30112022-LSTC-01.qxd 11/29/2022 10:05 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE Double role Taapsee Pannu opened up on her production venture, Blurr, in which she is seen in a double role. She said, “Blurr taps into different sensibilities of an individual.” —IANS CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 30 NOVEMBER 2022 The ‘shocked’ & ‘appalled’ film fraternity reacts to Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid’s ‘propaganda’ remark for Vivek Agnihotri’s film at IFFI Kashmir Files Mona V fo c s ‘Let’s joineadlinres Ue’s ’ N ekar h Bhumi Pedn against women campaign on violence B HUMI PEDNEKAR has been roped in to headline a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) campaign on violence against women. Bhumi says, “Violence has terrible consequences, both mental and physical. Gender-based violence is a deep-rooted social issue that needs to be eradicated from our society.” She adds, “As a conscious citizen of India, I want to do my best to raise awareness about this social evil and try to sensitise people so that we can counter gender based violence. It is an honour to partner with UNDP on this important initiative to bring about change in our country. It is high time that we all come together, join forces and commit to changing the mindset of people and remove stigmas related to this. It will take time and a lot of effort but this is an important step to provide a cover of security for women and girls of our country.” Zindagi gulzar hai! After being banned from working in India, what is Fawad Khan up to? Ever since Pakistani actors and artistes were banned from working in the Indian Film industry, many have wondered what the Pakistani heartthrob Fawad Khan is up to. As far as Indian cinema is concerned, Fawad Khan, who turned 41 on Tuesday, was last seen in Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, which suffered a massive backlash for having Fawad Khan in it. And since then, he hasn’t been a part of any Indian project. After Fawad’s departure from Bollywood, his fans were eager to see him back in the Pakistani industry but to their surprise, they had to wait for six long years to see their favourite star back in action. Fawad Khan’s latest film Maula Jatt was released in Pakistan and many theatres worldwide earlier this year. In the multi-starrer blockbuster, Fawad was seen against Mahira Khan, his co-star in the Pakistani drama Humsafar. But apart from the film, Fawad has been out of the limelight for quite some time. The good news is that his fans won’t have to wait for another six years to see him on screen! Fawad has a lot of projects lined up for the coming days. He will soon be seen in the Pakistani film Money Back Guarantee, where he will be seen sharing the screen with former Pakistani cricketer Wasim Akram. Another exciting project coming up is Neelofar where Fawad will again be seen opposite Mahira Khan. Fawad is also one of the producers of the film. Apart from films, Fawad is also shooting a Zee5 series alongside his Zindagi Gulzar Hai co-star Sanam Saeed. The on-screen chemistry between both the actors had mesmerized their fans in the drama series, so fans are excited to have them in a show again. Well, there’s more for Zindagi Gulzar Hai fans! Sanam and Fawad are also going to come together for a feature film Aan, which will be directed by Haseem Hasan. Although his stint in Bolllywood was short, Fawad has done many remarkable Pakistani projects like Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Daastaan, and Humsafar. Fawad also had quite a short yet impactful role in Disney’s superhero series Ms Marvel, which was released on the OTT platform Disney+Hotstar earlier this year. As far as his Bollywood journeyisconcerned,he did three movies Khoobsurat, Kapoor andSons,andAeDil Hai Mushkil. —ANI ❝ IVEK AGNIHOTRI’S The Kashmir Files that dealt with rather a sensitive subject, and went to become a surprise hit minting Rs 340.92 crore at the box office, has been a talking point ever since its release in March 2022. Opened to mixed reviews, the film was hailed for powerful performances, making it to second highestgrossing Hindi film of 2022. The film is back in the eye of the storm as at the just-concluded International Film Festival of India (IFFI), jury head Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid criticised it on stage, calling it ‘propaganda’. Lapid said, “We were, all of us, disturbed and shocked by the 15th film, The Kashmir Files. That felt to us like propaganda, vulgar movie, inappropriate for an artistic competitive section of such a prestigious film festival.” His comment stirred a hornet’s nest, with Israeli Ambassador Naor Gilon calling Lapid out in a series of tweets. IFFI jury members have distanced themselves from Nadav Lapid’s criti- reopened PERSONAL OPINION Filmmaker Sudipto Sen, who served on the jury of the just-concluded International Film Festival of India (IFFI), took to Twitter to state that the opinion of Israeli screenwriter and director Nadav Lapid on The Kashmir Files was not shared by his colleagues on the jury. It is completely in a personal capacity.” KNOWING NADAV Nadav Lapid has been to India earlier and is a much awarded filmmaker. But it was not until his blunt criticism of "The Kashmir Files" that Israeli director Nadav Lapid hit the headlines, and had people scouring the net to find out more about him. The director of Policeman and The Kindergarten Teacher had earlier aired his views on the Indian national anthem being played at the opening ceremony of the festival. He also said he is not participating as an ambassador of Israel but an artist willing to experience different cultures.—PTI THE TRUTH OF ‘KASHMIR FILES’ IS STUCK LIKE A THORN IN THE THROAT OF SOME PEOPLE...