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IANS News

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Indo-Asian News Service or IANS is a private Indian news agency. The IANS was founded by Indian American publisher Gopal Raju as the India Abroad News Service. It was later renamed the Indo-Asian News Service. The IANS has its main offices located in Noida.

Articles Written By IANS News

Subhash Ghai Reveals His Inspiration Behind Composing For '36 Farmhouse'
1603 days ago
Digital Media

Subhash Ghai Reveals His Inspiration Behind Composing For '36 Farmhouse'

Mumbai, Jan 19 (IANS) Filmmaker Subhash Ghai has talked about his inspiration behind composing and writing songs for the web film '36 Farmhouse'.## He said: "Since I became writer-director, whenever I start writing a script, I have had a habit of thinking of music also along with storylines and its characters and I used to suggest my poetic catch lines from my script to my lyrics writers and mood of the music to my composers.## "So, my songs became an integral part of the film itself. This process clicked in a big way. So, now while writing the storyline of '36 Farmhouse', I did write a few lyrics and started composing too as per the story and characters".## Ghai said it gave him an opportunity to test himself independently to write and compose three songs in a flow.## "Today technology helps you a lot in composing song and music. I hired a musician from Whistling Woods Music School, Abhishek Bonthu, who translated my vision and compositions into a song on computer", he said.## He added: "Then I requested two legendary singers Sonu Nigam and Hariharan to lend their voices to my songs and they did oblige me happily and made a lot of difference to my creation as a composer".## The filmmaker said that it was also four decades of learning from association with veterans like Laxmikant Pyarelal and A.R. Rahman and Anand Bakshi as great lyricists.## "Thirdly, I had also developed a knack of writing poems and songs during these two years of pandemic time".## The film '36 Farmhouse' is directed by Ram Ramesh Sharma and it features Amol Parashar, Barkha Singh, Sanjay Mishra, Vijay Raaz, Flora Saini, and Ashwini Kalsekar among others.## The film releases on ZEE5 on January 21.## Stay tuned...

'Modern Love' Cooking Between Pratik Gandhi, Wamiqa Gabbi, Fatima Sana Shaikh
1603 days ago
Digital Media

'Modern Love' Cooking Between Pratik Gandhi, Wamiqa Gabbi, Fatima Sana Shaikh

Mumbai, Jan 19 (IANS) Actors Pratik Gandhi, Wamiqa Gabbi, and Fatima Sana Shaikh will be part of the Indian adaptation of the popular American romantic comedy anthology 'Modern Love'.## According to sources close to the development, "Each of the actors is helming different directors' stories in the anthology. And it's an exciting lineup of directors and actors who have come together. The series was shot late in 2021 and is believed to be releasing soon on an OTT platform".## The anthology will be directed by some renowned filmmakers like Hansal Mehta, Vishal Bhardwaj, Anjali Menon, Alankrita Shrivastava, Dhruv Sehgal, and Shonali Bose.## The anthology series explores love in all of its complicated and beautiful forms, as well as its effects on the human connection. Each episode brings to life a different story that has been inspired by a newspaper column.## The Indian adaptation will have a similar yet fresh concept around the various stories being presented as episodes.## Stay tuned...

'Ranjish Hi Sahi' Reminds Amala Paul Of Why She Wanted To Be An Actor
1603 days ago
Digital Media

