Category: Arts Entertainments

First look of ‘Bazooka’  | Photo Credit: @mammukka/Twitter We had previously reported that Mammootty is working on a film titled Bazooka. The shooting for the film, which went on floors in May last year, has been completed. The makers took to social media to share the news.  Bazooka is written and directed by debutant Deeno…

Simone Ashley. | Photo Credit: Getty Images Bridgerton star Simone Ashley and actor Hero Fiennes Tiffin will headline Picture This, a new romantic-comedy movie from streamer Prime Video. To be directed by filmmaker Prarthana Mohan of The Miseducation of Bindu fame, the UK original movie is based on the recently-released Australian film Five Blind Dates….

A file photo of YouTuber Elvish Yadav | Photo Credit: PTI A Gautam Buddh Nagar court granted bail to controversial YouTuber Siddharth Yadav alias Elvish Yadav in a drugs case on March 22, six days after he was lodged in a jail in Noida, his lawyers said. The jail authorities said they have received Mr….

‘Believe in the impossible because no one else does’

Glimpses of preparations for the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI). File | Photo Credit: ANI The Union Government denied film festival screening permissions to four films set in the Gaza Strip, Turkey, Hungary and Bhutan last year, according to records from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.  The four films are — A…

A peak at the xenomorph from the Alien: Romulus trailer | Photo Credit: YouTube/20thCenturyStudios The much-awaited trailer for Alien: Romulus, a reboot of Ridley Scott’s sci-fi-horror cult classic, has been unveiled by 20th Century Studios. Produced by Scott and directed by Fede Alvarez, the film is set to hit theaters on August 16, featuring a…

D & D are back! The creators of Game of Thrones, David Benoiff and Daniel Weiss, have finally returned to the limelight after much speculation as to what their next project might be. This time, along with True Blood’s Alexander Woo, they take on the adaptation of Three Body Problem, the award-winning novel by author Liu…

Kavita Agarwal and Zafer Mohiuddin in stills from the play | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Kathputliyan Theatre Group (KTG) will stage, Ek Actor Ki Maut. Directed by theatre actor, director, playwright Zafer Mohiuddin, the play is originally written by Croatian writer, Miro Gavran and adapted to Hindi by Saurabh Srivastava. “It is about two actors, Akshay and…

Manjummel Boys, the survival thriller based on a real life story, is continuing its sensational run and has now become the first Malayalam film to collect ₹200 crore at the box office across the world, according to the Film Exhibitors’ United Organisation of Kerala (FEUOK). A good part of the film’s success can be attributed…

‘The Acolyte’. | Photo Credit: Star Wars/X Streaming service Disney+ has set June 4 premiere for The Acolyte, the new Lucasfilm Star Wars series. The date was revealed on Monday on Star Wars verified X account. “An Age of Light, A Darkness Rises,” read the poster. The Acolyte is a mystery-thriller that will take the…

Michael Jackson. | Photo Credit: Getty Images The Michael Jackson biopic, called Michael, is one of the most anticipated films. The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua, is set to release in 2025. The film is set to focus on Jackson’s contributions to the industry and offer tribute to the world-famous singer-dancer. It is still not…

File picture of David Seidler posing with the Oscar for best original screenplay for ‘The King’s Speech’ at the 83rd Academy Awards in 2011. | Photo Credit: AP David Seidler, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of The King’s Speech, died on Saturday while on a fly-fishing expedition in New Zealand. He was 86, reported Variety. “David was…

The India leg and the final stop of Ed Sheeran’s record-breaking +-=÷x Tour ended with the audience beaming in the ‘Afterglow’ making the summer of 2024 the most memorable one by far! Held in the heart of Mumbai at Mahalaxmi Racecourse on March 16, 2024, the night was a dream come true for many with…

Thane: Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan during the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) final cricket match between Majhi Mumbai and Tigers of Kolkata, in Thane, Friday, March 15, 2024. (PTI Photo)(PTI03_15_2024_000356B) Megastar Amitabh Bachchan on Friday dismissed reports of ill health as “fake news”, putting an end to rumours about his hospitalisation. Social…

A still from ‘Anchakkallakokkan’ | Photo Credit: Think Music India/YouTube Someone somewhere seems to be running a little cottage industry supplying obscure, hard-to-pronounce titles for Malayalam films. Last week, we had the tongue twister Agathokakological, and this week we have Anchakkallakokkan. The latter title, of the film directed by Ullas Chemban, is explained away as…

Ke Huy Quan arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar party after the 96th Academy Awards, known as the Oscars, in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., March 10, 2024. | Photo Credit: Danny Moloshok Actor Ke Huy Quan, best known for winning Oscar for his role in Everything Everywhere All at Once, will soon be seen in…

Film screening at R.V. University. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Bengaluru is set to host the Teen Indie Film Awards (TIFA) 2024 from March 14 to 17, an event organised by the students of R.V. University. This year marks the inclusion of Australia, with representatives from the Australian Consulate-General in Bengaluru, Hilary McGeachy, Consul General,…

House converted into a cultural hub | Photo Credit: Special arrangement A corner house opposite a park in a serene neighbourhood at Sainikpuri in Hyderabad is now Rangbhoomi by Sneha Arts, a new cultural space for music/dance shows, open mics and theatre performances. Co-founded by artist Sneha Lata Prasad and theatre actor/director Jay Jha, the…

Passage I | Photo Credit: Kalpit Gaonkar In Mumbai’s parks, abandoned buildings and intersections where birds are fed, a wayfaring multi-disciplinary artist from Bandra, Sarika Bajaj, hunts for discarded feathers. These are her tools of expressionism as well as a medium for articulating ecological concerns. “I have been working with feathers for nearly 12 years,”…

There were many memorable moments at this year’s Sacred Spirit Festival , held recently at multiple venues around the Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur. Audiences, mostly from far off locations, witnessed a musical treat that was often more than an auditory experience. From the sacred spirit festival 2024. | Photo Credit: Courtesy: Sacred Spirit Festival From…

People painting the wall with various environmental themes behind All India Radio Station at Siripuram as part of Paint My Street initiative of GVMC in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: K.R. DEEPAK An uninspiring street wall was turned into a vibrant and captivating piece of art as part of a novel initiative called Paint…

Indulekha Warrier in the music video, Freedom | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Induleka Warrier’s new Malayalam rap video Freedom speaks for all those who are judged, criticised and even harassed for what they wear, how they look, how they speak, their attitude and what not. The song ‘Ente chiri, ente make-up, ente body, ente vakku…. ente style, ente freedom…’ (My smile, my make-up, my body, my words…, my…

A still from ‘To Kill A Tiger. | Photo Credit: Netflix India/YouTube To Kill a Tiger, directed by Nisha Pahuja, first premiered in Canada in 2022 and became available in India on Netflix on Sunday – the same day as the presentation of the Oscars for which the film had got a nomination. The timing…

Tejal Patni’s latest exhibition, Vichitra, is imaginative, immersive and surreal.  While it straddles the line of absurdism — of humans existing in a purposeless, chaotic universe — it bypasses the philosophy’s idea of meaninglessness. If anything, the showcase embraces satire and dark humour to break down physical barriers and bring disparate individuals together. “The inspiration…

Writer Jeyamohan. File | Photo Credit: The Hindu Writer B. Jeyamohan’s blog post on the Malayalam film ‘Manjummel Boys’ kicked up a storm in social media on Sunday, with the writer facing a backlash over several sweeping statements and derogatory comments that he made on Malayalis. The film, based on a real-life survival story involving…

