Month: November 2017

Padmavati Row: A Timeline Of The Controversy Over Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Epic Drama

BY Silverscreen India Staff On

Sanjay Leela Bhansali and the entire team of Padmavati have had quite an eventful year so far. Having faced assault, vandalism, vehement opposition, and verbal abuse, the film’s team have only half a month to go for the release on December 1. And yet, the tension is palpable if it would be a peaceful release or not.

Bhansali’s film starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, and Ranveer Singh is a cinematic adaptation of the epic poem Padmavat, which most historians have called a work of fiction. Perhaps, the protests are for political gain with crucial elections due in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Otherwise, how do you explain massive protests against a film that they haven’t yet seen or judge the veracity of the script that is largely based on a work of fiction and hearsay.

Here’s a quick timeline to make sense of the nonsense that has ensued over a film.

In July last year, reports started surfacing with respect to Bhansali’s next production. Given that his 2015 film Bajirao Mastani was successful, with everybody pleased with Ranveer and Deepika’s pairing, reports suggested that the two will be teaming up for Bhansali’s next, another period film. Whether it’s Devdas or Bajirao Mastani, Bhansali is known to take creative liberties but then getting offended over commercial films like these is like believing Sean Spicer’s take on history.

Bajirao

Soon after the shooting began in September 2016, Hardik Patel, who made the national headlines in 2015 by being at the forefront of the Patidar Reservation Agitation, asked Bhansali to stop shooting his historical film to assuage the alleged concerns of the Rajput Sena.

Image Credits: DNA India

In an interview with the Mumbai Mirror, Patel said, “Rajasthan-based Rajput Sena’s members met me and informed that SLB has not studied the history, and could damage the image of Rani Padmavati. So, we’ve informed him to stop the production of the film and hold discussions with Rajput leaders before he begins shooting.”

Interestingly, Bhansali had staged an opera version of this story in Paris a few years earlier. Several reports also suggested that the director had done extensive research on Rani Padmini’s history and was confident of making an accurate depiction of the events on-screen.

While Patel is currently grappling with other issues, last year he had threatened to block the film’s release if Bhansali did not accede to their demands.

“Bhansali should give assurance of not damaging Rani Padmavati’s image, or else Patidar Navnirman Sena will hold protests against the movie across the country, and will not give permission for the film to release in Rajasthan. No director has the right to damage history for entertainment,” Patel had said.

***

Production continued and news about the film went unreported for a little while. Towards the end of January this year, Bhansali was assaulted by protesters who marched on the film’s sets in Jaipur and manhandled the director and tore his clothes. The reason cited by the group was that they are “unhappy with the distortion of facts in Padmavati”.

Around that time, it was reported that a number of groups were irked by the fact that the film had a dream sequence with Queen Padmini and Alauddin Khilji in a romantic scene. The protests prompted the security team deployed at the sets to open fire, with Bhansali telling India Today that sometimes, he has to go through this ”humiliation to make a film in this country”.

The video, an India Today exclusive, can be watched here:

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/video/sanjay-leela-bhansali-thrashed-padmavati-vandalised-karni-sena/1/868111.html

Soon enough, support pours in for the director. Citing creative freedom, several artistes such as Huma Qureshi, Shabhana Azmi, and Priyanka Chopra lent their support to Bhansali, criticising the group for upholding ‘such parochial views’.

Around this time, a bounty is also made by a BJP leader on Bhansali. The BJP leader from Hosangabad Municipal Corporation in Madhya Pradesh has offered a reward of Rs 10,000 to anybody who slaps Bhansali, for allegedly “distorting facts” of Rani Padmini. Akhilesh Khandelwal, who has over 10,000 followers on Facebook, took to social media and posted a long status in Hindi where he claims to support his arguments with facts.

***

Days after Bhansali was assaulted, Shah Rukh Khan weighed in on the debate, drawing from his own experience during the release of Billu in 2009, a film that was originally titled Billu Barber but was forced to change after protests from salon and beauty parlour associations of Bandra.

Actor Shahrukh Khan at Happy New Year Promo with Palam Silks

Actor Shahrukh Khan at Happy New Year Promo with Palam Silks

“I will be very honest. No filmmaker in the world tries to make a film to hurt anybody’s sentiments. In Billu’s case, I never thought there was anything wrong in the title. When Billu released, 45 heads of the barber community came to me and they really believed that the use of the word ‘barber’ with the film was wrong. I didn’t think there was any problem though. I did not change because I got pressurised but I didn’t want to hurt their sentiments as they genuinely didn’t like it. I told my office people we are not doing it. Let’s change the name and keep only Billu,” said Khan.

***

Advent of #NoSceneBetweenRaniPadmavatiAndAlauddinKhilji 

End of January, days after the assault, the Rajasthan Rajput group Karni Sena demanded that Bhansali rename the historical drama Padmavati. Further, they also wanted the film to be screened before a committee formed by them prior to its theatrical release.

The film’s official team stated that there is no romantic dream sequence involving Padmini and Alauddin Khilji. Shobha Sant, CEO of Bhansali Films had written a letter to Giriraj Singh Lotwara, president of the Rajput Sabha, stating that the team had no intention of hurting the sentiments of the community. The letter said, “We have been careful in our research in the making of the film. This is to clarify that there is no romantic dream sequence or any objectionable or romantic scene between Rani Padmavati and Allauddin Khilji.”

The Padmavati team also implored social media handles to tweet about the absence of any such scene with the hashtag #NoSceneBetweenRaniPadminiAndAlauddinKhilji.

***

Lokendra Singh Kalvi
Image: Business-Standard.com

Mid-February this year, founder of Rajput Karni Sena, Lokendra Singh Kalvi, told Hindustan Times that the group will give a representation to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, demanding that they start a “pre-screening board” to properly examine films that feature historical themes.

The Karni Sena leader spoke of how the committee could include retired judges, journalists, and historians hailing from the states concerned.

Kalvi had also cited Adolf Hitler as an example and the consequences of distorting facts in fiction. “Does he have the capacity to film a movie against Adolf Hitler in Germany? Things that did not exist in history should not be depicted in films. We said the same thing during the shooting of Jodha Akhbar,” he told ANI News.

***

In March, the sets of Padmavati in Kolhapur were vandalised and set on fire.

Image: ANI

The designers of the film, Rimple and Harpreet Narula opened up about how “emotionally broken” they are after the vandalism took place. The shooting was taking place at Mhasai Pathar, when a group of 15-20 people barged into the sets around 4 am and vandalised the costumes and animal feed kept there.

***

Again, a month later, the Karni Sena said that the country will not ‘tolerate’ controversial shots in the film. Kalvi said that communities like theirs and many others in Maharashtra, Gujarat are struggling for reservation rights.

Meanwhile, news of the film’s postponement was doing the rounds. The film was scheduled to release on November 17 but reports suggested that it might get shifted to 2018.

Viacom 18, the co-producers of the film, issued a statement denying any such changes.

***

Padmavati

Almost a year after the film’s shooting began, the team started releasing the first look of the actors. Shared by Deepika Padukone on September 21, who plays the queen, the first look has her clad in Rajasthani clothes and baubles, and sporting a unibrow.

This didn’t last though.

The Shri Rajput Karni Sena, an organisation of the Rajput community, two days later, burnt posters of the film. The group of protesters gathered in front of Rajmandir Cinema Hall and shouted slogans against Bhansali and burnt posters of the film.

“While shooting in Jaipur, Bhansali had promised to show the film to us and historians before releasing it. But since then no one has contacted us, nor has the film been shown to us,” Narain Singh Divrala, district president Jaipur of the Shri Rajpur Karni Sena, told IANS.

