ITV

Category: Movies

  • EU Film Festival to be held across eight Indian cities

    EU Film Festival to be held across eight Indian cities

    MUMBAI: The rich cultural diversity of the European Union and its Member States will be on display in its myriad hues at the 20th European Union Film Festival that begins in Chennai on 31 March.

     

    The festival brings to India a repertoire of 21 latest and award winning European films from as many countries. Organized by the Delegation of the European Union and embassies of Member States in partnership with local organisations including the Federation of Film Societies of India, the festival will traverse through Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Coimbatore and Jodhpur over the next four months. 

     

    Celebrating 20 years of bringing European cinema to India, the festival will screen movies from varied genres including comedy, drama, romance and action – many charming and sometimes unsettling stories. The festival will tell the story of eleven year old Freddy, a cyclist who hopes to win a race and thereby meets one of his heroes; of two opera directors whose common passion for music is matched by their thirst for love; of a man who runs away from his girlfriend but collides with a bride who has run away from her wedding; of a woman whose life in a mansion somehow mirrors the turbulent changes of an entire century; of a boy who makes unexpected friends while investigating the death of his parents in a car accident; and of the happy householder with the perfect marriage who finds love –  or maybe something else – with a choreographer who loves her cooking.

     

    Speaking about the success of the European Union Film festival in India, European Union ambassador Dr Joao Cravinho said, “Through films, sitting in a darkened hall in front of a screen, we can laugh together, relive history, explore the beauty of distant landscapes and celebrate what makes us human. Films give us glimpses into the life and times of people they portray and help break barriers of languages to bring people together across the world. Thus, it is heartening to see that the European Union film festival through its 20 years of journey in India has provided an ideal bridge between two vibrant cultural scenes with rich film traditions and has developed into a significant annual event in the calendar of film aficionados. This year we have decided to bring latest films from Europe to celebrate the 20th anniversary and we hope that the viewers will enjoy it as much as they have enjoyed our earlier editions.”

     

    EUFF dates and venues will be announced in the coming days.

     

     

  • Kangana Ranaut named brand ambassador of LIVA

    Kangana Ranaut named brand ambassador of LIVA

    MUMBAI: Birla Cellulose, from Aditya Birla Group, unveiled its new age fabric brand, LIVA. The company has named Kangana Ranaut as its new brand ambassador.

     

    The company also launched the Liva Accredited Partner Forum (LAPF) at JW Mariott, Mumbai with a fashion show. LIVA is a new age fabric that is natural, fluid, and fashionable which infuses fluidity into the garment.

     

    The evening saw an amalgamation of the five elements to bring out the essence of LIVA, in a fluid fashion showcase titled ‘Panchtatva’.

     

    James Ferreira, renowned for his subtle non-literal infusion of Indian elements, presented the LIVA Collection themed Air, whereas Puja Nayyar, known for her unique ideation towards experimentation in design, used Earth as an element to showcase the expanse of the fabric LIVA. Narendra Kumar, known for his structured silhouette and sharp tailoring, displayed the fluidity of the fabric, using Water as the inspiration and Anita Dongre, who is known for her wide range – pr?t to couture, traditional to contemporary, classic to avant-garde and desi to global, took inspiration from Fire to bring alive the fiery fluidity of LIVA.

     

    The highlight of the showcase was show stopper Kangana Ranuat, walking the ramp in a gorgeous LIVA creation.

     

    Ranaut said, “When I saw the fabric, I was really surprised at how flowy and fluid it was. It draped by body in just the right way, wasn’t too boxy or too tight. The fabric moved as I moved. I think it’s the kind of fabric that can go well with any clothing and occasion. Moreover, I personally feel that LIVA is going to play a very important role in the world of fashion. People always want something new; something exciting and I can see it happening with LIVA. The collections seen tonight are very much testament to the great potential the brand has for women’s wear. It feels great to be here tonight with the wonderful design team from LIVA, and of course, the absolutely brilliant designers who have show cased their collections”

     

    Grasim Industries managing director and group director – textiles K.K Maheshwari said, “Firstly, we needed to create a distinctive and relevant end-consumer promise. With years of experience and several intense rounds of understanding consumers, we have found one that we believe resonates strongly with their desires and beliefs. Not only does it fully satisfy them on the aspect of being a natural product, it also delights them on the distinctive aspect of the product which is its soft drape, or “fluidity”. I am delighted to announce that we are launching this product under the brand name “Liva” with the very simple but very meaningful and attractive proposition of “Natural Fluid Fashion.”

