Page 1476 - Entertainment Culture

Caste being "protected" for electoral gains: Kamal Haasan

Actor Kamal Haasan, who is all set to start his political innings on February 21, today said caste was the "biggest enemy" for students and farmers. It is being "protected" for electoral gains, he said. Though the actor did not blame anybody for such a scenario, he said "they (an indication of the political class) are trying to create diversity in our unity." Haasan said schemes for the uplift of villages and farm sector were being "conveniently forgotten" to be implemented by those in power. The 63-year-old actor, who has been targeting the ruling AIADMK following the death of J Jayalalithaa, said he will not stop with merely asking questions. Writing in his weekly column in Tamil magazine "Ananda Vikatan," Haasan said his US tour and address at the Harvard Business School were all oriented towards the development of villages by collaborating with the Indian diaspora to invest their knowledge and technology in Tamil Nadu. His friends abroad have pledged their support for .

'Cheerleader' hitmaker may meet Badshah

Jamaican singer Omi, who shot to fame with "Cheerleader", might meet Indian rappers including Badshah during his maiden visit to India.

TN politician Manian meets Rajinikanth

Tamil Nadu politician Tamilaruvi Manian on Thursday met noted film actor Rajinikanth at his Poes Garden residence in Chennai.Talking to media, Manian said, "It was a courtesy visit to Rajinikanth. He will let you all know about his political affairs. There is nothing to say further."Rajinikanth has announced that he would float a political party that would practice 'spiritual politics' and contest in all of the state's 234 constituencies in the next Assembly polls in 2021.Manian is a writer and a well known speaker in Tamil. Because of his oratory skills, the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu K. Kamaraj gave him the name Tamilaruvi.

Maha govt seeks biopic on Jyotiba Phule

The Maharashtra government will invite open tenders before March 15 for making a biopic on the life of 19th century social reformer Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and has set aside Rs 20 crore for the purpose. The film is expected to be released within one year and stress will be laid upon selecting a production house with a good distribution network, an Information and Publicity department official said today. "In the Cabinet meeting held yesterday, the government set aside Rs 20 crore for the film, for which open tenders will be called before March 15," he said. DGIPR Director General Brijesh Singh said unlike previous biopics, this film will be released on Over the top (OTT) media platform, which will enable it to be streamed on the internet through Amazon Prime, Netflix, etc. "The selected producer will be asked to give the government a presentation. This will help us in understanding the seriousness with which he has studied the issue," he said. Listing the criterion for the .

Hyderabad seminary issues fatwa against viral Malayalam song

Jamia Nizamia, one of the oldest Islamic seminaries of higher learning for Muslims belonging to Sunnis in India, on Thursday issued a fatwa against Malayalam movie Oru Adaar love song 'Manikya Malaraye Poove'.The fatwa was issued stating the lyrics of the viral song featuring 'National Crush' Priya Prakash Varrier need to be changed or removed.The seminary urged the concerned authorities to remove or delete the song before releasing of the movie.A group of people in Hyderabad on Wednesday also registered an FIR against Varrier's expressions in the song saying that the lyrics "hurts the sentiments of the Muslim community".

If producer says film correct, how can CBFC deny clearance: HC asks

If a film-maker says his work, which could be defamatory, is correct and truthful, how can the censor board bar it from being screened, the Delhi High Court today asked the CBFC. Will you curtail a media organisation from covering a protest, the court asked CBFC. Justice Vibhu Bakhru's queries to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) came during the hearing of a woman's plea that her documentary on two units of soft drink giant Coca Cola was denied clearance for screening by the censor board which claimed it was allegedly "misleading and politically motivated". When the producer, Jharana Jhaveri, went in appeal to the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT), it upheld the CBFC's August 31, 2016 decision denying clearance to the documentary and saying it was "replete with per se defamatory imputations". The petitioner has challenged the CBFC's decision as well as the May 8, 2017 order of the FCAT denying clearance to the film which is focused on two plants at Mehdiganj ..

'Black Panther': Vibrant, impressive (IANS Review, Rating: ****1/2)

Film: "Black Panther"; Director: Ryan Coogler; Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyongo, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Sterling K. Brown, Florence Kasumba, John Kani, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Andy Serkis; Rating: ****1/2

Won't remake any film: Raja Krishna Menon

Filmmaker Raja Krishna Menon, who helmed the official remake of Jon Favreau's "Chef", says he does not want to attempt remaking another film and would focus on writing an original story instead.

