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Category: Movies

  • Now Showing: Himalayan woman power documentary at IFFLA’s 19th edition

    Now Showing: Himalayan woman power documentary at IFFLA’s 19th edition

    Los Angeles : The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) returns on 20-27 May with a line-up of narrative and documentary features and shorts for the festival’s 19th edition where 40 documentaries, including shorts, will be virtually released. While the festival is geo-focused to California, special India passes will be available to enjoy the film festival by remote.

    “This is a very special year for IFFLA. Taking the festival online has given us the freedom to curate programs we would not have been able to otherwise present in a physical setting. We have (effectively) expanded our reach,” according to Christina Marouda, executive director, who added, “Once you accept the fact of going virtual you start to realize all the new things that you can do, which is very exciting.”

    The IFFLA devotes itself to a greater appreciation of Indian cinema and culture by showcasing films, supporting emerging filmmakers and promoting diverse perspectives of the Indian diasporas. The 19th edition of the festival boasts an impressive total of 40 films, including three World, eight North American, five U.S. and 17 Los Angeles premieres, spanning 17 languages and includes the works of 16 women directors.

    IFFLA will open with the Los Angeles premiere of the powerful female-centric film, Fire in the Mountains, the 2021 Sundance-selected debut feature by Ajitpal Singh that immerses the audience into a village amidst the backdrop of the breath-taking beauty of the Himalayan mountains. Marouda said, “It’s a region that you normally don’t get to see in terms of the life and struggles (in the backdrop of its) culture.”

    In addition, Marouda explained, “This film is a great example of what IFFLA is all about. And that is about supporting those new emerging voices that really have something to say with their first feature and we want to support the filmmaker in this journey that is starting for them right now.”

    IFFLA’s closing will similarly showcase, Sthalpuran, (Chronicle of Space) by Akshay Indikar, the Marathi film that has won the hearts of audiences at festivals around the world for its breath-taking, poetic exploration of the inner life of its protagonist, a young boy named Dighu, after being featured at the ‘Berlinale 2020’. “It’s very profound and beautifully shot”, Marouda said of the film. 

    Long-time IFFLA alumni Anurag Kashyap (of Sacred Games and Gangs of Wasseypur fame) will join Indikar in an interactive session that sets up an emergent upcoming independent filmmaker with one of the most celebrated independent filmmakers of our generation.

    In another tweak, aimed at lifting the spirits of the Indian population in these exceptionally dark times, IFFLA will make a section of its line up in the 2021 edition available to audiences in India, with the India Pass that is a novel feature of the festival this year. 

    The India Pass will offer access to 24 films from this year’s line up at the price of Rs. 150 (US $2.00), including six features and 18 shorts. IFFLA has coordinated with an anonymous donor who has underwritten most expenses associated with the pass.

    Selected documentaries for the viewing of India Pass holders will include the Malayalam feature ‘Biriyaani’, along with a powerhouse performance by Kani Kusruti; the poignant Rotterdam selected documentary ‘A Rifle and a Bag’; and the impressive debut feature ‘Aise Hee’ (Just Like That).

    A program curated by the legendary Uma da Cunha and themed, “Childhood on Edge”, which encompasses characters on the cusp of the momentous transformation from childhood to adulthood will be a special attraction at the IFFLA this year. This program includes three diverse features, Bridge, The Tenant, and Vanaja besides one short film, Kanya.

    Among the shorts in the India Pass, highlights include the riveting National Award winning ‘Custody’; a Nagaland-set period drama ‘Angh’, which won a prize at Clermont-Ferrand 2021; the bold and mysterious ‘Catdog’, which won the Grand Prix at Cannes’ la Cinefondation segment; the Gujarati film ‘Anita’, featuring a memorable performance by Aditi Vasudev; the dystopian animated masterwork ‘Wade’, winner at the Annecy Film Festival; the Rotterdam selected ‘Letter From Your Far-Off Country’, whose potent exploration of history, memory and oppression is more relevant than ever; ‘Annual Day’, a striking student debut from the Satyajit Ray Film Institute; the enchanting ‘The Song We Sang’, a riveting story about two young women in the streets of Ahmedabad during the Navratri festival; and ‘For Each Other’, the latest film by Rima Das.

