Globalwoodnews

Shah Rukh Khan and Taapsee Pannu were recently seen shooting together in the pretty locations of Sonmarg and Pulwama in Kashmir as they have been wrapping up the final schedule of Rajkumar Hirani’s Dunki. Fans in the valley were seen going gaga over the superstar’s presence and took to social media to share several glimpses from the behind-the-scenes of the film. They also clicked selfies and photos with the superstar during the shoot schedule. Now a similar situation turned a tad bit chaotic when Khan arrived at Srinagar airport, on Friday. Shah Rukh Khan and Taapsee Pannu seems to have wrapped up their Kashmir schedule of Dunki and were recently spotted at Srinagar airport. After they arrived at the location on Friday, to board a flight, the situation turned chaotic as fans crowded around the superstar to click selfies and photos with him. A video of SRK getting mobbed at the airport, despite tight security, has found its way online on social media. SRK fan frenzy at Srinagar Airpo...

Happy Birthday Siddhant Chaturvedi: Did you know that the Gully Boy actor was the first choice to play the role of Jim in Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan?

The dashing Siddhant Chaturvedi celebrates his 30th birthday today, that is, April 29. The actor appeared in two web series in the initial days of his career. But he became a household name with his performance in Gully Boy (2019). Ever since, he has done 6 films till now, 2 of which are yet to release. And now, Bollywood Hungama has learnt a fascinating trivia about Sidhant which will surely be worth a read. A source told Bollywood Hungama, “Siddhant Chaturvedi was the first choice to play the role of the antagonist Jim in Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan. The blockbuster was produced by Aditya Chopra’s Yash Raj Films. The maverick producer had signed him for Bunty Aur Babli 2 (2021), co-starring Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukerji and Sharvari Wagh. He felt that Siddhant Chaturvedi is a fine actor and can be an apt choice for the villain’s role in Pathaan. Also, he’s physically well-built and would look convincing in the face-off scenes with Shah Rukh Khan.” ...

Ghosted is not romantic – it’s a walking red flag | Jess Bacon

The drama is really not a love story; at best it shows an entitled man who won’t take no for an answer. From Love Actually to 10 Things I Hate About You this is sadly nothing new Romantic comedies are littered with male heroes who deploy problematic, sometimes psychotic, behaviours in order to win over their heroine. After all, love conquers all, right? Even the reddest of flags. The latest victim to this misguided trope is the Apple TV+ Chris Evans and Ana de Armas action-romance, Ghosted. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/BY0xwLH via IFTTT

Barkha Bisht confirms divorce with Indraneil Sengupta; ends 13 years of marriage

Barkha Bisht and Indraneil Sengupta, who started their career with television and have also proceeded to films now, recently decided to end their 13-year-old marriage. While rumours of their separation have been doing the rounds since 2021, both the actors have been maintaining silence on the same. However, recently Barkha not only confirmed that she is doing the duties of a single mother now, but also confirmed that her divorce will be through soon. In a report published by Etimes, Barkha Bisht said, "Yes, our divorce should come through soon. This has been one of the toughest decisions of my life.” Although the actress refrained from divulging details of her separation from Indraneil Sengupta, she added, "I am a single mother and Meira is my priority. On the work front, I have been doing interesting projects in the OTT space. I am open to good projects in TV and films, too.” For the unversed, Barkha Bisht and Indraneil Sengupta met each other on the sets of television sho...

John Abraham makes a return to YRF’s Dhoom franchise

The popular franchise Dhoom has seen a number of big star names being attached to it. After the first instalment in the franchise saw John Abraham and his bike make a statement, the second witnessed Hrithik Roshan and his disguises, while the third featured Aamir Khan in a never before seen avatar. Not surprisingly, a number of rumours have been doing the rounds about the casting for the fourth instalment in the franchise with some claiming that it will feature Shah Rukh Khan as the main villain. However, while there has been no update on this development, a new topic of discussion has been John Abraham’s return to the Dhoom franchise. Commenting on the same a well-placed industry source informed Bollywood Hungama, “Earlier this year John Abraham broke the mould with his performance in the Shah Rukh Khan starrer Pathaan. His rendition of the main villain certainly created waves, and the audience too loved his performance. So if Yash Raj Films is looking to cast him yet again in a nega...

