Entertainment
HT Rewind 2024: Manasi Parekh on the resurgence of Gujarati cinema and why her National Award win surprised her.
HT Rewind 2024: Manasi Parekh on why her National Award win caught her off guard, and the revival of Gujarati cinema
Manasi Parekh, recipient of the Best Actress National Award, talks about her amazing 2024 that gave her both commercial success and critical acclaim.
To casual Hindi viewers, Manasi Parekh is the star of popular TV shows like Sumit Sambhal Lega and Gulaal, among others. But years after she was shot to fame with Hindi television, the actor made her name in her home state – Gujarat – with some critically acclaimed films there. The dividends were reaped in 2024, a remarkable year for the actor when she broke box office records and won a National Film Award. In conversation with HT, Manasi looks back at her annus mirabilis and the revival of Gujarati cinema. (Also read: Manasi Parekh reacts to winning National Film Award for Best Actress: Big win for me as a working mother)
On her amazing 2024
Manasi saw the box office success of her Gujarati horror comedy, Jhamkudi, which earned around ₹25 crore at the box office. Later in the year, she became the first person to win the Best Actress National Award for a Gujarati film as she won it for her 2023 release, Kutch Express. “It has been an amazing year,” Manasi says. First Jhamkudi broke all Gujarati box office records of the last two years. That was a good success, and then the win happened. It made us believe that we are on the right path.”
The National Award win was so unexpected, says Manasi, that she had even forgotten that she had applied for the award. “It was absolutely unexpected. One works with the hope that this film reaches the zenith of what it has to achieve. When we were making Kutch Express, we knew something special was happening. We had applied for the National Award as everyone else does, but we didn’t know the process after that,” she says.
“We were shooting two months ago when the announcement happened, and friends from the industry started messaging. I was so confused because I had forgotten that we had even applied. At that moment, when you are completely caught off guard, it’s so special. If you make a film with the intention of winning an award, you are constantly thinking about it. But when you don’t know all that, it’s very amazing,” the actor adds.
Kutch Express was produced by Manasi and her husband, singer-filmmaker Parthiv Gohil, with some help from their friends. “My husband and I produced the project, and our friends invested in it. It’s almost completely crowdfunded in that sense. We just believed that it had to be made in our own language. So, the win feels much sweeter,” she says.
On Gujarati cinema’s revival
Many were surprised that Manasi is the first to win a Best Actress National Award for Gujarati cinema and the actor sees this as an honour. She tells us, “Hindi cinema is the mainstay but then you have the National Awards where Nithya (Menen) and I win it for regional films, Rishab Shetty wins it for Kantara. You just realise that they are making the effort to recognise talent apart from Hindi cinema.”
But the actor argues that since Gujarati cinema had seen a lull earlier, it is only natural that none of the stalwarts from the industry won any award. “Gujarati cinema has come around in the last 10-12 years, honestly,” she explains. “Before that, it was dormant for a long time. Films were being made, but they were not being correctly distributed. It’s a very adolescent industry right now. Great directors and writers are stepping in, and now it has revived.”
Looking forward to 2025, Manasi hopes to continue doing good work, regardless of language and medium. “All I want to do is tell good, important stories,” she says, signing off.
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Maruti Suzuki India Limited, the country’s leading automobile manufacturer, announced its financial results for the third quarter of the fiscal year 2024-2025, ending December 31, 2024. The company reported a 12.6% year-on-year increase in standalone net profit, reaching ₹3,525 crore, up from ₹3,130 crore in the same quarter the previous year.
Revenue for the quarter rose by 15.6% to ₹38,492.1 crore, compared to ₹33,308.7 crore in Q3 FY24. This growth was primarily driven by robust sales in the utility vehicles segment, which includes high-margin SUVs. The utility vehicle segment experienced a 20.2% increase in sales during the quarter.
Despite the positive growth in revenue and profit, the company’s performance fell slightly short of market expectations. Analysts had projected a net profit of ₹3,662 crore, but the actual figure was ₹3,525 crore. This shortfall is attributed to higher sales promotion expenses and increased costs related to clearing inventory, which amounted to ₹680 crore.
The small car segment, encompassing popular models like the WagonR and Swift, faced a 3.7% decline in sales. This downturn reflects a broader market trend favoring SUVs over smaller vehicles. In the third quarter, small cars accounted for approximately 30% of Maruti’s sales, while utility vehicles comprised about 67%.
In response to rising costs, Maruti Suzuki has announced plans to increase car prices across its range. This move aims to mitigate the impact of higher expenses and maintain profitability.