    In addition to the films and their corresponding Q&A sessions with the filmmakers, the India Pass will also give audiences in India access to special panel discussions which include engaging conversations with successful industry executives who navigate the world of film and television development, both in the US and in India.

  • BookMyShow Stream adds exclusive content to its movie library

    BookMyShow Stream adds exclusive content to its movie library

    Mumbai: With Indian audiences confined to their home due to the second wave of coronavirus outbreak, BookMyShow Stream is offering engaging content to the viewers. From drama to action thriller, BookMyShow Stream will be streaming movies like The Secrets We Keep, Daniel, and Redemption Day to the viewers starting 21 May. 

    Viewers can buy or rent these films and pay only for the content they like. 

    ·The Secrets We Keep: Directed by Yuval Adler, the movie stars Joel Kinnaman, Chris Messina, and Naomi Rapace in the lead roles. The drama-thriller revolves around the life of a woman who rebuilds her life in the suburbs with her husband. Later, she kidnaps her neighbour and starts seeking vengeance for heinous war crimes he committed against her during the time of World War II. 

    ·Daniel: Directed by Neils Arden Oplev, it is a drama that narrates the story of a young Danish photojournalist who was held hostage for 398 days in Syria by the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIS). The film follows Daniel’s struggle to survive in captivity, his friendship with James, and the nightmare of the Rye family back home in Denmark as they try to cope with the fear that they may never see their son alive again. At the centre of this crisis, we find hostage negotiator, Arthur, who plays a pivotal role in securing.

    ·Redemption Day: An action thriller directed by Hicham Hajji it revolves around the life of a war hero whose life turns upside down when his girlfriend gets kidnapped. To seek vengeance, the war hero starts his deadly operation to hunt down the shadowy forces. 

  • US Network NBC drops broadcast of 2022 Golden Globes

    US Network NBC drops broadcast of 2022 Golden Globes

    New Delhi: US television network NBC has announced that it will drop its broadcast of the Golden Globes ceremony in 2022. The decision comes after the Hollywood backlash over the lack of diversity and the ethics of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), whose members vote on the annual awards for film and television.

    It is for the first time since 1996 that NBC has decided not to broadcast the awards.

    Actor Tom Cruise joined a revolt led by a host of streaming platforms and top studios, and urged others to join the call for action. The Mission Impossible star also returned the three awards he won for his roles in the movies Jerry Maguire, Magnolia and Born on the Fourth of July to register his protest, Variety magazine reported on Tuesday.

    The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) has been facing severe allegations of corruption and impropriety, and lack of diversity. The members have also been accused of making sexist and racist remarks

    Streaming giants Netflix, Amazon Studios, WarnerMedia and several top PR companies have earlier said they would no longer work with the HFPA unless it made far-reaching changes.

    WarnerMedia, which includes cable channel HBO and movie studio Warner Brothers, had even written to HFPA expressing concerns over “racially insensitive, sexist and homophobic questions” at press conferences and events during the nominations and awards process.

    In wake of the criticism, the HFPA had agreed to make some changes over the next year, which were initially welcomed by NBC. But later, the network said it would wait to see if the reforms worked.

    “Change of this magnitude takes time and work, and we feel strongly that the HFPA needs time to do it right. As such, NBC will not air the 2022 Golden Globes. Assuming the organisation executes on its plan, we are hopeful we will be in a position to air the show in January 2023,” NBC said in a statement, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

    Soon after the announcement, the HFPA said it is implementing “transformational change”  on priority and also reiterated that by August 2021, it would approve a new code of conduct and provide diversity and sexual harassment training among other steps.

    The annual Golden Globes ceremony has become one of the biggest Hollywood awards shows in the run-up to the Oscars. But it has been under close scrutiny following an investigation published in February by the Los Angeles Times that showed the group of 87 journalists had no Black members. The association has faced further criticism for this year’s slate of nominations, which did not include several Black-led Oscar contenders such as Da 5 Bloods, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Judas and the Black Messiah in the nominees for the group’s top award.

  • Nayattu movie review: A raw take on the Indian political circus

    Nayattu movie review: A raw take on the Indian political circus

    KERALA: At a time when police highhandedness, use of excessive force and collusion between lawmakers and lawkeepers has come under scrutiny in the US, India and other parts of the world, Malayalam political thriller Nayattu enters the fray with a story in which the ”hunter becomes the hunted”. It also examines the twin themes of truth and justice and how these notions get twisted by the powers that be to suit their interests.

