25092026-LSTL-01.qxd 9/24/2026 7:53 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE Tune in Life Taylor Swift has more music coming. On September 25, she'll release The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore, an expanded version of her 12th studio album, adding four new songs: Patient Zero, Cleveland!, Pink Clouding & Babylon. LUDHIANA | FRIDAY | 25 SEPTEMBER 2026 Devkanya Thakur, the brain behind the Shimla film festival, wants to promote regional filmmakers & local languages ‘Bollywood alone is not cinema’ Vir Das earns third Emmy nomination for Fool Volume, Real Kashmir Football Club nominated in Drama Series category Nonika Singh L India scores two Emmy nods India picked up two nominations at the 2026 International Emmy Awards, announced on September 23. In the Drama Series category, Real Kashmir Football Club is up against A Thousand Blows, Careme and Menem. Streaming on SonyLIV since December 2025, the show stars Manav Kaul and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and follows the real journey of Real Kashmir FC, which broke ground as Jammu and Kashmir’s first professional football club. Rajesh Mapuskar and Mahesh Mathai directed it. In the Comedy category, Vir Das picked up his third career nomination for his special Fool Volume, competing against Division Palermo: Season 2, Man vs Baby and Old Dog, New Tricks. No other Indian comedian or performer has reached three International Emmy nominations. Das’s Emmy history began in 2021 with Vir Das: For India, followed by a win in 2023 for Vir Das: Landing. He said Fool Volume was born from a stretch when he had “literally lost my voice, but it’s surreal to see something that began in silence travel this far.” Reflecting on the milestone, Das said three nominations was “something I never imagined,” adding that “the fool keeps getting louder.” ast year inclement weather played the spoilsport and restricted the International Shimla Film Festival to a oneday affair. Now as the sun god seems to be smiling, the Queen of Hills once again beckons cine enthusiasts with its vast palette of movies from across the world. The 12th edition of the three-day festival is a bouquet of films from countries as diverse as Iran, Portugal, Canada, Mexico, Bulgaria, China Croatia, Indonesia, Italy and Palestine. In the vast variety, which the festival offers filmmaker Tribeny Rai’s internationally acclaimed feature film Shape of Momo, shines bright. The opening film Lullaby from Azerbaijan and Portugal, a short film directed by Ayan Melik is set against the backdrop of the Karabakh conflict. The closing film Nyingma… Through Her Eyes, a 20-minute Indian short film directed and written by Liton Paul is set in a high-altitude Himalayan mountain village in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh. Winner of the Golden Royal Bengal Tiger Award for Best Indian Short Film at the 31st Kolkata International Film Festival in 2025, it centres around a young girl’s dream to attend school in the face of environmental and economic challenges. Devkanya Thakur, founder of the festival, is proud of the Himachali section they have curated and singles out Chupi Roh, Disha Bhardwaj’s directorial signature in particular. In Pahadi and Dogri, the film deals with gender identity. Tenfa, a 30-minute Kinnauri short film directed by Nihaarika Negi, which rediscovers Kinnaur’s linguistic and sonic layers through magic realism, is another highlight. Devkanya, who has been assiduously putting together the festival since its inception, would like local languages like Pahadi and filmmakers from her region to gain more attention. Though the festival is supported by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (Government of India), the Department of Language and Culture (Government of Himachal Pradesh), and Himalayan Velocity, she beseeches the state government to make arts not just cinema but also literature in local dialects a top priority. She quips, “Bollywood alone is not cinema.” Local languages and stories are the flavour of the festival. Rohit Ravindra Jadhav’s Halgi, a Marathi short film revolves around a traditional drummer, who experiences ‘every beat of the drum as a crushing weight of caste obligations, social shame, and emotional suffocation.’ Cinephiles can look forward to Iranian short, Dry Bushes. Directed by Mohammad Niloofar, the engaging storytelling meets beautiful frames. In the changing landscape of entertainment, the raison de etre of the festival is to expose budding filmmakers to cinema which otherwise they do not have access to. Red carpet events or glamour is not the festival’s mojo. Yet, there can be no talk of cinema without some of its practioners dwelling upon its myriad facets. Noted filmmaker of Oh My God 2 fame Amit Rai, whose latest film DEVKANYA THAKUR Ohh My Dog, a heart-warming tale, which explores the bond between humans and dogs, will interact with audiences on day two of the festival. The opening day will include interactive sessions with two of film industry’s stellar and National Award winning actors. Veteran actor Manoj Joshi of countless films and Sharib Hashmi aka endearing JK of The Family Man in individual sessions will take audiences en route AMIT RAI, MANOJ JOSHI & SHARIB HASHMI their fascinating journeys of character building. Masterclasses on AI will further inform audiences especially those who intend to pursue cinema on whether AI is the best creative tool or bane? So movie-enthusiasts, book your dates; the festival starts from September 25 to 27 at the historic Gaiety Theatre in Shimla, Entry free. As Pushp Raj Thakur, Festival Director says, “Watch, cinema transcend geographical and cultural boundaries.” PHOTO: PARDEEP TEWARI WHAT’S HOT read Real Kashmir Football Club chandigarh STORYBOX BOOK FAIR ‘I do what the script demands’ F ILL a box with as many books as you can close the lid on — pick from fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, new arrivals and Hindi titles, with StoryBox Mini priced and StoryBox Biggie. Entry is free. Catch it at Lajpat Rai Bhawan, Madhya Marg, Sector 15-B, Chandigarh, September 22 onwards till September 27, 10 am to 10 pm. Ayushmann Khurrana on playing Pakistan agent in Udta Teer The longing of an animal for freedom, a young woman seeking unconditional love in her mother’s lap, the scars left by felled trees narrating the story of ecological imbalance, a woman weaving phulkari against the backdrop of Punjab’s agricultural landscape and another turning her gaze inward — artists bring these diverse emotions, memories and reflections to life through their work. Together, the artworks offer more than images to look at, they open windows into questions of freedom, love, loss, the environment, identity and introspection. Organised by the Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi in collaboration with the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi, the exhibition, titled Celebrating Together: Women Artists of Punjab and Chandigarh, brings together a diverse display of Many voices, many visions, one canvas From personal journeys to shared reflections, Celebrating Together: Women Artists of Punjab and Chandigarh showcases the varied perspectives of women artists from Punjab artworks by women artists. The exhibition is an expression of women’s creativity, courage and imagination, with around 70 artists from Punjab and Chandigarh showcasing works across disciplines, including painting, photography and printmaking. Each artist brings her own experiences c m y b and perspective to the canvas, paper or photographic frame, creating a collection that reflects both individual journeys and shared thoughts. “Taking this exhibition from one city to another makes the journey even more meaningful. From Amritsar to Jalandhar and finally to Chandigarh, the exhibition will not only carry the artworks, but the spirit of friendship, understanding and cultural togetherness,” says Bheem Malhotra, Chairman, Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi. In A Language Beyond Words, Pallavi, a physically challenged artist, turns to Indian sign language to explore communication among deaf people. The idea of finding expression through a different language finds a different form in Tanveer Kaur Brar’s Kudrat, where the agricultural landscape of Punjab becomes a source of artistic expression. From communicating with others and observing the world outside, the artistic journey then turns inward in Guneeta Chadha’s work. The exhibition will remain open till September 26, daily from 10 am to 7 pm at Sobha Singh Art Gallery, Punjab Kala Bhawan, Sector 16-B, Chandigarh. play CROCHET CLOUD chandigarh Akhil Kumar C REATE your own fluffy crochet cloud with easy-to-follow basic stitches and guidance on shaping — no prior crochet experience needed. Enjoy a relaxed, creative hour and take home your handmade cloud. Catch it at Olive Cafe and Bar, Chandigarh, on September 26. love WAJAHAT HASSAN LIVE chandigarh Ayushmann Khurrana said he had no hesitation in playing a Pakistan agent in his upcoming spy comedy, Udta Teer, where he surrendered himself to the script and the director. “It was part of the script (referring to Pakistan zindabad dialogue). As an actor, you are ready to do anything. This is a spy comedy, it is a patriotic comedy, it is a genre bender. I do what the script demands, I’m a director’s baby. It is a fantastic script,” Khurrana said at the trailer launch of Udta Teer. — PTI G ET ready for an evening of soulful music, infectious energy and pure Sufi feels as Wajahat Hassan brings his powerful vocals and poetic lyrics to Chandigarh, promising singalongs, swaying beats and an intimate vibe that stays alive till the last note. Catch it at Diablo, Chandigarh, on September 30.