Entertainment
Telugu Film RRR: Lifetime Record Breaker and the Pride of Indian Cinema
Following the legacy of superhero fever in international films, the Telugu film RRR movie takes the audience to the highest peak of entertainment. This movie not only became a box office hit, but also left Bahubali behind. Not to mention, the Telugu film titled RRR appeared as a symbol of the progressive nature of Indian cinema. Released on March 25, 2022, the excellent performance of the movie shocked the film-enthusiasts. Thanks to the RRR-crew, the cinema has gone far beyond its targeted destination, even though the production has been delayed several times. Let's take a closer look at the interesting facts and features of the RRR movie.
RRR Plot: A Tale of Two Revolutionaries
This historical film depicts the context of British India in the 1920s. According to the storyline, during the reign of the British government, Rama Raju, - a devoted Indian police officer, took charge of capturing Komaram Bheem, - a formidable tribal leader. The story advanced through different incidents, and some clamor of inevitable clashes began to ring. In this film the dimensions of conflicts kept changing and those were full of twists. Above all, the mighty expeditions of the two Indian revolutionaries take precedence.
SS Rajamouli (Srisaila Sri Rajamouli) wrote the screenplay of this epic action drama with the story of KV Vijayendra Prasad (Koduri Viswa Vijayendra Prasad). The dialogues of this film were written by Sai Madhav Burra. The overall creative teamwork helped to boost the performances of the actors.
Read Oscar Winners 2022: Who Won the 94th Academy Awards?
More than 50 years later, MSG to host another concert for Bangladesh
Globally renowned German rock band Scorpions and popular Bangladeshi band Chirkutt are set to perform at a historic concert to celebrate Bangladesh’s 50 years of Independence at the world-famous Madison Square Garden in New York City, US on May 6.
Scorpions announced this on their official social media handles and website on Wednesday, breaking the news that Chirkutt will accompany them on this historic musical celebration titled The Golden Jubilee Bangladesh Concert.
“The Bangladesh Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division is organizing the event with the support of the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority, the United Nations Development Programme, the U.S. Embassy in Bangladesh, and local sponsors with the intent of gaining a global audience and celebrating Bangladesh’s golden anniversary through a live, one-night-only musical performance in the World’s Most Famous Arena,” Scorpions announced on their website.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the United Nations Development Programme’s global awareness campaign on cyber security programs for the youth and children, especially in underdeveloped countries, the band added.
This upcoming event will also mark the 50 years anniversary of the historic ‘Concert for Bangladesh’, the charity concert organized for the aid of Bangladesh during the 1971 Liberation War by English singer, songwriter, and the former lead guitarist of cult popular band The Beatles George Harrison and world-famous Indian sitar maestro Pandit Sri Ravi Shankar at the same venue.
Initiated with a mission to draw international attention to the war genocide and fund relief for refugees from then East Pakistan, the pair of concerts was organized on August 1st, 1971 featuring legendary names in world music including Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Leon Russell and more.
With over 110 million records sold around the world, the band will play fan favourites from their incredible catalogue including “Wind of Change,” “Still Loving You,” “Rock You Like a Hurricane,” “Send Me an Angel,” and many more.
Founded in Hannover, West Germany in 1965, Scorpions were part of the first wave of metal in the 1970’s with their debut album, Lonesome Crow, released in 1972. The band rose to arena status with seminal releases Lovedrive, Virgin Killer and Animal Magnetism. In the ’80s, Scorpions amassed a string of Billboard chart-toppers from Love at First Sting and Blackout, including multiple Top 10 singles “Rock You Like a Hurricane” and “No One Like You,” as well a string of successful singles such as “Send Me an Angel,” “Still Loving You,” and “Wind of Change,” according to its official website.
The band was also ranked #46 on VH1’s Greatest Artists of Hard Rock and their hit “Rock You Like a Hurricane” also landed #18 on VH1’s list of the 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs.
