Elizabeth Olsen, the Hollywood actor best known as the Marvel superhero Scarlet Witch, will feature in HBO Max’s limited series Love and Death, the streaming giant announced on Tuesday. The murder mystery, based on a true story, will be executive produced by actor Nicole Kidman.
The series will be written by Emmy Award winner David E Kelley. Kelley will also executive produce the series along with Kidman.
Olsen will be playing the role of a Texas housewife Candy Montgomery, who murders her friend, Betty Gore, with an axe. It is inspired by the book Evidence of Love: A True Story of Passion and Death in the Suburbs and a collection of articles from the Texas Monthly (Love & Death In Silicon Prairie, Part I & II).
It will be directed by Lesli Linka Glatter as per a press release, who has to her credit shows like the Emmy winning series Mad Men, The Newsroom, Pretty Little Liars and Gilmore Girls.
“This is a gripping story about the frustrations and desires of two women in a small town that culminates in a terrible act of violence,” Sarah Aubrey, head of original content for HBO Max, said in a statement, adding they were “incredibly fortunate to have Elizabeth at the centre of our story to bring out all the layers of Candy that make this story so unforgettable.”
Other executive producers include director Glatter, co-founder of Blossom Films Per Saari along with Kidman, Scott Brown and Megan Creydt through Texas Monthly, Matthew Tinker, Michael Klick and Helen Verno.
Olsen’s Wanda Vision that began streaming in January, is the first ever Marvel superhero series available on Disney+ Hotstar. The OTT platfrom’s paid subscriber base witnessed a spike after Disney and Marvel announced a slate of spin-off series on Marvel superheroes. She will be seen alongside Benedict Cumberbatch aka Doctor Strange in the 2022 Marvel film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Cinema Bandi, the upcoming Telugu film, was born out of an idea that debutant director Praveen Kandregula pitched to well-known director-producer duo Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK at the Film Bazaar event in Goa in 2018, the director told Silverscreen India.
Film Bazaar is the largest South Asian film market curated by the National Film Development Corporation. It provides a platform for creative and financial collaboration between the South Asian and International film communities.
“After we pitched the idea, Raj and DK asked us to make a short film. We made a 40-minute-long short film and showed it to them. They thoroughly enjoyed it and agreed to produce it as a feature film,” Praveen told Silverscreen India.
Cinema Bandi is an independent film produced by Raj and DK under the banner D2r Indie. The film will release on Netflix on May 14. Raj and DK are best known for creating and directing The Family Man, Stree, Go Goa Gone, Shor In The City and 99.
Presenting the trailer of CINEMA BANDI — an independent film made under #D2Rindie. A sweet little film — about making a film — with loads of humour and a huge heart!https://t.co/NWPL1Az7Fv
According to Netflix, the film’s plot reads, “When a shared-auto driver finds an expensive camera in the back seat of his rickshaw, he comes up with a ridiculously ambitious plan to gather the village and make a film by themselves — a ticket to get their drought-hit village out of its dreary conditions. Of course, no one knows anything remotely about making a film. But they have vast experience in watching films, their wits, and various ways of jugaad. How hard can it be!? Thus begins a hilarious journey of highs and lows as they make their innocent, amateur film.”
Cinema Bandi is set in the backdrop of a small hamlet called Gollapalli in Mulbagal village bordering Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
“We shot this film in 30 days between May and June in 2019. The film has some theatre artists and some non actors who we picked up from the village after multiple auditions. We also conducted acting workshops for the artists ahead of shooting,” Praveen said.
The director said that since the film revolves around a village and its people, the main aim was to retain the originality and capture their natural emotions.
“We chose to shoot this film in a minimalistic way without using drone, trolly, crane, track or any of the big equipment to make the actors comfortable on set. We had a small crew with 15-20 people and opted for sync sound for recording,” Praveen said, adding that the same artists who performed in the short film were part of the feature film.
Praveen said that the idea for the film was derived from his personal life.“When I was in class VII, my father gifted me a camera. Holding it for the first time incited curiosity in me and my love for filmmaking grew from there. As an amateur, I have shot many videos in my childhood and I have always wanted to create something with the camera. So this film has many such instances which are inspired from my life experiences and that’s why the tagline says ‘Everyone is a filmmaker at heart’,” he said.
Though the makers had planned a theatrical release for the film, the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic compelled them to opt for a direct-to-OTT release.
Praveen said that Cinema Bandi would connect with the audience as cinema has been an influential part of everyone’s life and that most people would have wanted to make a film at some point in life.
“Though the film’s trailer is packed with humour we have also delved into other emotions and I believe the film releasing on OTT will have a wider reach,” Praveen said.
Praveen, who has worked on several short films and documentaries, has been working on multiple scripts during the lockdown with his co-writer Vasanth Maringanti who has written Cinema Bandi. Along with Praveen and Vasanth, Krishna Prathyusha has written the film’s screenplay. The film’s technical crew includes Apporva Shalgram and Sagar YVV as the cinematographers, Satyavolu Sirish as the music composer and Kakarla Dharmendra and Girijala Raviteja as the editors.
Jeethu Joseph, the director of Hit Malayalam films Drishyamand its recently-released sequel Drishyam 2, will not direct the Hindi remake of Drishyam 2.
Talking to Silverscreen India, Jeethu said that he had planned to direct the remake but he won’t be going ahead with it as he had several other projects in the pipeline.
“I am happy that the films have received so much love and been remade in so many languages but unfortunately I will not direct the Hindi remake of Drishyam 2. I do not know who will be directing it but I wish them all the best,” he said.
On Tuesday, producers Kumar Mangat Pathak and Abhishek Pathak’s Panorama Studios International announced that their production house had acquired the Hindi remake rights of the Mohanlal-starrer Malayalam thriller. The production house took to Twitter to announce the news.
The producers are yet to announce the cast and crew, including the director.
In 2015, Drishyam, was remade in Hindi starring Ajay Devgn, Tabu, and Shriya Saran in the lead. The film was helmed by late Nishikant Kamat.
In February, it was announced that Drishyam 2 will be remade under Jeethu’s direction in Telugu and will star Venkatesh and Meena. Both of them had starred in Drushyam (2014), the Telugu remake of Drishyam.
Drishyam 2 will also be remade in Tamil under the production of Rajkumar Sethupathi and Sri Priya of Rajkumar Theatres, Antony Perumbavoor. Kamal Haasan and Gauthami were the lead actors of Papanasam (2015), the Tamil remake of Drishyam.
The film was also remade in Kannada as Drishya (starring Ravichandran and Navya Nair), and in Sinhala as Dharmayuddhaya (starring Jackson Anthony and Dilhani Ekanayake). The film was remade in Chinese and was called Sheep Without a Shepherd, becoming one of the first Indian films to be remade in China.
Drishyam 2, in which Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba Hassan, and Esther Anil reprised their roles, released on Amazon Prime Video on February 19. Drishyam centered around Georgekutty (Mohanlal), a common man who uses his wits to protect his family from a murder charge. In Drishyam 2, the story picks up after six years.
Tamil actors Vishal and Priya Bhavani Shankar will be collaborating for an upcoming Tamil action film which will be directed by filmmaker Karthik Thangavel, a source close to the film unit confirmed to Silverscreen India on Tuesday.
An official announcement regarding the film is awaited.
The film, which is yet to be titled, will be written by Karthik. This will be his second film after the 2018 Tamil action thriller film Adanga Maru, starring Jayam Ravi and Raashi Khanna in the lead.
Speaking to Silverscreen India, the source said, “Though the film’s team is still working on the script and other decisions regarding the film is in talks, the collaboration is happening.”
