ShowBiz

Los Angeles, Sep 13 (IANS) Immediately after news of French New Wave icon Jean-Luc Godard's death broke on Tuesday (September 13), tributes started pouring in from world leaders, fellow filmmakers, artistes and cinephiles around the world, reports 'Variety'.

The first off the block was French President Emmanuel Macron, who described Godard as "the most iconoclastic of New Wave filmmakers, who had invented a resolutely modern, intensely free art. We are losing a national treasure, a look of genius."

Godard was also celebrated by Edgar Wright, the writer-director of 'Last Night in Soho', who wrote on social media that Godard was "one of the most influential, iconoclastic filmmakers of them all." Wright added that "perhaps no other director inspired as many people to just pick up a camera and start shooting".

Actor, comedian, director and writer Stephen Fry said he had watched Godard's debut film 'Breathless' for the "umpteenth time again" two weeks ago and found it as compelling as ever.

"It still leaps off the screen like few movies," Fry tweeted. "That scene between them in the hotel: how many other directors could have managed that in so small a space and made it so captivating?"

Oscar-winning Mexican director and author Guillermo Del Toro also paid homage to Godard on social media and kept retweeting tributes from others, one of them being from the French cinephile Philippe Rouyer, who wrote: "A last salute to #JeanLucGodard immense filmmaker who has not stopped rethinking his art since 'Breathless' (1960). 'Le Contempt' and 'Pierrot le fou' are masterpieces. But until his last strokes of brilliance, all his films question the making and the impact of images."

The British Film Institute (BFI) called Godard a "giant of cinema who ripped up the rule book." A statement issued by it read: "From 'Breathless' onwards, he tested the limits of the medium."

BFI Chief Executive Ben Roberts said in a statement issued to 'Variety': "Jean-Luc Godard's death is a huge loss to cinema. The godfather of the French New Wave and one of the most influential and innovative filmmakers of the last century, his work has resonated with generations of film lovers around the world."

The Cannes Film Festival released a retrospective of his career highlights on Twitter. "Since his first appearance at the Festival in 'Cleo de 5 a 7' in 1962, 21 films by Jean-Luc Godard have been screened at Cannes," the festival shared.

Cameron Bailey, chief of the ongoing Toronto International Film Festival, tweeted: "Jean-Luc Godard might have despised posthumous praise but here we are. His staggering body of work over seven decades showed him to be a rare, true genius in cinema. It was playful and punishing. It challenged every viewer, and rewarded the persistent."

He added: "Most of all, Godard was merciless in his pursuit of what (and how) images mean. For his every confrontation that expanded our art form, we will be forever in his debt."

The news of Godard's passing was first reported in the French newspaper 'Liberation' on Tuesday morning and later confirmed by the auteur's family in a statement which read: "There will not be any official ceremony. Jean-Luc Godard died peacefully in his home surrounded by his close ones. He will be incinerated."

--IANS
srb/uk

New Delhi, Sep 13 (IANS) The now-famous track 'Manike Mage Hithe' sung by Sri Lankan singer-composer Yohani Diloka de Silva, popularly known as Yohani, is now going to be part of the soundtrack of the film 'Thank God' starring Ajay Devgn.

The singer said that it was quite challenging for her to record the song in Hindi.

"Learning the language was the biggest challenge," she said.

Yohani added: "I have grown up listening to Hindi music, but making a real movie track is very different. I am essentially the voice of another actress. The pronunciation, texture, dynamics change completely when recording and it was my first time doing something like that."

The singer gave credit to the entire team for supporting her through this journey.

"I had to record many times to achieve the correct pronunciation and the emotions that were required, but the team's encouragement made it all seem enjoyable," she said.

The song has been composed by Tanishk Bagchi, who is well-known for tracks such as 'Bolna' (Kapoor & Sons) and 'Ve Maahi' ('Kesari').

Speaking about introducing Yohani to Bollywood and making the song part of the movie, Bagchi said, "'Manike' is a peppy song that swept the Internet, and it goes very well with the setting of the film."

He added: "Today, a variety of artistes are doing their own gigs, and people welcome new singers and their unique styles with open arms. New flavours have been added to the song, taking it one notch higher. Yohani has great talent and potential, and working with her was a totally new experience as she also had a lot to offer."

On how it was working with Bagchi, Yohani said: "I have always been a fan of Tanishk Bagchi's music and it was a dream come true to collaborate with him. Even though I'm away from home and learning a new language, everyone makes me feel at home. I look forward to working on many more projects with him."

--IANS
ila/arm

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 13 (IANS) Internationally renowned filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan said that French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard changed the grammar of filmmaking and created his own path in making films.

