This film also marks Subhash Ghai’s digital debut as a storyteller and his debut as a music composer.
ZEE5 on Tuesday launched the trailer of 36 Farmhouse, a family comic drama written by legendary filmmaker Subhash Ghai and produced by ZEE Studios and Mukta Arts Ltd.
36 Farmhouse revolves around an interesting murder mystery that plays out with humour. At the core, it is a satire on the dichotomy between the rich and the poor with a universal theme ‘Some Steal For Need – Some Steal For Greed’.
The trailer shows how 3 kids try every possible trick to own their mother’s will and how the involvement of other eclectic, relatable characters around them adds extra fun to the story. The narrative reveals different shades of our society depicted in the story of a family.
Subhash Ghai, who has written the film and composed the music, said, “After a long gap, it felt like I was thrown into a pool suddenly and put to test on all my skills of film making once again with 36 Farmhouse – be it producing an entertaining film for an OTT for the first time; writing an interesting new story with an ensemble cast; seducing lyrics along with composing two songs for the film by myself or taking the best of performance from each actor and technicians through my writing and editing table. I enjoyed this experiment to the core and am looking forward to millions of people watching it come live on 21st Jan on ZEE5.”
Sanjay Mishra, who is playing the role of Jai Prakash, said, "36 Farmhouse is a unique family drama where all the characters can be easily found in every Indian family. It is highly relatable and can surely be enjoyed by all age groups. We’ve had a lot of fun while working on this film, and it will be great to see how the audience reacts to the trailer and eventually, the movie when it premieres on ZEE5 on 21st January."
Amol Parashar, who is playing the role of Harry Prakash, said, "This has been an amazing opportunity for me, and I am grateful to Subhash Ghai sir for choosing me to play such a challenging character. It was a dream come true for me to work with such an incredible cast. Shooting for 36 Farmhouse was a lot of fun as well as an immense learning experience for me. I am certain that people will love this film and enjoy watching it with their family. Looking forward to the premiere.”
36 Farmhouse is directed by Ram Ramesh Sharma with story and music by legendary filmmaker Subhash Ghai. The film stars Sanjay Mishra, Vijay Raaz, Amol Parashar, Flora Saini, Barkha Singh, Madhuri Bhatia, and Ashwini Kalsekar in pivotal roles.
The film premieres on 21st January only on ZEE5.
Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the world of entertainment.
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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