  • Barkhaa…Who?

    Barkhaa…Who?

    MUMBAI: Barkhaa is an old fashioned story revisited. It is about a city lad on a visit to a picturesque location where he falls for another visitor. As a modern version, the theme is about one sided love, an obsession and about his love ending up in a dance bar.

     

    Taaha Shah, a reputed and wealthy lawyer’s son, is on a visit to Haryana, where he spots Sara Loren and falls in love with her. She is not aware of his feelings or scrutiny. But, soon, Sara has vanished from the scene and Tahaa does not know where to look for her.

     

    Back to routine, he is asked to run an errand for his lawyer father, Puneet Issar, to meet a dance bar owner client of his. Taaha is invited by the bar owner to come visit his bar. When Taaha does so, he gets an unpleasant surprise. Sara is one of the bar dancers at the joint. Now, Taaha may be obsessed with Sara but, for a reputed, traditional Tahaa, son of a renowned lawyer, a bar girl is not supposed to be an ideal object of romance.

     

    Since Taaha is in a quandary as his love for Sara is overpowering, he is drawn to the bar constantly. He lands up there and takes to drinking. He drowns his sorrows and shock of his love being a dance bar girl by just looking at her every day without communicating.

     

    Sara is not a mere bar girl, she is talented too and has penned a book, which Taaha is invited to inaugurate. After reading the book, Taaha learns the story of Sara’s life, her betrayal by Taaha’s own friend and her having been left with a child out of wedlock.  The book mentions no author’s name but Taaha somehow connects it to Sara.

     

    It is time for the old-fashioned melodrama. Taaha is summoned to his hospitalized mother. Meanwhile, Issar is plotting to get Sara out of Taaha’s life. As a reputed lawyer, he can’t have a bar girl as his daughter in law. But, such films are all about happy endings. So be it.

     

    Sara acts well and has a good presence. Taaha does well. The direction is fair and the film has a pleasant musical score.

     

    But with no face value and a lack of promotion, Barkhaa will only add to numbers, nothing to box office.

     

    Producer: Shaban Hashmi.

    Director: Shadaa Mirza.

    Cast: Sara Loren, Taaha Shah, Puneet Issar.

  • Academy Awards producers Meron and Zadan step down

    Academy Awards producers Meron and Zadan step down

    MUMBAI: After producing the Oscars for three consecutive years, Neil Meron and Craig Zadan have decided not to return for a fourth stint. 

     

    Zadan and Meron will not be back to take charge of The Academy Awards next year, after fulfilling the terms of a secret contract they signed when they first accepted the job. 

     

    “Craig and Neil have been wonderful creative partners over the last three years, contributing some of the most innovative and memorable Oscar moments. They are true showmen with enormous talent and expertise. We’re looking forward to seeing the exciting projects they have in the works,” said Academy president Cheryl Boone-Isaacs.

     

    During their three-year terms, the producer duo brought on board Seth MACFarlane, Ellen DeGeneres and Neil Patrick Harris as the host for the Oscars.

  • Mikey McCleary bags best composer award for ‘Margarita, With a Straw’ at AFA

    Mikey McCleary bags best composer award for ‘Margarita, With a Straw’ at AFA

    NEW DELHI: Although India dominated the Asian Film Awards nominations with three Indian films shortlisted for seven awards, it managed to walk away with just one award: Mikey McCleary got the best composer award for Margarita, With a Straw.

     

    Korean talent received rounds of applause at a lavish ceremony in Macau, but the biggest prizes at the Awards went to the Chinese. 

     

    The Best film went to Lou Ye’s Blind Massage, while Ann Hui was named as best director for The Golden Era.

     

    The biggest cheers of the evening, however, went to the veteran Korean director Im Kwon-taek, who collected a lifetime achievement award.

     

    The event had been transferred from Hong Kong to Macau last year for the first time, and it is the second year the awards have been organized and presented as a joint effort by three film festivals — Hong Kong, Busan and Tokyo.

     

    A total of 42 Asian films competed for 14 categories.  

