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Time of India
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Shoojit Sircar join jury for IFFM 2025 short film competition
The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) has announced filmmakers Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Shoojit Sircar as jury members for its Short Film Competition in 2025. The annual festival, renowned for spotlighting Indian cinema on a global stage, continues its tradition of honouring both established storytellers and emerging voices. Tiwari, acclaimed for her emotionally resonant films Nil Battey Sannata and Bareilly Ki Barfi , brings her deep understanding of character-driven narratives to the panel. 'Short films are a powerful form of expression, often brimming with fresh ideas and daring perspectives,' she said, adding she's eager to discover stories rooted in truth and innovation. Joining her on the jury is Shoojit Sircar, the filmmaker behind critically acclaimed works such as Piku , October , and Sardar Udham . Sircar highlighted the impact of the short film format, saying, 'With their brevity and intensity, short films often leave a lasting impression. I'm looking forward to exploring some groundbreaking talent through this platform.' Festival Director Mitu Bhowmik Lange expressed her excitement about the jury line-up, calling both filmmakers 'respected creative minds whose presence will enrich the competition.' Scheduled for August 2025, IFFM continues to draw entries from across India and the global Indian diaspora. Its Short Film Competition remains a key festival highlight, known for encouraging bold, original storytelling from the next generation of filmmakers.
Mint
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Shoojit Sircar part of short film competition jury at IFFM 2025
New Delhi, Jul 31 (PTI) Filmmakers Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Shoojit Sircar will be serving as jury members for the short film competition at the 2025 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM). Tiwari is known for movies such as "Bareilly Ki Barfi" and "Nil Battey Sannata", while Sircar's film credits include acclaimed titles "Piku", "October" and "Sardar Udham". The film gala receives an overwhelming number of entries each year across various categories, with the short film segment being among the most competitive and creatively rich, according to a press release. 'It's an absolute honour to be on the jury of IFFM's Short Film Competition. Short films are a powerful form of expression, often brimming with fresh ideas and daring perspectives. I'm looking forward to witnessing stories that reflect truth, innovation, and the passion of young filmmakers," Tiwari said. Sircar said IFFM is a wonderful platform that brings together talent from across the globe. "I'm delighted to be part of this year's short film jury. Short films, with their brevity and intensity, often leave a lasting impact. I'm eager to watch the entries and discover some pathbreaking voices,' he added. Festival director Mitu Bhowmik welcomed the two filmmakers, saying they are among the "most respected creative minds in Indian cinema today". "Their eye for detail, story, and authenticity will elevate the judging process. IFFM has always aimed to be a launchpad for new talent, and having filmmakers of this calibre assess the submissions is both an honour and an inspiration for participating filmmakers.' The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2025 will be held from August 14 to 24.
Hindustan Times
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Missing from the frame: Bollywood's female icons
Noticed how Bollywood's leading men are getting the full docu-series treatment lately? The Romantics went back to the chiffon-wrapped dreamscape of Yash Chopra's cinema. The Roshans traced the legacy of a family that shaped both melody and muscle in Hindi films. And Angry Young Men, a series about Salim-Javed, debuted to over 2.3 million views on Prime Video in its first week, becoming the platform's top non-fiction show. Several male stars have gotten the docu-series treatment. Why not Madhuri Dixit Nene or Sridevi? (INSTAGRAM/@MADHURIDIXITNENE) Now, guess how many views the show about Padma Vibhushan Vyjayanthimala Bali garnered? None, because it doesn't exist. You know what else doesn't exist? A deep dive into Rekha's decades of reinvention, a tribute to Waheeda Rehman's or Asha Parekh's craft, a rewind of Silk Smitha's magnetism, a chronicle of Sridevi's eras, or even a global lens on Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Despite more than a century of Indian cinema, no one's telling the women's side of the stories. Film journalist Bhawana Somaaya, 69, has been tracking Indian cinema for almost half a century, and has written 20 books on the subject (including books on the Bachchans and a biography of Hema Malini). She knows there's a bonanza in waiting for anyone who wants to put women's stories on screen. It's the streaming networks that don't seem to be interested. 'Netflix and Amazon Prime are the ones making the documentaries,' she says. 'They think focusing on female power won't work.' Biopics centred on a woman tend to be underfunded. But The Romantics had 35 industry heavyweights. Most decision makers believe that audiences want young faces, recycled plots, the comfort of endless sequels and stories about successful men, Somaaya says. 