Asked about the film’s genre, the source said, “One cannot think of anything else but action genre for Vishal. However, this film will be having realistic and core action. It will be a hard-hitting action film in his career.”
The source said the makers were currently working on the pre-production of the film. “There are restrictions regarding the number of people that can shoot the film, but such restrictions are impossible to follow. We are waiting for the lockdown to get over to start with the shooting. We have planned to start shooting in August,” the source added.
While the script of the film is still being written, the makers are yet to decide the cast and technical crew members. “We are planning to decide all that by May end or June, but there will be known faces and it will be a big-budget film,” the source said.
The film will be produced by Kathiresan, who has previously produced hit Tamil films like Polladhavan(2007), Aadukalam (2011), and Jigarthanda (2014).
Vishal, who was last seen in the action thriller film Chakra (2021), will be seen alongside actor Arya in the upcoming film Enemy. He also has his 31st film which is written and directed by Thu Pa Saravanan.
Marvel announced the release dates for its fourth phase of lineup of films on Tuesday. Beginning with Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow, that is postponed to a July 9 release, the list includes other titles slated till 2023.
Most films were announced during Disney’s Investors Day lineup.
The film that will deal with Avenger Natasha Romanoff’s past, will now simultaneously release in theatres and on Disney+ on July 9. It was announced along with Disney’s other films like Cruella, which will release on May 28.
It stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, who must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organisation, as per Marvel’s synopsis. The film also stars Tony Leung as Wenwu, Awkwafina as Shang-Chi’s friend Katy and Michelle Yeoh as Jiang Nan, as well as Fala Chen, Meng’er Zhang, Florian Munteanu and Ronny Chieng.
Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Chloe Zhao, Eternals will introduce a set of superheroes and actors in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It will revolve around ancient beings who have been living on Earth in secret for thousands of years. Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, an unexpected tragedy forces them out of the shadows to reunite against mankind’s most ancient enemy, the Deviants.
The third installment in the Spider-Man: Homecoming series will tie in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. It will feature actors Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Jacob Batalon.
The Benedict Cumberbatch-starrer will be the first Marvel film of 2022 and will feature Elizabeth Olsen or Scarlet Witch, Benedict Wong as Wong, and others.
Photo Credit: Marvel Entertainment
Thor: Love and Thunder (May 6, 2022)
The fourth instalment in Chris Hemsworth’s Thor series will see Natalie Portman reprise her role as Jane Foster.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (July 8, 2022)
To be directed by Black Panther director Ryan Coogler, the sequel will explore the world of Wakanda further. However, it is unclear as to who will replace late actor Chadwick Boseman’s titular role. The shooting will begin from July.
The Marvels (November 8, 2022)
The sequel to Captain Marvel, the film will feature Brie Larson, and Iman Vellani, who will be seen in Ms. Marvel.
For its 2023 lineup, the comics and entertainment company announced the release of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania on February 17, and Guardians of the Galaxy 3 on May 5.
Raghu, the Malayalam actor who rose to fame with his debut film Mela (1980), died in Kochi on Tuesday morning. He was 60.
Born as Puthanveli Sasidharan, the actor was popularly known as Mela Raghu.
According to a report by Manorama News, On April 16, Raghu suffered a stroke and collapsed at his house in Cherthala. He was first rushed to the Cherthala Taluk hospital and later shifted to a private hospital in Kochi. The actor had been unconscious from April 19 and his health condition deteriorated in the following days.
According to a report by Onmanorama, the actor’s relatives said that his family had spent a hefty sum for his treatment. They said that since his family was not financially well off, they faced a hard time paying the hospital bills when Raghu was admitted to the intensive care unit in the private hospital.
Raghu, who suffered from dwarfism, garnered appreciation for essaying the protagonist role of a circus clown named Govindan Kutty in Mela. The film, directed by KG George, also stars Mammootty, Anjali Naidu and Sreenivasan in pivotal roles. Raghu had acted in more than 35 films, including the Tamil film Apoorva Sagodharargal starring Kamal Haasan.
Malayalam actor Ajay Kumar, popularly known as Guinness Parku and who also suffered from dwarfism, took to social media to mourn Mela Raghu’s death. Parku wrote in a post, “The first short lead actor I ever saw. The actor who got lucky to play the lead in his first movie ‘Mela’. Tributes to Mela Raghu Chettan.”
Actors Mammootty, Mohanlal, Sidhique, Prithviraj, Manju Warrier, Aju Varghese also mourned the loss of the veteran actor.
The actor was last seen in Mohanlal-starrer Drishyam 2 which released on Amazon Prime Video in February. In the film, Raghu played the role of a waiter named Raghu at a tea shop that is frequently visited by Georgekutty (Mohanlal) and other characters in the film.
Raghu is survived by his wife Shyamala and daughter Shilpa.
Yash Raj Films announced that they will be vaccinating daily workers of the Hindi film industry.
The production house, in a letter to the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) on May 1, stated they have urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to allow them to purchase 60,000 Covid-19 vaccines to vaccinate 30,000 employees of the industry.
In the letter, senior vice president of Yash Raj Films Akshaye Widhani wrote, “With the film industry going through an unprecedented time, there is an urgent need to restart at the earliest so that thousands of workers can start earning their livelihood again and protect their families. Yash Raj Films, through The Yash Chopra Foundation, would like to offer its support in this regard.”
The letter added that the foundation will bear all other costs associated with vaccinating the workers, such as “raising awareness, transportation of workers and setting up of all the required infrastructure for the immunisation programme”.
In response, FWICE wrote to Thackeray urging him to provide the vaccines for 30,000 members. Highlighting the country’s deteriorating economy, the letter said the vaccination would help the Hindi film industry get back up on its feet. “Once the vaccination is done, our members can resume their respective work and the industry may continue to function without any fear,” the letter said.
The FWICE has a total of 2.5 lakh registered workers.
Maharashtra’s daily Covid-19 cases dropped below 50,000 to 48,621 on Monday while India recorded over 3.57 lakh new covid-19 cases in the 24 hours. Last month, the Maharashtra government ordered all film and television shootings to be suspended to reduce the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
The industry also saw the postponement of various films like Toofan, Chehre, Haathi Mere Saathi, and more while several Hindi actors like Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Guahar Khan, Vicky Kaushal, Kartik Aaryan recently contracted the virus.
Vijay, the Tamil actor who was last seen in action-dramaMaster, will collaborate with filmmaker Vamshi Paidipally for an upcoming pan-Indian film, the makers of the film announced in a press release on Monday.
The yet-to-be-titled film will be produced by Dil Raju under Sri Venkateswara Creations. The film will mark Vijay’s first collaboration with Vamshi. According to the press release, Paidipally is “fine-tuning” the script and has been working on the film for the past couple of years before getting the actor’s nod.
“There has been a principal agreement between the actor and filmmaker that they will do a film. It is a confirmed project and will be Vijay’s next film. Nothing else has been finalised apart from that, including the cast. The project is in very early stages of production,” a source requesting anonymity told Silverscreen India.
The film is expected to go on floors after Vijay wraps up the tentatively-titled film Thalapathy 65.
The makers said that the rest of the cast and technical crew will be announced later.
Another source close to the production said, “The cast will comprise actors from both Tamil and Telugu industries. The film will be based on a social message and will be a society-oriented film. Vamshi’s last film Maharshi was based on farmers and agriculture. Similarly, this film will be based on a social message and will have some political elements. It will focus on the current generation and the digital era we live in.”
The official announcement about the film is expected to be made by June, the source added.
