entertainment
Reports: David Crosby, rock star and CSNY co-founder, dies
David Crosby, the brash rock musician who evolved from a baby-faced harmony singer with the Byrds to a mustachioed hippie superstar and an ongoing troubadour in Crosby, Stills, Nash & (sometimes) Young, has died at 81, several media outlets reported Thursday.
The New York Times reported, based on a text message from Crosby's sister in law, that the musician died Wednesday night. Several media outlets reported Crosby's death citing anonymous sources; The Associated Press was unable to reach Crosby's representatives and his widow.
Crosby underwent a liver transplant in 1994 after decades of drug use and survived diabetes, hepatitis C and heart surgery in his 70s.
While he only wrote a handful of widely known songs, the witty and ever opinionated Crosby was on the front lines of the cultural revolution of the ’60s and ’70s — whether triumphing with Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and Neil Young on stage at Woodstock, testifying on behalf of a hirsute generation in his anthem “Almost Cut My Hair” or mourning the assassination of Robert Kennedy in “Long Time Gone.”
He was a founder and focus of the Los Angeles rock music community from which such performers as the Eagles and Jackson Browne later emerged. He was a twinkly-eyed hippie patriarch, the inspiration for Dennis Hopper’s long-haired stoner in “Easy Rider.” He advocated for peace, but was an unrepentant loudmouth who practiced personal warfare and acknowledged that many of the musicians he worked with no longer spoke to him.
“Crosby was a colorful and unpredictable character, wore a Mandrake the Magician cape, didn’t get along with too many people and had a beautiful voice — an architect of harmony,” Bob Dylan wrote in his 2004 memoir, “Chronicles: Volume One.”
Crosby's drug use left him bloated, broke and alienated. He kicked the addiction in 1985 and 1986 during a year’s prison stretch in Texas on drug and weapons charges. The conviction eventually was overturned.
“I’ve always said that I picked up the guitar as a shortcut to sex and after my first joint I was sure that if everyone smoked dope there’d be an end to war,” Crosby said in his 1988 autobiography, “Long Time Gone,” co-written with Carl Gottlieb. “I was right about the sex. I was wrong when it came to drugs.”
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He lived years longer than even he expected and in his 70s enjoyed a creative renaissance, issuing several solo albums while collaborating with others including his son James Raymond, who became a favorite songwriting partner.
“Most guys my age would have done a covers record or duets on old material,” he told Rolling Stone in 2013, shortly before “Croz” was released. “This won’t be a huge hit. It’ll probably sell nineteen copies. I don’t think kids are gonna dig it, but I’m not making it for them. I’m making it for me. I have this stuff that I need to get off my chest.”
In 2019, Crosby was featured in the documentary “David Crosby: Remember My Name,” produced by Cameron Crowe.
While his solo career thrived, his seemingly lifetime bond with Nash dissolved. Crosby was angered by Nash’s 2013 memoir “Wild Tales” (whiny and dishonest, he called it) and relations between the two spilled into an ugly public feud, with Nash and Crosby agreeing on one thing: Crosby, Stills and Nash was finished. Donald Trump’s election as U.S. president did lead Crosby to suggest that he was open to a Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young protest tour, but his old bandmates declined to respond.
Crosby became a star in the mid-1960s with the seminal folk-rock group The Byrds, known for such hits as “Turn! Turn! Turn!” and “Mr. Tambourine Man.” Clean-cut and baby-faced at the time, he contributed harmonies that were a key part of the band’s innovative blend of The Beatles and Dylan. Crosby was among the first American stars to become close to The Beatles, and helped introduce George Harrison to Eastern music.
Troubled relations with bandmates pushed Crosby out of The Byrds and into a new group. Crosby, Stills and Nash's first meeting is part of rock folklore: Stills and Crosby were at Joni Mitchell’s house in 1968 (Stills would contend they were at Mama Cass'), working on the ballad “You Don’t Have to Cry,” when Nash suggested they start over again. Nash’s high harmony added a magical layer to Stills' rough bottom and Crosby’s mellow middle and a supergroup was born.
