Page 1482 - Entertainment Culture
50 women writers from 17 languages to attend Gateway LitFest
From a sex worker-turned-author to a domestic help who is now a writer of global acclaim, over 50 women writers from 17 languages will grace the fourth edition of the Gateway LitFest here next week. This year's Gateway LitFest, which is rated as the largest platform celebrating regional language writings, will have a true slice of women power in contemporary literature, the organisers said today. The three-day LitFest, with the theme 'Women power in Indian literature', will begin on February 22 at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) here, they said. The roster of speakers has many Sahitya Akademi Award winners and a Jnanpith winner Odiya writer, Pratibha Ray. Nalini Jameela, who was a sex worker for long in Kerala and launched herself into the world of letters with an autobiography, and Baby Haldar, a domestic help before she penned her bestselling autobiography, would attend the event. The other key speakers include Nitu Bhattacharya, who is a DIG in ...
'Fifty Shades' sex scenes could've broken records: Dakota
Hollywood star Dakota Johnson says that the "Fifty Shades" franchise would have entered the record books if all the sex scenes were shot in one day.
Taylor Swift shakes off copyright suit
Taylor Swift has emerged victorious in a lawsuit brought against her by the songwriters behind 3LW's 'Playas Gon' Play'.The 28-year-old was sued in September by songwriters Sean Hall and Nathan Butler, who contended that 'Shake It Off' infringed on their 2001 song.The plaintiffs' song includes the following line in the chorus: "Playas, they gonna play, and haters, they gonna hate." 'Shake It Off' includes the line, "Players gonna play, play, play, play, play, and haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate."According to the Hollywood Reporter, a federal judge dismissed the lawsuit.In his ruling, Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald held that combining the phrases, "Playas gonna play" and "haters gonna hate," does not entail sufficient originality to warrant copyright protection."[B]y 2001, American popular culture was heavily steeped in the concepts of players, haters, and player haters. ... The concept of actors acting in accordance with their essential nature is not at all creative; it is ...
Piper Perabo boards Gerard Butler starrer 'Angel Has Fallen'
Piper Perabo is the latest addition to the cast of 'Angel Has Fallen', the third installment in the 'Olympus Has Fallen' series.According to the Hollywood Reporter, the action feature from director Ric Roman Waugh stars Gerard Butler, Jada Pinkett Smith and Morgan Freeman.While the prior two films were set in Washington and London, 'Angel' will see Butler's Mike Banning take to the skies, handling terrorist threats while on Air Force One.Millennium Films is producing, with Focus Features handling distribution.On the work front, Perabo, who toplined USA series 'Covert Affair', recently joined YA sci-fi drama 'Spontaneous'. She was last seen in the thriller 'Black Butterfly', opposite Antonio Banderas.
Rita Ora joins 'Detective Pikachu'
Rita Ora is all set to join the world of Pokemon.According to The Hollywood Reporter, the 'Fifty Shades Freed' star has joined the upcoming film 'Detective Pikachu', which stars Ryan Reynolds as the titular yellow electric sleuth.However, the details of her role are still under wraps.The movie based on the game franchise also features Justice Smith, who will be seen in the upcoming 'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom', 'Big Little Lies' actress Kathryn Newton, Ken Watanabe, Bill Nighy, and Suki Waterhouse.Legendary Entertainment's live-action Pokemon movie, which is being directed by Rob Letterman and produced by Mary Parent and Cale Boyter, is currently shooting.
How dinosaurs inspired 'Lord of the Rings' Gollum
Turns out, dinosaurs led to the creation of Gollum in Peter Jackson's 'The Lord of the Rings'.Gollum was one of the characters created by Joe Letteri, a four-time Oscar winner, Weta Digital's senior VFX supervisor and 2018's recipient of the Visual Effects Society's Georges Melies Award.According to the Hollywood Reporter, 60-year-old Letteri, who had worked as a CG artist on 1993's 'Jurassic Park', explained, "I became interested in what made something like a dinosaur look realistic - some of that was the detail that you see in the dinosaur skin. I also started learning about cinematography and lighting."Seeing those creatures come alive onscreen, he realised the next step was to use similar techniques to create a character, and "Gollum was the perfect opportunity to do that."While Gollum started with Andy Serkis' performance capture, the challenge for Letteri was "creating a facial performance that would believably convey human expressions. I had never had to work with a character ..
Kim's waistline measures 24 inches
Reality TV star Kim Kardashian says her waistline now measures 24 inches.
Melissa McCarthy may star in 'The Kitchen'
Melissa McCarthy is in talks to star with Tiffany Haddish in 'The Kitchen', New Line's adaptation of the DC Entertainment's Vertigo crime book.According to the Hollywood Reporter, 'Straight Outta Compton' writer Andrea Berloff, who is making her directorial debut with the female-driven mob drama, wrote the script.'The Kitchen' is an Irish mafia story set in Hell's Kitchen, New York, in the 1970s. When the FBI does a sweep of the mob, several men are arrested. Their wives take over their jailed spouses' organised crime operation to become the most ruthless and powerful gangsters.The project adapts the comic book series by Ollie Masters and Ming Doyle.McCarthy will be next seen in New Line's comedy 'Life of the Party', which hits the theatres on May 11.
