Cinema

US cinemas weigh launching new large screen brand to challenge Imax

The talks so far have focused on setting shared standards for the chains' "premium large-format" theaters to better compete with Imax's giant screens

India's cinema struggle: Falling screens and capital crisis demand gumption

The movie business in India is caught in a vicious cycle of falling screen count and, consequently, fewer films and no capital. Breaking out of it will require gumption

Frames per second: Fun and games, from Satyajit Ray and Wes Anderson

Wes Anderson presenting a restored version of Satyajit Ray's 1970 film Aranyer Din Ratri at Cannes is a fitting tribute from an admirer to a master

Hollywood made us love America - Trump's tariffs may break that bond

Tariffs may hurt Hollywood's business, but the bigger blow will be to the stories that built America's image in our minds

Mr Bharat, India, Bharat: Patriotism through Manoj Kumar's cinematic lens

This isn't an obituary of Manoj Kumar. It's about the influence he had in defining patriotism for two generations of Indians across our most perilous decade, say from 1962 to 1972

Cineline India to focus on film exhibition biz expansion, says CEO

City-based cinema chain Cineline India Ltd will focus on expanding its core film exhibition business after becoming net debt-free following the monetisation of its hotel asset in a Rs 270-crore deal, according to a top company official. The company has entered into a deal with Sparsh Vidhyut to sell its hotel 'Hyatt Centric' in Goa for an enterprise value of Rs 270 crore, and it will use the proceeds to retire its entire debt, Cineline India CEO Ashish Kanakia said. The hotel asset was owned by Mumbai-based Cineline India's wholly-owned arm R&H Spaces Private Ltd. Kanakia said that the deal has resulted in debt reduction of Rs 120 crore pertaining to the hotel asset at the subsidiary level and the company also plans to utilise the sale proceeds to fully repay its outstanding debt of Rs 108 crore related to the film exhibition business, achieving a debt-free status. "This move will accelerate growth and help expand our market presence through the addition of new screens," Kanakia ..

AR Rahman discharged after dehydration bout, team denies heart issues

While earlier reports suggested that AR Rahman experienced chest pain, his team later clarified that he was hospitalised due to dehydration and neck pain

Gene Hackman, his wife likely dead for over a week, reveals new findings

Regarding the deaths of Hackman, Arakawa, and one of their dogs, Mendoza clarified that initial findings appear to rule out carbon monoxide poisoning as a cause

Frames per second: Revisiting nostalgia, Emergency, and lost revolutions

The 2003 film, Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, recreated the revolutionary fervour of the 1970s and the Emergency - albeit with a strong tinge of nostalgia

Twin Peaks' maker David Lynch passes away at 78: tributes pour in

American filmmaker David Lynch passed away from complications related to emphysema, a chronic lung condition he attributed to years of heavy smoking

Bollywood trade association writes letter to PM Modi, highlights grievances

The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA), a trade union body, has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking a meeting to highlight the grievances of "workers, technicians, junior artists, and artists" of the Hindi film industry. In the letter, sent on January 11, AICWA president Suresh Shyamlal Gupta highlighted the major concerns of the workers, including poor pay, long working hours and lack of safety on film sets. "These individuals form the foundation of India's entertainment industry, which contributes significantly to the country's economy and cultural influence. However, despite their contributions, they are subjected to exploitation, poor working conditions, and a lack of social and economic protections. "We seek your intervention to address these challenges and propose structural reforms that would not only improve the lives of these workers but also strengthen the industry itself," read the letter. It highlighted that workers are made to work "16 to

Kerala's eventful 2024 marred by disasters, scandals and political twists

The devastating landslides that wiped away three villages in Wayanad, Congress' thumping victory in the Lok Sabha polls and AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's maiden electoral victory were the significant events that shaped the Kerala's socio-political scenario in 2024. The revelations of sexual abuse and harassment in the Malayalam film industry, brought to light by the Justice Hema Committee report, also stirred up the political pot due to the delay in disclosing the panel's findings, which followed allegations of rape against some key actors, including ruling CPI(M) MLA and actor M Mukesh. On 30 July, massive landslides occurred in the Chooralmala and Mundakkai regions of Wayanad, triggered by torrential rains, resulting in over 200 deaths, numerous injuries, and thousands being left homeless. It is considered one of the worst natural disasters in Kerala's history. Hundreds were left buried under the debris and many had to be pulled out by rescue agencies, which ...

