07082026-LSTC-01.qxd 8/7/2026 12:34 AM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE Mini triumph Life Mona F ILMMAKER Amit Rai was in Chandigarh on Wednesday for a special screening of his latest family entertainer, Ohh My Dog. Interacting with audience after the screening, Rai reflected on the deeply personal inspiration behind the film, why he chose to postpone its release to avoid a box-office clash, and why travelling with his films remains an essential part of understanding audience responses. The director with hit OMG 2 to his credit also spoke about the message he hopes viewers will carry home from Ohh My Dog, that’s running in cinemas. Honour for Michelle Yeoh The Oscar-winning actor will receive the Asian Filmmaker of the Year award at the 31st Busan International Film Festival for her contribution to Asian & global cinema Oscar-winning actor Michelle Yeoh has been named the Asian Filmmaker of the Year at the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), an annual honour that recognises an Asian film professional or organisation for exceptional contributions to the advancement of Asian cinema. Yeoh will receive the award during the festival’s opening ceremony on October 6 at the Busan Cinema Centre. The ceremony will be hosted by Kim Minha. Yeoh began her screen career in Hong Kong action cinema with Yes, Madam!, followed by acclaimed performances in Police Story 3: Supercop and Wing Chun, helping redefine the image of the action heroine. Her performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once made history as she became the first Asian to win the Academy Award for Best Actress. — ANI Are you happy you pushed the release date? Do you think Indian films need some sort of reserved shows or they like to compete with Hollywood films with mega budgets? Every filmmaker wants the film to reach the widest possible audience, so sometimes you have to take practical decisions about the release. We shifted the date because we wanted Ohh My Dog to get the breathing space it deserves. I have always believed that a good story eventually finds its audience, but we should also create a fair ecosystem where Indian films, especially content-driven ones, get equal opportunities in theatres. Hollywood films come with massive budgets and global marketing. Our stories may not have those resources, but they carry our emotions and culture. If there are mechanisms that ensure balanced exhibition without compromising audience choice, it would certainly help meaningful cinema thrive. Mini Mathur won Prime Video’s inaugural reality show Alliance, hosted by Kunal Kemmu, taking home the trophy and ~50 lakh. Aly Goni finished runner-up, while Ruhee Dosani came third. CHANDIGARH | FRIDAY | 7 AUGUST 2026 Pet theory In Chandigarh, filmmaker Amit Rai talks about the inspiration behind Ohh My Dog, why he delayed its release and his perspective on pet parenting talk about compassion, kindness and the bond between humans and animals. Those conversations reassure me that the film is reaching people in the way it was intended. Do you travel with each of your films to see the audience response? How has Chandigarh’s response been? Since you have written, produced and directed the film, please share with us the most memorable aspect of this journey. Yes, I genuinely enjoy travelling with my films because cinema is incomplete until it meets its audience. Sitting inside a theatre and watching people laugh, cry or fall silent tells me far more than any box office number. Chandigarh was incredibly special. The audience connected deeply with the emotions of the film, and many stayed back to The most memorable aspect of this journey has been discovering how a simple personal experience evolved into a story with a universal message. The inspiration came from my own pet dog. When I brought him home, I believed I was taking care of him, but over time I realised he was teaching me some of life’s most important lessons about love, loy- c m y b alty and compassion. That changed the way I looked at relationships between humans and animals. From writing the script to producing and directing the film, every stage was driven by the desire to tell this story with honesty and sincerity. My son Maahi made his acting debut in the film, and our own pet dog is also a part of it, which made the experience deeply personal for me. More than making a film, it has been a journey of understanding coexistence, empathy and respect for every living being. As the film is set for release, what is your message to movie buffs? I would simply request everyone to experi- ence Ohh My Dog with their families on the big screen. Dogs teach us the purest form of love and loyalty without expecting anything in return. Through Ohh My Dog, I wanted to tell a story that is emotional, entertaining and meaningful for every family. This is not just a film about a child and a dog; it is about learning to coexist with all living beings with compassion. If audiences walk away with a little more kindness in their hearts towards animals, I will feel this film has truly achieved its purpose. I sincerely thank the people of Chandigarh for the warmth they have shown us, and I hope they continue to support stories that celebrate humanity.