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Shaheer Sheikh and Hiba Nawab starrer Woh Toh Hai Albela, that currently airs on Star Bharat, received a lot of love from audiences especially for exploring a unique pairing. But it seems that the couple have failed to garner TRPs and now reports claim that the show is all set to go off air. Being the official remake of the Tamil show, Eeramana Rojave, currently this Hindi serial has completed over 350 episodes. We hear that the channel Star Bharat has decided to axe Woh Toh Hai Albela after the show has been garnering low TRPs. Although the lead couple received a lot of appreciation when they showcased them falling in love, the several plot twists and turns that the makers have introduced lately seems to have not been received well by the audience. If these reports are to be believed, the final day of the shoot will be this month and the show is expected to go off air by mid-July. Although neither the producers nor the actors of the serial have opened about this decision. As for the...

This animated combination of cynicism and grotesquerie has as much energy as Aardman and double the WTF quotient The only fitting comparison for this deranged Estonian stop-motion animation is if Shaun the Sheep had somehow been infected with a terminal case of BSE. The human characters are ugly lumpen golems, all the better to suggest rural backwardness; milk enjoys the same almost-ontological status here as Malkovichness in Being John Malkovich ; the film has an unhealthy anal fixation that at one point expresses itself in a giant bear, irritated by a heavy-metal guitarist in his colon, who farts out an entire forestful of animals. In short, it’s brilliant. City brats Priidik (voiced by co-director Mikk Mägi), Aino (co-director Oskar Lehemaa) and Mart (Mägi) are sent to stay with their grandfather (Mägi), who to their scorn is always doing “barn things”. The old fella prides himself on his way with an udder; he starts to rid them of their urban prissiness with a few squirts of yog...

Mescal and Melissa Barrera lead this modern-day version of Bizet’s opera, which awkwardly combines tough realism with high-gloss romance This film contains a scene with maximum meme potential: Normal People’s Paul Mescal breaks into expressionist dance, leaping through the air, soulfully twisting his body with the agony of a broken heart. It will have the Mescalmania fanbase melting into puddles. But really it’s his acting not his ballet that carries off this reimagining of Georges Bizet’s 1875 opera. Updated to modern day Mexico and the US, it’s a heartfelt, extravagant film, swirling with melodrama and music. The story opens in Mexico, where Carmen (Melissa Barrera) flees north to the US after her flamenco dancer mother is killed by drug cartel thugs. Meanwhile, across the border in Texas, Mescal plays Aidan, an ex-marine who reluctantly takes a job with a patrol that cruises the border picking up illegals. On his first night there is a terrible incident: his colleague opens fire o...

Bollywood actors Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover have always maintained a strong presence on social media, connecting with their fans and sharing updates from their personal lives. In a delightful turn of events, the couple embarked on a new chapter as they welcomed their baby girl, Devi, into their lives in November 2022. Since then, Bipasha and Karan have been overjoyed, cherishing precious moments with their adorable little one, which they lovingly share with their followers on social media platforms. The couple has now added another exciting milestone in their lives, i.e., the addition of a brand new 2023 Audi Q7 SUV. On Wednesday, Bipasha Basu took to her Instagram account to announce the new significant achievement in their lives - the acquisition of a luxurious new car. The couple's joy was palpable as they posed with their gleaming new wheels. Sharing the video, she captioned, “Devi’s New Ride Durga Durga Thank you @audi_mumbaiwest for making this so special for us #...

Filmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor is back with the third season of his political drama City of Dreams on Disney+ Hotstar. The new season, which started streaming on the platform from May 26, has continued the good work of the previous two seasons. And it is now learnt that the third season has become the most watched season of the show after just five days of its release. Disney+ Hotstar has also shared the news on their official social media pages. The show stars Priya Bapat, Atul Kulkarni, Sachin Pilgaonkar, Eijaz Khan, Sushant Singh, Rannvijay Singha, among others. The story is basically about the power struggle between Poornima Gaikwad (Bapat), the acting Chief Minister of Maharashtra, and her father Ameya Rao Gaikwad (Kulkarni), a veteran politician. The series shows how the power feud in a single family has a negative effect on the state. City of Dreams sees Pilgaonkar playing the former Chief Minister of the state while Khan essays the role of a tough cop, who is on Poornima’s side. S...

KD Davison’s hagiography of the ‘godfather of American avant garde cinema’ says much about his profound influence, but glosses over uncomfortable details about his early life Hailed as “the godfather of American avant garde cinema”, Jonas Mekas led an extraordinary, multi-hyphenated career whose wide-ranging influence must have proved a challenge for a documentary to encompass. When Mekas arrived in New York as a Lithuanian exile in 1949, the first thing he bought was a Bolex camera. For the displaced immigrant, when language faltered images became a means of communication. As Fragments of Paradise charts Mekas’s professional milestones – a critic, a film-maker, a curator, and so on – what emerges most movingly is his philosophy of creative togetherness. In founding Film Culture magazine, the Film-Makers’ Cooperative, and later on the Anthology Film Archives, Mekas succeeded in building a nurturing space for those forgotten by the mainstream. It’s the kind of community-oriented work ...