Krystyna Pyszková of Czech Republic waves after she was crowned Miss World in Mumbai on March 9, 2024. | Photo Credit: AP Czech Republic’s Krystyna Pyszkova on March 9 won the coveted Miss World 2024 title at a grand event in Mumbai. Miss Lebanon Yasmina Zaytoun was named the first runner-up. Reigning Miss World Karolina…

Dheekshith Shetty in ‘Blink’. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Blink begins with the audio of eminent Kannada writer P Lankesh talking about the beauty and challenges of writing in an interview with All India Radio. Lankesh is an inspiration to thousands of writers from Karnataka. In a long time, no Kannada film has begun with a…

(Right) Shweta Mohan with Maithri Srikant | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Singer Shweta Mohan and friend Maithri Srikant call their musical collaboration ‘Sthree – The Anthem’, “a celebration of womanhood that promotes gender equality and empowerment of women.” The song was released on Shweta’s YouTube channel on March 5, ahead of International Day for Women. …

“Look, she’s coming up,” someone said, and just like that, a group of us turned around to see a glorious full moon rise from the ramparts of Ahilya Fort. We were seated on the fan-shaped ghats leading from the fort down to the river Narmada. For the last half hour, the young santoor exponent Satyendra…

Combination picture of social media star-turned-boxer Jake Paul and former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. The two will fight on July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Texas, U.S.A., Netflix announced | Photo Credit: Reuters Social media star-turned-boxer Jake Paul will fight former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson on July 20 at AT&T Stadium, Netflix announced Thursday. The streaming platform will…

On February 27, at Paris Fashion Week, Dior went back to the 60s. But instead of leaning into its ‘swinging’ tag, creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri had her models wend their way around life-size, cage-like cane forms. Crafted by Mumbai-based artist Shakuntala Kulkarni, the commanding pieces placed at the centre of the runway in Tuileries…

Nag Venkat with the cast and crew during the shoot | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Nag Venkat is a Bengaluru-based software engineer, who renounced his decade-long career in the IT capital to dive into the world of cinema. Having a passion to tell stories, Venkat always knew that he would end up making films. “Or…

Rajat Kapoor in a still from ‘Lootere’ Filmmaker Hansal Mehta on Wednesday dropped the trailer of his upcoming thriller ‘Lootere’. Hansal Mehta serves as a showrunner on the show. ‘Lootere’ stars Rajat Kapoor, Vivek Gomber, Amruta Khanvilkar, and Aamir Ali in the lead roles. It is directed by Rajat Kapoor and produced by Shailesh R…

Participants at Bengaluru International Film Festival in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: File photo What’s the connection between Clark Gable and Vijaya Bhaskar? Not many know that the music composer, known for wearing stylish suits, was often compared to the American actor, referred to as the “King of Hollywood.” Vijaya Bhaskar’s elder daughter, Shankari Ananth, shared…

A work by Achuthan Kudallur at Gallery G’s Masters & Modern exhibition | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement A treasure trove of art is now open at Gallery G where art lovers, students and anyone with a keen sense of aesthetics, can revel in the wondrous creations of some of the best artists our country has…

Media maven Indrani Mukerjea, arrested in connection with her daughter Sheena Bora’s murder, is brought to court in Mumbai, 2018. | Photo Credit: Vijay Bate Almost a decade ago, it was a story that riveted the country and dominated the news cycle. The disappearance and murder of 25-year-old Sheena Bora unveiled an internecine family drama…

A still from ‘The Zone of Interest’ | Photo Credit: A24 Think of the first images that come to mind when you recall the countless masterpieces on the Holocaust that have graced our screens. A striking image of a little boy next to a military tank; a brutalised, pushed-to-the-brink Jewish pianist walking through the streets…

Actor Rajinikanth arrives to attend pre-wedding events of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant, in Jamnagar Superstar Rajinikanth along with his family arrived in Jamnagar for day three of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s pre-wedding celebrations. In the videos captured by paps, Rajinikanth can be seen making his way towards the venue in a car. Reliance…

South Asian women, especially of Indian origin, taking center-stage in global titles like “Bridgerton” and “One Day” was long overdue, says Indian-American actor Avantika, who plays Karen Shetty in the new iteration of the popular teen comedy “Mean Girls”. This is not the first acting gig for the 19-year-old, born to an Indian family in…

Isha Piramal, Anant Ambani, Rihanna, Nita Ambani, Shloka Mehta Ambani, Akash Ambani and Radhika Merchant react on the stage during pre-wedding celebrations of Anant and Radhika in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India, March 1, 2024. | Photo Credit: Reuters International pop star Rihanna performed her greatest hits on Friday as the who’s who of Bollywood, sportstars, and…

A scene from the movie Premalu. The Malayalam film industry is back with a bang after a string of flops in 2023. Five films – Abraham Ozler, Anweshippin Kandethum, Premalu, Bramayugam and Manjummel  Boys – released since January have worked wonders at the box office. As per estimates by the Film Exhibitors’ United Organisation of…

Kate Winslet is noticeably concerned (even more than I am) that my Internet connection during our Zoom call is all over the place. I succeed finally at keeping it stable, all the while apologising profusely. I need not have fretted; Kate — looking incredibly regal — is quick to assures us that she is not…

(Left to right) Posters of Vinolia soap by Ravi Varma, Goodyear tyres and Eveready Battery Company, Inc. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement The print ad of the Scottish shipping company Anchor Line  | Photo Credit: Special arrangement At a time when it is unexpected to even imagine the flags of India and Pakistan in one…

For a few days in October 2023, the capital of the science fiction world was Chengdu, China. Fans traveled from around the world as Worldcon, sci-fi’s biggest annual event, was held in the country for the first time. It was a rare moment when Chinese and international fans could get together without worrying about the…

Stills from ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’, ‘Heeramandi’ Netflix India unveiled its content slate for 2024 at the maiden ‘Next on Netflix’ event in Mumbai on Thursday. The platform has a robust line-up of 22 India original titles this year, including 8 films, 9 fiction shows (a mix of new and returning series) and 5 non-scripted offerings….

Actor ‘Adade’ Manohar Actor and writer T.R.Murali Manohar popularly known as ‘Adade’ Manohar died in the city on Tuesday night due to sudden illness. He was 84. Being an ace comedian, he was known for his roles in several television serials and films. Actor ‘Maadhu’ Balaji recalled him as a good writer and actor who…

Shankar Mahadevan | Photo Credit: MURALI KUMAR K The Air India inflight Safety Mudras video recently gained immense popularity among netizens for its innovative approach to conveying flight safety instructions. Developed in collaboration with Prasoon Joshi of McCann Worldgroup India, along with Shankar Mahadevan and Bharatbala, the video integrates eight diverse dance forms — Bharatanatyam,…

Puneeth Rajkumar and Bhavana Menon in ‘Jackie’. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Jackie, the 2010 Kannada film starring Puneeth Rajkumar, is set for re-release. The Kannada superstar’s untimely demise at the age of 46 in 2021 has left a huge void in the industry. KRG Studios is set to reignite the craze around Puneeth in…

Vivek Moozhikulam performing at Sangeetha Parishad, Mangaluru. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Vivek Moozhikulam presented a spirited Carnatic vocal concert under the auspices of Mangaluru’s Sangeetha Parishad, in association with Karnataka Government’s Department of Kannada and Culture and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mangaluru. This is the Parishad’s 30th anniversary (Thrimshath Sambhrama) and it has been organising…

With two weeks to go before the Oscars, Oppenheimer looks unstoppable. Director and producer Christopher Nolan’s tale of the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer and the birth of the atomic age won the top prize Sunday at the 35th Producers Guild of America Awards — a frequent predictor of Oscar best picture winners — the…

