Page 23 - Indian Film Industry

'Women in Cinema Collective' to soon propose code of conduct in Mollywood

The Women in Cinema Collective, an outfit of women professionals working in the Malayalam film industry, on Saturday said it would soon come up with a set of recommendations to "rebuild" the industry as an equal and safe workspace. In a Facebook post, the WCC expressed hope that all industry members would come in open solidarity and spirit to adopt a 'cinema code of conduct'. The Collective said in the wake of the publication of the Justice K Hema Committee report, it would commence a series with its proposed recommendations in this regard. "To rebuild the Malayalam film industry as an equal and safe workspace for all, we are commencing a series today with our proposed recommendations. "We hope all industry members will come together in open solidarity & spirit to adopt a Cinema Code of Conduct that will help transform our film industry onscreen & offscreen for the better. Stay tuned !" the FB post said. The outfit's action came weeks after the publication of the Justice K ...

Puri Jagannadh's Double iSmart arrives on OTT just 21 days after release

Puri Jagannadh's Double iSmart is now on Amazon Prime Video. On August 15, the film was released in theatres. It features Ram Pothineni, Sanjay Dutt, and Kavya Thapar in the lead roles

K'taka filmstars urge CM for panel to address sexual harassment in industry

Over 100 film professionals on Wednesday urged the Karnataka government to appoint a committee led by a retired judge to address the sexual harassment issue in the Kannada film industry. In a letter addressed to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, sent on behalf of Film Industry for Rights & Equality (FIRE), 153 film professionals, including actors Kiccha Sudeep and Ramya, demanded the government to "conduct a thorough investigation into the systematic issues faced by women in KFI, including sexual harassment". The letter, dated September 4, comes in the wake of the Justice K Hema Committee report that is taking the Malayalam film industry by storm with many survivors coming forward to name the preparators. FIRE, led by film director, screenwriter and lyricist Kavita Lankesh, has been pushing for reform in the Kannada film industry following the #metoo wave as well. FIRE also urged the government to "develop and recommend policies to ensure a healthy and equitable work ...

The Buckingham Murders: Kareena Kapoor cracks case in Hansal Mehta's next

The trailer for "The Buckingham Murders," a mystery thriller starring Kareena Kapoor Khan, has been released. The film is set to hit theatres on September 13

Emergency imposed on my film, says Kangana over delay in certification

Four days ahead of the scheduled premiere of "Emergency", actor Kangana Ranaut has levelled allegations against the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for stalling its certificate to delay the release. Ranaut, who plays the role of former prime minister Indira Gandhi in the movie, said she will go to court if she doesn't get a clearance on the uncut version. "An emergency has been imposed on my film too. It's a very hopeless state. I'm quite disappointed in our country and whatever the circumstances are... How much will we keep getting scared? "I've made this film with a lot of self-respect which is why the CBFC can't point out any contention. They've stalled my certificate, but I'm determined to release an uncut version of the film. I'll fight in court and release an uncut version," she told Shubhankar Mishra on his podcast. According to a source, the film isn't releasing on Friday because the makers are yet to receive the certification from the CBFC. "Even though they (C

No power group, but 'strong alliances' in film industry: FEFKA gen secy

B Unnikrishnan, general secretary of the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA), on Sunday said there were "strong alliances" in the cinema industry, but he was not aware of any "power group" as mentioned in the Justice K Hema Committee report. Unnikrishnan, speaking to a TV channel, said that it was an "undeniable fact" that there were "strong alliances" of some production houses with certain directors, writers and actors to make big films. "They often work together on several projects back-to-back and naturally, everyone would try to align themselves with them to get opportunities. However, such alliances are based on commercial interests," he said. He also said that such alliances were not confined to Malayalam cinema alone and were present in film industries everywhere. At the same time, he said that there cannot be a secret lobby of different cinema-related organisations which meet periodically to decide who should be isolated from films. "The industry will not be able t

Samantha urges T'gana govt to publish report on sexual abuse in Tollywood

Praising the efforts of the Women in Cinema Collective in Kerala, actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu has urged the Telangana government to publish the report of a sub-committee on 'sexual harassment' in the Telugu film industry which can help frame policies to establish a safe working environment for women. Taking cue from the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), The Voice of Women, a support group for women in TFI (Telugu film industry), was created in 2019, she said on Instagram. "We, the women of the Telugu film industry, welcome the Hema Committee report and applaud the persistent efforts of the WCC in Kerala, which has laid the path to this moment," she said. "We hereby urge the Telangana government, to publish the submitted sub-committee report on sexual harassment, which can help frame government and industry policies, to establish a safe working environment for women in the TFI," Samantha said. The state government had in 2019 constituted a committee, comprising government officials o

