Language is no longer a barrier when it comes to good content, says Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, Executive Director, PVR INOX Ltd, who has acquired the Sundance Film Festival breakout Past Lives for India release.
Past Lives, by first-time director Celine Song, is an English-Korean relationship drama that has earned rave reviews with critics hailing it as one of the best movies of the year. It has already been released in the US and hit Indian theatres on July 7.
Bijli said the commercial success of the Japanese anime film Suzume inspired them to look beyond English titles and experiment with the kind of movies they want to distribute in India through PVR INOX Pictures, the motion picture arm of PVR INOX Limited.
"In the last few years, we have become very language agnostic. We now watch Tamil films in Tamil with subtitles, and Malayalam films in Malayalam, which is why Hindi remakes don't do so well. We just need good content now and that made us realise that we need to go beyond only English movies and Japanese anime which gave us the confidence to look at other languages,” Bijli told PTI in an interview.
"It's hard to ignore a good film when you have seen it... We saw Past Lives at the Berlin Film Festival in February and fell in love with the film. It comes from a studio called A24 who we bought and distributed films for in the past as well," he said.
Movies are a risky business, but Bijli is happy that Past Lives has garnered so much love, attention, and positive reviews since they acquired it for Indian markets.
"We have been buying and distributing 30-35 films a year. We have been in the business for 20 years. Most of them have been in the English language but we have been very keen to introduce foreign language films because we think there is a market for it," he added.
According to him, Suzume by Japanese director Makoto Shinkai made about approximately £1 million, which was previously rare for an anime movie in India.
"In the past, we have experimented with French films. We did Notre-Dame on Fire last year. One of them that became a significant revenue segment for us was Japanese Anime. We experimented... The whole DNA of the company is that we must experiment because Indian audiences have become mature now. They now have access to all kinds of content on OTT platforms," Bijli said.
Past Lives takes viewers on a journey of time and fate through two young souls in South Korea, who, torn apart by destiny, reunite decades later in New York. The movie features Greta Lee as Nora, South Korean star Teo Yoo as Nora's childhood sweetheart Hae-Sung and American actor John Magaro as her husband Arthur.
Bijli said they are planning to release the film in about 75 to 100 cinemas in metro cities, a release strategy that worked well for Suzume where they started small but increased the screen numbers as the demand grew.
"Normally, we buy films in different stages but this time around, we could see the finished product and it just resonated with all of us. It will resonate across cultures. It is half Korean, half English but so well made. We are very happy to bring the film to India on July 7."
PVR also distributed 2020 Oscar-winner Parasite in India and the film made over five crores at the box office, he said.
The popularity of Korean content has continued to grow ever since with viewers in India also embracing K-dramas and K-pop in a big way in recent years and Bijli said the company is “keen to get more and more Korean films” for distribution.
Next on the slate for PVR INOX Pictures is another anime film called First Slam Dunk, horror movie Talk to Me, and White Bird, starring Helen Mirren.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.