Pankaj Udhas. File. | Photo Credit: Abhishek Keretta The soulful voice that soothed broken hearts, Pankaj Udhaspassed away after a prolonged illness in Mumbai on February 26 at 72. At the cusp of 1980, when the ‘angry young man’ had sucked melody out of our lives, Udhas, following the footsteps of Mehdi Hasan and Jagjit…

A still from ‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To The Hashira Training’ | Photo Credit: Sony Pictures What a sight it is to see fans sporting anime t-shirts throng a hardly opened theatre hall for an early morning screening of the much-awaited Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To The Hashira Training. The hall erupting…

A still from ‘The Teachers’ Lounge’ | Photo Credit: tiff.net From the very first frame of The Teachers’ Lounge, there’s an inescapable tension in the air that only gets tenser as the story progresses. Filmmaker İlker Çatak uses everything in the mise en scène to tell an arresting tale on morality, traversing over some complex…

D. Seshachary, one of the Hyderabad Brothers, who passed away in Hyderabad on Saturday. D. Seshachary, renowned classical vocalist and part of the illustrious Hyderabad Brothers, breathed his last on Saturday evening, leaving behind a legacy of rich Carnatic music. According to his brother Chary, a journalist at a regional newspaper, the 66-year-old classical musician…

A still from ‘Poacher’ Five years after Delhi Crime, Richie Mehta returns with a dense, detailed and somewhat airless series spun from a litany of harsh facts. In the 1990s, the forests of Kerala were a buzzing hot zone of a notorious ivory trafficking racket. Following committed interventions, the poachers were flushed out and their…

Actor Alia Bhatt has wrapped up the shoot of her upcoming film ‘Jigra’ along with Vedang Raina. Announcing the wrap, Alia on Thursday shared candid photos from the sets of the movie on her Instagram featuring herself and Vedang. Sharing the post, she wrote, “jigra oh… abki teri baari ho @vedangraina & that’s a film…

A still from ‘Mean Girls’ This is not just another teen movie. It is a movie based on the musical, Mean Girls, which in turn was based on the 2004 movie directed by Mark Waters, starring Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams as Cady and plastic queen Regina George respectively. Twenty years and a musical treatment…

A still from ‘Civil War’ | Photo Credit: @A24/YouTube Filmmaker Alex Garland’s upcoming movie Civil War will make its debut in Indian theatres on April 12. The film, dubbed as an “adrenaline-fuelled thrill ride through a near-future fractured America”, is written and directed by Garland, best known for critically acclaimed sci-fi hits Ex Machina and…

A scene from ‘Manjummel Boys’ Nothing exists without a reason in Chidambaram’s sophomore film Manjummel Boys, not even the habit of one character to scream loudly whenever he is excited, causing much irritation to those around him. Or, even a tug-of-war competition that the hot-headed principals indulge in, quite early on in the film. Each…

Shubha Nagarajan and Srividya Angara Sinha | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Bengaluru-based Citsabha Collective will host a dance festival called Svadhyaya. “Svadhyaya, means self study in Sanskrit,” says Kuchipudi dancer and founder of Citsabha Collective, Srividya Angara Sinha. “When we want to pursue excellence in any field, svadhyaya is a pre-requisite. The attitude for self-study…

A needle spinning between cities, film photos, a wire garland around a photo of a beloved inventor— and between all the frames dripping with nostalgia, the radio, an invention that has joined the antique pile along with modern anachronisms like cassettes and VCR tapes. The radio is the central hero of the documentary ‘My Radio,…

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma Kohli. File | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini Star India batter Virat Kohli on Tuesday announced that he and his actress wife Anushka Sharma were blessed with a baby boy on February 15. Kohli and Anushka are already proud parents of a three-year-old daughter Vamika. “With abundant happiness and our hearts…

Regina King in ‘Shirley’. | Photo Credit: Netflix/YouTube The trailer of Netflix’s Shirley is out. In the film, Regina King stars as Shirley Chisholm, the first Black congresswoman. Fierce. Fearless. First. SHIRLEY, starring Regina King, tells the story of Shirley Chisholm’s unprecedented run for president in 1972. Premiering March 22. pic.twitter.com/1OfW6XPzum — Netflix (@netflix) February…

Poster of Darshan’s ‘D 59’. | Photo Credit: @dasadarshan/X The successful duo of actor Darshan and director Tharun Sudhir has reunited for the third time. Having delivered one of the biggest blockbusters of Kannada cinema with Kaatera, the two have teamed up again for a historical film. “ವೀರ ಸಿಂಧೂರ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಣನ ಸಾಹಸಗಾಥೆ” We are beyond thrilled…

First look of ‘Raayan’ | Photo Credit: @sunpictures/X Looks like the rumours were true! The title of Dhanush’s 50th film is here, and it’s Raayan. Helmed by Dhanush, his sophomore directorial after Pa Paandi (2017), the makers also released the film’s first look.  Also starring Kalidas Jayaram and Dhanush’sCaptain Millerco-star Sundeep Kishan, the first look features…

Members of the cast and crew for the film From Hilde, With Love at the 74th Berlinale International Film Festival on Saturday. | Photo Credit: Reuters This week’s Berlin international film festival is wrestling on-and off-screen with the weight of the Nazi past and the menace of a resurgent far-right. The 74th Berlinale, as the event is…

A still from ‘Poacher’ Amazon Prime Video’s India-set series Poacher could be expanded into a global franchise given its universal subject matter, Variety reported. Set to premiere on the platform on February 23, Poacher is a fictional series inspired by real events. Starring Nimisha Sajayan, Roshan Mathew and Dibyendu Bhattacharya, the eight-episode drama looks at…

The second edition of the Mahindra Percussion Festival will be held on March 23 and 24 at the Prestige Srihari Khoday Centre for Performing Arts, Bengaluru. The two-day festival will start with the Charu Hariharan Quartet showcasing a distinctive performance that merges Kerala and Karnataka’s percussion and tribal music. This will be followed by a…

A still from ‘Kaadhal Enbadhu Podhuudamai’, director Jayaprakash Radhakrishnan | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement His last film Thalaikoothalmight not have a huge theatrical success but is having a dream run on Netflix. While the theme of love was just a trope in that film on senicide, it takes centre stage in Jayaprakash Radhakrishnan’s upcoming release…

Sivakarthikeyan in a still from ‘Amaran’ | Photo Credit: Raajkamal Films International/YouTube Amaran is the title of actor Sivakarthikeyan’s upcoming film directed by Rajkumar Periasamy, the makers announced today with a first-look poster and a teaser. The 90-second teaser shows Sivakarthikeyan playing the late Indian Army officer, Major Mukund Varadarajan, who led the Indian Army’s…

A still from ‘‘The Holdovers’ It’s impossible not to reminisce about Alexander Payne’s previous collaboration with Paul Giamatti, Sideways (2004), while watching The Holdovers.  In both films, Giamatti plays a mopey, curmudgeonly sad sack of a teacher, forever burdened by the weight of unrealised potential, a lack of romantic entanglement and an unfinished epic book…

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 11: Usher performs onstage during the Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jamie Squire/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by JAMIE SQUIRE / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP) | Photo Credit: JAMIE SQUIRE American popstar Usher is…

The Film Festival, Berlinale International Jury from left, Brady Corbet, Jasmine Trinca, Christian Petzold, Lupita Nyong’o and Albert Serra pose for media during a photo-call at the opening day of International Film Festival, Berlinale, in Berlin, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. The 74th edition of the festival will run until Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024 at the…

Paper as an art form isn’t very recognised in India. Filling this gap is On Paper Of Paper (O.P.O.P) curated by sculptor and architect Ankon Mitra in collaboration with Apparao Galleries, at the ongoing India Design ID in Delhi. Featuring 75 artists, designers and architects from across the country and the globe, it is a…

