Film Financial News

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.MUMBAI: The government’s decision to curb silver bar imports could push exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking the white metal from trading at a discount to moving into a premium over spot prices, after two weeks, amid concerns of an impending supply squeeze, analysts said.This would mark a shift from ETFs trading at a discount to net asset value (NAV), which is calculated from spot prices, to potentially trading at a premium. It implies that if spot prices rise, ETF prices could rise more, and if spot prices fall, they would fall less than the spot.Premiums and discounts typically reflect demand conditions.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Pain is invisible; the sufferer has to make noise for it to be acknowledged, treated or accepted. Mumbai-based artist Koshy Brahmatmaj, 34, lives with chronic endometriosis, a painful condition that afflicts millions of women around the world.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.With global video-on-demand platforms streaming largely identical titles across markets, India-specific edits to international programming have drawn renewed attention after viewer backlash over The Boys on Amazon Prime Video. The latest season of the American series has triggered criticism on social media over censored dialogue and visuals, highlighting how global content is often altered before reaching Indian audiences, and how that gap is increasingly visible to subscribers.In The Boys, religious references were reportedly sanitized, while certain visuals, including religious idols and sexual content, were blurred or cut to comply with India’s broadcast standards.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.In an industry long powered by hype, three recent Hindi films are forcing a rethink.Dhurandhar: The Revenge, now the highest grossing Hindi film with domestic collections crossing ₹1,100 crore, along with its predecessor Dhurandhar (Rs. 895 crore) and romantic drama Saiyaara, which made over ₹300 crore last year, have shown that minimal promotions paired with strong content can deliver outsized returns.For years, studios leaned heavily on television, print, outdoor, social media campaigns, influencer collaborations and brand tie-ups to generate pre-release noise.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.From its early days mailing DVDs to becoming a major feature film studio, Netflix isn’t done disrupting the entertainment industry.Speaking at the Licensing Expo in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Netflix Chief Marketing Officer Marian Lee announced the company is expanding into new family-oriented business segments, with “major moves” into toys and candy.Netflix in a press release cited the popularity of its “kids and families” content as one of the reasons for moving further into consumer products.The streaming company said it is working with Ferrero Group to bring Charlie and the Chocolate Factory offerings to market, beginning with 10 seasonal and limited-edition chocolates, plus sugar confectionery, ice cream, and cereals. These products will launch this fall in the U.S.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) slashed some of their bearish positions in Nifty and Bank Nifty derivatives, while also turning buyers in the cash market, on hopes of a rebound in Indian equities amid elevated oil prices.FPIs were net buyers of shares worth a provisional ₹2,813.69 crore on Monday, according to BSE data, helping the market pivot from deep intraday losses to end in the green.Nifty recovered 333 points from its intraday low of 23,317.10 to close at 23,649.95, up 0.3% from Friday’s close.Alongside FPI inflows, domestic institutional investors bought shares worth ₹2,682.12 crore, as per provisional exchange figures.The rebound was driven not just by institutional cash buying, but also by FPIs squaring off short index call positions and trimming short hedges in Nifty and Bank Nifty futures on Monday.FPIs cut short call positions by a sharp 42,153 contracts, taking cumulative net shorts to 214,366 contracts — implying expectations among some of a bounce on Tuesday, which coincides with weekly Nifty expiry, per NSE data.Additionally, long-term foreign funds reduced their bearish Nifty and Bank Nifty futures positions by 6,641 contracts to a cumulative 209,866 contracts.On balance, traders sold 134 Nifty puts against 100 Nifty calls expiring Tuesday, up from 97 puts sold against 100 calls on Friday.The higher proportion of puts sold relative to calls indicates optimism about a rally of at least 1% from Monday’s close, according to NSE data.Based on NSE options data, Nifty could test 23,800 on Tuesday.