The live-action remake brought in nearly $100m over the Memorial Day weekend, knocking Fast X out of the top spot The Little Mermaid live-action remake of Disney’s 1989 animated classic made a splash at the box office on Memorial Day weekend, bringing in almost $100m in North America, according to studio estimates released on Sunday. The film starring Halle Bailey , winning praise from critics as the titular mermaid Ariel, and Melissa McCarthy as her sea witch nemesis, Ursula, ranks as the fifth biggest Memorial Day weekend opening on record. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/So5azPV via IFTTT

This animated combination of cynicism and grotesquerie has as much energy as Aardman and double the WTF quotient The only fitting comparison for this deranged Estonian stop-motion animation is if Shaun the Sheep had somehow been infected with a terminal case of BSE. The human characters are ugly lumpen golems, all the better to suggest rural backwardness; milk enjoys the same almost-ontological status here as Malkovichness in Being John Malkovich ; the film has an unhealthy anal fixation that at one point expresses itself in a giant bear, irritated by a heavy-metal guitarist in his colon, who farts out an entire forestful of animals. In short, it’s brilliant. City brats Priidik (voiced by co-director Mikk Mägi), Aino (co-director Oskar Lehemaa) and Mart (Mägi) are sent to stay with their grandfather (Mägi), who to their scorn is always doing “barn things”. The old fella prides himself on his way with an udder; he starts to rid them of their urban prissiness with a few squirts of yog...

A staunch believer in fitness and good health, Shilpa has been propagating the thought of a healthy body and mind throughout. She has engaged actively in contributing through one of the most important elements of fitness, ‘Fresh food’. Speaking on the partnership, Shilpa said ‘I believe in the idea of a fit and healthy India, and I personally practice and promote this thought wherever possible. I love that the founders of Kisankonnect share the same passion towards this thought. Not only are they solving the problem of safe-to-eat food, but they are also connecting thousands of farmers directly to the consumers, resonating with my thoughts about promoting health in my country, where agriculture is one of the major occupations. Hence I’ve decided to partner with Kisankonnect who work on soil health, crop health and have created an amazing tech-enabled supply chain. We do our every bit to protect the nutrition in the fruits and vegetables. Consumers can finally trace and trust their foo...

Mescal and Melissa Barrera lead this modern-day version of Bizet’s opera, which awkwardly combines tough realism with high-gloss romance This film contains a scene with maximum meme potential: Normal People’s Paul Mescal breaks into expressionist dance, leaping through the air, soulfully twisting his body with the agony of a broken heart. It will have the Mescalmania fanbase melting into puddles. But really it’s his acting not his ballet that carries off this reimagining of Georges Bizet’s 1875 opera. Updated to modern day Mexico and the US, it’s a heartfelt, extravagant film, swirling with melodrama and music. The story opens in Mexico, where Carmen (Melissa Barrera) flees north to the US after her flamenco dancer mother is killed by drug cartel thugs. Meanwhile, across the border in Texas, Mescal plays Aidan, an ex-marine who reluctantly takes a job with a patrol that cruises the border picking up illegals. On his first night there is a terrible incident: his colleague opens fire o...

Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi’s infamous feud with Salman Khan is known to all. The actor was in a public spat with the superstar due to which it was believed that he was allegedly boycotted from the industry and no work opportunities came his way. In 2003, Vivek claimed that Salman had called him 41 times and even made threats to his life. However, this statement led to impact Oberoi negatively as he allegedly lost out on many projects. Filmmaker Apoorva Lakhia recently said that producers had called him to replace Oberoi when he cast him in Shootout at Lokhandwala. He said only Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty and Sanjay Gupta supported him at the time. In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Apoorva said, “At that time when I casted Vivek, a lot of producers called me and said ‘Replace him or we won’t work with you.’ But I had given a commitment to Vivek, so how do you go back from a commitment? And Sanju sir supported me, Suniel Shetty supported me, Sanjay Gupta supported me. So if there ...

Over a week ago, Kartik Aaryan wrapped Satyaprem Ki Katha which also stars Kiara Advani. The film wrapped with a massive song shoot which is an introductory song for Kartik’s character. Interestingly, the song depicts four weddings - Gujarati, South Indian, Muslim and Christian nuptials. As per a report in Mid-day, a source revealed, “Sameer and producer Sajid Nadiadwala were in two minds about it as it’s an expensive affair, costing almost Rs. 7 crores. On Kartik’s insistence, they decided to go ahead with it. In the narrative, the lead character Satyaprem wants to get married, and is dreaming about his prospective wedding.” Having said that, the lavish sets were erected in Mumbai for the shoot which concluded last week. As per the report, production designer Rajat Poddarr and cinematographer Manu Anand, along with the director Sameer Vidwans had built two sets at Madh Island for South Indian and Christian weddings whereas two sets up erected for the Muslim and Gujarati weddings at ...

MobilTM, a global leader in lubrication technology innovation, today announced Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan as its new brand ambassador. Well-known for his confidence and unrivalled energy, Hrithik emerged as the obvious choice to highlight Mobil’s brand values of driving human progress, building confidence, and enabling customers to unlock their true potential. Announcing the partnership, Vipin Rana, CEO, ExxonMobil Lubricants Pvt Ltd, said, “We are excited to partner with Hrithik Roshan for our Mobil lubricants in India. We believe his personality will resonate well with trade partners and consumers to feel confident about what Mobil can deliver to serve India’s lubrication needs”. Commenting on the brand association, actor Hrithik Roshan said, “I am really looking forward to partnering with Mobil and its trusted brand name that is recognized world over. I strongly believe that confidence is the real driving force of champions to make a difference to people’s lives and the commun...