'The audience is ready to embrace something new.' And done right, a documentary about Parveen Babi's inner world or Helen's impact on today's item numbers can offer new insights into an industry desperately seeking to reinvent itself. The other hitch: Decision-makers in writers' rooms and production houses tend to be under 40. 'Nobody wants to hire anyone over 50. That's a loss of wisdom, perspective and objectivity.' Even if an idea slips past, a biopic centred on a woman tends to be underfunded. Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, Mary Kom and Shabaash Mithu struggled to get made. Meanwhile, 35 industry heavyweights featured in The Romantics. Angry Young Men was championed by Salim-Javed's children. The Roshans used their series to give their own brands a future. Somaaya says that women tend not to show similar ambitions. 'Hema Malini also has daughters. They don't have the time to push this,' she points out. We would love a global lens on Priyanka Chopra Jonas or a deep dive into Rekha's decades of reinvention. (SHUTTERSTOCK) It means that the stories we don't tell now, are the stories that the public won't remember years from now. Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, 45, writer-director of Nil Battey Sannata and Panga, says women are still largely invisible in the filmmaking machinery, as they are in other spheres of life. 'Even when a woman cooks a great meal, she'll say that her husband or family liked it, so it must be good. Not that she made something great.' She recalls how, when her first film, Nil Battey Sannata, came out, people assumed her husband Nitesh Tiwari had directed it. He was livid and had to clarify he wasn't even on set. 'For me too, it took time to say 'Yes, I did this. I'm hardworking and good at what I do'.' That silence shapes how women see their own work and how the world sees theirs. Iyer Tiwari won the Filmfare Award for Best Director for the romantic comedy-drama Bareilly Ki Barfi in 2017. She's directing a film about the love story of Narayana and Sudha Murthy. But she routinely gets introduced as, 'Nitesh Tiwari's wife.' No wonder we're not making documentaries about women, we're not noticing their accomplishments in the first place. From HT Brunch, July 26, 2025 Follow us on
Hindustan Times
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Nil Battey Sannata to Bareilly Ki Barfi: Films that prove Nitesh Tiwari's cinema is about hope, trials and tribulations
Nitesh Tiwari has taken on his biggest challenge yet. The filmmaker, who has a type of cinema to his credit, has taken on the task of presenting his version of Ramayana to the world. The filmmaker, for most bits, has an eye for content that could be moulded into a precious gem and thus, hopes are high with Ramayana, too. Starring Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi in the lead roles, the movie is almost ready for release. However, before Ramayana rules over the big screens, here's tracing back content that Tiwari has presented to us. Nil Battey Sannata, Bareilly Ki Barfi From Nil Battey Sannata to Bareilly Ki Barfi, stream the best of Nitesh Tiwari's cinema on OTTplay Premium Nil Battey Sannata is the story of a mother (played by Swara Bhasker) who single-handedly takes on the task of raising her daughter. To make matters worse, the daughter is a teen who is influenced by how society sees her mother, which affects her academic studies. Thus, the mother makes a decision which is about to change the trajectory of their lives. Bareilly Ki Barfi Another movie about a strong, independent woman bankrolled by Nitesh Tiwari is Bareilly Ki Barfi. Kriti Sanon plays the role of Bitti, a woman who breaks all societal norms and hopes they catch up with her. A true modern, independent woman, Bitti is out to seek a man who understands her. That is when she comes across a mysterious man named Chirag whose thoughts match hers. Bitti is now on a journey to find her Chirag, but the process to interact with him is not as easy as it appears. Bareilly Ki Barfi explores the lengths to which Bitti would go to be with the man she believes is her soulmate. Tarla Women might not always belong in the kitchen, but some of those who do can make history and Huma Qureshi's Tarla, inspired from the real-life story of Chef Tarla Dalal, is proof of that. Tarla explores how a middle-class woman can use her skills and make a living out of it, which falls under the kind of cinema Nitesh Tiwari and his wife Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari support. Kill Dil Ranveer Singh-Parineeti Chopra's Kill Dil is the story of men who are happy in their bubble. Picking up the gun to get what they want is how gangsters Dev, Tutu and Bhaiyaji (played by Ali Zafar, Ranveer Singh and Govinda) survive. That is till Disha (Parineeti Chopra) enters their lives and shakes things up. Now, it is a battle between what was believed to be brotherhood and the heart. Nitesh Tiwari penned the storyline for the movie. Chhichhore A classic, Sushant Singh Rajput-Shraddha Kapoor's Chhichhore tells the tale of campus friends and how their lives change after. From sensitive topics to what usually happens in a boy's group chat, this film explores it all and with sincerity. It is among Nitesh Tiwari's finest works as a director. The film is available on JioHotstar.
Hindustan Times
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Before Kajol's Maa releases, stream these powerful tales that explore mother-child bond on OTT
Ahead of Kajol's "Maa" release, the article recommends powerful mother-child bond films like "Mom," "Mother India," "Salaam Venky," "Nil Battey Sannata," and "Coco Kokila," highlighting themes of protection, sacrifice, resilience, and unconditional love across different narratives.
