Latest news with #Utopian
Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
'Reviews are paid, everything is bought': Nikkhil Advani says Indian audience no longer trusts filmmakers
Filmmaker Nikkhil Advani is one of the four executive producers behind debutant director Karan Tejpal's new film, Stolen. Nikkhil, Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, and Kiran Rao have come together to lend their weight to the film, which stars Abhishek Banerjee. Ahead of the release, the filmmaker spoke to HT about the film, the state of film distribution in India, and more. Stolen follows a time-honoured tradition of getting 'big names' as executive producers for small, independent films to ensure they have visibility. But Nikkhil says the Utopian goal would be not to be in such a situation. "A big point to celebrate will be that a film like Stolen doesn't need us," he says, explaining, "Who are we? We are just putting our muscle or credibility behind this film. I think there is a complete distrust right now between the audience and the filmmaker. Basically, the audience is saying, 'Whatever you say, we don't trust you. Reviews are paid, and everything is bought.' We are just trying to say, 'Trust us!' At the end of the day, there is a certain quality we are known for." Nikkhil, who is known for films like Kal Ho Naa Ho, D-Day, and Batla House, lauds the contemporary audience for being well informed, which makes them choosier. "Audiences today, thanks to social media, have got so much information. They've got everything on their fingertips," says the filmmaker. The demarcation between independent and commercial cinema has existed in Indian filmdom for decades. For years, the indie films were called parallel cinema. Then the term multiplex films came into being, and today they are referred to as festival films. Talking about the divide, Nikkhil says, "The choices are becoming smaller. The demand to conform to the formula is getting much higher. When you want to disrupt and do something off the beaten track, you really have to do something that is marketable, whether that is the cast, the director, or the producer. But, I am very hopeful that it will turn. It has to. A good quality film will find its audience." Over the last few years, since the COVID-19 pandemic, Bollywood has seen a decline in revenue and success rate in the theatres. But Nikkhil is quick to note: "The same audience is spending money in comedy clubs and live shows. Vir Das told me earlier he used to do India tour in 6 cities. Now, he does 60 cities." The implication is simple. "The audiences need to be won back, and that is possible only by listening to them," argues the filmmaker. Stolen, starring Abhishek Banerjee, is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Scotsman
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scotsman
20mph bad for kids, objector claims as councillors consider plans
Plans to introduce 20mph zones across Midlothian towns could fuel road rage and put children at risk, objectors have claimed. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Midlothian Council's SNP administration cabinet will meet next week to consider extending the reduced speed to all urban streets. However nine objections will be considered by elected members including claims it will be unenforceable, lead to road rage and be a waste of money. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad One protester said the 'Utopian' idea would create the impression roads are safe for children to play on and failed to teach them safety. 20mph limits are being considered for urban streets across Midlothian. (Pic: Google Maps) They said: 'Whoever proposed and accepted this 'Utopian' idea should focus and concentrate on education about road safety usage. 'Roads are not playgrounds. Teach the kids about safety, how to cross the road or use the road while riding the bicycle. It's a nonsense and will deliver the opposite result that it's aimed at.' There was anger after 20mph signs were installed across towns in the county while the public consultation into introducing the new rules was being carried out. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad One protester said: 'It would appear that work has already started to install 20mph signs which means that objections are not going to be considered seriously, if at all.' Among the main concerns were questions about how the lower speed would be enforced and the money spent on the changes. One objector described spending funds on the speed change as 'absurd'. They added: 'While I agree high streets, school zones, housing estates and streets near children's play parks would highly benefit from a lower limit, for most roads it is not only unnecessary but will in turn just fuel road rage amongst drivers leading to conflict and dangerous driving. 'If the limit is reduced to 20mph many drivers will drive between 10 and 20mph meaning locals that are used to the roads being 30mph or 40mph are reduced to a fraction of the speed they have been doing for years, decades even, which in turn leads to dangerous overtakes, aggressive conflicts and the potential for accidents increases exponentially. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I think it is a great misuse of public funds to roll out such a wide change of speed limits with everything that comes with that to then enforce them and will not only negatively impact the reputation of the council but also cause widespread discourse throughout the county.' Cabinet will be asked to decide whether to go ahead with the introduction of the speed limit after considering the objections at the meeting on Tuesday.
