Monday, August 31, 2015

Hollywood loses Wes Craven (76), the director who gave us horror movies like Scream


Hollywood lost writer-director Wes Craven (76) to brain cancer at his home in Los Angeles. He was famous for the Nightmare On Elm Street and the Scream films.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 31 August 2015.
Wesley Earl Craven was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on 2 August 1939 and, after earning a master's degree in philosophy and writing from John Hopkins University in Maryland, he briefly taught as a college professor.
He entered the movies through pornography – he worked here under a pseudonym. And, his mark on Hollywood came in 1972. It was his first film The Last House On The Left. The film was a horror film about a group of teenage girls who got abducted and taken into the woods.
Then, in 1984, he made a mark with the film A Nightmare On Elm Street – he wrote and directed it and gave a break to Johnny Depp. It seems he got the concept from his own life – as a youth in Cleveland, he lived next to a cemetery on an Elm Street.
Anyway, he cemented a place in the horror genre in 1996 after directing Scream and went on to its three sequels. (Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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Qatar Airways changes its policy of sacking cabin crew for getting pregnant or getting married

Women’s hockey team into 2016 Rio Olympics after 36-years on Dhyan Chand’s birthday

Mumbai’s 9000-tonnes of daily plastic waste a major environment issue


Tila Tequila evicted from Celebrity Big Brother because of her praise of Hitler

‘Phantom’ – a Saif Ali Khan Katrina Kaif starrer with Mumbai 26/11 as backdrop

Cate Blanchett to be honored with BFI Fellowship at London Film Festival


Foolish robbers caught in London - they wore burqas but did not walk like women!!

Horror of free access to firearms – West Virginia 14-year-old takes 27 classmates hostage at gunpoint

Trained jihadists from Iraq and Syria returning to Europe to strike terror


A street food named jhal muri
A tribute to Kishore Kumar, the legend, on his 86th birthday

Indian kitchens must have ‘besan’

Bollywood actress Amrita Rao wants to work in memorable movies


Bollywood actress Amrita Rao has expressed a desire to work in films that will remain in the memory of viewers for a long time. She has worked in films like ‘Jolly LLB’ and ‘Satyagraha’ and now wants to become selective.
This has been reported in indianexpress.com dated 30 August 2015.
She made these observations at the special screening of “Baanke Ki Crazy Baraat”. It is a comedy film with Vijay Raaz and Sanjay Mishra and, as Amrita confesses, they have done an incredible job in the film. … It will definitely rock.’ Amrita has given fine performances in serious films. However, her light-hearted roles as she has done in “Masti” and “Main Hoon Na” are more popular.
She feels that comedy is not her forte. She has worked in many comedy films including “Welcome To Sajjanpur” and the ability to deliver the written dialogues in your style and to impress and win over the audience is a very difficult task.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

Some more interesting 'must reads'-

Qatar Airways changes its policy of sacking cabin crew for getting pregnant or getting married

Women’s hockey team into 2016 Rio Olympics after 36-years on Dhyan Chand’s birthday

Mumbai’s 9000-tonnes of daily plastic waste a major environment issue


Tila Tequila evicted from Celebrity Big Brother because of her praise of Hitler

‘Phantom’ – a Saif Ali Khan Katrina Kaif starrer with Mumbai 26/11 as backdrop

Cate Blanchett to be honored with BFI Fellowship at London Film Festival


Foolish robbers caught in London - they wore burqas but did not walk like women!!

Horror of free access to firearms – West Virginia 14-year-old takes 27 classmates hostage at gunpoint

Trained jihadists from Iraq and Syria returning to Europe to strike terror


A street food named jhal muri
A tribute to Kishore Kumar, the legend, on his 86th birthday

Indian kitchens must have ‘besan’

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Debutante Jess Glynne tops the UK album chart with her I Cry When I Laugh


Debutante Jess Glynne has topped the UK album chart with her I Cry When I Laugh. She has called it an "insane dream". She already has five number one singles to her name, including Rather Be with Clean Bandit and her Tinie Tempah collaboration Not Letting Go.
This has been reported in bbc.com dated 28 August 2015.
Glynne's number one album sold just under 60,000 copies – it was the second biggest opening of the year for a debut artist, behind James Bay's Chaos and the Calm, which sold 64,000.
Fight Song singer Rachel Platten said she was "excited and proud" to top the UK singles chart. Till now, Fight Song has reached the top 10 in the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Belgium.
Last week's number one album, The Very Best of Cilla Black, went down to number two, while Bon Jovi's 13th studio album Burning Bridges entered the chart at three. Britain's Got Talent duo Bars & Melody's debut album 143 entered the chart at number four and Dr Dre's Compton is at number five.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)