Celebrated across the globe, the iconic rock act has sold more than 110 million albums worldwide and has received multiple honours including World Music Award winners, a postage stamp in Brazil, a Star on Hollywood Rock Walk, and Echo honours. Most recently, they were honoured with the Lower Saxon State Award.
The current line-up of the band features its founding member Rudolf Schenker (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Klaus Meine (lead vocals), Matthias Jabs (lead guitar, backing vocals), Paweł Mąciwoda (bass, backing vocals) and Mikkey Dee (drums).
Tickets for this special concert will go on sale on Monday, April 4 via Ticketmaster. Further information is available on the band’s official website https://www.the-scorpions.com/.
Oscar Winners 2022: Who Won the 94th Academy Awards?
After the elegant opening of the 94th Academy Awards on March 27, 2022, the colourful carnival of films has rocked Hollywood's Dolby Theatre in California. Sensational performances by Regina Hall, Wanda Sykes, and Amy Schumer made the names of the 2022 Oscar winners resound throughout the gallery. Among the movies that have already been nominated, the best works have made their way to get closer to the golden statuette of Oscar. Let's get to know the names of those who achieved the honour of winning the Oscars in 2022.
Who are the Winners of Oscar 2022?
Best Picture > Philippe Rousselet, Patrick Wachsberger and Fabrice Gianfermi for ‘CODA’
Rousselet and Wachsberger both are France-based producers. Gianfermi is an American producer. previously Rousselet and Gianfermi co-produced the 2011 sci-fi movie Source Code. Wachsberger is famous for producing the blockbuster movie The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013), and Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005).
Read Oscars audience tops 15 million, exceeding last year
Best Actor > ‘Will Smith’ for the leading role 'Richard' in King Richard
Will Smith is a two time Oscar nominee. This time the actor portrays a legend who was the mentor of the famous tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams as well as their father.
Best Actress > ‘Jessica Chastain’ for the leading role of 'Tammy Faye' in The Eyes of Tammy Faye
This American actress received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for the 2013 movie Zero Dark Thirty. This time, Chastain grabbed the Oscar playing the character of Tammy Faye, a world-renowned media personality.
Best Supporting Actor > ‘Troy Kotsur’ for the role of 'Frank Rossi' in CODA
American actor Kotsur won the Oscar for the first time as a deaf actor. He has also won awards at six different major film festivals worldwide for his role as Frank in CODA.
Read Jessica Chastain wins best actress Oscar for 'Tammy Faye'
Best Supporting Actress > ‘Ariana DeBose’ for the role of 'Anita' in West Side Story
The emerging American singer and dancer stunned the Hollywood neighbourhood with her character Anita in West Side Story. She achieved this honor for the first time as an openly queer woman.
Best Director > ‘Jane Campion’ for directing The Power of the Dog
Jane Campion is one of the most anticipated names at the Oscar this year. First female Palme d'Or holder at the Cannes and winning awards at 21 events worldwide just for The Power of the Dog have led her to win the 2022 Oscar.
Best Original Screenplay > Kenneth Branagh for ‘Belfast’
Northern Irish Branagh, widely known as an actor and director, has shown his prowess in screenwriting in his sixties.
Read Will Smith confronts Chris Rock, then wins best actor Oscar
Best Adapted Screenplay > Sian Heder for ‘CODA’
This Massachusetts-based female screenwriter first came to prominence by writing the screenplay of the 2005 film Mother. And this time her Oscar-winning screenplay follows the story of the 2014 French-Belgian movie La Famille Belier.
Best Cinematography > Greig Fraser for ‘Dune’
The best works of this Australian cinematographer include the film Lion (2016) and Zero Dark Thirty (2012). In 2022, he finally got the best value of his work through Dune.
Will Smith would face little more than a slap if charged
Will Smith’s slap seen ’round the world at the Oscars was clearly a crime, legal experts say, but the chances of prosecution are slim and even if convicted he’d likely face little more than a slap of his own — on the wrist.
