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Dhanush's next Karnan is all set to hit screens in April. The film's director Mari Selvaraj, announced the release date with a teaser. The actor, in a statement, wrote, " Karnan releases on April 2021 in theatres. A much needed encouraging news at the right time. Thank you Thanu sir for thinking of the theatre owners, distributors, exhibitors and everybody whose livelihood is dependant on films and theatres, even though you had other options. A big thank you on behalf of my fans as this means a lot to them." Produced by Kalaippuli S Thanu, Karnan marks the first collaboration between Dhanush and Mari. According to The News Minute , the film has Malayalam actor Rajisha Vijayan as the female lead. Mollywood actor-director Lal and DOP turned actor Natarajan aka Natty have also been roped in to play important roles in the movie. The film’s music is composed by Santhosh Narayanan. Check out the post here Karnan release announcement. https://t.co/WKYC5PXxn8 pic.twi...

This monthly column of recommendations of new Indian independent music releases is usually accompanied by a playlist of the same name that includes all the tracks written about. As the year has just begun, I’ve yet to create one for 2021, so this time, it comes with another Best Music of 2020 playlist. I put it together after polling almost two dozen Indian music writers about what they considered the best album or EP of the year gone by. There was a clear winner: blues-rock band Soulmate’s fourth studio album Give Love , which was also my top pick. But there was also a lot of variety; the 22 journalists surveyed, including myself, chose 15 different albums and EPs belonging to a wide range of genres, as their favourite. Check them out, and if you feel like it, tweet your selection to me. If I get enough replies, I can make a Readers’ Poll version of the playlist. Meanwhile, here’s what I’ve been listening to over the last few weeks, which appropriately for a new year is mostly new ...

Actor Darshan Kumaar has been roped in to star alongside R Madhavan in a suspense thriller film, to be produced by Bhushan Kumar's T-Series. The yet-to-be-titled film, directed by Kookie Gulati, also features actor Aparshakti Khurana. Kumaar, known for his performance in movies like Mary Kom, NH10 and Sarbjit , said 2021 has begun on a high note for him. "I'm super excited to be part of the film. It is always great when you get to work on a good script. But what makes the experience even more enriching is when you have great co-stars, too. "Madhavan is one of the best actors in our industry, who always delivers out-of-the-box performances. I'm also looking forward to working with Aparshakti Khurana, who is a wonderful actor, the actor said in a statement. The 34-year-old actor started shooting for the film recently. The movie also marks singer Khushali Kumar's acting debut. by Press Trust of India

Film exhibitors and cinema hall owners have welcomed the decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to increase the capacity of theatres and described the move as a big shot in the arm" for the film industry that will help the entertainment sector get back on its feet. The MHA on Wednesday allowed cinema halls and theatres to operate with more people in fresh COVID-19 reopening guidelines, to be effective from 1 February. Kamal Gianchandani, CEO of PVR Pictures, said they are thankful to both the MHA and Ministry of Information & Broadcasting for relaxing the capacity cap in theatres. "It is an extremely positive move and a big shot in the arm of the film entertainment sector. This has come in a timely fashion a lot of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam films are being lined up for release in February. This move will help a lot of these films," Gianchandani of PVR Pictures, the largest theatre chain in India, told PTI. According to the senior executive, the...

Netflix's new breakout show Lupin will return with its second part in summer 2021, the streamer has announced. The French-language mystery thriller, starring The Intouchables actor Omar Sy, became a breakout hit when it premiered on January 8 on the platform. Check out the announcement here "All I can say is I had a ball." — @OmarSy Lupin Part 2 is coming Summer 2021. https://t.co/4LOX1pbJNE — Netflix Queue (@netflixqueue) January 28, 2021 Developed by George Kay and Francois Uzan, the show is based on Maurice Leblanc's famous character Arsene Lupin. It centres on Assane Diop, whose childhood was turned upside down when his father died after being accused of a crime he didn't commit. Twenty-five years later, Assane (Sy) uses "Arsene Lupin, Gentleman Burglar" as his inspiration to avenge his father. The first five episodes that were released on 8 January were directed by Louis Leterrier and Marcela Said. Part 2 of Lupin will consist of an...