Vijay recently completed his shooting schedule in Georgia for Thalapathy 65. The film, which is written and directed by filmmaker Nelson Dilipkumar, is produced by media baron Kalanithi Maran under the Sun Pictures banner. Pooja Hegde, who recently tested positive for Covid-19, has been cast opposite the actor. Music has been composed by Anirudh Ravichander.
Paidipally’s Maharshi, the 2019 Telugu action-drama film, starring Mahesh Babu and Hegde in the lead roles, and produced by Dil Raju’s banner won two awards at the 67th National Film Awards, for Best Choreography and Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. His film with Vijay, which is also expected to release in Tamil, will be the director’s second Tamil film after his 2016 bilingual comedy-drama film Oopiri, released in Tamil as Thozha.
Pooja Hegde, the actor who was last seen in director Trivikram‘s 2020 film Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, has been approached to play the lead role in Trivikram’s next film starring Mahesh Babu, a source told Silverscreen India.
Dileep Lekkala, a member of the film’s public relations team, said, “They [the makers] are considering Pooja Hegde as the main lead and she has been approached. But nothing is confirmed yet.”
If Hedge signs the film, this will be her third collaboration with Trivikram and second with Mahesh Babu, with whom she worked in Maharshi. Hegde is currently working on Chiranjeevi‘s Acharya, Rohit Shetty and Ranveer Singh‘s Cirkus, and Vijay’s upcoming Tamil film Thalapathy 65.
“Trivikram already narrated the storyline to Mahesh Babu and is currently working on the script of the film. A few changes might be made in terms of dialogues and the emotional quotient, or else, the storyline will remain the same,” Dileep said. He said that the film will be a commercial entertainer and is expected to release in the summer of 2022.
The film will go on floors once the Covid situation eases in the country, he said.
Dileep said that the film was planned before the pandemic with discussions going on for a year, but it got delayed because of the pandemic and the consequent lockdown.
Tentatively titled SSMB 28, it will be produced by Haarika and Hassine Creations and will mark the third collaboration of the actor-director duo after the 2005 film Athadu and Khaleja in 2010.
The other cast and crew members will be announced soon.
After this project, Trivikram will be working with NTR Junior. The film was expected to go on floors from May, according to The Times of India but was shelved owing to delays in production. The actor will soon working on his second film with Janatha Garagedirector Koratala Siva.
Film critic Rajeev Masand is reportedly in a critical condition and has been undergoing treatment at the ICU ward of Mumbai’s Kokilaben Hospital after testing positive for Covid-19.
An ABP Live report quoted a source close to Masand who said that after his health condition became “critical” he was shifted to the ICU.
Somen Mishra, who works as head of creative development (scripts) at Dharma Productions, and Lada Guruden Singh, director and head of creative development at Sony Pictures India, denied rumours that Masand was put on ventilator support due to his deteriorating health.
Mishra tweeted, “Saw this as it appeared on timeline. Seems word is doing the rounds, too many calls/messages, so just clarifying he is not on ventilator. Critical, yes. Also slightly better today.”
Singh tweeted, “Last thing we need right now is speculation. Think about him and his family before you tweet irresponsibly. Please.”
Actors Suniel Shetty, Bipasha Basu, Aditi Rao Hydari, and Dia Mirza wished him a speedy recovery on Twitter after news about his health broke. Actors Rahul Dev, Nimrat Kaur, Sophie Choudry tweeted prayers for Masand to get better soon.
Dearest @RajeevMasand
Praying hard. Get better soon and see this message and know that you are so loved ❤️🤗
Masand started his career as a journalist soon after graduating from Mumbai University. He has been working for more than 20 years. After 25 years as a film critic, he joined Karan Johar’s Dharma Cornerstone Agency as chief operating officer earlier this year.
Meanwhile, India recorded more than 26 lakh new cases and nearly 23,800 deaths in the past seven days. On Monday, the Union Health Ministry said that there was a slight dip in Covid-19 cases, with 3,68,147 new cases and 3,417 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Hum Bhi Akele, Tum Bhi Akele, the upcoming Hindi film starring Zareen Khan and Anshuman Jha, will release on Disney+ Hostar on Sunday, the streaming service said in a press release on Monday.
Two friends set out on an adventure of a lifetime, and discover something beautiful that bonds them ✨
We’re all looking for a place to belong, someone to love 💕 Love is love 🏳️🌈
Hum Bhi Akele Tum Bhi Akele is streaming on 9th May! pic.twitter.com/hFsPp1xcfe
Khan and Jha portray Mansi and Veer, who are strangers and “proud members” of the LGBT+ community. According to the press release, the storyline of the film reads, “The film begins when a girl from Meerut, Mansi, a boy from Chandigarh, Veer, run away from their respective homes on their wedding day and bump into each other at a club in Delhi. As if fate had destined them to spend more time together, they both end up on a road trip together from Delhi to McLeod Ganj, which turns out to be a bonding experience for them like none other. As they get to know each other, Veer and Mansi uncover parts of themselves which makes them understand the meaning of real love and that it knows no bounds!”
The film, which touches upon homosexuality, friendship, and love, is written and directed by Harish Vyas and produced by the First Ray Films banner. Calling the film, a “human story of a special friendship that blooms by chance”, Vyas said, “My endeavour with this film is to bring forth the warm, positive, loving embrace that is the soul of friendship and to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community which I have been close to. After Angrezi Mein Kehte Hain [2017 romantic drama directed by Vyas], I wanted to follow up with a light, compassionate journey to re-discover love and friendship. Hum Bhi Akele, Tum Bhi Akele is the culmination of that thought.”
Khan said in a statement that she was “immediately drawn to the depth and emotionality” of her character during the narration. “Hum Bhi Akele, Tum Bhi Akele has been a life-changing experience for me,” she said.
Hum Bhi Akele, Tum Bhi Akele poster
Jha said that the film was special to him as this was his last work that his late mother had watched.
“We missed the theatre due to the pandemic but I couldn’t be happier that more audiences will be able to watch it on Disney+ Hotstar VIP. It’s my last work which my mother saw before I lost her in 2020 and it’s therefore even more special for me,” he said.
“The Supreme Court of India has legalised homosexuality, but there is still a section of society that considers it a taboo in India and my character Veer hasn’t mustered up the courage to speak openly to his family because he fears that they won’t accept it too. With friendship and love at its core, Hum Bhi Akele, Tum Bhi Akele is a movie that will feel like a warm hug and hopefully inspire people to have more open conversations. Encourage acceptance,” he added.
The film won the Best Film-Audience Choice award at the HBO South Asian International Film Festival, New York in 2019. Jha won the Jury Award for Best Actor at the 2020 Rajasthan International Film Festival, while Khan won Best Actress in Hindi films and Vyas bagged the Best Director award. The film was also screened in the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2020 and Kashish 2020, the Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, the press release added.
Actor Aishwarya Rajesh and filmmaker Shanmugam Muthusamy will be collaborating for an upcoming Tamil political drama, the director confirmed to Silverscreen India on Monday.
The film will mark Shanmugam’s second directorial after his upcoming film Adangathey, starring musician-actor GV Prakash Kumar in the lead role. Shanmugam previously worked in the 2020 political drama film Ka Pae Ranasingamas a writer, which starred Aishwarya in the lead role.
While the official announcement is yet to be made, Shanmugam told Silverscreen India: “It will be a women-centric story and just like Adhangathey, this one will also be a film about politics.”
He said that the film’s scripting and dialogue work is ongoing and that the pre-production work will continue for about three months. “We are planning to start shooting for the film from August in Chennai.”