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Ice Cube would love to have dinner with Barack Obama once he leaves White House

Indian names of Pallavi Sharda and Dev Patel in Hollywood film ‘Lion’

Hugh Jackman of Wolverine fame could portray the role of Greek hero Odysseus


White House discloses – 2nd in command of ISIS killed in drone strike in Mosul

Bomb blast outside temple of Lord Brahma in Bangkok leaves at least 27 dead

Scuba diver smuggles cocaine across US-Mexico border via underwater tunnel


Indian kitchens must have ‘besan’

The lost world of ‘kabiraji cutlets’

Growing up days – I begin to go to the daily market

‘Baahubali’ to be screened at the 20th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF)


It has been revealed that S.S Rajamouli's magnum opus "Baahubali" will be screened in the 20th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) in Busan, South Korea on Oct 4th, 7th and 9th.
This has been reported in indianexpress.com dated 29 August 2015.
The movie “Baahubali” has turned out to be the biggest grossing Indian film ever and an international version of the film, which is 23 minutes shorter duration than the Indian theatrical version and edited by Vincent Tabaillon of “Incredible Hulk” fame, will be screened at the festival.
The movie stars Rana Daggubati, Prabhas, Tamannaah Bhatia and Anushka Shetty and is jointly produced by Shobu Yarlagadda and Prasad Devineni. The story of the film is about the rivalry of two brothers for an ancient kingdom and it will be screened in the Open Cinema section. Salman Khan’s “Bajrangi Bhaijaan”.
BIFF will happen between October 1 and October 10 and the screening of ‘Baahubali’ will be on Oct 4th, 7th and 9th as informed by S S Rajamouli.
(Image courtesy wikimediascommons.org)


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Cochin airport goes ecofriendly – to become only solar powered airport in the world

V Festival in Chelmsford could face tornadoes, hail and thunderstorms


Ice Cube would love to have dinner with Barack Obama once he leaves White House

Indian names of Pallavi Sharda and Dev Patel in Hollywood film ‘Lion’

Hugh Jackman of Wolverine fame could portray the role of Greek hero Odysseus


White House discloses – 2nd in command of ISIS killed in drone strike in Mosul

Bomb blast outside temple of Lord Brahma in Bangkok leaves at least 27 dead

Scuba diver smuggles cocaine across US-Mexico border via underwater tunnel


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The lost world of ‘kabiraji cutlets’

Growing up days – I begin to go to the daily market

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Tila Tequila evicted from Celebrity Big Brother because of her praise of Hitler


Glamour model and Playboy star 33-year-old Tila Tequila has been evicted from Celebrity Big Brother over reports that she had posted an image of herself in Nazi gear posing in front of a concentration camp. She had earlier posted comments on social media indicating that she sympathized with Hitler.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 28 August 2015.
Channel 5 has removed her because she had posted an image of herself in Nazi gear posing in front of Auschwitz concentration camp in 2013. Over 500 people had signed a petition calling for her to be kicked out for allegedly writing anti-Semitic remarks online.
Channel 5 has explained that they were not aware of the views and attitudes Tila had expressed in social media postings before she joined Celebrity Big Brother.
Jewish leaders had called for Tina Teqila, mother-of-one, to be expelled. Her real name is Thien Thanh Thi Nguyen and she was born in Singapore to Vietnamese parents.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)


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Anaconda in a pothole of Bengaluru to galvanize the authorities to act

Cochin airport goes ecofriendly – to become only solar powered airport in the world

V Festival in Chelmsford could face tornadoes, hail and thunderstorms


Ice Cube would love to have dinner with Barack Obama once he leaves White House

Indian names of Pallavi Sharda and Dev Patel in Hollywood film ‘Lion’

Hugh Jackman of Wolverine fame could portray the role of Greek hero Odysseus


White House discloses – 2nd in command of ISIS killed in drone strike in Mosul

Bomb blast outside temple of Lord Brahma in Bangkok leaves at least 27 dead

Scuba diver smuggles cocaine across US-Mexico border via underwater tunnel


Indian kitchens must have ‘besan’

The lost world of ‘kabiraji cutlets’

Growing up days – I begin to go to the daily market

"Labyrinth of Lies" by debutante filmmaker Giulio Ricciarelli to be Germany’s entry for the Foreign Language film at Oscars


