All posts tagged: Storytelling

Pankaj Kapur: Content has come back strongly

Pankaj Kapur: Content has come back strongly

Published by Parlour News

Veteran actor Pankaj Kapur reflects on the evolving landscape of Hindi cinema at a time when big-budget spectacles like Dhurandhar, Dhurandhar: The revenge, and franchise-driven formulas such as Housefull 5 (2025), Stree 2 (2024) dominate the conversation, with films like Golmaal 5 continuing the sequel trend. Despite the industry’s tilt towards scale and familiarity, Kapoor believes storytelling is quietly reclaiming its space. “The biggest change is that stories have improved significantly. Content has come back strongly into cinema,” Kapoor says, reflecting on how the focus has gradually returned to substance after a phase where it seemed to drift. Actor Pankaj Kapur “There was a period, especially in the late ’80s and ’90s, which was very different. But today, even mainstream cinema is looking to say something through its stories.” At the same time, he acknowledges the challenges that content-driven, smaller films continue to face within this ecosystem, films like Jab Khuli Kitaab, Tu Yaa Main, and others, which often struggle to secure a theatrical release despite their intent or get barely any screens. “I’ve a …

Pratilipi launches microdrama studio Double Tap Films with over 150 productions across 10 platforms

Pratilipi launches microdrama studio Double Tap Films with over 150 productions across 10 platforms

Published by Parlour News

New Delhi, Indian storytelling platform Pratilipi has announced the launch of Double Tap Films, billed as India’s first data-backed microdrama studio, with a slate of over 150 productions across more than 10 streaming platforms. Pratilipi launches microdrama studio Double Tap Films with over 150 productions across 10 platforms Built at the intersection of indigenous intellectual property and mobile-first content consumption, the studio produces vertical-first dramatic narratives powered by audience data drawn from Pratilipi’s ecosystem of over two million authors whose stories are read more than 800 million times each month. The studio’s debut slate spans Hindi, Bengali, Kannada and Gujarati, with productions including “Avnika Ki Shaadi”, “Apavitra”, “Aag Se Takkar”, “Raavan”, “Boss Bahu”, “CEO Se Romeo”, “2:47AM”, “Nishithini” and “Naduve”. The content is available on Hungama OTT, Zupee, Fatafat, Reelies, Story TV, Vertical TV, KLIP and DramaWave, among others. “India has always been a country of storytellers. What has changed is the screen. The mobile phone is now the primary relationship that hundreds of millions of Indians have with narrative forms and Double Tap Films …

Nawazuddin Siddiqui criticises ‘fake films’ trend, internet wonders if he is hinting at The Kerala Story, Dhurandhar

Nawazuddin Siddiqui criticises ‘fake films’ trend, internet wonders if he is hinting at The Kerala Story, Dhurandhar

Published by Webster

Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui has sparked a fresh debate about the state of Hindi cinema after criticising what he described as “fake” films being produced in the industry today. The actor shared his candid views during a recent public interaction, discussing storytelling, truth in cinema, and the role of filmmakers in shaping society. Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s recent comments on ‘fake’ films in Hindi cinema ignited discussions about storytelling and filmmakers’ responsibilities Nawazuddin Siddiqui talks about global conflicts in films Nawazuddin, who was last seen in the Netflix crime thriller Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders, made the remarks while speaking at NDTV Creators’ Manch Season 2. During the session, he was asked about global conflicts such as the ongoing tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, and whether filmmakers have a responsibility to guide society through cinema. Responding to the question, the actor stressed the importance of honesty in storytelling. According to him, filmmakers should avoid pushing society in the wrong direction, especially when audiences today are increasingly aware of the realities behind narratives portrayed on …

Funky Review: Vishwak Sen, Kayadu Lohar starrer is messy and chaotic with unstructured storytelling

Funky Review: Vishwak Sen, Kayadu Lohar starrer is messy and chaotic with unstructured storytelling

Published by Parlour News

Name: Funky Director: KV Anudeep Cast: Vishwak Sen, Kayadu Lohar, Naresh, VTV Ganesh, Sampath Raj, Easwari Rao Writer: KV Anudeep Rating: 2/5 Funky, starring Vishwak Sen and Kayadu Lohar in the lead roles, was released in theaters on February 13, 2026. After its run at the box office, the movie is now available for streaming on Netflix. If you’re planning to watch the film, here is the Pinkvilla review for you to check out. The Plot Funky follows the story of Komal, an aspiring filmmaker who decides to direct his first movie titled Funky. However, the film’s budget unexpectedly spirals out of control, causing stress and health issues for the producer, Sudarshan. As a result, Komal is removed from the director’s position, and Chitra steps in to take charge and complete the project. The rest of the story explores the challenges faced by the team in finishing the film on a limited budget while navigating personal struggles and professional conflicts. Amid these hurdles, Komal and Chitra develop a romantic connection, and the narrative focuses on …

How Hansal Mehta is championing genre storytelling with Ranveer Singh`s Pralay

How Hansal Mehta is championing genre storytelling with Ranveer Singh`s Pralay

Published by Webster

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta is betting big on genre storytelling with Pralay, a post-apocalyptic zombie survival thriller starring Ranveer Singh that anchors the expanding slate of his production banner True Story Films. Directed by Jai Mehta and produced in collaboration with Singh’s banner Maa Kasam Films, Pralay is envisioned as one of the most ambitious genre projects attempted in Indian cinema. Mehta describes the film as “a film unlike anything India has attempted before.” About Pralay A source had earlier revealed that Pralay would go on floors sometime between July and August 2026. Mounted on an estimated Rs 300 crore budget, it marks Ranveer Singh`s most expensive standalone project. A source told Pinkvilla, “Ranveer has entered into a backend profit-sharing deal and is involved in every stage, from script development to VFX planning.” Pralay reportedly follows Ranveer Singh`s fight for survival, with Mehta using the zombie framework to explore social, emotional, and moral collapse. It is said to reimagine Mumbai in The Hunger Games’ style set-up. Insiders said the makers are planning to recreate a devastated Mumbai, …