Watch | Taapsee Pannu on her choices as an actor, and her struggles It is the final session of the day at The Hindu Lit Fest 2024, and actor Taapsee Pannu is in conversation with Vidya Singh, the princess of Vijayanagaram. Ms. Pannu talks about having her own movie franchise, playing sports-centric roles, the comedy…

President Droupadi Murmu presents the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023 to actor Waheeda Rehman during the 69th National Film Awards at Vigyan Bhavan, . File | Photo Credit: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA The ‘Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director’ and the ‘Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration’ which are…

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) celebrates with girlfriend Taylor Swift after defeating the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium. | Photo Credit: USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con With the run she’s having, how could Taylor Swift be on anything other than the winning side? Swift was smothered…

As Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat duke it out on the 2D fighting landscape for the crown, with a host of other games trying to claw themselves into the ring, Tekken 8 seems to have swept in out of nowhere, bringing the 3D fighter back in style with an excellent release after a very long…

Watch | Comedians Cyrus Broacha, Anuradha Menon, and Kanan Gill on why stand-up comedy is not a joke  How does a stand-up or comedian assess an audience? What does a career in comedy entail? All this and more came to light in a tongue-in-cheek session, May I Have your Attention Please, a freewheeling conversation between comedy experts…

Christopher Nolan, director of the film ‘Oppenheimer,’ poses with his DGA Award for Theatrical Feature Film backstage at the 76th DGA Awards, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 | Photo Credit: Chris Pizzello Christopher Nolan was awarded the top prize at the Directors Guild Awards for “Oppenheimer” Saturday, solidifying his front-runner status for next month’s Oscars. Other…

American actress Sigourney Weaver receives the International Goya Award during the ceremony for the 38th Goya Awards in Valladolid, Spain | Photo Credit: Jose Oliva Sigourney Weaver on Saturday won the International Goya Award in recognition of what the Spanish Film Academy dubbed an impressive career, during which she brought to life “independent, complex and…

Ustad Zakir Hussain, vocalist Shankar Mahadevan, percussionist V Selvaganesh and violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan of Shakti pose for photos with the award for best global music album for ‘This Moment’ during the 66th annual Grammy Awards, in Los Angeles, on February 4, 2024. | Photo Credit: – A few weeks ahead of their 50th-anniversary tour’s U.S….

Watch | What’s unique about Hampi Art Labs? Hampi Art Labs is located around 30 km from Hampi in Karnataka. Hampi Art Labs comprises exhibition spaces, studios and apartments for the artists. The art lab is an initiative of JSW Foundation. It was conceived by Sangita Jindal, the chairperson of the foundation. The residency programme…

Manikandan and Sri Gouri Priya in a still from ‘Lover’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement A person learning how to ride a scooter might not be a big deal but in Prabhuram Vyas’ Lover, Kala (a brilliant Geetha Kailasam), mother of our protagonist Arun (Manikandan), finally learning how to ride a scooter feels like a…

Rajinikanth in a still from ‘Lal Salaam’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Going by the promo and pre-release interviews of Lal Salaam, if you’re gearing up for a socio-political sports drama that tells a story of how religious intolerance and hatred enter a cricketing field, you might have been misled a bit. Yes, there are a…

Farida Saha and Sunit Kumar Saha Rahul Banerjee first saw Subhadra Khaperde at a Narmada Bachao Andolan rally in 1991. It was love at first sight for the IIT (Kharagpur) graduate, who had decided to work for the rights of the Adivasi community in Madhya Pradesh. After months of wooing, Subhadra too fell in love…

A still from ‘Moana 2’ | Photo Credit: Disney Disney has announced a sequel to Moana, which will be released in theatres on November 27. Bob Iger, the company’s CEO, announced the news on CNBC ahead of Disney’s first quarter fiscal 2024 earnings report. The second Moana was originally planned as a television series but…

Bangalore Open Air 2023. | Photo Credit: Mohit Sharma, Special Arrangement  After a triumphant return to representing metal in the Indian music festival landscape in 2023, Bangalore Open Air is scaling back up to a two-day edition this week, taking place on February 9 and 10 at Bits Club, Hennur. Across two days — an…

Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani and Harman Baweja | Photo Credit: @bawejastudios/Instagram Actor-director Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment and Harman Baweja-led Baweja Studios are teaming up for the third time for a new project. The producers took to social media to confirm that the upcoming film will be an action-adventure. In a joint statement,…

Pawan Kalyan in ‘OG’. | Photo Credit: Sony Music/YouTube Pawan Kalyan’s OG has got a release date. Directed by Sujeeth, the movie will hit the screens on September 27. The film is set against the backdrop of Mumbai mafia. The #OG will arrive on 27th September 2024. #TheyCallHimOG#OGonSept27thpic.twitter.com/4PZTUZe2db — DVV Entertainment (@DVVMovies) February 6, 2024…

A still from ‘Manhunt’. | Photo Credit: Apple TV+/YouTube At the 2024 Winter Television Critics Association press tour, Apple TV+ revealed the trailer for Manhunt, the upcoming seven-part, true crime limited series starring Emmy Award-winning actor Tobias Menzies (The Crown, Game of Thrones), and created by Emmy nominee Monica Beletsky, who also serves as showrunner…

A still from ‘Next Goal Wins’. | Photo Credit: Searchlight Pictures/YouTube No one has probably said less in as much time as Taika Waititi in his latest film, Next Goal Wins. In the movie, adapted from a documentary of the same name, Waititi’s writing erodes the natural qualities of a heartfelt story about a Dutch coach training the…

Veteran cinematographer BS Basavaraj, who was recently awarded the Nandi Lifetime Achievement Award, takes a trip down memory lane

Release date announcement poster of ‘Nadikar’ | Photo Credit: @ttovino/X The much-anticipated Malayalam film Nadikar, starring Tovino Thomas and Soubin Shahir, will hit theatres on May 3, the makers announced on Saturday. The film, which was previously called Nadikar Thilagam, is written by Suvin Somasekharan and directed by Lal Jr. The makers announced the release…

Nigerian singer Burna Boy performs at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul.  | Photo Credit: AFP When artists step onto the stage for the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, all except one of the nominees for the newly created Best African Music category will be Nigerians. For the country’s creative industry leaders, the…

Sam Rockwell, left, and Bryce Dallas Howard in a scene from ‘Argylle’ | Photo Credit: AP There are action movies, and then there are action movies made by Matthew Vaughn. With a proven track record that promises unique action set pieces neatly placed within an interesting plot with enough space for some style sense of…

Producer Vaishak J Gowda, actor Shivarajkumar and director Hemanth M Rao. | Photo Credit: @hemanthmrao11/X Hemanth M Rao, riding high on the success of Sapta Sagaradaache Ellofilms(Side A and Side B), is set to direct Shivarajkumar in his next project. The movie will be bankrolled by first-time producer Dr Vaishak J Gowda. Vaishak, a doctor…

Donnie Yen. | Photo Credit: donnieyenofficial/Instagram Hong Kong action filmmaker and actor Donnie Yen will star in Universal Pictures and 87North’s Kung Fu, a feature adaption of the classic ’70s series, reported Deadline. Kelly McCormick, David Leitch, and Guy Danella will produce through 87North, with Lietch set to direct. Ed Spielman, creator of the original…

Scenes from Home SOS by Sushma Soma | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Amid greenery, upcycled and recycled art that hung off the ceiling and walls, signs of eco-conservation were to be seen in every direction at Bangalore Creative Circus. Singapore Carnatic vocalist Sushma Soma brought more urgency to environmentally-conscious messaging with her performance titled Home…