The film will also star Samuthrakani and Yogi Babu in prominent roles, while the rest of the cast members will be decided after finishing the dialogue work, Shanmugam added. It will be backed by KJR Studios, which has previously produced women-centric films, including, Aramm (2017), Airaa (2019), and Ka Pae Ranasingam.
“The title of the film is not yet decided, and I am planning to announce about the film during a press meet that will be conducted for the release of Adangathey,” Shanmugam said.
Speaking about Adangathey, Shanmugam said, “We have just got the censor process for the film done with the revising committee in Bangalore in April. We need to get the certificate from them, but due to the pandemic, it is getting a bit delayed. We have planned for a theatrical release once we get the censor certificate and the pandemic situation has eased down.”
Meanwhile, Aishwarya has a handful of projects in her pipeline. She is set to star in the Tamil remake of the hit Malayalam film The Great Indian Kitchen, which will be directed and produced by R Kannan. She is also set to star in Tamil film Driver Jamuna, where she will play a cab driver. She is also working on the Telugu remake of the Malayalam action thriller Ayyappanum Koshiyum. Aishwarya also has Nani-starrer Tuck Jagadish, that recently postponed its theatrical release, and Republic with Sai Dharam Tej.
Sandip Ray, the Bengali director and son of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray, postponed the 100th birth anniversary celebration of his late father due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. According to a report, Sandip Ray told PTI that the family had postponed year-long birth centenary celebrations.
May 2 marked the birth centenary of Satyajit Ray, who won an honorary Oscar in 1992, shortly before his death, and is known as one of the best filmmakers in the country.
“We had planned several events involving critics, film personalities, writers, and experts from here and abroad who would have spoken on his works. We had planned exhibitions of his scripts, graphics, and illustrations. Everything is now on hold,” Sandip Ray told PTI. He said that he was not in favour of any video calls “which doesn’t befit such an occasion involving an icon like Ray”.
He said that since Satyajit Ray’s birth centenary celebrations can continue till May 1, 2022, the family can “hold these events on later dates when the pandemic situation improves substantially”.
Satyajit Ray’s iconic residence in Kolkata- 1/1 Bishop Lefroy Road- which is frequented by people has also been closed for visitors.
Talking about closing his residence, Sandip Ray told PTI that it was “not a very happy situation for anyone” which compelled them to take the decision. “Nothing less than a physical event will be fitting for a celebration of this scale. No virtual celebration for us, as far as we are concerned.”
A film director, writer, illustrator, graphic designer, and music composer, Satyajit Ray was born on May 2, 1921. He made his filmmaking debut with the iconic film Pather Panchali in 1955. The film, based on a novel written by Bibhutibhushan Bondopadhay, was the first film in the three-part Apu trilogy. The next two parts were Aparajito and Apur Sansar. The films received worldwide critical appreciation and he succeeded in shining the international spotlight on Indian cinema.
His other famous flms include Jalshaghar, Abhijan, Mahanagar, Teen Kanya, Charulata, Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne, Feluda series, Ghare Baire and many more.
While actorsseem to vacationor take some time offto get out of character during the post–production of a film,Guwahati-based Lima Das is backtoreality at the switch of the dental compressor.
Das is not just an actor in films like Aamis and Arranged, but also a dentist, teacher and an award-winning Odissi and Sattriyadancer.
The first time she needed this switch back to reality was in 2019, after the release of Aamis, an Assamese film directed by Bhaskar Hazarika. In the film, Das played the role of a paediatrician named Nirmali, who along with Sumon (Arghadeep Baruah), a PhD scholar, explored the food habits of NorthEast India. Later, she was also part of a 22-minute film, Arranged, directed by Samujjal Kashyap.
Aamis had premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York in 2019 where it was nominated in five categories including Best International Film. Das won the best actor (female) at the third edition of the Singapore South Asian International Film Festival (2019) and the Sailadhar Baruah Memorial Film Awards (2019).
It is unusual for a debut actor to receive this much appreciation. It is rarer to be the crowd’s favourite performer nominated for the 67th National FilmAwards in 2020. Das says she is humbled by all the love and attention.
“I have waited for many years to find a script that I like. But now that I have started and people have accepted me as an actor, many new offers have come my way,” she says.
Not many dentists get asked for a selfie but Das is regularly flooded with requests from patients who visit the Regional Dental College Hospital and Research Centre in Guwahati.
In an interview with Silverscreen India, Das speaks about this new-found fame, life after Aamis, multiple job profiles and her plan for the future.
You are an actor, dancer, doctor, and teacher, that’s lots of role for a day. How do you manage it all?
My mind has different drawers, I open a drawer and shut the other one. I was always a dancer, right from the age of eight. I was trained in Odissifor 25 years. In 2000, I started training in Sattriya[a classical dance of Assam]. Meanwhile, I studied, graduated, pursued my masters, and got a job too.
Soon after, my son was born. I thought this is what I wanted- a family and a stable job. Recently though, I wanted to get back to dancing. My return to the field in 2012 was like a homecoming. I toured the country and participated in many dance festivals. After this phase, films came into the picture and dance took a backseat. I must say that acting was never part of the plan. I just always wanted to be part of a dance documentary and nothing more.
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How did you enter the world of acting?
I met Bhaskar [Hazarika], who was a family friend, at my cousin’s place and introduced myself. I asked him whether he was interested in making a documentary on dance. [The conversation ended well but] nothing happened [for a while]. Suddenly after a year, I got a call from him for the script reading of Aamis. He had seen my pictures on social media and found me a fit for the character. He wanted a new face for both the leads as it was a love story. He said that the audience wanted new faces in a love story as it came with less baggage.
Aamis was such a well-written script. For me, the risk in case of failure was far lesser compared to Bhaskar. So, I took the part.
Your mother is a singer and your father, a doctor. It looks like their choices have clearly influenced your career path.
My mother is a singer and a Chemistry professor at Cotton College in Guwahati. I grew up watching her juggle between work and art. At the end of the day, I realised that she had a stable income and could fund her own art. She would take her classes till 4 pm. On her way back, she would go to the radio station and record. She would also return home and attend to our studies. For me, the schedule I have is doable because I have seen her do it.
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Did getting cast in films change your daily routine?
Yes and no. Life has changed. When I step out to get grocery now or see patients at the clinic where I work, people come and ask me if I am the same Nirmali from Aamis. I feel humbled.
In between [work], I have to take leaves in order to shoot. For Aamis, I had to take 33-34 days off. Before, that I had never taken a leave.
At the core though, I still am a doctor and teach in the same college from morning till late afternoon. After that, I practice dance and return home and be a mother to my 14-year-old child.
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How was the experience of acting in a short film like Arranged?
I read the script by Harsh Siddhanta and saw myself in the character. We used to do all our rehearsals online. We met for two days and some of the changes were made on-set. None of us had a lot of work during the pandemic and we wanted to work and create something.
In today’s times, who do you want to work with in the industry and what are the kinds of characters that entice you as an actor?
In Assam, I would like to work with Jahnu Barua. I like to portray characters that are my age and not 20-years-olds. Strong female characters attract me a lot. I need to be able to see myself in the role.
According to you, have Assamese films always been part of a vibrant industry with enough local viewership or have Hindi films taken up that space?
Every film industry in India goes through phases. In case of the Assamese industry, there was a time when we had a really good cinema. It was followed by Bollywood influence. Now, young bright filmmakers from Assam have very good stories to tell. I feel it is a good time for Assamese cinema, especially in the independent space. Film-making is expensive but now with technology, you can make a film with an iPhone. This has inspired more youngsters. These end up being the films which get chosen for many international festivals.
Who is your biggest fan in the family?
My son. Right from the time I used to dance, he would say, ‘Mummy, you are the best.’ I keep waiting for his opinion regarding all of my performances. He is very encouraging.
