27112020-LSTC-01.qxd 11/26/2020 11:48 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE Replacement Hannibal and Doctor Strange actor Mads Mikkelsen has replaced Johnny Depp in Fantastic Beasts 3. He has been cast as dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald in the film. LUDHIANA | FRIDAY | 27 NOVEMBER 2020 Will Jallikattu end India’s Oscar drought? BHUMI PEDNEKAR Acclaimed Malayalam film comes from feted director Lijo Jose Pellissery’s unconventional repertoire A humble request Mona A Awards should include films that are releasing on OTT, says Bhumi Bhumi Pednekar, who will soon be seen in Durgamati, which is set to release on OTT on December 11, is hopeful that all the top film awards of the country will consider including films that are releasing on digital mediums, given the coronavirus pandemic that has kept people away from theatres. Bhumi says, “When we started out to make Durgamati, we wanted to entertain audiences in cinemas. Then, the pandemic happened and is now making us realign as an industry. The fact that movie releases have become digital first is a unique scenario that we are all living with today.” Bhumi adds, “In such an environment, the award shows of our country should include films that are releasing on digital mediums. Award shows in the West have started recognising path-breaking digital content and we should have the same norms even in India. It will be a progressive step that will also benefit the industry.” Court (Marathi) Chaitanya Tamhane’s directorial debut, a court drama, this film had its world premiere at the 71st Venice International Film Festival. LIJO JOSE PELLISSERY India’s submission to Academy Awards. Rajiv Anchal’s Guru and Salim Ahamed’s Abu, Son of Adam were the official entries in 1997, but none made it to the ‘nominated’ cut. With Jallikattu, there is hope, as Pellissery is a feted director known for his long shots, non-linear timelines and an unconventional approach. Branching out Alia Bhatt has launched her own clothing apparel brand for children, Ed-a-Mamma. The self-funded start-up brand caters to children in the age group of 2-14 years. Ed-a-Mamma is a completely home-grown brand, which resonates with the ‘Vocal for Local’ ethos.The maiden run of the brand comes in three collections — Veggie Squad, Friends of the Ocean and Candyland — with apparel for little girls and boys ranging from tops, tees and shirts, skirts, dresses, jumpsuits to bottoms. Says Alia, “This is a time of great uncertainty for the whole world. The universe is sending us a message: that if we mess with nature, there is a price we all have to pay. If there is a way when we can coexist with nature, include a way to care for nature in everything we do, it would go a long, long way. I’ve tried doing this with a universe of products for children. Every detail does its bit for mother nature. Be it non-synthetic garments, buttons that don’t use plastic or seed bombs that help you grow a garden.” THE LAST FIVE OUTINGS S soon as Jallikattu was announced as India’s official entry for Oscars 2021, hope resurfaced, once again. Yet, the big question still haunts — why does India do so poorly in the Oscar race? Though Indians have won Oscars, no Indian film has won the award for Best International Feature Film till date! Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Jallikattu is the third Malayalam film to be chosen as Different take Alia Bhatt launches her own label of kids’ clothing Jallikattu earned him the Kerala State Film Award for Best Director, Best Director (special mention) International Film Festival of Kerala and Silver Peacock Award for Best Director at the 50th International Film Festival of India. His Ee.Ma.Yau (2018), Angamaly Diaries (2017) and Amen (2013) fetched him laurels as well. While non-linear narratives have been Pellissery’s signature move, 11-minute long take at the climax in Newton (Hindi) A STILL FROM JALLIKATTU Angamaly Diaries and that the film’s entire cast had 86 newcomers have been the talking point too! Critically acclaimed Jallikattu, which is submitted for the International Feature Film category at the 93rd Academy Awards, follows the story of a bull’s escape from a slaughterhouse and entire village’s chase to hunt it down. Elusive award Since 1957, India’s been sending entries for the Best International Feature Film, ever since the category was announced. It’s been a generous mix of Hindi films as well as regional, but none has yet bagged any award. Among the entries, only Mother India (1957), Salaam Bombay! (1988) and Lagaan (2001) have made it to final five, which is nominated in the category, yet none could win the award. The closest to a win was Mother India, which eventually lost to Nights of Cabiria by one vote! ❝ IT IS SURPRISING THAT SUCH A HUGE FILM INDUSTRY IS NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY. I HAVEN’T SEEN THE FILM THAT IS NOMINATED THIS