Smith left millions of witnesses stunned Sunday when he marched onto the stage of the Dolby Theatre and smacked Chris Rock in the face after the comedian made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, who was sitting with the actor in the front row.
The Los Angeles Police Department has said it was aware of the incident but was not investigating because Rock declined to file a police report.
While police could technically open an investigation based on the Academy Awards broadcast, they wouldn’t do so without Rock’s participation, said defense lawyer Alan Jackson, a former Los Angeles County prosecutor who oversaw high-profile cases.
“Would they ever in a practical world do that when Chris Rock is saying, ’I won’t cooperate with a criminal investigation?′ Not in a million years,” Jackson said. “LAPD is probably breathing a relative sigh of relief that they don’t have to get involved with two high-profile actors duking it out on a world stage.”
The Los Angeles city attorney’s office, which prosecutes misdemeanor crimes, declined to comment, but said it couldn’t bring charges without a police referral.
“If he’s going to be charged, I can’t speak to what the charge would be,” spokesman Rob Wilcox said.
News of celebrities in trouble has been a fixture in LA since Hollywood’s early days, and questions frequently arise about whether the rich and powerful receive a different brand of justice.
“The celebrity thing is coming into play, unfortunately,” said former LA District Attorney Steve Cooley. “If some Joe Blow committed this act in front a police officer, would he would be able to walk away from it? Probably not.”
If Smith is not charged, it could imperil the justice system’s credibility, said Jody Armour, a law professor at the University of Southern California.
“How can what appears to be an obvious criminal act committed in the open publicly not result in any criminal consequences?” Armour asked. “Do different standards apply to celebrities and noncelebrities? Apparently, we seem to all recognize that is the case. But what does that recognition say to us about the legitimacy and credibility of our criminal justice system?”
While the famous can use their status to influence decision-makers, their fame can work against them if the prosecutor decides to make an example of a crime by someone well-known.
“I would surprised if the city attorney does not seriously consider it because it was so public,” said Alison Triessl, a criminal defense lawyer who has handled many misdemeanor battery cases. “Are they sending the wrong message if they don’t prosecute him?”
Triessl said there’s no question a crime was committed, and there’s no need for the victim to file a report. Charges are routinely brought in domestic violence cases without cooperation from the victim because the crime is against the state for violating its penal code.
“It sends a message that you can commit a crime and you won’t be punished,” she said. “This was a very wrong message.”
If Smith were charged, he would face a misdemeanor battery count, which carries a penalty of up to six months in jail. Even if prosecuted and convicted, there are alternatives to going to court that could lead to a penalty as light as having to attend anger management classes.
Cooley said if he were advising Smith, he’d have him voluntarily enroll in anger classes and then try to convince prosecutors not to bring charges in the interest of justice because he had recognized his problem and was dealing with it.
Cooley said he’d want more information on the case as a prosecutor before making any decisions. He said said LAPD was premature in announcing they weren’t getting involved.
Stephen Downing, a retired LAPD deputy chief, said a case could be brought. But he said it was reasonable not to waste resources when Rock apparently wasn’t injured or ruffled enough to file a complaint.
“Rock carried on as if nothing happened to him,” Downing said. “He didn’t even put a hand to his cheek. There didn’t appear to be an injury. If he had knocked him to the floor and rendered him unconscious, I think action would have been taken.”
US actress to star opposite Shakib Khan in upcoming film
US television actress Courtney Coffeyy will share the screen with Shakib Khan in his upcoming film.
The film ‘Rajkumar’ will be directed by Himel Ashraf.
The announcement was done in an event at World Fair Marina Convention Hall in New York on Tuesday.
‘Rajkumar’ will be produced under the banner of SK Films, Shakib Khan's production company.
READ: Coming-of-age film ‘CODA’ wins best picture
He said, “The world cinema market has become more advance now. We are still far behind. Many people are reluctant to invest on large scale films. I am producing this film with a challenge.”
Shooting for this film will begin soon, said director Himel Ashraf.
