We started 2019 with an amazing film like Uri: The Surgical Strike. Later in January 2019, we had other interesting releases like Thackeray and Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi. Well, 2019 has been quite a decent year for Bollywood.
While the year started with a bang for Bollywood, it will also end with a bang. In December, we have not one or two, but six interesting films hitting the screens. Here’s the list of the movies…
Panipat
After Sanjay Leela Bhansali, if there’s one director who can make a good period film is Ashutosh Gowariker. The director’s next film Panipat based on the Third Battle Of Panipat is slated to hit the screens on 6th December 2019. The movie stars Arjun Kapoor, Kriti Sanon and Sanjay Dutt in the lead roles. The trailer and the songs have created a decent pre-release buzz.
Pati Patni Aur Woh
Remakes have been doing quite well at the box office and in December we will get to see the remake of 1978 release Pati Patni Aur Woh. Starring Kartik Aaryan, Bhumi Pednekar, and Ananya Panday, the movie is directed by Mudassar Aziz and the trailer is quite hilarious. The songs too have received a great response. It will be interesting to see if the film will be better than the original one.
Mardaani 2
After impressing us with her fantastic performance in Hichki last year, Rani Mukerji will be back on the big screen as Shivani Shivaji Roy in Mardaani 2. The movie talks about juvenile rape crimes that happen in India. The trailer is very intriguing and we are sure Rani will once again nail it as Shivani Shivaji Roy.
The Body
Emraan Hashmi was last seen on the big screen in Why Cheat India which was a dud at the box office. The actor’s next release is The Body, a suspense-thriller which also stars Rishi Kapoor. Well, Emraan desperately needs a hit as from the past few years, he has been starring in back-to-back flops. While the trailer of The Body is interesting, the buzz about the film is quite low.
Dabangg 3
After seven years, fans of Salman Khan will get to see the actor on the big screen as Chulbul Pandey in Dabangg 3. The trailer and the songs have been getting a good response and the film clearly looks for masses. With Salman and Sonakshi in the lead, and Prabhudheva directing the movie, we surely have high expectations from Dabangg 3.
Good Newwz
Akshay Kumar is currently in the best phase of his career. This year he has given three back-to-back blockbusters and it looks like he is ready for the fourth blockbuster of the year. Good Newwz starring Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kiara Advani, and Diljit Dosanjh is slated to release on 27th December 2019. After watching the trailer and the songs, we can say that it will be a big hit.
Forum brings UK and Chinese film professionals together to explore collaborations.
Emerging British-Asian talent gain mentorship and international exposure.
Small-scale dramas, kids’ shows, and adapting popular formats were the projects everyone was talking about.
Telling stories that feel real to their culture, yet can connect with anyone, is what makes them work worldwide.
Meeting three times a year keeps the UK and China talking, creating opportunities that last beyond one event.
The theatre was packed for the Third Shanghai–London Screen Industry Forum. Between panels and workshops, filmmakers, producers and executives discussed ideas and business cards and it felt more than just a summit. British-Asian filmmakers were meeting and greeting the Chinese industry in an attempt to explore genuine possibilities of working in China’s film market.
UK China film collaborations take off as Third Shanghai London Forum connects British Asian filmmakers with Chinese studios Instagram/ukchinafilm
What makes the forum important for British-Asian filmmakers?
For filmmakers whose films explore identity and belonging, this is a chance to show their work on an international stage, meet Chinese directors, talk co-productions and break cultural walls that normally feel unscalable. “It’s invaluable,” Abid Khan said after a panel, “because you can’t create globally if you don’t talk globally.”
And it’s not just established names. Young filmmakers were all around, pitching ideas and learning on the go. The forum gave them a chance to get noticed with mentoring, workshops, and live pitch sessions.
Which projects are catching international attention?
Micro-dramas are trending. Roy Lu of Linmon International says vertical content for apps is “where it’s at.” They’ve done US, Canada, Australia and next stop, Europe. YouTube is back in focus too, thanks to Rosemary Reed of POW TV Studios. Short attention spans and three-minute hits, she’s ready.
Children’s and sports shows are another hotspot. Jiella Esmat of 8Lions is developing Touch Grass, a football-themed children’s show. The logic is simple: sports and kids content unite families, like global glue.
Then there’s format adaptation. Lu also talked about Nothing But 30, a Chinese series with 7 billion streams. The plan is for an english version in London. Not a straight translation, but a cultural transformation. “‘30’ in London isn’t just words,” Lu says. “It’s a new story.”
Jason Zhang of Stellar Pictures says international audiences respond when culture isn’t just a background prop. Lanterns, flowers, rituals, they’re part of the plot. Cedric Behrel from Trinity CineAsia adds: you need context. Western audiences don’t know Journey to the West, so co-production helps them understand without diluting the story.
Economic sense matters too. Roy Lu stresses: pick your market, make it financially viable. Esmat likens ideal co-productions to a marriage: “Multicultural teams naturally think about what works globally and what doesn’t.”
The UK-China Film Collab’s Future Talent Programme is taking on eight students or recent grads this year. They’re getting the backstage access to international filmmaking that few ever see, including mentorship, festival organising and hands-on experience. Alumni are landing real jobs: accredited festival journalists, Beijing producers, curators at The National Gallery.
Adrian Wootton OBE reminded everyone: “We exist through partnerships, networks, and collaboration.” Yin Xin from Shanghai Media Group noted that tri-annual gathering: London, Shanghai, Hong Kong create an “intensive concentration” of ideas.
Actor-director Zhang Luyi said it best: cultural exchange isn’t telling your story to someone, it’s creating stories together.
The Shanghai-London Screen Industry Forum is no longer just a talking shop. It’s a launchpad, a bridge. And for British-Asian filmmakers and emerging talent, it’s a chance to turn ideas into reality.
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