YEAR. BUT I WAS SURPRISED THAT GULLY BOY DIDN’T WIN LAST YEAR. MARK BENNINGTON, ACTOR ❝ I AM REALLY HAPPY THAT JALLIKATTU HAS BEEN CHOSEN TO REPRESENT INDIA AT THE OSCARS... I HOPE THE TEAM OF JALLIKATTU RECEIVES THE KIND OF SUPPORT IT NEEDS TO GO OUT THERE AND PROMOTE THE FILM IN LA, AND GET NOTICED BY THE JURY MEMBERS. I WISH THEM THE BEST OF LUCK. GIRISH MALIK, DIRECTOR Worthy of praise Actor Tillotama Shome, tweeted, “Congratulations to #lijojosepelliserry and the entire team of #Jallikattu for being India’s entry for the foreign language film category. Kangana Ranaut wrote on Twitter, “All the scrutiny/ bashing Bullydawood gang got is finally yielding some LAGAAN results, Indian films aren’t just about four film families, movie mafia gang is hiding in their houses and letting juries do their job and congratulations team #Jallikattu.” Actor-photographer Mark Bennington, who was seen lately in Angrezi Medium, Bhangra Paa Le and Commando 3, says, “To be completely honest, I don’t know why India doesn’t do better at Oscars? However, at end of the day, it’s all very political, so I don’t give it a lot of thought. But it is surprising that such a huge film industry is not taken seriously. I haven’t seen the film that is nominated this year. But I was surprised that Gully Boy didn’t win last year.” National award-winning director Ashwini Chaudhary adds. “It’s not like great cinema is not made, but somehow right films never get sent to Oscars.” Chaudhary, who won Best Debut Film of a Director for Laado at the National Awards1999, is however thrilled by Jallikattu’s selection, “After years we have selected the right film as our Oscar entry. I am very happy and excited for Jallikattu. It is an amazing work and stands a strong chance.” SALAAM BOMBAY! Amit V Masurkar’s Newton is a black comedy drama with Rajkummar Rao playing a rookie government clerk on election duty in the Naxal-controlled jungles of Chhattisgarh. Village Rockstars (Assamese) Rima Das’ Village Rockstars premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. It won the Best Feature Film Swarna Kamal award at the 65th National Film Awards along with winning in Best Child Artist, Best Location Sound Recordist and Best Editing categories. Gully Boy (Hindi) Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy is a musical drama set in Dharavi slums, Mumbai with Ranveer Singh in the role of a rapper. GULLY BOY Tributes to a soccer legend Traditional, yet modern Global icon and Bollywood superstar Priyanka Chopra Jonas says her upbringing has played a crucial role in shaping her personality. “I am a product of traditional India and its ancient wisdom, and modern India and its urban bustle. My upbringing was always an amalgamation of the two Indias and, just as much, of East and West,” she said. The actress is gearing up for her upcoming Netflix release The White Tiger along with Rajkummar Rao, and Robert Rodriguez’s superhero film We Can Be Heroes. Priyanka’s memoir, Unfinished: A Memoir is all set to release in January 2021. — IANS Visaranai (Tamil) Visaranai is a crime thriller that too premiered at the 72nd Venice Film Festival, winning Amnesty International Italia Award. Back to work Abhishek Bachchan and Chitrangda Singh spotted on the sets of Bob Biswas Abhishek Bachchan and Chitrangda Singh have resumed the shooting for Bob Biswas after nine months of wrapping the first schedule of the film. On Monday, both the actors headed to Kolkata to begin the next schedule. They started with the shoot on Wednesday and will be in action till December 9. In the film, Abhishek plays a contract killer. A few pictures from the sets have gone viral. Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona passed away on Wednesday after suffering a cardiac arrest. The demise of the iconic player has saddened several across the world, including Bollywood celebrities. Almost all the celebs took to their social media accounts to pay tributes to the football legend. Taking to Instagram, Shah Rukh Khan wrote, “Diego Maradona....you made football even more beautiful. You will be sorely missed and may you entertain and enthral heaven as you did this world. RIP .” Priyanka Chopra shared a picture of Maradona on her Instagram Story with a caption that read, “RIP Diego Maradona. One of the greatest players of all time. A true legend.” Kareena Kapoor Khan also posted a picture of Maradona and wrote, “Rest in Power”. Abhishek Bachchan tweeted, “#RIPMaradona legend! #GOAT.” Riteish Deshmukh mourned the loss of the footballer by sharing a vintage picture on his Twitter handle. “This image says it all. GOAT #Maradona Rest In Glory”, he tweeted. Bhumi Pednekar, Karisma Kapoor, Ishaan Khatter, Urmila Matondkar and Nimrat Kaur also posted pictures of Maradona on Instagram stories and expressed grief. PRIYANKA CHOPRA c m y b DIEGO MARADONA Shah Rukh Khan Abhishek Bachchan Kareena Kapoor Khan KARISMA KAPOOR WITH MARADONA