south asian cinema

As Tasveer hosted the only official South Asian panel at the Cannes Marché du Film, Co-Founder and Executive Director Rita Meher reflects on a defining moment for the region's storytellers. She discusses why South Asian creators are moving from seeking representation to claiming space, the growing global appeal of Indian regional and independent cinema, and the opportunities and challenges posed by artificial intelligence. Meher also explains why access, not talent, remains the biggest barrier facing filmmakers and how Tasveer is building long-term infrastructure through funding, mentorship and distribution pathways to help creators thrive on the global stage.

After captivating hearts with her iconic wink, Priya Prakash Varrier has transformed her fame into a thriving career spanning Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi films. Her latest endeavors include 'Good Bad Ugly' and 'Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam,' and she is set to make a noteworthy appearance in the highly anticipated 'Ramayana' directed by Nitesh Tiwari, scheduled for a 2026 release.

Director Rudrajit Roy's Bengali feature 'Pinjar' has been officially selected for the South Asian Film Festival of Montreal, a significant international recognition for its exploration of confinement and psychological trauma. The film's selection, alongside veteran actor Mamata Shankar's other work, highlights the growing global visibility of contemporary Bengali cinema.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas is set to be honored at the Gold House Gold Gala 2026 for her significant contributions to global storytelling and bridging entertainment industries. Receiving the Global Vanguard Honor, her 25-year career, including work with Purple Pebble Pictures, will be celebrated. The event recognizes influential leaders across various sectors.

Zayn Malik, despite never visiting India, expresses a profound connection to its culture, cinema, and music, calling it the 'motherland.' He revealed his love for Bollywood films, particularly 'Main Hoon Na,' and praised Indian music for its soulfulness and intricate compositions.

Set to enchant audiences, 'The Great Shamsuddin Family,' a delightful family comedy-drama from Mumbai, will grace the closing night of the 24th Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles on April 26. Helmed by the talented Anusha Rizvi, this film, which made its debut on JioHotstar last December, stars an impressive ensemble cast.

The poignant drama 'Mercy,' tackling passive euthanasia, is set for an April 24 release, with its first glimpse arriving March 27, attached to 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge.' Actor Raj Vasudeva calls it a deeply personal project, while Adil Hussain reflects on exploring love, grief, and acceptance. The film, directed by Mitul Patel, has already garnered global acclaim at international festivals.

Independent filmmaker Aneek Chaudhuri has been invited to be a part of the panel representing Indian Cinema in an International Webinar on ‘New-Wave of south asian cinema’. The webinar is being organized by Christ Nagar College, the University of Kerala partnered by SAARC Cultural Centre, Colombo.

Malayalam cinema titans Mohanlal and Mammootty reunite after 18 years in the espionage thriller ‘Patriot,’ set to premiere at the 24th Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles. The film, directed by Mahesh Narayanan, features a star-studded cast and promises a gripping narrative. IFFLA will showcase 27 diverse South Asian films from April 23-26.

Ranveer Singh's 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge' experienced a sensational box office debut, crossing Rs 150 crore on its opening day. However, screenings in Montreal were marred by alleged sabotage, with a person reportedly damaging a theatre screen mid-show. This incident follows a pattern of attacks on cinemas showing South Asian films in Canada.

The British Film Institute has decided to launch on a celebration of south asian cinema, where films from South Asian countries will be screened all over Britain.

Lyricist-filmmaker Gulzar will be honoured with excellence in cinema award by south asian cinema foundation this year.

The centre for comparative literature of Central University of Punjab organized a special lecture on “Reading Film” by Prabhjot Parmar, who teaches South Asian and South Asian diaspora literatures, Indian cinema and culture, global studies at the centre for Indo Canadian Studies, University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, Canada.

The Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival has announced its line-up for 2023, featuring over 250 films spread over 10 days. The festival will showcase a diverse range of films, including over 40 World Premieres, 45 Asia Premieres, and 70+ South Asia Premieres. The main competition this year is the South Asia Competition, which aims to highlight breakthrough South Asian films. The festival also includes categories such as Focus South Asia, Icons South Asia, Marathi Talkies, and World Cinema, among others. The festival will run from October 27 to November 5 at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai.

Sumitra Peries' 1978 film, Gehenu Lamai, is set to captivate audiences at the Cannes Film Festival after restoration. The Film Heritage Foundation shared archival reviews highlighting the film's original acclaim for its unique cinematic language and Peries' pioneering female perspective.

LONDON: India steam-rollered the sub-continental competition at the glittering Thursday-night launch of Britain's festival of south asian cinema.

The Chicago South Asian Film Festival, which was started just over five years ago, by a dedicated group of Indian film aficionados, has grown to be a significant event in Chicago's art and film landscape.

The actor reflected upon his life after his film was chosen to be screened at CSAFF.