Their eponymous debut album was an instant success that helped redefine commercial music. The songs were longer and more personal than their individual prior outputs, yet easily relatable for an audience also embracing a more open lifestyle.
Their spirited harmonies and themes of peace and love became emblematic of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Their version of the Mitchell song “Woodstock” was the theme for the documentary about the 1969 rock concert during which the group made only its second live appearance together. Crosby had produced Mitchell’s first album, “Song to a Seagull,” in 1968, and for a time was her boyfriend (as was Nash).
Now wearing the drooping, bushy mustache that would define him ever after, Crosby provided harmony and rhythm guitar, and his songs reflected his own volatile personality. They ranged from the misty-eyed romanticism of “Guinevere,” to the spirituality of “Deja Vu,” to the operatic paranoia of “Almost Cut My Hair.”
Some critics panned the group as soft-headed and self-indulgent.
“If you’re into living-room rock, fireplace harmonies and just a taste of good old social consciousness, this is your group,” reported Rolling Stone, which nonetheless rarely missed a chance to write about the band.
But CSN, as they would soon be called, won a best new artist Grammy and remained a worldwide touring act and brand name decades later.
The first album was an easy, happy recording, but the mood darkened during the second album, “Deja Vu.” The band was joined by Neil Young, who had feuded with Stills while both were in Buffalo Springfield and continued to do so.
Everyone in the band was troubled: Nash and Mitchell were splitting up, and so were Stills and singer Judy Collins. Crosby, meanwhile, was so devastated by the death of girlfriend Christine Hinton in a car accident, that he would lay on the studio floor and sob.
Featuring a rougher, less unified sound, the album released in 1970 and was another commercial smash. Yet within two years, the quartet had broken up, destined to continuously reunite and splinter for the rest of their lives.
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They worked in every combination possible — as solo artists, as duos, trios and, occasionally, all four together. They played stadiums and clubs. They showed up at the Berlin Wall in 1989 as the Cold War was ending and turned up in 2011 for the Occupy Wall Street protests in New York.
In recent years, Crosby toured often, and candidly answered questions on Twitter with a blend of affection and exasperation, whether commenting on rock star peers or assessing the quality of a fan’s marijuana joint. He loved sailing and his greatest regret, besides hard drugs, was selling his 74-foot boat because of money problems. Among the songs completed on the boat was the classic “Wooden Ships,” co-written with Stills and Jefferson Airplane’s Paul Kantner.
Crosby was born David Van Cortlandt Crosby on Aug. 14, 1941, in Los Angeles. His father was Oscar-winning cinematographer Floyd Crosby of “High Noon” fame. The family, including his mother, Aliph, and brother, Floyd Jr., later moved to Santa Barbara.
Crosby was exposed early to classical, folk and jazz music. In his autobiography, Crosby said that as a child he used to harmonize as his mother sang, his father played mandolin and his brother played guitar.
“When rock ‘n’ roll came in during that era and the Age of Elvis possessed America, I wasn’t into it,” he recalled.
His brother taught him to play guitar and, still in his teens, he began performing in Santa Barbara clubs. He moved to Los Angeles to study acting in 1960 but abandoned the idea and became a folk singer, working around the country before joining The Byrds. Like so many folk performers, Crosby was dazzled by the Beatles’ 1964 movie “A Hard Day’s Night” and decided to become a rock star.
Crosby married longtime girlfriend Jan Dance in 1987. The couple had a son, Django, in 1995. Crosby also had a daughter, Donovan, with Debbie Donovan. Shortly after he underwent the liver transplant, Crosby was reunited with Raymond, who had been placed for adoption in 1961. Raymond, Crosby and Jeff Pevar later performed together in a group called CPR.
“I regretted losing him many times,” Crosby told the AP of Raymond in 1998. “I was too immature to parent anybody, and too irresponsible.”
In 2000, Melissa Etheridge revealed that Crosby was the father of the two children she shared with then-partner Julie Cypher. Cypher carried the children Crosby fathered by artificial insemination, Etheridge told Rolling Stone. One son, Beckett, died in 2020.