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It’s been two years since you debuted in a feature film, what’s next in line for you?
I am making a guest appearance in Emuthi Puthi, written by Bhaskar Hazarika and directed by Kulanandini Mohata. I have finished shooting for another short film of 10-minutes, which is part of a horror anthology and is a culmination of stories from across India. It will probably be released by next year. I was offered one film from the Malayalam film industry. However, because of the pandemic, I had to say no. I have lost a few projects because of Covid.
In the beginning, you talked about your wanting to be part of a dance documentary. So, should we look forward to it anytime soon?
I hope I can convince some director to do a film on dance. Definitely, when I am older. Dance has given me everything which I needed in life- spiritual, physical, mental. I think I owe a movie to dance.
Ken Metzker, the Mumbai-based leading colourist, recalls being caught in a moment of bewilderment while working on the song Balleilakka from Sivaji: The Boss in 2007. “It was shot in vast outdoor spaces. There were groups of dancers wearing colourful costumes. You could almost see the chroma values clipping in the bright blue of the sky,” he says over the phone from Mumbai. Looking at the riot of colours on the screen, he asked the film’s cinematographer KV Anand if it wasn’t a little too much. “He smiled and told me: This song is not for technicians, but for the common people who will enjoy the show of colours without a care for a little blue clipped on the side.”
Later, when Metzker watched the film in a packed movie hall, he understood what the cinematographer meant. “KV knew the masses, which must be why he shifted to directing films for them.”
Karimanal Venkatesan Anand, the National Award-winning cinematographer and filmmaker who died on April 30 at the age of 54, was a trailblazer who pushed the boundaries of mainstream film cinematography in India.
His career as an independent cinematographer lasted 13 years in which he shot 16 films, in four languages ﹣Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Malayalam. In 1994, he won a National Award for his debut work as an independent cinematographer ﹣director Priyadarshan’s Malayalam drama Thenmavin Kombathu. In 2005, he turned director through Kana Kandaen, a thriller. He made six more entertainers that found moderate to high commercial success.
Ironically, it was an instance of rejection that initiated him into cinema. After earning a degree in physics from a college in Chennai, he worked as a press photographer with Kalki, a Tamil-language magazine, where he shot cover photos and did a monthly photo feature titled Oru Maadham, Oru Maavattam (One Month, One District). Further, he applied for the post of photojournalist at a major news organisation. However, his application was turned down by the renowned photographer Raghu Rai who was in the recruitment panel. The resultant devastation and a flit to Andaman islands spurred in him the idea to try his luck in motion photography.
After gaining a postgraduate degree in visual communication, he joined cinematographer PC Sreeram’s team as his sixth assistant. It was Sreeram who, years later, recommended Anand’s name to director Priyadarshan who had been looking for a cinematographer for Thenmavin Kombathu.
It doesn’t take much to see why the film, shot in the pristine villages on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, captured the attention of the cinephiles in the country. Anand shot with little artificial lighting and no backlights except for night interiors. In a recent interview with The Hindu, Priyadarshan said, “The beautiful frames of Thenmaavin Kombathu caught the eye straight away. Pollachi had rarely looked prettier. Neither had Shobana…Balu Mahendra told me that he had never seen camera work like that before and Mani Ratnam said few outdoor sequences looked as beautiful.”
Anand and Priyadarshan collaborated on three more projects ﹣ Minnaram, Chandralekha, and Doli Saja Ke Rakhna.
Anand’s talents as a still photographer shone through the way he shot landscapes and captured the essence of places. In a Rediff interview on April 4, 1997, he spoke about discovering new places: “I can actually feel my hands trembling with excitement when I see some locale I like… there’s a realisation of the possibilities, a big thrill… it heightens when I take the camera in hand and prepare for the actual shoot… but when I get down to shooting, I find myself becoming totally calm…”
In the song Maanam Thelinje Vannaal (Thenmaavin Kombathu), he recreated the fiery colours of the desert terrain on a set constructed in South India. Kadhal Desam (1996), directed by Kathir, looked at Madras through the eyes of two teenagers. Anand imagined the city of Madras (officially renamed as Chennai in the same year) as a dreamy, sensual and young space, exploding in pop colours, neon light, music and dance. In spectacular wide shots, he captured the intimations of the city’s transition into modernity. One might agree the film’s idea of romance hasn’t aged well, but Anand’s work has withstood the test of time.
While his earlier works had the imprints of Sreeram, Anand broke the mould soon and treaded a singular path of his own. “He was not afraid to take risks or to make mistakes,” says cinematographer Richard Nathan who worked as an assistant to Anand in four films. “He was obsessed with staying abreast of every technological advancement in the field of image-making. He attempted cross-processing, a photochemical technique, in Mudhalvan (1999). He shot Khakee (2004) in Super 35mm. In those days, no one was shooting commercial films in Super 35 mm in India. He used UV lights in song sequences in Kadhal Desam and Khakee.”
Through Khakee, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, Anand became the first Indian cinematographer to use the process of Digital Intermediate (DI), a bleeding-edge technology. The film’s peculiar colour palette was partly by design and partly, an accident. Anand and Metzker, who was then a senior colourist at Prasad EFX, Asia’s first integrated Digital Film Lab, worked for two-and-a-half months on Khakee, at once learning the new technology and finding a new visual language for the film within awful limitations.
The DI process went on for over two months. Richard remembers how Anand stood his ground and relentlessly worked on the visuals. “We made mistakes, rectified them, made mistakes again…There were disagreements and concerns within the team. The end product was imperfect, but the experience was highly enriching.”
“Back then, DI process wasn’t as streamlined or fine-tuned as it is today. There was no colour management system (CMS). Halfway through the work, we had to fly down a telecine operator from London and a representative of da Vinci colour-corrector from the USA because a lot of things were going wrong. We were on completely new grounds. Thank god, KV Anand was a man of immense patience!” Metzker recalls.
Sivaji: The Boss, directed by Shankar, another regular collaborator of Anand, had superstar Rajinikanth in the lead. There were no budget constraints or an aversion to trying out new things. Anand had to work closely with multiple departments ﹣computer graphics, make-up, DI and digital skin grafting which was used extensively in a song sequence. According to Richard, the project instilled in Anand a great sense of confidence about pulling off an out and out masala entertainer, which must have helped him in the making of his later directorial works.
Khakee forged a friendship between Metzker and Anand. “He was a good man who valued human relationships. Even in the most stressful situation, he stayed calm.” The senior colourist has fond memories of Anand taking him to the best local eateries in Madras and beating him at discovering new eateries in Mumbai. “I am yet to meet a greater food connoisseur than KV in the film industry,” he laughs.
With his assistants, Anand was a hard taskmaster. “Outside the set, he was a kind and patient mentor, but while at work, he cracked the whip. On the set, we couldn’t question him on anything. It was like being in a military training camp,” says Richard.
The greatest lesson he picked up from Anand was the importance of working against time and within the budget. “Despite Sivaji being a huge project, he did everything he could to cut the cost. He would repeat that at the end of the day, we were in business. We couldn’t afford to waste somebody else’s money. I keep this in mind while working as an independent cinematographer. I never go over budget.”
Anand’s transition to direction didn’t produce extraordinary films. Into the framework of the mass masala genre, he inserted his social consciousness. Films such as Ko and Maattraan, which he regarded as his most satisfactory works, were shot by his assistants, Richard and Soudararajan. By his admission, he missed doing the cinematography. On social media, he generously explained the details of his work to those who sought it. He discussed still photography and new films that caught his eye.