This will be the debut for Courtney Coffeyy in Bagladeshi films. Besides TV acting she is a regular theater artist.
Oscars audience tops 15 million, exceeding last year
Television ratings for the Oscars rebounded somewhat from last year's record low, but the event clearly doesn't have the appeal to viewers that it once had.
Sunday's ceremony reached an estimated 15.36 million viewers, according to preliminary Nielsen company numbers released on Monday by ABC. A more detailed estimate is expected Tuesday, with elements like out-of-home viewing added.
Also read: Coming-of-age film ‘CODA’ wins best picture
“CODA” won best picture in Sunday's ceremony, but all of the winners and losers were overshadowed by best actor winner Will Smith storming the stage to slap comic Chris Rock because of a joke Rock made about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
Held in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 ceremony had reached a startlingly low 9.85 million viewers. That led to several changes in the Oscars going into this year, including the addition of hosts and awarding eight categories ahead of the broadcast and editing them into the live show.
While that clearly seemed to help, an audience of 15 million is still below the 23.6 million people who watched the Oscars in 2020. Until last year, that was the smallest-ever audience for an Oscars ceremony.
Also read: Will Smith confronts Chris Rock, then wins best actor Oscar
Nielsen did not immediately have more specific viewership numbers for Sunday's show. The research company Samba TV said its own statistics indicate some 1.5 million more households watched the Oscars after the Smith-Rock incident than were watching before.
Viewership for live television events, with the notable exception of NFL football games, has been declining for several years with the advent of streaming and cord-cutting. Some Hollywood observers believe that the relatively niche appeal of many films honored by the Oscars has also limited the audience.
Will Smith apologizes: 'I was out of line and I was wrong'
The day after slapping Chris Rock on the Oscars stage and upending the 94th Academy Awards, Will Smith issued an apology to the comedian, to the academy and to viewers at home, saying he was “out of line” and that his actions are “not indicative of the man I want to be.”
The fallout from Smith’s actions during Sunday's ceremony continued Monday as Hollywood and the public continued to wrestle with a moment that stunned the Dolby Theatre crowd and viewers at home. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences condemned Smith striking Rock, who had made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, and said it would launch an inquiry.
Later in the day, Smith gave a stronger apology than he did in his best actor acceptance speech, which notably hadn't included an apology to Rock.
“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive," said Smith in a statement issued by his publicist and posted on Instagram. “My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally. I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”
The 53-year-old actor added apologies to the film academy, producers of the telecast, attendees, viewers and the Williams family. Smith was honored Sunday for his role as Richard Williams, father of Venus and Serena, in “King Richard.”
Also read: Will Smith confronts Chris Rock, then wins best actor Oscar
“I am a work in progress,” added Smith.
After calling a board of governors meeting Monday to discuss the incident, the film academy said that it review Smith's actions and "will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our bylaws, standards of conduct and California law.” The Los Angeles Police Department said Sunday it was aware of the incident but was not pursuing an investigation because the person involved declined to file a police report.
Smith shocked the Dolby Theatre crowd and viewers at home when he took the stage after Rock, appearing as a presenter, joked: “Jada, I love you. ‘G.I. Jane 2,’ can’t wait to see it.”
The joke touched a nerve. Pinkett Smith, whose head is shaved, has spoken publicly about her alopecia diagnosis. Smith strode on stage and slapped Rock across the face. Back in his seat, Smith twice shouted for Rock to “get my wife’s name out your (expletive) mouth.” His words echoed clearly throughout the Dolby, though broadcaster ABC cut the audio for about 15 seconds. Within an hour, Smith won best actor, receiving a standing ovation. During his five-minute acceptance speech, Smith spoke about defending his family. He also apologized to the academy.
Rock's joke wasn't part of his routine during the rehearsals leading up to the show, according to two sources close to production who were not authorized to speak publicly.
