The last two years have completely changed the dynamics of film releases in India. With the pandemic shutting down theatres for the better part of it, the OTT became the go-to-medium for filmmakers to unveil their projects. There have been many direct-to-OTT films in this while that I have simply loved like Sherni and Shershaah, and now another one is set to join this list as Vidya Balan is set to return to the digital screen with her next Jalsa.
The drama thriller starring Vidya and Shefali Shah in the lead will be premiering on Amazon Prime Video on March 18, 2022. The film is directed by Suresh Triveni, with whom Vidya had earlier done the much-acclaimed Tumhari Sulu. It also marks the actress’ third outing on the platform after Shakuntala Devi and Sherni.
Check out the announcement:
this is exactly what the edge of your seat was made for 👀#JalsaOnPrime releasing March 18@vidya_balan @ShefaliShah_ #SureshTriveni @TSeries @Abundantia_Ent @vikramix @ShikhaaSharma03 #BhushanKumar pic.twitter.com/okQwGzzEX4
— amazon prime video IN (@PrimeVideoIN) February 28, 2022
Jalsa is a captivating tale of conflict, shown through the life of a top-line journalist and her cook. It is jointly produced by Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar (T-Series), Vikram Malhotra and Shikhaa Sharma (Abundantia Entertainment) and Suresh. Apart from Vidya and Shefali, the film also features Manav Kaul, Rohini Hattangadi, Iqbal Khan, Vidhatri Bandi, Shrikant Mohan Yadav, Shafeen Patel and Surya Kasibhatla.
Talking about the film, Vikram Malhotra, Founder and CEO of Abundantia Entertainment said,
“Impactful storytelling blended with engaging entertainment is at the core of what we do at Abundantia Entertainment. Featuring two of the finest actors of our times, Vidya Balan and Shefali Shah, Suresh has woven Jalsa into a brilliant narrative of complex emotions, well-etched characters and a gripping pace. I am also excited to extend our successful partnership with Prime Video after Shakuntala Devi, Sherni and Chhorii, and look forward to the global premiere of Jalsa across 240 countries and territories across the world.”
Bhushan Kumar, Chairman and Managing Director, T-Series, added,
“Jalsa is one of the most gripping and entertaining films that we’ve been a part of at T-series and I am thrilled that it is with one of our most trusted partners, Abundantia Entertainment. We have had an extremely successful collaboration in the past with films like Airlift, Sherni and Chhorii and I look forward to recreating the same magic with Jalsa. I am excited for the film to premiere on Amazon Prime Video as it will allow the film to get a truly global audience as it rightfully deserves.”
Manish Menghani, head, content licensing, Amazon Prime Video, says,
“At Prime Video, when selecting stories, we look for authenticity and freshness. Stories that are nuanced and beyond conventional storytelling are finding viewership world wide. In a fine blend of drama and thrill, Jalsa offers a truly differentiated story, made better by performances from a brilliant cast.”
Vidya and Shefali are one of the best actresses we have ever had in the Hindi film industry, thus them coming together for a project is a cause of celebration on its own. But with a director like Suresh helming it, and the thrilling backdrop of the story, it has just increased my intrigue manifold and I can’t wait to witness the magic happen on screen when these stalwarts come together in Jalsa on March 18.