     

    From India, Haider had four nominations: Best Film, Best Director Vishal Bhardwaj, Best Supporting Actress Tabu, and Best Production Design.

     

    Kalki Koechlin was also nominated for her performance in Margarita, With a Straw.

     

    Court, which got the best National Film Award this year was nominated for director Chaitanya Tamhane’s screenplay.

     

    Im Kwon-taek is the longest-working director in South Korea, and has directed 102 films since 1962. His latest film Revivre screened at the Hong Kong International Film Festival earlier this month.

     

    Past recipients of the AFA’s Lifetime Achievement Award include Amitabh Bachchan, Ann Hui and Raymond Chow.

     

    Im Kwon-taek (born May 2, 1936) is one of South Korea’s most renowned film directors. As of spring 2013, he has directed 101 films.

     

  • David Cook signs worldwide publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music

    David Cook signs worldwide publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music

     
    MUMBAI: Warner/Chappell Music (WCM), the music Warner/Chappell Music publishing arm of Warner Music Group, has signed a worldwide co-publishing agreement with singer and songwriter David Cook.
     
     
    Following a victorious run on the seventh season of American Idol, Cook set the record for the most songs by one artist on the Hot 100 of any week – charting 11 entries – and also set the record for the most debuts on Billboard’s Digital Songs chart with 14 songs. This success was soon followed by Cook’s self-titled, platinum-selling debut album, which reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and saw two Top 20 singles.
     
     
    “I’m excited to get involved with Warner/Chappell and work with some of the best songwriters in the industry. It’s an honor to be a part of the roster and I’m looking forward to furthering my songwriting career with them,” said Cook.
     
     
    Warner/Chappell Music Nashville executive vice president Ben Vaughn said, “David brings so much to the table with his diversity as a songwriter and a voice that makes you stop and pay attention. We’re looking forward to supporting him as his career continues to grow.”
     
     
    Cook has sold over five million tracks, and his second album, This Loud Morning, debuted in the top ten. In 2012, Cook relocated to Nashville, TN. Freshly inspired by the creative spirit of Music City, Cook is currently working on music for his new album – a collection of tracks he wrote and self-produced, including the new single “Wait For Me.” In addition to his own music, Cook has become a fixture in the Nashville songwriting community, recently co-writing the 2014 top 20 country radio single “Kiss You Tonight,” by David Nail.
  • Amitabh, Deepika and Irrfan launch the trailer of ‘Piku’

    Amitabh, Deepika and Irrfan launch the trailer of ‘Piku’

    MUMBAI: The team of Vicky Donor is back with Piku, a quirky slice-of-life film, that takes audiences on a roller coaster ride of a crazy father-daughter relationship essayed by Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone, along with Irrfan Khan, in a pivotal author backed role. 

     

    The three superstars launched the trailer of the movie on 25 March at a suburban multiplex in Mumbai, amidst a packed house that comprised not just media personnel, but also their parents, in yet another marketing innovation by team Piku. 

     

    One of the most awaited films of 2015, Piku is a family comedy drama. The trailer was every bit a glimpse into the unconventional and quirky story, all told in signature Shoojit Sircar style.

     

    Sircar said, “Piku is a story that will warm your heart and make you smile! We have the best of the talent coming together for a refreshing tale of a father-daughter relationship. I am privileged to direct Bachchan along with Deepika and Irrfan. They are three powerhouse performers and it doesn’t get better than this for me.” 

     

    The movie also marks coming together of Sircar, Ronnie Lahiri and Juhi Chaturvedi, the team behind Vicky Donor. Produced by MSM Motion Pictures, Saraswati Entertainment and Rising Sun Films, the film releases on 8 May and will be distributed worldwide by Yash Raj Films.

  • Akshay Kumar seen fighting corruption in ‘Gabbar Is Back’ trailer

    Akshay Kumar seen fighting corruption in ‘Gabbar Is Back’ trailer

    MUMBAI: The politicians, the police and the common man all have one looming question that they’ve been asking and that is “Who is Gabbar?” Well, according to the brand new gripping trailer from Akshay Kumar’s upcoming film Gabbar Is Back, he is a vigilante and righteous man and an enemy of the corrupt. In a never-seen-before role, Kumar sets the ball rolling with his high-octane action scenes and strong dialogues. 