'Ranjish Hi Sahi' Reminds Amala Paul Of Why She Wanted To Be An Actor

Chennai, Jan 19 (IANS) Well-known Tamil and Malayalam actress Amala Paul says Pushpdeep Bharadwaj, director of the Hindi web series, 'Ranjish Hi Sahi', is someone who embodies his art. Paul plays the character inspired by yesteryear's Bollywood heroine Parveen Babi in the series.## Taking to social media to pen a long, heartfelt note to her 'Ranjish Hi Sahi' team, Amala Paul said: "It is not every day that you meet someone who embodies their art, but I was fortunate enough to meet one, and that was Pushpdeep Bhardwaj -- the director and screenplay writer of 'Ranjish Hi Sahi'.## "What followed the four hours of intense narration from Pushpadeep was a girl who was reminded why she chose to be an actor all over again. Every word that came from him was art in its best form. All I knew at the end of this narration was that I had to do this. I had to be Amna Parvez," the actress said, sharing a clip of her screen test.## "This footage is a scene from the screen test -- I knew I had to bag this character from the word go.## "As I type this, all I can think of are the memories that come along like a breath of fresh air. Right from my audition to the scene test to the very end of this project, my director Pushpadeep has been there and how".## The actress concluded by noting that 'Ranjish Hi Sahi' and Amna Parvez "would not be what they are today without him (the director)". She signed off with: "I owe you all BIG".## Stay tuned...

'The Great Indian Murder' Trailer Depicts An Intense, Raw, Gripping Tale
1604 days ago
Digital Media

'The Great Indian Murder' Trailer Depicts An Intense, Raw, Gripping Tale

Mumbai, Jan 18 (IANS) The trailer of the upcoming thriller series 'The Great Indian Murder' was released on Tuesday. The show based on author Vikas Swarup's riveting novel 'Six Suspects' has been helmed by Tigmanshu Dhulia.## It stars Richa Chadha, Pratik Gandhi, Ashutosh Rana, Shashank Arora, Raghubir Yadav, Paoli Dam, Jatin Goswami, Sharib Hashmi, and Amey Wagh.## The show, co-written for the screen by Tigmanshu Dhulia, Vijay Maurya, and Puneet Sharma, presents a gripping narrative that tracks the murder of a spoilt brat Vicky Rai, who is the son of the Home Minister of Chhattisgarh, Jagannath Rai, and the investigation that follows.## Six suspects surrounding Vicky's murder come under the radar of the case's investigating officers DCP Sudha Bhardwaj played by Richa Chadha and Suraj Yadav essayed by Pratik Gandhi of Central Bureau of Investigation. Using the Rashomon effect with aplomb, 'The Great Indian Murder' explores several versions of a single murder, a story that Sudha and Suraj weave through their investigations.## Talking about the series, director Tigmanshu Dhulia says, "While working on 'The Great Indian Murder', I was taken back to my love for thrillers and murder mysteries. Vikas Swarup's 'Six Suspects' has been on my list of top thrillers, so envisioning it for the screen was doubly exciting for me. The story does an excellent job of blending mystery, murder, and fate with a unique storyline".## Highlighting the importance of each character in the story, he adds, "Every character in the series holds the fort with their characteristic individuality that adds to the raw eclectic feel of the series. It is unlike anything I have worked on before. It has been a great journey, and I hope the audience shows 'The Great Indian Murder' much love and appreciation. Disney+ Hotstar has been creating some path-breaking content over the years so we couldn't have better partners than them to showcase the show".## Talking about her affinity for thrillers, Richa Chadha says, "Thrillers have always been an exciting genre for me - it challenges you greatly and stretches your capabilities as an actor. When I read the script for 'The Great Indian Murder', I knew instantly that it was a project I wanted to be a part of. There's an intriguing story to tell here, and Tigmanshu is a brilliant director who was there for me and for the rest of the cast to guide and direct".## She concurs with her director, "Each character in this series has an intense motive and justification for their actions - it is somewhat relatable, yet nerve-wracking. It is an exemplary example of thriller series writing which only Tigmanshu Dhulia could have pulled off. Can't wait to see the audience's reaction to it".## Pratik Gandhi reveals, "I wanted to be very thoughtful about my next digital outing, and 'The Great Indian Murder' and Disney+ Hostar seemed like the perfect choice. My character Suraj Yadav was a whole new challenge for me. He is someone who represents the law but never shies away from breaking it or mending it to ease his way".## He adds, "This grey layer and his easy transition between the dark and light sides make him special and very human. I am extremely grateful to Tigmanshu Dhulia and Richa Chadha for constantly being by my side and helping me to interpret the character. Hope Suraj Yadav receives a lot of love and appreciation".## Ajay Devgn, who has produced the show, shares, "'Six Suspects', as a book, intrigued and fascinated me greatly. As an ardent fan of thrillers, I am looking forward to 'The Great Indian Murder' as it intricately deals with a common subject like class divide and revenge but with a lot of glamour".## Talking about his collaboration with Tigmanshu, he adds, "Collaborating with Tigmanshu Dhulia to bring alive this exhilarating thriller on screen was an obvious choice, given his phenomenal creation of some of the best thrillers in India. Disney+ Hotstar and I share a strong relationship and I relate to their creative ambition and ability to think big".## Producer Priti Vinay Sinha says, "It's been an adrenaline-filled three-year journey from the day I acquired the rights of the book from Vikas Swarup to producing 'The Great Indian Murder' into a fascinating series with a greatly talented cast and crew. I am really excited to share our web series with the audience. Ajay and I partnering as producers under our banner ADF & RLE Media for the first time and working with Tigmanshu Dhulia and Disney+ Hotstar have been a dream run".## Gaurav Banerjee, Head, Content, Disney+ Hotstar and HSM Entertainment network, Disney Star India, says, "We are thrilled to bring yet another powerful and genre-defining story with 'The Great Indian Murder'. Starring critically acclaimed actors and helmed by Tigmanshu Dhulia, the series' crossover of characters from different walks of life makes it a highly intriguing title that is sure to entertain audiences across the country".## 'The Great Indian Murder' will be available to stream exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar from February 4 in Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Bengali.## Stay tuned...

