TECH COMPARING

In what can be regarded as a major setback to the makers of The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond, the Kerala High Court on Thursday granted an interim stay against the release of the film, arguing that the UA certification by the Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC) is questionable. The stay comes a couple of days after the court asked the producers to not release the film until the court delivers its verdict. This court order is also a big blow to the CBFC as the ostensible final authority for the suitability/non suitability of a film to be shown to the public. The court in its order also said that the guidelines for ensuring a film does not disrupt the society’s equilibrium appear not to have been adhered to by the CBFC. Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas told the CBFC to re-examine the objections raised in the petitions within two weeks. Until the board gives a fresh decision, the film cannot be released. The court said it usually avoids interfering with a movie’s release, but stepped i...

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has intensified his commentary on artificial intelligence in cinema, suggesting that the competition for directors like S. S. Rajamouli may soon shift from global auteurs to AI users armed with prompts. On February 26, Varma took to social media and wrote, “The way SEA DANCE 2.0 is on a RAMPAGE it looks like @ssrajamouli’s competition will not be anymore with a NOLAN or a CAMERON but it will be with PROMPTERS.” The remark appeared to reference Hollywood filmmakers Christopher Nolan and James Cameron, positioning AI tools as the new creative challengers. The way SEA DANCE 2.0 is on a RAMPAGE it looks like @ssrajamouli ‘s competition will not be anymore with a NOLAN or a CAMERON but it will be with PROMPTERS 🙏 — Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) February 26, 2026 The tweet came a day after Varma described AI platform “Seedance 2.0” as both the “murderer of the film industry” and a force of liberation. In a lengthy post shared on February 25, he argued that advanc...

Filmmaker Vikas Bahl is set to explore new ground with a full-fledged musical romance drama. The yet-untitled project will star Siddhant Chaturvedi and Alizeh Agnihotri in the lead roles and is being produced by Reliance Entertainment. According to a report by Variety India, the upcoming film is said to be inspired by the rise of the UK Punjabi underground movement of the 1990s — a period when music became a marker of identity for the post-immigrant generation. Blending traditional Punjabi folk with Western influences, the movement created a distinct cross-cultural sound that resonated widely across communities in the United Kingdom. Set against this backdrop, Bahl’s film will centre on a love story shaped by ambition, identity and artistic aspiration. Siddhant will reportedly play a drummer, while Alizeh will essay the role of a singer. The narrative is expected to trace their personal and creative journeys during what is often regarded as a defining era for UK Punjabi music. Bahl,...

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday instructed the producers of the controversial film The Kerala Story 2 to refrain from releasing its rights until the court delivers a verdict on petitions contesting its certification. While hearing the case, the bench observed that the concerns flagged by the petitioners appeared genuine and directed the filmmakers to put their plans on hold. The court insisted in a statement that movie is not released as scheduled tomorrow and that the makers have to wait for the hearing to conclude, giving the court time to decide on the petitions as well. The bench also raised questions about the certification granted by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), asking them the reason behind giving U/A certificate instead of an ‘A’.  The judges remarked, expressing surprise at the rating. The court further noted that the producers themselves were not pressing for an immediate screening and pointed out that there was limited time to examine the matter com...

Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali is “absolutely fine,” his team confirmed, putting to rest speculation about his health that surfaced earlier in the day. Reports had claimed that the director was hospitalised in Mumbai after allegedly suffering a heart attack on his 63rd birthday. The claims circulated widely on social media before being addressed by an official statement from his production banner, Bhansali Productions. “Mr. Sanjay Leela Bhansali is doing absolutely fine. He has gone in for a routine medical check-up and there is no cause for concern. We sincerely appreciate the love, care, and concern shown by everyone. Thank you for your continued support and warm wishes,” the statement read. The clarification comes after unverified posts suggested that the filmmaker had been rushed to a hospital following discomfort. However, his team has categorically denied the reports, confirming that the visit was part of a regular health check. Speaking of the professional front, Bhansali i...

A court in Madhya Pradesh has issued notices to filmmaker Neeraj Pandey and senior officials of Netflix in connection with the controversy surrounding the film Ghooskhor Pandit. The order was passed by the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court in Jabalpur after taking cognisance of a criminal defamation complaint that alleges the film’s title is derogatory towards the Brahmin community. The matter was heard by Magistrate Pankaj Savita, who examined an affidavit and supporting documents submitted by the complainant, Pt. Vaibhav Pathak. Based on the submissions and evidence placed before the court, notices were issued to the concerned parties. Pathak, an active member of the Madhya Pradesh Progressive Brahmin Mahasabha, argued that the title of the Manoj Bajpayee-starrer undermines the dignity of the Brahmin community. In his complaint, he stated that the term “Pandit” has historically symbolised knowledge, scholarship and religious sanctity in Indian tradition. Associating it w...