Page 345 - Entertainment Culture
'Made in Heaven' more a satire on Indian weddings than marriage: Zoya Akhtar
Zoya Akhtar says "Made in Heaven" is more of a satire on the "hoopla" around weddings in India than the institution of marriage. Zoya, who is having a great run at the movies with the box office and critical success of "Gully Boy", has co-created Amazon Prime Video's latest India original with longtime collaborator Reema Kagti. "Made in Heaven" had its world premiere at MAMI Tuesday, which was followed by a Q&A session. "It's not as much a satire on marriages as it is on weddings because in India, people give prominence to your wedding day, there's a lot of projection involved. It can be a beautiful and a sacred union if you are with the person you want to spend your life," she said. "But I don't understand the hoopla around it. It's the behind the scenes for the event that we borrow money for, go into debt... It's more that than actual marriage," she added. The drama reflects the lives of upscale modern India, narrated through the eyes of two wedding planners, set against the ...
Dinesh Vijan's vision: Creating a horror comedy universe in Bollywood
Producer-director Dinesh Vijan is a man with a plan. Vijan, who last year produced Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor-starrer "Stree", hopes to build cinematic universe in the horror-comedy genre. After "Stree", the producer on Wednesday announced horror-comedy, "Rooh-Afza", which he will follow-up with "Munjha", another project in the same space. "There are three horror comedies which are being developed and then they will start meeting (at some point). There will be 'Stree 2', after 'Rooh-Afza' and 'Munjha'. "After that there will be 'Rooh-Afza 2' and 'Munjha 2'. The sequels will kind of meet each other, just cross paths," Vijan told PTI in an interview. The producer says while shooting for "Stree", which was one of the major hits of 2018, they started developing "Rooh-Afza", about a singing ghost who puts grooms to sleep on their wedding nights to possess their brides. He said the third film, "Munjha", will revolve around a male ghost looking for his bride. "Stree" was about a ...
'Sanu Kehndi' from 'Kesari' will make you want to groove!
The first song from 'Kesari' titled 'Sanu Kehndi' is finally out and it features Akshay Kumar showing off some cool dance steps on the catchy beats of the fun Punjabi track.Akshay took to his Twitter handle to share the song. He wrote, "The first song from #Kesari, #SanuKehndi out now - http://bit.ly/SanuKehndi."The peppy Punjabi number has been sung by Romy and Brijesh Sandilya. The lyrics have been penned by Kumaar and the catchy music is given by Tanishk Bagchi. A special mention to the dhol beats given by Hanif Aslam & Group in the song which make the track all the more fun.The song shows Akshay having fun and dancing with his battalion of 20 other Sikh soldiers to Punjabi music. The track also showcases the camaraderie between the 21 men who fought the Battle of Saragarhi. The song begins on a fun note where the soldiers can be seen teasing each other while practising their drills. Soon Akshay joins the fun with his fellow soldiers and they dance their heart out. 'Sanu ...
Alejandro G. Iñárritu named Cannes jury president, becomes first Mexican artiste to chair panel
Oscar-winning director of 'Birdman' and 'The Revenant', Alejandro G. Iñárritu has been named president of the Cannes Film Festival jury.He becomes the first Mexican artiste to chair the panel, reported Variety.Reacting to the news, Iñárritu said in a statement, "Cannes is a festival that has been important to me since the beginning of my career," adding, "I am humbled and thrilled to return this year with the immense honor of presiding over the jury."He further added, "Cinema runs through the veins of the planet, and this festival has been its heart. We on the jury will have the privilege to witness the new and excellent work of fellow filmmakers from all over the planet. This is a true delight and a responsibility that we will assume with passion and devotion."The artiste was praised by Pierre Lescure, the president of the festival, and Thierry Fremaux, its artistic director, as "not only a daring filmmaker and a director who is full of surprises [but] also a man of conviction, an ...
'Sleeping with the Enemy' remake in works
Hollywood star Julia Roberts' classic movie "Sleeping with the Enemy" is set to be remade.
'Udaan' helped industry have faith in my acting, says Rajat Barmecha
"Udaan" actor Rajat Barmecha, who is gaining visibility on the web entertainment space with the show "Hey Prabhu", says the success of his debut film helped the film fraternity develop faith in his acting talent.
