatt slams ‘anti-India’ charge on film: ‘If The Kashmir Files can exist, why is our film chosen’

Honey Trehan’s Diljit Dosanjh-starrer political drama Satluj arrived on Zee5 on Friday without warning. The film, earlier titled Panjab 95, had been embroiled in a battle with the censors for four years. But then, just as quietly as it had released, the film was taken down two days later with no reason given. The film’s writer, Niren Bhatt, has addressed the film’s fate and bemoaned the lack of transparency around it all in a new interview with Variety India. Satluj stars Diljit Dosanjh as human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. Satluj writer questions opacity Niren Bhatt has co-written the film with Utsav Maitra and director Honey Trehan. Talking about the film’s unceremonious removal from Zee5, he told Variety India, “I feel someone in the establishment has a massive problem with it, but the real issue is the complete lack of communication. For years, it has just been pure stonewalling. There is pin-drop silence from the CBFC. They will not tell us what their problem is, which parts offend them or who is making these calls. …

Exclusive! Oscars 2027: Screenwriters Juhi Chaturvedi, Niren Bhatt react to AI guidelines

Exclusive! Oscars 2027: Screenwriters Juhi Chaturvedi, Niren Bhatt react to AI guidelines

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced several major rule changes for the 99th Academy Awards (taking place in 2027), focusing on AI restrictions, acting nominations, and international film eligibility. Among the important rules are screenplays must be written by humans, not chatbots, to qualify and acting performances must be demonstrably performed by humans with their consent to be eligible. Noted Indian actors, lyricists, writers and filmmakers spoke to us about their thoughts on the same. Noted screen and dialogue writer and the name behind films like Madras Cafe (2013) and Piku (2015), Juhi Chaturvedi says, “Writing is the sum total of a life lived, experiences I have had, it’s a deep quest that a writer has to want to know things, that pushes you to explore the unknown. That’s what it takes to write an original screenplay written by human beings. Words breathe oxygen into an abstract entity. You pour what you have cried and laugh about into your writing, that’s the human quality in a piece of cinematic writing. AI is …

Stree 2 writer Niren Bhatt slams remake culture in Bollywood: ‘Out of 25 remakes post-pandemic, 23 are flops’ | Bollywood

Stree 2 writer Niren Bhatt slams remake culture in Bollywood: ‘Out of 25 remakes post-pandemic, 23 are flops’ | Bollywood

Feb 15, 2025 06:15 AM IST Stree 2 writer Niren Bhatt attended the 7th edition of the Indian Screenwriters Conference (ISC), where he spoke on the dire situation of the industry. Screenwriter Niren Bhatt, who has penned some of the biggest blockbusters of recent times like Stree 2, Munjya and Bhediya, did not mince his words on the topic of remake culture in Bollywood. Speaking at the Indian Screenwriters Conference (ISC), Niren said that the entire system is ‘broken’ and writers have to be the ‘disruptors’ if they want to survive. (Also read: WGA strike’s chief negotiator Chris Keyser shares this advice for Indian screenwriters to fight for their rights) Stree 2 writer Niren Bhatt said this is the worst time for writers in the industry. ‘All writers are struggling’ Niren Bhatt has been the chief writing architect of Maddock Horror Comedy Universe. At the 7th edition of the Indian Screenwriters Conference (ISC), hosted by the Screenwriters Association of India (SWA) on Friday, he said that a crisis has gripped the Hindi film industry’s writing …

Stree 2 writer Niren Bhatt says this is the worst time for writers in industry

Stree 2 writer Niren Bhatt says this is the worst time for writers in industry

In a sea of endless content, what will eventually sail? Originality, says screenwriter Niren Bhatt, who has penned some of the biggest successes of recent time, including Stree 2 and Munjya. Bhatt, who has been the chief writing architect of Maddock Horror Comedy Universe, says there is a crisis that has gripped the writing community of the Hindi film industry. “There are two pictures– one is very bleak; all writers are struggling; this is the worst time for writers in the industry but then it`s up to you how to navigate,” Bhatt said at the seventh edition of Indian Screenwriters Conference (ISC), hosted by the Screenwriters Association of India (SWA), on Friday here. The screenwriter-lyricist, however, also believes this is the time when “disruptors” will be rewarded. “I think this is also the best time because all the established rules are broken. The entire system is broken. So only disruptors will survive and writers are the biggest disruptors. It is the best time for disruption,” he said.   At the session `The Mainstream Reality`, he …