Film-maker Jafar Panahi leaves Iran for first time in 14 years as travel ban lifted

The award-winning director who was released from prison in February is rumoured to be a juror at the Cannes film festival Jafar Panahi, the acclaimed Iranian director whose life has been dominated by clashes with his country’s government, has left Iran for the first time in 14 years. Panahi’s wife, Tahereh Saeedi, posted a picture on Instagram on Tuesday night showing her arriving with her husband at an undisclosed airport. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/gHbSvRx via IFTTT

Kartik Aaryan pips Ranveer Singh to star in Tezaab remake; official announcement expected soon

Earlier this year in January, Bollywood Hungama had reported that Janhvi Kapoor and Ranveer Singh were in advanced discussions with the makers to feature in the remake of the 1988 film Tezaab. Interestingly, Kabir Singh producer Murad Khetani, who had acquired the remake rights of the film in 2021, was initially keen on casting Kartik Aaryan and Shraddha Kapoor; however, it was later revealed that the film would in fact feature Janhvi-Ranveer pair reprising the roles of Madhuri Dixit and Anil Kapoor from the original. However, as they say, nothing is over till it is over. Now we hear that the film in question has undergone yet another casting change. As per the latest update, Kartik Aaryan seems to have pipped Ranveer Singh to clinch the title role in the Tezaab remake. Revealing details about the sudden change in the film’s casting, a source in the know revealed to Bollywood Hungama, “Initially the makers of the Tezaab remake were toying with the idea of featuring Ranveer Singh essay...

Vikramaditya Motwane reveals that Aamir Khan and Akshay Kumar were considered for AK vs AK; reveals that Akshay almost threw him out of his office after hearing the script

2020 saw the closure of theatres due to the Covid pandemic. Hence, this was the year when moviegoers were treated with several films on digital. While some failed to entice, a few of them stood out. A film that comes in the latter category for many moviegoers is AK vs AK. Starring Anil Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap, it was a meta movie where both played exaggerated versions of themselves. The audience gave it a thumbs up for its unusual storyline. The performances were also appreciated, of both Anil and Anurag. Hence, it will be a surprise for readers to know that before Anil Kapoor came on board, Aamir Khan and even Akshay Kumar were considered to play the actor’s part in AK vs AK. In a long interview with Mid-Day’s editor Mayank Shekhar, Vikramaditya Motwane, director of AK vs AK revealed fascinating trivia. He said the writer Avinash Sampath wrote the film keeping Aamir Khan in mind. When Vikramaditya came on board, he asked him to drop the idea as he felt that Aamir...

Little Richard: I Am Everything review – irresistible tribute to a rock’n’roll genius

Documentary about the trailblazing musician who influenced stars from the Beatles to Bowie also looks back at the artists who inspired him Lisa Cortes’s documentary is an irresistible tribute to the pioneering rock’n’roll genius, whose wild transgressive energy and explosive sexuality blazed a trail and created a musical and performing language for James Brown, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Prince, Elton John, David Bowie, and many other stars – some of whom had the good grace to thank him. And he is now considered a great queer artist, which is how many interviewees here describe him; Little Richard in fact described himself as gay, and the movie perhaps could have done more analytical work in thinking about the relationship between the two terms. But it certainly does an excellent job at pointing out the hiding-in-plain-sight outrageousness. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/06BWAjP via IFTTT

REVEALED: Ananya Panday’s cyber thriller is titled Control; Vikramaditya Motwane reveals that “it is a ‘computer-generated’ movie, flitting between screens”

Ananya Panday will complete 4 years in the film industry on May 10 this year as her debut film, Student Of The Year 2, was released on May 10, 2019. Since then, she has been a part of 8 films and 1 web series and has worked with prominent filmmakers. Earlier this year, she announced that she has signed talented filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane’s film. Nearly a month later, it came to light that the shoot was wrapped up. Vikramaditya Motwane even put up a lovely picture of him hugging Ananya and stating that he’s her big fan. Until now, nothing much was known about the film apart from the fact that it’s a cyber thriller. Recently, in an in-depth interview with Mid-Day editor Mayank Shekhar, Vikramaditya Motwane unveiled the title of this film. It turns out that his film with Ananya Panday is named Control. He also shared some interesting details about the film, “It’s a ‘computer-generated’ movie, flitting between screens, centred on an Instagram influencer.” Interestingly, one ...

