04062026-LSTC-01.qxd 6/4/2026 12:31 AM Page 1 c m y b WELCOME TO PAPON’S MEHFIL Papon has unveiled the first song from his album Mehfilz with Papon. The track is titled Apne Khilaaf. The song sets the tone for what promises to be a refreshing new-age ghazal experience. The song features an intimate living-room treatment, appearing to recreate the feeling of sitting together in a real mehfil. WHAT’S HOT eat HYDERABADI FLAVOURS T chandigarh HIS June, a royal culinary exchange unfolds at The Oberoi Sukhvilas Resort & Spa, Chandigarh, as the legendary flavours of Hyderabad’s celebrated Nizami Dastarkhwan arrive amidst the serene foothills of the Himalayas. From June 24 to 29, Anant Mahal welcomes Kanak, the Indian specialty restaurant from Trident, Hyderabad. The menu presents signature dishes such as the iconic Patthar Ka Gosht, Chapa Vepudu, Shakarkand Palak Patta Chaat, Guthi Vankaya Kura, Nawabi Chicken Chaap, Royyala Iguru and Gongura Mamsam. TRIBUNE Life society ‘We only make what shows us’ NonikaSingh W ITH a name that means “acting” and a surname inherited from his parents—legendary onscreen couple Ramesh and Seema Deo—acclaimed filmmaker Abhinay Deo was born to cinema. After giving us cult films like Delhi Belly and Blackmail, he is all set to unveil Zee 5 series, Brown. The architect-turned-filmmaker talks about why crime is the go-to genre for filmmakers, why clichés are not such a bad thing and how he intends to stem the rut on OTT. Indeed, we have surfeit of crime dramas on streaming platforms. Indeed, many of them are women cop led dramas. On both counts, he has a credible explanation to go with the crime thriller-based on Abheek Barua’s novel, City of Death. He observes, “Crime is all around us. Pick up any newspaper, look in any direction and you see crime. Hence, it becomes the most consumed genre in cinema too.” As for yet another show headlined by a policewoman, ludhiana IT’S MAGICAL L UDHIANA will witness an evening of wonder and intrigue as magician and master mentalist Mehakpreet Singh, popularly known as FOOLKING, takes the stage at Nehru Sidhant Kender on June 13 at 7 pm. The two-hour show, presented in Punjabi and English, promises to bring audiences face-to-face with Mehakpreet’s celebrated craft. Laugh P chandigarh RITISH NARULA Trial Solo is an upcoming Hindi stand-up comedy show featuring comedian Pritish Narula. Scheduled for June 5 at 8 pm, the 50minute performance will take place at The Laugh Club Chandigarh. Open to audiences aged 16 years and above, the event promises an evening of laughter, relatable humour, and fresh material as part of Narula’s trial solo act. Regular tickets are priced at ~399. Lindsey Anderson Beer is set to direct Hollywood star Sydney Sweeney in the adaptation of her debut novel Hollow. Sweeney will essay Katrina Van Tassel in the feature version. CHANDIGARH | THURSDAY | 4 JUNE 2026 play RELATABLE HUMOUR New role Filmmaker Abhinay Deo, ready with neo noir crime thriller Brown, feels since crime is all around us, it ends up becoming the most consumed genre in cinema too he quips, “Ultimately inspiration for all stories comes from the Mahabharata or Ramayana and similarities are bound to exist.” He is not unduly perturbed that his lead character’s name Rita Brown shares the same first name with Daldal’s Rita Ferreira. Quoting Shakespeare, ‘what’s in a name,’ he also reveals how when he started making Brown some four years ago Daldal was nowhere in con- tention. Besides, he feels, “In a crime thriller beyond the obvious whodunit, the onus rests on treatment, whether it’s dense, layered and unpeels like an onion. Brown is not just another crime story. It is about human nature, its decay and will leave you asking many questions about society and one’s own self too.” With Karisma Kapoor stepping into the shoes of Rita Brown, why did he feel the need for stars in the space where a star is born every day? And he lets out a trade secret, “See, when you are already experimenting with the format you need to give viewers a degree of familiarity which comes with stars they have already seen.” Karisma is not only a bona fide star but also, he adds, “A powerhouse performer, gets into the skin of her character in a flash and has done to Brown what she brought to her iconic films like Zubeidaa.” As for our boy from Himachal Pradesh, the star of Undekhi, Surya Sharma, Abhinav reveals, “Surya has a very intense part.” Apart from an ensemble cast, including gifted actors like Jisshu Sen- gupta, veterans like Helen and Soni Razdan, Kolkata too emerges as a character. On the danger of glorification of violence in a crime drama, indeed he is conscious that violence should not be fantasised. But, he insists, “You can’t give gore a complete miss, only ensure that it does not make viewers cringe.” Besides, the presumption that violence onscreen triggers violence in real life, according to him, is a rather far-fetched thought. He quips, “It’s just like assuming that