Latest news with #Bollywood
India Today
32 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Blending style with substance: Evolving language of espionage in storytelling
Hindi cinema has recently seen a boom in the spy genre. From Salman Khan's 'Ek Tha Tiger' (2012) kickstarting the origins of Yash Raj Films' spy universe, to Neeraj Pandey's 'Baby' (2015) and 'Naam Shabana' (2017), the espionage saga in films and shows has evolved over the years. With Pandey's grounded storytelling or YRF's 'Mission Impossible'-inspired thrillers with a Bond-like flair in the spy genre, the genre has created a new cinematic wave in Hindi cinema. However, when it comes to films and shows, the audiences have grown to appreciate much more than gadgets, glitz and glamour over the years. Where is this genre heading, though? Is it all style and mass, but no meat? spoke to the industry experts to understand more about the genre and where it is thinking of espionage stories, a larger-than-life spectacle often comes into the picture. There has been a template in terms of storytelling in the genre by blending jingoism with the commercial elements of mainstream Bollywood. These stereotypes have now been broken with the OTT boom. Audiences are now rooting for more grounded and relatable characters and are not going to settle for mere style over recent teaser of Hrithik Roshan, Jr NTR, Kiara Advani's much-hyped 'War 2' has created a lot of buzz since it was launched. The action-thriller from Aditya Chopra's spy universe is a spin-off to 'Tiger 3' and 'Pathaan' while depicting similar chase sequences, hand-to-hand combat, aerial wire-work action, explosions, beach shots and musical sequences. In spite of movie buffs raving about the upcoming grand spectacle, it is worth noting that some previous big-budget films were mounted on the same yardstick. Despite the moderate or disappointing fate of these films, Bollywood filmmakers still stick to similar formulaic storytelling. At a time when not just OTT platforms but social media and podcast channels have also become an alternative to content consumption, it is crucial to retrospect the future of cinema and the much-needed evolution in film genres and the age of algorithms and market economics, where there is a reel for every teaser and trailer, the X-factor in storytelling needs to come from unique, layered characters and relatable stories, irrespective of the genres. With growing conversations around the future of theatrical releases, it is pivotal to also consider the changing preferences and content consumption habits of audiences. Movie lovers exposed to not just Hindi and English shows, but K-Dramas, Iranian and other languages' cinema are not going to have the same approach towards movie viewing as in earlier shows like 'The Family Man,' 'Special Ops,' 'Mukhbir - The Story of a Spy' and 'The Freelancer' paved the way for more nuanced, research-based stories, do mainstream Hindi filmmakers also need to evolve in their storytelling? On being asked whether the Indian audiences have become more discerning towards the spy genre post the OTT revolution, 'Mukhbir' writer Vaibhav Modi says, "In the pre-OTT era, we did not have too much exposure to that genre. A little bit of that kind of storytelling was there in the American shows, but not many people had access to it. But, if you look at that genre over the last few years, starting with 'Special Ops,' 'Bard of Blood' and 'The Family Man.' So, it has definitely given exposure to Indian audiences."advertisementFilmmaker Siddharth P Malhotra, however, feels that the Hindi film audiences haven't been discerning towards spy films as there have been many such stories being backed by studios like YRF. He says, "Spy content is still very popular on films and streaming platforms. There are an entire spy universe content-based films which are coming out.""Even Alia Bhatt and Sharvari are coming up with a spy film ('Alpha'). So, producers wouldn't be willing to back such movies if it were a discerning audience. If you get it right in terms of the flow, you will always enjoy it. The plot needs to be engaging enough for it not to be discerning. As a genre, it will never go out of fashion," he Gul Panag, who has acted in 'The Family Man', feels that there has been a shift in the audiences' ability to filter content since the OTT boom. She says, "Since the last 4–5 years, the audiences have been discerning towards not just spy content but all kinds of genres. They have been exposed to content from across the world. The viewers have been consuming films and shows available in many different languages. There has also been a shift in their ability to filter content dramatically."advertisementWatch War 2 teaser here: The virality of content and the bridging of language barriers in the current OTT era have also shaped how traditional audiences prefer watching films. Apart from engaging storytelling, is it also time for more research-oriented, nuanced filmmaking when it comes to spy genres? In spite of the charismatic on-screen personas of mainstream stars, does the Hindi film audience also expect character-led espionage films? Are producers willing to back such stories?While reflecting on the same, Modi says, "I would think so because one of the trends has been picking stories from real-life incidents. The other thing is making content from published material. There are a bunch of books out there that are based on declassified information from RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) and IB (Information Bureau). This medium allows time to develop research-based content."The writer also feels the long-form format of storytelling in the spy genres gives them more creative freedom in comparison to films. He further says, "This