Crosby didn’t help raise the children but said, “If, you know, in due time, at a distance, they’re proud of who their genetic dad is, that’s great.”
Holey Artisan victim's mother vows to fight release of Bollywood film on tragedy
Three days after the trailer for Hansan Mehta’s much-talked-about Bollywood film ‘Faraaz’ was released, Ruba Ahmed, the mother of Abinta Kabir who was killed by militants in the Holey Artisan Attack on July 1, 2016, alongside Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain, Tarishi Jain and Ishrat Akhond, among others, said that she is against releasing the film and will try to stop projecting the film in Bangladesh.
Ahmed, who is already fighting a legal battle alongside Tarishi Jain’s mother in the Delhi High Court to stay the release of ‘Faraaz’ which is scheduled to hit theatres in India on February 3, said in a press conference at the Abinta Kabir Foundation on Thursday that the filmmakers have violated their privacy and made the film without their proper consent.
“For the last six years, I have been dealing with the enormous pain of losing my only daughter, Abinta Kabir, whom we lost due to that horrific incident. When we first came to know in 2019 that Bollywood filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt was planning to make a film on the incident, we sent him a letter to which he replied that he respects my decision and will not continue the film,” Ruba Ahmed said at the press conference.
Stating that she was shocked to discover the poster of ‘Faraaz’, realising that the filmmakers did not stop making the film. She then contacted Hansal Mehta, director of the much-acclaimed biographical financial thriller television series ‘Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story’ and asked about the project.
“I asked him what gave him the right to make the movie as this incident happened in Bangladesh and it is being made in Bollywood, and he answered that he wanted to draw attention against violence through the film. My question is, a number of terrorist events took place in India between 2016 and 2023 - why can’t they make movies based on the events that happened in India?”
Outlining her concerns about the film, Ruba Ahmed said, “We lost 22 people in that incident including Abinta Kabir, Tarishi Jain, and Faraz Hossain, to name a few. However, as the name also suggests, there is undoubtedly more emphasis on one character in the film. The filmmakers did not observe the incident in person, how could the film portray only one of them as a hero?”
“In this film, they changed Abinta's name to Ayesha, Tarishi's name to Tari, and even I was also portrayed as Rabeya. In the trailer, they showed a riot scene where my daughter's picture was also visible. Without our consent, how they got the right to invade and violate our privacy?” she questioned.
At the press conference, she was also asked about Mostofa Sarwar Farooki’s much-talked-about film ‘Shonibar Bikel’ (Saturday Afternoon) which is also fictionalized on the same incident and battling with Bangladesh Film Censor Board for its release since 2019. "Farooki received my legal notice and responded to me. The decision to proceed with the film now totally rests with the Bangladeshi government and the censor board," she said.
“I don’t want anyone to imagine the pain of witnessing your daughter's last moment on the silver screen. This movie should not come to Bangladesh. This type of personal tragedy should not be screened on Netflix or Amazon or any other OTT platform," Ruba Ahmed said at the press conference.
Produced by T-Series and Benaras Media Works, ‘Faraaz’ features an ensemble cast with six newcomers including legendary Indian actor Shashi Kapoor’s grandson Zahaan Kapoor marking his Bollywood debut in the title character. The film premiered at the BFI London Film Festival on October 15 last year.
The release date was finalised after the Delhi High Court recently refused to grant a stay for release in a suit filed by the mothers of Abinta Kabir and Tarishi Jain, who claimed their right to privacy with respect to their deceased daughters. “To ensure that the film doesn't get to come to Bangladesh, I will go to the Supreme Court of India," Ruba Ahmed said.
Read more: Holey Artisan Victim Faraaz's Heroism is Now on the Silver Screen
2022 Highest-Grossing South Indian Movies
Though unveiling new surprises in the new year has started, there is a shadow of 2022 inside everything. Film festivals are echoing the buzz of South Indian movies of yesteryear. After the pandemic, a bunch of cinemas was released in the Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada film industries. However, not all movies got the same success. Let's take a look at the IMDB’s list of the highest-grossing South Indian movies in 2022.