Complaint filed against Nawazuddin Siddiqui and his Sprite ad for ‘hurting’ Bengali sentiments

A police complaint has been filed against the CEO of Coca-Cola India and actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui for allegedly hurting the sentiments of the Bengali community. The actor recently featured in an ad for the soft drink Sprite which was originally shot in Hindi. No objection was raised on the Hindi version. However, an advocate has filed a complaint raising issues over the Bengali dubbed version. As reported by Live Mint, an advocate of the Calcutta High Court, Dibyayan Banerji, who is also the petitioner, said, “The main advertisement by Coca-Cola for its product Sprite was in Hindi. And we have no problems with that. We only have a problem with Bengali dubbing of the ad which is running on various TV channels and websites. Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui is laughing at one of the jokes, which says, ‘shoja anguley ghee na uthley, Bangali khali petey ghumiye porey’. In English, it means that if Bengalis don’t get anything easily, they sleep hungry. And this, we think, hurts...

Polite Society review – fun action comedy mashes Jane Austen and the Chuckle Brothers

A pointed satire of the marriage market from We Are Lady Parts’ Nida Manzoor delivers the laughs – and some full tilt comedy action Nida Manzoor created We Are Lady Parts for Channel 4 , a sitcom about an all-female, all-Muslim punk band; now, for her debut feature film, she brings serious levels of goof, wack and zane for a feelgood action comedy with a very incorrect adjective in the title. It stars newcomer Priya Kansara as a young girl from a British-Pakistani family: Ria, a year 11 martial arts enthusiast and wannabe stuntwoman on a desperate mission to sabotage her older sister’s marriage to a guy that somehow only she can see is a sinister creep. Kansara does a lot of her own gonzo stunts and kickboxing moves, and the sheer energy and full tilt comedy she brings to them had me thinking of the young Jackie Chan in Drunken Master. Manzoor’s film also has bits of Jane Austen, Kevin Kwan and Gurinder Chadha, with a cheeky homage to the Chuckle Brothers in the sequence in which two...

Aparshakti Khurana’s next single is inspired from Jubilee, to be based in the 1950s

Aparshakti Khurana is currently basking in the success of his latest web-series Jubilee on Amazon Prime Video. Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, the show is based around the Hindi film industry of the 1940s and 1950s. Aparshakti plays the role of Binod Das aka Madan Kumar. His portrayal of a nobody who becomes a star actor is also garnering rave reviews. The actor’s love affair with the bygone era is now all set to go even further. His upcoming single song is based in the 1950s and is inspired from Jubilee. The song will see Aparshakti don the roles of both singer and actor. He has said that the song will be a tribute to the singer and musicians of the bygone era. Sharing his excitement at the upcoming song, Aparshakti said in a statement, “I have always loved the black and white era. It’s very romantic for me and I was very excited when I got the part of Jubilee. Now inspired by that, my next music video is also inspired from the 1950s era. It will be a tribute to the singers and mu...

Dahaad teaser: One woman's quest for justice takes centre stage in Sonakshi Sinha starrer show, watch

Prime Video, India’s most loved entertainment destination, today unveiled the intriguing teaser of the upcoming crime drama, Amazon Original series, Dahaad. The series is created by Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar and is directed by Kagti along with Ruchika Oberoi. Produced by Excel Media & Entertainment and Tiger Baby and Executive Produced by Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar along with Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar, Dahaad features Sonakshi Sinha, Vijay Varma, Gulshan Devaiah, and Sohum Shah in the lead. Dahaad is an 8-part crime drama that follows sub-inspector Anjali Bhaati and her colleagues in a small town police station. It all starts when a series of women are mysteriously found dead in public bathrooms, Sub-Inspector Anjali Bhaati is tasked with the investigation. At first, the deaths appear to be clear-cut suicides but as the cases unravel, Anjali begins to suspect that a serial killer is on the loose. What follows is a riveting game of cat and mouse between a seasoned crim...

Young Soul Rebels review – life-giving ode to diversity in silver jubilee London

Part thriller, part drama, part comedy, Isaac Julien’s urban pastoral set in the aftermath of a homophobic murder still feels fresh, buoyant and likable Isaac Julien’s feature from 1991 is rereleased after more than 30 years and it still feels fresh, buoyant, likable and emotionally open. It is a paean to diversity and intersectionality set in east London during the 1977 Queen’s silver jubilee, with some cheeky jibes about middle-class outlaws and “St Martins” art-school types (St Martins being Julien’s own alma mater). Young Soul Rebels takes the form of an urban pastoral, but is also a kind of romantic comedy, a coming-of-age drama about friendship and a thriller about a brutal homophobic murder – and there’s actually a clever plot twist about the victim’s tape-deck which another type of film might have made much more of, maybe in the manner of Francis Ford Coppola. A young black man is murdered while cruising in a park and the news has different effects on his friends, Chris (Vale...