    The film, whose title means ‘the hunt’, stars Joju George, Kunchakko Boban, Nimisha Sajayan, Jaffar Idukki, and Yama Gilgamesh in the lead roles. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Martin Prakkat, Nayattu is now streaming on Netflix.

    Political agenda serves justice

    The film revolves around three police officers, Maniyan (Joju George), Praveen Michael (Kunchakko Boban), and Sunitha (Nimisha Sajayan). The movie begins at a point where Michael, a civil police officer, is assigned to the local police station, where he befriends Maniyan, the assistant sub inspector, and Sunitha, a woman police officer. 

    It is the election season in Kerala, and political parties in the state are fully focused on consolidating their voter base. Governance has taken a back seat in the heat of the electoral race, and even the chief minister is compelled to agree to the demands put forward by low-ranking cadres. At this point, Maniyan, Michael, and Sunitha get involved in a hit-and-run case, where the victim is a youngster who belongs to a political outfit that has ties with the ruling dispensation. An unexpected turn of events makes the trio the suspects of a murder case, and they soon escape from the station until the election wraps up. 

    Thus, a game of cat and mouse begins. The police start searching for the trio, who feel like they’ve sunk into a nightmare where they’re being investigated and hunted by their colleagues. The rest of the story deals with politics, survival, and how the state machinery can stifle justice from prevailing in society. 

    Several critics have been quick to pan how the movie’s climax tapers offs into an abrupt ending. However, this reviewer would like to highlight this open ending as one of the biggest strengths of Nayattu; it poses pointed questions to people who live in a society where police officers often turn into pawns of the ruling party. 

    Flawed policemen in a broken system

    The initial moments of the movie show ASI Maniyan manipulating a case where a young man is being framed for alleged trespass and murder attempt. With these scenes, the director tries to convey how the affluent class in the society is making use of police officers to manipulate the judicial system in the country. However, when police officers turn victims, they become prey of their colleagues, who have nothing much to do apart from obeying the orders from the top. 

    Nayattu: A movie made with international standards

    Nayattu is blessed with some spellbinding performances from its lead actors. Joju George excels in the role of ASI Maniyan, who tries hard to manage his personal and professional life. Kunchakko Boban, who is often labeled as a chocolate hero in the industry, proves yet again that he is an actor with unexplored mettle. He truly brings alive Praveen Michael, and deserves a special round of applause for this effort. For a brilliant actress like Nimisha Sajayan, the role of Sunitha was a cakewalk. 

    The script is penned by Shahi Kabir, who has previously written the screenplay for the acclaimed blockbuster Joseph. Being a police officer in real life, Kabir’s detailing has played a crucial role in elevating the overall mood of the film. Shyju Khalid’s cinematography and Mahesh Narayanan’s slick editing were also top-notch. 

    Final verdict: Nayattu is a take on contemporary Kerala politics where caste plays a crucial role in determining the prevalence of justice in society. Coming against the backdrop of the just concluded assembly polls, the film is sure to put the recent political events in the state into perspective. The film humanises policemen and gives a deep dive into the people and psyche beneath the khaki uniform – vulnerable, flawed and fallible, just like the rest of us.

  • Filmmakers’ hopes dashed again as second Covid wave runs rampant

    Filmmakers’ hopes dashed again as second Covid wave runs rampant

    KERALA: The Indian film industry was beginning to show signs of a feeble revival early this year. As restrictions eased and Covid cases declined, people began returning to the theatres to relive the cinematic experience. The relief, however, did not last long. Now, with the second wave of Covid2019 showing no signs of abating, the industry’s future is in jeopardy yet again.

    India has recorded a record 4.01 lakh new cases of Covid in the last 24 hours and lost over 4,194 people who were battling with its complications. The deteriorating situation has compelled filmmakers to reconsider the release of their projects. Some have taken the streaming route, but even that faced hurdles, as the situation continued to worsen, impacting viewership across all mediums.

    Filmmakers put brakes on new releases

    The makers of Farhan Akhtar-starred Toofan have postponed the release of the movie due to the surge in Covid cases. The film was slated to release on Amazon Prime Video on 21 May. In a statement shared on social media, Akhtar said the current focus is only on the pandemic.