Top 10 Highest-Grossing South Indian Movies in 2022
KGF Chapter 2 ~ USD 160 million worldwide
This sequel to the 2018 hit film K.G.F: Chapter 1 was directed and written by Prashant Neel. After establishing himself as the king of the Kolar Gold Fields, the killer Rocky must now deal with adversaries and government officials. Moreover, another bigger challenge before him is his own past.
Produced by Hombale Films, the Kannada film starred Yash, Sanjay Dutt, Srinidhi Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Prakash Raj, and Archana Jois. The period action film released on 14 April 2022 grossed USD 124 million domestically. It currently has an IMDb rating of 8.3.
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RRR ~ USD 150 million worldwide
Directed by SS Rajamouli, this Telugu film is currently the jewel of the Indian film industry. Because it won the Best Song award at this year's Golden Globes. The DVV Entertainment production was co-written by Rajamouli himself along with V Vijayendra Prasad.
The main story is set in the 1920s, depicting the friendship of two Indian revolutionaries, Raju and Bhima, and their deadly struggle against the British Empire. N T Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan were in the lead roles. And they were accompanied by Alia Bhatt, Ajay Devgn, Shriya Sharan, and Samuthirakani.
Released on 25 March 2022, the film grossed USD 117 million in India alone. This blockbuster has a current rating of 7.9 on IMDb.
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Vikram ~ USD 69 million worldwide
It was a Tamil film directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, produced and starring Kamal Haasan. The script of the action thriller was written by Rathna Kumar and Lokesh. This second installment of the Lokesh cinematic universe after Kaithi (2019) released on 3 June 2022.
Apart from Kamal, the film also starred Vijay Sethupathi, Fahadh Faasil, Narain, Chemban Vinod Jose, and Kalidas Jayaram. The film grossed over USD 16.9 million from the Indian subcontinent. The film's current IMDb rating stands at 8.4.
Ponniyin Selvan 1 ~ USD 63 million worldwide
This epic adventure Tamil film was directed by Mani Ratnam. The movie's writing team consisted of Elango Kumaravel, B Jayamohan, and Ratnam himself. Its story was adapted from Kalki Krishnamurthy's 1955 novel Ponnayan Selvan. Produced by Madras Talkies and Lyca Productions, this historical action film released on 30 September 2022.
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The film's large ensemble cast includes Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Vikram, Jayam Ravi, Trisha, Karthi, Vikram Prabhu, Jayaram, Shovita Dhulipala, Aishwarya Lakshmi, R Sarathkumar, and Prakash Raj. The story of the film revolves around the early life of Arulmoji Varman, the famous emperor Chola prince from 947-1014 AD.
The film became the first Tamil movie to gross more than USD 69 million from all over India. The current IMDb rating of the movie is marked at 7.8.
Kantara ~ USD 56 million worldwide
This action thriller film was produced by Hombale Films of the Kannada cinema industry. The film will show the conflict between a Kambala champion and an upright forest official Murali. The movie was written and directed by Rishabh Shetty who also played the lead role.
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Released on 30 September 2022, the film crossed USD 24.6 million in net collections domestically on its 30th day. After six weeks, the film started breaking Baahubali 2's record. The film currently has a rating of 8.4 on IMDb.
‘Avatar 2,’ ‘M3GAN’ hold onto top spots at the box office
New movies like “Plane” and “House Party” were no match for “Avatar: The Way of Water” and the killer doll horror “M3GAN” at the box office this weekend. The two holdovers topped the charts again according to studio estimates Sunday.
In first place for the fifth weekend in a row was James Cameron’s “Avatar” sequel, which added an estimated $31.1 million through Sunday. That total will likely balloon to $38.5 million by the end of Monday’s Martin Luther King holiday. As of Sunday, the film's domestic total now rests at $562.9 million (the 13th biggest of all time) and its global total is $1.89 billion. “Avatar 2” needs to pass $1.92 billion to trump “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” which is currently the sixth highest grossing film of all time globally.