Aamir Khan and Raveena Tandon to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s radio talk show Mann Ki Baat 100 conclave

Bollywood actors Aamir Khan and Raveena Tandon will be attending Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly radio talk show Mann Ki Baat conclave in New Delhi on the completion of 100 episodes of the show. For the same, Aamir reached New Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan to attend the national conclave. Raveena will be doing a panel on nari shakti (women power). As per Indian Express, along with the two actors, sportspersons Deepa Malik and Nikhat Zareen, several journalists, radio jockeys and entrepreneurs will be in attendance for the national conclave. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and MoS for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary will be attending the event for the valedictory session. The event will be inaugurated by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. I&B Minister Anurag Thakur will be the guest of honour. Meanwhile, Aamir Khan was last seen in the Hindi adaptation of Forrest Gump, Laal Singh Chaddha. It released in August 2022. The actor is yet to announce his next...

Delhi High Court orders social media platforms to take down leaked clips of Shah Rukh Khan starrer Jawan

With the release of Pathaan in January 2023, Shah Rukh Khan gave a much-needed boost to cinemas. The actor is soaring high on the success of the film. With that being said, he has two more releases this year – Jawan and Dunki. In recent times, many clips of the Atlee Kumar directorial have surfaced online in which Shah Rukh Khan was shooting a song with Nayanthara and Deepika Padukone, respectively. Even leaked clips of alleged teaser have also surfaced online. Following a string of leaked content, Delhi High Court on Tuesday ordered social media platforms, Cable TV platforms, rogue websites, direct-to-home services and ‘John Doe’ defendants to take down the leaked content and refrain from committing copyright infringement of Jawan. Red Chillies Entertainment had reached High Court claiming two of the leaked clips from the film ad surfaced online. The first clip was of SRK doing an action sequence and the second one was him shooting a song with Nayanthara. “It is the plaintiff’s (Red ...

Hrithik Roshan announced as the first brand ambassador of peanut butter brand Myfitness

After being acquired by Mensa Brands, MyFitness which is a first-of-its-kind and the fastest-growing brand in the peanut butter category, has appointed actor and fitness icon Hrithik Roshan as its first-ever brand ambassador. Hrithik is widely recognised as a proponent of health and fitness and has amassed a significant following among the Indian population, which will assist MyFitness in expanding its product reach to a wider audience. Hrithik’s reputation as a millennial fitness icon aligns perfectly with MyFitness's mission of a healthier lifestyle for one and all. Ananth Narayanan, CEO and Founder of Mensa Brands, commenting on the partnership, said, "We are excited to welcome Hrithik Roshan as our brand ambassador. Our shared dedication to the health and fitness community makes this collaboration even more meaningful." Speaking on his association with MyFitness, Hrithik Roshan said, "My association with MyFitness Peanut Butter is more of a subscription to the ...

Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan CONFIRMED for June 2 release; new promo to be launched in the first week of May

- April 24, 2023

Shah Rukh Khan gave a lot of happiness to the trade, industry and also moviegoers thanks to the super-success of Pathaan (2023). Directed by Siddharth Anand, it emerged as the biggest Hindi grosser of all time, surpassing even Baahubali 2 – The Conclusion (2017). Hence, it’s no surprise that his next film, Jawan, is eagerly awaited. That it looks quite massy and commercial has upped the buzz and excitement to significant levels. For a few months, there have been reports that Jawan might not release on its scheduled release date, that is, June 2, 2023. However, a source told Bollywood Hungama, “The film is mostly confirmed for a release on June 2. The team of Red Chillies Entertainment and director Atlee are working round the clock and ensuring that the film makes it to cinemas on the said date.” The source further added, “The team of Jawan is also gearing up to begin the promotions of the film. It is expected to start next week, that is, the fir...

