Sets of the film Padmavati in Jaipur vandalised, Bhansali cancels shooting

Shooting of the film Padmavati was going on in Jaipur when a group of people came on the sets and damaged them. The group is called Rajput Karni Sena. They Have alleged about “distorting history” of Chittor queen Rani Padmini and 14th century emperor Alauddin Khilji.
This has been reported in indianexpress.com dated 29 January 2017.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali was slapped and assaulted by Rajput Karni Sena workers. They staged a protest at Jaigarh fort in Jaipur where the shooting was going on. Protesters ran amok and damaged cameras and other shooting equipment while raising slogans and hurling abuses in Hindi.
Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor has lambasted the fringe group and the entire Bollywood community has come down heavily on the incident. Director Karan Johar, actors Farhan Akhtar and Alia Bhatt have taken to Twitter to vent their ire. In the aftermath of this sordid incident, Bhansali and his crew have cancelled the shooting.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Tejas Light Combat Aircraft to debut at the 2017 Republic Day parade

Many of the Trump hats are not made in America but in China, Vietnam and Bangladesh

Chinese firm to invest over Rs 1300 crore in Toto rickshaw manufacture in Howrah


Didi visualizes industrial revival via nalen gur (satire)

Lord Shiva and the sight of potbellied policemen (satire)

In the wonderland of health drinks


Shah Rukh Khan's movie Raees to release in Dubai on January 25

James Cameron plans to resurrect his Terminator franchise in 2019

Bollywood actress Vidya Balan wants more power to women in 2017


ISIS destroys portions of Roman amphitheatre in the ancient city of Palmyra

Kim Jong-Un plans to send a message to Donald Trump by launching a missile

Bomb blast in a vegetable market in Parachinar kills at least 20

Indian born actress Priyanka Bose talks about the movie 'Lion'

Priyanka Bose is an Indian-birn actress and plays the role of Kamla Munshi, the biological mother to Dev Patel’s character Saroo Brierley in Lion. She admits that she has been waiting for a project like this for a long time and that bagging the role in the Garth Davis-directed movie was a dream come true for her.
This has been reported in indianexpress.com dated 27 January 2017.

The movie 'Lion', also stars Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman. It is based on the true story of Saroo Brierley, a young Indian boy. He gets separated from his brother and mother and ends up 1,000 miles away from his home, lost at a train station in Kolkata.
An Australian family adopts him. He eventually tracks down his lost family in India via Google maps years later.
Dev Patel is already nominated in the best supporting actor category at the 2017 Oscars for his role of Saroo.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Tejas Light Combat Aircraft to debut at the 2017 Republic Day parade

Many of the Trump hats are not made in America but in China, Vietnam and Bangladesh

Chinese firm to invest over Rs 1300 crore in Toto rickshaw manufacture in Howrah


Didi visualizes industrial revival via nalen gur (satire)

Lord Shiva and the sight of potbellied policemen (satire)

In the wonderland of health drinks


Shah Rukh Khan's movie Raees to release in Dubai on January 25

James Cameron plans to resurrect his Terminator franchise in 2019

Bollywood actress Vidya Balan wants more power to women in 2017


ISIS destroys portions of Roman amphitheatre in the ancient city of Palmyra

Kim Jong-Un plans to send a message to Donald Trump by launching a missile

Bomb blast in a vegetable market in Parachinar kills at least 20

Pakistan government lifts the ban on Indian films with 'Raees' and 'Kaabil'

Pakistan government will lift the four-months-long ban on showing Indian films in Pakistan because of Indo-Pak tensions and that could happen with the screening of two Indian films with 'Raees' and 'Kaabil'. These could become the first Indian movies to be screened in Pakistan after lifting of the ban.
The suspension of the screenings of Indian films happened after several Bollywood producers put a ban on casting Pakistani artists in Indian movies due to the Uri terror attack and 'surgical strikes' that were conducted by the Indian Army on terror launch pads along the LoC in Kashmir.
This has been reported in deccanherald.com dated 25 January 2017.