“There were such huge expectations and a lot of naysayers that opening weekend,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore. “But ‘Avatar,’ for a James Cameron movie, is moving at lightning speed up the domestic and global box office chart. I think he always knew this would be a $2 billion movie."
Second place went to Universal and Blumhouse’s “M3GAN” which in its second weekend in theaters added $17.9 million through Sunday and an estimated $21.2 million including Monday. The modestly budgeted thriller that cost a reported $12 million to produce has made $59.8 million in North America.
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Horror movies typically have very steep second weekend drop offs in ticket sales, but “M3GAN” only fell 41%. Dergarabedian said that’s almost unheard of for a horror picture and shows “world class staying power.”
Universal also claimed the third place spot, with “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” which audiences continued to seek out in theaters even though it’s currently available to rent at home. The family-friendly animated film added $13.4 million in its fourth weekend, bringing its domestic total to $110.3 million.
“A Man Called Otto,” from Columbia Pictures, expanded to 3,802 theaters this weekend, adding $12.7 million through Sunday, and $15 million including Monday, to take fourth place. Directed by Marc Forster, the adaptation of “A Man Called Ove” starring Tom Hanks is proving to be something of a rarity in the theatrical marketplace as an adult-targeted drama that is doing well.
The Gerard Butler action pic “Plane,” a Lionsgate acquisition for release in North America, rounded out the top five with a better-than-expected $10 million in its first three days. In the film, Butler plays a pilot whose crash landing on an island is only the first of his troubles. On the island, most of the passengers are taken hostage. “Plane” got better-than-average reviews with 75% positive from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
Sixth place went to the second major new offering this weekend, “House Party,” a reboot of Reginald Hudlin’s 1990 hit that spawned several spinoffs. The film, which made $3.9 million through Sunday from 1,400 locations, was originally intended as a straight-to-HBO Max property but Warner Bros. pivoted to a theatrical release as a gesture to audiences and exhibitors hungry for new films. The R-rated, youth-oriented comedy did not score well with critics.
Overall, the three-day box office total is going to net out around $100 million, which is not quite at pre-pandemic levels, but still up some 44% from the same weekend last year.
"January is not going to be the slow month we thought. It’s a great combination of films out there that's not just dominated by ‘Avatar: The Way of Water,’" Dergarabedian said. “Theaters need movies and the studios are supplying those.”
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Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore, with Wednesday through Sunday in parentheses. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. “Avatar: The Way of Water,” $31.1 million.
2. “M3GAN,” $17.9 million.
3. “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” $13.4 million.
4. “A Man Called Otto,” $12.7 million.
5. “Plane,” $10 million.
6. “House Party,” $3.9 million.
7. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” $2.2 million.
8. “The Whale,” $1.5 million.
9. “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” $1.2 million.
10. “Waltair Veeraya,” 905,000.
USA fashion designer, model R’Bonney Gabriel crowned Miss Universe
R’Bonney Gabriel, a fashion designer, model and sewing instructor from Texas who competition officials said is the first Filipino American to win Miss USA, was crowned Miss Universe on Saturday night.
Gabriel closed her eyes and clasped hands with runner-up Miss Venezuela, Amanda Dudamel, at the moment of the dramatic reveal of the winner, then beamed after her name was announced.
Thumping music rang out, and she was handed a bouquet of flowers, draped in the winner’s sash and crowned with a tiara onstage at the 71st Miss Universe Competition, held in New Orleans.
The second runner-up was Miss Dominican Republic, Andreina Martinez.
In the Q&A at the last stage of the competition for the three finalists, Gabriel was asked how she would work to demonstrate Miss Universe is “an empowering and progressive organization” if she were to win.
“I would use it to be a transformational leader,” she responded, citing her work using recycled materials in her fashion design and teaching sewing to survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence.