“We want him to show the film to the core committee of Shri Rajput Karni Sena and various organisations, including historians, before releasing it,” Divrala said.

Soon enough, the first look of the other two actors also came out.

On October 9, the film’s trailer came out which looked like as though it were on the side of the majority community, therefore, the right-wingers shouldn’t have a problem with the film.

For a film that has been titled Padmavati, after the iconic character who came to be known as the sacrificial wife who did all in the name of honour, there’s little shown of her except looking vulnerable or righteous.

While the men were shown flexing their virility (or in Ranveer’s case, his barbaric way of doing things even when he’s eating meat), the lone woman is shown as the synonym of beauty, grace, and the much-needed feminine touch in this testosterone-high trailer. Needless to say, while the attention is pretty much drawn on Ranveer’s Alauddin and his villainy (bordering on racist considering it displays a version of history that has been disputed several times), Rani Padmini is merely looked at as Maharawal Ratan Singh’s woman staying by his side, looking flawless in her heavy jewellery and clothes.

A few weeks later, more violence emerged with respect to the film. On October 18, five people, including four members of the right wing outfits Karni Sena and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), were reportedly arrested for allegedly vandalising a rangoli inspired by the film.

***

The song ‘Ghoomar’ released on October 24, showcasing Rani Padmini (played by Deepika Padukone), walking towards a massive courtyard with other women dancing with lamps and balancing pots on their head. Rani Padmini’s husband, Maharawal Ratan Singh (played by Shahid Kapoor) is on a verandah, and watches his wife dance to this traditional folk number.

***

And trouble continues.

Hyderabad BJP MLA Raja Singh threatened to burn theatres if  Bhansali’s Padmavati shows Hindus in a negative light. Speaking at a Rajput community gathering early this month, Singh vowed to teach a lesson to those who dare misrepresent the Hindus and the culture. “Across the country there are protests against the movie. But no one here is raising any objection to the film. Did our blood become cold?”

Apart from the BJP, a Brahmin organisation, Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha, decided to oppose the release of Bhansali’s magnum opus. In a statement, Suresh Mishra, state president of Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha said that they will not tolerate “distortion” of historical facts at any cost.

***

While Bhansali has gone to clarify that the honour of Rajputs have not been tarnished in the film, none of the protesters seem to pay heed. As of this week, Deepika Padukone has gone on to say that nothing can stop this film now, while over 50 activists of Rajput Karni Sena vandalised a cinema hall and a mall in Kota for screening the film’s trailer.

“It’s appalling, it’s absolutely appalling. What have we gotten ourselves into? And where have we reached as a nation? We have regressed. The only people we are answerable to is the censor board, and I know and I believe that nothing can stop the release of this film. This is not about Padmavati… We’re fighting a much bigger battle,” she told IANS.

Thus far, the BJP leader Subramanian Swamy slammed the actress, sarcastically responding to her statement on the country’s regression. Swamy told CNN-News18 that the actor had no right to give a lecture on regression, adding, “I am told the actress is not even an Indian citizen, she’s Dutch.”

The good news is that film fraternity with stars like Salman Khan have come out in support of Bhansali. Opposition leaders like Shashi Tharoor said that the Padmavati controversy is an opportunity to focus on the conditions of Rajasthani women today and not just of queens six centuries ago. Meanwhile, the Shri Rajput Karni Sena has for a Bharat bandh (shutdown) on December 1, the date on which the film is scheduled to release.

 

Director Suseenthiran On Removing Mehreen Pirzada Scenes: ‘What I Did Now Is Damage Control’

BY Subha J Rao On

It’s not often that you come across creators who openly admit their film has not been received well. Suseenthiran is one of them. The director, known for his work in Vennila Kabbadi Kuzhu, Naan Mahaan Alla, Azhagarsaamiyin Kuthirai, Aadhalaal Kaadhal Seiveer, Pandiya Naadu and Jeeva, among others, had to trim his latest, Nenjil Thunivirundhaal, by about 20 minutes. The Telugu version c/o Surya is untouched.

“I was in a quandary whether I needed a heroine portion for a movie high on thrill. But, we were making a bilingual and everyone felt we needed to play safe. But, the audience felt it was slowing down the pace, and digressing from the core plot. And so, after apologising to actress Mehreen Pirzada, I went ahead and deleted the song and her portions. I’ve changed the climax too, removed the auto driver bit that brought in some laughs…”

Interestingly, Suseenthiran already had a rough cut of the version that’s currently playing in theatres. It never went in for post-production, though. “But, what’s playing now is the film I wanted to make,” he smiles. His statement to the media said that he had a commercial and non-commercial version ready. After all these years, and these many films, does he still have to pander to market forces? “See, my earlier film (Maaveeran Kittu) did not do very well. People were afraid I would create another ‘art film’, and I had to listen to what then seemed practical suggestions. Now, I know I should have stuck to what I felt.”

Is this going to bring about a change in the fortunes of the film? “I think like a sportsperson. Even when I know we look certain to lose a cricket match, I keep watching, waiting for some last-minute magic. We have another three days. Am not sure how much of change this is going to make to box office collections, but I’m hopeful, because people have been sending me messages that this version is much tauter.”

What Suseenthiran feels sad about is that he’s never ever had to remove the portions involving a heroine before this. “I’ve only trimmed a song in Maaveeran Kittu. I’ve not disturbed even a thriller like Pandiya Naadu. Mehreen was very considerate, and said that she understands, and is ‘cool’ with the change.”

Suseenthiran has faced failure a few times before (Rajapattai, etc) and says that his way of coping is accepting it and jumping headlong into the next project so that he can focus his energies there. That’s what he’s doing now with Angelina, a film that will be “in the mould of Jeeva and Aadhalaal…”

And yes, for his next film, he’s certain he’ll show the movie to a select set of people, get their feedback and release a version that makes sense to all. “What I did now is damage control; that will be a planned edit,” he says.

Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth Win NTR National Award; Baahubali Wins 13 Nandi Awards & More

BY Silverscreen India Staff On

Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth win Andhra Pradesh government’s NTR National Awards

Actors Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth were awarded the NTR National Film Award for the years 2014 and 2016 respectively on Tuesday by the Andhra Pradesh government. The two actors took to social media to congratulate each other.

On the same note, SS Rajamouli’s magnum opus Baahubali, released in 2015, won 13 Nandi awards.

baahubali-movie-stills-005-900×563

The film, starring Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Ramya Krishnan, Sathyaraj, Tamannaah, Anushka Shetty, and Nasser won the best film, director, supporting actress, villain, cinematographer, playback singer (male), music, choreographer, fight master, dubbing, and special effects awards.

Kamal Haasan lauds Kerala government

Kamal Haasan Announces The Launch Of Maiyam - Whistleblower App On His Birthday

Kamal Haasan announcing the launch of his app. Photo by Sriram Narasimhan

Addressing a press conference on his 63rd birthday; he announced the launch of an app with several links like “maiamwhistle” (centre whistle) and “theditheerpomvaa” (let us search and resolve). It will act as a digital platform for people to complain and interact with him.

Impressed with the Kerala government doing away with the mention of caste or religion in school certificates, Kamal Haasan, who recently announced that he would be venturing towards politics soon, lauded the government calling their move ‘historic’.

In the circular that has been doing the rounds in schools, the Kerala government mentions that one needn’t state their caste or community in the admission form for schools. Instead, the religion alone can be specified. And if not following a religion, the candidates can choose to write ‘religion not stated’ on the form.