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Despite being infamous for box office volatility, the theatrical business is fast drawing digital-first players seeking scale beyond streaming.Kuku, the digital entertainment company behind platforms like Kuku FM and Kuku TV, has announced its expansion into theatrical-led cinema with its first Hindi feature film, Indian Institute of Zombies.Firms like Collective Media Network and TVF (The Viral Fever), known for OTT and digital projects, also have theatrical releases scheduled.Industry experts say that while cinema remains unpredictable in the short term, films continue to be one of the most powerful formats for building large-scale intellectual property and cultural relevance.Digital-first companies are not looking at films only through the lens of theatrical box office—they see them as long-term content assets that can travel across streaming, satellite, music, and international platforms. For many, film production is a natural extension of an ecosystem already built around audience data, creators, and cross-platform storytelling.“Digital platforms have spent years building audience trust, understanding consumption patterns, and identifying what truly resonates.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.NEW DELHI: Actors long associated with iconic film roles are increasingly acquiring rights to older hits, betting that nostalgia-driven intellectual property can generate fresh value through remakes, sequels, streaming, licensing and franchise extensions in an overcrowded content market.Recently, actor Sanjay Dutt acquired the rights to his 1993 hit cthat he plans to reimagine along with Jio Studios and Aksha Kamboj’s Aspect Entertainment. In the past, stars like Shah Rukh Khan too have bought rights to older hits from original producers, reflecting a broader shift in how value is captured in the content economy.Khan has bought rights to older hits such as Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa and One 2 Ka 4 from original producers.For producers, selling rights can provide immediate liquidity, reduce risk and monetize legacy content that may otherwise remain underexploited.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.In his first speech as chief minister of Tamil Nadu, Joseph Vijay said in Tamil, “I have known poverty; I’ve known hunger. I am not from some royalty.” This whole country seems to be filled with self-made men. Except that most of them may not be at all.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.The opening sequence of RJ Balaji’s Karuppu is all sparks and embers in a bichrome backdrop of red and black. It’s a nightmare in which a man gets assaulted by unknown assailants and a majestic rageful God descends to save him. The man, played by Indrans, jolts up in a train and looks at his daughter Binu (Anagha Ravi).

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.It began with Tintin. Hergé’s comic books about a globe-trotting journalist who keeps getting into scrapes was irresistible source material at a time when cinema’s latest attraction was splashy travelogue adventures. But Tintin was a big enough deal that Francophone filmmakers were wary of not doing it justice.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Pati Patni Aur Woh Do belongs to that familiar subgenre of Hindi comedy where men create catastrophes through lies and cowardice, then expect applause for surviving the consequences. Ayushmann Khurrana plays Prajapati Pandey, a forest ranger introduced with the kind of exaggerated masculinity the film both mocks and indulges.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.By the time four thugs corner SHO Pawan Malik (Saif Ali Khan) in his home, Kartavya has been simmering for an hour and 15 minutes. Threats are made; Saif folds his arms and tells them to do their worst. I was ready for him to knock them out cold, but then something interesting happens.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Big-ticket Hollywood franchises have long drawn audiences across metros and tier-two and tier-three cities, aided by Hindi, Tamil and Telugu dubs. But after a prolonged post-pandemic lull, smaller, niche titles — often with limited or no dubbed versions — are also regaining theatrical traction.Recent successes underline the shift.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.MUMBAI: Bears in gold and silver are in for a rude shock after the government raised import duty on bullion to 15% from 6%, a move expected to send prices on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) soaring by more than 9% and potentially lock contracts at upper circuits.Gold and silver contracts on MCX have a maximum daily price limit of 9% in either direction. If international prices move beyond those levels, the exchange can relax the circuit limits in additional 3% bands.The government on Wednesday raised import duties on gold and silver as part of efforts to curb precious metals imports amid a swelling import bill triggered by the West Asia crisis.The duty hike comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to defer gold purchases for a year to help cushion the economic impact of the West Asia war.India imports about 700 tonnes of gold annually, putting pressure on the current account deficit (CAD) at a time when the conflict has driven crude oil prices up 45% to above $107 a barrel.CAD reflects the gap between the country’s foreign exchange earnings and spending.