format of telling a story over eight or ten odd episodes gives you the ability to develop more characters and world-building compared to films where you are only going after one plot. Obviously, producers and writers have gone deeper in terms of geopolitical aspects of a story. In 'Mukhbir', we actually had to create the era where India's relationship with Pakistan was a certain way. We did a lot of deep research related to it."advertisementMalhotra, on the other hand, stresses the need to back writers apart from making projects based on big stars. He says, "If it is a real-life espionage story, then it is better. So, you need a big star and a big setup. Instead of backing stories, producers don't back writers in our film industry; they back stars. I am talking about barring Aditya Chopra, there is no other producer who is going to back the writers."Panag, while weighing on the same, feels that the backing has to come from the platforms. She says, "The producers are certainly open. The backing, however, has to come from platforms. At the end of the day, the numbers are on the platform, and they decide which shows to greenlight."The espionage genre in Indian cinema is not just about nationalism and high-octane action, but also concerns cross-border terrorism and geopolitics. With streaming platforms adapting to more realism and current events, it is imperative for mainstream cinema to also consider the changing trends. The cinematic experience doesn't just have to be about stunts and grand-VFX, but also set a narrative that compliments ongoing politics, national security threats, global terrorism and secret service agencies. Will the success of shows like 'The Family Man' or 'The Freelancer' impact the kind of spy films Bollywood greenlights in the next few years?advertisementPanag points out the diversity in the spy genre on OTT platforms and how the success of these shows depends on the audiences' response. She says, "Espionage is not only 007-style spy stories. That is what big blockbusters have been feeding us. But there have been lots of examples on streaming platforms like 'Jack Ryan,' 'Fauda' and others that have handled the narrative differently. There was this show with Sasha Baren Cohen ('The Spy'), based on a true story as well. The success of these stories, however, also depends on how well they have been received by the viewers."Watch Special Ops 2 teaser here: The future of spy stories largely depends on the ever-changing content-consumption pattern of audiences. Will movie-goers be more inclined towards masala entertainers, musical espionage thrillers, blending 'James Bond' with 'Dhoom'-inspired glamour and gadgets? Or has there been a revolutionary change in the cinematic preferences of film lovers?What is the future of spy stories in Hindi cinema? Panag feels there will always be a theatrical market. However, the actor credits OTT platforms for democratising content. She says, "OTT platforms in today's times have democratised content consumption. I will still go and watch Mission Impossible on the 1st day. So, there will always be a theatrical market apart from OTT platforms. And I don't think the two will cannibalise each other. The consumer is now king and the content creators have to work harder to get a piece of their attention. Earlier, the content was skewed in favour of the supply-side films that were released theatrically and, of course, the content we viewed on traditional television. But today there is a much larger choice and so scope for everyone."Theatrical releases are here to stay irrespective of the rise of streaming shows. The espionage genre - YRF's universe or the Bond franchise - will always appeal to the masses. However, the success and longevity of such stories will only be cinematically relevant if they resonate with the evolving mindset of audiences. Both mainstream films and OTT releases will have to bring a certain novelty and uniqueness to storytelling with a combination of realistic narrative apart from visual appeal in order to ensure audience fate of 'War 2,' 'Alpha,' 'Special Ops 2' and 'The Family Man 3' will define the future course of such films and Watch
New Indian Express
44 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Dream in D Minor: Front Man Shreyansh Mohan Verma on Leading Drops' Indie Journey
What began as a tribute to The Local Train at Delhi's Summer House Café turned into a full-blown concert by indie-rock band Leading Drops, this Wednesday. The five-piece band is fronted by vocalist Shreyansh Mohan Verma and guitarist-composer Nishant Tiwari, with drummer Sharang Arora, bassist Shubhansh Mishra, and pianist-producer Deep Chatterjee. Formed in 2019 at a university in Punjab, where Bollywood covers were off-limits—it pushed the band towards original compositions. 'From the start, our originals were well received,' Verma recalls. The initial lineup of Verma, Tiwari, and three college mates quickly became a campus staple, gaining traction through gigs and competitions. Their big break came when they opened for Amit Trivedi at Coke Studio's Campus Concert 2019. Then came Covid-19. Scattered across states, they kept recording remotely. During lockdown, they released their debut single 'Marz', followed by 'Pyari Maa'. After college, Verma and Tiwari moved to Noida, ready to re-enter Delhi's music scene. 'We realised we'd been in a bubble,' Verma says. 'Other bands were so tight. It was intimidating—but it also fired us up.' In 2022, a high-profile Mumbai gig fell through when their producer caught the virus. 'I was crushed,' Verma admits. Burned out from pulling gigs, handling socials, and trying to keep the band alive, he watched three members leave. 'Suddenly, it was just me and Nishant again,' he says — back where it all began.