In the star-centred ecology of the Indian film industry, his contributions as a cinematographer could get buried under the sands of time. But his experimental spirit and pervasive artistic sensitivity will not miss the eyes of those who will study the evolution of cinematography in India.
Bikramjeet Kanwarpal, the actor who played supporting roles in several films and television shows, died of Covid-19 complications on Saturday.
He was 52.
According to a report, Kanwarpal’s close friend Himanshu Dadbhawala told PTI that he was admitted to hospital for the past 10 days at Seven Hills. He was later shifted to the ICU after his condition worsened. Dadbhawala said that the actor died at 5 am on Saturday.
Before he became an actor, Kanwarpal served the Indian Army for 10 years and retired in 2002. In 2003, he debuted on the big screen with the crime drama Paap. He starred in films like Page 3, Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year, Aarakshan, Murder 2, 2 States, and The Ghazi Attack among others.
The actor also played important roles in shows like Diya Aur Baati Hum, Yeh Hai Chahatein, Dil Hi Toh Hai, and Anil Kapoor’s 24.
Vikram Bhatt, who worked with Kanwarpal on several films like Creature 3D and Horror Story, took to Instagram to mourn the demise of the actor. Sharing a photo of the late actor, Bhatt wrote in a post, “Major Bikramjeet Kanwarpal passes away. Taken from us by the cruel pandemic. I have done a lot of films with him and this doesn’t get closer home. The days are turning into one long obituary and yet each life that we lose cannot be just a number. We cannot allow it to become a number. Each a special friend. May his soul rest in peace.”
Actor and voice-over artist Ashwin Mushran reminisced his first meeting with the late actor and wrote in a tweet, “Bikramjeet Kanwarpal passed away. I first met him standing in line for an audition all the way back in 2003 – 2004. We bumped into each other many times over the years and did keep in touch on and off. Goodbye Major… We’ll meet in another line someplace somewhere.”
Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit, actors Manoj Bajpayee, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Bidita Bag, Rohit Roy, Richa Chadha also mourned the loss of the actor.
Sad to hear about the demise of actor Major Bikramjeet Kanwarpal this morning due to #Covid.
A retired army officer, Kanwarpal had played supporting roles in many films and television serials.
Heartfelt condolences to his family & near ones.
Extremely sad news . I’ve known Major Bikramjeet for so many years. He and I have worked on so many films together. The last being Bypass Road. Such a fantastic, encouraging and energetic human being he was and will always be remembered as. #RIP My dear friend will miss you 🙏🏻🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/8NE6FeZ6Ei
As an army officer he religiously served India. He was a disciplined man in his previous post as also in his current thespianic art. He was lively, vibrant, full of energy. My grief goes boundless that I would ever never get him as an inspiring co-actor. RIP #BikramjeetKanwarpalpic.twitter.com/2BsQ5YY4iM
Actor Rana Daggubati will be collaborating with producers Achanta Gopinath and CH Rambabu under the banner Vishwashanti Pictures for his next Telugu film.
In a statement, Achanta and Rambabu said that their film’s story has been locked and the film will be a pan-India project. “Rana will be seen in a different avatar with this unique script and the details regarding film’s director cast and crew will be announced soon,” they said.
They said that the film will go on floors after Rana completes his shooting for the Telugu remake of the Malayalam film Ayyappanum Koshiyum.
Achanta is known for producing films such as Devudu, Jamba Lakidi Pamba, Top Hero and Iddaru Pellala MuddulaPolice.
Rana and Pawan Kalyan are currently shooting for the Telugu remake of Ayyapanum Koshiyum. The Telugu film is written by Trivikram Srinivas and directed by Saagar K Chandra. The film’s music will be composed by SS Thaman, while Prasad Murella has been roped in as the cinematographer. Editing will be handled by Navin Nooli.
The epic journey begins today! We welcome the Mighty Bhallaladeva @RanaDaggubati to join our Powerstar @PawanKalyan garu for our Production No 12! 🤩
Rana, who was last seen in Aranya, is also awaiting the release of his film Virata Parvam directed by Venu Udugala starring Sai Pallavi,Nandita Das, Naveen Chandra, Eashwari Rao and Priyamani. The film is set against the backdrop of the Naxalite movement that took place in the 1990s in the Telugu- speaking regions. The political period drama which was slated for release on April 30 was postponed to a later date due to the surging Covid-19 cases.
#VirataParvam Release Postponed!
New Release Date will be announced soon.
India anxiously awaits the results of the legislative Assembly polls held in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry. To keep you company ahead of the counting on May 2, Silverscreen India brings to you a set of movies on the electoral system in the country.
Stay indoors, keep safe and watch these ten iconic movies as the results are announced.
Mandela (2021)
(Credit: Netflix)
This Tamil political satire written and directed by Maddone Ashwin, has many laughable, relatable frames rooted in social justice. The film’s runtime is spanned over the experience of a local body elections held at Soorangudi, a village in Tamil Nadu. Rival political parties attempt to court Mandela as his vote is a swing vote.
The film covers the absurdity of the political campaigns, the importance of every vote and deep-rooted caste divide existing in the state. It also attempts to reinstate hope in the power of people and goodness.
Released six days before voting in Tamil Nadu began, the film stars an ensemble cast including the likes of Yogi Babu, Sheela Rajkumar and Shangli Murugan. In an interview with Firstpost, Yogi Babu who plays the lead says, “I thought, if this fellow (Pradeep Ranganathan, who directed Comali) who knows me so well, and who has directed me, can cry, then probably I am not that bad with emotion.”
“Although some rogues get elected to parliament, we will not allow gangster tactics in the election,” says Sanjay Mishra, who plays an officer of the Election Commission of India, in Newton.
The 2021 Assembly Elections has raised questions on the Election Commission of India, with the Madras High Court calling it “the most irresponsible institution” and said that the EC should be booked under murder charges too, for flouting Covid protocols during election campaigns and voting.
Newton, which was India’s official entry to the Oscars in 2017, talks about a volunteer, Newton Kumar (Rajkummar Rao) and his resolution to conduct free and fair elections in a Maoist-inflicted area. The film highlights the challenges in the world’s largest democracy and the right of every citizen to exercise their franchise. The film is led by a stellar cast comprising Anjali Patil, Raghubir Yadav, and Pankaj Tripathi.
This film, which is a Hindi satire on the then Indira Gandhi-led Central government, was banned by the Supreme Court during the Emergency in 1975. In fact, the Congress tried to burn all copies of the film as it exposed some uncomfortable truths about the party which was then in power.
Kissaaa Kursee Kaa directed by Amrit Nahata depicts the lives of a power-hungry leaders.
The film barely disguises references to the slogan- Garibi Hatao and boldly names Rukhsana Sultan, who was a close friend of Indira Gandhi’s son Sanjay Gandhi, RK Dhawan, Indira Gandhi’s secretary, and Dhirendra Bhramachari, a controversial godman.
The print available on Youtube is the remake of the film later filmed in 1978.
The name of the film is a letter in the Tamil language written in the form of three dots.
This perfectly substantes the storyline featuring three young men-Michael Vasanth (Suriya), Inbasekar (Madhavan), Arjun Balakrishnan (Siddharth). The lives of these men from different social classes intersect through student politics. The film evloves when Michael’s student party goes on to fight the elections against a seasoned politician, Selvanayagam (Bharathiraja).
Mani Ratnam, the film’s director of the film, remade the film in Hindi titled Yuva, starring Abhishek Bachchan, Vivek Oberoi, and Ajay Devgn.
This Tamil political action thriller was directed by late KV Anand. The film traces the life of a photojournalist, Ashwin Kumar (played by Jiiva), who is assigned to cover the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.