South in today’s deal was American expert Josh Donn. Donn played this deal beautifully, only to find out that any bridge player could have made the contract by inferior play. Virtue had to be its own reward for Donn, but we can admire his play. West had been uncomfortable in the auction, acting like he…

Rama Vaidyanathan’s performance at The Music Academy. | Photo Credit: VELANKANNI RAJ_B It was one of those days when the twin streams –  music and dance – intertwined beautifully. It happened at Rama Vaidyanathan’s performance at the Music Academy dance festival. ‘Sringara rasamanjari’ was the opening composition of the evening, and Rama’s interpretation symbolised the…

The huge choir group that presented the evening of music. | Photo Credit: Siva Raj Swedish mezzo soprano/conductor Maria Forsstrom and pianist Bengt Forsberg, who delighted audiences in Bengaluru last year with Faure’s Requiem, were again in town, primarily for a performance of Mozart’s Requiem, a far more ambitious venture than their previous offering. Given…

BJP MP G.V.L. Narasimha Rao with actor Surya, at the screening of RAM, in Visakhapatnam on Monday. | Photo Credit: V. Raju BJP MP G.V.L. Narasimha Rao has exuded confidence that Surya, who played the lead role in the patriotic film RAM (Rapid Action Mission), will have a bright future. Surya, who hails from Srikakulam,…

Zac Efron and John Cena in a still from ‘Ricky Stanicky’ | Photo Credit: Prime Video Prime Video on Friday unveiled the trailer of its upcoming comedy film, Ricky Stanicky, starring Zac Efron and John Cena. Directed by Peter Farrelly, the film is set to premiere on the platform on March 7. In the trailer,…

Karan Johar | Photo Credit: Tristan Fewings Filmmaker Karan Johar on Sunday said for the past year, his banner Dharma Productions has been involved in the shooting of a film, starring a “superstar from the south”, a “massively loved actress” and a “legacy debut actor”. In a statement shared on Instagram, Johar said it is…

Participants at the ‘Verse to Canvas’ art workshop curated by Nivedha Leoni as a part of The Hindu Litfest in Chennai on Saturday. | Photo Credit: Akhila Easwaran Pencils, paints, crayons, charcoal and white paper — a familiar scene at any art workshop, but this one had an addition — an extract from a poem….

Nicole Kidman in a still from ‘Expats’ If nothing else, Expats should make the case for Nicole Kidman to cement her reign as the queen of current-day prestige television dramas.  After Big Little Lies, The Undoing and Nine Perfect Strangers — she has two more of the ilk in the pipeline — Kidman is back…

First-look poster of ‘Robinhood’ | Photo Credit: @actor_nithiin/X Robinhood is the title of Telugu actor Nithiin’s upcoming film with director Venky Kudumula, the makers announced on Friday with a title reveal glimpse and a first look. The video shows Nithiin playing a thief in a Santa Claus costume. “When I asked money what it could…

Chikkanna and Malaika Vasupal in ‘Upadhyaksha’ | Photo Credit: Anand Audio/YouTube Adhyaksha, released in 2014, was an impressive remake of the Tamil rural comedy drama Varthapadatha Valibar Sangam. Though not on par with it, the Kannada adaptation with the Sharan-Chikkanna combination did a fine job delivering the laughs. A decade later, Upadhyaksha is a film that wants to ride…

Singer and musician Bhavatharini. File National award-winning singer and musician Bhavatharini, daughter of veteran composer Ilayaraja, died on Thursday following illness, film industry sources said. Bhavatharini, who was in her late 40s, passed away in Sri Lanka where she was reportedly undergoing treatment. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan,…

Neeraj Mathew and Sherlyn Bhosale in ‘Hadinelentu’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement In a striking scene from Hadinelentu (Seventeeners), two teenagers — Deepa (Sherlyn Bhosale) and Hari (Neeraj Mathew) — are called to the principal’s chamber. Their leaked sex tape, filmed inside a classroom, has spread online like wildfire. “He is a boy, but you, being a…

From kicking footballs on the streets of France along with 24 other siblings, to becoming one of the world’s best footballers — a marauding left-outback who terrorised oppositions across the globe — to now being a viral Instagram star, Patrice Evra’s life truly is the stuff of sporting lore. The legendary former French international and…

Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Vicky Kaushal Actors Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal will star in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next feature film, Love & War. Described as an epic saga, the film was officially announced on Wednesday by the leads through their social media handles. It will commence production soon…

‘To Kill a Tiger’ poster. | Photo Credit: X@tokillatigerdoc To Kill a Tiger, set in a small Indian village, was on Tuesday nominated for the best documentary feature at the 2024 Academy Awards. A Canadian production, To Kill a Tiger is directed by Delhi-born Nisha Pahuja, an Emmy-nominated filmmaker based in Toronto. It had its…

Achyuth Kumar, Yogi and Diganth in ‘Bachelor Party’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Abhijit Mahesh was one of the writers of the Rakshit Shetty-starrer Kirik Party (2014), one of the biggest blockbusters of Kannada cinema. The college comedy, with an irresistible soundtrack from Ajaneesh Loknath, continues to be liked by youngsters for its clean humour. Seven years later,…

Carnatic vocalist T.M. Krishna and Tamil writer-teacher Perumal Murugan have been collaborators for some years now. Together, their attempt has been to broaden the horizons of the Carnatic music thinkscape — a poetic effort to infuse the socio-political and more. When Murugan wrote the song on the chittukuruvi (sparrow) as a metaphor for joyous tidings,…

Saif Ali Khan at the launch of Marvel’s ‘Wastelanders’ Actor Saif Ali Khan is not well. As per a source, the Hum Tum star has been admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. Reportedly, Saif suffered a fracture. However, an official update regarding Saif’s health is awaited. Meanwhile, on the work front, Saif will…

Poster of ‘Munpe’ | Photo Credit: @munpethemovie Munpe is the title of Malayalam actor Tovino Thomas’ upcoming film with editor-director Saiju Sreedharan, the makers announced on Sunday on the occasion of the star’s 35th birthday. The motion poster released shows Tovino, arms stretched, reaching for a woman who is being pulled into a vortex in…

A still from ‘Raisinghani v/s Raisinghani’ | Photo Credit: Sony LIV Sony LIV on Sunday unveiled the first look of its upcoming legal drama series Raisinghani v/s Raisinghani. Starring Jennifer Winget, Karan Wahi, Reem Shaikh, and Sanjay Nath, the show portrays the lives of young law professionals with different ideologies and approaches. The first-look teaser…

Dushyant Meher, who promotes the Sambalpuri weave, poses with the sari depicting Ram Setu in New Delhi on January 17, 2024. | Photo Credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap Sometime last year, when Ayodhya was being decked out for the Ram temple inauguration, almost 900 km away in Odisha’s remote Katapali village in Bargah district, Ishwar Meher…

A still from ‘The Flight Attendant’. | Photo Credit: Sky TV/YouTube The comedy-drama series The Flight Attendant will not be returning for the third season, Variety confirmed. Starring Kaley Cuoco, the series originally debuted on Max in 2020, with the second season airing in 2022. “What started out as an attention-grabbing book cover quickly evolved…

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah releases the emblem of the Bengaluru International Film Festival in the presence of Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahadevappa and Primary Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa in Bengaluru on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: special arrangement The delegate registration for the 15th edition of the Bengaluru International Film Festival will begin on February 15, the…

A still from ‘Vivekanandan Viralaanu’ Vivekanandan is the kind of character that most stars would avoid playing. With hardly any redeeming quality, the role requires the actor to make an exhibition of an evil, psychotic streak; not something that would garner them the easy applause that a do-gooder, super hero role would get. Shine Tom…