But Rock had joked about Pinkett Smith before. He hosted the 2016 Oscars, when some were boycotting the ceremony over the #OscarsSoWhite group of nominees, including the Smiths. Said Rock then: “Jada boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna’s panties. I wasn’t invited.”
Smith's actions rattled a pivotal Oscar ceremony. Until that moment, producer Will Packer had steered an orderly and lighthearted telecast that the academy hoped would restore the Academy Awards following last year's record-low ratings. Sunday's ceremony reached an estimated 15.36 million viewers, according to preliminary Nielsen company numbers Monday. While a marked improvement over the 9.85 million that watched last year, it was still the second-least viewed Oscars.
Some academy members, like writer-producer Marshall Herskovitz, called for the academy to take disciplinary action against Smith.
“He disgraced our entire community tonight,” wrote Herskovitz on Twitter.
Whoopi Goldberg, a member of the Academy’s board of governors, said Monday on “The View”: “We’re not going to take that Oscar from him. There will be consequences, I’m sure.”
The Screen Actors Guild also weighed in. The film, television and radio union called the incident “unacceptable." SAG said that it had been in contact with the academy and ABC, and it doesn't comment on the guild's own disciplinary process.
Also read: Coming-of-age film ‘CODA’ wins best picture
A sense of disbelief hung in the air at the Dolby Theatre after Smith’s assault. Not only was it a hard-to-fathom break with decorum on live national television — an incident so dramatic, even movie-like, that many initially assumed it was a staged bit — it seemed wildly out of character for one of Hollywood’s most relentlessly upbeat stars. And it came less than an hour before Smith reached possibly the pinnacle of his career, winning his first Oscar, for best actor.
“In a way, I feel bad for Will Smith, too, because I think he let his emotions get the better of him, and this should have been one of the great nights of his life,” said former Oscar host Jimmy Kimmel on Bill Simmons’ podcast. “And now it’s not. Was there anyone who didn’t like Will Smith an hour ago in the world? Like no one, right? Now he doesn’t have a single comedian friend — that’s for sure.”
Some questioned whether Smith should have been allowed to continue to sit front and center after smacking Rock. Several stars rushed to counsel and calm Smith, including Denzel Washington, Bradley Cooper and Tyler Perry. But the timing was intensely awkward because the best actor category was due up soon after, and Smith had long been considered a lock for the award.
“I know we’re all still processing, but the way casual violence was normalized tonight by a collective national audience will have consequences that we can’t even fathom in the moment,” wrote Janai Nelson, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, on Twitter.
The drama overshadowed some historical wins at an Oscars. The deaf family drama “CODA” became the first film with a largely deaf cast to win best picture. For the first time, a streaming service, Apple TV+, took Hollywood’s top honor, signaling a profound shift in Hollywood and in moviegoing. Wins for Ariana DeBose of “West Side Story,” Troy Kotsur of “CODA” and Jane Campion, director of “The Power of the Dog,” all had made history.
Others came to Smith’s defense, including Tiffany Haddish, who co-starred with Pinkett Smith in “Girls Trip.”
“Maybe the world might not like how it went down, but for me, it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen because it made me believe that there are still men out there that love and care about their women, their wives,” Haddish told People magazine.
After the show, Smith posed for photographs with his family outside the Vanity Fair party. Inside, cell phone videos captured him dancing to “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” while clutching his Oscar. Their son Jaden tweeted: “And That’s How We Do It.” On Instagram, Smith posted: “Me ’n Jada Pinkett Smith got all dressed up to choose chaos.”
Coming-of-age film ‘CODA’ wins best picture
“CODA” has won best picture at the Oscars.
The small, coming-of-age film about the only hearing member in a family of deaf adults written and directed by Siân Heder took the top prize over bigger-budget contenders at the Academy Awards on Sunday night.
Read: Jessica Chastain wins best actress Oscar for 'Tammy Faye'
The win might have been considered a major upset when the nominations were announced on Feb. 22, but “CODA” gained momentum and buzz throughout awards season, and took top awards at the Screen Actors Guild and Producers Guild awards.