Lucky McKee’s psychological horror starring Stephen Lang feels inauthentic and flat Here is an unexceptional psychological horror from director Lucky McKee that feels dated and clunky, with some fairly ropey acting – or maybe that is down to the shaky lines put into the actors’ mouths. It only comes alive after a freaky plot twist at the end, but even that left the hairs on the back of my neck unprickled, the carpet under my feet unpulled. Stephen Lang plays a cranky codger known only as Old Man who lives in the remote Smoky Mountains wilderness. The set design of his wooden cabin is distractingly inauthentic; it’s like an Ikea store display that has been done up in hicksville chic. Old Man has woken up in a filthy temper; first his dog, Rascal, pees on the floor, and then there is a knock at the door. Old Man shoves his shotgun into the face of the stranger standing outside. “Do as I say, or you’ll end up like her,” he growls, jabbing the gun at a stuffed wildcat on the wall. Conti...

Enter a realm where love and dedication transcend the boundaries of time and space. Adipurush, the much-awaited movie, invites us into its captivating narrative of Raghav and Janaki, portrayed by the mesmerizing duo Prabhas and Kriti Sanon. As the anticipation builds for this cinematic gem, the Adipurush team has now unveiled the complete version of the captivating track 'Ram Siya Ram,' taking us on a melodic journey that beautifully encapsulates the essence of their profound love and longing. The serene and soulful composition by Sachet Tandon and Parampara Tandon, combined with the heartfelt lyrics crafted by Manoj Muntashir, beautifully captures the profound connection between Lord Ram and Sita in the song ‘Ram Siya Ram’. The song vividly portrays the significance of their bond, highlighting the integral role they play in each other's lives. Through its enchanting melody and poignant lyrics, ‘Ram Siya Ram’ serves as a reminder of the eternal strength of genuine love and...

The live-action remake brought in nearly $100m over the Memorial Day weekend, knocking Fast X out of the top spot The Little Mermaid live-action remake of Disney’s 1989 animated classic made a splash at the box office on Memorial Day weekend, bringing in almost $100m in North America, according to studio estimates released on Sunday. The film starring Halle Bailey , winning praise from critics as the titular mermaid Ariel, and Melissa McCarthy as her sea witch nemesis, Ursula, ranks as the fifth biggest Memorial Day weekend opening on record. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/EbicaHl via IFTTT

Earlier this year in February it was reported that Salman Khan and Aamir Khan were in talks for the remake of the Spanish film Campeones. As per reports, Aamir had approached Salman to feature as the lead in the Hindi adaptation titled Champions. In fact, it was also revealed that an official announcement on the same was to be made in March. However, since then there has been no development on the project. Now, we hear that Salman Khan has opted out of the remake, following which Aamir Khan has now approached Ranbir Kapoor for the film. Divulging details to Bollywood Hungama a well-placed industry source says, “Salman Khan was pretty keen on doing the Campeones remake. However, there were certain date issues which arose, due to which the actor had to back out of the venture.” As per the source, everything was moving in the right direction and Salman had shown active interest in the subject, with one final narration to be done before work on project began in June. Unfortunately, follow...

As previously announced, Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas starred in the first-to-launch series within the Citadel universe, which came from the Russo Brothers’ AGBO along with David Weil and premiered in April 2023 and wrapped the first season on May 26. Additional local-language Citadel productions are also in the works, including an Italian Original series starring Matilda De Angelis called Citadel: Diana and Indian series starring Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu. The Bhediya actor promises never-seen-before action and he is already gearing up for the international schedule. “It has been amazing working on it. We are going to be filming in Serbia. We have a month-long schedule over there with a lot of action. It is a very big series, nothing like people have seen in India yet,” Dhawan told PTI at IIFA 2023. Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK are directing the Indian version. “The makers are pushing the envelope. Samantha and I can’t be doing something mediocre. She is one o...

The ebullient French star on her hyperactive new film, taking on more serious roles and her love of British cinema Laure Calamy certainly makes a jaunty entrance. She’s somewhere out of sight in the kitchen of her Paris flat, and all I can see on my laptop is a vividly coloured glass partition – a Mondrian pattern of rectangles in rich shades of red and orange. Then suddenly the French actor comes into view, greeting me with a big “All- ôôô!” , so perkily singsong that the English equivalent would have to be “Coo-eee!” I like the panel, I tell her. “I found it in a little shop where I used to live,” she says. “I’m crazy about glassworks and those colours. I found this, et hop … !” – she bought it. You can imagine Calamy’s best-known character, Noémie Leclerc from the hit Netflix series Call My Agent! , buying something similar in a burst of enthusiasm: et hop! With her ebullient energy, fast, throaty delivery and her dress style today – green leopard-print top, big hoop earrings – y...

Bert Kreischer turns a famous routine into a full-length movie with some surprising visual style but a lack of laughter If you’re going to put a standup comedian into a big, climactic fight scene, it better be really funny. That’s just one of many rules you may not realize were in place before watching The Machine, a feature-length extension of standup comedian Bert Kreischer’s most famous routine. It’s a story about how the former Florida State University frat boy and prolific partier took a college trip to Russia, where he bumbled into confidence with the Russian mob and wound up helping some gangsters rob a train. It sounds enough like a set piece from an early-2000s studio comedy that the impulse to make a long-form version makes sense – at least on paper. Here, Jimmy Tatro plays the college-aged Kreischer in flashbacks, but he doesn’t enter the movie until a ways in, because The Machine makes a strange structural choice. It starts with Kreischer, playing a version of himself, al...

Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha, who have been the talk of the town recently, seem to be busy trying to lock the venue for their impending wedding. The couple, who got engaged earlier this month, is expected to be tying the knot in Rajasthan as per current reports. From what we hear, Parineeti is currently in the state where she was seen spending time with her relatives. Further adding to the speculations, it is being said that Raghav will be joining the actress soon. As per IANS reports, Parineeti Chopra arrived in Udaipur on Saturday and was staying at Udaipur Palace, along with her family members too staying at Udayvilas. Later, she was reportedly seen having lunch with her relatives. Furthermore, adding fuel to the fire, Parineeti Chopra is also expected to have had a meeting with Shikha Saxena of the Tourism Department, wherein she was seen asking about the touristy places and hotels in Udaipur. If that was not all, Raghav Chadha is expected to have visited Jaipur to scout for...

Deepika Padukone was the first Indian to be signed by a leading International fashion house, Louis Vuitton. She was later signed on by Cartier as well and the actress has become the biggest global ambassador from India. The actress recently shot for the jewellery brand in multiple ensembles, flaunting their latest collection of diamond pieces. A source close to the actress gushed about her recent achievements adding, “Deepika Padukone has opened doors for other Indian actors to be signed on by global luxury brands. With her phenomenal global appeal and popularity, she is the first Indian face that brand biggies are betting on.” From making her big Hollywood debut to attending the MET Gala to being a Cannes Film Festival jury member, Deepika has been a part of some of the events internationally including the unveiling of FIFA trophy as well as featuring on the cover of TIME Magazine. On the work front, Deepika Padukone was last seen in the biggest Bollywood blockbuster Pathaan in whic...

Over the past couple of months, there have been a number of reports based on the Shah Rukh Khan starrer Jawan. Directed by Atlee, the film, which also features Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupathi, has been making headlines for its shoot to various other aspects. One such reason the film has been grabbing eyeballs is the reports of Pushpa star Allu Arjun making a cameo in Jawan. However, contrary to reports, Bollywood Hungama has learnt that the actor will not be seen making a cameo. “Jawan is already a rage, ever since its announcement thanks to its casting the film has been a major discussion topic. Shah Rukh Khan fans too are eagerly awaiting its release, and have been hanging on to every reports that comes out. But when it comes to Allu Arjun featuring in Jawan the rumours are totally untrue,” reveals a well-placed industry insider to Bollywood Hungama. Continuing further the source adds, “It was all just a rumour that Allu will be seen in Jawan, in reality he was never even approached...

OMG Oh My God, which was released in 2012, was a courtroom drama which starred Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal. It was the story of Kanji (Paresh Rawal), an atheist, whose shop got destroyed in an earthquake. When the insurance company refused to reimburse him citing ‘act of God’, Kanji filed a case against God. Akshay Kumar played Lord Krishna and how He became a part of Kanji’s struggle formed the crux of the film. Now, after 11 years since the triumph of Oh My God, Akshay Kumar is set to delight audiences once again with the sequel, Oh My God 2, a social comedy that promises to entertain and engage viewers. As per Pinkvilla, a source close to the development said, “Akshay Kumar along with his partners, Ashwin Varde, Viacom 18, and Jio Studios have decided on a theatrical release for Oh My God 2. Several discussions happen throughout the course of making, but, Oh My God 2 was always announced as a theatrical venture. The officials never commented on the OTT release, and even today, th...

Following a petition against their upcoming film Ruslaan, a Delhi court has recently served a notice to Aayush Sharma, who is Bollywood actor Salman Khan's brother-in-law, as well as producer K. K. Radhamohan and South Indian actor Jagpathi Babu. Satyabrata Panda, an Additional District Judge at the Patiala House Court, presided over the hearing and directed all the defendants to submit their responses within a week. The case has been scheduled for another hearing on June 9. Social activist Jagdish Sharma and actor Raajveer Sharma, represented by their lawyer Rudra Vikram Singh, filed an injunction suit seeking to halt the release of the film c. The movie is being produced by Radhamohan, with Aayush Sharma in the lead role. The plaintiffs claim that Ruslaan is a replica of the original 2009 film Ruslaan, produced by Jagdish Sharma, where Raajveer Sharma portrayed the main character. According to the petition, the defendants were accused of copying the dialogues and storyline from...

Alaya F, who kicked off her career with Jawani Jaaneman alongside Saif Ali Khan and Tabu, has been effortlessly proving herself to the audience by experimenting with her roles. Not only has her work garnered ample fans but she is also slowly becoming a star on social media with the variety of reels and posts she shares. In a recent post, the actress announced her first onscreen appearance on television with her ‘filmy’ family, actress-mother Pooja Bedi and grandfather-actor Kabir Bedi. Amid her many social media posts, one which has garnered a lot of attention is the perfect family pictures of Alaya with actress-mother Pooja Bedi and actor-grandfather Kabir Bedi. Taking to social media, Alaya F shared this picture along with the announcement that she will coming together with them for the first time on the ongoing The Kapil Sharma Show on Sony Entertainment. Captioning the photo, she wrote, “3 generations coming together for the first time on the @kapilsharma show this Sunday at 9.30p...

A northern pub landlord confronts locals’ hostility towards Syrian immigrants in Loach’s latest – and possibly last – piece of politically trenchant cinema A decade or so ago, the rumour was that Ken Loach was getting ready to quit. Then began a new parade of Conservative prime ministers in this country, each shiftier and more mediocre than the last; Loach decided he had more to say and do after all. What followed was a blaze of energy, anger and productivity culminating in a remarkable late surge – in fact, a trilogy, of which this might come to be seen as the final episode. Working with his regular collaborator, the screenwriter Paul Laverty, Loach has been taking on issues and stories that you don’t see on the TV news or on glitzy streaming services, and showed that film-makers could actually intervene in the real world. Loach got questions about poverty and austerity asked in parliament; he moved the dial. Loach has also sought out the painful and unfashionable subjects, marching...