Watch | The artist behind viral 3D paintings of Modi-Shah

A still from ‘Small Things Like These’  | Photo Credit: @ScreenIreland/X Cillian Murphy’s historical drama Small Things Like These is set to open this year’s Berlin Film Festival. Based on the book of the same name by Claire Keegan, the film will have its world premiere in the festival’s competition on February 15. Directed by…

Sid Sriram and AP Dhillon. | Photo Credit: Agencies The 2024 line-up of the Coachella festival has been announced. Indo-Canadian singer AP Dhillon and playback singer Sid Sriram will perform at the American mainstay event. Last year, Punjabi pop singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh had performed at Coachella. Sid Sriram will perform on April 12…

Diganth and Yogi in ‘Bachelor Party’. | Photo Credit: Paramvah Studios/YouTube Trailer for Bachelor Party, produced by Rakshit Shetty and directed by Abhijit Mahesh, is out. The Kannada film, starring Diganth, Yogi, Achyuth Kumar and Siri Ravikumar, will hit the screens on January 26. The film promises a fun ride based on the misadventures of…

Nagaswaram player M.K. Swaminathan. Photo: Special Arrangement While the erstwhile composite Thanjavur district, now divided into many districts, according to late vocalist Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer remained a “forest of nagaswaram and thavil players”, Chennai, too, produced many talents in this field. While nagaswaram and thavil players of Thanjavur belong to the Isai Vellalar community, the…

Ashish Rajadhyaksha Last September, five months after Vivan Sundaram passed away, a book with the simple name Kasauli Art Centre, 1976-1991 was published. It included precious archives of 15 years. Sundaram used to organise art camps, talks, workshops, conferences, theatre performances and film events at a large villa in Kasauli named Ivy Lodge, which he…

FILE PHOTO: A general view shows the red carpet ahead of the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, U.S., September 19, 2021. | Photo Credit: MARIO ANZUONI The time has finally come for a most unusual Emmys. The 75th Primetime Emmy Awards are arriving four months past their due date on Monday night at…

Early on in Kho Gaye Hum Kahaan, Ahana (Ananya Panday) steals glances at her phone, conspicuously placed away from her as she tries to get some work done. The music is ominous, and as it reaches a crescendo, Ahana gives in. She picks up her phone and scrolls through the profile of her ex-boyfriend’s probable…

A poster of ‘Neelira’. | Photo Credit: @stonebenchers/X Karthik Subbaraj’s Stone Bench Production’s next film is titled Neelira. The movie will be helmed by Eelam Tamil filmmaker Someetharan, who has also written the movie. Neelira is touted to be based on the incidents from the Sri Lankan civil war. Naveen Chandra is set to play…

Cast and crew of ‘VD18’ at the pooja ceremony | Photo Credit: JioStudios We had previously reported that actor Varun Dhawan’s next is an actioner tentatively titled VD18, bankrolled by Jawan-maker Atlee’s production banner. Though the film has been on floors for some time now, the makers officially launched the project today with a pooja…

Actor Jonathan Majors. | Photo Credit: REUTERS Embattled Hollywood star Jonathan Majors is no longer attached with 48 Hours in Vegas, a film about former basketball player Dennis Rodman. The 34-year-old actor was last month found guilty of one misdemeanour assault charge and one harassment violation for a March altercation with his then-girlfriend Grace Jabbari….

Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man in a scene from ‘Marvel’s Iron Man 3’ Robert Downey Jr. feels he did some of his best acting work in the Iron Man movies but did not attract enough awards recognition because of bias against the superhero genre. Downey Jr., the odds-on favourite for Best Supporting Actor…

Promotional poster of ‘KH 237’ | Photo Credit: @rkfi/YouTube The action choreographers Anbariv, known for working in films like KGF, Beast, Leo and Salaar are turning directors. The brothers will be helming Kamal Haasan’s 237th film. Proud to add two proven talents in their new avatar as directors for #KH237. Slay it, Masters Anbariv. Welcome…

Before the art world sets off for New Delhi and the India Art Fair (IAF), they will be making a pit-stop in the Maximum City to catch the Mumbai Gallery Weekend. Taking place over the course of four days — across 34 galleries and design venues ranging from Colaba and Fort to Byculla and Bandra…

It has been 10 years since legendary vocalist RK Srikantan passed away and the upcoming annual music festival and award function helmed by the Vidwan RK Srikantan Trust will shine a light on the milestones of the maestro. His son and vocalist, Rudrapatnam S Ramakanth, who currently steers the Trust, says, “My father lived up to…

Leonardo DiCaprio arrives at the Governors Awards on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, at the Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles. | Photo Credit: Chris Pizzello Actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn and Regina Hall are all set to star in filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson’s next with Warner Bros. Written by Anderson, the yet-untitled movie will go into…

Popular Malayalam filmmaker Vinu, who helmed a handful of hit movies in collaboration with director Suresh, died in a hospital in Coimbatore following a brief illness, industry sources said on Wednesday. The 73-year-old filmmaker was admitted to the hospital recently for some abdomen-related ailments, the sources said. He is survived by his wife and two…

Allari Naresh, Nagarjuna Akkineni and Raj Tarun in the Telugu film ‘Naa Saami Ranga’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The trailer of Nagarjuna Akkineni’s Telugu film Naa Saami Ranga, steeped in Sankranti fervour, was unveiled on Tuesday, with barely a few days to go for the film’s theatrical release scheduled on January 14. The film…

Oprah Winfrey. | Photo Credit: AP While her project The Color Purple is still doing wonders at the box office, Oprah Winfrey has set her eyes on her next movie. She told The Hollywood Reporter that she has bought the rights to The Covenant of Water, written by Abraham Verghese. The plot is about an…

Muni Myatari in the Telugu indie film ‘Double Engine’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement For many of us habituated to theatrical viewing of mainstream cinema, a film occasionally warrants us embracing an indie approach. There have been a handful of indie Telugu films in recent years, mirroring subcultures from pockets of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh….

Dune: Part Two Easily the biggest release of the year, filmmaker Denis Villeneuve’s sequel has all of us stoked. The first film, released in 2021, might have gotten a split verdict but Villeneuve’s grit to take on a mountainous challenge that many (famously Alejandro Jodorowsky) have failed to do surely earned him a lot of…

(Right to Left) Indian film actor Saurabh Shukla, former teacher at the NSD Robin Das and Founder of House of Variety Suman Sinha interacting with the media in Patna on Thursday.   | Photo Credit: Amit Bhelari  National Award-winning actor Saurabh Shukla on Thursday called Bihar as his second home while praising the talent of the…

Unni Mukundan’s new film, Get-Set Baby!, recently went on floors with a pooja ceremony. The film is a comedy directed by Vinay Govind and features Nikhila Vimal as the female lead. In Get-Set Baby!, Mukundan portrays an in vitro fertilization (IVF) specialist. The light-hearted comedy-drama centres on the challenges of his profession and how he…

Vasanthalakshmi Narasimhachari receives Nritya Kalanidhi award from Edgar Pang Tze Chaing Consulate General of Singapore at the Inauguration of  the Seventeenth Dance Festival of Music Academy, in Chennai, on Wednesday. Also seen is N. Murali, President of the Music Academy. | Photo Credit: R. Ravindran Classical dancer and choreographer Vasanthalakshmi Narasimhachari was presented with ‘Nritya…

Anita Ratnam in ‘A Million Sitas’ | Photo Credit: Parallax pictures. There is a sense of appealing timelessness about epics particularly, the Ramayana. As part of the Kutty Kutchery series, Rasoham and Arangam Trust presented ‘A million Sitas’ at the Narthaki studio. The expanse of the lawn became the stage and the garden also lent…

