Manoj Bajpayee, Raj Nidimoru, Krishna D.K, Apoorva Bakshi, & Srikrishna Dayal at 54th IFFI

24 November 2023, IFFI Premises: Today, Manoj Bajpayee, Raj Nidimoru, Krishna D.K, Apoorva Bakshi, and Srikrishna Dayal attended a Master Class session on Crafting Compelling Web Series for OTT at 54 IFFI, Goa.

Manoj Bajpayee's Communiqué, "OTT platforms should support independent and creative filmmaking."

Pritish Bagdi

From L to R: Host Naman Ramachandran, Apoorva Bakshi, Raj Nidimoru, Krishna D.K., Mr. Manoj Bajpayee, Mr. Srikrishna Dayal

Manoj Bajpayee, a cinematic beacon of brilliance, unravelled an actor's intriguing journey. He painted the canvas of an actor's goal and passion to breathing life into a character with his words, emphasising the critical necessity of preparation, consistency, character graph, and embracing the flow that challenges and enriches every actor's essence. "You have to prepare well for the role and then forget about it to keep your mind empty to be receptive to new ideas coming," he went on to say.

The Family Man actor, speaking on the success, shortcomings, and future of OTT, stated that OTT platforms should encourage independent creative films.

Srikrishna Dayal, a theatrical maestro and another prominent performer in The Family Man series, spoke of the symbiotic relationship between the stage and the digital canvas of OTT, remarking that the most significant benefit of OTT platforms is regular watching. He stated that the discipline learned in the theatre allows players to grow in their versatility across many genres of acting.

Raj Nidimoru, co-director of the OTT Series The Family Man, highlighted the tremendous impact of documentaries on the ever-changing OTT landscape, reflecting the feelings of a shifting paradigm. He emphasised the importance of these storylines on the platform.

Krishna D.K., co-director of the OTT Series The Family Man, has created a canvas of continual learning, unlearning, and relearning that has assisted in traversing the spectrum of independent filmmaking, shows, and series for the OTT platform.

Raj and D.K., the dynamic director team, extolled their indie filmmaking background as a springboard for their work on OTT, and it distinctively shapes their creativity on the platform. They underlined the importance of story confidence in pushing for compelling storytelling even while working within budget limits.

Apoorva Bakshi, who came from a banking background to produce the acclaimed 'Delhi Crime' series, emphasised the importance of faith in the script, explaining the basics for story engineering in both fiction and non-fiction genres. Extending on the preparation of a pitch for a new series called Bible in the OTT environment, I demonstrated the need of a clear idea note in fiction, as well as a well-crafted pilot, and the importance of comprehensive research in non-fiction genres.

The teaser for Manoj Bajpayee's next opus Joram was also shown at the end of the event, enticing spectators with promises of yet another cinematic marvel.

Notably, IFFI has created the Best Web Series (OTT) Award this year to recognise the creativity and talent behind the burgeoning digital entertainment. This year, 32 entries from 15 OTT platforms were received in 10 languages. The winning series will receive certificates and a monetary award of Rs.10 lakhs, which will be disclosed during the closing ceremony.

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RAGA & DG IMMORTAL Work Together On a Gangsta Rap For Their Most Recent Releases "KHEENCH MAARI"

24 November 2023, Mumbai: Underground Indian Hip-Hop producer Nitin Randhawa orchestrates an explosive track "Kheench Maari," showcasing the outstanding talents of Northern emcees Raga and DG Immortals, in a ground-breaking hip-hop marriage. This gangsta rap hymn exemplifies their raw lyrical prowess, with infamous street rap punchlines, veiled threats, and an unrivaled energy that fuels the developing rap movement.

Swati Bhat

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"Kheench Maari" serves as a prelude to the upcoming "Midtown Madness" EP and marks an important collaboration between two young rappers. Raga, who is known for his self-absorbed and violent singles in Hindi and Haryanvi vernacular, gives his most aggressive performance to date. His expressive vocal delivery and uncompromising narrative via lethal street rap have won him an unwavering reputation as an industry force.

DG Immortals, a Haryanvi rap music icon, offers a guest verse that takes "Kheench Maari" to new heights. His participation on the tune elevates an already stormy rap record into a genre-bending masterpiece, demonstrating their talents and the range of their styles.

In discussing the collaboration, Raga communiquéd, "As a Haryanvi at heart, I aim to infuse the authentic essence of Haryana into my music. DG Immortals shares a similar approach, making our collaboration a rich experience. Collaboration like these extract the best from each artist, leading to unexpected creations. 'Kheench Maari' is a testament to this synergy. Additionally, I've introduced the 'Phonk' flavor, a subgenre of hip-hop and trap music, adding a fresh and unique element for the listeners I'm confident that audiences will appreciate and enjoy this track as much as they did for our previous collaboration."

Further adding to it, DG Immortals said, “Kheench Maari is a very powerful song and I believe Raga and I have put our best in making this into a pure Haryanvi desi gangsta vibes. With this track, we brought in the third wave of Haryanvi hip-hop and gave justice to the emerging hip-hop scenes in Haryana. After Kaleshi Chori, people really wanted us to collaborate again, so here we are presenting a new track to our fans. I hope they give lots of love and enjoy this track.”

Nitin Randhawa, the brain behind the production, has crafted an exciting soundtrack that compliments Raga and DG Immortals' furious rhymes, producing a magnetic force in the rap genre.

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Zoya Akhtar's communiqué, "ARCHIE comic meant the world to me!"

22 November 2023, IFFI Premises: The Archies aspires to transmit the innocence, naivety, and friendship of the iconic Archie comic into a two-hour long narrative for today's young generation, said six-time Filmfare award winner Zoya Akhtar during a 'In Conversation' session on 'The Archies - Made in India' held yesterday at the 54th IFFI in Goa.

Swati Bhat

When asked about the difficulties of converting a comic story into a film, Zoya Akhtar noted that capturing the essence and nuances of the Archie comic, given its enormous success, and making it into a great cinematic experience for the viewer was extremely difficult. "It was an important part of my childhood." The characters are legendary and worldwide loved, and creating a picture that fires the nostalgia of a generation that grew up on the comic while also connecting with today's young adults is a completely new experience in scriptwriting,'' she added.

"It's a huge source of pride that Archie Comics' characters and stories have resonated with fans globally, especially in India, for more than 50 years," said Jon Goldwater, CEO of Archie Comic. Throughout the film, the filmmakers maintained the integrity and realism of each imaginary character. The Archie team in New York is really proud of the film.

Jon Goldwater, CEO, Archie Comic, said, “it's a huge source of pride that the Archie Comics’ characters and stories resonate with fans globally, and especially  in India, for more than 50 years. The filmmakers kept the integrity and authenticity of each fictional characters intact throughout the film. The Archie team in New York are very much proud of the film.’’

"This is a big moment for Netflix India where we get a global franchise by doing the first ever feature film in the history of Archie comics," said Ruchikaa Kapoor Sheikh, Director of Content, Netflix India. It is an Indian culture film that will also appeal to a worldwide audience."

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