The result of the ban began to hurt Pakistani cinema owners with loss in revenues. They, therefore, began to lobby with the government to go soft on Indian films and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif set up a committee to consult all stake holders. It seems the committee has made the recommendations to the PM's Secretariat to lift the ban.
Once formally sanctioned by the Prime Minister, the information ministry will issue suitable directives to allow import of Indian films.
In all probability, 'Raees' and 'Kaabil' are likely to be the first films to be screened after the lifting of ban. Shah Rukh Khan stars in Raees and it also features Pakistani artist Mahira Khan. In Kaabil, it is Hrithik Roshan who plays the lead.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Tejas Light Combat Aircraft to debut at the 2017 Republic Day parade

Many of the Trump hats are not made in America but in China, Vietnam and Bangladesh

Chinese firm to invest over Rs 1300 crore in Toto rickshaw manufacture in Howrah


Didi visualizes industrial revival via nalen gur (satire)

Lord Shiva and the sight of potbellied policemen (satire)

In the wonderland of health drinks


Shah Rukh Khan's movie Raees to release in Dubai on January 25

James Cameron plans to resurrect his Terminator franchise in 2019

Bollywood actress Vidya Balan wants more power to women in 2017


ISIS destroys portions of Roman amphitheatre in the ancient city of Palmyra

Kim Jong-Un plans to send a message to Donald Trump by launching a missile

Bomb blast in a vegetable market in Parachinar kills at least 20

Jackie Chan comes to Mumbai with his 'Kung Fu Yoga'

Jackie Chan came to Mumbai to promote his upcoming film 'Kung Fu Yoga'. Bollywood actor Sonu Sood also acts in the action adventure film directed by Stanely Tong and scheduled for release in India on 3 February. Jackie landed in the city in the morning and was welcomed by Sonu at the airport here.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 23 January 2017.

Jackie is scheduled to shoot for "The Kapil Sharma" show. The two of them will then dash off to a hotel in suburban Mumbai where Jackie will stay.
It seems a traditional grand welcome has been planned for Jackie in a Punjabi and Maharashtrian dhol group style. After that there will be a performance for Jackie on a song from "Kung Fu Yoga" that they had shot together in Rajasthan. Choreographer is Farah Khan. Co-stars Disha Patni, Amyra Dastur and Sonu will join the dance and it will be in the hotel lobby.
Subsequently, Sonu will host a party for the action star where superstar Salman Khan and Kangana Ranaut will be in attendance.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Tejas Light Combat Aircraft to debut at the 2017 Republic Day parade

Many of the Trump hats are not made in America but in China, Vietnam and Bangladesh

Chinese firm to invest over Rs 1300 crore in Toto rickshaw manufacture in Howrah


Didi visualizes industrial revival via nalen gur (satire)

Lord Shiva and the sight of potbellied policemen (satire)

In the wonderland of health drinks


Shah Rukh Khan's movie Raees to release in Dubai on January 25

James Cameron plans to resurrect his Terminator franchise in 2019

Bollywood actress Vidya Balan wants more power to women in 2017


ISIS destroys portions of Roman amphitheatre in the ancient city of Palmyra

Kim Jong-Un plans to send a message to Donald Trump by launching a missile

Bomb blast in a vegetable market in Parachinar kills at least 20

James Cameron plans to resurrect his Terminator franchise in 2019

James Cameron who has given films like Terminator, Avatar and Titanic wants to take a fresh look at his biggest franchise - Terminator. He has plans to resurrect his Terminator franchise in 2019, when the rights revert back to him. He had sold the script for The Terminator for US$1 in 1984 in order to get the film made. It went on to be a super hit. He did direct the sequel in 1991, but has not been involved in the franchise since then.
It seems he will "godfather" the new installment, and wants Deadpool director Tim Miller to headline the project. Whether Arnold Schwarzenegger will also be seen has not been disclosed. He was featured as one of the titular Terminators in four of the five movies so far.
This has been reported in nzherald.co.nz dated 21 January 2017.