A still from ‘Berlin’  | Photo Credit: Netflix Despite its last two seasons not being on par with the first three, the Netflix series Money Heist has undoubtedly transformed into a phenomenon. The show’s iconography — like the red outfit or Dali masks — became a symbol of rebellion and, unsurprisingly, even led to real…

Nivin Pauly in a still from ‘Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai’ | Photo Credit: Think Music India/YouTube A glimpse video from filmmaker Ram’s much-anticipated film Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai, starring Nivin Pauly, Anjali and Soori, was unveiled by the makers today. “There are a thousand reasons to leave someone but only one reason to stay with…

Former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi confers the Sangia Kalanidhi Vidushi award to Bombay Jayashri Ramnath, in Music Academy on January 1, 2024. N. Murali, president, Music Academy is also in seen. | Photo Credit: M. Srinath Carnatic vocalist Bombay Jayashri Ramnath was conferred with the Sangita Kalanidhi award at the Music Academy on January…

George R.R. Martin | Photo Credit: MATT SAYLES ‘Game of Thrones’ author George R R Martin has shared with fans that he has three animated projects, set in the world of ‘A Song of Ice & Fire’, currently under various stages of development with HBO. The 75-year-old writer, in his new blog post, shared his…

The poster for ‘The Greatest Of All Time’ Actor Vijay’s upcoming film with Venkat Prabhu has been titled The Greatest Of All Time. A first-look poster for the much-awaited venture was released ahead of New Year’s Day. As revealed by the poster, Vijay will portray the dual role of pilots in The Greatest Of All Time. “Light…

2023 in television was phenomenal, despite the turmoil of the writers’ and actors’ strikes simmering beneath it. A number of high-profile outings saw cancellations, though streaming numbers and revenues were off the charts. Prestige television came gloriously to the fore with some all-timers, while some other hyped projects (and stars) disappointed, as both returning and…

Kathy Griffin. | Photo Credit: kathygriffin/Instagram Comedian Kathy Griffin has filed for divorce from longtime partner Randy Bick just shy of the couple’s fourth wedding anniversary. Los Angeles Superior Court records show Griffin filed for divorce Thursday, citing irreconcilable differences. The pair dated for several years before marrying on New Year’s Day in 2020. They…

Daily Quiz | On words of 2023 1 / 5 | This word which is internet slang for romantic appeal or charisma, was named Oxford’s 2023 Word of the Year. Popularised in 2022 by YouTuber Kai Cenat, the word went viral after actor Tom Holland claimed to have none in an interview. Identify the word….

In 2023, audiences across the country flocked back to the theatres like never before, resulting in massive box-office hauls for several superstars It was a fascinating year for Indian cinema, as audiences across the country — and globally too — flocked back to the theatres like never before, resulting in massive box-office hauls for several…

Malladi Brothers (Sreeramprasad and Ravikumar) performing at the 72nd year art festival of Mylapore Fine Arts Club in Chennai in December 2023. | Photo Credit: JOTHI RAMALINGAM B Some senior musicians use the early season concerts for experimentation and even offer some teasers. The Malladi brothers, singing for Mylapore Fine Arts Club, appeared to follow…

Sharmila Tagore. | Photo Credit: ROHIT JAIN PARAS Veteran actor Sharmila Tagore has revealed that she was battling cancer when filmmaker Karan Johar approached her to play a key role in his movie Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. The cinema icon and her son, actor Saif Ali Khan, appeared in the latest episode of…

Stunt master Jolly Bastian Stunt master Jolly Bastian, known for the memorable vehicle drifting sequences that he choreographed across hundreds of movies in south Indian languages, passed away on Tuesday. He was 57. Mr. Bastin, who was in his native Alappuzha to celebrate Christmas, died following a cardiac arrest. The last rites will be held…

Abhishek Raghuram at the Music Academy’s Margazhi Season in 2023. | Photo Credit: SRINATH M Abhishek Raghuram’s concert is perhaps one where the audience needs some preparation and conditioning, as unconventionality is the norm. There is always an air of intrigue and some trepidation. As he has travelled far in his unique bani, the distance…

Richard Franklin. | Photo Credit: Twitter Veteran actor Richard Franklin, best known for his roles in Doctor Who and Emmerdale, has passed away. He was 87. The news of his demise was shared by his long time friend Liam Rudden on social media, Deadline reported. “It is with great sadness, that the family of Richard…

Hindi cinema shuddered back to life in 2023. We finally had some genuine, unembarrassing hits. Propaganda films like The Kerala Story and Gadar 2 still reigned in theatres, but there was also Jawan, where Shah Rukh Khan had an intense heart-to-heart with the voting public (India goes to polls in 2024). Meanwhile, other actors and…

There was a point in 2022 when every K-drama that dropped seemed to be on a mission to outdo its predecessor. To say that we were spoiled for choice was an understatement. After a year that had Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Little Women, Business Proposal, and Our Beloved Summer, the line up this year had a…

A still from ‘Malayalee From India’ | Photo Credit: @MagicFramesOfficial/YouTube Nivin Pauly has teamed up with Jana Gana Mana director Dijo Jose Antony for the actor’s 43rd film for which the shooting was completed last year. It’s now known that the film is titled Malayalee From India. The makers released a promo video featuring the…

First look of ‘Nilavukku Enmel Ennadi Kobam’ | Photo Credit: @wunderbarfilms/X After making his directorial debut with Pa Paandi in 2017 and following it up with D50, which is currently in post-production, Dhanush has announced the details of his third directorial project. Titled Nilavukku Enmel Ennadi Kobam, the film features Mathew Thomas, Priya Prakash Varrier,…

Mahima Nambiar and Shane Nigam in a still from ‘Little Hearts’ | Photo Credit: Sony Music South/YouTube The teaser of Little Hearts, the upcoming romantic comedy starring Shane Nigam and Shine Tom Chacko was released by the makers today. The film is written by Rajesh Pinnadan (Kerala State Award winner for Oru Thekkan Thallu Case)…

A still from ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief came out in 2010, and despite being a successful film, was met with mixed feelings. Directed by Chris Columbus, who had directed the first two Harry Potter films, and starring A-listers including Sean Bean, Pierce Brosnan and Uma Thurman,…

Director Anurag Kashyap | Photo Credit: – The short film Incognito by filmmaker Ravi Muppa is set to be developed into a feature film, which will be produced by Anurag Kashyap. Kashyap and Ranjan Singh will produce the feature adaptation along with Nicholas Weinstock and Divya D’Souza of Invention Studios. “Incognito is a uniquely sharp,…

Jude Anthany Joseph on the sets of his film 2018. Malayalam film 2018: Everyone is a Hero, India’s official entry in the international feature film category at the 2024 Academy Awards, is out of the Oscars race. The Jude Anthany Joseph-directed film failed to make it to the shortlist of 15 films for the category,…

One of the boys with whom Deva (Prabhas) plays cricket in the nondescript town of Tinsukia in Assam refers to his towering persona as ‘cutout’, a word that is commonly used by the star’s fans. Director Prashanth Neel uses this throwaway reference to reaffirm that this film, mounted on a massive scale, is a celebration…

Director Tudor Giurgiu receiving Best World Cinema Feature Film award for Freedom (Libertate), a Romanian film, at the 21st Chennai International Film Festival held at PVR Sathyam Cinemas, on Thursday. | Photo Credit: JOTHI RAMALINGAM B Vadivelu was adjudged best actor for his performance in Maamannan at the 21st Chennai International Film Festival that concluded…

The Sunday Crossword No. 3286

Dhyan Sreenivasan and Pranav Mohanlal in the first look of ‘Varshangalkku Shesham’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement We had previously reported that actor-filmmaker Vineeth Sreenivasan is helming a film titled Varshangalkku Shesham. with an ensemble cast that includes Pranav Mohanlal, Kalyani Priyadarshan, Nivin Pauly, Dhyan Sreenivasan and the director himself. Today, the first-look poster of the…