     

    The trailer echoes famous lines like “Pachas pachas kos dur jab koi rishwat leta hain toh sab kehte hain mat le warna Gabbar aa jayega” and “Ab tera kya hoga kalia.”

     

    Kumar looks daring as Gabbar, who leaves no stone unturned to teach the greedy a lesson. Barging into houses of those who do wrong, bashing criminals, urging citizens to raise their voices, fighting the unjust – he does it all. 

     

    The movie stars Shruti Haasan opposite Kumar and is directed by Krish. Produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Viacom 18 Motion Pictures, Gabbar Is Backis slated to release on 1 May, 2015.

  • Universal to release ’Fifty Shades of Grey’ unrated home video edition

    Universal to release ’Fifty Shades of Grey’ unrated home video edition

    MUMBAI: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment will be releasing the unrated home video edition of Fifty Shades of Grey this May.

     

    The story of a searing love affair between a naive college student Anastasia Steele and a billionaire entrepreneur Christian Grey, Fifty Shades of Grey, which has grossed more than $500 million globally, will be released on Digital HD on 1 May, 2015 and Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand on 8 May, 2015.

     

    Based on E. L. James’ best-selling novel, the Blu-ray and Digital HD include an exclusive unrated version that features a never-before-seen alternate ending along with almost two hours of all-new bonus features that go behind the scenes of this year’s hottest romance.

     

    Shy and unassuming literature student Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) finds her life forever altered when she interviews the enigmatic Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) and is dazzled by the charismatic entrepreneur and his high-flying lifestyle. As the pair embarks on a passionate affair, Ana soon discovers that Grey has dark secrets and desires that will push her to the limits of her imagination – and beyond.

     

    Dornan and Johnson head up a cast that includes Eloise Mumford, Max Martini, Marcia Gay Harden, Luke Grimes, Jennifer Ehle, Victor Rasuk and Rita Ora in the movie.

     

    Bonus features that are exclusive to Blu-ray include: Fifty Shades of Grey unrated and theatrical versions, The World of Fifty Shades of Grey: Discover the artistry involved in creating everything Fifty Shades of Grey, including in-depth profiles of stars Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson, and the characters they play. It will also feature a chat with the creator of Fifty Shades – E.L James, discussing the history of the novel and the experience making the film.

     

    Fifty Shades of Grey is directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and written by Kelly Marcel. 

     

    The DVD comes with English SDH, Spanish and French subtitles and has a run time of two hours and six minutes.

  • Kangana Ranaut wins National Award for Best Actress; ‘Queen’ is Best Film

    Kangana Ranaut wins National Award for Best Actress; ‘Queen’ is Best Film

    MUMBAI: Kangana Ranaut, whose performance was applauded by one and all in the film Queen has won the National Film Award for best actress for essaying the role of ‘Rani’ in the movie.

     

    This is Ranaut’s second National Award. In 2008, the actress won the Best Supporting Actress award for her performance in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Fashion.

     

    Additionally, Vikas Bahl-directed Queen has won the Best Film Award.

     

    The National Awards will be handed out by President Pranab Mukherjee on 3 May, 2015 in New Delhi. As was reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, veteran actor – producer Shashi Kapoor will receive his Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the ceremony.

     

    On the other hand, Kannada actor Vijay bagged Best Actor for the Kannada film Nanu Avanalla Avalu.

     

    The Priyanka Chopra starrer Mary Kom, which is directed by Omung Kumar, has won the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Whereas Haider bagged awards in various categories like Best Choreography (Bismil), Music Direction, Costume Design and Male Playback Singer (Sukhwinder Singh for Bismil).

     

    Director Srijit Mukherji won Best Director for his Bengali film Chotushkone. Killa was named as the Best Marathi Film, Harivu won in the Best Kannada Film category, Nirbashito won Best Bengali Film, whereas Othello won Best Assamese Film.

     

    The Amitabh Bachchan starrer Bhootnath Returns received a special mention at the National Awards. The movie was produced by T-Series and B R Films.

     

    T-Series chairman Bhushan Kumar said, “I am extremely delighted and honoured by this special mention given to Bhoothnath Returns by the National Awards Committee and on behalf of my entire team at T-Series, would like to thank them for this honor. We have always upheld cinematic values and this has further justified our faith in unique and meaningful movies.”