    “The situation in India is truly heart-breaking… In light of the severity of the situation, our focus is completely on the pandemic and on supporting our employees, their families, and helping the wider community. Therefore, we have decided to postpone the release of our film Toofan until the situation improves,” he tweeted. 

     

     

    Makers of Telugu flick Khiladi, which stars Mass Maharaja Ravi Teja in the lead role, have also decided to defer its theatrical outing. The movie was initially scheduled to come to cinemas on 28 May; a new date of release is yet to be announced.

     

     

    Wait for theatrical releases gets longer

    According to the latest updates, Marakkar: Arabikkadalinte Simham (which bagged the Best Feature Film honour at the 67th National Film Awards) is scheduled to hit the screens on 12 August 2021. The film was slated for a 23 March release but was postponed to 13 May due to the first phase of the Covid outbreak. As the marauding virus showed no signs of slowing down, the makers again pushed back the release to 12 August. With a third wave imminent, the August release could also get impacted. If the situation persists, producers may look for other options like direct OTT releases or hybrid releases as the content will get outdated. 

    “Even though it is too early to comment, current developments indicate that theatres in the country will not open in June or July, especially because vaccination is progressing slowly, and the number of fresh cases is rising phenomenally. Not just Maharashtra, most of the states are witnessing a sudden surge in cases,” said Elara Capital vice president and research analyst (media and consumer discretionary) Karan Taurani. 

    A potential third wave?

    As India struggles to combat the second wave, the government has issued warnings for a potential third wave that could hit the country later this year. According to principal scientific advisor to the PM Dr KV Vijay Raghavan, the third wave of Covid is inevitable. “The next outbreak could turn deadlier and it is not clear on what timescale this phase 3 will occur,” he added. “Hopefully, incrementally, but we should prepare for new waves. New variants will arise all over the world and in India too.”

    The dire warning comes at a time when the pandemic has already taken a toll on the Indian film industry. Following the Coronavirus outbreak, several production houses postponed the releases of their films, while some of them opted for OTT premieres. Although some Bollywood movies like Mumbai Saga and Roohi got a theatrical showing earlier this year, they failed to make an impact at the box office. 

    Will Radhe light the way ahead?

    Radhe is the first Indian movie that is set to get a hybrid release this May. The Salman Khan-starrer will hit theatres on 13 May and simultaneously premiere on Zee5 and Zee Plex as a pay-per-view. If the Covid situation persists in the country for long, several big-budget movies are likely to follow in Radhe’s footsteps. 

    “Considering the current trend, makers of big-budget movies like Sooryavanshi may not hold the movies for a long time. They may prefer an OTT release or hybrid release. The second wave might go quickly, we do not know,” opined Karan. 

    Given this uncertainty, most big-ticket, mass market films, both Bollywood and regional, have vanished from the upcoming release slate. Depending on how Radhe performs at the box office despite strict restrictions in several states and the success of the pay-per-view showing, which is yet to take off in India, hybrid release may be a ray of hope to industry stakeholders.

  • Covid second wave pushes multiplexes’ recovery to next fiscal: CRISIL

    Covid second wave pushes multiplexes’ recovery to next fiscal: CRISIL

    New Delhi: Multiplexes across the country are set to log operating losses for the second straight fiscal as localised lockdowns, night curfews and other restrictions to contain the resurgence of Covid2019 infections will keep occupancies low for the next few months, according to CRISIL ratings.

    The film exhibition sector was one of the worst impacted by the lockdown in 2020, being the first to lower their shutters in March, and among the last to resume operations, in October.

    Occupancy had started improving post-resumption, and was expected to reach 18-22 per cent – the breakeven level in terms of operating profit – in the current quarter. Sequentially, occupancy doubled to 12-13 per cent last quarter, and was seen climbing anew to 22-25 per cent in south India.

    However, the sudden spike in Covid2019 cases in April will send that estimate askew and defer recovery to the second half of this fiscal, said CRISIL in its latest report.

    “Our base case assumes average occupancy of 10-12 per cent in the first half of this fiscal and 20-22 per cent in the second half, when restrictions on occupancy and fears of infection will hopefully recede. A full recovery is seen only in fiscal 2023,” said CRISIL Ratings director Nitesh Jain. 

    Temporary closures in many states, especially Maharashtra, will push back new film releases, at least the big-ticket ones, to the second quarter, noted Jain. 