Ayush Mehra Gets Candid About 'How To Fall In Love'
1606 days ago
Digital Media

Ayush Mehra Gets Candid About 'How To Fall In Love'

Mumbai, Jan 15 (IANS) 'Call My Agent' actor Ayush Mehra is quite excited about the response of netizens for his Netflix reel show 'How to Fall in Love' with Tanya Maniktala.## Ayush plays a corporate employee during the day and a standup comedian by the night. The reel show consists of six episodes of a minute each.## He said: "I am overwhelmed and thankful for the unconditional love and appreciation all my fans have been showering since the first episode. As an actor, you always want the love and support for your work from everyone. Netizens also demanded for a Season 2 of 'How to Fall in Love' because of the new concept in the form of a reel show."## Sharing his experience of working with Tanya, whom he saw in the web series 'Flames' and also in 'A Suitable Boy', Ayush described her as a "sweet" and "kind" person.## He said: "It was indeed an amazing experience. I have always been a fan of hers and I have only heard good things about her and the good work she does! She used to work with TVF and I used to work along with Dice Media and we never got a chance to even work on a sketch together and that's why I was super excited and was looking forward to sharing screen space with Tanya."## Their chemistry in the reel was quite liked by the fans and Ayush said they both were comfortable with one another and shared a mutual trust.## He concluded by saying: "I feel with good actors, it's very easy to get the chemistry going because they know exactly what to do and you are also more trusting and comfortable with them.## "Chemistry is all about being comfortable with one another and from Day 1. Both of us were eager to work with each other. We had seen so much content of each other's work in the past that there was genuine appreciation and love for each other. I think that made things easier for us."## The reel show 'How to Fall in Love' is available on the social media handle of Netflix.## Stay tuned...