The two-time Academy Award winner spoke to the graduates on truth and was given a volleyball as a gift As the US grapples with a disinformation crisis, Tom Hanks told graduates of Harvard on Thursday to be superheroes in their defense of truth and American ideals, and to resist those who twist the truth for their own gain. “For the truth to some is no longer empirical. It’s no longer based on data, nor common sense, nor even common decency,” the two-time Academy Award winner said during his keynote address. He invoked the Latin word for truth, “veritas”, Harvard’s motto. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/GX617dh via IFTTT

The stars of Franco Zeffirelli’s Oscar-winning film have tentatively lost their battle to receive damages over a sex scene filmed when they were teenagers A California judge has signalled she will throw out a child abuse lawsuit put forward by the two lead actors from the 1968 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. Last December, Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, who were teenagers when making Franco Zeffirelli’s Oscar-winning film, accused Paramount of sexual exploitation over a nude scene they allege was insisted upon after being told it wouldn’t take place. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/bYhgitD via IFTTT

Saif Ali Khan and Siddharth Anand (of Pathaan fame) go back a long way. They have been close friends ever since Siddharth directed Saif in Ta Ra Rum Pum and Salaam Namaste. After these two films, Siddharth directed two movies with his erstwhile best friend Ranbir Kapoor (Bachna Ae Haseeno and Anjana Anjani), then two other films with Hrithik Roshan (Bang Bang and War). Now after Pathaan, Siddharth Aanand and Saif are likely to team up again, though Siddharth is not directing this time. His assistant Robbie Grewal is. Grewal is known for his slick directorial skills in the cop thriller Samay: When Time Strikes starring Sushmita Sen and his espionage drama Romeo Akbar Walter, which starred John Abraham, along with Jackie Shroff, Mouni Roy and Sikandar Kher. Grewal then came up with the romantic film MP3: Mera Pehla Pehla Pyaar. Grewal has apparently come up with an exciting script for Saif that Siddharth Anand will produce. This will be Saif’s second project with Netflix after the muc...

From trans lives to celebrations of drag, queer film pulled no punches as it hit screens in the 90s with a DIY bravura that transformed the movie industry Queer film exploded like a glitter cannon in the 1990s, sending sparkling product raining down in every direction. Trans lives hit the screen in Orlando and Boys Don’t Cry , alongside dynamic bulletins from the Black queer experience ( The Watermelon Woman , Young Soul Rebels , Chocolate Babies ). We had jubilant celebrations of drag with Paris Is Burning and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert , provocations from New Queer Cinema in the shape of Poison , Swoon and Edward II ; there were auteurist masterpieces ( Beau Travail , Happy Together ) and timeless coming-out stories ( Beautiful Thing , Show Me Love ). The Wachowski sisters , Lisa Cholodenko , François Ozon and Bruce LaBruce all made their debuts; Pedro Almodóvar and Gus Van Sant went stratospheric. Benefiting from a surge in the fortunes of independent c...

Bollywood actress Rakul Preet Singh is one of the performers at the IIFA 2023 ceremony and is pumped to be part of the line-up. Actors Abhishek Bachchan and Vicky Kaushal are set to host the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards 2023. The press conference on Thursday was attended by Farah Khan and Rajkummar Rao along with performers Salman Khan, Rakul Preet Singh, Nora Fatehi, Jacqueline Fernandez, Amit Trivedi, Badshah, Nucleya, Sunidhi Chauhan and Iulia Vantur. Speaking to Khaleej Times, Rakul Preet Singh revealed that her performance is a tribute to the ‘black and white’ era of Hindi cinema. “I am really excited. It is also something I have never done,” the actress said, adding, “So all the songs are going to be from the 50s and 60s, and I am excited about it.” Abu Dhabi is hosting IIFA for the second time in a row. “I think the city is so beautiful," Rakul said.  She visited the Warner Bros. lot on Thursday morning and said, “It was stunning, and I am just looking ...

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan arrived in Abu Dhabi on Thursday for IIFA 2023. The actor was seen sporting a new look which seems like is for his next project. At the press conference, the actor confirmed that he has wrapped the shoot for Tiger 3. In an interaction with the media in Abu Dhabi, Salman said, “Last night, I was shooting for Tiger (Tiger 3) and I have completed Tiger 3. Now you will get to see Tiger on Diwali, inshallah.” The actor added, “It was a very hectic shoot, it was good though.” A few days ago, Salman Khan shared a photo of himself showing his injured back. Along with the photo, he wrote, “When u think u r carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, he says duniya ko chodo paanch kilo ka dumbbell utha ke dikhao (leave aside the world, pick up a 5kg dumbbell).Tiger Zakhmi Hai (tiger is injured). #Tiger3.”   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Salman Khan (@beingsalmankhan) Meanwhile, Salman Khan had his Eid 2023 release Kisi Ka Bh...