The Terminator franchise last movie was in 2015 with Genisys - it was not liked by critics and bombed in the United States, but was a hit in China. The sixth movie is expected to be a "reboot and a conclusion". It raises the possibility that Cameron will finally put an end to the battle between humans and Cybernet.
This year, James Cameron will celebrate the 20th anniversary of his multi-Oscar winner Titanic and is scheduled to begin work on Avatar 2 in New Zealand in April.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

CISF prevents students of Manipur from entering the Taj Mahal

Kolkata to soon get rice and fish curry for Rs 21 at selected outlets

Bhilai tries to set five world records in Yoga with one lakh people participating


In the wonderland of women centric products

In the wonderland of banyans and messages

In the wonderland of toothpastes


Avatar star Zoe Saldana in Ben Affleck's Live By Night

Vin Diesel and Deepika Padukone in Mumbai to promote XXX: Return of Xander Cage

Aamir Khan's Dangal expected to cross Rs 100 crore in first weekend


Migrant boat capsizes off Libya's coast - 100 feared dead

Defensive anti-aircraft missiles around Moscow in preparation for a war?

US army veteran shoots dead five persons in Fort Lauderdale airport, Florida

Shah Rukh Khan's movie Raees to release in Dubai on January 25

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan plans to visit Dubai ahead of the release of his film Raees, a thriller. Nawazuddin Siddiqui is his co-star and the Dubai visit is to promote the action thriller directed by Rahul Dholakia.
Pakistani actress Mahira Khan features in Raees and has a pivotal role in the movie.
This has been reported in indianexpress.com dated 17 January 2017.

Shah Rukh and Nawazuddin will visit Bollywood Parks, a first-of-its-kind theme park. They will then go to the Night Court of Arabian Center where they will meet and greet fans. The visit would be for two days visit and there is suspense over the presence of Pakistani actress Mahira Khan and whether she will be part of the Dubai promotions.
Raees makers plan to release the original sound track of the movie separately in the music album.
Incidentally, Shah Rukh Khan owns a house in Dubai, described as the city of sun, sand and adventure.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

CISF prevents students of Manipur from entering the Taj Mahal

Kolkata to soon get rice and fish curry for Rs 21 at selected outlets

Bhilai tries to set five world records in Yoga with one lakh people participating


In the wonderland of women centric products

In the wonderland of banyans and messages

In the wonderland of toothpastes


Avatar star Zoe Saldana in Ben Affleck's Live By Night

Vin Diesel and Deepika Padukone in Mumbai to promote XXX: Return of Xander Cage

Aamir Khan's Dangal expected to cross Rs 100 crore in first weekend


Migrant boat capsizes off Libya's coast - 100 feared dead

Defensive anti-aircraft missiles around Moscow in preparation for a war?

US army veteran shoots dead five persons in Fort Lauderdale airport, Florida

Avatar star Zoe Saldana in Ben Affleck's Live By Night

This is the first time that the Avatar star Zoe Saldana (38) has worked with Ben Affleck (44) and the film is 'Live By Night'. Ben is the actor-director and he wanted her specifically to play the role of Graciela in the movie.
The film Directed by Affleck, 44, the crime drama revolves around a group of individuals and their dealings in the world of organized crime.
This has been reported in indianexpress.com dated 13 January 2017.

The film 'Live By Night' stars Ben Affleck as Joe Coughlin and others in the cast are Elle Fanning, Saldana, Brendan Gleeson, Robert Glenister, Matthew Maher in main roles. Zoe Saldana is Coughlin’s (Affleck) love interest in the movie.
The Warner Bros film is already in Indian theaters.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

30th International kite festival in Gujarat, Telangana, Delhi and Karnataka

McDonald's enters The Vatican with an outlet near St. Peter's Square

Steel mugs in lavatories of trains stolen in spite of being chained to the walls


Lord Shiva laments over full Moon and a burnt roti (satire)

Didi’s Rose garden withers in the valley (satire)

Moody in the world of pickpockets and beggars (satire)


Juhi Chawla creates awareness about ill effects of plastic pollution

Nawazuddin Siddiqui on his film 'Haraamkhor' that premiered in the 15th annual New York Indian Film Festival

9th edition of Jaipur International Film Festival will screen 134 films


Car bomb kills at least 43 in the town of Azaz in Syria - most of the dead are civilians

US army veteran shoots dead five persons in Fort Lauderdale airport, Florida

Prison riots in Brazil leave at least 60 dead - some were beheaded

Vin Diesel and Deepika Padukone in Mumbai to promote XXX: Return of Xander Cage

Actors Vin Diesel and Deepika Padukone along with director DJ Caruso carried out a press conference in Mumbai to promote their film, XXX: Return of Xander Cage. It is the third film in the XXX franchise, and has a global cast, including Padukone, who plays Serena Unger, one of the main characters.
This has been reported in thehindu.com dated 13 January 2017.

