Top Entertainment News: Film Industry Delegation Meets PM Modi
All the latest news in the world of entertainment.
India's 'Village Rockstars' out of Oscar Race
India's official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Oscars 2018, Village Rockstars, is out of the race for the honour, as is Iram Haq's Norwegian drama What Will People Say, starring Indian actors.
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences on Monday announced that nine films have advanced to the next round of voting in the Foreign Language Film category for the 91st Academy Awards, according to the official Oscars website.
An Assamese movie, Village Rockstars is set in Das' own village of Chhaygaon in Assam. It is the story of "poor but amazing children" who live a fun-filled life.
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T-Pain Accused of Plagiarising From ‘Aashiqui 2’ Song ‘Tum Hi Ho’
US rapper T-Pain has been accused of plagiarising his new single ‘Yo Money’ from the Hindi song ‘Tum Hi Ho’ featured in the 2013 Shraddha Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur starrer Aashiqui 2. A flute melody used in T-Pain’s song is very similar to the iconic tune from ‘Tum Hi Ho’. The film’s director Mohit Suri was the first to bring attention to the issue and now music composer Mithoon has called out the rapper as well.
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Sharmila Tagore Messages Amrita Singh After Sara’s ‘Kedarnath’
Sara Ali Khan is riding high on the success of her debut film Kedarnath even as she promotes her next, Simmba. What’s been especially heartening for her is grandmother Sharmila Tagore messaging her mother Amrita Singh about her performance.
Sonam Kapoor Named PETA India's 2018 Person of the Year
Actress Sonam Kapoor, a vegan, has been named People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India's Person of the Year for 2018.
Sonam has been feted as she sings in praise of vegan eating and because she keeps animal skins out of her handbag line for her fashion brand Rheson, apart from taking other action for the welfare of animals, reports IANS.
"Whether she's enjoying vibrant vegan meals or rallying her fans to do their part to stop animal suffering, Sonam Kapoor never hesitates to help animals any way she can," PETA India Associate Director Sachin Bangera said in a statement.
Rural India-Set Drama Around Menstruation in Oscar Shortlist
"Period. End of Sentence", a film about women in India fighting against the deeply rooted stigma of menstruation and delving upon the work of real life 'Pad Man' Arunachalam Muruganathan, has made it to the Oscar shortlist in the Documentary Short Subject category, reports IANS.
The film is executive produced by Guneet Monga and is co-produced by Monga's Sikhya Entertainment, which has backedA films like "The Lunchbox" and "Masaan".
After the Oscar shortlist was announced here on Monday, Monga posted on Instagram: "Waking up to this shortlist! So proud and so exciting... I am so humbled to be a part of the producing team."
Jeff Bridges to Get Cecil B. Demille Award
Actor Jeff Bridges will receive the Cecil B. DeMille award at the 76th Golden Globes on January 6, 2019.
Bridges has starred in legendary films like "The Big Lebowski", "Crazy Heart", "True Grit" and "The Fabulous Baker Boys".
"The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) is delighted to bestow the 2019 Cecil B. DeMille Award on Jeff Bridges," HFPA president Meher Tatna said in a statement to variety.com, reports IANS.
"Bridges' brilliant body of work across diverse genres has captured the hearts and minds of audiences worldwide for more than six decades. We look forward to celebrating ‘the Dude' and his remarkable career and philanthropic achievements at the upcoming Golden Globe Awards."
Deepika Beats SRK as Indian Cinema's Top Star in 2018: IMDb
With just one film in her account in 2018, actress Deepika Padukone has made it as the top star of Indian cinema in 2018, beating her Om Shanti Om co-star Shah Rukh Khan, according to leading global movie website IMDb.
IMDb on Tuesday unveiled the '2018 Top 10 Stars of Indian Cinema' list. The list was derived using data from IMDbPro STARmeter rankings, which are based on the actual page views of more than 250 million monthly visitors to the platform, read a statement.
‘Manikarnika’ Trailer: A Regal & Fierce Kangana Gears for Battle
The trailer of Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi is here. Along with Kangana Ranaut, who plays the warrior queen, the film also stars Ankita Lokhande, Jisshu Sengupta, Atul Kulkarni and Danny Denzongpa in important roles. After director Krish quit the project along with actor Sonu Sood, the film has been helmed by Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi and Kangana Ranaut.