Breillat’s remake of Queen of Hearts rather pointlessly draws the sting from a mother’s affair with her teenage stepson Catherine Breillat has made a hot – or rather tepid – mess of this remake of the very recent Danish erotic thriller Queen of Hearts , and it’s not immediately clear why exactly she felt she needed to direct her own moderate version. The changes amount to smudging the original’s icy Scandi sheen, decreasing its erotic excitement, making the performances more laboured and thus leaving the story’s essential preposterousness dangerously exposed. The first film, from writer-director May el-Toukhy, featured Trine Dyrholm as an elegant career lawyer specialising in representing rape victims who has a passionate affair with her teen stepson; that is, her husband’s moody son by his first marriage. Now the action is transplanted from chilly Denmark to sunny, summery France and Léa Drucker plays legal high-flyer Anne, married to wealthy but dull businessman Pierre (Olivier Rab...

Prime Video today announced the global streaming premiere of the Hindi action-adventure film, Bholaa. Directed by Ajay Devgn, and jointly produced by Ajay Devgn FFilms, Reliance Entertainment, T-Series, and Dream Warrior Pictures, the film features Devgn in the titular role, alongside Tabu and Amala Paul in pivotal roles. Bholaa, a former convict, is released after 10 years of imprisonment and wants to reunite with his daughter, whom he hasn't seen for years. However, this is abruptly halted when he becomes unwittingly involved in a well-coordinated drug-bust. As events unfold, Bholaa is forced to confront his past and make difficult decisions while pushing through obstacles lurking at every corner. Audiences across the world can now watch Bholaa on Prime Video, starting today. Bholaa is the Hindi remake of the Tamil blockbuster Kaithi. The film released in 2019 which was an action thriller directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. The film was headlined by Karthi alongside Narain and D...

Laure Calamy plays a woman forever racing between maternal and work duties in an acutely relatable story that grips Anyone who has ever broken into a sweaty panicked run to make it in time for school pick-up will instantly get why the French Canadian director Eric Gravel has chosen to shoot this film about motherhood frazzle as a gripping thriller. I was on the edge of my seat in one scene, watching to see if a woman running to catch her commuter train home makes it. Her name is Julie, and she’s a divorced mum of two who’s feeling the grind: work, kids, mortgage arrears, crappy ex. It’s such an authentic and relatable film – so meticulously observed, in fact, that to be perfectly honest, I assumed it had been made by a woman. Laure Calamy plays Julie; she’s in her early 40s, with a couple of children under eight. Every morning, Julie’s alarm clock goes off like a starting pistol. In the dark she walks her kids to the childminders, carrying her sleepy little boy. Then it’s a sprint fr...

The pioneering movie-maker had a major influence on queer culture and the 60s counterculture, and is also remembered for authoring the cult film history book Kenneth Anger, the artist and film-maker whose work offered a distinctively radical mix of paganism and homoeroticism, has died aged 96. Art gallery Sprüth Magers confirmed his death, saying: “Through his kaleidoscopic films, which combine sumptuous visuals, popular music soundtracks, and a focus on queer themes and narratives, Anger laid the groundwork for the avant garde art scenes of the later 20th century, as well as for the visual languages of contemporary queer and youth culture.” Anger’s films, which included Fireworks (1947), Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome (1954), Scorpio Rising (1963) and Lucifer Rising (1972), made him a key figure in the counterculture over four decades, and later a hero to subsequent generations of film-makers grappling with similar themes. While he never found commercial success through his films...

Story of a misbehaving sprite who gets access to the human world, and a fellow rebel, looks good but the story is a little flat This German-Luxembourgian animation is a passable if unambitious hour and a half for under-10s, heavily in the orbit of Pixar both in terms of visuals and in its central conceit of the business of tooth-fairying as a Deliveroo-esque big-tech courier outfit. But unlike Inside Out and Soul’s pint-sized explainers of the psyche, there’s virtually no philosophical sprinkling on the cupcake here. Not that that will stop the young ’uns from gobbling it up anyway – but they might have enjoyed something more nutritious. The exam to become a fully accredited tooth fairy seems easy enough. As the would-be disco earworm at the start of My Fairy Troublemaker has it, “Sneak inside, take the tooth, make the toy, and disappear!” Cookie-scoffing, misbehaving Violetta (voiced by Jella Haase) is the only apprentice who fails to make the grade, unlike her swotty mate Yolando (...

The walls of this boarding school echo lies and conspiracies - Disney+ Hotstar drops the trailer of their upcoming mystery drama, School of Lies. Wrapped in the intense mystery of a missing child, this gritty thriller is headlined by Nimrat Kaur, Aamir Bashir, Geetika Vidya Ohlyan, Sonali Kulkarni and Jitendra Joshi. Inspired by true events and produced by BBC Studios, School of Lies is created by Ishani Banerjee and Avinash Arun Dhaware, directed by Avinash Arun Dhaware and will begin streaming on Disney+ Hotstar starting June 2, 2023.  At RISE - the boarding school, when a 12-year-old Shakti goes missing, things start to spiral out of control, revealing the hidden skeletons in the closet of the boarding school. Will they unravel the mystery? Will they be able to find Shakti? School of Lies also stars Varin Roopani, Divyansh Dwivedi, Aryan Singh Ahlawat, Hemant Kher, Parthiv Shetty, Adrija Sinha and Aalekh Kapoor in pivotal roles. Tune in to Disney+ Hotstar to know more. Sameer ...

Netflix's new series, Kohrra, explores dysfunctional family dynamics and the dark facets of love and relationship through the overlay of a crime investigation. It boasts an exceptional cast of talented actors including Suvinder Vicky, Barun Sobti, Varun Badola, Harleen Sethi, Rachel Shelly, and Manish Chaudhary, playing pivotal roles. In partnership with renowned screenwriter Sudip Sharma, filmmaker Randeep Jha, and Clean Slate Filmz Productions to produce an engaging investigative drama that kicks off with the discovery of a murdered NRI just before his wedding in the countryside of Punjab. As the investigation unfolds a world of deceit, secrets and the dramas of dysfunctional families is revealed. The series is a mix of Hindi and Punjabi language, making it authentic to its world. Kohrra boasts to be a realistic drama filled with complex characters and nuanced look into human emotions.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Netflix India (@netflix_in) Sudip Sh...