a comedy leaves you with feelgood factor long after.” He is not besotted by crime, rather is genre agnostic and toying with making a love story. From the lives of his illustrious parents, he can draw zillion lessons. But the one which has stayed with him is, “It’s okay to be flawed and to fail. All that matters is the intent.” Watch, how his deep deliberation transforms crime into soul-searching. Since his mantra always has been to do what ‘one must, rather than one should’ expect no less than a revelation. Brown streams on June 5 on Zee5. CHAT UP FAN & FRENZY TRAILER LAUNCH Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor on Tuesday attended a promotional event for their film Peddi in Vijayawada. A strange incident occurred when Charan’s lookalike fan breached security in an attempt to meet him. Within moments, security personnel stepped in and escorted him away from the stage. A separate video that surfaced later shows Ram Charan meeting the fan, where he appears to calmly explain to him about his actions and why they were inappropriate. The fan, visibly moved, thanked the actor and respectfully touched his feet. The trailer of Kangana Ranaut-starrer Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata has been unveiled. It traces the story of ordinary people who rose with extraordinary bravery to save over 400 lives in the face of unimaginable terror. Headlined by Kangana Ranaut, the film shifts the spotlight from celebrated heroes to nurses and ward boys who became the nation’s quiet saviours when it mattered most. I look for honesty more than perfection Gurnaaz national stages and global partnerships. “It has been a journey shaped by curiosity, migration and ultimately, purpose,” she says. “Studying Japanese introduced me to the idea that culture can travel across borders without losing its soul.” Living in Japan and later moving to Seattle exposed her to a stark reality…South Asian stories were often absent, simplified or reduced to stereotypes in global spaces. That realisation became the turning point. “The real shift came when I stopped waiting for representation and began thinking about how we could create our own platforms,” she reflects. “That conviction eventually became Tasveer.” “I did not imagine this scale in specific terms,” Rita admits, “but I always believed there Rita Meher, co-founder and executive director of Tasveer, says that there is a global audience waiting for stories that are authentic and deeply human From a young student of Japanese language at Jawaharlal Nehru University to becoming an influential advocate for South Asian storytelling globally, Rita Meher has built a journey defined by culture, migration, identity and purpose. Today, as the co-founder and executive director of Tasveer, the world’s only Oscar-qualifying South Asian film festival, she stands at the forefront of a movement reshaping how South Asian stories are seen, funded and celebrated across the globe. This year, Tasveer hosted the only official South Asian panel on the main stage at Marché du Film, the prestigious global film market held alongside the Cannes Film Festival. Titled “Reimagining Global Pathways and Financing for Stories That Travel,” the panel brought together voices from cinema, technology, analytics and global media to discuss international co-productions, film financing, AI in storytelling and the future of South Asian cinema on the world stage. For Rita, however, this journey began long before inter- c m y b was a global audience waiting for stories that felt authentic and deeply human.” As an Adivasi woman, Rita says her lived experiences have deeply influenced the stories and creators she gravitates toward. Her understanding of invisibility and erasure has shaped both her artistic and advocacy work. “I naturally gravitate towards stories that challenge dominant narratives and create space for voices that are often overlooked,” she says. “I look for honesty more than perfection.” Over the years, Rita has worn many hats…producer, editor, director, cultural curator and advocate. Yet among them all, advocacy remains the role that transformed her the most. “Advocacy constantly reminds me why storytelling matters,” she says. “Cinema is not merely entertainment; it shapes empathy, memory, identity and public imagination.” Idris Elba knighted King Charles knighted actor Idris Elba in an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Tuesday. The actor received the honour for services to young people. The Royal family shared the photos from the ceremony on their Instagram handle showcasing King Charles tapping a sword on Idris Alba’s shoulders as he knelt to receive his honour of knighthood. “Congratulations to everyone who received honours at today’s Investiture ceremonies, hosted by The King at Windsor Castle. Sir Idris Elba for services to young people,” they captioned the carousel. Elba’s knighthood was announced in King Charles’ 2026 New Year’s Honours list. — ANI