The Malayalam film industry performed well at  the 65th National Film Awards today, registering wins in categories such as the best director and the supporting actor.
Eminent filmmaker Jayaraj bagged the best director and best adapted screenplay award for his movie "Bhayanakam", while Fahadh Faasil was adjudged the best supporting actor for his stellar performance in "Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum".
A jubilant Jayaraj, who won the best director award for the second time, said "Bhayanakam", a part of his 'navarasa' series, revolves around the story of youths from Kuttanad in Kerala who had joined the British Indian army during World War II.
"I dedicate this award to those Kuttanad men who had joined the army and lost their lives in the war," he said.
The "Deshadanam" director also remembered Jnanpith laureate Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai as the theme of the movie was taken from the author's magnum opus "Kayar".
Fahadh Faasil, who was seen surrounded by fans and well-wishers soon after ...

National Film Awards: Malayalam filmdom has lots to cheer

PTI Automatic

Impressed by regional cinema, director Shekhar Kapur, who headed the feature film jury of this year's National Film Awards, says Hindi film industry needs to pull up its socks.
The veteran filmmaker singled out regional films, particularly Malayalam cinema, at the 65th National Film Awards announcement today.
When asked whether a divide still exists between the mainstream and regional cinema, Kapur told PTI, "I think Hindi cinema should now become regional cinema."
"The standard of performances in some of the regional films is completely stunning. Hindi films cannot compete with them, not in the state they are... And I know why... Our Hindi films try too hard to become everything. These (regional films) are rooted," the director said while announcing the name of the winners.
Jayaraj won his second best director award -- this time for Malayalam film "Bhayanakam". He also won the best adapted screenplay award.
Fahadh Faasil won the best supporting actor award for Malayalam film ...

Hindi films should now become regional cinema: Shekhar Kapur

French police have arrested a man on the Cote d'Azur over the robbery at gunpoint of US reality TV star Kim Kardashian in Paris in 2016, sources involved in the investigation said today.
The man is to be brought before a magistrate later to face possible charges, a judicial source said.
Ten people have already been charged over the October 2, 2016 robbery at a luxury residence where Kardashian was staying during Paris Fashion Week.
Five men tied her up, gagged her and locked her in a bathroom, before making off with USD 10.6 million in jewels, including her four-million-euro diamond engagement ring.
The robbery was the biggest of an individual in France in the past 20 years.
One of the robbers fleeing the scene on a bicycle dropped a diamond-encrusted cross worth 30,000 euros, which was found by a passer-by a few hours later.
It remains the only piece to be recovered from the heist.
The suspected ringleader, 60-year-old Aomar Ait Khedache, told investigators he had struggled to find a 

Kardashian robbery suspect nabbed in southern France

Bollywood stars such as Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra Sanjay Dutt are among the celebrities who made a rallying call for swift action and deliverance of justice in the Kathua rape and murder case.
Prominent B-Town artistes Alia Bhatt, Anushka Sharma, Kalki Koechlin and Ayushmann Khurrana took to Twitter to express their disgust over the brutal crime.
In Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua area, an eight-year-old girl from a minority nomadic community disappeared near her house on January 10. A week later, her body was found in the same area.
A Special Investigation Team, formed to probe the incident, has arrested eight people, including two special police officers (SPOs) and a head constable, who was charged with destroying evidence.
Taking to Twitter, Hrithik Roshan wondered about the human capability to commit heinous crimes.
"This really the work of human beings? Breaks my heart to know we are capable of such atrocities. We need even more activism, courage, outspokenness, communication, ..

Bollywood outraged over Kathua rape and murder

The book on which Meghna Gulzar's espionage drama "Raazi" is based will hit stores around the same time when the film releases on May 11.
Harinder Sikka's "Calling Shemat" is the story of an ordinary girl who becomes a spy driven by the desire to fulfill her father's wishes and national duty.
Though the book was published some years ago, Penguin Random House India will bring it out in a repackaged and new format.
Sikka says he felt very strongly that Sehmat's story needed to be told.
"Her amazing courage and fortitude are what need to be celebrated. I'm glad that the film and the book are coming out within short span of each other and each will in its own way tell this exceptional story," he says.
When young college-going Kashmiri girl Sehmat gets to know her dying father's last wish, she can do little but surrender to his passion and patriotism and follow the path he has so painstakingly laid out. It is the beginning of her transformation from an ordinary girl into a deadly ...

