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Mark Kermode on… Kathryn Bigelow, a stylish ruffler of feathers

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From vampire noir to Bin Laden, Point Break to Detroit, the first woman to win an Oscar for best director has never pulled her punches Watching new Jeff Nichols release The Bikeriders , starring Austin Butler and Tom Hardy as 60s Chicago greasers, I was reminded of two other movies: László Benedek’s 1953 Marlon Brando vehicle The Wild One , explicitly cited as an inspiration, and The Loveless , the 1981 feature debut of Kathryn Bigelow , the American film-maker (b.1951) who would go on to become the first woman to win a best director Oscar with her 2008 war drama The Hurt Locker . A symphony of leather-clad posing (with just a touch of Kenneth Anger ), The Loveless was a staple of the late-night circuit in the 80s, often on a double bill with David Lynch’s Eraserhead . Sharing directing credits with Monty Montgomery, Bigelow playfully deconstructed masculinity and machismo in a manner that was one part wry to two parts relish. I remember seeing The Loveless at the Phoenix in East
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Kamal Amrohi and Meena Kumari’s son Tajdar Amrohi to sue Manish Malhotra and Kriti Sanon for announcing Meena Kumari biopic allegedly without his consent

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The proposed Meena Kumari biopic, which is to be directed by Manish Malhotra and which will star Kriti Sanon in the eponymous role, seems to have courted trouble even before going on the floors. After the severe backlash at what many see as an ethically and aesthetically wrong project, we now have Meena Kumari’s husband, the late and great filmmaker Kamal Amrohi’s son Tajdar Amrohi, threatening to take Sanon and Malhotra to the court. Speaking to this writer, a very angry Tajdar lashed out saying, “Some industry walas have become absolutely bankrupt and thieves. They have no right to barge in and step into my territory and domain. They are not just thieves but also dacoits.” Tajdar feels that no one has the right to make a film on Meena Kumari without his consent. “She (Meena Kumari) was my mom and Kamal Amrohi was my dad. Please ask those people to make a movie on their own parents and I’m sure they will not do so, for they were nobody. Anyway, what they will make would be based on
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SCOOP: Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer Dream Girl 2 goes for a quick 12-day reshoot

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The comic caper Dream Girl was one of the biggest hits of 2019. Starring Ayushmann Khurrana in the lead, it was quite loved which translated into a box office lifetime of Rs. 142.26 crores. It is also the biggest hit of Ayushmann’s career. Hence, when the sequel was announced, it led to a lot of excitement among the industry and also fans. The makers released quirky promos around the release of Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan and Salman Khan’s Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan and it was well-received. Bollywood Hungama learnt that a quick reshoot of the film took place recently. A source told Bollywood Hungama, “Director Raaj Shaandilyaa and producer Ekta Kapoor went through the first cut of the film. They were happy with the product but felt that there was scope for improvement. They spoke to Ayushmann and others and they all readily came on board to get the reshoot done. The schedule lasted for 12 days and took place earlier this month. The reshoot wrapped up on Saturday, July 15, at Mumbai’s Mad
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Vir Das to perform at 33 countries and 35 Indian cities on his ambitious world tour Mind Fool

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Vir Das has unveiled his most ambitious world tour to date, titled Mind Fool. With a career that has skyrocketed in recent years, Vir has firmly established himself as one of the foremost international comedians in the world. Continually setting new benchmarks and inspiring Indian artists, this tour marks a momentous landmark for India's comedy scene. Spanning an impressive 33 countries, the Mind Fool world tour will take Vir Das to some of the most iconic venues worldwide. Audiences can expect unforgettable performances at legendary locations including Carnegie Hall in New York, Opera House in Sydney, The Apollo in London, The Kennedy Centre in Washington DC, Dubai Opera in Dubai, and The Esplanade in Singapore, to name just a few. This lineup of prestigious venues sets the tour apart and solidifies Vir Das's status as a truly international comedian. Mind Fool isn't limited to these world-renowned destinations. The tour will also make its way to various other cities, sho
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Shah Rukh Khan unveils fresh Jawan poster featuring Nayanthara; calls her "thunder" that comes before the storm

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The highly anticipated action thriller Jawan, starring Shah Rukh Khan, continues to captivate audiences with its rising popularity. Exciting news for fans: a stunning new poster showcasing the fierce and action-packed avatar of Nayanthara, the female lead, has just been unveiled. With just a glimpse of her look in the Prevue, there’s anticipation to see more of her in the film. This poster is undoubtedly a delightful treat for fans who have been eagerly awaiting its release. It’s regardless been one of the most interesting casting coups with Shah Rukh Khan and Nayanthara coming on screen for the first time! Watching superstar Nayanthara being a part of Jawan has already raised the bar of this high-octane action entertainer to the next level. As the poster is here, without a doubt, watching Nayanthara on the screen playing a role of a cop, is definitely going to be a big highlight in the film. Seems like the makers are leaving no chance to keep the exhilarate of the audience on the ed
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A Rifle and a Bag review – quiet study of a marginalised Indian family