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Rob Beckett: ‘I've done a lot of therapy… I had incredibly low self-worth'
How do famous names spend their precious downtime? In our weekly My Saturday column, celebrities reveal their weekend virtues and vices. This week: Rob Beckett 6am Weekends are all about the kids and are planned like a military operation. My wife Lou does more in the week than me, so I tend to take the lead on a Saturday. The kids [two girls, nine and seven] come in and are allowed to play on their iPads until 7.30. We've also trained them to let the whippets Fred and George out for a wee. We have a little Nespresso machine in the bedroom, so we'll treat ourselves to a coffee. 8.30am I take the girls to their clubs – gymnastics, football or drama. If it's football, I'll stay and watch. I'm very laid-back, but inside I'm screaming, 'There's a bit of space there, get to it' – but I don't say it out loud. I focus my energy on slagging off other parents I don't like with parents I do like. If it's not football, I'll go for a walk or to Tom Allen's for a cup of tea. 11am After the clubs we'll go to the local café. It's one level up from a greasy spoon but one level down from Gail's. 12.30pm I take the kids swimming, or we do admin jobs. Last Saturday I had to collect some rupees as I'm going to India to film Rob & Romesh Vs Bollywood. 3pm I used to be terrible at sitting still, but I've got much better at meditating, breathing and calming myself down. After 37 years of having only negative voices in my head, it's felt quite alien to have some positive ones in there, but it's a huge relief. 4pm I'll spend some time reflecting on being in a better space. I've done a lot of therapy, and the short story is I had incredibly low self-worth for a number of reasons, and I replaced that lack with the reaction of a crowd, which made me feel important and special and powerful – but then when I didn't do well, it made me feel weak, useless and rubbish, so my life was very up and down. I was running on a poverty mindset, but I've now realised that I have self-worth within me as opposed to the bloke who goes out and tells a few jokes. 5.30pm The day will be totally reconfigured if there's a good football game on. I like to get all my good parenting done before 5.30 so I can watch that game. If Arsenal score, I'll do a little fist pump. If Tottenham or West Ham concede, I'll get on WhatsApp to wind everyone up. 7pm Food is very fluid at the weekend so we might prepare a Sunday roast on a Saturday evening, but if friends are coming round, I can't be bothered to make it a big deal, so we'll get a takeaway. I'm out a lot during the week so I'm happy for Lou to go to the theatre in the West End on a Saturday night and I love just being at home with the kids. We'll watch Gladiators and The Masked Singer. 8.30pm The kids will have a bath then we play a game called Trap, where I lie on top of them, and I have to hold them both before they escape. It's like low-grade jujitsu. 9.30pm If Lou's at home, we'll watch a bit of Below Deck or The Real Housewives and have a glass of red wine. If not, I'll settle in and watch sport on my own – football, boxing, UFC, whatever's on. 11.30pm I can't sleep until Lou gets home. I feel like a bit of a protective dad. We track each other's phones so when I see she's approaching Orpington station I'll book a cab for her. I'm terrible at getting to sleep so I'll either read a comedy biography – I'm reading Judd Apatow's book – or a book on stoicism before I finally conk out.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Exclusive - Daya Shankar Pandey aka Inspector Chalu Pandey on Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah; says 'Ye sirf ek show nahi, mere jeevan ka ek bahut hi zaruri ang hai'
Seasoned actor Daya Shankar Pandey , who is popularly known as Inspector Chulbul Pandey from Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah recently opened up about his long association with show and it's producer Asit Kumarr Modi. In an exclusive chat with Times of India TV, Daya Shankar called the popular sitcom as an important part of his life. Speaking about being a part of TMKOC, Daya Shankar said, "Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah sirf ek show nahi hai ye mere jeevan ka ek bahut hi zaruri ang hai (TMKOC is not just a show for me, it's a deeply important part of my life). I'm not bringing this up to place any expectations on the show's producer and creator, Asit Kumarr Modi. Our association dates all the way back to 1986, during our college years—he was my senior at the time, and we've remained in touch ever since. I must also highlight that he is a gifted performer. Choosing to step away from acting was a thoughtful move on his part, perhaps even guided by fate. He was truly talented, having earned multiple accolades in inter-college drama competitions." Daya Shankar Pandey, known for his roles in numerous hit Bollywood films, also spoke about a pivotal moment in Asit Kumarr Modi's journey. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Scam Exposed: What They Won't Tell You about zero trust! Expertinspector Click Here Undo He shared that directing a stage play marked a significant turning point in Modi's career. He shared, "Asit Kumarr Modi was my senior in college. After he graduated, we continued participating in inter-college drama competitions. I remember one particular day — I was rehearsing for a college play, but we didn't have a director. We never had the budget to hire directors from outside. That day, Asit ji came to see the rehearsals. He was just watching from the side, observing the process closely. He once told to me, 'Pandey, should I direct you?' At that time, we didn't have the budget to hire a professional director, and since he had the experience, being my senior, I agreed immediately. I told him, 'Yes, go ahead and direct.' He ended up directing that play, which was titled Bhikhmange, written by Sudhir Kodi ji. It turned out to be a major success and received several awards across inter-college drama competitions, including Best Director and Best Play. That play became a turning point for him, and as you can see today, he's successfully running Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. Sometimes I jokingly feel a bit envious that he gave up on acting to become a producer. Maybe if I had taken a similar path, I'd be in a comfortable position too (laughs)." For those who might not know, Inspector Chalu Pandey first joined Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah in 2010. He made his debut during a memorable plotline where Jethalal, Sodhi, Iyer, and Nattu Kaka were wrongly accused and arrested in connection with a car theft. This marked the beginning of the character's recurring presence in the show. Video: Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (Promo)
India Gazette
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India Gazette
"Okay not being on biggest set in world..." Ridhi Dogra opens up about mental health, says she chooses work that makes her 'feel valued'
By Zoya Aziz New Delhi [India], May 30 (ANI): Actor Ridhi Dogra, who made her Bollywood debut with 'Lakadbaggha' in 2023 and was later seen in big films including Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan, recently opened up about how she takes care of her mental health while working in the entertainment industry. Ridhi has been part of the industry for many years now, starting with her Television debut in Jhoome Jiya Re. But even with all the success, the journey hasn't been easy. There was a time early on in her career when she felt like she wasn't 'feeling happy.' However, she made some clear decisions that continue to help her stay grounded and happy to this day. When asked if she ever felt the need to pause and take a break from the pressure, Dogra told ANI, 'I love what I do, so I think when you love what you do, you don't really need to take a break from it. But yeah, very early on, I decided I only want to do work that I love, and I only want to go on sets where I am valued. So, I created that environment for myself, where I'm okay not being on the biggest set in the world. I want to be on a set where people want me there--that's what's important in my life.' 'In my circumstances... I think only once in my life--I'm not going to talk about the project--but only once, early in my career, I felt like what you're saying, that I wasn't feeling happy, or whatever, whatever. And I quickly changed that. I said, 'You know what? I'm not going to do anything that doesn't feel right to me. I'll only work with people who believe in what I'm doing, who are excited about what I'm doing, or what we're making, and that's it.' That really has helped me till now...' The Asur actress went on to speak about the emotional demands of being an actor and why it's important to take breaks--not just to rest, but to emotionally recharge. 'You do need a break sometimes. As actors, we need a lot of breaks, not because our work is hectic, but because we're always wearing the sensitivity cap. You can never drop it. We are using our emotions to portray different feelings, and that's a big gamble we play. We are constantly trying to show various emotions, and that means we are carrying those emotions at all times. For somebody like that, whether it's a musician who sings and connects to God, we do need downtime. So, after every project of mine, I do take a holistic wellness break,' Ridhi shared. The interaction took place at the Delhi launch of Lakadbaggha: The Prologue, a graphic novel written by Anshuman Jha and illustrated by American comic book artist Brittain Peck. The novel serves as a prequel to the 2023 action film Lakadbaggha and was launched by the film's team, including Ridhi and Anshuman. (ANI)