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Aamir Khan Denied Permission by Chinese University to Promote 'Thugs of Hindostan'
The venue of a fan meet of Bollywood actor Aamir Khan was shifted to a hotel after a Chinese university denied permission to use its campus to promote his latest movie Thugs of Hindostan, according to a media report. Khan is currently in China to promote Thugs of Hindostan, which failed to register a strong performance in the Bollywood and was panned by the critics.
The movie starring Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan and Katrina Kaif among others was released on November 8 in India and is slated to release in the country next week, reports PTI.
Yael Stone Accuses Geoffrey Rush of Sexual Harassment
Orange Is The New Black star Yael Stone has alleged that Oscar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush sexually harassed her on multiple occasions while they worked on a theatre production of The Diary of a Madman in 2010.
In an interview with The New York Times, Stone said Rush sent her sexually suggestive messages, spied on her while she was taking a shower and exposed himself to her.
If This Film Doesn’t Work: Shah Rukh on Expectations Around ‘Zero’
It has been a dry spell at the box office for Shah Rukh Khan, making fans anxious, ahead of the release of Zero. With the likes of his films like Jab Harry Met Sejal, Dilwale, Fan and Raees not doing wonders at the box office, all eyes are now on the Aanand L. Rai directorial.
In an interview to Hindustan Times, the actor said, "I can’t change that, and if I can’t change something, why should I think about it? If people feel that 'Zero' is very important for me, it’s their feeling. God forbid, if this film doesn’t work, what will happen? Maybe, I won’t get work for six months or 10 months, but if I believe that my craft and art is good, I will continue to get work."
Oscar Journey Has Ended, but It Has Been Incredible: Rima Das
The road to the Oscars has ended for "Village Rockstars" director Rima Das. But looking back at the journey of the Assamese drama, she says it has been one full of love, hopes and aspirations.
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences on Monday announced that nine films have advanced to the next round of voting in the Foreign Language Film category for the 91st Academy Awards. "Village Rockstars", a little film with a big heart, was not one of them.
Sharing a heart-warming photograph of the children in the film, Das wrote an emotional Instagram post about the love that the movie has received in a journey that has seen it travel to festivals in the nooks and corners of the world, reports IANS.
Film Industry Delegation Comprising Akshay, KJo Meets PM Modi
A delegation representing the Indian film and entertainment industry met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, and pitched for lower and uniform rates of GST for the fraternity.
Actors Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn, filmmakers Karan Johar and Rakesh Roshan, Censor Board chief Prasoon Joshi and Producers Guild of India President Siddharth Roy Kapur were a part of the delegation that met Modi.
Read more on The Quint.
Netflix Sued for Defamation for 'Making a Murderer'
A retired detective has sued Netflix and the filmmakers of hit series and Emmy award winner Making a Murderer for defamation. Andrew Colborn alleges the documentary series suggested he planted evidence to frame murder suspect, Steven Avery, the BBC reported. His lawyer, Michael Griesbach, says his client has been subjected to "worldwide ridicule, contempt, and disdain" since the show's 2015 debut.
The BBC has contacted Netflix for a comment. The case was filed in Manitowoc County in Wisconsin. "He is filing this lawsuit to set the record straight and to restore his good name," Griesbach said of Colborn.
The 10-part documentary, written and directed by Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos, followed the case of Steven Avery and his 16-year-old nephew Brendan Dassey, who were both convicted of murdering freelance photographer Teresa Halbach.
Variety reports that Colborn's case alleges the filmmakers left out key facts and distorted events in order to argue that Colborn and other officers framed the suspects and manipulated trial testimonies, leading viewers to false conclusions.
"Making a Murderer" was one of Netflix's biggest hits in 2015, with the series collecting four Emmy awards in 2016 for its writing and directing. It has gone on to spawn another series, "Making a Murderer 2", which took up the story after Avery and Dassey were convicted.
(With inputs from IANS)
‘Manikarnika’ Actor Andy Von Eich Alleges Non-Payment of Dues
Actor Andy Von Eich, who features in Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, has alleged that he is yet to be paid in full for his performance in the period drama by the production house.
The film, fronted by Kangana Ranaut, has been produced by Zee Studios in association with Kamal Jain and Nishant Pitti.
Von Eich, who plays one of the British officers in the film whose trailer was launched on 18 December, took to Twitter to express his disappointment. "Today #Manikarnika trailer released. I still haven't received full payment for my acting in this movie by the production house. I can't imagine that this is in the sense of #KanganaRanaut if she would know about that. Please help. #ManikarnikaTrailerLaunch #zee #karios," the actor, who hails from Germany, tweeted.
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