    “Maharashtra is a crucial market for cinema, accounting for a fifth of the total screens in India. The resurgence of pandemic has created many uncertainties, and restrictions could continue for longer, leading to deferment of film releases on big screens and continuation of cash burn for multiplexes,” he elaborated.

    In the milieu, CRISIL-rated multiplex operators, which account for almost half of the industry’s revenue, are expected to log cash losses this fiscal, too. They had bled roughly Rs 900 crore in fiscal 2021, compared with a cash profit of around Rs 785 crore in fiscal 2020.

    Last fiscal, multiplex operators undertook steep cost controls, including deferring maintenance and major capex outlays. They also raised Rs 1,350 crore equity to fund losses and augment liquidity. The current liquidity could comfortably cover operating expenses and debt servicing of these players for the next four to six months.

    But with the sudden turnaround in the state of affairs, cost cutting measures, including deferring maintenance and major capex outlays, are likely to continue even this fiscal. Their ability to keep a leash on fixed cost will, however, be a monitorable, opined CRISIL Ratings associate director Rakshit Kachhal. 

    “Lease rentals is the largest fixed cost and they could save 70-75 per cent (~Rs 800 crore) from waiver of rentals in the last fiscal. Their ability to renegotiate rentals for the current fiscal will be crucial to contain the losses. Besides cost controls, the ability to raise funds in a timely manner will bear watching,” he added.

    The spread of infections, the success of the vaccination drive, and the return of moviegoers will be monitorables, too, as will be the players’ ability to raise funds in a timely manner. But this is only when one sets aside people’s fear of closed spaces.

    According to CRISIL, since multiplexes are among the few out-of-home entertainment options in India, occupancy should bounce back once the fear of infection recedes and the pace of vaccination picks up.

    Besides, big-budget movies, which are temporarily being deferred, are unlikely to be released on over-the-top (OTT) platforms, given that multiplexes contribute more than 50 per cent of the total box office collection. Thus, exhibition of big-budget movies leading to recovery in occupancy should script the recovery for multiplexes, currently seen in second-half of this fiscal.

  • Chloe Zhao and ‘Minari’ star Yuh-Jung Youn make history at Oscars 2021

    Chloe Zhao and ‘Minari’ star Yuh-Jung Youn make history at Oscars 2021

    New Delhi: Beijing-born Chloe Zhao made history at the 93rd Academy Awards as the first Asian woman and only the second woman ever to win the Oscar for best director for the film Nomadland.

    The Hurt Locker director Kathryn Bigelow was the first woman ever to win the coveted prize eleven years ago.

    Korean actor Yuh-Jung Youn, 73, won the best supporting actress winner for immigrant tale Minari, and became the first South Korean actor to win an Oscar. British actor Daniel Kaluuya completed his awards grand slam this year with the Oscar for best supporting actor for his performance in Judas And The Black Messiah.

    In an upset, 83-year-old Anthony Hopkins (The Father) walked away with the best actor trophy, which many believed to be a cinch for the late Chadwick Boseman for his performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. The win makes Hopkins the oldest performer to bag an acting Oscar ever.

    The best actress award went to Nomadland star Frances McDormand, who last won an Oscar in 2018 for her stellar turn as a ferocious, heartbroken mother in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

    Netflix had a big night at the Oscars, bringing home a total of seven trophies, though it failed to pick up an award in the big three categories – best picture and best actor/actress. The streamer had come into Sunday night with 36 nominations, far more than any studio or OTT platform.

    Producers of the annual awards gala, including director Steven Soderbergh, had said that the award ceremony this year would be more like a movie than a TV show. And, indeed it was, with limited audience capacity and celebrities not wearing masks. The ceremony was moved to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles amid the Covid2019 restrictions.

    Dark comedy Another Round, from Denmark, was awarded best international feature film. India’s official entry this year – Jallikattu – failed to make the final nominations.

    The first Oscar of the evening went to Emerald Fennell who won best original screenplay for Promising Young Woman; best adapted screenplay was won by The Father. The White Tiger, starring actress Priyanka Chopra, was nominated in this category.

    The movie Soul, the first from Pixar to feature a black lead character, won best animated feature and also the award for best original score. Christopher Nolan’s Tenet won the award for best visual effects.