Alia Bhatt buys a new house in Bandra for whopping Rs. 37.80 crore, gifts two flats worth Rs. 7.68 crore to her sister Shaheen

- April 24, 2023

Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt has made some hefty property investments in the month of April 2023. The actress has purchased a new house in Bandra worth Rs. 37.80 crore. This is bought by her production house Eternal Sunshine Production Pvt. Ltd. As per the reports, the property is spread across 2,497 sq ft. The actress paid Rs. 2.26 crore stamp duty and registered the sale agreement on April 10, 2023. Apart from this, Alia Bhatt gifted two of her flats in Mumbai to her sister Shaheen Bhatt which are worth Rs. 7.68 crore on April 10. It is being reported that the flats are spread across 2,086.75 sq ft in Gigi Apartments in Juhu, Mumbai. A stamp duty of Rs. 30.75 lakh was paid by her. On the work front, Alia Bhatt has an exciting year ahead with the release of Netflix’s Heart of Stone with Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan. She also has Karan Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. The film stars Ranveer Singh, Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan and Shabana Azmi. ALSO READ: Alia Bhatt deletes and ...

Disney cuts thousands of jobs in second wave of layoffs

- April 24, 2023

Company aims to eliminate 7,000 positions and save $5.5bn in costs across business segments, including ESPN and Disney Parks Walt Disney will begin a second wave of layoffs on Monday involving thousands of jobs, as part of efforts to eliminate 7,000 positions and save $5.5bn in costs, according to sources familiar with the matter. The company will cut “several thousand” jobs through Thursday, with the latest round of reductions bringing the total number of jobs culled to 4,000, Disney officials say. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/N4AUsS5 via IFTTT

Netflix to convert Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s limited series Heeramandi into seasonal show?

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s eagerly-awaited OTT opus Heeramandi is gradually shaping into one of the finest digital experiences originating from Asia. A source close to Netflix describes it as the digital equivalent of K Asif’s Mughal-e-Azam. “Every frame is a work of art. You can’t take your off the screen for even a second. Binge-watching would be a crime. Taking in all that beauty at one go would be humanly impossible.” It is likely that the episodes won’t be released at one go. “Every episode will be like an individual film. To be devoured in leisure,” says one of Bhansali’s Heeramandi actors , all of whom are under contract to not speak about the series until told to. Netflix has decided to convert Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s proposed series Heeramandi into a seasonal affair. The first season of eight episodes will air in the second-half of 2023(month and date not yet decided). Revealing details on scheduling plans a source close to the proje...

Dream Girl 2: Ayushmann Khurrana announces new release date; film to hit the big screen on August 25, 2023

Fans of the highly anticipated movie Dream Girl 2 will have to wait a bit longer to catch the film in theatres, as the film gets a fresh release date which is August 25, 2023. The reason for the delay is reportedly due to the extensive VFX work required for the film. The VFX work is crucial for Dream Girl 2, as the film features Ayushmann Khurrana playing the role of Pooja and Karam. The team doesn't wanna leave any stone unturned to ensure that he is looking seamless and convincing as Pooja. Speaking about the decision, Ektaa R Kapoor, Joint Managing Director - Balaji Telefilms Limited, said, "We want Ayushmann Khurrana's character to look perfect as Pooja in Dream Girl 2, and that's why we are taking extra time to perfect the VFX work for the face. We want to ensure that our viewers get the best possible experience when they watch the movie. The VFX work for Dream Girl 2 is an integral part of the movie, and we want to ensure that we deliver a high-quality product t...

Urvashi Rautela sends legal notice to Twitter user for spreading fake news about her equation with Agent co-star Akhil Akkineni

Urvashi Rautela started her career in the entertainment industry as a model and later transitioned into acting. She made her acting debut in 2013 with the film Singh Saab the Great and has since then appeared in several Hindi films. She has also worked in a bunch of Telugu-language films. In fact, the release of her latest Telugu film with Akhil Akkineni, Agent, is around the corner. However, a self-proclaimed film critic, Umair Sandhu’s tweet has upset the actress. Reacting to his “false claims”, Urvashi has sent a legal notice to him as well. For the unversed, a Twitter user, by the name of Umair Sandhu, tweeted that Urvashi called Akhil an immature actor and felt uncomfortable working with him. The tweet went viral in no time and grabbed the attention of the actress. Miffed by the claims, Urvashi decided to take action against him. Giving out details of the same, on Sunday afternoon, Urvashi took to her verified social media handle and shared a note post, which read, “Defamation l...

