15012021-LSTC-01.qxd 1/14/2021 11:13 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE On record Raveena Tandon will be seen in KGF: Chapter 2. The teaser of the movie was released recently and it has more than 130m views on YouTube. LUDHIANA | FRIDAY | 15 JANUARY 2021 ‘Imagination starts from reality’ ALI FAZAL His enviable moustache! When Russell Brand called Ali Fazal a terrific actor While their physical meeting might have been pushed by a year, Ali Fazal continues to stay in touch with Death on the Nile co-stars. The Kenneth Branagh directorial was expected to hit the screens in October 2020 but will now open in cinemas on September 2021. In a recent conversation, Ali spoke about his co-star Russell Brand, who kept him sane through the months of lockdown. When Russell got to know about it, he took to Twitter and wrote, “Ali Fazal is a beautiful man, a terrific actor and had the best damn moustache on the movie.” Well, we do agree with Russell. Talking about the film, Death on the Nile is based on Agatha Christie’s book by the same name. It is an extension of Branagh’s last Christie outing –Murder on the Orient Express. The film stars Gal Gadot, Emma Mackey, Letitia Wright, Annette Bening with Branagh playing Hercule Poirot. Drawing inspiration from the big, bad political world is writer Gaurav Solanki’s web series Tandav, which is about collision of idealism with reality Nonika Singh T RUSSELL BRAND Once more Kangana Ranaut announces Manikarnika Returns After the period drama Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, Kangana Ranaut is all set to take the franchise forward. On Thursday, the actress announced the second instalment of the film which is titled Manikarnika Returns: The Legend of Didda. Kangana, who will be playing the lead in this film, is teaming up with producer Kamal Jain once again. The two have locked their new script. The sequel will revolve around Didda, who was the Queen of Kashmir and defeated Mehmood Ghaznavi twice. Despite being struck by polio in one leg, she was one of the greatest warriors. RUTH might be stranger than fiction and as writer Gaurav Solanki says, “Reality can be truly intriguing”. But he believes focusing on one truth or one incident can be rather limiting. What makes his upcoming webseries Tandav, a political drama, special is that it does draw from and reflect real life but not any one thing in particular. So much so that even he would not care to know/pinpoint what exactly was his inspiration. Tandav, he insists, works more at a human level and brings out the relationship matrix of the political class. In the world of cinema politicians have been demonised for too long. Not that Gaurav portrays them in positive light, “For, human beings are rarely all good. Tandav is about collision of idealism with reality.” In fact, the canvas of Tandav is vast and includes all kinds of characters the good, bad and the ugly. But whatever may be the shade, he promises none of them will be uni-dimensional. The fact that stars like Saif Ali Khan and Dimple Kapadia are part of the mega series directed by successful director Ali Abbas Zafar could have weighed on his mind. But while writing the series he had no clue who would be starring in it. Today he is happy that the series indeed has an ensemble cast of some fantastic actors. Whether any one character GAURAV SOLANKI ❝ WHILE WRITING TANDAV I DID NOT WANT TO CREATE HEROES OR VILLAINS, ONLY HUMAN BEINGS. EVEN IF SOMEONE IS COMMITTING A MURDER, THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING ABOUT HIM THAT AUDIENCES CAN ROOT FOR. in particular has an authorbacked role or his personal favourite, he feels he has done justice to them all. As OTT is being hailed as essentially a writer’s medium, he agrees that writing for even an average web series is more onerous than a regular film. He compares the experience to “writing a novel for the screen.” Since more than anyone else the writer stays with the story for the longest span of time he says, “In the West, writers often are the showrunners.” He may not be turning one soon but director’s hat he sure will be wearing in very near future. The writing might behind the much acclaimed Article 15, he is currently busy writing a personal story about young people and relationships which he shares would be markedly different from the ones he has already penned. Besides, yet another political drama too is in the offing which he would like to helm himself. Politics might be a volatile subject that could easily provoke certain sections of society, he believes, “There are enough reasonable people in this country. Only, often they are quiet and go about their life while the unreasonable ones are more voluble and have nuisance value.” Nevertheless, unmindful of the pressure groups he adds, “I will take a stand for what I believe in. Only my stance should not come across as biased or unreasonable.” Right, left or centre, the line he deems is not so firmly drawn as we often imagine. “Within the same person different ideas can coexist.” And it’s this gamut of emotions and flux of thoughts we would get to see in Tandav. Yet another project he is mighty proud of is Dibakar Banerjee’s film Freedom releasing on Netflix. Working for Dibakar whom he has been idolising much before he came to Mumbai nearly eight years ago was