While he is covering a political campaign, he spots the chief minister, Yogeswaran (Prakash Raj), beating a person with a slipper and prints a photo of the moment on the first page. What follows is a string of intimidations, betrayal and a tussle for power.
The film urges people to probe their leaders and speaks about the accountability of media. It includes powerful performances by the cast includes Ajmal Ameer, Piaa Bajpai, and Karthika.
Kodi, directed by RS Durai Senthilkumar, speaks about a by-election in Tamil Nadu’s Pollachi constituency. Two brothers- Kodiarasuand Anbarasu (both played by Dhanush) are born and brought up in a politically-charged environment in Pollachi. When their father, a member of the Democratic Party, immolates himself while protesting against mercury waste generated by a corporate house, Kodiarasu steps in his shoes while Anbarasu maintains his distance from politics.
Unfortunate twists and turns lead to the latter winning an MLA ticket to pursue the mercury waste issue.
Other than Dhanush’s performance, the film stars Trisha, Anupama Parmeswaran, SA Chandrasekhar, and Vijaykumar in seminal roles.
The Anurag Kashyap-directed, critically acclaimed gangster film portraying a family feud, has a scene explicitly showcasing how booth capturing is done.
Centred around the coal mafia town of Wasseypur in Dhanbad, the film sequences the hyper-reality of the socio-political situation there. This small yet impactful scene will grab one’s attention due to its reality. The film shows politicians hiring gangs to carry out their dirty electoral tricks- a sentence that we hear almost in every election news coverage.
The film stars Nawazuddin Siddique, Manoj Bajpai, Richa Chadha, and Huma Qureshi.
8. Raees (2017)
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An alcohol dealer in Gujarat, a dry state, contests elections to defeat his former friend and comrade who goes on to become the chief minister.
The film directed by Rahul Dholakia revolves around the life of Raees (Shah Rukh Khan), who is a notorious, oddly-confident kid. Intertwined with the illegal alcohol trade since childhood, Raees grows up to become the kingpin of smuggling liquor in his state. His business ambitions are supported by the chief minister (Pramod Pathak) and the opposition leader (Uday Thikekar) until their relationship takes a bad turn.
The film is a wholesome entertainer with an ensemble cast of Mahira Khan, Nawazuddin Siddique, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, and Atul Kulkarni.
Packed with punches and slow-motion fight scenes, Sarkar is hilarious to watch with many moments of absurdity. Directed by AR Murugadoss, the film revolves around an NRI businessman, who calls himself a ‘corporate criminal’ and his fight against illegal voting. Amongst other things, he also enters the electoral race, fights ‘the bad guys’ and finds time to help people.
In one scene after Sundar Ramaswamy (Vijay) finds out that his vote has been illegally cast, he video calls Mark Zuckerberg and his lawyer Jethmalani and says, “Send me notes on Indian Elections”. His on-screen beau Nila (Keerthy Suresh) gawks at him in awe. Consider this to be a light election drama to watch before 2021 results are declared.
10. Thennavan (2003)
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In this Tamil film directed by AM Nandakumar, Thennavan (Vijaykanth), an IAS officer is promoted promoted as the chief election commissioner during general elections. He goes on to fight against power, and ensures free and fair elections.
In the film, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, Ilanthiraiyan (Nassar) plants bombs in his own political rally and blames the opposition for it. Later, he is jailed, freed and brought back to power. It is a rollercoaster ride which showcases the arrest and release of Thennavan. In the end, he urges voters to boycott elections to save the country from corrupt politicians.
The film is said to be one of the several steps taken by actor-politican Vijayakanth towards furthering his political career.
It also stars Kiran Rathod, Kavitha Rajini, Vivek, and Thalaivasal Vijay.
Sonu Sood, the Hindi actor, on Saturday, requested the government on Instagram to make cremations free of cost for those who have died of Covid-19.
The Dabangg actor posted a video where he narrated the difficulties in getting Covid-19 patients cremated.
He said, “Some of them cannot find a place in the crematorium ground because they do not have the money. We have been helping people but there are still many of them who are not able to reach out to us.”
Requesting all governments to bring in a law to make the process free, the actor noted that thousands die in the country every day and cremations usually cost between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000.
“It is really important to do this [make crematoriums free] now so that people know that we are with them,” Sood said.
Several celebrities and actors have taken to social media to amplify Covid-19 requests and resources after being called out on by citizens for not using their privilege. Actor Alia Bhatt, who came under fire for going to the Maldives during the pandemic, joined hands with journalist Faye D’Souza to post verified helpline numbers and resources on her Instagram page.
Actors Sonam Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar have been posting resources and information on Covid-19. Pednekar announced that she has collaborated with Ketto, a crowdfunding platform to assist in providing financial aid for Covid-19 patients.
Director SS Rajamouli announced that the social media handle of his upcoming film RRR will be used to coordinate and provide help during India’s ongoing Covid crisis. Many other actors and celebrities like Siddharth and Chinmayi Sripada have used their accounts to share and provide information.
The times are tough and our team is doing its bit in this hour of need to provide authentic information.
You can follow @RRRMovie to get some information and we might be able to coordinate and provide some help to someone around you. #CovidInfo#Covid19IndiaHelp
Priyanka Chopra Jonas announced that she has set up a fundraiser with GiveIndia and she assured that the donations will directly go towards the infrastructure, medical support, and vaccine mobilisation. The international actor and singer said that she and her husband Nick Jonas have contributed to the fund and will continue to do so.
Actors Ayushmann Khurrana and Gopi Sunder have donated to their respective state’s distress relief fund. Actors Mahesh Babu, Mohanlal, and Kamal Hassan encouraged people to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Nivin Pauly, the Malayalam actor who was last seen in the Malayalam drama film Moothon in 2019, will collaborate with Tamil filmmaker Ram for a bilingual film, publicity manager Nikil Murukan confirmed to Silverscreen India on Saturday.
“It is confirmed that the duo is making a film and since it has Nivin Pauly, it will be a bilingual film, made in Tamil and Malayalam. I am not part of the film team, but as per reliable sources, a big Tamil production company has signed the project,” Nikil said.
The makers are yet to officially announce the film.
The untitled film, which will be made in Tamil and Malayalam, will mark the first collaboration of the actor and the Peranbudirector.
The rest of the cast and technical crew members of the film has not yet been announced. The film will also mark Nivin’s comeback in Tamil cinema, after Richie, a 2017 neo-noir action crime film under Gautham Ramachandran directorial.
Meanwhile, Nivin has a slew of projects at various stages of production in Malayalam. He has Thuramukham, a drama film, directed and shot by filmmaker Rajeev Ravi. A poster of the film was released on Saturday on the occasion of Labours’ Day. It is produced by Sukumar Thekkepat with a screenplay by Gopan Chidambaram. Nivin also has Thaaram, a romantic comedy with director Vinay Govind and film subtitler Vivek Ranjit as a screenwriter. The film is set to go on floors in the second half of 2021 and will be set against the backdrop of the film industry in Kerala. The actor also wrapped up shooting for Kanakam Kamini Kalaham, a film with director Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval, in December 2020.
On the other hand, Ram was last seen as an actor in Mysskin’s Tamil thriller Psycho in 2020. His last directorial venture was Peranbu, starring Mammootty in the lead.
Bellamkonda Sreenivas, the Telugu actor who was last seen in the action-comedy film Alludu Adhurs (2021), will be reprising the role of actor Dhanush in the official Telugu remake of the hit Tamil film Karnan, publicity manager Vamsi Shekar told Silverscreen India.
“Bellamkonda Sreenivas is currently working on Chatrapati, the Hindi remake of the Telugu film by the same name. The set work of the film has been completed but presently there is a night curfew imposed in Hyderabad and most of the shootings have been postponed due to the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The film is yet to start its first schedule. Only after finishing filming this film, he will move on to the Karnan remake,” Vamsi said.
Chatrapati is directed by VV Vinayak and produced by Pen Studios banner. It marks Srinivas’ Hindi film debut. The original Telugu version was directed by SS Rajamouli starring Prabhas and Shriya Saran in the lead roles and released in 2005.
Vamsi that the director and the rest of the cast and technical crew members will be announced in the next 10-15 days. While it has been speculated that Srinivas’s father and film producer Bellamkonda Suresh will be producing the film, Vamsi clarified that a “top production house” had acquired the Telugu remake rights of Karnan.
Karnan, which released in theatres on April 9, opened to positive reviews. Written and directed by filmmaker Mari Selvaraj,Karnan is loosely based on the 1995 Kodiyankulam caste violence and stars Malayalam actor Rajisha Vijayan in her Tamil debut, Lakshmi Priya Chandramouli, Gouri Kishan, Natarajan Subramaniam, Lal, and Yogi Babu. It was produced by Kalaippuli S Thanu under V Creations banner with music by Santhosh Narayanan.
Karnan’s Telugu version will Sreenivas’s fourth remake project after the 2016 Telugu romantic comedy Speedunnodu (remake of Tamil film Sundarapandian), Telugu psychological thriller film Rakshasudu (remake of Tamil film Ratsasan), and Chatrapati.
Disney+ Hotstar on Friday announced a lineup of 11 short-format original shows, called Disney Plus Hotstar Quix, that will premiere on the platform on May 7 with new episodes releasing everyday.
Each episode will be of around 10 minutes.
Photo Credit: Disney+Hotstar
Here is the lineup of all the shows:
Chattis Aur Maina starring Sandeepa Dhar and Vikram Singh Chauhan is a love story of two people- Chattis and Maina- who are like chalk and cheese, in a brimming town called Dhooppur with quirky yet endearing residents. While Maina is the leader of a dance troupe, Chattis is the son of a local failed politician Mehak Singh.
Mukesh Jasoosstarring Poonam Dhillon, Rahul Bagga, Ruchi Malviya, Rajeshwari Sachdev is about Mukesh Jha, a fraud lawyer who aspires to become a detective, or Mukesh Jasoos. After all “jasoosi aur vakaalat mein zyaada farak nahi hai,” (there’s hardly any difference between a lawyer and a detective) he says. Along with his able aide Muktaram he starts solving petty cases but before he realises he finds himself in the midst of a sinister plot where dead bodies start piling up.
Six starring Mandira Bedi, Nauheed Cyrusi, Dipannita Sharma and Sid Makkar is aboutKashish Sura, a well-off businessman, settled and successful, who gets murdered in the wee hours of the night of new year and what happens next.
Murder Meri Jaan starring Tanuj Virwani and Barkha Singh is about a con bride Sonal Arora who finds herself stuck in a fake marriage with ACP Aditya, the top Homicide investigator in Bhopal Police, as part of her latest con. The twist of fate gives her a chance to experience the other side of law, solving murder mysteries, on one hand while the police department prepares to nab the biggest con in their area.
Photo Caption: Bidita Bag and Shreyas Talpade (Disney+Hotstar)
Teen Do Paanch starringShreyas Talpade and Bidita Bag is about a couple Vishal and Priyanka who decide to adopt a child. The fun begins when they are won over by not one child but by three siblings and end up adopting all of them. Life becomes a roller coaster of sorts for Vishal, who is underprepared and overwhelmed with the responsibility he has just taken on. Unable to keep up, will they become a family or will Vishal’s plight become worse as Priyanka finds out she is pregnant with twins, as per the press statement.
Shit, Yaar! starring Sayandeep Sengupta, Sahil Shah, Priyasha Bharadwaj, Rajesh Khera, Vrijesh Hirjee sounds like the Hollywood film The Hangover that deals with the influence of a deadly mix of adrenalin and alcohol. It involves two young corporate executives who performed a stupid stunt which took them to a weekend-long journey through the gangs of two dangerous crimelords & the cops.
Bhopal to Vegas starring Ahaan Nirbaan, Sonia Balani, Arun Sharma – Three friends come together to arrange bachelor parties in the small towns of India with the only condition of secrecy.
Photo Credit: Disney+Hotstar
Humara Bar Happy Hourfeaturing Shantanu Anam, Pranay Manchandana, Manik Papneja, Kriti Vij is abouta group of debauched, self-centered, failed-actor friends inherit a run down bar in Mumbai, and a series of comical chaos that ensues as they struggle to keep and run a business they have absolutely no clue about.
Bamini and Boys is about three young boys who rent a flat exceeding their budget from an attractive woman, living in the same building. Head over heels in love with Bamini, all three set out and compete to woo her, often leading to hilarious situations and harmless rifts. It features Vidya Malavade, Akashdeep Arora, Rishab Chadda and Anuj Pandit.
Crime Next Door featuring Yashpal Sharma, Mohan Kapur, Rajendra Gupta, Girish Kulkarni and Anupriya Goenka is about a police officer who solves some of the most heinous and toughest murder cases of his entire career. Not only are the cases tough to crack but also had many shocking revelations, including the true reason why they were committed.
Ankahi, Ansuni: Jhaagi Files featuring Paresh Pahuja and Veebha Anand begins with the demotion of Umesh Yadav, an eccentric genius and the youngest inspector in the history of UP police, who undertakes the doomed posting at a fictional sleepy town ‘Jhaagi’, infamous for unsolved crimes and mysterious sightings. Together with Pyaare, Madhuri, a cop Balram, Barkha, Umesh encounters villainous schemers and sociopathic actors full of treachery and cunning, as his sleuth skills and instincts are pushed to their limit.
The shooting of Pushpa, the Telugu film starring Allu Arjun, has been halted, the film’s publicity manager Eluru Srinu told Silverscreen India.
Eluru said that Allu Arjun tested positive for Covid-19 during the film’s shoot break. “We had stopped shooting a few days before Allu Arjun tested positive for Covid-19. We are awaiting the actor’s recovery and hope to resume filming in mid-May,” he said.
Written and directed by Sukumar, the film also stars Rashmika Mandanna in the lead role. The makers of Pushpaannounced in March that Fahadh Faasil, the National Award-winning Malayalam actor, will be part of the film.The film will release on August 13 in five languages. While the film will be shot separately in Malayalam and Telugu, dubbed versions will be released in Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi.
Hello everyone!
I have tested positive for Covid. I have isolated myself.
I request those who have come in contact with me to get tested.
I request all my well wishers and fans not to worry as I am doing fine . Stay home, stay safe . pic.twitter.com/CAiKD6LzzP
Earlier, in a conversation with Silverscreen India, Eluru had said that the film is an action thriller and is set against the backdrop of smuggling of red sandalwood. ” It is loosely based on true events. However, the film has added drama elements, family emotions to its storyline,” he had said.
According to a report by The Indian Express, so far no other members of the cast and crew have tested positive for the virus.
Pushpa is produced by Naveen Yerneni and Y Ravi Shankar under the banner Mythri Movie Makers. While Devi Sri Prasad is composing the film’s music, Miroslaw Kuba Brozek is the cinematographer, with Karthika Srinivas as the editor.
Allu Arjun has a slew of projects in the pipeline, including the untitled project with filmmaker Koratala Siva. He will also be seen in Icon, which is being directed by Sriram Venu.