Kajol's cryptic note hints at unnamed naysayers and their cowardice: check out Insta post

Bollywood actress Kajol has been making waves lately with her social media presence. With over 10 million followers on Instagram alone, Kajol has become an influencer in her own right. She regularly shares her thoughts on social issues, promotes various causes close to her heart, and interacts with her fans through live sessions and Q&A sessions. Speaking of her latest post, she seems to be miffed with someone. However, it is not yet clear what specifically prompted Kajol's post. Coming back to her Instagram stories, on Saturday evening, she wrote two notes. Her note hinted at some naysayers and addressed the “cowardness” they harbour in them. She wrote, “Truth of the day…Both genders have their own set of cowards and a*##***les. The trick is not be blinded by their genders to see their worth or their worthlessness. #ThisHitHome.” In the next story, the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai actress quoted Rumi, which read, “Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. For those who lov...

Disney v DeSantis: how a corporate behemoth turned beacon of diversity

The fight between the Florida governor and the Magic Kingdom is weird and getting weirder, for a company that was not always a defender of LGBTQ+ rights In an American political landscape seemingly defined by division and acrimony, one of the bitterest fights is also one of the strangest: the slug fest currently playing out between the rightwing Florida governor and 2024 White House hopeful Ron DeSantis and the Magic Kingdom of Disney World. Last week was especially strange. DeSantis appeared to have bitten off more than he could chew when, as gas shortages riled Miami-Dade voters, he kept his long-running dispute with Disney World going through turns as tight as the teacups on the Mad Tea Party at the edge of Fantasyland. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/tcRGdL6 via IFTTT

Singham Again to release on Independence Day 2024, avoids clash with Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3

Over the last few years, Rohit Shetty’s cop universe has come alive. All three characters from his cop movies, Singham, Simmba and Sooryavanshi, played by Ajay Devgn, Ranveer Singh and Akshay Kumar, came together for the first time in Simmba (2018). The trio was then seen in Sooryavanshi (2021), much to the cheers of the crowd. The 2021 movie also gave an indication that the next cop movie in the franchise will be the Ajay Devgn starrer Singham Again, the third movie in the Singham franchise. It is now learnt that the film will be releasing during the Independence Day of 2024. Co-incidentally, the previous film in the Singham franchise, titled Singham Returns, was also released on Independence Day in 2014. By choosing this particular date for Singham Again, the makers have advanced the film’s release because it was earlier supposed to release during Diwali 2024. Also, by moving the film’s release, the makers have avoided a clash with the Kartik Aaryan starrer Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, the t...

‘The film industry is gone’: Jim Jarmusch on the his debut album, the death of filmmaking and the joy of mistakes

At 70, the outsider movie hero is releasing his first album. He muses on music, the demise of film and finding joy in mistakes There are few film-makers quite as particular about music as Jim Jarmusch. Over the years, he’s enlisted Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA to score his hitman-meets-samurai flick Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, had Tom Waits and Iggy Pop jacked up on caffeine and locking horns in a thick swirl of smoke in 2003’s Coffee and Cigarettes, and got Neil Young to let rip some improvised guitar for the soundtrack to Dead Man. Not to mention that his films feature acting turns by everyone from Joe Strummer to Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and he directed a documentary on the Stooges along the way. “Music’s always been there,” he says, in his unmistakable deep baritone register, speaking from New York. “Since being a teenager, music has been something that shaped my life and the decisions I’ve made throughout it.” But for the last decade, Jarmusch has evolved from avid admirer and astute...

IIFA and AquaKraft announce Be Water+ve program for Earth Day for water security in India's villages

International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) and AquaKraft on the occasion of World Earth Day announced the launch of a unique Water advocacy and influencer program called Be Water+ve which endeavours to incubate a movement to make India’s villages Water +ve. The program is inspired by Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision and inspiration of achieving water security by 2047. The Be Water +ve movement will be a composite of active advocacy addressing water security, on-ground interventions in drinking water, sanitation and water recycling, community participation and governance, guided by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and several knowledge partners. Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, “Looking ahead the need for water is increasing manifold. While the Jal Shakti Ministry has been doing extensive work that is being recognized as an inspiring effort across the world, it can only succeed when people join hands with government effort...

After Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan release, Salman Khan to head to Dubai for the launch of Aap Ki Adalat

Bollywood actor Salman Khan has his plate full. After the release of Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan on Friday, the actor is busy with the Eid 2023 celebrations. After spending quality time with his family, the actor will head to Dubai for the launch of Aap Ki Adalat. As per a report in Khaleej Times, Salman Khan will be visiting the Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City on April 25 for the launch of the news talk show. Hosted by journalist Rajat Sharma, Aap Ki Adalat has been one of the longest-running shows on Indian television since 1993. Salman Khan will be joining Sharma in a conversation and it will broadcasted later. Majid Khan, CEO & MD NKN Media, said, “Ever since NKN Media collaborated with India TV last year, we had the vision to bring this flagship show to UAE in order to give it a local flavour. And what could have been better than making this big with superstar Salman Khan himself, especially when he has such a large fan following in UAE.” Meanwhile, Salman Khan had his ...

The Sound of Music rights acquired for Paparao Biyyala's film Music School starring Shriya Saran, Sharman Joshi

58 years after the iconic, Oscar award-winning and only official film adaptation of the classic musical play The Sound of Music, an Indian IAS officer turned filmmaker Paparao Biyyala is gearing up for the release of his debut film ‘Music School, which marks to be the first Indian film to obtain the rights of the classical play. The timeless classic Broadway production The Sound of Music written and composed by Rodgers, and Hammerstein in 1959, has been etched in the history of popular culture ever since. Over a decade later, Robert Wise presented the first film adaptation of the musical with the same name in 1965 and won five academy awards. Almost six decades later, writer- Director Paparao Biyyala has obtained the official rights of the music for the broadway musical for his debut film “Music School’. Recreating three songs from the musical- 'Do Re Mi', 'So Long Farewell' and 'Sixteen Going on Seventeen' beautifully woven for different situations in the fil...

Streaming: the best holiday romance films

Netflix’s featherweight A Tourist’s Guide to Love follows a familiar arc, but there’s more to fall for in classics from Summertime to The Green Ray There’s nothing new under the sun in A Tourist’s Guide to Love – though there’s an awful lot of that sun, brightening every postcard shot in this featherweight Netflix romcom, and for viewers starved of warmth after a long, dreary winter, that’s enough of a lure. It follows a familiar arc: reeling from a breakup, a perky travel executive (Rachael Leigh Cook) takes a trip to Vietnam for notional work reasons, only to be swept off her feet by her charming local tour guide (Scott Lý). The film hits every holiday-romance beat you expect, but it hardly needs to shake things up: cinema has a proud and comforting tradition of stories in which a trip somewhere sunny and far away proves just the ticket for a character whose life has hit the skids. My favourite example of the form – the fine wine to the budget lambrini of A Tourist’s Guide to Love...

Bhumi Pednekar aims to clean The Himalayas through an ecological preservation campaign

Climate Warrior Bhumi Pednekar is setting herself on a massive mission to clean The Himalayas! On the occasion of World Earth Day, Bhumi announced that she is partnering with a non-profit, Healing Himalayas, that does extensive and exemplary work towards the preservation of ecology in the mountain range. Bhumi, who is also the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) ambassador, will now become the Goodwill Ambassador of Healing Himalayas! Bhumi’s work with Healing Himalayas will see her travelling to these mountainous regions and participating in cleanliness drives aimed at keeping The Himalayas clean. Healing Himalayas Foundation is a seven-year-old organization formed to address the problem of garbage in a rather unique way - they are committed to restoring the pristine natural environment of the Himalayas. The organization has taken over the onerous task of cleaning out trash from the picturesque Himalayas. Their primary mission being - to dissolve the problem of waste manageme...

John Travolta’s Saturday Night Fever suit up for sale – with ‘authentic’ sweat marks

- April 21, 2023

One of two identical white three-pieces worn by star in 1977 role expected to fetch $250,000 It’s one of film’s iconic images: a smouldering John Travolta, in a white three-piece suit, lapels licking the shoulders, raising his right arm on a glowing dancefloor. And now, the white polyester outfit from Saturday Night Fever – the 1977 chronicle of the dying days of disco – could be yours for a quarter of a million dollars. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/CGKBmPa via IFTTT

‘Patriarchy has no gender. It doesn’t break down like that’: film-maker Nina Menkes dissects the male gaze