Veteran Bengali actor Indrajit Deb died here on Saturday following a cardiac arrest, family members said. He was 73. He had lost his wife a year back and the couple did not have children. Deb was also suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and kidney ailment for a long time and died at his Gol Park residence in the southern part of the city, the family members said. Deb had started his career in a popular TV serial- Tero Parbon , and played an important role in Karuanamoyee Rani Rasmoni and web series- The Adventures of Gogol. Actress Sudipta Chakraborty expressed grief over the demise of Deb, describing him as a childhood mentor. by Press Trust of India

Hrithik Roshan will star in the Indian adaptation of John Le Carré’s spy drama The Night Manager , reports Variety . According to reports, the adaptation will be directed by Sandeep Modi, who recently helmed the web series Aarya , which features Sushmita Sen. Filming is expected to start in Mumbai in April and will move to international locations once COVID-19 restrictions ease up. Roshan will play the Indian version of the Jonathan Pine character, essayed by Tom Hiddleston in the original 2016 limited series. The original English series was adapted by David Farr and directed by Susanne Bier. Alongside Hiddleston, the cast included Olivia Colman, Hugh Laurie, Elizabeth Debicki and Tom Hollander. It won several Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Primetime Emmys. The story follows the night manager of a luxury hotel, a former soldier, who is recruited by a government espionage organisation, to infiltrate the inner circle of an arms dealer. Roshan was last seen in Siddharth ...

Bombay Talkies, set up in 1934 by producer Himansu Rai and Devika Rani, was a pioneering film studio which revolutionised filmmaking in India. Apart from giving a space to actors and directors like Ashok Kumar, Leela Chitnis and Raj Kapoor to hone their skills, the studio also lent a sense of refinement to Indian cinema by bringing people from sophisticated quarters into the talkies. One of the reasons for Bombay Talkies' immortalisation in the history of Indian cinema was Devika Rani herself — the face of the studio and the glamorous heroine of the films produced in its initial years. In the 1930s and '40s, movies like Achhut Kanya , Jawaani Ki Hawa and Jeevan Naiya  earned Rani immense glory and popularity. Her contribution to Bombay Talkies, however, went beyond acting. A great-grandniece of Rabindranath Tagore, she played an important role in the very functioning of the studio, and took full control of it following the death of Himansu Rai, who was her first husban...

Last year in March, comedian Vir Das was fresh off the acclaim for Vir Das: For India , his third Netflix comedy special, and all ready to embark on an ambitious 38-country world tour to test out newer material. At that point in time, Das was at the top of his game, “I felt the best I’d ever felt on stage then, and was extremely confident about my material,” Das told me over a phone call. Then, a deadly pandemic brought an entire world to halt almost overnight, disrupting innumerable plans, big and small, and confining an entire population indoors. Das was no exception. As the borders closed, his tour stood cancelled indefinitely, and he remained quarantined in his Bandra home for the better part of last year.  And yet despite these interruptions, Das, who started 2020 as the only Indian comedian with three Netflix comedy specials to boot, ended the year as the only Indian comedian who now has four Netflix comedy specials attached to his name. Last month, the comedian premiered ...

Actors Anne Hathaway and Jared Leto are set to play the lead roles in Apple's scripted series We Crashed. According to Variety, the limited series is based on the Wondery podcast of the same name. The show is described as following the greed-filled rise and inevitable fall of WeWork, one of the world's most valuable startups, and the narcissists whose chaotic love made it all possible. Leto will play WeWork founder Adam Neumann, with Hathaway set to essay the role of his wife and co-founder Rebekah Neumann. Both stars will also serve as executive producers on the show. Lee Eisenberg and Drew Crevello are on board as creators, while This Is Us duo John Requa and Glenn Ficarra will direct and executive produce. Apart from WeCrashed , another WeWork TV series in the works with Nicholas Braun on board to play Adam Neumann in the drama created by Stephen Falk. The series is based on a book from Wall Street Journal reporters Eliot Brown and Maureen Farrell. by Press Trust of...