“It is so important to invest in others, invest in our community and use your unique talent to make a difference,” Gabriel continued. “We all have something special, and when we plant those seeds to other people in our life, we transform them and we use that as a vehicle for change.”
According to Miss Universe, Gabriel is a former high school volleyball player and graduate of the University of North Texas. A short bio posted on the organization’s website said she is also CEO of her own sustainable clothing line.
Nearly 90 contestants from around the world took part in the competition, organizers said, involving “personal statements, in depth interviews and various categories including evening gown & swimwear.”
Miss Curacao, Gabriela Dos Santos, and Miss Puerto Rico, Ashley Carino, rounded out the top five finalists.
Last year’s winner was Harnaaz Sandhu of India.
10 Most Anticipated Movies of 2023: Unleash the Craze of Movie Mania
As 2023 begins, the countdown has begun for the release of the year's most awaited movies. As the popularity of movies has been established long ago, movie lovers can’t wait to experience the surprises. There is a lot of hype about possible villains for the new installments, and possible twists on old stories. There is endless discussion about whether the upcoming movies will be able to do justice to their old selves, or whether they will be able to start a new craze. This article lists the most anticipated movies of 2023 out of the shouts.
10 Most Awaited Films Releasing in 2023
Ant-Man and the Wasp- Quantumania | February 17, 2023
Marvel is going to start the year 2023 with this movie. This 31st movie of MCU will make its name as the first movie of phase five of MCU. Directed by Peyton Reed and written by Jeff Loveness, Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly will reprise their roles as Scott Lang and Hope Pym, respectively.
In this third installment of Ant-Man, Scott-hope and their family will be brought to the Quantum Realm where they will encounter Kang the Conqueror, the infamous supervillain from Marvel Comics.
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John Wick Chapter IV | March 24, 2023
John Wick, starring Keanu Reeves, continues to pull audiences even after three consecutive editions. Written by Michael Finch and Shay Hatten and directed by Chad Stahelski, this neo-noir action film will once again feature some breathless fighting sequences.
Before gaining his freedom, Wick must face a new enemy that threatens to turn his old friend into an enemy. Lionsgate CEO John Feltheimer confirmed the production of the 5th movie alongside the shooting of this fourth installment.
Guardians of the Galaxy (Volume 3) | May 5, 2023
James Gunn is going to appear again in the guardians of the galaxy to give Marvel fans a new surprise. This sequel to 2017's Guardians of the Galaxy 2 will mark the 32nd movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Star Lord's old team will be seen this time going to war with Marvel's new character Adam Warlock played by Will Poulter.
However, the bad news for Gunn fans is that this will be his last Guardians film.
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Fast X | May 19, 2023
Those who love to see all their favorite stars together have been following up on the Fast and Furious franchise since its inception. Via Fast X, this action franchise, written by Justin Lin, is entering its tenth year.
This time, however, Louis Leterrier is directing and Dan Mazzeu contributed to the screenplay along with Lin. Vin Diesel’s character Dominique Toretto's old team and Charlize Theron as villain remain unchanged. But Jason Momoa and Brie Larson will appear with surprises in new roles. More good news – February 2024 is already targeted for the release of the eleventh movie.
Spider-Man- Across the SpiderVerse | June 2, 2023
This co-production of Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation is going to be a great treat for Spider-Man fans. Here, the audience will see an unprecedented world of a different dimension called Spider-Verse, where Miles' adventure will be accompanied by Spider-Force.
This sequel of the 2018 animated film marks the directorial debut of Joaquim dos Santos and Justin K. Thompson. They will be accompanied by Kemp Powers. In addition to Shameek Moore as the main character Miles, other voiceover artists include Hailee Steinfeld, Zach Johnson, Issa Rae, Daniel Kaluuya, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Velez, and Oscar Isaac.
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Curtain rises on 21st Dhaka International Film Festival
The 21st edition of the Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF), one of the longest-running cultural festivals in the country, officially began in the city Saturday, with 252 films set to be showcased from 71 countries till January 22.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen inaugurated the festival as chief guest, while civil aviation and tourism secretary Mokammel Hossain and popular West Bengal actor Sabyasachi Chakrabarty were present as special guests at the inaugural ceremony.