- April 21, 2023

New documentary uses hundreds of clips to show how even the most acclaimed classics of cinema have encouraged a culture of sexual harassment of women “I get letters every day from people around the world, saying, ‘Oh my God, thank you for making this’,” says Nina Menkes . “But one woman told me, ‘You’ve ruined all my favourite films’.” Menkes is the director of Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power , a documentary arguing that even the most acclaimed classics of cinema have encouraged a culture of sexual harassment of women. Using hundreds of clips, Menkes shows how female characters are consistently framed as the object by the male subject. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/yfvR0Eq via IFTTT

Twitter's Blue Tick removal sparks responses from Vir Das, Nargis Fakhri and others

- April 21, 2023

Twitter has initiated the removal of the blue verification badges from profiles that have not subscribed to the Twitter Blue service. The CEO of the company, Elon Musk, had previously announced this development earlier in the month. Among many other Twitter users, a bunch of Indian celebrities have also lost the blue tick as per the new mandate launched by the micro-blogging site, including Vir Das, Nargis Fakhri and more. Vir expressed his opinion on Twitter through multiple tweets, stating that he prefers the concept of buying tickets to verify an artist rather than verifying through blue ticks. He also mentioned that he does not mind being impersonated on the platform. He further added that users can differentiate the real him from impersonators based on whether they agree or disagree with his tweets. According to his suggestion, if someone is unhappy with his tweets and wishes to take action or report him to higher authorities, then the account in question belongs to a...

Salman Khan’s Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan features Bhagyashree, Himalay Dassani, Abhimanyu Dassani in special appearances; makers pay a lovely tribute to Maine Pyar Kiya

Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, starring Salman Khan, has finally released today. There’s a lot of excitement surrounding this film as it marks Salman’s first Eid release in nearly four years. The trade and industry expect the film to work due to Salman’s star power, songs, larger-than-life feel and family-friendly elements. Bollywood Hungama has now learnt that there’s another major USP of the film. A source told Bollywood Hungama, “Bhagyashree has a crucial cameo in the film. Audiences are going to love seeing her and Salman together after nearly 33 years.” Both were last seen in the 1989 blockbuster romantic saga, Maine Pyar Kiya. The source further said, “The makers have paid a lovely tribute to Maine Pyar Kiya. And along with Bhagyashree, her husband Himalay Dassani and actor-son Abhimanyu Dassani also feature in the film in special appearances. Those who have seen it can’t stop raving about it and feel it’ll lead to madness in cinema halls.” Besides Salman Khan,...

Ghosted review – dreadful big star action comedy deserves to be ignored

Chris Evans and Ana de Armas make for a chemistry-free pairing in Apple’s catastrophically misfiring mockbuster It’s easy to see the commercial allure of Apple’s pre-summer mockbuster Ghosted, the package: a snappy buzzword title, an idea from the Deadpool team later fleshed out by some Marvel writers, a big, sexy star pairing proved on screen twice before, an action-comedy-romance hybrid designed to appeal to the widest possible audience. One can only imagine the enthused high-fives that took place in some cold, pristine LA boardroom when it was given the green light. But it’s utterly impossible to see the appeal of Ghosted, the movie, a staggeringly, maddeningly atrocious heap of increasingly boneheaded decisions that will act as depressing documentation of just how rotten things got in the current oversaturated streaming landscape. Ghosted is content dictated by algorithm at its absolute, industry-shaming worst, so carelessly and lifelessly cobbled together that we’re inclined to ...

Pray for Our Sinners review – the Irish campaigners who took on brutal church abuse

Inspirational documentary recovers the stories of those who dared to question the treatment of children in a small Irish town Irish film-maker and journalist Sinéad O’Shea has a gripping and inspirational story to tell about her home town of Navan in Co Meath, and she tells it terrifically well, talking to the people involved, engaging with the history, delivering the drama and teasing out the poignancies and complexities. O’Shea is speaking to the people who stood up to church abuse in the 60s and 70s, at a time when challenging the Catholic authorities seemed unthinkable. There can hardly be anyone left now who doesn’t know something about Ireland’s coming to terms with the historical abuse sanctioned by the church and its treatment of young pregnant women in the brutal mother-and-baby houses and Magdalene Laundries, the subject of movies such as Stephen Frears’s Philomena and Peter Mullan’s The Magdalene Sisters . These were the workhouses of shame, or perhaps the refineries in w...

Judy Blume Forever review – inspiring portrait of a fearless author