Book on which Raazi' based to hit stores in May

Veteran actor Soumitra  Chatterjee was "pleasantly surprised" this morning when he  came to know that 'Mayurakshi', the film where he essayed the  role of a delusional man, has bagged the 65th National Award  for Best Bengali Film.
'Mayurakshi', a film helmed by director Atanu Ghosh,  tells an emotional story about a ailing man's relationship  with his son.
"This award is recognition of director Atanu Ghosh's  hard work. I feel happy for him," the 83-year old thespian  said.
Ghosh, who has received critical appreciation in the  past for his films 'Aborto' and 'Abby Sen', said the national  recognition would inspire producers to back films that deliver  social messages.
"I have received prestigious awards in the past,  including Filmfare East, but 'Mayurakshi' completed the circle  with this national honour."
Actor Prosenjit Chatterjee, who enacted the role of  Soumitra Chatterjee's son in the film, credited the entire  team of 'Mayurakshi' for the award.
"It is great and prestigious ..

National award for 'Mayurakshi' recognition of director's

Actor Donald Glover treated himself to a pizza and watched "Empire Strikes Back" after he learned of his casting in the "Solo: A Star Wars Story".
The 34-year-old actor is playing Lando Calrissian in the Ron Howard-directed film, which stars Alden Ehrenreich as the eponymous smuggler Han Solo.
"The day I found out I got (the part), I remember... I bought like, a whole pizza, and went home and watched 'Empire Strikes Back'" Glover said in an interview with The Star Wars Show.
Glover takes over from Billy Dee Williams, who first played Lando Calrissian in "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi".
"Solo: A Star Wars Story", which also features Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke and Thandie Newton, will hit the theatres on May 25.

Donald Glover watched 'The Empire Strikes Back' after getting role in 'Solo'

Season two of "Westworld" is among the shows announced for the TV lineup of the Tribeca Film Festival.
The organizers unveiled the lineup for the festival, which will run from April 18 to 29, and includes 18 shows made up of eight series premieres, three season premieres, one mid-season premiere, two feature documentaries, and five indie pilots.
The cast of the sci-fi western show Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, and James Marsden, will be attending the New York premiere of the season two.
The creators of the show -- Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy -- will discuss the series along with the cast after the screening.
The TV lineup also includes premieres of new series such as "Rest In Power: The Trayvon Martin Story" from executive producer Jay-Z and based on the timely book of the same title as well as "Sweetbitter", a coming-of-age series about a young woman working the restaurant industry in New York City.
"Cobra Kai", which features Ralph Macchio from "The Karate Kid" ..

'Westworld' to premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival

Veteran actor Susan Sarandon will be coming back for the sixth season of "Ray Donovan".
The Oscar-winning star played the role of powerful studio head Sam Winslow in season five.
In the sixth season, Sarandon will come back as a series regular, reported Deadline.
Production on the show will begin later this month in New York and its premiere is expected at the end of the year.
Liev Schreiber plays the titular role of Donovan in the series. The cast also includes Eddie Marsan, Dash Mihok, Katherine Moennig, Pooch Hall, Kerris Dorsey, Devon Bagby and Graham Rogers.
Donovan is a "fixer", a person who arranges bribes, payoffs, threats, and other shady activities, to ensure the outcome desired by the client.

Susan Sarandon returning to 'Ray Donovan' as series regular

"Jumanji" star Kevin Hart will host the obstacle course competition series "TKO: Total Knock Out" on CBS, the network has announced.
The 10-episode series will feature people from all walks of life with one player racing through daunting obstacles while four other contestants are manning battle stations along the course, firing over-the-top projectiles in an attempt to knock them off and slow them down.
Top two players will advance to the final showdown to face off for a cash prize, CBS said in a statement.
The show hails from "Survivor" executive producer Mark Burnett and MGM Television.
"This show is perfectly aligned with my global brand," said Hart, who will also serve as executive producer.
"The minute Mark Burnett pitched me, I got it and we decided to work together. This show has the potential to make me look tall," he added.
Hart, 38, recently starred in the reboot of "Jumanji", which has amassed over USD 900 million at the global box office and has become Sony Pictures' ...