Aamna Sharif Reveals How She Prepped For Her Role In 'Damaged 3'
1606 days ago
Digital Media

Aamna Sharif Reveals How She Prepped For Her Role In 'Damaged 3'

Mumbai, Jan 15 (IANS) 'Kasautii Zindagii Kay' star Aamna Sharif will be seen playing DSP Rashmi Singh in the psychological thriller web series 'Damaged 3'. The trailer is out and the actress says she has given her best to play this challenging role.## Talking about the process of getting into the skin of her character, Sharif said: "I have never played a cop on the screen, and it was challenging to essay it. To get it correct, I had taken acting workshops for the first time".## The actress added about the difficulties and how she managed to overcome them while playing a character that is completely opposite to her real self.## "Rashmi is the exact opposite to me in real life. So to understand her and her psyche better, I started dressing up like her a few days before going on the floors. I even isolated myself to get into the skin of my character. It really prepared me to perform in front of the camera," she further added.## 'Damaged S3' features Aamna Sharif and Shrenu Parikh in the lead roles. Shrenu will portray a journalist. The series is directed by Ekant Babani. It will be released on January 20 on Hungama Play.## The first season of the web series, titled 'Damage', ran in 2018. The second season of the series was streamed in 2020.## Stay tuned...

Rohit Shetty Set To Make OTT Debut With 'Mission Frontline'
1607 days ago
Digital Media

Rohit Shetty Set To Make OTT Debut With 'Mission Frontline'

Mumbai, Jan 15 (IANS) Filmmaker Rohit Shetty, who has entertained audiences with his comedic movies and action thrillers, and also hosted 'Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi'. is all set to entertain viewers with his OTT debut.## Shetty will be seen in the show 'Mission Frontline', which peeps into the lives of armed forces posted on the borders. The show has earlier featured Rana Daggubatti and Sara Ali Khan.## He will step into the shoes of a Special Operations Group soldier and experience how the unit lives and trains in the difficult places they are posted at. The show has been shot at locations in and around Srinagar.## Kunal Kochhar, the show's director, said Rohit Shetty is synonymous with action, so no one else could be more qualified for the job than him. "Rohit Shetty's films reflect patriotism, courage, and vigor and there couldn't be a better fit than him for 'Mission Frontline'", Kochhar said.## Sharing his experience, he added: "It was an absolutely surreal experience to shoot in the picturesque terrains of Srinagar with the special unit and Rohit's presence added so much energy to it. Super excited to see a completely different side of Rohit and we're sure the audience will enjoy watching the show".## 'Mission Frontline' will premiere on January 20 on discovery+.## Stay tuned...

'Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhen' Review: A Teasing Thriller That Fails To Deliver
1608 days ago
Digital Media

'Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhen' Review: A Teasing Thriller That Fails To Deliver

Series: 'Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhen' (Streaming on Netflix)## Duration: Averages 40 minutes per episode## Director: Sidharth Sengupta## Cast: Tahir Raj Bhasin, Shweta Tripathi Sharma, Anchal Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Bijendra Kala, Surya Sharma, Anantvijay Joshi, Sunita Rajwar## IANS Rating: *** (3 star) Designed as a pulpy thriller this eight-episode series is an engaging, psychological romance drama set in the backdrop of crime and power.## Based in the fictional town of Onkara, 'Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein' follows a recently graduated engineering student Vikrant who is the cynosure of Purva's eyes since her school days. Purva is the daughter of the local, all-powerful politician Akheraj Awasthi who would go to any length to keep his daughter happy.## Years later, circumstances make their paths meet when Vikrant after finishing his studies, is forced by his father to seek Akheraj's blessings and maybe a "job". Vikrant's father works as an accountant for Akheraj and is indebted to him on various grounds.## Vikrant unenthusiastically lands up at Akheraj's premise and by happenstance meets Purva, who ensures that her father offers him a job as the manager of her Zumba classes with a plump salary. Instead of getting elated, Vikrant is not happy because he can't fathom how he'd put his engineering education to use in a dead-end job.## Also, unbeknownst to his family, he is in love with his college mate Shikha Agarwal and dreams of settling with her in Bhilai, where he hopes to get a job.## So, the next day after promising Shikha that he would marry her, Vikrant goes to Akheraj's office intending to tell Akheraj that he is not interested in working for him. While he is there, he witnesses an event that repulses him. He then goes to Purva and tells her that he is not interested in working for her family, but the events that follow make it clear that he can't escape Purva's clutches.## So, he reluctantly accepts to work and later even marries Purva with the intention of revenge. How he attempts to break free from Purva and her family, forms the crux of the narrative. The characters are all well-etched, and the lines they mouth are refreshing at times may even be soapy that drives too many aspects of the dramatic narrative.## Tahir Raj Bhasin as Vikrant is impressive. You feel and root for him as he takes you through Vikrant's emotional journey from a simpleton to a determined lover wanting to marry the person he loves. Similarly striking are Vikrant's friend Golden, and Bijendra Kala, who essays his father. For a change, Kala brings his character to life with his charged histrionics. The rest of the cast backed by familiarity is sincere but passable.## On the writing front, the plot of the series is straightforward, with the screenplay often teasing at some outlandish possibilities. The pace of the telling keeps you hanging to the ledge. It is only the final episode with its abrupt ending that leaves you a bit disappointed, for it does not fulfill the promise it assured us in the first episode.## Stay tuned...