Noted scribe Muzaffar Hussain dead
Noted writer, thinker and journalist Muzaffar Hussain died due to prolonged illness here today, family sources said. He was 78. Hussain breathed his last at Hiranandani Hospital in suburban Vikhroli where he was admitted on January 30. His last rites will be performed tomorrow. Hussain, a Padmashree awardee and a columnist, is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son. Born on March 20, 1940 in Madhya Pradesh, Hussain came to Mumbai in his youth and soon became proficient in many languages. In his illustrious career, he bagged several state and national level awards in literature, besides Padmashree in 2002. He was conferred with the Lokamanya Tilak Jeevan Gaurav award for journalism by the government of Maharashtra in 2014. Proficient in many languages, he used to write for a number of journals in various languages and also for a number of vernacular dailies. Hussain, known as a pro-Hindutva writer, was also praised by the RSS. He penned several books in which he raised
Punjab Minister tosses himself into controversy, justifies method to decide posting
A Punjab Minister who tossed himself into a controversy by flipping a coin to decide on posting of one of the two lecturers at a state polytechnic on Tuesday justified the method involved and blamed a section of the media.
Keralite girl becomes internet sensation as song goes viral
Actress Priya P Varrier has become an overnight internet sensation after she got 2.5 million followers on Instagram soon after a teaser song of her debut film 'Oru Adaar Love' went viral. The upcoming movie, written and directed by Omar Lulu, tells the story of plus two (12th) students and has newcomers in the cast. With her expressions, Priya Varrier stole the hearts of her social media followers as the song went viral. An overwhelmed Priya said "I do not know how to react. I did what what I was asked to do and never expected it to be such a hit." "Thank you for all the love," Priya, who idolises Nayaantara, tweeted. The song 'Mankiya Malaraya Povi', composed by Shaan Rehman and sung by Vineet Srinivasan, has got 68,81,349 views by 7.50 pm tonight. 'Oru Adaar Love' is a romantic Comedy and has Siyadh Shahjahan and Noorin Shereef sharing space with Priya.
US team members meet rural Bengal artistes
Members of a US organisation promoting cultural heritage interacted with scroll painters, musicians, theatre artistes of rural Bengal here today. Members of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife And Cultural Heritage also shared ideas with them on diverse heritage and culture of the two countries at a round table at the American Center here. "Today's round table provided a platform for sharing on ways and approaches of engaging youth and the larger public in understanding about each other's heritage," American Center Director Jamie Dragon said. He said the purpose of the programme, titled 'Communities Connecting Heritage', was to promote and advance cultural heritage projects through community outreach and public education. Sonali Chitrakar, a 'Patachitra' (scroll) painter from West Midnapore who attended the round table, said, "Language did not come as a barrier. I am happy they have understood nuances of our art." The team members had interacted with artists, craftsmen .
No more films for me, says Kamal Haasan
Filmstar Kamal Haasan on Tuesday said there will be no more films for him as his plunge into politics for the people of Tamil Nadu is final and irreversible.
Plea seeks FIR against film director for remarks on Hindu gods
The Madras High Court today ordered the police to register an FIR against film director P Bharathiraja if a cognizable offence is made out against him after a plea alleged that he spoke ill of Hindu gods during a film function last month. The petitioner submitted that Bharathiraja, while attending a film function on January 18, had spoken ill of Lord Ganesha and Godess Andal "with a deliberate intention to hurt the feelings of Hindus." Acting on the petition by V G Narayanan, Justice M S Ramesh directed the police to register an FIR if a cognizable offence is made out. Narayanan alleged that the director had been repeatedly doing it "to cause religious animosity among people of different faiths," which was against the Constitution. The petitioner said he had already filed a complaint with police on January 19. However there had been no action which forced him to file the petition in court, he said.
Stage set for 8th Theatre Olympics, 30 countries to participate
India is all set to host the eighth edition of the global Theatre Olympics for the first time - that will see participation from 30 countries with performances in cities across the country, over 50 days.
Show cause notice to Pierce Brosnan for pan masala ad
The Delhi government's Health Department has issued a show cause notice to Hollywood actor Pierce Brosnan for appearing in a surrogate advertisement of an Indian pan masala brand. The Cigarette and Other Tobacco Product Act, 2003 bans all kind of direct and indirect advertisements of tobacco products. Additional Director (Health) SK Arora said they have come to know that promotion of a tobacco and pan masala brand was being done through media platforms and points of sale, shops and other vendors throughout India. "It may be noted that Mr Pierce Brosnan who is promoting the brand in media, TV channel, vendors and others if any have also become party to this violation and are likely to be punished as per COTPA 2003," read the notice. Areca nut (supari) in pan masala has cancer causing agent which has been scientifically proven and Brosnan, an actor who is a role model for lakhs of people especially youngsters, should not indulge in promotion of such hazardous products, it
Malayalam actress Priya Varrier floors social media with a smile and wink
A wink, and a shy but mischievous smile by Malayalam actress Priya Prakash Varrier in a 28-second clip from a film song has turned the 18-year-old into an internet sensation.
Soledition to be held in Delhi on February 25
Rannvijay Singha's Soledition, a sneaker festival, will be held here on February 25.
Ahwaan to leave 'Kaal Bhairav Rahasya' (TV Snippets)
Actor Ahwaan Kumar will make an exit from the show "Kaal Bhairav Rahasya" after his character will be murdered.
Marathi cinema must continue to focus on content: Nana Patekar
Veteran actor Nana Patekar is happy that Marathi cinema is coming up with some really good stories. Some of the biggest Marathi hits include "Deva", "Sairat", "Natsamrat", "Balak Palak", and "Shwaas". The 67-year-old actor, who starred in Marathi film "Aapla Manus" recently, believes good films manage to create their own space. "If you make good films coupled with great stories, people will go and see it. The stories need to be rooted, relatable so that the audiences can enjoy it," Patekar told PTI. "If you do a bad film, then it will not do well. If you do a good film, then it will do well anytime," he added. Expressing his concern over Marathi films not getting enough screens because of big Bollywood releases, the actor said it should not happen. "I think Marathi films should get a release in a minimum number of screens at least. Despite all this, if anything happens, then protests are bound to happen. If in Maharashtra, Marathi films do not get a certain amount of screens, then ..