Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
5th Chandigarh Music and Film Festival kicks off at Chandigarh University with Bollywood and TV Celebrities
Ali Asgar, Preeti Sapru, Anang Desai and Dibyendu Bhattacharya Grace Opening Day 5th Chandigarh Music & Film Festival at Chandigarh University
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, April 28, 2025: The three-day 5th Chandigarh Music & Film Festival (CMFF) 2025, organized by Real Foundation in association with Chandigarh University (CU), commenced at the CU campus on Monday, marking the beginning of a grand spectacle bridging local artists with the global entertainment industry and celebrate storytelling, music, and artistic excellence.
The 5th Chandigarh Music & Film Festival, which got underway with a dazzling opening ceremony at the Municipal Bhawan Punjab in Chandigarh on Sunday, was attended by Indian cinema’s brightest stars at Chandigarh University campus including Punjabi film actress Priti Sapru and, actor Dibyendu Bhattacharya, veteran actor Anang Desai, TV actor Ali Asgar, actor Mushtaq Khan, actor Vijay Patkar and director Jayprakkash Shaw.
The film stars who are slated to attend the film festival include actor Inamul Haq, actor Manish Wadhwa and renowned Sufi Singer Sultana Nooran.
The eight Indian and foreign films, selected for special premiere during the festival, include Chhaleda (Punjab), The Wallet (USA, London) The Star Who Fell To Earth (USA, London), Life Inside of Homeless Family (Haryana), The Shoes I Wore (Mumbai) KAL AAJ AUR KAL (Mumbai), IPSA (Haryana) and Two Lines (Chandigarh).
The festival opened with the Premiere of the Punjabi Film ‘Chhaleda’ which has been directed by Ravinder Brar. After the screening Chhaleda’s all crew and cast were given a welcome by the audience. Kapil Sharma show fame actor and comedian Ali Asgar, film director Jayprakkash Shaw and actors Mushtaq Khan and Vijay Patkar attended the Festival as part of the promotion of their movie “Love Karu Yaaa Shaadi”.
The excitement continued with four other highly anticipated Talk Shows, featuring an illustrious lineup of celebrated personalities. Renowned Punjabi film actress Preeti Sapru, acclaimed actor Dibyendu Bhattacharya, veteran actor Mushtaq Khan and veteran actor Anang Desai took center stage, each bringing their unique perspectives and vast experience to the conversations.
Highlights of Talk Show with Anang Desai Best known for playing Babuji in Khichdi
Veteran Actor Anang Desai says Khichdi’s Popularity Shows Humor is Universal, Entertainment Mediums Will Evolve, But Good Content Remain Key says Veteran Actor Anang Desai
Anang Desai, who has spent over three decades across theatre, television, and films, said the rise of OTT platforms has brought both good and bad content. “However, only quality content—whether comedy or serious drama with strong characters—truly connects with audiences. Barring a few exceptions, OTT is largely offering good content and has opened opportunities not only for actors but for other people like technicians and cinematographers as well," he said.
On the subject of censorship for OTT platforms, Desai said there is need for self-restraint among content creators. "If that doesn't happen, a broad regulatory framework wouldn't be a bad idea. Rules can still allow ample creative freedom. Not everything should be served to audiences in the name of OTT. Only well-made programs have found lasting success. My popular show Khichdi started in 2002 and continues to be loved even by newer generations which shows humor is universal," he said.
Sharing advice for aspiring actors, Desai said "If you want to act, come prepared with proper training. Like becoming a doctor or lawyer, acting also demands serious preparation and a lot of patience."