Presided over by the DIFF chief patron and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, the welcome remarks were delivered by festival director Ahmed Muztaba Zamal, founding organiser of this coveted festival.
Inaugurating the 21st edition, Foreign Minister Momen said that the DIFF has given young and aspiring filmmakers in Bangladesh and elsewhere the opportunity to interact with contemporary artistic trends, greatly influencing the development of a strong and positive national cinema culture.
"I commend Rainbow Film Society's initiative and effort, which since 1977 have been devoted to fostering a strong film culture in Bangladesh. It truly is one of the Bangladeshi film society movement's most active film organizations, and I wish the festival a great success," Momen said at the ceremony.
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Indian Movie RRR’s Success at Golden Globe 2023
Indian films are popular around the world for their versatile storylines, bold acting performances, wonderful music, exotic dance choreographies, and talented cinematographies. In the 80th edition of this prestigious Golden Globes awards festival, the Indian film RRR has made its place in two categories. Let's take a closer look at the action film RRR and its success at the Golden Globes 2023 festival.
Golden Globes Awards: A Look Back
An organization of journalists and photographers called the HFPA (Hollywood Foreign Correspondents Association), formerly known as the Hollywood Foreign Press Association founded the Golden Globe Awards in 1944. Their aim is to honor the valuable works of small and big screens around the world.
The awards ceremony was held at 20th Century Fox that year, with The Song of Bernadette winning Best Picture. Jennifer Jones won Best Actress for the film and Paul Lucas won Best Actor for another movie Watch on the Rhine.
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The Golden Globe awards for foreign language films began in 1949 with the awarding of the Italian film Bicycle Thieves. And the Best Original Song debuted as a new category in 1962. Lyricist Ned Washington and music scorer Dimitri Tiomkin were honored at the time for the title song of the movie Town Without Pity.
Everything about the Incredible Action Film RRR
The film's title is derived from the initials of the Telugu words "Raudram Ranam Rudhiram" which literally means "Fierce Death Blood". And the original title is followed by the words "Rise Roar Revolt" in English, abbreviated as RRR, and the key to the movie's plot.
The epic action film was directed by renowned South Indian filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli. Along with him, V Vijayendra Prasad co-wrote the DVV Entertainment production. The film's cast members are NT Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan, Alia Bhatt, Ajay Devgan, Shriya Sharan, Ray Stevenson, and Samuthirakani.
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The story is about two real-life Indian revolutionaries, Komaram Bheem and Aluri Sitarama Raju. Set in the 1920s, the plot revolves around their fictional brotherhood and friendship and their war against the British Empire.
With a budget of USD 72 million, the movie is the most expensive film by far in Indian history. On its first day of release in theaters on March 25, 2022, it recorded the highest opening day by grossing USD 30 million worldwide.
A few box office records were attached to its name grossing USD 175 million worldwide. The main achievements were the third-highest-grossing Indian cinema, the second-highest-grossing Telugu film worldwide, and the highest-grossing movie in the domestic market, beating Rajamouli's previous film Baahubali-2.
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RRR’s Achievements in Golden Globe
The two categories that RRR was nominated for at the Golden Globes were Best Picture Non-English Language (formerly Foreign Language) and Best Song – Motion Picture.
RRR's co-nominees for Best Foreign Language Film were Argentina, 1985, Germany's All Quiet on the Western Front, Netherlands, France, Belgium's Close, and South Korea's Decision to Leave. RRR lost out to Argentina, in 1985, like the rest of the nominees.
On the other hand, for Best Song – Motion Picture, RRR's MM Kiravani, and Chandra Bose were up against Roeban Katz, Guillermo del Toro, Rihanna, Ludwig Goransson, Bloodpop aka Michael Tucker, Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift. Keeravani and Chandra Bose beat everyone to win this award for the song Natoo Natoo.