He was reacting to the passing away of the Franco-Swiss filmmaker on Tuesday, September 13, at the age of 91.

Adoor said Godard's intellectual abilities were seen in his first movie "Breathless". He questioned the traditional mode of filmmaking and created his own path. He has used a unique style of the character directly speaking to the audience. The acclaimed filmmaker said Godard had even developed a new methodology to make digital movies.

National Award-winning editor and artistic director of International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), Bina Paul, told IANS: "The Intellectual commitment of Godard was exemplary and he was fully devoted to movies. His movies themselves a treat to watch and had revolutionised filmmaking."

Shyamaprasad, a National Award-winning director, said: "This is a great loss to world cinema. It was Godard who changed filmmaking. He has inspired several Hollywood filmmakers to make realistic movies and revolutionised international filmmaking. It is indeed a great loss."

Godard entered the film industry after a stint as a critic and writing screenplays for movies. "Breathless" was his first movie and "A Woman is a Woman" his first colour movie.

His movies broke the established conventions of French cinema and commenced on a new style of filmmaking. He was more forthright and his offbeat approach to sex was noteworthy.

In his later years, movies such "Goodbye to Language" (2014) and "Image Book" (2018) were more experimental in nature.

--IANS
aal/srb

Mumbai, Sep 13 (IANS) Megastar Amitabh Bachchan was in awe of visually impaired 'Kaun Banega Crorepati 14' contestant Aneri Arya from Surat, and kept praising her for her logical reasoning skills and the calmness with which she approached the quiz-based reality show.

Despite the challenges that come with her disability, Aneri finally managed to win Rs 25 lakh on the show. She chose the right option given to her for the question: In the year 1967, citizens of which place voted against joining Maharashtra through a referendum? The options given to her were (A) Belagavi (B) Kutch (C) Goa and (D) Junagadh and she opted for Goa, which was the right answer.

Though it was a critical moment for her, Big B left his seat to offer her a glass of water. But she got the answer right and took home Rs 25 lakh.

Talking about the winning amount on the show, Aneri said: "When Amitabh sir announced that I have won Rs 25 lakh, it took me a while to absorb the fact. When I could finally comprehend that I had answered the question correctly, all my life's struggles crossed like a train of thoughts through my head, and I felt overwhelmed."

A resident of Surat, the 26-year-old 'KBC 14' contestant is an assistant professor of English at Shree Bhaikaka Sochitra Government Arts and Science College.

She also thanked her parents for helping her learn to read and write, which is why she does not use Braille but takes the help of AI software. Both Big B and Aneri also praised Gujarati cuisine.

"I knew my parents, who were sitting behind me, were very proud of me and I could feel their loving gaze on me," she said, recalling her experience.

"It was an amazing experience; something I don't think I can ever forget in my lifetime. My dreams of studying further have been unlocked with this prize amount and I hope I have made my family and friends proud. It's certainly one of the high points in my life so far."

'Kaun Banega Crorepati 14' airs on Sony Entertainment Television.

--IANS
ila/arm

Mumbai, Sep 13 (IANS) The makers of the all-woman whodunit series 'Hush Hush' released the trailer on Tuesday and amped up the excitement about it.

The seven-episode web series, which will start streaming on Amazon Prime Video on September 22, is helmed by Tanuja Chandra and features Juhi Chawla, Soha Ali Khan, Shahana Goswami, Kritika Kamra, Karishma Tanna and Ayesha Jhulka.

It is a story of a set of women whose lives take a dramatic turn when a secret from their past comes out. It seems like a searing blend of suspense, mystery and rollercoaster emotions.

Chandra, who first got noticed because of her script for the Yash Chopra blockbuster 'Dil Toh Pagal Hai', and later for directing 'Dushman', said: "The female genre has been my abiding passion but a female-first cast and crew is something of a dream come true for me."

She added: "I have loved working on 'Hush Hush' with a formidable cast and a team deeply committed to creating something unusual but also a show that speaks to the times we live in. Having women as producers and heads of department just made it that much more special."

Juhi, who's making her debut in a web series after playing a lead role in Rishi Kapoor's last film, 'Sharmaji Namkeen', noted: "The plot of 'Hush Hush' grabbed my attention. I knew in an instant that this is a special project I'd love to work on."

Also making her OTT debut is the popular Bollywood actress of the 1990s, Ayesha Jhulka, who'll be remembered from 'Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar'. She sounded elated about her OTT debut and hoped viewers would give her the same love she got from them for her films. She noted that 'Hush Hush' was truly "the perfect project to embark upon for my digital debut".