Debutante filmmaker Giulio Ricciarelli’s feature “Labyrinth of Lies” will be Germany’s entry for the Foreign Language film at Oscar. The movie, distributed in the US by Sony Pictures Classics, is about a young public prosecutor, Johann Radmann, who sets out in the 1950s to expose the full story behind the mass killings at Auschwitz.
This has been reported in indianexpress.com dated 27 August 2015.
Alexander Fehling would be in the role of Radmann – he won the Bavarian Film Award for best actor for this role. The decision to send this film was taken by an independent nine-member jury appointed by German Films, and the jury has described the film as a “precisely researched” drama that is both “gripping and touching”.
The world premiere of the film was done at the Toronto Film Festival last year. Beta Cinema is handling international sales and it has sold the film to 118 countries. Sony Pictures Classics is planning a theatrical release on September 30.
The five movies nominated in the Foreign Language film Oscar will be revealed on January 14 and the Oscar awards ceremony will be February 28.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)


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Ice Cube would love to have dinner with Barack Obama once he leaves White House

Indian names of Pallavi Sharda and Dev Patel in Hollywood film ‘Lion’

Hugh Jackman of Wolverine fame could portray the role of Greek hero Odysseus


White House discloses – 2nd in command of ISIS killed in drone strike in Mosul

Bomb blast outside temple of Lord Brahma in Bangkok leaves at least 27 dead

Scuba diver smuggles cocaine across US-Mexico border via underwater tunnel


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The lost world of ‘kabiraji cutlets’

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Friday, August 28, 2015

‘Phantom’ – a Saif Ali Khan Katrina Kaif starrer with Mumbai 26/11 as backdrop


‘Phantom’ is another film of Kabir Khan – his previous film 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' of Salmaan Khan was a blockbuster and was loved both in India and Pakistan because of its storyline. However, 'Phantom' has been banned in Pakistan because of its storyline.
This has been reported in ibnlive.com dated 28 August 2015.
‘Phantom’ is a Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif starrer and its story is against the backdrop of Mumbai 26/11 attacks. It focuses on cross-border terrorism with Saif and Katrina in the role of undercover agents. It is based on the book 'Mumbai Avengers'.
Kabir Khan and Katrina Kaif have earlier worked in two films, both of which have had terrorism is the underlying theme and were successful at the box office. Fingers are crossed for a hat trick of successes and, also, a boost to Saif's career.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)


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Anaconda in a pothole of Bengaluru to galvanize the authorities to act

Cochin airport goes ecofriendly – to become only solar powered airport in the world

V Festival in Chelmsford could face tornadoes, hail and thunderstorms


Ice Cube would love to have dinner with Barack Obama once he leaves White House

Indian names of Pallavi Sharda and Dev Patel in Hollywood film ‘Lion’

Hugh Jackman of Wolverine fame could portray the role of Greek hero Odysseus


White House discloses – 2nd in command of ISIS killed in drone strike in Mosul

Bomb blast outside temple of Lord Brahma in Bangkok leaves at least 27 dead

Scuba diver smuggles cocaine across US-Mexico border via underwater tunnel


Indian kitchens must have ‘besan’

The lost world of ‘kabiraji cutlets’

Growing up days – I begin to go to the daily market

Cate Blanchett to be honored with BFI Fellowship at London Film Festival


Academy Award-winning actress 46-year-old Cate Blanchett of ‘Cinderella’ fame would be receiving the British Film Institute’s highest honor, the BFI Fellowship, at London Film Festival on October 17.
This has been reported in indianexpress.com dated 28 August 2015.
On that occasion, the movie “Truth,” starring her and Robert Redford, will have its UK premiere. Another of her films, “Carol,” premiered at Cannes, will also get a gala screening at the festival.
As Greg Dyke, chairman of the BFI has remarked - “Cate Blanchett is a compelling and brave actress whose mesmerizing screen presence has captivated audiences since her earliest roles.
The “Elizabeth” actress will now join the elite club of Al Pacino, Mel Brooks, Christopher Lee, Tim Burton,Stephen Frears and Helena Bonham Carter – they are also recipients of BFI Fellowships.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)


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Cochin airport goes ecofriendly – to become only solar powered airport in the world

V Festival in Chelmsford could face tornadoes, hail and thunderstorms


Ice Cube would love to have dinner with Barack Obama once he leaves White House

Indian names of Pallavi Sharda and Dev Patel in Hollywood film ‘Lion’

Hugh Jackman of Wolverine fame could portray the role of Greek hero Odysseus


White House discloses – 2nd in command of ISIS killed in drone strike in Mosul

Bomb blast outside temple of Lord Brahma in Bangkok leaves at least 27 dead

Scuba diver smuggles cocaine across US-Mexico border via underwater tunnel


Indian kitchens must have ‘besan’

The lost world of ‘kabiraji cutlets’

Growing up days – I begin to go to the daily market

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Sanjay Dutt finally gets 30-day parole to visit his ailing daughter