Drawing from his own experience, Haasan said that he refused to fill out the cast and religion forms in one of his daughter’s birth certificate.

Vidya Balan shuts down reporter who asked if she plans on losing weight

Vidya Balan At An Awards Function

Vidya Balan, whose movie Tumhari Sulu is up for release, was seen at an awards function.

Actress Vidya Balan, at a recent media interaction, was asked by a reporter if she would lose weight for a glamorous role. Visibly miffed by the question, she answers his inappropriate question by telling him to change his mindset.

“The movies you’ve been in lately are mostly women-centric. So now are we going to watch you in more such films or do you plan on losing some weight?” he asks. When she asks the connection between women-centric and weight loss, he says that he meant ‘glamorous roles’.

“I’m very happy with the kind of roles I am doing. It would be nice if you could change your mindset first,” she responds.

The actress will be seen in Tumhari Sulu, scheduled to release on November 17. She plays a fun radio jockey in the film directed by Suresh Triveni.

Watch the video here:

S Durga’s director files case after I&B Ministry drops film from IFFI

Sexy Durga

S Durga (previously titled Sexy Durga) was unceremoniously dropped from the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), a decision taken by the Information and Broadcast Ministry headed by Smriti Irani. Director Sanal Kumar Sasidharan is now planning to file a petition against the Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF).

The film was initially selected to be screened at the festival. Speaking to The Indian Express, Sanal said, “I am approaching court. I am filing a case today (November 14). It will be against the DFF, ministry and the festival director. There will be a bunch of respondents.”

The festival, which is set to take place next week, also dropped Marathi filmmaker Ravi Jadhav’s Nude from the festival.

On Tuesday morning, it was reported that IFFI jury chief Sujoy Ghosh has resigned from his position in protest against the dropping of the two films.

In October, the ministry objected to Sanal’s film and its original title, Sexy Durga, denying it censor exemption and approval for screening at the Jio MAMI 19th Mumbai Film Festival With Star 2017. The film was eventually screened after it was given U/A certificate by the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC), which suggested the change of the title (which was amended to S Durga) and deletion of some words in some scenes.

Read: Silverscreen’s Review of Sexy Durga

Rose McGowan surrenders on drug charges

Image credits: Vulture

Actress Rose McGowan, who had an arrest warrant issued against her last month in relation to drug charge, has reportedly surrendered to the Virginian authorities. She was released on a $5,000 unsecured bond, authorities told The Hollywood Reporter.

McGowan has been accused of possession of a controlled substance. The felony charges are based on the police’s investigation of personal belongings left behind on a United flight arriving at Washington Dulles International Airport on January 20 this year.

McGowan is one of the many women rallying against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, who has been accused of sexual harassment by many women (including top actresses) in the industry. She also claims that Weinstein even raped her back in 1997 and was offered $1 million to not speak about him.

Soon after it was reported that she surrendered herself, the actress spoke to Ronan Farrow of The New Yorker. Stating that she would plead guilty, the actress admits to feeling this whole drug charges was planted. Before being questioned by the police authorities with respect to the drugs found on her wallet, the actress had months earlier tweeted about being raped by a “studio head,” and had included details that seemed to point to the Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.

‘Naragasooran’ Wrapped Up In 41 Days; Gopi Nainar Condemns Social Media Abuse Of Pa Ranjith

BY Silverscreen India Staff On

A quick look at everything making news in the world of cinema today!

Sign On 

Dulquer Salman’s next has been titled Kannum Kannum Kollai Adithal

Sonia Agarwal has a meaty role in GV Prakash Kumar’s next

The shooting of Karthick Naren’s Naragasooran is now at an end. The project was wrapped up in 41 days.

Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth have been announced as the recipients of the NTR National Film Award for the year 2015 and 2016 respectively.

Newsworthy

Sanal Kumar Sasidharan has moved Kerala High Court against the exclusion of his S Durga from the IFFI.

Activists of a caste-based organisation Karni Sena on Tuesday vandalised a theatre in Kota in Rajasthan after reports that it was showing a trailer of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming movie Padmavati.

Sam Mendes has reportedly walked out of a live-action film based on Pinocchio

Spotlight

Gopi Nainar has condemned the social media abuse of director Pa Ranjith. The director was criticised for not wishing Gopi in his congratulatory tweet about the latter’s Aramm. The issue stems from a conflict over the content of Ranjith’s Madras. At the time of its release, it was alleged to be a copy of Gopi’s Karuppar Nagaram.

Now, in a press statement, Gopi has asked his supporters to stay silent and not attack Ranjith. He says that he shares a friendly relationship with Ranjith, and that they can only make the society better if they stand united. He asked his fans and supporters to not destroy that bond.

Let them eat cake!

Actors Shaleen Bhanot, Vidya Sinha, music composer Thaman will all turn a year older today!

5 Yesteryear Child Artistes Talk About Their Roles: What They Understood & What They Didn’t

BY Janani Karthik On

Not so long ago, there was quite some outrage – and rightly so – about a TV series that featured a child actor romancing a much older woman. The series, which was eventually taken off air after much protest, has been ‘revamped’ and is now back (as of yesterday) with decidedly adult characters. But this is no stray occurrence in an industry that places child actors in adult situations on the sets, and makes them speak lines that are beyond the scope of their comprehension. Silverscreen speaks to a few yesteryear child actors who tell us what they remember of their time on the sets.

at Vindhai Audio LaunchMahendran:

 

Having starred in over 100 films as a child actor, some of Mahendran’s popular films include Naattaamai, Padayappa, Kumbakonam Gopalu and Aahaa. “I remember a lengthy dialogue in Nattammai,” Mahendran says when we speak to him, “I would tell actor Vijaykumar, ‘Naan paathen thatha. Akka azhudhukkite bikela pochu, naanum pinnadiye ponen, anga oru veetukku ponanga, adhu pootiyirundhuchu, approm akka azhudhukkite velila vandhaanga, mosam pannintaangannu sonnanga.’ [I followed Akka as she rode somewhere. She stopped outside a house and cried that she has been deceived]”

Mahendran was three-and-a-half when Naatammai was filmed. “When I watch that movie now, I wonder how I could have delivered the dialogue without knowing what it meant.”

Nevertheless, Mahendran adds that the early exposure to films came in handy later. “I grew up to be a bold guy. In school, I fearlessly handled peer group clashes and had the courage to directly talk to the principal about any issue. I was not anxious to face adults.”

Mahendran is currently shooting for a Telugu film Saavi and a Tamil film, Rangaraattinam.

at WE Magazine's Soulmate AwardsPriyadarshini

 

TV host Priyadarshini was a part of films like Dhaavani Kanavugal, Naagam, Kaaval Kaidhi and Uyire Unakkaaga. She says, “When I acted in K Bhagyaraj’s Dhaavani Kanavugal, I was just seven years old. I was part of a popular scene in the film. Bhagyaraj would watch a film with his sisters in a theatre; he would throw down a coin and would make his sisters look for it until a romantic scene got over. During the shoot, I vaguely remember the director telling me to see an empty screen, bend down and search for something. I actually liked the scene as it aesthetically depicted a brother’s responsibility.”

Priyadarshini is currently shooting for the Vijay TV series Tamizh Kadavul Murugan.

Deepa Venkat

Popular actor, TV personality and now a dubbing artiste, Deepa Venkat has acted in several television series during her childhood. “When I was in class seven, I played a character in the serial Raghuvamsam. I played the role of an adolescent girl who hates her mom and likes her dad. The character would always express hatred in every dialogue. I didn’t understand her at all when I played it. I used to wonder why the girl hated her mom. After several years, I learnt that the mother was supposed to be adulterous.” 