Based on the true story of a young Jewish boy kidnapped by papal authorities, this is a full-tilt melodrama that lays bare tyranny, bigotry and the abuse of power in the Catholic church Cannes is this year becoming a counterblast to ageism. Italian director Marco Bellocchio, at the age of 83 – and almost 60 years after he first came to prominence with his 1965 movie Fists in the Pocket – has created a gripping, heartbreaking true-political crime story from the pages of history. It is a full-tilt melodrama with the passionate vehemence of Victor Hugo or Charles Dickens, which lays bare an ugly formative episode of Europe’s Catholic church: an affair of antisemitism and child abuse. It is based on the true story of Edgardo Mortara , a young Jewish child in Bologna who, in 1858, when he was six, was taken away from his family by the papal authorities. This was done because Edgardo’s doting Catholic nursemaid had claimed that when Edgardo was a baby, and apparently in dire sickness, she...

Nearly 400 items, including personal letters, provide insight into the life of the actor who died at the age of 24 It could only be him. James Dean is squinting and smiling, a cigarette hanging from his lip, and wearing a leather jacket and glove. The silver gelatin photo from a 1955 motorcycle session is a classic Hollywood portrait but it is also unique. It measures 13.5in x 10.25in and has an inscription, written with a dark blue ballpoint pen, from Dean to his agent Jane Deacy: “To Mom / My heart and thanks / Jim.” The actor regarded “Lady Jane”, as Deacy was called, as a second mother because his biological mother, Mildred, died of uterine cancer when he was nine years old, and he was estranged from his stepmother. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/vqgSYlo via IFTTT

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan recently chatted with a cancer patient and even promised to provide financial help. A patient named Shivani Chakraborty made a last wish that she wanted to speak to Shah Rukh Khan and her daughter penned a note on Twitter in order to make her mother's last wish come true. In a chat with Aaj Tak, Shivani had said that she wanted the Pathaan star to “bless my daughter” and even promised to visit Kolkata and attend her daughter's wedding. She had earlier said, “I will cook for him something that we eat at our home every day. He loves Bengal so he might enjoy the homely meal I hope to cook for him.”Shah Rukh Khan made a 30-minute call and each time he said bye, he continued the conversation. #ShahRukhKhan had a good warm 40 min chat with His FAN, Shivani Chakraborty, also Told He'll help her financially & will attend Her Daughter's Marriage & also He'll Visit her & have a Fish Meal in her Home Kolkata. Undoubtedly, Bigges...

Story of a misbehaving sprite who gets access to the human world, and a fellow rebel, looks good but the story is a little flat This German-Luxembourgian animation is a passable if unambitious hour and a half for under-10s, heavily in the orbit of Pixar both in terms of visuals and in its central conceit of the business of tooth-fairying as a Deliveroo-esque big-tech courier outfit. But unlike Inside Out and Soul’s pint-sized explainers of the psyche, there’s virtually no philosophical sprinkling on the cupcake here. Not that that will stop the young ’uns from gobbling it up anyway – but they might have enjoyed something more nutritious. The exam to become a fully accredited tooth fairy seems easy enough. As the would-be disco earworm at the start of My Fairy Troublemaker has it, “Sneak inside, take the tooth, make the toy, and disappear!” Cookie-scoffing, misbehaving Violetta (voiced by Jella Haase) is the only apprentice who fails to make the grade, unlike her swotty mate Yolando (...

Karima Saïdi’s documentary movingly tries to shore up memories from her mother’s life, but the ethics of the process are uneasy While caring for her mother Aïcha who has Alzheimer’s, film-maker Karima Saïdi often asks her the simple yet loaded question: “Where do you live?” At one point, her mother replies: “In a handkerchief”; a strangely poetic answer that encapsulates the mental haze of her condition. At other times she speaks of her childhood in Tangier, or the family home in Brussels where she saw her children grow up. As Aïcha’s mind wanders, Saïdi’s documentary transforms into a haven for her memories, which are fading fast. This cinematic nest is built from old home videos and photographs, which tell of a turbulent immigrant life in Belgium. Saïdi’s older sister Amina was forced into marriage at the age of 15, and her brothers Jamal and Mohamed both died relatively young. Told through Saïdi’s sombre voiceover, these tragic events also incur questions for Aïcha, who is urged f...

A quietly phenomenal performance by Milana Aguzarova as a young woman trying to break free from the unsettling relationships within her stifling family Like her partner Kantemir Balagov’s 2019 film Beanpole , there’s an uncanny claustrophobic charge to Kira Kovalenko’s family drama, though it finally exhales an equally powerful sigh of self-redemption. Milana Aguzarova stars as Ada, a young woman in a North Ossetian mining town trapped by her ailing and possessive father Zaur (Alik Karaev). He guards the only front door key, letting her and her siblings out when he chooses, and refuses to let her have an operation to correct injuries sustained during a school hostage-taking that mean she has to wear an incontinence nappy. Ada’s brother Akim (Soslan Khugaev) comes home from the city of Rostov and seems to have the self-possession and moral compass Zaur does not. He promises to get her the treatment she needs – and a shot at romance with local chancer Tamik (Arsen Khetagurov), who has ...