Kevin Hart to host CBS series 'TKO: Total Knock Out'

Actors James McAvoy and Bill Hader are in negotiations to join the cast of the sequel to the horror hit "It".
Jessica Chastain is already aboard the project, which has been titled "It: Chapter Two",  and will playing the role of adult Beverly.
If finalised, McAvoy will portray the character of adult Bill Denbrough while Hader will play the adult Richie Tozier, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Jaeden Lieberher played the young Bill in the original while Richie was portrayed by "Stranger Things" star Finn Wolfhard.
Director Andy Muschietti is coming back to direct, with Gary Dauberman penning the script.
Bill Skarsgard is also expected to return as Pennywise for the sequel.
"Chapter One" of "It" followed the first half of Stephen King's novel, telling the story of a group of children who are terrorized by Pennywise the Clown and forced to face their own demons to defeat him.
"Chapter Two" will follow the last half of the novel, where the characters return to their hometown years ...

James McAvoy, Bill Hader in talks for 'It: Chapter 2'

Saudi Arabia has kicked off its first-ever fashion week with designs by Middle Eastern, Brazilian, US and Russian designers, as well as shows by internationally renowned labels Roberto Cavalli and Jean Paul Gaultier.
In line with Saudi cultural norms and rules on gender segregation, the catwalks are open to women-only and no outside cameras are allowed to film inside.
Still, the event marks the latest turnaround for a country that for decades has been ruled by ultraconservative dogma.
While the kingdom has held fashion shows in the past, they have mostly been tied to charitable causes and did not include big names in the industry.
The catwalks kicked off today and run until Saturday, when in another first the fashion week will conclude with a Russian ballet performance for a women's-only audience.

Saudi Arabia's first fashion week kicks off for women only

Actor Katherine Heigl has shared her first look from "Suits" as she joins legal drama as a series regular in season eight.
The 39-year-old actor will play the role of Samantha Wheeler and her character will make its debut by the end of the season.
"Day 2 on the set of 'Suits' getting my hands wrapped for a kickboxing scene. My character is no shrinking violet! She'll kick your a** in the ring and in the courtroom! Love playing a girl with gumption!" Heigl wrote on Instagram alongside a photo from the sets.
Heigl is one of three new series regulars for the eighth season and will work alongside Dule Hill (Alex Williams) and then also Amanda Schull (Katrina Bennett).
"Suits" airs on Comedy Central every Thursday in India.

Katherine Heigl shares first look from 'Suits'

Hari Kondabolu's documentary "The Problem with Apu" which first talked about the stereotypical nature of "The Simpsons" character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, is scheduled for a re-telecast on TruTV.
The documentary, which was written by and starred Kondabolu, will air on Sunday, April 15, the channel has announced, according to the Entertainment Weekly.
It is directed by Michael Melamedoff and featured interviews by a number of prominent celebrities of South Asian descent including Aziz Ansari, Kal Penn and Hasan Minhaj, and explores the stereotypical portrayal of marginalised communities.
The renewed debate over character of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon stems from the criticism of the show after it addressed the issue in a new episode.
In one of the show's latest episode, Lisa says, "...something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive, is now politically incorrect. What can you do?"
The response did not go down well with many people on Twitter, including Kondabolu, who ...

'The Problem With Apu' to air again after 'The Simpson' controversy

Lionsgate has announced that it will kick off the international tour of "The Hunger Games in Concert" from July 12 in Manchester, UK.
Ace composer James Newton Howard will perform a 60-piece orchestra from "The Hunger Games" score and concert will also feature an HD screening of the first film of the franchise which was released in 2012, the studio said in a statement.
The film, directed by Gary Ross, featured Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci and Donald Sutherland.
"The first 'Hunger Games' movie was one of those rare films to combine epic storyline, memorable characters and challenging musical opportunities. I am thrilled that people will have the chance to experience The Hunger Games again in this live setting," Howard said.
The tour will visit Liverpool, London, and Birmingham before travelling to major cities around the world. It will coincide with the 10th anniversary of the publication of the first 

Lionsgate to launch 'The Hunger Games in Concert' tour from July 12

Hollywood action star Dwayne Johnson has said it was "overwhelming" for him to receive support from his fans from all over the world after he revealed his secret battle with depression.
The 45-year-old actor, who recently opened up about his mental health, said it was important, especially for men to speak up as they tend to keep their emotions bottled up.
"It was really overwhelming and thousands of people responded. It all started when I helped a man (a fan struggling with depression). I said, "Hey, you're not alone, we all go through it.
"One of the most important things that I know helped me with the multiple times that I had gone through my own episodes of depression, was making sure that I was talking to people," Johnson told BBC Newsbeat.
The "Rampage" star added, "We as men have a tendency to hold all that in which is not healthy, it's not good. Depression doesn't discriminate so if my past can help then I'm happy to share."
Johnson said he first went through a bout of ...