Sharing her experience of working in an all-woman project, Soha said: "It brought in a sense of excitement and fun that will translate on screen for viewers to see. I am certain that the audiences will be engrossed throughout the series and will relate to it."

Shahana Goswami, who was last seen in 'Bombay Begums', said every character in the series has a gripping story. 'Hush Hush', she added, has a gripping narrative that'll pique audience interest across the world.

"Each character in the series is a very different kind of woman and will be relatable to all," she concluded.

--IANS
ila/srb/uk

Chennai, Sep 11 (IANS) Actress Amala Akkineni, who took the Tamil film industry by storm with her brilliant performances in Tamil films before marrying Telugu star Nagarjuna and settling down in Hyderabad, describes the changes she has witnessed in the last 30 years as amazing.

Explaining about the changes she has witnessed over the years, the actress, who has as big a fan base in Tamil as she has in Telugu, said: "It's amazing. Every year I am witnessing this growth, this difference. It also makes me happy. Because the world has opened up. It has become possible to go anywhere in the world."

"Many good fields and opportunities have emerged for women. They can achieve anything they set their mind to. I am glad that I was able to witness this in my lifetime."

Amala says that she considers the thought process to be more important than lifestyle while talking about women's liberation.

"My mother is from Ireland. I have seen her live with a freedom that many Indian women did not have at that time. Many think that wearing western outfits and following their lifestyle defines independence. But no one talks about the thought process. For me that was important.

"I went to college wearing our traditional dress. I don't think freedom is about wearing western outfits. I thought it was important to think freely. Freedom of mind is important. Now, we witness it everywhere. It is also very joyous to see women in all departments of cinema too. Right?," she said.

Amala will next be seen in a Tamil-Telugu bilingual film called 'Kanam' that is to hit screens on Friday.

The film, which has been directed by Shree Karthick, features Amala, Sharwanand and Ritu Varma in the lead.

About what 'Kanam' is, she said: "'Kanam' is an adventure. A story about the journey of three ordinary people. They have beautifully and poetically told how to rise after every failure. There will be a lot of laughs in the movie. There will also be a jolt. Even that jolt will only make you reflect on life.

"It makes us realise that we have to give our best effort in any given opportunity. The movie gives that motivation. The movie will give you hope, make you realise that if you fall, you have to getup immediately."

--IANS
mani/kvd

Mumbai, Sep 11 (IANS) Known for her role in 'Shastri Sisters', actress Ishita Ganguly is all set to enter the show 'Gud Se Meetha Ishq'. She speaks about her character and how her entry is going to make the story more interesting for the audience.

She said: "I'm playing the role of Chandini in the show who is a very independent and strong woman. She has an opinionated and appealing personality."

The show revolves around the lives of Kajal(Pankhuri Awasthy Rode) and her husband Neel(Ishaan Dhawan), Pari (Meera Deostahale) and her husband Dev(Arhann Behll). Now, Chandini, the role that will be played by Ishita is going to create a lot of differences between Dev and Pari in the show. Ganguly also feels that her character is quite relatable.

"The viewers will relate to her character. Chandini is going to be a very interesting character who is here to create havoc in Dev and Pari's life. Her entry is going to add more drama to the show and it'll be interesting to watch out for her," she added.

After being part of a number of serials like 'Ishq Ka Rang Safed', 'Lal Ishq' and others, the actress found her on-screen personality in the show very different and she credits Ganpati for getting this opportunity.

Ishita mentioned: "I've always tried to take up different roles and characters so when the role of Chandini was offered to me, I was keen to take it because I find her personality to be very different and interesting. It's bappa blessing that during the time of Ganesh Chaturthi, I was offered this role and I hope the audience gives me the same love and also like me in this new role".

'Gud Se Meetha Ishq' airs on Star Bharat.

--IANS
ila/kvd

By IANSlife
New Delhi, Sep 11 (IANSlife) Riddhima Kapoor Sahni will make her London Fashion Week runway debut, opening the show for ace British fashion designer Helen Anthony. This is the first time the influencer and Indian jewellery designer is set to walk the runway on an international stage. Riddhima will open the show wearing her own creations as well as Anthony's.


"I've always been proud of the shows I have walked for in India, but I'm excited and nervous, this is the first time I will be walking on an international platform, that too at London Fashion Week. I have two looks for the show, but they are both surprises, I trust Anthony completely, so I can't wait to see what they are like," says Sahni.

