09022021-LSTL-01.qxd 2/8/2021 11:41 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE Her choice Vaani Kapoor makes her stand clear on the kind of films that she would love to do in the future. She says, “I want to do more films that celebrate women.” LUDHIANA | TUESDAY | 9 FEBRUARY 2021 The colour of history Together, once more Arjun Rampal to star with Konkona Sensharma in The Rapist As US and Canada celebrate Black History Month, also known as African-American History Month, in February, we look at how movies have portrayed African-American actors all these years Sheetal F Arjun Rampal, who is currently shooting for Dhaakad, starring Kangana Ranaut, seems to be having a busy year. The actor has signed a new project that revolves around the serious issue of rape. Titled The Rapist, it will see Arjun opposite Konkona Sensharma, bringing them together for the second time after Venod Mitra’s 2013 independent anthology film Meridian Lines. Konkona’s mother and celebrated Bengali filmmaker Aparna Sen will be directing The Rapist. It is believed to be like any other critically acclaimed Aparna Sen project that presents sociopolitical realities in the most sensible manner. BLACK PANTHER’S NO MORE Chadwick Boseman Chadwick Boseman received four nominations for his work in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (his last film, released posthumously). Detected with colon cancer in 2016, Chadwick kept his condition private and continued to act until his death in August 20. The longheld dream of African-Americans to have a ‘black’ superhero film was answered when Chadwick essayed the character of Black Panther in a movie by the same name. What a collaboration! Vikram Bhatt teams up with Mahesh Bhatt after 20 years VIKRAM BHATT EBRUARY is celebrated as Black History Month since the American Civil Rights Movement in the mid-1950s, an offshoot of what started as Negro History Week in 1926 by American historian Carter G. Woodson. And, The Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity is the theme for 2021. We take a look at the ‘black’ actors in Hollywood... THE PRINCE Will Smith MAHESH BHATT After Raaz, the veterans Vikram Bhatt and Mahesh Bhatt have now teamed up for a movie titled Cold. The first schedule of the film has begun in Mumbai. The film is said to be a heart-warming story of a woman who emerges from a horrific time. It throws light on how she survives in a big city all alone and lives through the horror surrounded by great danger of losing her life. Says director Vikram Bhatt, “The world has gone through a harrowing time in the past one year and there is a need for a collective catharsis; Cold is going to provide the viewers with that.” He adds, “I am going to reinvent the horror genre with my mentor Mahesh Bhatt, 20 years after Raaz, once again with Cold.” The film stars Akshay Oberoi and newbie Anisha Pahuja in the lead roles. CHADWICK BOSEMAN CICELY TYSON THEY HAVE MADE A MARK INDEED... The list is in no way exhaustive; some other notable names include: ■ Denzel Washington: An VIOLA DAVIS Will Smith started as the MC of DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, dropping the single, Girls Ain’t Nothing but Trouble, but his popularity grew with NBC television series, The Fresh Prince of BelAir, which ran for six season (till 1996) and in the meantime he went on to star in movies — Six Degrees of Separation (1993) and Bad Boys (1995). Will as the Black agent (Agent J) of Men In Black, also made quite a mark. MORGAN FREEMAN DARK KNIGHT, INDEED Morgan Freeman He has appeared in films such as Driving Miss Daisy, Glory, The Shawshank Redemption and The Dark Knight Trilogy, and enjoys both critical and popular acclaim. One of the Hollywood’s most respected actors, Morgan’s turning point from serving in the military to becoming an actor was boosted by a big break he got in all African-American Broadway production, Hello, Dolly! Playing a God comes naturally to him and hence the comedy movies, Bruce Almighty and its sequel Evan Almighty, were all about his vigorous voice and stellar screen presence. BIG BLOW Cicely Tyson Cicely Tyson’s demise on January 28, 2021, had left Hollywood mourning. A pioneering ‘black’ actress, Cicely WILL SMITH won the Tony Award in 2013 at the age of 88. In her memoir, posted a week after her death, she writes, “My art had to both mirror the times and propel them forward… I was determined to do all I could to alter the narrative about black people.” INFLUENTIAL ENOUGH Viola Davis She wears the triple crown of acting — having won an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award and two Tony Awards; the first AfricanAmerican to do so. The strong, bold and unapologetic Annalise Keating of How To Get Away with Murder, Amanda Waller in Suicide Squad, she was nominated for Golden Globes 2021 for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Motion Picture for the movie Black Bottom. And who can forget American period drama, Fences, which revolves Reimagining the events of the 1939 excavation of Sutton Hoo, The Digis not a dry tale of an archaeological discovery in Britain, but weaves an interesting human matrix of relationships Nonika Singh Unsung/real heroes have been a theme of many a film. Only The Dig, streaming on Netflix, is not limited to the talent of a self-taught archaeologist Basil Brown whose rightful pace in British history can’t be denied. It is as Film: The Dig much about relationships, the humanity of some, as the Director: arrogance of a few. Simon Stone While telling us the story of Cast: Carey Basil Brown (Ralph Fiennes) and Edith Pretty (Carey MulMulligan, ligan), who