Sanjay Dutt (56) has, finally, succeeded in getting a 30-day parole to visit his daughter who is undergoing a nose surgery. Therefore, he has been allowed to leave prison for a month. He has been in prison after being found guilty in 2013 of acquiring illegal weapons from those who had been involved in the deadly 1993 attacks in Mumbai in which 257 people were killed, and hundreds injured.
This has been reported in ndtv.com dated 26 August 2015.
His frequent breaks from jail have been criticized in the past as evidence of VIP treatment. The last time he was given leave from jail was in December 2014. Subsequently, he had requested for an extension which was turned down. Between May 2013 and 2014, he had spent about 118 days out of prison.
It may be recalled that he was sentenced to six years in jail in 2007; he served 18 months but then was out on bail, fighting the conviction until a court in March 2013 ordered him back to jail in Pune.
In 2007, he was cleared of conspiracy charges in the attacks but was found guilty of being in illegal possession of an AK-56 rifle and a pistol. He had claimed that he needed those weapons to protect himself and his family during the rioting that erupted in Mumbai after a series of bombs exploded at the city's landmarks.
Sanjay Dutt was the lovable star of the blockbuster Munna Bhai films and last appeared in Aamir Khan's 2014 hit PK. (Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)


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Cochin airport goes ecofriendly – to become only solar powered airport in the world

V Festival in Chelmsford could face tornadoes, hail and thunderstorms


Ice Cube would love to have dinner with Barack Obama once he leaves White House

Indian names of Pallavi Sharda and Dev Patel in Hollywood film ‘Lion’

Hugh Jackman of Wolverine fame could portray the role of Greek hero Odysseus


White House discloses – 2nd in command of ISIS killed in drone strike in Mosul

Bomb blast outside temple of Lord Brahma in Bangkok leaves at least 27 dead

Scuba diver smuggles cocaine across US-Mexico border via underwater tunnel


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The lost world of ‘kabiraji cutlets’

Growing up days – I begin to go to the daily market

Oscar-winning actress Anne Hathaway to star in and, produce a female-centric sci-fi comedy "The Shower”


32-year-old Anne Hathaway, the Oscar-winning actress has signed on to not just star in but also produce a female-centric sci-fi comedy "The Shower”. She will produce the film along with her husband Adam Shulman.
Jac Schaeffer has written the script and it is a sci-fi comedy that centers on funny, fully dimensional female characters. The script was on the Blacklist last year – this means it was tabbed as one of the best, yet-to-be-produced screenplays.
This has been reported in indianexpress.com dated 27 August 2015.
The gist of the story is simple. It begins with a bright baby shower, when the guests find themselves under darker skies: a meteor shower. These meteors turn men into blood-hungry aliens and the women have to fight to not only save themselves but also the world.
Hopefully, it would be a welcome change from the run-of-the-mill sci-fi movies one gets to see with too much automation and too thin storyline.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)


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Anaconda in a pothole of Bengaluru to galvanize the authorities to act

Cochin airport goes ecofriendly – to become only solar powered airport in the world

V Festival in Chelmsford could face tornadoes, hail and thunderstorms


Ice Cube would love to have dinner with Barack Obama once he leaves White House

Indian names of Pallavi Sharda and Dev Patel in Hollywood film ‘Lion’

Hugh Jackman of Wolverine fame could portray the role of Greek hero Odysseus


White House discloses – 2nd in command of ISIS killed in drone strike in Mosul

Bomb blast outside temple of Lord Brahma in Bangkok leaves at least 27 dead

Scuba diver smuggles cocaine across US-Mexico border via underwater tunnel


Indian kitchens must have ‘besan’

The lost world of ‘kabiraji cutlets’

Growing up days – I begin to go to the daily market

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Kanye West to receive lifetime achievement award at the MTV Video Music Awards


Rapper Kanye West will receive the lifetime achievement award at the MTV Video Music Awards and will be honored for his "ground-breaking videos, legendary performances and continued impact on music, art, fashion and culture." This award is the ceremony's highest honor and is known as the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award.
This has been reported in bbc.com.
Previous recipients of this award include Madonna, Beyonce, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and The Rolling Stones. It may be remembered that Kanye had sparked off a controversy at the 2009 ceremony, when he had jumped on the stage to interrupted Taylor Swift's speech and launch a rant about why his friend Beyonce should have won best female video instead.
Incidentally, Taylor leads this year's awards with nine nominations while behind her is Ed Sheeran with six nominations including video of the year for Thinking Out Loud. Following them are Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar and Mark Ronson each of them have five nominations each.
Miley Cyrus is scheduled to host the ceremony – she had won 2014's video of the year for Wrecking Ball. The ceremony would be held on 30 August from the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)