Dwayne Johnson says fans support over depression battle overwhelming'

Actor Arjun Kapoor has slammed an entertainment web portal for making derogatory remarks against his stepsister, Janhvi Kapoor.
A website shared clickbaity link of Janhvi's photographs on Twitter, which were allegedly clicked when she had visited Arjun, along with their father, producer Boney Kapoor and her sister Khushi.
The portal had posted the article in commenting on the clothes worn by Jahnvi, calling them "sexy" and "revealing" in nature.
A livid Arjun called out the website for its "shameful" gaze on women.
"You know what, f**k you man, f**k you as a website for highlighting or bringing it to anyone's attention... And it's shameful that your eye would go searching for something like this, shame on you... This is how our country looks at young women. Yet another shining example... Ashamed by this..." he wrote.
The site has now deleted the tweet.

Arjun Kapoor blasts website for making derogatory remarks against Janhvi Kapoor

The lineup of the 71st Cannes Film Festival was today unveiled and Nandita Das' directorial "Manto" has been shortlisted in Un Certain Regard category.
Artistic director Thierry Fremaux and festival president Pierre Lescure announced the lineup of the films in a press conference which also went live on Facebook and Twitter.
Spike Lee's "BlacKkKlansman", Jean-Luc Godard's "Le Livre d'Image" and Oscar-winning director Pawel Pawlikowski's "Zimna Wojna" are among the 18 films competing for the prestigious Palme d'Or award.
Oscar-winning director Asghar Farhadi's psychological thriller "Everybody Knows", starring real-life couple Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz, will be the opening film at the festival.
Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, who was earlier under house arrest and is still not allowed to leave the country, also features in the competition segment with his "Three Faces".
Two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett was earlier announced as the president of the festival jury. She follows ...

Cannes Lineup includes films by Spike Lee, Jean-Luc Godard and Nandita Das

Actor Donnie Yen has joined the cast of Disney's live-action reboot of "Mulan".
The movie, which is inspired by Hua Mulan, the Chinese folk heroine who took her aged father's place in battle, will be directed by Niki Caro.
The "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" star joins Chinese actor Liu Yifei, who earlier cast as the titular character in the in the project.
Yen, 54, will play Mulan's mentor, Commander Tung mentor in the film.
Hong Kong movie mogul Bill Kong will serve as executive producer. The new Mulan features a script originally penned by Elizabeth Martin and Lauren Hynek, and rewritten by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver.

Donnie Yen to star in Disney's 'Mulan"

Director Nandita Das' Manto, a biopic on celebrated short story writer Saadat Hasan Manto, has been selected in the Cannes sub section Un Certain Regard.
The film, which stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the title role, is Das' second directorial effort after Firaaq in 2008.
The director shared the news via Twitter.
We are in Cannes!! #Manto is selected in the official section - Un Certain Regards. Exciting moment for the entire crew & cast, she tweeted.
Official Twitter handle of the French film festival also posted the announcement, which Siddiqui shared with his followers and congratulated his director and the team.
'And it is possible that Saadat Hasan dies, but MANTO remains alive'. Glad to inform that MANTO' is selected for competition at #Cannes2018 in #UnCertainRegard section, the actor wrote.
Das' take on Manto focuses on the writer's life from 1946 to 1950.
Manto, best known for his stories on Partition, was born on May 11, 1912 and migrated to Pakistan after 1947 and died at ...

Nandita Das' Manto' in Cannes Un Certain Regard segment

Chris Evans is excited to see Josh Brolin finally embody the character of Thanos, a supervillain who has been teased for long by Marvel, in the "Avengers: Infinity War".
Thanos first appeared in the mid-credits scene of "The Avengers" six years ago and since then the Mad Titan has been lurking in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He has been spotted in films such as "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "Avengers: Age of Ultron".
Fans, who were eager to see the Avengers squaring off against Thanos, will be excited to see the character finally make his full-fledged MCU debut in the "Infinity War", and Evans, who plays MCU veteran Captain America, said he will finally come out as the person they have dreaded for long.
"Thanos is the most challenging foe the Avengers have ever faced. The most powerful entity in the universe. So Captain America knows that we need everybody working as a team, and it's been all driving towards this. That's the best thing about Marvel," Evans said in a ...

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