Deepa Venkat had recently dubbed for Nayanthara in Aramm and Kajal Aggarwal in Mersal.

Kalyani

Kalyani was known for her role as the little girl in Alli Thandha Vaanam alongside Prabhudheva. She also played prominent roles in films like Ramanna and Jayam. “I had a happy childhood on the sets,” she declares, “I loved going to shooting spots. But now, when I talk to some of my friends, I think I may have missed out on some fun. On the sets, I got to spend time with adults and didn’t really hang out with kids. I remember listening to household tales. But I did get a rare opportunity to act in films which other kids of my age didn’t, and I’m happy about it.

Kalyani is currently in talks for a couple of films and TV shows.

Harathi

As a child actor, Harathi played Muruga in the film Murugane Thunai, and was also part of films like Chatriyan and Kaavalukku Kettikaran. Harathi declares that she played her age in most films. “My mother would explain the character and the dialogues that I had to perform during the shoot. My parents consciously picked roles that retained my innocence. But these days, I’m surprised at the kind of dialogues that child actors are made to speak.”

After her stint in Bigg Boss, Harathi is now in talks for a couple of films; an official announcement is expected soon.

Image courtesy: South Indian Cinema (Kalyani), Filmy Today (Deepa Venkat), Hotstar (Harathi)

*****

Sujoy Ghosh Steps Down As Jury Chief Of IFFI; ‘We Have Regressed As A Nation,’ Says Deepika Over Padmavati Row & More

BY Janani Karthik On

Nagarjuna on Annapurna Studios fire: ‘It is an emotional blow’

A massive fire broke out at Annapurna Studios in Banjara Hills in Hyderabad on Monday evening, however, no casualties were reported. The studios belong to the Akkineni family. Nagarjuna told The Quint that more than a financial loss, it is an emotional blow. “The set that got gutted was where my father shot his last film with me and the family. It was a historical set, in more ways than one. Not only does it carry the legacy of my family, but it was set for an elaborate costume-historical drama, and housed rare artifacts and decoration pieces, all gone now. But never mind,” Nagarjuna said. He added that they are relieved that no one was hurt in the incident. 

Nothing can stop Padmavati’s release: Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone To Play Rani Padmini in ‘Padmavati’

Piku Promotional Press Meet on May 2, 2015

Amid mounting protest against the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film Padmavati, Deepika Padukone who plays Rani Padmini said, “It’s appalling, it’s absolutely appalling. What have we gotten ourselves into? And where have we reached as a nation? We have regressed. The only people we are answerable to is the censor board, and I know and I believe that nothing can stop the release of this film. This is not about ‘Padmavati’… We’re fighting a much bigger battle.” Politicians and certain right-wing organisations have accused Bhansali for distorting facts in Padmavati. Protests broke out on the streets of Mumbai and Surat against the film’s release, which is scheduled for December 1.

Sujoy Ghosh steps down  as jury chief of IFFI 

Filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh has resigned as jury chief of the 48th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2017 Indian Panorama section, after two films that were selected by the jury for the festival screening was dropped from the final list by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Two films, Sasidharan’s S Durga and Ravi Jadhav’s Marathi film Nude were rejected by the ministry after the jury submitted their final list in October. S Durga’s director Sasidharan will now move the Kerala court against the rejection of his film. The festival will begin on November 20.

The ministry is yet to release an official statement about the reasons for dropping these two films.

Audition call for the female lead of Varma

While Dhruv Vikram will play the lead role in the remake of Arjun Reddy that will be directed by Bala, the auditions for the female lead has just began. Vikram has posted a video on his Instagram making a casting call for the heroine.

Why Satyajit Ray’s ‘Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne’ Keeps Getting Better With Age

BY Sanjana Chakraborty On

As a child, Satyajit Ray’s Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne terrified me. Despite the story appearing nonsensical and rib-ticklingly funny (the adults laughed mostly), the film presented in black and white was a story not so commonly heard by children growing up in a rather modern world. Used to stories of princes and princesses eloping and finding missing shoes, the world of Goopy and Bagha was a whole different ball game and not for everybody.

But, the film does get better with age. And as I grew older, the little nuances in the film, the subliminal messages carefully laced here and there didn’t make it so nonsensical.

The film is based on a story by Ray’s grandfather Upendra Kishore Raychowdhuri. The story has an unconventional beginning – two underdogs who have a chance meeting in a forest. Goopy is banished after he embarrasses the king of his village with his terrible singing. Bagha cannot play the drums and is exiled for similar reasons. The two outcasts face their first hardship together – a tiger in the forest. They sing and play the drums to scare it off but inadvertently impress the king of ghosts – who has flashlights all over him and a high-pitched voice.

Ray included the “ghost dance” in the film with camera tricks that were considered too novel for that time. The entire dance sequence had used stop motion effect mingled with a watery film reel, with the former giving it a psychedelic look. Special effects were still in its early stages but with Ray creativity knew no bounds.

The eerie background music and the psychedelic dance performed by the ghosts, a rather long sequence, is enthralling enough to keep a child transfixed to the screen. But there’s something unsettling about it, something inexplicably… strange.

Watching it as an adult, the video is nothing short of a technical feat. For a film made in the late 1960s, at a time when special effects, particularly in Indian cinema, was a dream, Ray and his team managed to make a video of a ghost performance using simple equipment and melding instruments to each dance.

The ‘bhooter naach‘ or the ghost dance features different strata of ghosts and the music accompanying them is directly proportional. The dance begins with translucent figures in white, ghost dancers at a royal court perhaps. The accompanied instrument to their dance has a regal ring to it, so does the dance.

This is followed by what sounds like footsteps approaching, of soldiers heading towards a battlefield with their swords and shields in hand. The music is more cautious here, in tow with each step taken by this class of ghosts.

And then ghosts in western wear appear with hats and monocles. They perhaps depict the colonisers who died in battle (or leading battles) and became ghosts of this forest. The music to their appearance has a hint of arrogance in it, much like the way they stand.

The final class of ghosts represent the fat lawmakers and religious noblemen. The ghatam is used as a way of comical depiction of these ghosts running around all high and mighty.

While the video began peacefully, chaos soon seeps in. The fat lawmakers run amok with a book, panic writ large in their steps. The court dancers or rather the middle class men dance in glory, steps faster and more pronounced. The soldier ghosts battle it out, their steps less cautious and more aggressive now. And the ghosts of the colonisers panic, just like the fat lawmakers.

The final bits of the dance showcase all the classes of ghosts in one frame, where the middle class men or the court dancers are right at the top while the lawmakers and the noblemen occupy the lowest position in the frame.

The ghost dance wasn’t just about the funny music or dance and figures, but a satirical take on societies and class division in the country. In the real world, they might be on top but in the ghost world, it’s all reversed. As children, it’s difficult to read between the lines and still be moved. As adults, it’s almost difficult to not notice the message that Ray had included in a quintessential children’s film.

What resonated with the children is the film’s simple yet discernible message: The good triumphing over evil. The underdogs emerging as the real heroes, the village bumpkins becoming worthy of a princess. Of course, the iconic food scenes is on a cinematic par with those depicted in Ratatouille, Chef. Goopy and Bagha thulping on a smorgasbord of dishes never fails to entertain. Years later, the actors had revealed that due to the erratic shoot schedules, what they were eating was not as deliciously or enticing as it looked on-screen.

Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne got two National Awards and was the first of a three-part series. The second one Hirak Rajar Deshe had the same protagonists but the film had a strong political subtext. The third and the last one, Goopy Bagha Phire Elo, was directed by Ray’s son Sandip Ray.

At the time when technological reach was not much, Ray’s Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne was a fantasy flick, a musical and a social commentary that holds relevance among all generations. It makes us wonder why filmmakers are not adventurous when it comes to children’s movies.

Feature Image: IMDB

Fire Breaks Out At Annapurna Studios; Salman Khan, Shashi Tharoor Extend Support To Padmavati & More

BY Silverscreen India Staff On

Tollywood’s Annapurna Studios Catches Fire

A massive fire broke out at Hyderabad’s Annapurna Studios in Banjara Hills on Monday evening. According to PTI News report, a film set caught fire around 6:15 PM, following which four fire tenders arrived at the spot. “Though flames were very high, the blaze was completely extinguished within two hours,” Hyderabad assistant district fire officer Y Prabhakar Reddy said.

No causalities were reported, and a short circuit is expected to be the reason for the fire.

Here are the visuals:

Padmavati Row: Salman Khan Extends Support; Shashi Tharoor Emphasises On The Education Of Rajasthani Women

Padmavati

With the release date nearing, the debate around Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati grows and thrives. Amidst all the protests in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Mumbai, where protesters demand banning the film, actor Salman Khan has come out in the film’s defence talking about how one shouldn’t judge a movie without watching it first.

Speaking to Network 18, the actor said: “The CBFC is the highest board there is and if the board says it shouldn’t release, and then see where it goes. And Sanjay makes great movies, and you can see there is no vulgarity or disgust. Going by his track record, you know that he would never hurt the sentiments of a community.”

On a similar note, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that the Padmavati controversy is an opportunity to focus on the conditions of Rajasthani women today and not just of queens six centuries ago. Taking to Twitter, he wrote:

Lord Of The Rings TV Series To Have A Multi-Season Production With Amazon

Credits: Irish Examiner

The Lord of The Rings will soon be made into a TV series spearheaded by Amazon. The series will have a multi-season production, and will explore new storylines preceding The Fellowship of the Ring. 

Variety reports that the deal also includes a potential additional spin-off series and will be produced by Amazon Studios in cooperation with the Tolkien Estate and Trust, HarperCollins and New Line Cinema, a division of Warner Bros. Entertainment.

As dictated by Amazon’s CEO Jeff Bezos, the series will pursue a new programming mandate, looking for a Game of Thrones-esque genre programming with broad international appeal.

 

Feature Image: DECCAN CHRONICLE PHOTO[ANDHRA PRADESH]

Katrina Kaif Likely To Work With Shahid Kapoor; Pa Ranjith Criticised For ‘Aramm’ Tweet

BY Silverscreen India Staff On

A quick look at everything making news in the world of cinema today!

Sign on

GV Prakash Kumar has signed a new film with Adhik Ravichander.

Mehreen Pirzada’s portions have been removed from Nenjil Thunivirundhal.

Jayasudha has been cast in Mani Ratnam’s next.

Mehreen Pirzada will romance Gopichand for a new Telugu film.

Newsworthy

Harshvardhan Kapoor’s next will release in May 2018.

Katrina Kaif is in talks to play the female lead in Shahid Kapoor’s next.

Sushant Singh Rajput’s next with Bhumi Pednekar is expected to go on the floors soon.

Spotlight

Pa Ranjith has been trolled online for failing to appreciate Gopi Nainar in his congratulatory tweet about Aramm. Social media users pointed out that Pa Ranjith’s Madras was at one point said to be a rip off of Gopi’s Karuppar Nagaram.

The director has also been criticised for addressing heroine Nayanthara as ‘Thozhar’.

Let them eat cake!

Actors Mamta Mohandas, Parthiepan, Bharathan will all turn a year older today!

Children’s Day Pick: Aravindan’s 1979 Malayalam Film ‘Kummatty ‘

BY Aswathy Gopalakrishnan On

In the oeuvre of master filmmaker Aravindan, Kummatty (1979) is an unlikely film. It belongs to children, and to those who have an eye to see things the way only children do. It is proudly naive and dares to possess a good heart. It is imaginative, deep and complex in its own right. To Aravindan, who has directed fine dramas like Vasthuhara and Chidambaram, Kummatty was a work he held close to heart. The film won a National Award for Best Children’s Film in 1979.

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The eponymous Kummatty is a part of Kerala’s rich devotional folklore: A flamboyant mythical figure who wanders the villages during the season of Onam, the harvest festival. In several parts in northern Kerala, Kummatty dancers dress up in colourful masks and attires, and go from one household to another, collecting gifts and showering blessings.

In Aravindan’s film, it (played by veteran performance artiste Ramunni) is an intrinsic part of nature; a human form that appears out of the hills, forests and paddy fields, and dissolves into the same. To quote Aravindan, “Kummatty arrives like the seasons. He represents spring. He comes during spring, when the rain is over and the plants are green and in bloom.” This bogeyman has a kind and calm demeanor. He adores children with whom he sings and dances. Although Kummatty was founded on myths and folklore, Aravindan had shot the film like a piece of non-fiction. He treated magic and superstition like a matter of fact.

The film opens to a visual of serene landscape at dawn, and a folk song in a rustic voice that ushers the audience into it. You don’t see the singer; it flows on to the screen from an invisible source. It is followed by the sound of birds chirping and cows mooing. This state of harmonious co-existence of man and nature is the core of Kummatty. The camera follows the kids in the village during their journey to and from the local government school, and the playground where they celebrate their freedom from parental supervision and school every evening. There is an elderly woman in the village whom the kids love to tease a lot. She murmurs to herself that she would ask Kummatty, the bogeyman to teach the reckless kids a lesson. Amused, the kids dance in unison and sing, ‘Muthassi Kadhayile Kummatti’, and with that day’s sunset, a wayfarer arrives in the village, ringing bells and singing aloud an unfamiliar song. Like a pied piper, he draws the kids, who surround him and watch him awestruck.

The world that Aravindan tries to open up for the children is vast. At one instance, you see the kids curiously listening to their teacher who is explaining the wonders of science; of atoms and many million micro organisms that inhabit the earth. The following scene has the kids running towards the Kummatty who is dancing on one end of their school playground. You hear the kids telling each other that the man is a wizard who can fly high like an eagle and swim like a fish. These moments can warm your heart. You know that those kids would grow up soon, and master the lessons of adulthood where magic and Kummatty don’t exist.

In Kummatty, children aren’t pitted against the adults. Their little gleeful world doesn’t come under attack from outside forces. It is one of those rare films that look deeper into the psyche of children – how they perceive human virtues, nature and life.

The film features several songs, composed and rendered raw, without a tint of polish. The dance of Kummatty and kids aren’t choreographed. They dance away happily, and the camera watches them from a distance, careful not to intrude. The most important segment in the film, where the Kummatty playfully turns the kids into animals, happens with ‘Odiyodikkali Aanandakkuttikalo’ in the background. Singing aloud, Kummatty swirls his wand, casts a spell, and the children turn into a dog, deer, peacock, goat and donkey. Unfortunately, one of the kids, Chintan, who becomes a dog, gets chased away from the group by another dog. Meanwhile, Kummatty breaks the spell and restores the rest of the children to their original form, and leaves the village.

The nearest cinematic figure to Kummatty might be Totoro, the friendly giant who lives in the Japanese woods. My Neighbour Totoro, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, the founder of Studio Ghibli, was about two little sisters in a picturesque Japanese village befriending a friendly giant that lives in the forest. Both the films bear in its core, a deep compassion for the world and a childlike curiosity. No wonder Kummatty was well received when it was screened in Japan, at South Asian Film festival. One of the most renowned film critics in Japan, Tadao Sato, who was the president of the Japanese Institute of the Moving Image, was famously in awe of the beauty of Kummatty. 

One of the best parts of Kummatty is the modestly worded and melodious ‘Karukara Kaarmukil’, written by Kavalam,that creates a beautiful imagery of a rainy evening.

Karu Kara Karmukil Kombananappuratheri Ezhunnallum Moorthe

[The Lord Who Comes Riding On A Black Majestic Elephant]

This line is followed by a rhythmic Dhimi Dhimi Thatham Thei Thei – the pitter patter sound of the rain – and a plea to the lord of monsoon to bless the Earth with a torrential downpour. In the film, you hear this song sung by Kummatty, and later, by the kids, as a chorus. In early 2000s, the popular Avial band gave a makeover to ‘Karu Kara’, and its fame grew beyond the state. Yet, Avial couldn’t replicate the delicate charm that Kummatty, in Kavalam’s voice, had lent the song.

*****

Adhik Ravichander’s Next With GV Prakash Will Be A 3D Film

BY Janani Karthik On

Director Adhik Ravichander’s next with GV Prakash will be a 3D film. The team has already completed a schedule for the film in Ooty.

A source told Silverscreen, “So far, only Shankar’s 2.0 is currently being filmed in a straight 3D camera. Now, Adhik will shoot his film with 3D. The team will make an official announcement about the title soon.”

Abhinandan will handle the camera work for the film. This is the second time Adhik and GV Prakash are working together after Trisha Illana Nayanthara. The project is bankrolled by Vision Eye Media. 

Amala Paul Lauds Aramm; Shahid Kapoor Urges People To Watch Padmavati Before Opposing & News

BY Janani Karthik On

Amala Paul lauds Aramm

Nayanthara’s film Aramm has been garnering response from all quarters. Amala Paul had a heartfelt message for the Aramm team and her fellow actor Nayanthara. She lauded the team’s effort in successfully making a content driven film with a female lead.


See the film first before making preconceived notions: Shahid Kapoor

While protest broke on the streets of Mumbai, Surat, Noida and many parts of the country against the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati, Shahid Kapoor, who plays Maharawal Ratan Singh in the film, has requested  the audience to see the film first before opposing its release. “Give the film a chance and don’t form preconceived notions. We will respect whatever people think of the film but you should see it first,” the actor told PTI. The film is scheduled to release on December 1.

#Metoo march storms Hollywood

‘Take Back the Workplace’ March took place on Hollywood Boulevard with marchers protesting against workplace harassment in the entertainment industry. Hundreds joined the march which was organised by comedian Tess Rafferty with the help of the Feminist Majority Foundation, Civican and We for She.

The event was combined with #MeToo Survivors March that was headed by Tarana Burke. The hashtag has been used by people on social media to share their personal experiences of sexual harassment.

While marching their way to the CNN Building on Sunset Boulevard, they chanted, “Your junk is not my job” and, simply, “Harvey Weinstein sucks.”

Lauren Sivan, accuser of Harvey Weinstein, who was present there at the march said, “You will no longer keep us quiet or label us ‘gold diggers’ or ‘psychos.’ We want our daughters and sons to be able to go to a workplace and never have to take a meeting with a dude in a bathrobe.”

Anil Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit team up for Total Dhamaal

Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit will team up after two decades for Total Dhamaal that will be directed by Indra Kumar. The film will go on floors next year.

Anil and Madhuri have always been a great pair to work with and getting them together again is a dream. It will be a comedy film,” said the director.

Madhuri Dixit and Anil Kapoor were last seen together in Pukar in 2000. They had together acted in many films including the blockbuster Beta.

Total Dhamaal will also have Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi and Javed Jafferi.

Niharika Konidela’s Look In Oru Nalla Naal Paathu Solren

BY Janani Karthik On

While the first look of Oru Nalla Naal Paathu Solren, starring Vijay Sethupathi  and Gautham Karthik, was out a month back, Silverscreen got access to an image of lead actress Niharika Konidela. The film is being directed by Arumuga Kumar.

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Niharika Konidela, a Tollywood actress and Chiranjeevi’s niece, is making her Tamil debut with this adventure comedy.  “She will be seen in this traditional attire in the second half of the film. While Vijay Sethupathi plays a Telugu tribal leader, she plays a Tamil girl,” said a source. 

This particular still was shot in Talakona forest. The shooting of the film is complete and the team is currently working on the post-production details. The film also has Gayathrie.

One of the first look stills of the film featuring Vijay Sethupathi:

IMG_7752

Aramm Helped Me Move On From Kaththi Controversy, Says Director Gopi Nainar

BY Janani Karthik On

Socio-political drama Aramm, starring Nayanthara, has got a tremendous response on the opening weekend. Aramm is director Gopi Nainar’s debut film. Though not new to Tamil cinema, he was embroiled in a plagiarism controversy with director AR Murugadoss a few years ago.

When he claimed the story of Kaththi that had Vijay in the lead and directed by Murugadoss, as his own in 2014, very few believed him. Hurt, he spent the next three years working on the story of Aramm. “The controversy over Kaththi gave me this film. I was hurt, but I wanted to move on and worked on the script of Aramm. I don’t want to stoke the controversy again,” he said. 

While the film is leading the box office collection, Nainar is grateful to Nayanthara who believed in the script. “When she heard the script, I thought she was going to produce the film not act in it. I was surprised when she wanted to do the lead role. When I wrote the script, I didn’t have a specific gender in mind for the collector. We are used to watching heroes in a powerful role, I was happy when a woman agreed to do the role of the collector,” he said. 

Nainar also confirmed the reports of sequel to Aramm but it may not be his next film. “I have started writing the script of Aramm 2 which will also have Nayanthara in the lead role. But not sure whether it is going to be my next film. I have a script based on boxing and I may start that first.”  

Documentary ‘Kho Ki Pa Lu’ Explores The Relationship Between Music And Labour

BY Sanjana Chakraborty On

Amidst the sounds of squelching and splish-splosh of the wet terrace fields in Phek village, Nagaland, there’s a song in the air with a persistent lilt. A group of women, while working in the rice fields, sing to their lovers –

“If not for you, I have no other true love
When we work together the sun sets early
If not for you, I have no love…”

On Saturday, Cinema Rendezvous held the screening of the documentary Kho Ki Pa Lu (Up, Down and Sideways), directed by Anushka Meenakshi and Iswa Srikumar. The documentary trails the cultivators, men and women, who sing while working on their fields.

‘Kho Ki Pa Lu’ is a phrase used to describe polyphony in Chokri language of Nagaland; the notes in the melody go up, down and sideways. The movement in the sound is organic, sometimes deliberate, and sometimes keeping up with the pace of work. The documentary is a musical portrait of a community of rice farmers in the village of Phek in Nagaland.

The 86-minute documentary is also conversational; the camera trails the rains, the lightning, the buzz of bees and dragonflies, and the isolated rain drop on a leaf. And when not following nature, the camera follows people, their work, and their stories.

During peak cultivating season, when everyone works alongside friends and family in the fields, it’s tradition to invite select people to your ‘mule’ and help in cultivation. While they work, they sing and reminisce.

In the documentary, people talk about what they sing. A young man working with his friends talks about missing his wife while working. “I long for her to come and watch me work,” he says, while his friends tease him of constantly thinking about her. Another young man talks of channeling his inner feelings while in the field. When feeling angry, he channels it all to his work.