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Cochin airport goes ecofriendly – to become only solar powered airport in the world

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Ice Cube would love to have dinner with Barack Obama once he leaves White House

Indian names of Pallavi Sharda and Dev Patel in Hollywood film ‘Lion’

Hugh Jackman of Wolverine fame could portray the role of Greek hero Odysseus


White House discloses – 2nd in command of ISIS killed in drone strike in Mosul

Bomb blast outside temple of Lord Brahma in Bangkok leaves at least 27 dead

Scuba diver smuggles cocaine across US-Mexico border via underwater tunnel


Indian kitchens must have ‘besan’

The lost world of ‘kabiraji cutlets’

Growing up days – I begin to go to the daily market

World Premier of Maggie Smith starrer ‘The Lady in the Van’ in Toronto Film Festival


It is now known that Oscar-winning actress Maggie Smith-starrer “The Lady in the Van” would be having an award-qualifying release this December. It is expected to have its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival (September 10-20).
This has been reported by indianexpress.com dated 26 August 2015.
The director of the movie is Nicholas Hytner and it is an adaptation of Alan Bennett’s West End hit.
Maggie Smith is reprising her role from the stage version and will portray the role of Miss Mary Shepherd, an eccentric woman of uncertain origins, who “temporarily” parked her broken-down van in Bennett’s London driveway — and proceeded to live there for the next 15 years.
Obviously, it was an extraordinary story and loved by one and all.
In the film version, Alex Jennings, who plays Bennett, stars along with Frances de la Tour, Roger Allam, Dominic Cooper, Jim Broadbent and James Corden. Damian Jones and Kevin Loader produced, along with Hytner.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)


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Anaconda in a pothole of Bengaluru to galvanize the authorities to act

Cochin airport goes ecofriendly – to become only solar powered airport in the world

V Festival in Chelmsford could face tornadoes, hail and thunderstorms


Ice Cube would love to have dinner with Barack Obama once he leaves White House

Indian names of Pallavi Sharda and Dev Patel in Hollywood film ‘Lion’

Hugh Jackman of Wolverine fame could portray the role of Greek hero Odysseus


White House discloses – 2nd in command of ISIS killed in drone strike in Mosul

Bomb blast outside temple of Lord Brahma in Bangkok leaves at least 27 dead

Scuba diver smuggles cocaine across US-Mexico border via underwater tunnel


Indian kitchens must have ‘besan’

The lost world of ‘kabiraji cutlets’

Growing up days – I begin to go to the daily market

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Jennifer Lawrence is highest paid female actor with earnings of $52-m last year


Jennifer Lawrence (25) is the world's highest-paid actress after earning $52m last year. However, the Hunger Games star is still $30m behind the highest paid actor Robert Downey Jr's who earned $80m last year.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 21 August 2015.
Jennifer Lawrence won an Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook in 2013, and augmented her income from films with other work like being the face of the fashion company Dior.
She made headlines last year when hacked Sony Pictures emails revealed that she earned a lower cut of profits from the movie American Hustle than her male counterparts like Bradley Cooper and Christian Bale.
As per information of Forbes, only four of the women on this year's highest-paid list - which takes into account earnings from movies, television, endorsements and other sources - made more than $20m, while 21 male actors reached that level.
Incidentally, Jennifer Lawrence was way ahead of Scarlett Johansson, second on the actress list whose earnings were estimated to be $35.5m, and Spy star Melissa McCarthy with $23m.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)


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Cochin airport goes ecofriendly – to become only solar powered airport in the world

V Festival in Chelmsford could face tornadoes, hail and thunderstorms


Ice Cube would love to have dinner with Barack Obama once he leaves White House

Indian names of Pallavi Sharda and Dev Patel in Hollywood film ‘Lion’

Hugh Jackman of Wolverine fame could portray the role of Greek hero Odysseus


White House discloses – 2nd in command of ISIS killed in drone strike in Mosul

Bomb blast outside temple of Lord Brahma in Bangkok leaves at least 27 dead

Scuba diver smuggles cocaine across US-Mexico border via underwater tunnel


Indian kitchens must have ‘besan’

The lost world of ‘kabiraji cutlets’