Highlights of Talk Show with film actress and producer Preeti Sapru
Without Diverse Storytelling, Punjabi Cinema Risks Falling Behind, Audience Support Is Key to Expanding Punjabi Cinema’s Horizons, says Punjabi film actress Preeti Sapru
Preeti Sapru, who is known for her works as an actress, writer, and filmmaker in Punjabi and Hindi cinema, said, “Punjabi cinema is emerging fast and is better positioned off than the Gujarati and Marathi regional cinema. But what we are doing is just focusing on creating only on comedy movies whereas the regional cinema in South India is giving tough competition to Bollywood by making movies of new variety of topics. Film makers in Punjab also need to do the same when there is an international film festival, you cannot send comedy films for it. You have to send films that give a social message. But for making an improvement in Punjabi cinema, the support of audience in Punjab is required for non-comedy movies because if they don’t watch Punjabi films on different topic than just comedy, the change will never come in the Punjabi film industry,”.
Highlights of Talk Show with actor Dibyendu Bhattacharya
OTT Has Become 'Home Box Office' With True Storytelling, Opened New Doors for Actors, says Actor Dibyendu Bhattacharya
Actor Dibyendu Bhattacharya, who is known for his performances in Criminal Justice, Rocket Boys, and Jamtara, among others, said, “Earlier, movies were fewer and largely formulaic — star-driven with similar storylines featuring a heroine, villain, and songs.
As actors, we often had to wait for work. In contrast, OTT platforms are content-driven. As audiences began valuing strong stories, OTT became what we call a ‘Home Box Office and actors like me are getting lot more work now. One more reason for OTT’s popularity is that going to the theatre is expensive — it can cost Rs 2000 for a couple, whereas a yearly OTT subscription is around Rs 650. So in order to compete with OTT, cinema needs to offer compelling content that forces people to come to theaters.
Audiences crave realism which is something OTT platforms deliver better. OTT provides a wider range of stories and experiences that cinema often lacks today. To improve, we need better writers and actors who are powerful should demand diverse content for the films they are doing. We had outstanding films in the 1970s and 80s, and even recently with movies like 3 Idiots.
However, even OTT is now facing saturation, as there’s a growing trend of copying any hit formula in a safe bid to make money. True innovation and storytelling are the need of the hour."
Highlights of Talk Show with The Kapil Sharma Show fame Ali Asgar
"If I Stayed in The Kapil Sharma Show Only for Money, I Would Have Betrayed My Audience," says The Kapil Sharma Show Fame Ali Asgar at Chandigarh University
Comedian and actor Ali Asgar, renowned for his roles in The Kapil Sharma Show, Comedy Nights With Kapil, Comedy Circus, and Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki, said he left the The Kapil Sharma Show in 2017 but still misses it.
“Definitely I have lots of memories are related to the show. I left it 2017 but I still play the Dadi’s (grandmother’s) character in many of my shows even now which is very rare for an actor after leaving a show. But fortunately, I am still getting lots of love from the audience for it. Definitely I miss the show but I left it because creatively my character (Dadi) was not going forward. As an an actor I was not enjoying it. If I was not enjoying my character, how will the audience enjoy it. If I had to make money only, I would have continued in that show. But my choice was that I wanted to not to fall below the expectation of the audience. In future I will see if I can work in this show again,” .
Ali Asgar said, “We have to deliver whatever the audience wants. Comedy is not easy now. It’s difficult to create a healthy comedy for family,”.
Actor Mushtaq Khan on Rise of OTT: "Common Man Has Drifted Away from Expensive Multiplexes"
On popularity of OTT platforms, veteran actor Mushtaq Khan, who has appeared in films such as Stree 2 and Welcome, said film makers go as per the audience choices and make movies accordingly because there is no point in making a movie which can’t recover its cost. Today single careen cinema theatres have been replaced by multiplexes which are very expensive.
So audience who were rickshaw pullers, tea vendors and the common man at the ground level who only cared about watching movies have reduced their visits to movie threatens because they do not care about the facilities provided inside the multiplex. They used to enjoy the movie with bare minimum facilities. But so the OTT platforms are getting popularity over movie theatres,”
On the reports that Bollywood movie ‘Abir Gulal’ featuring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan-starrer Abir Gulal will not be released, Khan said, “Artists are artists. It’s not right to ban movies or artists because it’s against nature to stop such things,”.