'Pushpa 2' creates history, earns Rs 294 cr worldwide on opening day

'Pushpa fire nahi, wildfire hai', the popular dialogue from Allu Arjun's "Pushpa" franchise has come true with the historic box office performance of the second part, which has amassed Rs 294 crore gross globally on day one of its release. The day one collection of the Sukumar-directed movie, a sequel to 2021's Telugu blockbuster "Pushpa: The Rise", has shattered the record for the highest opening in the history of Indian cinema, which earlier belonged to SS Rajamouli's "RRR" (Rs 223.5 crore), followed by "Baahubali 2" (Rs 217 crore) and "Kalki 2898 AD" (Rs 175 crore). The film's collection has beaten expectations of the trade pundits, who had pegged the film's opening figure to be slightly over than Rs 150 crore. Production banner Mythri Movie Makers, which has bankrolled "Pushpa 2", shared the box office figures. "The Biggest Indian Film creates History at the box office. #Pushpa2TheRule grosses 294 crores worldwide on Day 1 making it the highest opening day in Indian Cinema," ..

Amidst ongoing crisis, Malayalam cinema to get new film association

At a time when the Malayalam cinema industry is reeling from the shocking revelations in the Justice K Hema Committee report, a group of film personalities are set to launch a new film body aimed at revitalising the sector and promoting a fair and just workplace. A vision note of the proposed outfit, Progressive Filmmakers' Association, has been circulated among the industry members. The note, accessed by the media, is purportedly signed by well-known filmmakers Anjali Menon, Lijo Jose Pellissery, Rajeev Ravi and Aashiq Abu, actress Rima Kallingal and producer Bineesh Chandra. According to the vision note, the Malayalam film industry, despite its significant contribution to the state's economy and cultural landscape, remains tethered to outdated systems and practices. "As filmmakers-producers, directors, technicians-we are the foundation upon which this industry stands: creating jobs, driving innovation, and fostering creativity. Yet, we often find ourselves navigating an ...

Unsafe at any place: Hema Committee underlines distance to gender equality

Recent revelations in the Justice Hema Committee report on women in Malayalam film industry and events following the rape and murder of a medical student in Kolkata point to a disturbing regression

Malayalam director Ranjith, actor Siddique resign over abuse allegations

Noted actor Siddique on Sunday resigned as the general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (A.M.M.A.) following sexual assault allegations raised by a woman actor on August 24. Talking to a television channel, the senior actor said he had sent his resignation letter to the President of the organisation, Mohanlal. "Yes. I have tendered my official resignation to the president of the organisation, Mohanlal. Since there were allegations against me, I have decided not to continue in the post and resigned," Siddique said. A female actor had on Saturday alleged Siddique had sexually abused her after inviting her for a movie discussion. The allegations came in the wake of the churn in the Malayalam film industry following the release of Justice Hema Committee report, which pointed towards numerous incidents of casting couch and sexual abuse in the field. The report had revealed instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry, prompti

India leads global VFX industry with rich history, cutting-edge technology

History and tech power have ensured India remains at the forefront of the global visual effects business

The Kerala script: What is behind the resurgence of Malayalam cinema?

Few would have imagined the blockbuster year for Malayalam cinema that 2024 is turning out to be

More than 157 million Indians bought 943 million movie tickets in 2023

Theatre-going population in India on the rise, says Ormax data

Robert Downey Jr. wins supporting actor, his first Oscar for 'Oppenheimer'

Three decades after receiving his first Academy Award nomination, Robert Downey Jr. has won his first Oscar. Downey won best supporting actor on Sunday for his portrayal of Rear Adm. Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer, hailed as one of Downey's best performances in years. It was the third career Oscar nomination for a veteran actor known as one of Hollywood's most versatile performers but before Sunday had never won an Academy Award. He was nominated in 1993 for best actor for Chaplin and in 2008 for best supporting actor in Tropic Thunder. Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan's three-hour deep dive into the development and fallout of the atomic bomb during World War II, led the Academy Awards with 13 nominations. Downey beat Sterling K. Brown for American Fiction, Ryan Gosling for Barbie, Mark Ruffalo for Poor Things and Robert De Niro for Killers of the Flower Moon. The win solidified Downey's frontrunner status this awards season. He also took home the top honor for supporting actor at the