Growing up days – I begin to go to the daily market

‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ wins the 2015 Hugo Awards


“The Lego Movie”, “Edge of Tomorrow”, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and “Interstellar” were swept aside by Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” – it has won the 2015 Hugo Awards for Best Dramatic Presentation in the Long Form category.
This has been reported in indianexpress.com dated 24 August 2015.
The comic book adaptation of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ is still a favorite and is being acclaimed even after a year of its US theatrical release.
The winners of the 2015 Hugo Awards were announced on August 22 morning at the 73rd World Science Fiction Convention held in Spokane, Washington. Obviously, director James Gunn, who also wrote the movie, is elated by the win.
“Orphan Black” took the category of Best Dramatic Presentation in the Short Form for the season 2 finale episode “By Means Which Have Never Been Tried”.
Read details of the awards here at this link. (Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)


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Anaconda in a pothole of Bengaluru to galvanize the authorities to act

Cochin airport goes ecofriendly – to become only solar powered airport in the world

V Festival in Chelmsford could face tornadoes, hail and thunderstorms


Ice Cube would love to have dinner with Barack Obama once he leaves White House

Indian names of Pallavi Sharda and Dev Patel in Hollywood film ‘Lion’

Hugh Jackman of Wolverine fame could portray the role of Greek hero Odysseus


White House discloses – 2nd in command of ISIS killed in drone strike in Mosul

Bomb blast outside temple of Lord Brahma in Bangkok leaves at least 27 dead

Scuba diver smuggles cocaine across US-Mexico border via underwater tunnel


Indian kitchens must have ‘besan’

The lost world of ‘kabiraji cutlets’

Growing up days – I begin to go to the daily market

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Ice Cube would love to have dinner with Barack Obama once he leaves White House


The ways of celebrities are steeped in mysteries and strange and, the latest in this list could be Ice Cube wanting to have dinner with Barack Obama. Strange because Ice Cube had, earlier, mocking rapper Eazy-E for having lunch with George Bush Sr in the 1990s!!
Ice Cube now admits he would accept a White House invite but permeably after Obama leaves – that way, the conversation would be "juicier".
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 21 August 2015.
He was speaking on the occasion of promoting his NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton, which charts the rise of gangsta rap music. The film includes references to LAPD brutality against young black men and the riots after Rodney King was beaten in 1991. Incidentally, the theme is relevant even today following the death of Michael Brown in August last year and the subsequent protests in Ferguson, Missouri.
Straight Outta Compton has a scene where Ice Cube, played by his real life son O'Shea Jackson Jr, mocks fellow rapper Eazy-E for having lunch with George Bush Sr at the White House.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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Sri Lanka get the better of a star studded India – Rangana Herath wreaks havoc

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60-years of Pather Panchali – the Bengali movie of Satyajit Ray that was a pathbreaker

Spider-Man will be seen in his traditional costume in ‘Captain America: Civil War’

Big-B and Deepika Padukone’s ‘Piku’ gets best movie award at Indian Film Festival, Melbourne


ISIS planned to carry out ‘lone wolf’ terror attacks, target the Queen and the Royal family

Terrorism a family affair in London – 5 of a family arrested by counter-terror police

At least 60 killed in truck bomb explosion by ISIS in a Baghdad food market


Independence Day as I have seen it

The days of mughlai parathas

Khichudi – the favorite monsoon recipe for Bengalis

Indian names of Pallavi Sharda and Dev Patel in Hollywood film ‘Lion’


‘Lion’ is bound to be a movie with a difference – it would be made in Hollywood and have Nicole Kidman and two Indian names Pallavi Sharda and Dev Patel in the lead. The film is based on the novel ‘A Long Way Home’ by Saroo Birleys and the story revolves around a boy who is lost in the streets of Calcutta and later adopted by an Australian family.
This has been reported in indianexpress.com dated 23 August 2015.
After 25 years, the lost boy, now a young lad takes up a mission to locate his real parents and takes the help of latest technology like Google Earth to track his family. Pallavi’s character in the movie is that of an Indian girl who helps him in his mission.
Pallavi Sharda had last been seen in Vibhu Puri’s Hawaizaada and in ‘Lion’ she portrays the role of Dev’s friend. The movie marks the directorial debut of Garth Davis.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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Britain battered by heavy rains - parts of England saw 40mm rain in an hour

Sri Lanka get the better of a star studded India – Rangana Herath wreaks havoc

Controversy around Maggi, the 2-minute noodle: Bombay HC lifts ban, orders fresh tests


60-years of Pather Panchali – the Bengali movie of Satyajit Ray that was a pathbreaker

Spider-Man will be seen in his traditional costume in ‘Captain America: Civil War’

Big-B and Deepika Padukone’s ‘Piku’ gets best movie award at Indian Film Festival, Melbourne


ISIS planned to carry out ‘lone wolf’ terror attacks, target the Queen and the Royal family

Terrorism a family affair in London – 5 of a family arrested by counter-terror police