— ANUPAM KHER cism, the film fraternity joining in the din. Actor producer Mukesh Rishi is as shocked as many. “I am surprised at Nadav Lapid’s statement. I was there at that session–how he summarily rejected the film was unfathomable. I wonder what in the film struck him as a lie or propaganda.” He adds, “Had he researched and then come up with a responsible statement. Though Israeli ambassador has felt sorry, it’s still unacceptable,” he says. Filmmaker Rahul Mittra, “Well, I still haven’t seen The Kashmir Files, so I am not in a position to comment. I know for a fact that the film was a blockbuster, which meant that it was able to engage the audiences. As far as Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid’s remark against the film is concerned, I feel that he used the platform to spell out his personal thoughts. Calling The Kashmir Files ‘vulgar’ and ‘propaganda’ was uncalled for. Everybody has the right to their opinions but should exercise restraint in expressing them,” he says. Team The Kashmir Files has stood for their film. “If holocaust is right, the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits is right too. Seems pre-planned as immediately after that the toolkit gang became active. May God give him wisdom,” said Anupm Kher in an interview, whose sensitive act in the film was lauded. Kher also tweeted “The truth of ‘ Kashmir files’ is stuck like a thorn in the throat of some people... But our film is now a movement and not a film.” Vivek Agnihotri, who has written and directed the film, posted, “Truth is the most dangerous thing. It can make people lie. #CreativeConsciousness.” His wife Pallavi Joshi, who coproduced the film and played a negative role in it, took to Instagram, “Vivek and I were aware that some elements would not like to see the stark truth on screen, but it is very unfortunate that a creative platform was used for a political agenda to preserve an old, false and jaded narrative about Kashmir. ” Lapid’s comments also met with stiff resistant within Indian film fraternity, singeractor Suchitra Krishnamoorthi, “Shocked to hear #Israeli director calling #KashmirFiles a Vulgar Propoganda film!!! It’s the most vulgar statement I’ve ever heard... Who gave this monkey a mic?” Film trade analyst Sumit Kadel shared, “#TheKashmirFiles has created discomfort amongst many. There’s a Big Lobby working to slander this film’s intent & credential. Statement made by a foreigner in IFFI is a fine example. A BO website is also making continuous efforts to discredit film BO success. Appalling to see this.” While many have maintained silence, known for bold stance actor Swara Bhasker sharing a piece on Lapid’s comments tweeted, “Apparently it’s pretty clear to the world.” Comedian Kunal Kamra tweeted, "Indian government must boycott Pagasus spyware & bhakts must stand in solidarity with the just cause of Palestine…" NADAV LAPID ❝ TERROR SUPPORTERS AND GENOCIDE DENIERS CAN NEVER SILENCE ME. JAI HIND. — VIVEK AGNIHOTRI Swara Bhasker Darshan Kumaar Rahul Mittra Mukesh Rishi When Chadwick Boseman said ‘I’m dead’ Remembering Bappi da Jai Bhimsequels in pipeline In what could be a marked departure from the norm, IFFI 53 delegates got a unique opportunity to get inspired by the screening of emotion, rather than a film. Don't believe us? Yes, you have to believe us, going by the words of TJ Gnanavel, the director of one of the boldest films on the flaws in law enforcement and the justice system. Jai Bhim is not just a word, it is an emotion; this is what the Director has to say about the Tamil movie, which is sure to have given goose-bumps and transformed the lives of international and domestic delegates alike, to speak up and stand up for what is right, come what may. Gnanavel while interacting with the media and festival delegates at one of the Table Talks sessions on the side-lines of the festival shared the thought behind choosing the title Jai Bhim for the movie. Reportedly, the sequels of the Jai Bhim will happen for sure. —ANI c m y b On music icon Bappi Lahiri’s birth anniversary, the World Book of Records, London (WBR) gave a letter bearing the good news of the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication, Government of India, to soon issue a special cover and postage stamp on the late music icon. The news was conveyed on behalf of Barrister Santosh Shukla (CEO, WBR) by music director Usmaan Khan (president, Mumbai WBR) to the Lahiri family— Chitrani Lahiri, Rema Lahiri Bansal, Swastik Bansal and Govind Bansal in the presence of Dr Anusha Srinivasan Iyer. Late Hollywood star Chadwick Boseman, who was born on November 29, 1976, was an actor whose iconic on-screen body of work would be remembered for years to come. The actor had perfectly embodied the character of Wakandan King T’challa and his alter ego Black Panther in the Marvel franchise films prior to his death on August 28, 2020, following a secret four-year battle with colon cancer. To honour Boseman’s demise, the death of his character was also incorporated into the MCU and was addressed in Wakanda Forever. However, what’s emotional is that even while the world remained unaware of his ailment, the actor had once spoken about him dying during a red-carpet event. Black Panther was one of many characters (half the MCU’s population, to be exact) killed by Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, and ahead of Avengers: Endgame release, Boseman was asked about his future with Marvel. He simply said, “I’m dead,” according to Mashable. “So you don’t want to give us a spoiler or anything like that?” the interviewer continued, to which he again reminded her, “I’m dead.” She further asked him if there was anything he could tell fans about a potential Black Panther sequel, and Boseman echoed, “I’m dead.” —ANI