The women share stories of feeling lonely, of being away from their family and friends. Some even talk about the way they taught a boy a lesson for groping them all the time. The older men and women speak of the war and how their village was razed. Their poignant stories reflect the strained relationship between Nagaland and the Indian army. The silence that accompanies the shot displaying the presence of the Indian army in Phekt is enough reason to know that despite sixty years later, all is not well between them.

The documentary, filmed over a period of six years, has been crowdfunded, and is a part of the Uramili Project.

Watch the trailer here:

Fukrey Returns Trailer Out: Bholi Punjaban & Her Gang Of Boys Are Back To Wreak Havoc

BY Silverscreen India Staff On

Zafar (Ali Fazal), Choocha (Varun Sharma), Hunny (Pulkit Samrat), and Lali (Manjot Singh) are back, the street smart boys who wreaked havoc in 2013’s coming-of-age film Fukrey. The sequel also marks the return of the dreaded gangster from the first film, Bholi Punjaban played by Richa Chadda.

Having caught by the police in the last film, Bholi returns and wants to exact the past with the four friends. Amidst all this, there’s a tiger in a cave, while they play bookies, and talk of Deja Chu (Choocha’s version of Deja Vu).

Toilet jokes aside and the search for a cave with treasure perhaps, the film’s trailer also features Pankaj Tripathi as part of the cast.

Directed by Mrighdeep Singh Lamba, and produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, Fukrey Returns is slated for a December 15 release.

Watch the trailer here:

Aruvi Is Based On The Journey Of A Girl Against A Socio-Political Backdrop, Says Director Arun Prabhu

BY Janani Karthik On

The publicity posters, songs and teaser of Aruvi have piqued a lot of interest ever since they were out. Debutant director Arun Prabhu, a former assistant to KS Ravikumar, tells Silverscreen what to expect from his film.

“The film’s female lead is the hero. It is the journey of a girl, Aruvi, against a socio-political background.”

Aditi Balan has essayed the role of Aruvi. She was finalised after auditioning of hundreds of girls. “Aditi had no connection with films until she signed on Aruvi. She is a lawyer and a professional football player. She fit the role perfectly.”

Six songs from the film, which is bankrolled by SR Prabhu, have been released and the director says the film has a few more songs that are not in the album. Musicians Bindhu Malini and Vedanth Bharadwaj are also making their film debut. “They travel a lot and sing folk songs. I liked their independent music album, ‘Suno Bhai’. That’s how they came on board for this film as we were looking for fresh talent.”

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Publicity posters of Aruvi are impressive especially the one that features a goddess with a gun has raised many eyebrows. Arun says, “A poster sets the mood of the film, there is nothing more to it. Also, posters are not only to publicise a film, the audience should be able to relate to the film’s poster even after its release.”

Helen Mirren Wants To Play Donald Trump; Sayyeshaa’s Next Goes On Floors

BY Vandhana On

A quick look at everything making news in the world of cinema today!

Sign On

Shriya Saran has begun filming her role in Naragasooran.

Karthi, Sayyeshaa will shoot their upcoming film with Pandiraj in Tenkasi.

Heard on the street

Ameer Sultan plays a don from the eighties in Vetrimaaran’s Vada Chennai.

Actor Helen Mirren has expressed interest in playing Donald Trump on-screen.

Spotlight

Akshaye Khanna says that he doesn’t believe in choosing roles just to sustain his film career. He told The Indian Express:

“Whenever any person in the creative field does a film, they think it is going to be of good quality or this is something people will like. The intention is always positive. As a creative person, you never embark on something thinking it will be substandard… I did not want to compromise on the quality of the roles – so whether it was Dishoom or Mom or Ittefaq the quality of my role was never compromised.”

Let them eat cake!

Actors Juhi Chawla, Harman Baweja, singer P Susheela will all turn a year older today!

Prakash Raj Lashes Out At Media; Gal Gadot Refuses Wonder Woman 2 Until Brett Ratner Is Fired & More

BY Silverscreen India Staff On

Prakash Raj Lashes Out At Media For ‘Distorting Statements’

Prakash Raj, who attended a press conference on Sunday hosted by the Press Club of Bengaluru, accused the media for distorting his statements on actors joining politics. It was reported by ANI that the actor was not too thrilled about actors joining politics.

“I’m not joining any political party. I don’t like actors joining politics because they are actors and have fans. They should always stay aware about their responsibility towards them. Film actors becoming leaders is a disaster for my country,” he was quoted by the news agency.

However, the actor clarified last evening that his correct statements were distorted. Taking to Twitter, he issued the original statement and further wrote an open letter to the Press Club.

Gal Gadot Refuses To Do Wonder Woman 2 Until Producer Brett Ratner Is Fired

Credits: Den Of Geek

Actress Gal Gadot has refused to be on board the sequel of Wonder Woman until producer Brett Ratner, who has been accused of sexual misconduct, is fired. According to Page Six, Gadot said that she refused unless Warner Brothers buys Brett out (of his financing deal) and gets rid of him. Ratner had helped in producing the first Wonder Woman movie as part of a co-financing deal with Warner Brothers through his production company RatPac-Dune Entertainment.

A source shared that Gadot “knows that Warner Brothers has to side with her on this issue as it develops” because the studio “can’t have a movie rooted in women’s empowerment being part-financed by a man accused of sexual misconduct against women.”

Last week, Warner Brothers had announced that they were not associating themselves with Ratner in the wake of several sexual harassment allegations against him. In late October 2017, a former talent agent employee accused Ratner of rape. Early this month, actresses Ellen Page, Olivia Munn and Natasha Henstridge, along with four other women, accused Ratner of several more incidences of sexual misconduct and harassment, including following an actress into a bathroom without invitation and masturbating as another entered his trailer to deliver food.

Haryana Ministers Urge Smriti Irani To Ban Padmavati

Padmavati

Protests against Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s epic drama Padmavati continues to grow, with Haryana ministers now imploring the Information and Broadcast Ministry to ban the film. According to The Times of India, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij, in his letter, said that the state government would approach the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) seeking an immediate ban on the release and screening of the film.

Industries & Commerce and Environment minister Vipul Goel also wrote to Irani and Bhansali, stating that “distorted facts to glorify Alauddin Khilji” would be met with no tolerance. “The movie has tried to tarnish the image of Rani Padmimi, who is a role model for women. How can they glorify a character like Khilji,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, at Chittorgarh Fort, the place where Khilji is said to have defeated Rana Ratan Singh, might be subjected to a total shutdown this week. The Times of India report adds that a Rajput body plans to protest against the depiction of Rani Padmini in the film by calling for a shutdown. The shutdown has been supported by various other bodies including the Rajput Karni Sena, whose members had allegedly attacked the film crew early this year.

As of Sunday, protests broke out in Mumbai and Gujarat for the same reasons. They demanded that the film shouldn’t be released. The Mumbai Police have so far detained 15 members of the Akhand Rajputana Seva Sangh while they were protesting.

Contrary to what the protesters are opposing, historian Irfan Habib has said Rani Padmini is not historical but an imaginary character and her existence has always been debatable. Speaking to The Hindustan Times, the professor emeritus in Aligarh Muslim University clarified that the poet who wrote Padmavat, Malik Mohammad Jayasi, mentioned that the princess of Singhaldeep (presently Sri Lanka) Padmavati was married to Raja Ratan Singh of Mewar.