At least 60 killed in truck bomb explosion by ISIS in a Baghdad food market


Independence Day as I have seen it

The days of mughlai parathas

Khichudi – the favorite monsoon recipe for Bengalis

Friday, August 21, 2015

Britain rolling out the red carpet for film-makers to make blockbuster films


This is good news for investors who would like to invest in blockbuster movies like ‘Gravity’ and ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’.
Britain is offering incentives to film-makers to make more blockbuster films in the UK because its plans to increase tax breaks have been approved by the European Union.
The measure had first been announced in Chancellor George Osborne's 2015 Spring Budget. It gives film and TV productions 25% off their tax costs if they then invest the funds back into their projects. In other words - on a film costing £40m, there would £1m in tax relief.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 21 August 2015.
Tax breaks for British productions had been introduced several years ago but, under the new policy, it will raise the percentage films can claim back under tax relief. Previously the 25% rate only applied to the first £20m of a production's budget – that is now being extended to cover all tax paid on a project regardless of budget and size. To qualify for the tax breaks a film must be considered a British production or co-production. This means it has to pass a cultural test run by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and spend a minimum of 10% of its budget in the UK.
The move would give a boost to an industry that has already brought in billions of pounds of investment and hundreds of jobs to Britain.
(Image curtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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Hugh Jackman of Wolverine fame could portray the role of Greek hero Odysseus


Rumors are in the air that ‘Wolverine’ star Hugh Jackman could portray the titular Greek hero Odysseus in the adaptation of Homer’s epic poem ‘The Odyssey’. It appears that negotiations are on and that Francis Lawrence, the director of the last three ‘Hunger Games’ films could be at the helm of affairs for the upcoming movie.
This has been reported in indianexpress.com dated 21 August 2015.
The project is from Lionsgate who had brought Suzanne Collins’ dystopian novel to the big screen. It is about Odysseus, also known as Ulysses in Roman myths, as he takes a long voyage back home after the fall of Troy. The journey takes ten years to reach his homeland of Ithaca after the conclusion of the Trojan War.
And, in his absence, his wife has to deal with unruly suitors.
Hugh Jackman is 46-year-old and would make his final appearance as Marvel’s clawed mutant in “The Wolverine 3” – this is due for release in March 3, 2017.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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‘Manjhi’ – the story of a man who conquered a mountain


‘Manjhi The Mountain Man’ movie is based on the true story of Dashrath Manjhi, also known as the ‘The Mountain Man’. He had, single-handedly, carved a path through a 360-foot-long, 30-foot-wide and 25-foot-high hillock using only a hammer and chisel.
It took him 22 years to complete the task and shorten the travel time between Atri and Wazirganj blocks of Gaya town from 55 kilometers to 15 kilometers and he did it because he did not want anyone to die as his wife did, while fetching water.
This has been reported in financialexpress.com dated 21 August 2015.
He was a poor laborer in Gehlaur village, near Gaya in Bihar and was born in 1934 and died in 2007.
The story revolves around the remote village of Gehlaur which is cut off from the rest of the world by a mountain range. It is the love story of Manjhi, which is essayed by actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Phalguniya, a role played by actress Radhika Apte.
It seems one day a pregnant Phalguniya was carrying food for Manjhi on a mountain when she slipped and fell to her death – the yet-to-be-born child survived. That is when he decided to carve a path through the mountain so that nobody else faces the same tragedy he did.
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Security beefed up at cinema halls in the US following shootings


Regal Entertainment Group is beefing up its security in its cinema halls and has started to check bags – it would inconvenience guests but would also provide better security. This has been implemented in response to shootings at theaters around the country.
This has been reported in foxnews.com dated 20 August 2015.
This has already been introduced and viewers have noticed the change in Texas, Virginia, Florida and Ohio from the beginning earlier this month.
Regal Entertainment Group of Knoxville, Tennessee, operates some 570 theaters around the country. And, it has announced on its website that “security issues have become a daily part of our lives in America" and that bags and backpacks are subject to inspection before the owners enter the hall.
Another company National Amusements Inc.'s Showcase chain has, on similar lines, banned backpacks and packages and reserves the right to search purses and bags. This group runs about 30 theaters in the northeastern U.S. They have introduced this from Aug. 7 and have indicated that it would be in place "for the time being."
Incidentally, security was tight at the Los Angeles premiere of "Straight Outta Compton" – the invited guests had to navigate various barricades and pass through metal detectors before they could pick up their tickets.
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Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Visitors no longer welcome in ‘Goonies’ House in Astoria, Oregon