The actors and director were accorded a warm welcome which included being greeted by women dressed in Maharashtrian nine-yard saris.
Director of the movie is DJ Caruso and he said that cinema is global and the movie 'XXX: Return of Xander Cage' is not an American action movie but a global one because it has a cast of actors from different countries. Deepika Padukone is from India, Donnie Yen is from Hong Kong, Ruby Rose from Australia and Tony Jaa from Thailand.
Both Caruso and Diesel hinted at the possibility of another film in the franchise and it could even include a dance number with Padukone and Diesel.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

30th International kite festival in Gujarat, Telangana, Delhi and Karnataka

McDonald's enters The Vatican with an outlet near St. Peter's Square

Steel mugs in lavatories of trains stolen in spite of being chained to the walls


Lord Shiva laments over full Moon and a burnt roti (satire)

Didi’s Rose garden withers in the valley (satire)

Moody in the world of pickpockets and beggars (satire)


Juhi Chawla creates awareness about ill effects of plastic pollution

Nawazuddin Siddiqui on his film 'Haraamkhor' that premiered in the 15th annual New York Indian Film Festival

9th edition of Jaipur International Film Festival will screen 134 films


Car bomb kills at least 43 in the town of Azaz in Syria - most of the dead are civilians

US army veteran shoots dead five persons in Fort Lauderdale airport, Florida

Prison riots in Brazil leave at least 60 dead - some were beheaded

Juhi Chawla creates awareness about ill effects of plastic pollution

Speaking at a program of the Rotary Culb in Navi Mumbai, Juhi Chawla wanted to create awareness about the menace of using plastic. Juhi is an actor, entrepreneur and social activist and she said that use of plastic has an alarming effect on not only the society but also in the world.
Unless we put a ban on plastic, our next generation will be threatened with more serious threats than the atom bomb because plastic does not decompose.
This has been reported in indianexpress.com dated 8 January 2017.

Plastics can be seen everywhere from streets, beaches to rivers. Every piece of plastic stays for next one thousand years and, every such item consists of toxic substances. Plastic is poisoning the water and, we are creating cancers for ourselves on a regular basis by consuming food in plastic.
She went on to add that there are islands of plastics in the ocean. In the North Pacific Ocean, islands of floating plastic are almost the size of Africa. She advised people to carry a cloth or jute bag for shopping, to stop using plastic cutlery at parties, or plastic bottles.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha unable to attract foreign tourists

Alert Uber cab driver in California saves a 16-year-old girl from pimps

China to ban trade and processing of all domestic ivory by end 2017


Didi in jitters – keeps flying in and out of her city (satire)

Lord Shiva wants winter favorites, Durga raises her hands (satire)

Moody gets a call from Ronald Grump (satire)


Woman beheaded in Afghanistan for entering a city without her husband

Killer in Santa Claus costume kills 39 in New Year Eve party in Istanbul

Two suicide bombers kill at least 27 in Baghdad market


2016 - the year of biopics in Bollywood with cricketers ruling

Pop superstar George Michael (53) dies of suspected of heart failure

Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame stops breathing on board a non-stop London-Los Angeles flight

Nawazuddin Siddiqui on his film 'Haraamkhor' that premiered in the 15th annual New York Indian Film Festival

Nawazuddin Siddiqui (42) reveals plenty of things about his film 'Haraamkhor' that premiered in the 15th annual New York Indian Film Festival. The film is about the relationship between a 14-year-old girl (Shweta Tripathi) and her tuition teacher, played by Nawazuddin, in a small town.
The movie was shot in a small town within 16 days, improvising scenes as the shooting went along. Nawazuddin Siddiqui's character, of a married man cum teacher pursuing his young student, is a tricky one to play.
This has been reported in deccanherald.com dated 8 January 2017.

This is his upcoming film "Haraamkhor" and it is finally releasing on January 13. The Examining Committee of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had earlier declined to pass the movie indicating that the movie's theme was "unacceptable."
The movie premiered at the 15th annual New York Indian Film Festival, where Nawazuddin received the Best Actor award for his performance. It was also presented with the Silver Gateway of India trophy at the 17th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.
Incidentally, Nawazuddin Siddiqui has worked in critically acclaimed films as diverse as "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" and "Miss Lovely".