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Not only at the box office, but the film's visuals, acting by the lead actors, storytelling, and cinematography have also been praised by Western audiences, Hollywood critics, and artists alike. After conquering the world, RRR was finally released in a few major states of the United States.
The response from the western audience has been remarkable, especially the Natu Natu song, Jr. NTR's attack scene with the animals has won their hearts. All in all, the Indian action film has been able to overcome the barrier of a completely different language to create an impression in the mind of every viewer.
21st Dhaka International Film Fest begins Saturday showcasing work from 71 countries
Showcasing 252 films from 71 countries, the 21st Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) will begin Saturday (January 14, 2023).
One hundred and twenty-nine full-length feature films and one hundred and twenty-three short and independent films are scheduled to enthral the moviegoers at the festival.
Bangladesh will be represented at the festival through 81 films, including 12 full-length feature films and 69 short and independent films.
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Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen will inaugurate the festival as the chief guest at the main auditorium of the Bangladesh National Museum at 4pm.
Prime Minister's Private Industries and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman will join the ceremony as the special guest, which will be presided over by State Minister for Foreign Affairs and DIFF chief patron Shahriar Alam.
"Rainbow Film Society has been organising the DIFF every year since 1992 with support from different organisations. Unfortunately, that support is dwindling," festival director Ahmed Muztaba Zamal said at a press conference in the capital Thursday.
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"To continue this acclaimed festival in the future, we need proper financial assistance from the government and elite members of society and corporations, the driving force behind every other successful film festival across the world."
About the unavailability of suitable venues for the festival, newly elected Jatiya Press Club (JPC) General Secretary Shyamal Dutta said the JPC is going to serve as one of the venues for the upcoming edition of the DIFF.
Films will be screened at the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib auditorium (main auditorium) and Poet Sufia Kamal auditorium of the Bangladesh National Museum, National Art Gallery auditorium, Nandan Theatre open ground and Jatiya Sangeet and Nrityakala auditorium of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), Star Cineplex (Bashundhara City) and Alliance Francaise de Dhaka (Dhanmondi) in the capital.
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They will be screened under nine categories – Asian cinema competition section, retrospective, wide angle, Bangladesh panorama, cinema of the world, children's films, women filmmakers, short and independent films and spiritual films.
The 21st DIFF will also feature the Ninth Dhaka International Conference on Women in Cinema 2023 at the Samson Lounge, Dhaka Club, from January 15 to 16 and West Meets East: Screenplay Lab from January 15 to 18 at Alliance Francaise de Dhaka.
This year, the festival will also host a day-long master class for the first time on January 21 at Bangladesh National Museum. It will be led by filmmakers Jon Jost from the US and Anja Strelec from Belgium.
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There will also be a special session where script pitching, film studies, and practical filmmaking experience will be discussed by Sadia Khalid Reeti and filmmaker Tasmiah Afrin Mou. Bidhan Rebeiro will conduct the master class sessions.
The 21st Dhaka International Film Festival will draw to a close on January 22.
India’s 1st Golden Globe: High-energy dance number ‘Naatu Naatu’ from ‘RRR’ wins best song award
SS Rajamouli’s South Indian blockbuster ‘RRR’ won the best original song for ‘Naatu Naatu’ at the Golden Globes.
The film, which earned over Rs 1,200 crore globally, was also nominated for the Best Non-English Language Film. ‘Argentina, 1985’ from Argentina won in that category, reports NDTV.
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‘RRR’ director and stars – Rajamouli, Jr NTR and Ram Charan – represented the film at the Golden Globe Awards.
Jr NTR and Ram Charan play freedom fighters Komaram Bheem and Alluri Seetharamaraju in the period drama, set in British India during the 1920s. The ensemble cast also includes Alia Bhatt and Ajay Devgn as well as British actors Ray Stevenson, Alison Doody and Olivia Morris.
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‘RRR’ has already won international honours including Best Director for Rajamouli at the New York Film Critics Circle awards.
Comedian Jerrod Carmichael hosted the 80th Golden Globes from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, with little of the fanfare that usually opens such ceremonies.