A property in Astoria, Oregon, that had been associated with the 1985 cult movie ‘The Goonies’ had, till now, been a favorite spot for tourists because it was the venue where Chunk had to perform the "truffle shuffle" before he could enter. The iconic house has now been shut to visitors because the owner got fed up of thousands of fans flocking to the home at all hours of the night.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 19 August 2015.
It seems nearly 1500 visitors come daily and some of the fans show up overnight, dump beer bottles and cigarette butts on the property and allow dogs to urinate on its lawn. Therefore, the property has now been covered up by blue tarpaulin and a sign put up warning people to stay away.
The film ‘The Goonies’ was about a gang of kids who are trying to save their homes when find they come across a treasure map that takes them to a long-lost pirate treasure hunt and adventure. The movie starred Sean Astin, Corey Feldman, Joe Pantoliano and Robert Davi and it is believed that it helped to generate up to $3m for the economy of Astoria.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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‘Heidi’ based on the children’s novel of 1881 becoming a movie from Hollywood


The story of ‘Heidi’ is about the events in the life of a young girl who lived in the care of her grandfather in the Swiss Alps. Written by Swiss author Johanna Spyri, it was written in 1881 and is a book for not only children but also for those who love children.
‘Heidi’ has been made into films, TV and theatrical adaptations and the latest venture is by Sheetal Talwar of Vistaar Entertainment who is producing it with Simon Wright of Big Tree Productions. The script is written by Paul Watson and the movie would be shot on location in the Swiss Alps later this year.
This has been reported in indianexpress.com dated 20 August 2015.
In the opinion of Talwar, who had produced the 2007 National-Award-winning film “Dharm”, the character of Heidi is relevant even today even though the novel was written in 1881.
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‘Parched’, co-produced by Ajay Devgn, to premiere in 40th Toronto International Film Festival


Leena Yadav’s film “Parched” will have its world premiere at the 40th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), to be held September 10-20. This movie marks the entry of Ajay Devgn into the international cinema as co-producer.
The setting of ‘Parched’ is rural India and the story is about the lives of three ordinary women who want to break free from the century-old traditions.
This has been reported in indianexpress.com dated 19 August 2015.
‘Parched’ goes the boundaries of language and culture and it is expected that the theme and storyline will find resonance with a global audience. The film is jointly produced by Ajay, Aseem Bajaj, Gulab Singh and Rohan Jagdale. It also features stars like Tannishtha Chatterjee, Radhika Apte, Surveen Chawla, Adil Hussain, Sumeet Vyas, Lehar Khan, Riddhi Sen, Mahesh Balraj and Chandan Anand.
It is scheduled to premiere in the Special Presentation Section of the film festival where other films to be screened are Johnny Depp’s “Black Mass”, Ethan Hawke’s “Born To Be Blue”, Jason Bateman and Nicole Kidman’s “The Family Fang”, Tom McCarthy’s “Spotlight” and Michael Moore’s “Where to Invade Next” etcetera.
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Taylor Swift dances with Julia Andrews and Joan Baez on stage in Santa Clara, California


Taylor Swift’s star-studded squad keeps expanding and, this time, she invited Oscar-winner Julia Roberts and folk singer Joan Baez on stage in Santa Clara, California. The guests sashayed down a runway with Swift as she sang her hit song Style.
Both mother-of-three Julia Roberts and Joan Baez were wearing the official 1989 tour T-shirts and Swift held on to them, who she later called her "heroes", as she continued her performance.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 17 August 2015.
Without any doubt, Taylor Swift is proving to be one of the most popular women in pop as she continues to surprise fans with her celebrity guests during her world tour.
Julia Roberts and Joan Baez are the latest celebrities who have taken to the stage with the Shake It Off singer Tylor Swift. She is known for having star-studded squad which also includes Karlie Kloss, Selena Gomez, Lena Dunham and Gigi Hadid.
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Tuesday, August 18, 2015

NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton raked in $56.1m in first weekend in the US


The NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton has created records of sorts by raking in $56.1m in its first weekend in the US. The film had taken just $29m (£18.5m) to produce and Universal had earlier predicted a very conservative $25-$30m opening.
This movie is Universal's sixth film to open over $50m in 2015 and broke the August record for an R-rated opening. This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 17 August 2015.
Obviously, Universal are surprised. As Universal's president of domestic distribution Nick Carpou has put it - they were "elated" with the results. The story struck a chord with audiences. It was a story that is resonating right now. The film is all about the formation and rise of the influential, but controversial rap group. NWA members Dr Dre and Ice Cube served as producers on the film in which Ice Cube's real son O'Shea Jackson Jr playing his father.
On the occasion, Dre also released the companion piece Compton – it was his first new album in 16 years.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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