Jessica Hausner’s film, which avoids spelling out its obvious subject, focuses on a group of schoolgirls encouraged to live without food Jessica Hausner is the Austrian director whose elegant, refrigerated style has made her a Cannes favourite and her 2009 film Lourdes , about the ordinary world of miracles, is a 21st-century classic. But her recent move to English-language movies has resulted in some nebulous work in the shape of her 2019 picture Little Joe , and so it has proved again with this exasperating and baffling movie. Club Zero is a strenuous, pointless non-satire which fails to say anything of value about its ostensible subjects: body image, eating disorders and western overconsumption. The “trigger warning” at the beginning of the film about these issues is fatuous, whether intended ironically or not. The deadpan mannerisms are glib, the line readings are torpid in the wrong way and the laborious drama leads us round and round and round like an Escher staircase. But it i...

Bread and Roses, co-produced by Lawrence, documents lives of three women after Taliban’s return to power A documentary about the lives of three women living under the Taliban, co-produced by Jennifer Lawrence, has premiered at the Cannes film festival. Bread and Roses, shown at a special screening on Sunday, follows three Afghan women in the weeks after the Taliban’s return to power in 2021 after the withdrawal of US troops. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/HIoUEJO via IFTTT

After a successful first season, Bigg Boss OTT is all set to return on VOOT with its second season.  While there are many names of contestants doing the rounds, the latest one is that of creative producer Mahesh Poojary. Although there has been no confirmation, sources close to the contestant have been asserting that he will be a part of Bigg Boss OTT 2. A source close to the contestant confirmed the developments adding, “Yes, Mahesh Poojary has been approached for the show and the talks are on between him and the makers. He is quite keen to join the show and will be signing on the dotted line soon. For the unversed, Mahesh Poojary has worked as a creative producer for television, web series and songs in entertainment industry. Besides him, other names that are doing the rounds include Sushmita Sen’s brother Rajeev Sen, who had recently confessed that he has been approached for the show, newly turned father Zaid Darbar, son of Ismail Darbar and husband of Gauahar Khan, model and ...

The popular television sitcom Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah has been making consistent headlines for a variety of reasons, sparking controversies within its production. The makers of the series have recently faced allegations from several former cast members. Another former actor to join the list is Priya Ahuja, who used to play the character of Rita Reporter. For the unversed, initially, Shailesh Lodha, a former star of TMKOC, accused the show's makers of delaying his payment. More recently, Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal came forward, accusing not only the production team but also Asit Kumar Modi, the creator of the show, of harassment. Following these revelations, Monika Bhadoriya, who portrayed the character of Bawri, shed light on the behind-the-scenes struggles of being an actor on the show. In an interview with the Times Of India, Priya asserted, “The artists have to go through mental harassment when they work on Taarak Mehta. Asit Kumarr Modi bhai, Sohil Ramani or Jatin Bajaj...

Karima Saïdi’s documentary movingly tries to shore up memories from her mother’s life, but the ethics of the process are uneasy While caring for her mother Aïcha who has Alzheimer’s, film-maker Karima Saïdi often asks her the simple yet loaded question: “Where do you live?” At one point, her mother replies: “In a handkerchief”; a strangely poetic answer that encapsulates the mental haze of her condition. At other times she speaks of her childhood in Tangier, or the family home in Brussels where she saw her children grow up. As Aïcha’s mind wanders, Saïdi’s documentary transforms into a haven for her memories, which are fading fast. This cinematic nest is built from old home videos and photographs, which tell of a turbulent immigrant life in Belgium. Saïdi’s older sister Amina was forced into marriage at the age of 15, and her brothers Jamal and Mohamed both died relatively young. Told through Saïdi’s sombre voiceover, these tragic events also incur questions for Aïcha, who is urged f...

Adah Sharma’s The Kerala Story is now the single most successful female-hero film of all times in Hindi. But Adah is already looking ahead. “In my next The Game Of Girgit, I play a cop. It's a cool film based on this app called the Blue Whale app. There was this whole thing a few years back. This game created quite an uproar. It should release soon on an OTT platform,” she informed. Adah was busy with other projects while shooting for The Kerala Story. “I've shot The Game Of Girgit and two more films before The Kerala Story. Kerala happened to release first. We shot The Game Of Girgit in Bhopal last August. There’s one more film I did with Darsheel Safary, who was in Taare Zameen Par. That’s also a strange thriller, a lot of fun and creepy,” added Adah. Adah, who celebrated her birthday on May11, sheepishly admits that she received far more attention on this birthday than ever before. Directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, The Kerala Story also stars Y...

A quietly phenomenal performance by Milana Aguzarova as a young woman trying to break free from the unsettling relationships within her stifling family Like her partner Kantemir Balagov’s 2019 film Beanpole , there’s an uncanny claustrophobic charge to Kira Kovalenko’s family drama, though it finally exhales an equally powerful sigh of self-redemption. Milana Aguzarova stars as Ada, a young woman in a North Ossetian mining town trapped by her ailing and possessive father Zaur (Alik Karaev). He guards the only front door key, letting her and her siblings out when he chooses, and refuses to let her have an operation to correct injuries sustained during a school hostage-taking that mean she has to wear an incontinence nappy. Ada’s brother Akim (Soslan Khugaev) comes home from the city of Rostov and seems to have the self-possession and moral compass Zaur does not. He promises to get her the treatment she needs – and a shot at romance with local chancer Tamik (Arsen Khetagurov), who has ...