Working with Rajkummar felt like homecoming: Amrita on 'Mental Hai Kya'
Actor Amrita Puri says collaborating with Rajkummar Rao for "Mental Hai Kya" after "Kai Po Che" felt like homecoming. The actor will be seen in the upcoming Kangana Ranaut starrer, penned by "Manmarziyaan" writer Kanika Dhillon. "I've worked with Raj before in 'Kai Po Che' so I was so excited to be paired up with him again. It just felt like home coming. We had a great rapport earlier and had the same again in 'Mental Hai Kya'. I've always admired Kangana's work as well," Amrita told PTI. The actor was recently seen in "Four More Shots Please" and next stars in Amazon's "Made In Heaven". "This is a fun time for me because whatever I shot last year, it's coming out together. 'Made in heaven', 'Four More Shots', 'Mental Hai Kya' are all very different stories. You'll see me in a variety of roles," she says. Amrita, who made her debut in 2010 with "Aisha", believes opportunities for strong women roles are few in the industry. "You have to try and find a way around. You've to look for ...
Kerala State Film Awards: Jayasurya, Soubin share best actor
Popular actor Jayasurya shared the best actor Kerala State Film Award along with upcoming actor Soubin Shahir, while Nimisha Sajayan walked away with the best actress honour here.
'Leaving Neverland' claims 'all about money': Michael Jackson's family
Michael Jackson's family has defended the singer days before the premiere of the explosive HBO docuseries "Leaving Neverland", which focuses on longtime accusations of child sex abuse against Jackson. The family said the documentary, which had its premiere at Sundance to great critical reviews, is an attempt at cashing in money from the late singer's estate. The kin -- elder brothers Jackie, Marlon and nephew Taj -- came forward in Jackson's support and said his "naivete was his downfall" in a clip from an interview with Gayle King on "CBS This Morning". The four-part documentary, directed and produced by Dan Reed, revolves around Wade Robson, 36, and James Safechuck, 40, who were close to Jackson and had sleepovers at his Neverland ranch when they were minors. Taj said the singer's "sleepovers" with children had nothing odd about them. "You know, I think, to the outside world, yes, I think it can be odd. I mean, I'm not oblivious to what it sounds like. But when you're actually there
Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu to head Cannes competition jury
Oscar-winning Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu will preside over the jury of the official selection competition at Cannes this year, the festival announced Wednesday. It is for the first time that a Mexican filmmaker is headlining the jury at the prestigious festival, which will run from May 13-25. "Cannes is a festival that has been important to me since the beginning of my career. I am humbled and thrilled to return this year with the immense honour of presiding over the Jury," the "Birdman" director said in a statement, posted on the official website of the festival. Cannes has played an instrumental role in Inarritu's career. His 2000 international hit "Amores Perros" won the Critics' Week sidebar. Inarritu was awarded the best director honour for his 2006 film "Babel" in the festival. He returned to the festival with "Biutiful" in 2010 and in 2017 with his virtual reality film "Carne y Arena". "Cinema runs through the veins of the planet and this festival has been ...
Offset blames blogs for his separation from Cardi B
Rapper Offset has blamed blogs for creating differences between him and his former wife Cardi B.
North Korea media heralds Kim's arrival in Vietnam
North Korea's state media on Wednesday showcased Kim Jong Un's arrival in Hanoi ahead of his second summit with US President Donald Trump, praising the host country's economic development as Kim seeks sanctions relief. Images of Kim are carefully controlled and managed in the isolated North, and swift and detailed coverage of his trips unusual. But more recently -- for his most recent journeys to China and the Singapore summit in June -- reports have been more timely, even featuring fulsome praise for the staunchly capitalist city-state after Kim went on a walkabout ahead of his first meeting with Trump. The state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper splashed 13 pictures across its front page and five more on page two as it reported Kim's arrival in Vietnam and his visit to the North Korean embassy in Hanoi. "A jovial atmosphere filled the train station with numerous onlookers including teenage students, cute children and women in traditional dress," it said after his olive green armoured ...