Ramayana first screening has US viewers raving about ‘monstrous VFX, rooted storytelling’ of Ranbir Kapoor, Yash film

Ramayana first screening has US viewers raving about ‘monstrous VFX, rooted storytelling’ of Ranbir Kapoor, Yash film

Published by Webster

Ramayana Part One, set for release later this year, is easily the biggest Bollywood film ever made. In terms of budget, scale, and ambition, the epic film is one of the most anticipated titles in the Bollywood release slate this year. And even though it is still eight months away from release, the post-production work has begun. A new report has claimed the first test screening of the film was held in the USA recently to a largely positive response. The Ramayana first glimpse was officially unveiled on July 3. Ramayana first cut screened for test audiences Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana is a two-part adaptation of Valmiki’s epic poem, considered one of the most recognised and adapted texts from India. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Yash as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Ravie Dubey as Lakshman, and Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman. The filming for Part One wrapped up last year, and the post-production and VFX work is currently underway. Amid this, The Week recently reported that the film’s team held …

Ramayana first cut screened in Los Angeles; audience heaps praise on scale, visual effects and rooted storytelling | Bollywood News

Ramayana first cut screened in Los Angeles; audience heaps praise on scale, visual effects and rooted storytelling | Bollywood News

Published by Parlour News

3 min readMumbaiFeb 25, 2026 09:51 AM IST Arguably the most anticipated film of the year is Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari. Mounting one of Indian mythology’s most revered epics on an unprecedented scale, the film boasts a massive ensemble cast led by three giants: Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana. The first glimpse of the film, unveiled last year, offered audiences a brief window into the expansive world Tiwari has been building alongside producer Namit Malhotra. Adding to the global scale of the project is the collaboration between music maestros A. R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer, who have joined hands to compose the score. With such formidable names attached and a story of monumental cultural significance at its core, expectations have understandably soared. Ramayana test screening held in LA Now, early reactions suggest that the makers may have delivered on that promise. According to a report by The Week, the first-ever screening of Ramayana was held on Monday evening  in Los Angeles, USA, at the Cinemark Playa …

Sanjay Leela Bhansali connects Mahabharat with films in new cinema-themed tableau at Republic Day Parade

Sanjay Leela Bhansali connects Mahabharat with films in new cinema-themed tableau at Republic Day Parade

Published by Parlour News

Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who collaborated with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for a special tableau themed “Bharat Katha: Shruti, Kriti, Drishti” for the Republic Day Parade, said he felt deeply honoured to represent Indian cinema and the creator community at the event. Sanjay Leela Bhansali designed the I&B Ministry’s tableau for the Republic Day parade. The tableau made its way down Kartavya Path during the Republic Day parade on Monday and highlighted the continuity between India’s civilisational wisdom and contemporary creative innovation, reflecting how heritage and technology together shape national identity. “I felt deeply honoured to represent Indian cinema and the creator community at the Republic Day Parade under the theme Bharat Gatha. Co-creating this tableau with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting was a tribute to India’s timeless stories and the power of cinema to retell them. “It reflects the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji’s vision of taking Indian storytelling to the world and celebrating cinema as one of India’s strongest cultural voices,” Bhansali said in a statement. The tableau …

Mercy movie review: The storytelling is flat in this Chris Pratt-starrer; so is everyone on screen | Movie-review News

Mercy movie review: The storytelling is flat in this Chris Pratt-starrer; so is everyone on screen | Movie-review News

Published by Parlour News

Mercy movie review: It’s 2029, Los Angeles. A detective finds himself in the hot seat, accused of murdering his wife. He has only 90 minutes to prove his innocence: the catch is, that it is an AI-powered justice system which is judge, jury, executioner, and if he can’t lay out sufficient evidence to clear himself, he will be executed. Blinking himself out of a stupor, Chris Raven (Chris Pratt) finds himself strapped to a chair, facing the beautiful Judge Maddox (Rebecca Fergusson). From all accounts in front of the judge, the detective was alone with his wife (Annabelle Wallis) for a length of time, during which she was stabbed with a sharp knife. Their daughter (Kylie Rogers) finds her mother lying in a pool of blood, and calls it in, and from then on, starts Chris’s ordeal. He claims he is innocent, but then so does every criminal. It doesn’t look good for him: a secret he’s been hiding comes out, painting him even more guilty than he looks. Could it be jealousy over an …

Emraan Hashmi feels theatrical money-spinners ‘dumb down’ storytelling: ‘Don’t have experimentation there’ | Interview

Emraan Hashmi feels theatrical money-spinners ‘dumb down’ storytelling: ‘Don’t have experimentation there’ | Interview

Published by Parlour News

Emraan Hashmi has played a diverse range of roles in a career spanning over two decades. However, the hallmark of his diverse filmography has been his ability to portray characters with complex shades of grey. Whether he has played a lover or a fighter, Emraan’s characters have always been rougher than what was the norm for Bollywood. In a chat ahead of the release of his new show, Taskaree, the actor chats with HT about his career trajectory and more. Emraan Hashmi will be next seen in Neeraj Pandey’s web series, Taskaree. Emraan Hashmi on playing grey characters In Taskaree, Emraan plays a customs official, but one who is not averse to getting his hands dirty. In a career that is replete with such characters, the question is whether he seeks them out. A laughing Emraan replies, “I have no idea. It’s just from my first film (Footpath, in which he played a gangster with a heart of gold). And that inherently became the nature of the characters that I was playing. And of course, …