This show is set to be held on September 19, 2022, at the Parckcro in London, and will feature Riddhima X Punjab Jeweller's exclusive jewellery paired alongside Anthony's clothes. Both brands collaborate to bring to life the great design legacies of their respective regions and to enable a craft exchange on this globally renowned platform.

This is also the first time the jewellery designer will be presenting her creations to a global audience. "The show is themed around East meets West and this collaboration is very close to my heart. It has taken numerous zoom calls planning this, among both teams, and I'm glad we are on the same page. My collection titled 'Samara' is inspired by my daughter, it is a confluence of the East and West, it has a mix of contemporary pieces as well as polki and diamond statement designs," adds Riddhima.

On the runway, a plethora of jewels crafted using age-old techniques such as kundan polki, jadau, minakari, and others will be showcased. Traditional yellow and white gold necklaces, earrings, bracelets and waist belts will be paired with Anthony's modern silhouettes.

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in

--IANS
tb/

Mumbai, Sep 11 (IANS) Nothing could be more exciting for TV actress Suhani Dhanki than to make a cameo in the Akshay Kumar-starrer 'Cuttputli'.

"This was during the pandemic when a lot of films seemed to have been shot in the UK. I was approached by the brilliant casting team because they were looking for a UK-based actor for this role. I auditioned, and after a few months, I got the part."

"Fortunately, I played the role of an RJ who is pregnant and helps Akshay find the lead in the thriller," shares Suhani, who was last seen in the TV show 'Porus', where she played the role of the protagonist, Laacchi.

The film is directed by Ranjit Tewari and also features Rakul Preet Singh and Sargun Mehta among others.

Calling her experience of working with Akshay absolutely memorable, she adds: "He is absolutely brilliant. I have never seen a more disciplined actor. He didn't leave the set at all and was giving cues. He was so chill to work with."

"Even though he's a superstar, he had such warm energy and a comfortable personality. Also, he has an absolutely hilarious sense of humour and is so very spontaneous. I've always found him very fascinating. He's just constantly been at it! I love him in his cop avatar and his poker-faced comedy."

Even though she is based in London, Suhani wants to focus on her career both in India and the UK. "I'm very keen on focussing on my career as an actor both in India and in the UK. I'd love to explore a range of roles, especially those of strong, powerful women."

"Simultaneously, I've been working towards growing in my career as a dancer and making my Guruji, Dr. Sandhya Purecha proud. Moving to London has only furthered that ambition," she adds.

Dhanki, who is a trained Bharatnatyam dancer and known for playing roles such as Madri in 2013 'Mahabharat, asserts that though many movies are released on OTT, watching a film with friends in cinema halls has altogether a different charm and fun.

Suhani explains: "I think watching a movie in a cinema had its charm, it was more of an experience that we enjoyed with friends or family. However, now, given the pandemic where people got used to consuming content rapidly and keeping in mind the entire subscription-driven model, people have become increasingly comfortable watching films in their homes.

"Also, there is a mindset that a movie that has been released in cinemas will have an OTT release anyway. Whether it is a good take or not is questionable, but I guess it's a safer bet given the amount of time, effort, and resources that go behind making every film."

--IANS
ila/kvd

Hyderabad, Sep 11 (IANS) Veteran Telugu actor Uppalapati Krishnam Raju has passed away at the age of 83 in wee hours on Sunday, family sources informed.

He is survived by his wife and three daughters. 'Bahubali' star Prabhas is his nephew.

Popularly known as 'Rebel Star' of Tollywood, Krishnam Raju has acted in more than 180 movies in a career spanning over five decades.

Krishnam Raju acted in movies ranging from social, family, romantic, thriller movies to historical and mythological movies. His succesful movies include 'Amara Deepam', 'Sita Ramulu', 'Katakataala Rudraiah' and many more.

Apart from being a two-time Andhra Pradesh government's Nandi Award winner, Krishnam Raju won the Filmfare best actor award for 'Tandra Paparayudu' in 1986. He was awarded the Filmfare South 'Lifetime Achievement' award in 2006.

Born, January 20, 1940 in the West Godavari district, Krishnam Raju made his film debut in 1966 with 'Chilaka Gorinka'. Briefly, he also portrayed the anti-hero in some movies. Krishnam Raju became a household name in Telugu homes with movies like 'Bhakta Kannappa' and 'Tandra Paparayudu'. He also produced several movies under his 'Gopi Krishna Movies' banner.

In his later years, along with film's, Krishnam Raju also pursued a career in politics. He contested as the Congress candidate from Narasapuram in 1991 but list. He won from the same seat as the BJP candidate in the 1999 polls and served as a junior minister in the Vajpayee cabinet till 2004.

--IANS
pvn/shs