Overall, Maruti Suzuki’s Q3 FY25 results highlight the company’s resilience in a competitive market, with significant growth in revenue and net profit driven by strong performance in the utility vehicle segment. However, challenges such as increased promotional expenses and shifting consumer preferences towards SUVs have impacted the company’s traditional small car segment.
Vivo is gearing up to launch its latest addition to the V-series, the Vivo V50, in India in February 2025. According to industry sources, the anticipated launch date is around the third week of February, possibly on February 18.
Design and Display
The Vivo V50 is expected to feature a 6.67-inch AMOLED display, offering vibrant colors and deep contrasts. The design is reminiscent of the Vivo S20, which was released exclusively in China in December 2024.
Performance
Under the hood, the Vivo V50 is rumored to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, ensuring efficient performance for multitasking and demanding applications. The device is expected to come in multiple configurations:
- 8GB RAM with 128GB storage
- 8GB RAM with 256GB storage
- 12GB RAM with 256GB storage
Camera System
Photography enthusiasts can look forward to a versatile camera setup. While specific details are still under wraps, Vivo’s V-series has historically emphasized strong camera performance, suggesting that the V50 will continue this trend.
Battery and Charging
The Vivo V50 is expected to house a substantial 6,000mAh battery, supporting 90W fast charging. This combination ensures prolonged usage and quick recharge times, catering to users with active lifestyles.
Operating System
The smartphone is anticipated to run on Android 15, providing users with the latest features and security updates.
Color Variants
According to recent certifications, the Vivo V50 will be available in multiple color options, allowing users to choose a variant that best suits their style.
Pricing and Availability
While official pricing details are yet to be announced, industry estimates suggest that the Vivo V50 will be priced around ₹39,990 in India.
The device is expected to be available through Vivo’s official channels and major retail outlets across the country.
Conclusion
The Vivo V50 is shaping up to be a compelling option in the mid-range smartphone segment, offering a blend of performance, design, and innovative features. As the launch approaches, more detailed information is expected to emerge, providing a clearer picture of what this device will offer to consumers.
Sports
Lionel Messi’s final jab at Cristiano in a million-dollar text message for Lyon’s Argentina player: “Don’t listen to Ronaldo”
French club Lyon stoked the flames of the Ronaldo-Messi rivalry in their announcement video for Argentine midfielder Thiago Almada.
With the January football transfer window currently open and clubs across Europe looking to add talent to their rosters for the run-in in the second half of the season, French team Olympique Lyonnais have made the exciting signing of Argentine midfielder Thiago Almada. Almada joins on an initial loan from Brazilian club Botafogo, but his announcement was made in style in the latest in a long line of iconic transfer videos.
The 23-year-old midfielder’s signing was announced through a video shared by Lyon in which he receives a text message from ‘Lionel’ along with a goat emoji, clearly meant to be the legendary Lionel Messi, Almada’s compatriot and teammate in the Argentine national team. The text sent to Almada in this video reads “Don’t listen to Cristiano, Ligue 1 is incredible.”
Lyon’s retribution for Ronaldo’s comments
The text provides a sneaky tongue-in-cheek remark from the seven-time French champions, who are referencing Cristiano Ronaldo’s past comment regarding Ligue 1 being a weaker competition than the Saudi Pro League, where he currently plies his trade for Al Nassr. Ronaldo had claimed there was a better standard of football in Saudi Arabia, with the French league considered the weakest of the ‘top five’ leagues in Europe.
Messi, meanwhile, spent two years playing in France, having spent a period in the capital with Paris Saint-Germain after leaving Barcelona. Messi was the latest star at PSG, playing alongside Neymar Jr and Kylian Mbappe, before the trio was broken up as they left France with Messi heading to Inter Miami, Neymar to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, and Mbappe finally getting his marquee move to Real Madrid.
Almada was part of the Argentina squad that lifted the World Cup trophy in Qatar in 2022, helping Messi finally get his hands on the coveted trophy and firmly setting his status as the greatest of all time in stone. Almada has represented Argentina six times, scoring twice, and finally earned a move to Europe after playing for Atlanta United in the MLS and a brief spell in the Brazilian Serie A at Botafogo. Almada will be joining fellow Argentine Nicolas Tagliafico, who also made a cameo appearance in the announcement video.
Lyon currently sit in sixth place in the Ligue 1 table with half the season concluded, but will have intentions of fighting for spots in next year’s UEFA Champions League with a strong end to the season, in which Almada could play an important role.
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