“Padmavat is a long poetry collection and is an integral part of our literature. Official historian of Mewar darbar Shayamal Das has described Padmavati but in some other context,” he said.

Box Office Roundup: Golmaal Again Reaches Rs 200 Crore-Club, New Releases Show A Slow Start

BY Silverscreen India Staff On

Unlike the last few weeks, this week marked far too many releases to choose from and of varying genres. There was something for everybody – a thriller, a comedy, a romantic-comedy, melodrama, and a political drama with Nayanthara emerging as quite the superstar of South Indian cinema.

Here’s a look at the box office performance:

Qarib Qarib Singlle (Hindi)

Tanuja Chandra’s fun film on two unlikely characters falling in love has been getting terrific reviews from most places. The film’s opening day generated Rs 1.75 crores in India. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh reports that there was significant growth in the weekend owing to positive reviews and word-of-mouth.

The film stars Malayalam actress Parvathy and Irrfan Khan as two thirty-somethings who fall in love, having met via  a dating app.

Read: Silverscreen’s Review Of Qarib Qarib Singlle

Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana (Hindi)

Ratnaa Sinha’s film on women empowerment, career-choices and love was mostly subjected to mixed responses. Some liked it, some didn’t, overall, the film garnered a lukewarm response. The film’s box-office performance witnessed Rs 1.62 crores all over India on its opening day.

On the second day, the romantic-comedy-drama earned Rs 2.58 crore, making the total collection Rs 4.22 crore. It is expected to earn Rs 6 crore by the first weekend. The film has opened amidst competitions from Tanuja Chandra’s Qarib Qarib Singlle.

Starring Rajkummar Rao, Kriti Kharbanda, and others, the film is about how a woman chooses to walk out of her wedding for her career, which later jeopardises her relationship.

Read: Silverscreen’s Review Of Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana

Aramm (Tamil)

Aramm, a political drama, has Nayanthara playing the righteous collector in this film that revolves around water crisis in a remote village. Nayanthara, as the collector, tries to fight for the people, and against a corrupt government, which incidentally, she is a part of.

According to Box Office India, Gopi Nainar’s film has earned a total of Rs 1.01 crore in Chennai alone. The film opened to Rs 29 lakhs in the city.

The film is currently ranked number 1 at the box office in Chennai, followed by Milind Rau’s Aval.

Read: Silverscreen’s Review Of Aramm

Ippadai Vellum (Tamil)

Gaurav Narayanan’s Ippadai Vellum, starring Udhayanidhi Stalin and Manjima Mohan have romance, action, comedy all rolled into one, along with a voiceover by Vijay Sethupathi. The film also stars Raadhika, Soori, and Daniel Balaji, with music by D Imman. Lyca Productions, who is also presenting Rajinikanth’s 2.0, bankrolls this action-comedy.

While the official numbers aren’t out yet, the film has been ranked number four at the Tamil Nadu box office. The film has mostly been subjected to mixed reviews with lesser occupancy compared to its other film counterparts.

Read: Silverscreen’s Review Of Ippadai Vellum

Nenjil Thunivirunthal (Tamil)

Starring Sundeep Kishan in the lead, the film also stars Harish Uthaman and Mehreen Pirzada. Said to be a social drama, the film marks Suseenthiran’s 10th as a director. D Imman is the music composer while Kasi Viswanathan takes care of the editing.

The film currently ranks number five at the Tamil Nadu box office. The official numbers are not out yet.

Read: Silverscreen’s Review Of Nenjil Thunivirunthal

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Golmaal Again, the fourth installment of the Golmaal series by Rohit Shetty, entered the Rs 200 crore club on Sunday. The film has also $7 million overseas, having earned around Rs 46.09 crores in total.

2.0’s Release Likely To Get Postponed To April Next Year

BY Janani Karthik On

The release of Shankar’s magnum opus 2.0 is likely to get postponed to April. Reports suggest that there continues to be a lot of work left in the post-production part of the film.

The teaser, which was scheduled to release this month, and the trailer launch in December are also likely to get cancelled. However, Raju Mahalingam, creative head of Lyca productions, who is bankrolling the film, tells Silverscreen: “We cannot comment now. We will come up with an official clarification about the release date soon.”

Considering the film involves a lot of CGI works, it is likely to have affected the post-production work.

The speculations about the postponement of the release of 2.0 started when Akshay Kumar, who is part of the film, confirmed the release of his next film, Padman for Republic Day weekend. Incidentally, 2.0 was also scheduled to hit the screens at the same time. While 2.0‘s team said that there has been no change in the release date, Akshay later clarified that if Shankar’s film were to release in January, then he would change Padman‘s release date.

STR Says He’s Neither Against Nor For Demonetisation, Protests Break Out In Mumbai & Gujarat Against Padmavati, Prakash Raj Does Not Like Film Stars Joining Politics, And Other News

BY Janani Karthik On

STR On Demonestisation Anthem: I’m Not Against Or For It

The ‘Demonetisation Anthem’ sung by Silambarasan (STR) for Tharom Thookrom has created quite a stir, with police stationed at the actor’s residence on Saturday. The song features visuals of people waiting in long queues, with the catchphrase ‘no cash’, taking a dig at demonetisation, GST, Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth. “I had just rendered my voice and it is not even my movie. It is a fun song, and is a part of the film. Police had provided security as a precaution. I am not against, or for anything,” the actor told The Hindu.

Anushka Shetty Rejects Karan Johar’s Offer In Bollywood

Anushka Shetty at Kanika Dhillon's The Dance of Durga Book Launch

Anushka Shetty at Kanika Dhillon’s The Dance of Durga Book Launch

Anushka Shetty has reportedly rejected a Hindi film that was offered to her by Bollywood director Karan Johar. Reports sugges that the actress rejected the offer since she was not happy with the role. Ever since Baahubali, several filmmakers in Bollywood have been trying to rope in the actress for their projects. She had earlier rejected a role in Imtiaz Ali’s Tamaasha. Currently, she is filming the thriller Bhaagamathie, whose first-look came out on her birthday, November 7.

I Don’t Like Film Stars Joining Politics: Prakash Raj

While addressing a press conference today in Bengaluru, actor Prakash Raj made it clear that he isn’t too keen on having film stars as politicians. “I’m not joining any political party. I don’t like actors coming into politics as they have their fan followers and they should be aware of the responsibilities towards their fans. Film stars coming to politics is a disaster to my country.”

On the row over national anthem being played at cinemas, Prakash Raj said: “I don’t think someone should stand in cinema hall and show his or her patriotism.”

Protests In Mumbai & Gujarat Against Padmavati

Protests broke out in Mumbai and Gujarat, with the protesters vehemently against the depiction of Rani Padmavati in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati. They demanded that the film shouldn’t be released. 

The Mumbai Police have so far detained 15 members of the Akhand Rajputana Seva Sangh while they were protesting.

In Gujarat, the Rajput Community, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajarang Dal and Karni Sena held a joint protest against the film.

Currently, the makers have agreed to show the film to anyone doubting its content, but only after approval from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

Alibaba founder Jack Ma  releases the trailer of his film

Credits: CNNMoney

Alibaba’s founder Jack Ma unveiled the trailer of his debut film, Gong Shou Dao at the company’s Global Shopping Festival on November 10. The film,which is about the martial art form, Tai Chi, has the founder of Alibaba as a Tai Chi master.

Jack Ma unveiled the trailer of the film, which is directed by Wen Zhang,  along with Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman. 

The film has been produced by celebrated Chinese film actor and martial artist, Jet Li, and is directed by the Chinese actor Wen Zhang.