Priyamani To Make Telugu OTT Debut With Web Movie 'Bhamakalapam'
1609 days ago
Digital Media

Priyamani To Make Telugu OTT Debut With Web Movie 'Bhamakalapam'

Hyderabad, Jan 12 (IANS) Telugu OTT platform Aha is coming up with a web original movie - 'Bhamakalapam' - starring Priyamani. The movie's first-look poster was launched on Wednesday.## The film marks the Telugu OTT debut of the popular actress who shot to fame in the digital space with 'The Family Man'. Captioned 'a delicious home-cooked thriller', 'Bhamakalapam' is directed by Abhimanyu Tadimeti, of 'Dear Comrade' fame, with filmmaker Bharat Kamma as the showrunner.## The first-look poster has Priyamani as a homemaker in an avatar resembling Goddess Durga and her various dimensions in a typical household. She's simultaneously holding a knife, a basket, a plate of biryani, a broom, an egg, and a pooja-room bell while peeping into something as if she's holding binoculars in her hand.## The poster, highlighted with different hues across the kitchen, hints that the lead character is a woman of many shades and can tackle any crisis that comes her way. What does destiny have in store for her?## Justin Prabhakaran, the composer of films like 'Radhe Shyam', and 'Dear Comrade', is scoring the music for this film. Sudheer Edara and Bogavalli Bapineedu have bankrolled the project under SVCC Digital. Cinematographer Deepak Kumar has cranked the camera, while Viplav is the editor.## The streaming platform Aha also has an impressive lineup of movies and shows, including 'The American Dream' which is releasing on January 14. Aha's talk show, 'Unstoppable', hosted by actor Nandamuri Balakrishna has been rated the No. 1 talk show on IMDB as well.## Other recent releases on Aha include 'Lakshya', 'Senapathi', '3 Roses', 'Laabham', 'Manchi Rojuloachaie', 'Romantic', 'Most Eligible Bachelor', 'Anubhavinchu Raja', 'Sarkaar', 'Chef Mantra', Alludu Garu', and 'Christmas Thatha'.## Stay tuned...

'Sairat' Helmer Nagraj Manjule To Direct 'Matka King' Based On Gambler Ratan Khatri
1611 days ago
Digital Media

'Sairat' Helmer Nagraj Manjule To Direct 'Matka King' Based On Gambler Ratan Khatri

Mumbai, Jan 11 (IANS) Filmmaker Nagraj Manjule, known for films like 'Sairat' and 'Fandry', is set to direct a series titled 'Matka King', inspired by true events and the life of the Karachi-born Ratan Khatri, the founding father of gambling in India.## Set between the 1960s and the 1990s, the series will capture the culture of Mumbai's working classes of the '60s and '70s and will show how money moves through the informal economy and influences a nation's power structure.## Thrilled to be donning the showrunner's mantle, Nagraj Manjule says, "I am looking forward to this new opportunity of being able to tell a very unique and captivating story on OTT and partnering with Sid Roy Kapur who shares a common creative vision".## He adds, "I truly hope that the viewers enjoy the world of the 'Matka King' as much as we are enjoying the process of creating it".## Siddharth Roy Kapur, who is producing the series under the banner of Roy Kapur Films, shares, "Nagraj Manjule's 'Sairat' is one of my favorite movies of the last decade and I'm thrilled to be collaborating with him to tell this fascinating story that we hope will resonate with viewers across India and the world".## Stay tuned...