'Hotel Transylvania 4' to release on December 2021
Fresh from their Oscar win, Sony Pictures Animation has announced a fourth instalment in Genndy Tartakovsky's 'Hotel Transylvania' series.The Adam Sandler-led family spin on classic movie monsters has grossed over USD 1.3 billion at the worldwide box office, reported VarietySony will release it on December 21, 2021.Last year's 'Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation' netted a series best and a new benchmark for Sony with a USD 528.6 million global haul.The film starred Sandler, Selena Gomez, Kathryn Hahn, Andy Samberg, Kevin James, and Fran Drescher. It was written by Tartakovsky and Michael McCullers, with Michelle Murdocca serving as producer.The film sees Sandler as a hapless version of Dracula, running an elite hotel for monsters which includes his pals Frankenstein (James) and his bride (Drescher), a werewolf (Steve Buscemi), the invisible man (David Spade), and a hunchback (Jon Lovitz).Soy Pictures Animation on February 24 became a rare Hollywood studio to beat Disney-Pixar in ...
Victims deserve justice, says John Legend on R Kelly's arrest
John Legend has called his recent arrest for sexual abuse against minors "a long time coming."Variety cited Legend's interview on NBC news where he told hosts Hota Kotb, Savannah Guthrie and Carson Daly, "I'm so glad that the documentary was made. I'm so glad the victims got to have their voices heard."Legend, who said in the series that he had turned down offers to work with Kelly in the past, tweeted on the day the documentary debuted: "To everyone telling me how courageous I am for appearing in the doc, it didn't feel risky at all. I believe these women and don't give a f- about protecting a serial child rapist. Easy decision."The actor also believes that the documentary helped to spur law enforcement into action. "Being retold through that medium really brought the issue to people's attention, and I think inspired law enforcement to move on some things that I think they weren't moving on before," he said.Asked what he believes should happen to Kelly, the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar,
Listening to music does not enhance creativity: Study
Listening to background music "significantly impairs" people's ability to complete tasks testing verbal creativity, say scientists who challenge the myth that music makes us more creative. Psychologists from University of Gavle in Sweden, University of Central Lancashire and Lancaster University in the UK investigated the impact of background music on performance by presenting people with verbal insight problems that are believed to tap creativity. They found that background music "significantly impaired" people's ability to complete tasks testing verbal creativity -- but there was no effect for background library noise. For example, a participant was shown three words (eg dress, dial, flower), with the requirement being to find a single associated word (in this case "Sun") that can be combined to make a common word or phrase (ie sundress, sundial and sunflower). The researchers used three experiments involving verbal tasks in either a quiet environment or while exposed to background .
Lived in constant fear of being found I'm not Brahmin, says Dalit author
Discrimination on the basis of caste is prevalent in urban spaces too, says author Yashica Dutt who has come out with her memoir in which she talks of "living in a constant fear" of being identified as a "Dalit". In "Coming Out As Dalit", Dutt recalls her journey from Ajmer to New Delhi to New York, where she is based now, describing how she came to terms with her "real identity" after years of "passing off as a Brahmin". She also seeks to make a compelling case for the community through stories from her life and others including that of Rohith Vemula, a PhD scholar at University of Hyderabad, whose suicide in 2016 triggered a major debate on caste system. "There was a constant fear in my mind that I'll be recognised, because I was effectively living a lie (about being Brahmin) and I did not want to be caught. So that was, to put it succinctly, growing up in Ajmer coming to St. Stephen's in Delhi and then working here through multiple jobs, living here for 10 years throughout that ...
Chris Martin, The Chainsmokers perform at Akash Ambani's pre-wedding function
Coldplay rocker Chris Martin and The Chainsmokers lent a power-packed musical punch to the pre-wedding celebrations of Akash Ambani, son of Reliance Industries Ltd Chairman Mukesh Ambani, and Shloka Mehta, daughter of diamond magnate Russell Mehta, in this alpine resort town in Switzerland.
Swara Bhasker's 'Rasbhari' heads to fest in France
Actress Swara Bhasker's "Rasbhari" will be competing at the Series Mania International Festival in France.
Randeep Hooda wins silver at National Equestrian Championship
Actor Randeep Hooda won the silver medal at the National Equestrian Championship (NEC) and called it a proud moment.
Huma's challenging 'Leila' shoot
Actress Huma Qureshi says shooting for Deepa Mehtas "Leila" was difficult.