employs him to Ralph Fiennes, Lily excavate burial mounds in James, Johnny her property in Suffolk, EngFlynn, Ben land, a softness suffuses the Chaplin, Ken narrative. The ambience is Stott, Archie befitting of the era to which Barnes and the film belongs. Expectedly, Monica Dolan the pace is not rushed. Yet Rating: there is a momentum just like  the wheels of the bicycle on which Brown pedals. One moment Brown is almost buried under the mound, yet another there is hint of romance and finally he finds reason to shout Eureka. The spectre of the Second World War is hovering over NET, FLICKS & MORE DIGGING DEEP Britain and the cloud is cast over the digging too. But the film refuses to get trapped into the politics of war even though one of its characters Rory Lomax (Johnny Flynn), depicted as cousin of Edith, is about to join the RAF Yes, the . manoeuvrings behind the archaeological finds is visible and could be exaggerated too. Nevertheless, Ken Stott as Charles Phillips of the British Museum appears born to the part. The moment he arrives on the scene after Brown has discovered a stunning remnant of Anglo-Saxon era, no less than a ship with a burial chamber, the chip on his shoulder is evident in his body language. His disdain both for the excavator and the fair sex lends yet another dimension to the film, which anyway is not restricted to just the discovery that changed the historical perspective on Dark Ages. Why past and hence archaeology is significant comes through in the lines uttered by Brown’s wife (Monica Dolan). She may not be central to the narrative but is a key element as are others. Like the attractive archaeologist, Peggy Piggott (Lily James), who smarts under the assumption that she may have been hired precisely for her light weight. If you think in the cut and dried subject of archaeology, recounting one of the greatest archaeological finds, feelings have no place, you couldn’t be more wrong. Edith’s insistence that Brown must get credit for his work is as touching as his bonding with her young son Robert Pretty (a natural Archie Barnes). Clearly, The Dig not just digs into the past. With remarkable contribution of its lead actors, brilliant cinematography, it weaves a human matrix. Just as the past is surreal so are many moments here, especially when the son takes his mother on an imaginary journey into the stars. Based on the 2007 novel by John Preston, reimagining the events of the 1939 excavation of Sutton Hoo, experts may have taken issues with the veracity of certain facts. But none can dispute its cinematic quality which makes it a rare treasure and worth digging into, even if you have little interest in archaeology. ANGELA BASSETT around opportunities missed because of racism, which won her the Oscar for Best Supporting actress! PURE GENIUS Angela Bassett Despite never having won an Academy Award, though being nominated, Angela Bassett is known for her biographical roles. She has shone on screen, be it as the civil rights activist in The Rosa Park Story or the matriarch in The Jackson Family: An American Dream or the agent in Mission: Impossible Fallout. Part of Panther (1995), she also starred in Black Panther (2018). actor, director and producer, he is credited for reconfiguring ‘the concept of classic movie stardom’. He is the recipient of three Golden Globe Awards, one Tony and two Academy Awards. Historical drama Glory and crime thriller Training Day are few of his top works. ■ Eddie Murphy: The satire genius, who rose to fame with his comedy show, Saturday Night Live, has talked about African-American culture through his work — be it through comedy or his movies. ■ Halle Berry: She began her career as a model and then made a Hollywood debut with the romantic comedy Boomerang, opposite Eddie Murphy. She won Academy award for Best Actress for her performance in the romantic drama film Monster Ball (2001) ■ Zendaya: Known for taking up gender inequality issues, she has been a part of The Greatest Showman (2017) and the superhero film Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and its sequel, Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019). ZENDAYA A treat, virtually Renowned authors to discuss their books and perspectives at the virtual Jaipur Literature Festival The Jaipur Literature Festival is all set to return for its 14th edition — to be held virtually from February 19 to 28, 2021. The much-awaited literary extravaganza brings together a feast of transformational perspectives and literary thought in its remarkable line-up featuring some of the world’s greatest writers, thinkers and speakers. Celebrated author and poet Mark Haddon, famous for his global bestseller, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, will talk about the inspiration that guides his pen. The Festival will also see acclaimed and popular writer Philip Pullman, talking about his vision of alternative reality. At another session featuring two disquieting novels, writers Deepa Anappara and Annie Zaidi, will unflinchingly examine inequity and alienation across Indian society, and speak about their writing process. The Festival will also fea- SHASHI THAROOR SHOBHAA DE ture an exclusive conversation between celebrated actress Priyanka Chopra and well-known writer and columnist Shobhaa De, discussing Chopra’s autobiography, Unfinished. The list continues with 2020 Booker Prize-winning author Douglas Stuart; celebrated author Shashi Tharoor; one of India’s greatest artists, Anish Kapoor; Anne F Rothenberg . Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University Homi K. Bhabha and many more. — TNS PRIYANKA CHOPRA c m y b