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Bollywood filmmakers who dub and release films across languages to attract a wider audience may have bitten off more than they can chew. The first-day shows of recent hit Dhurandhar: The Revenge were cancelled in several places, more so in the south, where the prints of dubbed versions weren’t ready on time.Experts said logistical issues can often derail big release plans of films in multiple languages.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Since the start of the West Asia war and the sharp 44% rise in crude oil prices, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have been steadily selling Indian shares, pushing total outflows in less than five months close to last year’s record level.FPIs have sold cash shares worth ₹2.28 trillion in calendar 2025 through 11 May — just ₹120 billion short of the record ₹2.4 trillion secondary market outflows seen in the whole of 2025, according to depository and exchange data.Of this, ₹1.85 trillion — over four-fifths of total outflows — came between March and 11 May alone, underscoring investor concerns about the impact of elevated crude on India’s macroeconomic fundamentals and corporate earnings if the war drags on.Recognizing the economic threat from sustained high oil prices, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated an appeal to citizens to conserve fuel and curb gold purchases on Monday.The West Asia war, which began on 28 February, has lifted crude 44% to $104 a barrel as of 11 May.With India importing around 90% of its daily crude requirement of 5.5 million barrels, the oil shock threatens to widen the current account deficit.The pressure is visible in the currency markets.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Potential competition from the National Stock Exchange (NSE), India’s largest bourse, hasn’t perturbed the country’s largest commodity derivatives exchange, MCX, though it is keeping a close eye on NSE’s activity in the commodity derivatives segment (CDS), Praveena Rai, managing director & CEO of MCX indicated on Monday.MCX dominated the commodity options market in FY26 with a 99.9% share, leaving rival NSE with just 0.1%."We are watching the space very closely… it is a large competitor and they have made their intention felt in the market with the focus they are placing on the commodity segment," Rai said in response to an analyst’s query on evolving challenges during the company's Q4 earnings call.Rai didn't name NSE, but the reference was unmistakable as it is the second-largest non-agri commodity contender in CDS, ahead of BSE.Though NSE entered the CDS in 2018, it began working at increasing its market share in earnest only since late last year. Starting last November, it revised the expiry of its WTI crude oil options contracts to seven days before the underlying futures expire—a significant shift from its previous two-day window and the current schedule followed by MCX.In March 2026, it launched a 10-gram gold contract to compete with MCX’s benchmark gold contract, followed last month by a dated Brent Platts futures contract to gain a foothold in the energy derivatives market.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.As content clutter intensifies and organic discovery of fresh titles becomes harder, consumers are increasingly turning to AI for help.According to Gracenote, the content data business unit of Nielsen, adoption of AI-powered entertainment experiences is rising—especially among older Gen Alpha respondents (ages 13 and 14). The shift is already reshaping how this cohort discovers content.When asked to name the best source for TV and movie recommendations, 49% of Gen Alpha chose web- and app-based AI chatbots, ahead of streaming and cable service interfaces and program guides (41%) and internet search engine results (11%).The implication is clear: discovery is moving from browsing to prompting.As a result, creators and platforms are experimenting with multiple entry points.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Ted Turner died last week at 87 and the world now feels a little less interesting, a little less imaginative and a little less fun without him in it—but also a lot better off because he was here.After hearing the news of his passing, one moment came to mind that embodied how he moved through the world: a very drunk Turner giving an interview after winning the America’s Cup in 1977. The yachting world was aghast.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.This 100-minute film opens with the MGM lion bleating instead of roaring, setting the tone for a cutesy yarn, or a “herder mystery”, a clever pun used in the promotions. Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story, a 2005 novel by Leonie Swann, is the foundation for the mystery comedy The Sheep Detectives, adapted by Craig Mazin and directed by Kyle Balda.The shepherd in question is George (Hugh Jackman), who dotes on his flock to the extent that he has named each one of them.