    The winners are chosen in a secret ballot by the 9,000 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

  • The show must go on: Oscars 2021

    The show must go on: Oscars 2021

    HOLLYWOOD: After the longest award season in history, the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony will make its mark after major setbacks due to the Covid2019 pandemic and its producers have promised a show like no other before it. The ceremony will begin Sunday, 25 April at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time or on Monday, 26 April beginning at 5:30 a.m. Indian Standard Time. Traditionally, the Oscars are held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. However, this year the historic Union Station in downtown Los Angeles will host the gala, with additional events at the Dolby and other international locations via satellite.

    The ceremony will have three first-time Oscar producers: Emmy-nominated Grammy show producer Jesse Collins and filmmakers Stacey Sher and Steven Soderbergh. During a widely reported virtual press conference the trio revealed details about the show. Soderbergh declared that the ceremony will look unlike any Oscars ceremony we have seen before. He stated, “We’re just trying to create an experience that has the aesthetics of a film as opposed to a TV show.” He added, “The presenters will be weaved into a story during the ceremony, changing the usual format.”

    In an interview with Vulture, Glenn Weiss, who returns for his sixth time directing the Oscars broadcast stated, “You can expect a really great celebration. We’re honouring storytellers. So, what better way to honour storytellers than to become storytellers and make everyone at home come into the room and be part of it?”

    For a third year in a row, the Oscars will have no host, but will have a superlative roster of presenters including last year’s winners Joaquin Phoenix, Renee Zellweger, Brad Pitt and Lauren Dern, as well as, reported A-listers including Don Cheadle, Bryan Cranston, Reese Witherspoon, Harrison Ford, Angela Bassett and others.

    As far as Covid protocols, Variety reported that the Oscars will count as a film production, meaning audience members won’t have to wear masks on air. However, attendees will need to wear masks when off-camera and there will be a limit to the audience capacity. During the virtual press conference, Soderbergh stated, “Masks are going to play a very important role in the story of this evening.”

    Diversity will also play a big and important role in this year’s Oscars. Potential headline-making moments may be in the works with a diverse field of Oscar nominees. Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal) could become the first actor of Pakistani heritage to win best actor. Steven Yeun (Minari) could be the first actor of Korean descent to win best actor and along with them Chadwick Boseman (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) makes the first time three out of five nominees in the Best Actor category are non-white performers. Anthony Hopkins (The Father) at age 83 holds the honour of being the oldest best actor nominee and should he win he would be the oldest person of any sex to win an acting Oscar in any category.

    In the volatile best actress race, Viola Davis (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) is the most nominated Black actress in Oscar history with four nominations thus far. In addition, with Andra Day’s nomination (The United States vs. Billie Holiday), it marks just the second time two Black women have simultaneously been up for best actress – the first being when Diana Ross and Cicely Tyson were up for the award in 1973. Should either Davis or Day win, it would become the second time a Black actress would win, the first time 20 years ago when Halle Berry won for Monster’s Ball. In the best supporting actress category, Yuh-Jung Youn (Minari) would be the first actress of Korean descent to win.

    In the best director category, this year is the first time two women directors have been nominated at once: Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman) and Chloe Zhao (Nomadland) who is also the first woman of colour and the first woman of Asian descent to be nominated.

    The predictions are already in but with the Oscars there’s always room for a surprise or two or three. Here are some of the races to watch:

    In the winner’s circle, Nomadland is expected to be the leading film winner with four including best picture followed by Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom with three including Chadwick Boseman.

    In the much-watched actress in a leading role category, it’s a tight race boiling down to three: Viola Davis (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom); Frances McDormand (Nomadland) or Andra Day (The United States vs Billie Holiday). Then again, Vanessa Kirby (Pieces of a Woman) has become a late favourite among some pundits.

    Chadwick Boseman (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) seems to be the hands-down favourite to win best performance by an actor in a leading role. The actor, who died of cancer last August, will follow Peter Finch (Network) as the only previous posthumous winner in the category.

    Another lock is in the category of best performance by an actor in a supporting role where Daniel Kaluuya (Judas and the Black Messiah) has won at all the previous televised award shows this season.

    In the tightening best performance by an actress in a supporting role category, Yuh-Jung Youn (Minari) is racing toward the finish but followed closely behind by Olivia Colman (The Father) and Amanda Seyfried (Mank).

    In best achievement in directing, a Chloe Zhao (Nomadland) win seems assured with previous wins for her at the Critics Choice Awards, Golden Globes and DGA Awards.