Ker CM bats for song, says intolerance can't be accepted

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today came out in support of the teaser song of 'Oru Aadar Love" against which a police complaint has been filed for hurting religious sentiments. Intolerance towards the free expression of art and thought cannot be accepted, Vijayan said in a Facebook post. Referring to the police complaint in Hyderabad against the film's director, Omar Lulu, over the song 'Mani Manikya Malaraya poovi', Vijayan said intolerance from any quarter cannot be accepted. "In this matter, if anybody suspects that Hindu and Muslim fundamentalists were hand in glove, they cannot be blamed," he said. The song went viral in the social media catapulting debutante actress Priya Prakash Varrier to instant stardom with her wink and smile. Vijayan, who hails from Thalassery in the northern Kannur district, said the song is a re-mix of the mapilla pattu (traditional Muslim song), penned by P M A Jabbar and rendered by Thalassery Rafeeq. It was broadcast by Akashvani in 1978. The .

'The Shape Of Water': Fascinating study of indefinable love (Review)

Film: "The Shape Of Water"; Director: Guillermo del Toro; Cast: Sally Hawkins, Richard Jenkins, Michael Shannon and Octavia Spencer; Rating: *** ½

Gurdas Maan recalls era of duets

Veteran Punjabi singer Gurdas Maan, who joined the music industry over three decades ago, says back then there was not much scope for solo vocalists.

Allison Janney's special Oscar moment

Actress Allison Janney says it is an extraordinary feeling to see 'Oscar nominee' put in front of her name.

Raj Kapoor still alive in today's audience: Rishi

Actor Rishi Kapoor, son of late filmmaker-actor Raj Kapoor, says the current generation still talks about his father's films and so, he is still alive in the audience.

It's challenging to reinvent as an artiste: American DJ

American DJ and record producer Jason Ross says reinventing as an artiste is challenging but fun.

I'm quite a private person: Gary Oldman

Actor Gary Oldman says he is a private person and not good with crowds.

Raza academy wants 'objectionable' Malayalam film song blocked

The Raza Academy here has asked the Central Board of Film Certification to block the video of a song from the upcoming Malayalam film "Oru Adaar Love" for "hurting" religious sentiments of Muslims. In a letter addressed to CBFC Chairman Prasoon Joshi yesterday, the organisation said an FIR has been lodged in a police station of Hyderabad against the films director, but due to alleged delay in police action, "discontent" among the community was rising. "The song 'Manikya Malaraya Poovi' (these words can loosely translate as 'A girl like a pearl flower') of the Malayalam movie 'Oru Adaar Love' (the loose translation for which can be 'a superlative love') has gone viral and its lyrics contain objectionable text mentioning the name of Islam's Holy Prophet and his wife," said the letter. The outfit called for action against "culprits" and book them without any delay. "We call upon yourself to immediately issue orders to the departments concerned to act promptly on this complaint and also ..

You can't ban a film like 'Pad Man': R. Balki

Filmmaker R. Balki, whose latest film "Pad Man" is yet to release in Pakistan, says banning the movie means being unfair to women and humanity.

Tahir, Jackie to star in short film 'The Playboy Mr Sawhney'

Actors Tahir Raj Bhasin and Jackie Shroff will soon be seen in an upcoming short film titled "The Playboy Mr Sawhney".

UK's HRVY set for maiden India tour

English singer HRVY will embark on his debut India tour later this month.

Want to be known as a good actor, not just the wink queen: Priya Prakash Varrier

Her cute wink and coquettish smile may have made Priya Prakash Varrier the national crush but the debutante, who is enjoying her newfound fame, hopes to have a lasting acting career rather than being a fleeting Internet sensation. The 18-year-old college student, whose appearance in the teaser song 'Mani Manikya Malaraya Poovi' from film "Oru Adaar Love" ( A Superb Love Story) catapulted her to national fame, also has Bollywood dreams and counts Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shah Rukh Khan among her favourites. "I would like to be known as a good actor rather than being known as the wink queen. This is a new feeling. But I am happy. The song has received good response," Varrier, whose Instagram following has now reached 3.3m and the numbers are growing, said. "Our director told us that the 30-second shot should be a memorable one and we followed his vision. I never expected that it would become such a big hit. It is a school-centric film. We are discussing love, crushes and ...