Stree 2 writer Niren Bhatt spills the beans on Vicky Kaushal`s Mahavatar

Stree 2 writer Niren Bhatt spills the beans on Vicky Kaushal`s Mahavatar

Horror comedy, aerial actioner, mythological drama—each genre is far removed from the other. But each of them finds a place in writer Niren Bhatt’s filmography. Only months after displaying his command over horror comedies with Munjya (2024) and Stree 2 (2024), Bhatt delivered the aerial actioner, Sky Force, last week. While the Akshay Kumar and Veer Pahariya-starrer receives positive reviews, the writer has moved on to his next, the mythological drama, Mahavatar, starring Vicky Kaushal. “It is a new genre for us,” begins Bhatt.  That telling the story of Chiranjeevi Parashurama on the big screen will be an immense responsibility for director Amar Kaushik and him is not lost on him. Bhatt says, “It tells the story of Bhagwan Parashurama, who was the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. There are lots of references from Bhagavata Purana and 11 other scriptures. There are ancient texts that you can read in libraries, but people don’t read them. They are used mostly for pujas.” Niren Bhatt One would think there is nothing common between Sky Force and Mahavatar. …

Stree 2, Munjya writer Niren Bhatt says not genre but storytelling works: See box office record of other horror comedies | Bollywood

Stree 2, Munjya writer Niren Bhatt says not genre but storytelling works: See box office record of other horror comedies | Bollywood

Niren Bhatt had a unique transition in his career from Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma to Maddock Supernatural Universe. The writer, who has written scripts of Munjya and Stree 2, is also associated with Ayushmann Khurrana-Rashmika Mandanna-starrer Thama. Niren Bhatt speaks about depicting folklore in cinema, engagement quotient in storytelling, supernatural universe and more in an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times. (Also read: Munjya director Aditya Sarpotdar says his villain represents patriarchy: ‘He believes men don’t need consent’) Stree 2 writer Niren Bhatt speaks to HT about Indian folklore, supernatural universe and more. Niren Bhatt weighs in on supernatural universe When asked if he had any concerns while starting to work on the horror-comedy genre with Bhediya, since few films have explored the supernatural element in India, Niren states , “It is not the genre that works; it is the storytelling that works. If you make a bad film in the horror-comedy genre, will it succeed? There have been other films in the horror-comedy genre in the last four years. You can see the box …

Latest entertainment News, Live Updates Today November 1, 2024: Stree 2, Munjya writer Niren Bhatt says not genre but storytelling works: See box office record of other horror comedies

Latest entertainment News, Live Updates Today November 1, 2024: Stree 2, Munjya writer Niren Bhatt says not genre but storytelling works: See box office record of other horror comedies

Live Welcome to the live updates platform for Hindustan Times. Follow the major news updates, headlines and breaking news stories from the world of entertainment right here. See the latest developments in Bollywood, Hollywood and track the big news stories of the day for November 1, 2024. Latest entertainment news on November 1, 2024: Stree 2 writer Niren Bhatt speaks to HT about Indian folklore, supernatural universe and more. Get the latest news updates and breaking news stories from the world of entertainment. Track all the latest developments in Bollywood, Hollywood and more right here. Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated live blog and has not been edited by Hindustan Times staff.…Read More Follow all the updates here: Nov 1, 2024 6:20 AM IST Bollywood News Live Updates: Stree 2, Munjya writer Niren Bhatt says not genre but storytelling works: See box office record of other horror comedies Thama is the new addition to Maddock Supernatural Universe. The film’s writer Niren Bhatt speaks to HT about his storytelling, vampires, werewolves and more. Read the full story …

`Stree 2` writer Niren Bhatt: Stories over stars is the future

According to Niren Bhatt, we “live in Sarkata’s world”. The writer of Stree 2 is not far from the truth. Through its villain Sarkata that attacked progressive women, Stree 2 depicted the ugly face of patriarchy and championed women’s empowerment. The horror comedy’s runaway success unfolds at a time when the Hema Committee Report and the RG Kar rape-murder case have reiterated the lack of women’s safety in India. Bhatt acknowledges the irony, and hopes the franchise will further the conversation on female agency. “By itself, a film can never change society. Movies further conversations. The movement in Malayalam cinema is mirrored in a big-screen experience [through films on patriarchy and gender issues]. This blend of reality and fiction sparks conversation and spreads awareness,” says the writer.  Niren Bhatt The Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor-starrer’s domestic gross collection crossed the Rs 500-crore mark. But for writers, the bigger win is to see their messaging resonate with the audience. Is Bhatt conscious of what he shows on screen? “Writers are also concerned about a movie’s box-office …