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Documentary follows Somi and her husband, who are struggling to live an ordinary life after their past as Naxalite guerrillas If it’s the function of a documentary to open a window on the world – a part of the world that isn’t revealed by the nightly TV news – then this film is a distinct and deliberate success: a product of the NoCut Film Collective, founded in 2016 by Romanian Cristina Hanes, Indian Arya Rothe and Italian Isabella Rinaldi to explore collaborative and transcultural ways of film-making. A Rifle and a Bag is about the life of a quiet Indian couple, Somi and her husband Sukhram, who have one son and a baby on the way. They are looking for work and are concerned about schooling for their children, but their condition is more complex than most: they are former Naxalites , ex-members of a Maoist guerrilla group that operated in the remote and forested areas of central India, fighting for land and employment rights for the poor. But the couple took advantage of an amnesty
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CONFIRMED! Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi starrer Merry Christmas to release on December 15, 2023

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The much-awaited film, Merry Christmas, starring Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi, has finally got a release date. The film, directed by Sriram Raghavan, will be released on December 15, 2023, in both Hindi and Tamil.  The upcoming film also stars Sanjay Kapoor, Vinay Pathak, Pratima Kannan, Tinnu Anand, Radhika Sarathkumar, Shanmugaraja, Kevin Jay Babu, Rajesh Williams, and Pari. Ashwini Kalsekar and Radhika Apte will also be seen in cameos in the film. Merry Christmas is produced by Ramesh Taurani, Jaya Taurani, Sanjay Routray, and Kewal Garg. The film has been shot in two languages, Hindi and Tamil, with different supporting actors. The Hindi version features Sanjay Kapoor, Vinay Pathak, Pratima Kannan, and Tinnu Anand, while the Tamil version stars Radhika Sarathkumar, Shanmugaraja, Kevin Jay Babu, and Rajesh Williams in the same roles. Merry Christmas is one of the most anticipated films of the year. The film has been in the making for a couple of years now, and fans are eager
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Alia Bhatt to play de-glam superhero in YRF's Spy universe; Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan not to make appearance in the movie

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Post-marriage, Alia Bhatt seems to be going great guns. Not only is she the female lead in Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, which is on release at the end of this month, Alia will also be going international with Heart Of Stone, where she will share screen space with Gal Gadot. Alia also seems all set to conquer new peaks in 2024. She starts the year by becoming Yash Raj Films’ first female super-hero in its spy universe, where we already have Salman Khan (as Tiger) and Shah Rukh Khan (as Pathaan). A source close to the development revealed, “Alia will play a gender-free spy. She won’t be playing a gender-specific action heroine but a hero like Salman and SRK. Adi Chopra wants to break the stereotypical image of the female hero, ke agar heroine superhero hogi toh glamorous aur sexy hogi. Alia will play a makeup-free no-vanity superhero in a mission to save the world.” Would the other members of Yash Raj’s spy universe make an appearance in Alia’s spy universe? “Yes, bu
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BREAKING: 22 years after Style, Sharman Joshi and Sahil Khan to reunite for a new film; written by Milap Zaveri

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Sharman Joshi and Sahil Khan are all set to share screen space once again. The film, whose title will be revealed soon, reunites the two talented actors. Sharman Joshi and Sahil Khan first joined hands in 2001 with Style and later in 2003 with Xcuse Me. Their new venture is all set to roll and will also mark the launch of a new heroine. To be shot extensively in Abu Dhabi, the film will have four tracks that promise to top the chartbuster list and break all records. Actor Sharman Joshi said, "With the film all ready to roll, I am absolutely excited. The films that Sahil and I did earlier brought about a lot of appreciation for the chemistry we shared on screen. It was our first commercial hit that was seen by Raju Hirani sir too, who then signed me for 3 Idiots (2009)." Actor Sahil Khan said, "The writer and the director - Sam Khan - and I have known each other for long and am absolutely delighted to work under his direction. Also, this film brings Sharman and me tog
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CBFC Chairperson Prasoon Joshi to watch OMG Oh My God 2 today after the Akshay Kumar-starrer was referred to the Revising Committee

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Last week, Bollywood Hungama reported that the upcoming Akshay Kumar film, OMG Oh My God 2, has faced a little hindrance, thanks to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The Examining Committee (EC) of the CBFC referred the film to the Revising Committee (RC). As per reports, the decision was taken as OMG Oh My God 2 deals with religious issues and the committee wanted to make sure that it doesn’t hurt any sentiments. Reportedly, the CBFC is over-cautious about such films after they got slammed for passing Adipurush with zero cuts, whose dialogues and scenes raised a hue and cry. Bollywood Hungama has now exclusively learnt that the screening for the Revising Committee will take place today, that is, on Monday, July 17. Prasoon Joshi, the chairperson of the CBFC, will be a part of this screening. A source told Bollywood Hungama, “Usually, the Chief Executive Officer of the CBFC, Ravinder Bhakar, awards the certificate. His signature is seen on almost all the censor certific
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Camera ready: how Agnès Varda turned her photographs into film

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Before she picked up a film camera, the revered director was a photographer. The seeds of her groundbreaking cinema lie in her earliest still images, says her daughter, Rosalie Agnès Varda, at least in her later years, didn’t make a big deal about being taken seriously. For decades, the film-maker and artist was much respected as the pioneering feminist voice in French cinema and as the “godmother of the Nouvelle Vague ” – New Wave – her work beating Jean-Luc Godard , François Truffaut et al to the big screen by several years. But she was also somewhat sidelined, eclipsed by her male peers, and it took until this century for her to be truly revered: last year, her 1962 classic Cléo from 5 to 7 was ranked No 14 in the Sight & Sound greatest films poll. But by the time she had begun to be deified, Varda was prone to sending herself up. She would appear on her film posters and DVD boxes in cartoon form as a quizzical, rotund Mrs Pepperpot figure; she even appeared at the Venice
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