    The best original screenplay category seems also to have a favorite in Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman) after wins at BAFTA, Critics Choice and the WGA. Fennell is poised to become the second solo female winner of this category after Diablo Cody (Juno) in 2007.

    The best adapted screenplay race seems competitive with Chloe Zhao (Normadland) an early favourite but shifting tides are seen flowing toward Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller (The Father) or  Kemp Power (One Night in Miami).

    Another Round (Denmark) has been an early favourite in the best international feature category but some pundits are betting Qua Vadis, Aida (Bosnia and Herzegovina) could be a spoiler.

  • Star Movies brings alive the magic of Hollywood with #HollywoodUnlimited

    Star Movies brings alive the magic of Hollywood with #HollywoodUnlimited

    As the Red Carpet is unfurled and India waits with bated breath to see if we finally bring home an Oscar statuette after almost 2 decades, Star Movies is amping up the excitement with a novel Instagram campaign #HollywoodUnlimited featuring super-talented and gorgeous Elisha Kriis. As a countdown to the awards, Indian beauty, Elisha will walk us through riveting unknown facts about Hollywood with videos ultimately culminating to a Instagram live session on April 24th, 2021 at 7:30 pm.

    Watch the campaign unravel with these 2 links:
    Star Movies India – 
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CN5Q1HPB3o3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CN5DCZrh-Jm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Through the campaign, Star Movies aims to keep up with the Oscars momentum while deepening awareness about Hollywood in its true essence. The mega live will take viewers on Hollywood tour like never before covering iconic and must visited locations like The TCL Chinese Theatre, The Dolby Theatre, The Hollywood Walk of Fame and others.

    Don’t miss out on this opportunity that will reveal some interesting and exciting facts. Join Star Movies and @elishakriis on this journey exclusively on April 24, 2021 at 7:30 pm.

    Home to the Oscars in India for over 2 decades, the 93rd Academy Awards will be telecasted live on Star Movies and  Star World at 5:30 am and repeated at 8:30 pm on Monday, April 26, 2021.

  • Salman Khan-starrer Radhe to debut on Zee5, Zee Plex along with theatres

    Salman Khan-starrer Radhe to debut on Zee5, Zee Plex along with theatres

    KOLKATA: As the Covid2019 pandemic once again slams the film exhibition industry with new restrictions, filmmakers and distributors have been in a quandary — whether to postpone movie releases or take the direct to OTT route. Now, taking a cue from foreign production houses like Warner Bros, Salman Khan-starrer Radhe will debut on Zee5 and Zee Plex on the same day as its theatrical release. 

    With this move, Zee Studios has become the first studio in India to adopt a multi-format release worldwide. 

    Zee Studios CBO Shariq Patel shared, “The ongoing pandemic forced us to innovate, and we are proud to be the first to embark upon this new distribution strategy. While we all love to catch the latest movies at the nearest theatres, we realised we’d be doing a disservice to Salman’s fans nationwide if we aren’t able to release theatrically in all Indian states.

    He went on to add that the studio sensed the need for a pay per view solution along with theatres, which gives the consumers flexibility and convenience of viewing the film. Zee Studios is looking to release the film in over 40 countries including theatrical release in major overseas markets. 

    “There cannot be a better film than Radhe to offer the audiences who’ve been waiting for an out and out entertainer for over a year now,” quipped Patel.

    The film will have a theatrical release and will be showcased in all Indian states where cinema halls are operational as per Covid protocols. The international theatrical release will target countries in the Middle East, North America, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Europe. It will also be the first Bollywood film to release theatrically in the UK since the lockdown last year

    Salman Khan Films' spokesperson remarked, “We will support the theatre owners by releasing the film in as many theatres as we can, keeping in line with the rules and protocols laid down by the government. But, considering the guidelines and safety measures, we also need to devise ways to ensure that the film reaches all of our audience. We don't want to deny the audience the choice of entertainment in the comfort of their homes during these times."

    Along with Salman Khan, Radhe also stars Disha Patani, Randeep Hooda and Jackie Shroff in pivotal roles. The movie is presented by Salman Khan Films in association with Zee Studios, produced by Salma Khan, Sohail Khan and Reel Life Production. It is scheduled to release on 13 May 2021 on the occasion of Eid.