Abhimanyu Singh will play the main antagonist opposite Akshay Kumar in his upcoming film Bachchan Pandey . Film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh took to Twitter to share the news, writing, "ABHIMANYU SINGH TO PLAY BADDIE OPP AKSHAY KUMAR... #AbhimanyuSingh to play the villain opposite #AkshayKumar in #BachchanPandey... Directed by #FarhadSamji... Produced by #SajidNadiadwala... 26 Jan 2022 [#RepublicDay] release." See the post ABHIMANYU SINGH TO PLAY BADDIE OPP AKSHAY KUMAR... #AbhimanyuSingh to play the villain opposite #AkshayKumar in #BachchanPandey ... Directed by #FarhadSamji ... Produced by #SajidNadiadwala ... 26 Jan 2022 [ #RepublicDay ] release. pic.twitter.com/3ouF11sGlY — taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) January 30, 2021 According to a report by India TV , the upcoming film, which also stars Kriti Sanon, is being directed by Farhad Samji and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. The report added that film will be shot in places like Gadisar Lake and Jaisalkot. ...

The Snyder Cut of Justice League finally gets a streaming date. Called Zack Snyder’s Justice League, it happens to be one of the most anticipated movies from DC. This tweet is available on Zack Snyder Twitter handle. The Snyder Cut has received a digital release and will be making its way on WarnerMedia’s streaming service HBO Max on 18 March. The announcement was made via official social media pages of the OTT platform and Snyder shared the news that accompanies three posters. One of the images shows Justice League ’s logo made out of the rubble, the second one shows a tattered Justice League flag, while the third shows a film canister with Snyder written on it. The scenes tease the Knightmare dream sequence in Batman v Superman , wherein Bruce Wayne had dreamt of the world turning into a wasteland after being terraformed by Darkseid and evil Superman. Check out the tweets here Reborn #SnyderCut Streaming 3.18.21 #UsUnited pic.twitter.com/q5pVjCwYur — Zack Snyder (@ZackSn...

Like a bad egg set to boil, a rugged ex-convict softens and then cracks in the pallid drama Palmer . The film, streaming on Apple TV+, opens with its stoic protagonist returning home to rural Louisiana after serving a 12-year prison sentence. Palmer (Justin Timberlake) hits the bar and carouses with buddies, but his townie itinerary changes when he finds himself saddled with caring for Sam (Ryder Allen), the cherubic child of a neglectful neighbour. Sam enjoys playing with femininity; he tries on lipstick, adores dolls and, on Halloween, asks to dress up as a fairy princess. Though he’s bullied at school, Sam is an assured, easygoing kid. But to Palmer, a former high school quarterback, Sam “ain’t like other boys” and will have a hard go at life unless he learns to abide by the macho agenda. If Palmer had emerged as Sam’s story, this formulaic film might have found its footing following a mould-breaking character down familiar country roads. Instead, director Fisher Stevens hews clo...

There is a gentle, old-world romance about the Netflix film The Dig , directed by Simon Stone, off a screenplay by Moira Buffini. Long tracking shots, wistful frames of the English countryside and some unforgettable visual compositions abound in this film that glides, but never really soars. Then again, it leaves you with the sense that soaring was perhaps never its intention in the first place. The film is based on John Preston’s 2007 novel of the same name (which itself is a literary reimagination of the real-life archaeological discoveries at Sutton Hoo in England, just before World War II.) Carey Mulligan plays Edith Pretty, a widowed single mother with a large estate, who hires Basil Brown (Ralph Fiennes) to excavate a set of mounds on her property – they give Edith a ‘feeling’ that there’s something of significance underneath. The film hits the ground running with regards to that particular mystery – you’re almost instantly curious about what could possibly lie underneath. Yet,...