The Oscar is also a big victory for Apple, which becomes the first streaming service to win the best picture crown after several years of vying for the prize alongside Netflix and Amazon.
“CODA” beat out bigger nominees that included “Belfast,” “Dune,” “The Power of the Dog” and “West Side Story.”
Jessica Chastain wins best actress Oscar for 'Tammy Faye'
The Oscars looked kindly on Jessica Chastain.
Chastain won the Academy Award for best actress on Sunday night for playing televangelist Tammy Faye Baker in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.”
Read:WIll Smith confronts Chris Rock, then wins best actor Oscar
It’s the first Oscar for Chastain in three nominations. She was previously nominated for “Zero Dark Thirty” in 2013 and “The Help” in 2012.
She beat out fellow nominees Olivia Colman, Penélope Cruz, Nicole Kidman and Kristen Stewart.
Chastain noted that suicide was a leading cause of death for the LGBTQ community and violence against minorities, saying she was inspired by Bakker’s compassion.
Will Smith confronts Chris Rock, then wins best actor Oscar
Chris Rock made a joke. Will Smith took immediate offense.
And the Oscars suddenly had a scene like none other.
Smith — not long before he won best actor honors for his portrayal of tennis dad Richard Williams in “King Richard" — marched on stage and appeared to smack Rock during Sunday night's Academy Awards after the comic made a joke about the appearance of Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
Read:'Drive My Car' wins Oscar award for best international film
Smith shouted at Rock to “keep my wife's name out of your (expletive) mouth,” and the crowd hushed as it became clear this was no act. Smith apologized afterward to many people — including tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, Richard Williams' daughters — but did not mention Rock in his apology.
“Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family," Smith said as he began his acceptance speech.
He then paused, the meaning behind his choice of words clear, and teared up as he spoke about being a protector for those who worked with him on the film.
“I’m being called on in my life to love people and to protect people and to be a river to my people,” Smith said during his acceptance speech. “I know to do what we do you’ve got to be able to take abuse. You’ve got to be able to have people talk crazy about you. In this business, you've got to be able to have people disrespecting you. And you’ve got to smile and pretend like that’s OK.”
There were few, if any, smiles during the incident.
The exchange began when Rock took aim at Pinkett Smith's shaved head, saying, “Jada, I love you. GI Jane 2, can’t wait to see it, all right?”
Pinkett Smith revealed in 2018 that she was diagnosed with alopecia. She has often discussed the challenges of hair loss on Instagram and other social media platforms.
The joke missed, badly.
Smith walked onto the stage from his front-row seat and took a swing at Rock with an open palm, generating a loud smack. Smith walked back to his seat and shouted for Rock to leave Pinkett Smith alone. Rock replied that he was just making a “GI Jane” joke — and Smith yelled back at him a second time.
“That was the greatest night in the history of television,” Rock said, then resumed his role as presenter.
A few minutes later, rapper Sean Combs — on stage to introduce a tribute to “The Godfather” — tried to play peacemaker and suggested Smith and Rock settle their differences at an Oscars afterparty.
“Will and Chris, we’re going to solve that like family at the Gold party,” Combs said.
The reverberations did not stop there. Several people approached Smith and Pinkett Smith in the commercial breaks that followed; Keith Urban hugged Smith during one stoppage in the show, Nicole Kidman also went over to say a few words as well.
Read:Coming-of-age film ‘CODA’ wins best picture
Backstage, during interview sessions with winners, the Rock-Smith incident seemed like something few — if anyone — wanted to discuss.
“I'm not talking about that," said Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, the director of “Summer of Soul,” which won an Oscar for best documentary.
Pinkett Smith was also the subject of jokes from Rock when he hosted the Oscars in 2016. She did not attend the Oscars that year, saying at the time her decision stemmed from a lack of diversity among award nominees and how Black artists were not properly represented.
“I'm hoping the Academy invites me back," Will Smith said, as he concluded his on-stage remarks.