Kapil Sharma's Special 'I'm Not Done Yet' Trailer Unveiled
1612 days ago
Digital Media

Kapil Sharma's Special 'I'm Not Done Yet' Trailer Unveiled

Mumbai, Jan 10 (IANS) The trailer of 'I'm Not Done Yet' - star comedian and TV host Kapil Sharma's maiden special comedy show - has been launched by Netflix on Monday.## With the trailer of this upcoming Netflix stand-up special, Kapil will be seen talking about his desire to keep reinventing himself, pushing his creative genius, and openly admitting that "He's Not Done Yet".## He is seen reminiscing about his past, opens up about his family, his social media missteps, and his love for music and theatre, all while he entertains us.## Kapil mentions in the trailer, "I feel I'm not done yet, these words go really well with my life".## "Abhi kay liye itna hi, par picture… sorry, special abhi baki hai mere dost (That's it for now, the special is yet to come my friend) as Kapil brings his raw charm and his unfiltered, true self to fans like never before. Bhulna matt (Don't forget), January 28 - only on Netflix".## The stand-up special is produced by Banijay Asia and BeingU Studios.## It is slated to drop on January 28.## Stay tuned...

'Looop Lapeta' Heads To OTT For Feb 4 Release
1614 days ago
Digital Media

'Looop Lapeta' Heads To OTT For Feb 4 Release

Mumbai, Jan 8 (IANS) 'Looop Lapeta' starring Taapsee Pannu and Tahir Raj Bhasin will have a direct to OTT release on February 4. The comedy-thriller marks the directorial debut of Aakash Bhatia and is the official remake of Tom Tykwer's hugely popular film 'Run Lola Run'.## The film, which will be released on Netflix, tells the story of a girl, who is on a mission to rescue her boyfriend amidst a series of events that constantly prompts the lovers to make choices that define their future.## Talking about the film, Taapsee Pannu, who essays the role of Savi out to rescue her boyfriend, said, "I am excited to be a part of this next project with Netflix, especially with the film being such a versatile genre. This compelling story was extremely enjoyable to make along with my director, Aakash, and co-star, Tahir".## "I cannot wait for fans and audiences to watch this edge-of-the-seat film and enjoy it as much as we loved making it", she added.## Tahir Raj Bhasin, playing the role of Satya said, "I am so excited about the release of 'Looop Lapeta'. The film is a clutter-breaking take on new-age romance, and a genre I am exploring for the first time. I can't wait for the world to meet the characters Satya and Savi".## Praising his director, Tahir said, "Our director Aakash Bhatia has a unique style stamp that has created a visually stunning world where thrill and comedy combine for one crazy rollercoaster of an entertainer".## Director Aakash Bhatia added, "There's no way to downplay the exhilaration of making the first film and 'Looop Lapeta' has surpassed every bit of it. I'm extremely excited about the shape we have given it. It boldly jumps genres from comedy, thriller to romance and makes for a rollercoaster ride for audiences".## He credited his team for putting the film together, "A powerhouse ensemble cast and crew made this project what it is. The creative collaborators in Sony Pictures, Kasbekar, and Tanuj made for great producers on this debut journey. I'm elated that Netflix is the platform that the world gets to watch 'Looop Lapeta' on".## The film, produced by Sony Pictures Films India, Ellipsis Entertainment along with Aayush Maheshwari and written by Vinay Chhawal, Ketan Pedgaonkar, Aakash Bhatia, Arnav Vepa Nanduri will be available to stream on Netflix from February 4.## Stay tuned...