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha unable to attract foreign tourists

Alert Uber cab driver in California saves a 16-year-old girl from pimps

China to ban trade and processing of all domestic ivory by end 2017


Didi in jitters – keeps flying in and out of her city (satire)

Lord Shiva wants winter favorites, Durga raises her hands (satire)

Moody gets a call from Ronald Grump (satire)


Woman beheaded in Afghanistan for entering a city without her husband

Killer in Santa Claus costume kills 39 in New Year Eve party in Istanbul

Two suicide bombers kill at least 27 in Baghdad market


2016 - the year of biopics in Bollywood with cricketers ruling

Pop superstar George Michael (53) dies of suspected of heart failure

Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame stops breathing on board a non-stop London-Los Angeles flight

9th edition of Jaipur International Film Festival will screen 134 films

9th edition of Jaipur International Film Festival will screen 134 films brought from all over the world. It is touted to be world’s fastest growing film festival and the five-day event will have participation by 250 filmmakers and artists from the fraternity.
The aim of the festival is to promote emerging directors, apart from encouraging an exchange of knowledge, information, ideas and culture between India and the participating nations.
This has been reported in indianexpress.com dated 6 January 2017.

The movies would be screened at two screens of Golcha, at the Rajasthan Adult Education Association (RAEA) and the Manipal University Jaipur. There will also be special screenings for children at the same venue during the morning hours.
JIFF will be opened by celebrities from the South Indian Film Industry including Hariharan, Singeetam Srinivasa Rao and Rachana, who will be attending the event as Guests of Honour.
Moreover, thee will be 17 workshops and seminars on various aspects of cinema. Filmmakers would be interacting with the audiences under a new theme ‘Master Strokes’. In addition, the festival’s ‘co-production meets’ will be a platform for leading producers and directors from across the globe to interact and create new ventures.
The festival is scheduled to continue till January 11.

Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha unable to attract foreign tourists

Alert Uber cab driver in California saves a 16-year-old girl from pimps

China to ban trade and processing of all domestic ivory by end 2017


Didi in jitters – keeps flying in and out of her city (satire)

Lord Shiva wants winter favorites, Durga raises her hands (satire)

Moody gets a call from Ronald Grump (satire)


Woman beheaded in Afghanistan for entering a city without her husband

Killer in Santa Claus costume kills 39 in New Year Eve party in Istanbul

Two suicide bombers kill at least 27 in Baghdad market


2016 - the year of biopics in Bollywood with cricketers ruling

Pop superstar George Michael (53) dies of suspected of heart failure

Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame stops breathing on board a non-stop London-Los Angeles flight

Bollywood actress Vidya Balan wants more power to women in 2017

Bollywood actress Vidya Balan, who has just turned 38, is grateful for all the appreciation that is coming her way for her film “Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh”, directed by Sujoy Ghosh. In her opinion, films are a reflection of society and, with women moving ahead in different walks of life, this is getting portrayed on-screen.
This has been reported in indianexpress.com dated 1 January 2017.

Vidya Balan has earned the appreciation from fans and critics alike for her powerful performances in women-centric films. She is happy that more films are being made on issues that revolve around women and these movies are getting a positive response from moviegoers.
She has acted in movies like The Dirty Picture, Kahaani and Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh and wants to see more power to women in the New Year.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha unable to attract foreign tourists

Alert Uber cab driver in California saves a 16-year-old girl from pimps

China to ban trade and processing of all domestic ivory by end 2017


Didi in jitters – keeps flying in and out of her city (satire)

Lord Shiva wants winter favorites, Durga raises her hands (satire)

Moody gets a call from Ronald Grump (satire)


Woman beheaded in Afghanistan for entering a city without her husband

Killer in Santa Claus costume kills 39 in New Year Eve party in Istanbul

Two suicide bombers kill at least 27 in Baghdad market


2016 - the year of biopics in Bollywood with cricketers ruling

Pop superstar George Michael (53) dies of suspected of heart failure

Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame stops breathing on board a non-stop London-Los Angeles flight