Hema panel report: Film employees federation to not protect accused members

The Film Employees Federation of Kerala on Saturday said it won't protect members who were found to be facing allegations with regard to the Justice Hema Committee report and they would be suspended from it if arrested. Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) itself would provide relevant information to police in this connection if it comes to know about any such complaints, it's general secretary B Unnikrishnan said here. FEFKA is the apex body of 21 trade unions working at various levels of the Malayalam film industry. Unnikrishnan admitted that some of the Association members were also facing allegations. "We won't take any immediate action if just FIR is lodged against any of our members. But, if the police later file any report, the court makes any mention against the person or he is arrested, the individual will be suspended from the Association," he said. The filmmaker also rejected allegations that the Association remained silent over the shocking revelations in the ex

Hema Committee report: 'I am not part of any power group', says Mohanlal

Actor Mohanlal on Saturday said he was not part of any power group in the Malayalam film industry and he has no knowledge of the existence of any such group in the sector. He said Malayalam cinema is a huge industry where thousands of people work and the actors's association AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) could not address issues that cropped up there. He said the executive panel of the Association headed by him resigned recently in the wake of allegations being raised against it after the release of the report by Justice Hema Committee. It was for the first time that Mohanlal, former president of AMMA, was addressing the media following the release of the expert panel report which shed light on the alleged harassment and exploitation of women professionals in the Malayalam film industry. "Wrongdoers should be punished if there is evidence against them," the "Kireedam" actor said while referring to the allegations of sexual misconduct and assaults that surfaced again

BS@50: Entertainment transformation - from silver screen to smartphones

The most interesting dimension of change in the past 50 years has really been the shrinking size of the entertainment screen

Hema Committee report paves way for #MeToo movement in Mollywood

What was the MeToo movement and how has the Hema Committee report, delayed by five years, reignited the fight against sexual harassment in the film industry

Media misleading public perception of film industry, says Suresh Gopi

Union Minister Suresh Gopi on Tuesday lashed out at the media, accusing it of misleading the public's perception about the film industry regarding the recent allegations of sexual harassment against actors and directors. The actor-politician termed the allegations as "food" for the media and said they were welcome to make money out of it. The Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Tourism, however, said they should not try to destroy such a huge industry like cinema. He was responding to reporters' queries over the recent allegations of sexual harassment and abuse against various directors and actors, including CPI(M) MLA M Mukesh. "This is all food for you, is what I understand. You can use it to make money. (There is) no problem with that. But these issues are before the court, and it has the intelligence and logic to arrive at a decision regarding them. "You (media) are not only making people fight each other for your own gains, you are also misleading public ..

4 actors face sexual abuse allegations, Malayalam film industry in turmoil

A female actor in Malayalam cinema levelled sexual abuse allegations against four prominent male actors, including M Mukesh, on Monday, causing further upheaval in the film industry already reeling from the Justice K Hema Committee's explosive findings of harassment and abuse of women professionals. Hours after the actress levelled the allegations against Mukesh, a CPI(M) MLA, in interviews with news channels, workers from Yuva Morcha and Mahila Congress organised separate marches towards his residence in Kollam, demanding that a case be registered against him and that he resign as a legislator. The Kollam MLA has not responded to the allegations. The female actor also levelled sexual abuse allegations against three other prominent actors in the Malayalam film industry. Meanwhile, actor Maniyanpilla Raju has called for an investigation into the allegations surfacing in the Malayalam film industry. He told reporters that many more revelations will come out, and there will be multipl

Sridevi's 61st birthday: Husband Boney kapoor with daughters wish the actor

On her 61st birth anniversary, filmmaker Boney Kapoor paid tribute to his late wife and actor Sridevi. Daughter and actor Khushi Kapoor also shared a photo of herself with her late mother

Indian actor Ashwath Bhatt assaulted by robber in Istanbul, Turkey

Ashwath Bhatt, an Indian actor best known for his role in "Raazi," said that everyone had warned him about pickpockets in Istanbul, but what he encountered "was beyond anything he had imagined"

Vedang Raina, Khushi Kapoor keen to work together again after 'The Archies'

After "The Archies," Khushi Kapoor and Vedang Raina hope to work together again on a project. On July 29, the actors became the showstoppers for designer Gaurav Gupta at the India Couture Week

Happy b'day Himesh Reshammiya: Celebrating his top 10 songs of all time

Himesh Reshammiya is an actor, composer, and singer who turns 51 today. He was the very first music director in Bollywood to win the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer in 2006

Suriya 44: Filmmakers drop first look of actor as gangster on his birthday

The first look of Suriya in his upcoming film, tentatively titled "Suriya 44," has been released to celebrate the actor's birthday. The actors appears in a ferocious gangster avatar in promo

'I tell filmmakers that if you can dream it (storytelling), we can do it'

The DNA of the business is closely tied to the filmmaker's vision, said Namit Malhotra, founder Prime Focus and CEO DNEG

I&B ministry plans to set up mega Hollywood-like movie production studio

It will entail an investment of Rs 10,000 crore and be supported by the Centre