Kangana Ranaut has signed up to play the role of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in an upcoming political drama. According to a report by The Times of India , Kangana, in a statement, said that they are working on the project and the script is in the final stages. The actor added that it is not the biopic of Indira Gandhi, but rather a period film and a political drama that will help the current generation to understand the socio-political landscape of current India. The report added that the venture will be co-produced by Kangana and will be based on a book, featuring the Emergency and Operation Blue Star. Speaking about the film, the actor added that a number of prominent celebrities will be a part of the venture and she is looking forward to playing the most iconic leader that there was in the history of Indian politics. The story and screenplay is being written by Sai Kabir, who will also direct the film. The actor even shared a throwback image from one of her old photosh...

When Parasite was nominated for last year’s Academy Awards, there was a mad rush to watch Bong Joon-ho’s social satire that broke down class disparity, with small moments of joy, with humorous twists and a Machiavellian family who shouldn’t have been likeable but somehow manages to be. I watched the Korean film with subtitles but that took little away from the film. A year before that, Alfonso Cuarón mesmerised us with Roma and along the way, smashed two myths with his masterpiece. First, that colour isn’t necessary for beauty to shine through. And second, that art has no language. I watched that one with subtitles too. If there’s one thing that unites great cinema, it’s that its makers don’t feel the need to pander to ‘a wider audience’ - the audience will consume it as is.   When Netflix announced an adaptation was in the works of Aravind Adiga’s Man Booker prize-winning novel, The White Tiger , I had hoped for an evocative desi film that transcended language and cultural bar...

Mahesh Babu has announced that his film Sarkaru Vaari Paata will be releasing on Sankranthi 2022. The Southern superstar took to Twitter to make the announcement. The Parasuram Petka directorial is produced by Mythri Movie Makers, GMB Entertainment and 14 Reels Plus. Check out the announcement here Sankranthi it is!!! 😊 #SarkaruVaariPaata @KeerthyOfficial @ParasuramPetla @MusicThaman @GMBents @14ReelsPlus @MythriOfficial pic.twitter.com/QkwE7glZTa — Mahesh Babu (@urstrulyMahesh) January 29, 2021 MAHESH BABU - KEERTHY SURESH: #SANKRANTHI 2022 RELEASE... #Telugu film #SarkaruVaariPaata - starring #MaheshBabu and #KeerthySuresh - to release on #Sankranthi 2022... Directed by #Parasuram ... Produced by Mythri Movie Makers, GMB Entertainment and 14 Reels Plus. #SSMB27 pic.twitter.com/27P4pahHwH — taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) January 29, 2021 According to a report by Pinkvilla , the makers of the action flick have started shooting in Dubai. Meanwhile, Keerthy ...

The makers of RRR ( Rudram Ranam Rudhiram ) have unveiled the first look of British actress Olivia Morris, who is playing the role of English lady Jennifer in the film. The makers have unveiled the first look of the actress from the period drama, on the occasion of her birthday. Taking to Instagram, the official page of RRR movie posted, "Wishing the talented and beautiful #Jennifer @oliviakmorris a very Happy Birthday. #RRRMovie #RRR." See the post View this post on Instagram A post shared by RRR Movie (@rrrmovie) In the image, the actor, seen draped in a gown and sitting in what appears to be a jeep. Actors Ram Charan and Junior NTR too wished Olivia on her birthday, on Twitter. Happy Birthday dear #Jennifer !!! @OliviaMorris891 #RRRMovie #RRR https://t.co/9q7cYVHMSb — Jr NTR (@tarak9999) January 29, 2021 Happy Birthday #Jennifer ! @OliviaMorris891 #RRRMovie #RRR https://t.co/re8oa4FmPR — Ram Charan (@AlwaysRamCharan) January 29, 2021 Acc...

Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra defended in the Supreme Court on Friday his alleged scandalous tweets against the judiciary saying if the court believes he has crossed the line and wants to shut down his internet indefinitely, then he too will write Happy Independence Day post cards every 15th August, just like my Kashmiri friends. He said irreverence and hyperbole are essential tools for the comedic enterprise and a comic raises questions on issues of public interest in his own unique way. We would be reduced to a country of incarcerated artists and flourishing lapdogs if powerful people and institutions continue to show an inability to tolerate rebuke or criticism, he said. Kamra, who filed his reply affidavit in a plea seeking contempt action against him for the alleged scandalous tweets said, "I may disagree with many decisions by many courts in many matters, but I promise this bench that I will respect any decision that comes my way with a broad smile. I will not vilify this...

A note during the first scene in The Little Things — an effective cold opening, full of danger and suspense — indicates that it’s 1990. At first, I thought this meant that the action would quickly vault forward into the present day, but instead the movie, which takes place mainly in Los Angeles, settles into a fairly generic version of the semi-recent past, occasionally flashing back to a few years earlier. There aren’t many historical details or period flourishes that would justify this choice. It seems mostly like a pretext for removing cellphones, internet searches, GPS tracking, and other modern conveniences that might ruin the analog ambience needed for an old-fashioned serial-killer thriller. Which is fair enough. When it comes to spooky neo-noir resonance, it’s hard to beat a ringing payphone on an empty nighttime street or an envelope full of Polaroids. Written and directed by John Lee Hancock and starring Denzel Washington as a weary professional with keen instincts and a b...

Kalpesh and Payal Patel and their great Indian Gujarati family are back to navigating life in New Jersey, USA. He runs a corner store called Pay & Run while also promoting an insurance side business. She is a partner in a semi-successful local beauty parlour. With their two children, the Patels are the stereotypical not-so-fresh-off-the-boat Gujarati NRIs. As Payal Patel (Purbi Joshi) says, Gujaratis live for three Ds: dhokla, dandiya, and dhando. This is true whether they live in Surat or Metro Park, New Jersey. In Season 2, Kalpesh (Ranvir Shorey) continues to use his desi hacks ( jugaad ) to find shortcuts for saving a buck (such as hiring his vertically challenged and portly uncle as store security) while also exploring a career in local politics. Payal discovers the importance of social media and her sister Kinjal (Vega Tamotia) juggles motherhood with her IT geek husband Kanan Menon’s (Omi Vaidya) over-enthusiasm for fatherhood and saving the planet. The sisters desperatel...

Veteran theatre actor and director Arvind Joshi passed away at Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai earlier today, 29 January. The news was first reported by Komal Nahta's Film Information. Arvind Joshi was a noted Gujarati drama artist and has taken part in several stage productions throughout his life. The actor was also associated with films, having acted in popular Bollywood releases like Sholay, Ittefaq and Apmaan Ki Aag. Joshi is survived by his wife and two children. He was the father of actors Sharman Joshi and Manasi Joshi Roy. While Sharman has acted in various major Bollywood movies like 3 Idiots, Life in a Metro, Golmaal series and more, Manasi is a renowned television artist, having acted in Dhhai Kilo Prem, Saaya, Gharwali Uparwali and Kkusum. Both Sharman and Manasi are also married into filmy households with Manasi’s spouse being actor Rohit Roy, and Sharman being married to Prem Chopra's daughter Prerana. Also, Arvind Joshi was the brother-in-law of actor Sarita J...

Some films, like  Blue is the Warmest Colour  or  The Brown Bunny , become notorious for sex scenes. Some films, like  Irréversible , becoming controversial talking points for the amounts of violence they contain. Other films, like  The Last Temptation of Christ , become a hot-button issue because they outrage people’s faith and beliefs. Some films gain notoriety for their gaze. When Abdellatif Kechiche’s  Mektoub, My Love: Canto Uno  premiered in Venice, people complained about the excessive objectification of women. The sequel,  Intermezzo , which premiered at Cannes, was practically a three-and-a-half hour advertisement for fleshy buttocks. Georgian director Dea Kulumbegashvili’s  Beginning  is hardly controversial in the sense discussed above. But had the Cannes Film Festival taken place as planned ( Beginning  was an official selection), I suspect it would have become notorious for the fact that nothing “happens” for long stre...