Rajkumar Hirani, Aamir Khan; Shah Rukh Khan in ‘Dunki’ Superstar Aamir Khan has wished filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani on completing 20 years in movies and said he is excited about his next directorial Dunki, starring Shah Rukh Khan in the lead. Dunki, a comedy drama based on an illegal immigration technique ‘donkey flight’, is slated to…

Three young men bathe and swim ashore in the mighty Brahmaputra, put on clothes and walk away, one of them picking up a discarded shirt from the river bank. This drone capture of an everyday routine is how filmmaker Shrutismriti Changkakoti welcomes us to her world of Before Spring, but this is no mere introduction;…

A still from ‘Sangi-Gai’ | Photo Credit: @thespacedotmedia/Instagram The first 15 minutes or so of this Nyishi-language fantasy drama is an enthralling piece of cinema unlike anything I have seen in recent times; it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to call it an Arunachali Apocalypse Now-meets-Churuli. The year is 1905 and we see a team of…

The golden run of filmmaker duo Raj & DK and writer Suman Kumar with The Family Man, Farzi, and Guns & Gulaabs represents the zeitgeist of the pan-Indian cinema movement more than even most pan-Indian features. Hailing from Andhra Pradesh, Raj & DK teamed up with Suman, a Bangalorean now awaiting the release of his…

The skies are threatening to open up (again) when Saint Joseph’s Church rears up on the horizon in Perumpannaiyur, a village in Tiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu. The massive Roman Catholic shrine’s stately presence is unmissable in a landscape dominated by coconut palms, paddy fields and insistently crowing roosters. The construction of this imposing structure…

Poster of ‘Mr Bachchan’ starring Ravi Teja. | Photo Credit: @RaviTeja_offl/Twitter Actor Ravi Teja on Sunday announced that his next film is titled Mr Bachchan after his favourite megastar Amitabh Bachchan. Directed by Harish Shankar, the tagline of the upcoming Telugu movie is Naam Tho Suna Hoga. Also starring Bhagyashri Borse, Mr Bachchan is backed…

The crowd favourite of International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) 2022 was Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Mammootty-starrer Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam. Among the delegates who thronged the theatres to watch the movie was Adarsh Sukumaran and Paulson Skaria. Little did the scriptwriter duo know that their movie, Kaathal-The Core, the Mammootty-Jyothika starrer directed by Jeo Baby, would…

A still from ‘Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget’  | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The birds are back! While it’s been 23 years for us, it hasn’t been much for our feathered friends who, after escaping from Tweedys’ poultry farm in Chicken Run, are now settled in an idyllic bird sanctuary island. But chickens crossing…

Sunny Leone poses for portrait photographs for the film ‘Kennedy’, at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 23 | Photo Credit: Daniel Cole Actor Sunny Leone is set to make her Malayalam series debut. Leone plays the titular role in the web series Pan Indian Sundari, distributed by HR OTT. The…

A still from the trailer for ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ After two decades, Eddie Murphy returns as lovable detective Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, the fourth instalment in the iconic Beverly Hills Cop comedy franchise. Set to stream on Netflix, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F finds Murphy’s streetwise cop back on…

A still from ‘Fight Club’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Unfortunately, it’s time to break the very first rule of Fight Club. Vijay Kumar, the actor-filmmaker who wowed Tamil cinephiles with the Uriyadi films, is back. Such a resurgence deserves a mass introduction scene, and in his latest film, the aptly-titled Fight Club, he’s presented…

Tanjore painting | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement “A Tanjore painting has to be treasured, not just because it contains gold, but also because of its invaluable heritage,” says Bharani Elangovan, a Tanjore painting artist. “The artform traces its history back to the time of the Chola empire in the 16th century. Carrying forward the tradition…

Mali, Tarang Joseph, Mr. Kev x Yellow December 15, 9 pm onwards Fandom at Gilly’s Redefined, Koramangala Tickets: ₹799 onwards, plus ₹500 cover charge at the door via Insider.in Mali | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Chennai-origin, Mumbai-based singer-songwriter Mali aka Maalavika Manoj has been traveling the country on a DIY tour promoting her latest synth-pop…

A wish for immortality probably lies latent in the minds of many. It is a wish that becomes reality for the protagonists of Shalini Ushadevi’s film Ennennum (Now and Forever), being screened in the Malayalam Cinema Today section at the 28th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). But, rather than the immense possibilities of immortality,…

George Clooney; Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie  George Clooney has reacted to Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie essaying his character Danny Ocean’s parents in an upcoming prequel to Ocean’s 11 .  Robbie and Gosling essayed Barbie and Ken respectively in Greta Gerwig’s mega-success Barbie.  “Margot Robbie’s my mother? I’ve always thought that. And Ryan Gosling is…

A still from the The Zone of Interest. Holocaust films often come with their set of expected images, hardly any of which we get to see in Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest, being screened in the world cinema category at the 28th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). Instead, much of the time we…

Poster of ‘Dry Day’ | Photo Credit: Prime Video Streaming platform Prime Video on Tuesday announced that its upcoming original film Dry Day will premiere on December 22. Directed by Saurabh Shukla and produced by Emmay Entertainment, the social satire stars Jitendra Kumar, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Annu Kapoor. According to a press release, Dry Day…

Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” dominated the Golden Globe Awards nominations with nine nods for the blockbuster film, including Best Picture Musical or Comedy as well as acting nominations for Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling and three of its original songs. It was closely followed by its release date and meme companion Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” which scored…

A still from ‘The Zone of Interest’  Jonathan Glazer’s chilling Auschwitz-set drama, The Zone of Interest, has been named best movie of the year by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. The critics group, which announced its picks late Sunday after a day-long meeting, also awarded prizes for Glazer’s directing and Mica Levi’s score. It…

Filmmaker Jayant Digambar Somalkar  | Photo Credit: S.R.Praveen It literally took a village for Jayant Digambar Somalkar to make his debut film Sthal (A Match), set in his childhood home in his native village, and starring non-actors from the region. The Marathi film, which earlier this year became the only Indian film to be chosen…

A still from ‘Stranger Things’ | Photo Credit: Netflix The much-awaited fifth and final season of Netflix’s teen horror series Stranger Things is set to begin production in early January, though the start date is still subject to change. Filming was postponed for over seven months due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. ALSO READ:…

A still from ‘Leave the World Behind’ The one book you would take with you in an apocalyptic scenario (after stocking up on water filtration tablets and dry food, obviously) has now morphed into shows. In Leave the World Behind, Rose (Farrah Mackenzie), the 13-year-old daughter of Amanda (Julia Roberts) and Clay (Ethan Hawke) Sandford,…

Queer artists have existed across time, and so has art about queer people; from Ismat Chughtai’s 1942 short story ‘Lihaaf’, Bhupen Khakhar’s ‘Two Men in Benares’ and ‘Yayati’, to Prem Kapoor’s 1971 film Badnam Basti. Most of these artists were censured by society for ‘indecent’ portrayals, and their works, somehow, eclipsed in mainstream history. When included, references…

The curtains went up at the capital on Friday for the 28th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan addressed the gathering through a recorded video, as the State Cabinet is taking part in the Navakerala Sadas, a mass outreach programme. “The IFFK stands tall with the biggest festivals…

A still from ‘Fighter’  | Photo Credit: @Viacom18Studios/YouTube The makers of Fighter, on Friday, launched the teaser of the much-anticipated film and director Siddharth Anand said it is just a fraction of the intensity the movie encapsulates. Starring Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, and Anil Kapoor, Fighter will hit the screens on January 25. Touted as…