a dream come true. Writing for the film, personal yet political and social, which called for an altogether different skillset, was indeed a huge challenge. In remembrance When love is simple IFFI to pay homage to Irrfan, Sushant & Rishi Kapoor Mona Actors Irrfan Khan, Sushant Singh Rajput, Rishi Kapoor and Chadwick Boseman are among 28 names from the world of cinema to be honoured during the 51st International Film Festival of India (IFFI). The festival on Thursday announced that the upcoming Everyone in life has dreams...and has all the right and the might to chase them. Is Love Enough? Sir is a simple heart-warming story. A young widow leaves her life in the village behind to start afresh in Mumbai. As she starts in the big city as a house help, she dreams of a being a fashion designer. A writer in New York has to come back in Mumbai due to a family emergency. Circumstances force him to choose architecture over his writing, couple it with a fiancée who cheats and a marriage cancelled at the eleventh hour. That makes two of them – trying to make sense of life. But would the twain meet is the question. Love is life for some, luxury for others. This very ordinary plotline makes for a heart-warming story. Tillotama Shome takes the cake for essaying various shades of emotions to perfection. The guileless woman from the village who thinks and feels and is ready to work extra hard to ensure her younger sister doesn’t have to go through the fate as hers. Even if she IRRFAN KHAN RISHI KAPOOR movie gala will showcase films of 19 artistes from India and nine international names, who passed away ilast year. IFFI will pay homage to Kapoor, ‘My intention is to entertain’ Daniel Fernandes issues apology to SSR fans Comedian Daniel Fernandes had recently shared a satirical video online in which he referred to media attention on Sushant Singh Rajput’s death and his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty. While the video was for fun, it didn’t go well with SSR’s fans. Now, Daniel has issued a public apology on his social media handles for offending SSR’s fans. He wrote, “My recent stand-up video appears to have offended a lot of fans of the late Sushant Singh Rajput, many of who have pointed out an apology is in order and I agree!” SUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT Khan, Rajput, Soumitra Chatterjee and Boseman by screening their movies Bobby, Paan Singh Tomar, Kedarnath, Charulata and 42.—PTI c m y b NET FLICKS & MORE An offbeat story and outstanding performances turn Is Love Enough? Sir into a heartwarming story Film: Is Love Enough? Sir Director: Rohena Gera Cast: Tillotama Shome, Vivek Gomber, Geetanjali Kulkarni Rating:  is a maid – she has an independent life, away from the misery that befalls a widow in a village. She tells her grieving ‘Sir’ that life doesn’t end in face of challenges. Her simplicity and devotion wins her employer. But it’s not a match that can be accepted. One warms up to Ratna (Tillotama Shome) wishing only the very best for her, just like the man who falls for her guileless charm. Vivek Gomber is reserved, understated but determined. A loveable character. The film, even at an hour and 38 minutes, moves slow. As much for characters, it’s the background score that demarcates the two worlds – noise in the city to the natural music of the hills. An unconventional romance film for sure but Sir makes for a pleasant diversion into a world of simple basic emotions. Though this film made was screened at Cannes in 2018, it is currently trending number 1 on Netflix. Kudos to the director who has to her credit the documentary What’s Love Got to Do with It?, which again explored love and marriage, for telling this offbeat story in a befitting manner. ARTICLE 15 TANDAV Surviving in the industry too is easier said than done. “You write something, it gets stuck and you don’t know what hit you.” Luckily for him in 2019 Article 15, a sleeper hit happened. However, in the intervening period, he never stopped writing. And as he looks back he does think he has become better than he was in 2012. So, to all the aspiring writers out there his advice is simple, “Whatever may be the impediments, keep working on your craft.” His craft already evident in Article 15 is on test today once more as Tandav streams on Amazon Prime. Meet the host As the world gets ready for the inauguration ceremony of the next president and vice-president of the US, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on January 20, a TV special will be aired during the ceremony. Titled as Celebrating America, this TV special will be hosted by none other than Hollywood star Tom Hanks. Not just that, there will be a grand celebration with performances by Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato, Ant Clemons and Jon Bon Jovi. In the coming days, more acts and performances are expected to be announced. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will make an appearance during the TV special to address the nation. The programme will celebrate American heroes who are helping their fellow Americans through this crisis, including frontline workers, health care workers, teachers and citizens giving back and those who are breaking barriers. Tom Hanks to host Celebrating America for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris