31052023-LSTC-01.qxd 5/30/2023 11:33 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE Dia Mirza talks about leaving behind a sustainable planet for next generation On record Indian-American model, TV host, author and activist Padma Lakshmi hopes to become the oldest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue model in history. IANS CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 31 MAY 2023 Writing on the carpet PHOTOS: REUTERS Sheetal T HE bigger the event, the bigger is the chance to send your message across. And this is why red carpet events like Cannes Film Festival, Met Gala, Academy Awards and Grammys, a platform to initiate or propagate protests, awareness and discontent for the worldly affairs. From innovative dresses to stunning acts—red carpet events have become the most favoured platform for activists to voice their opinions THE PROXY WAR The actor and UN Secretary General’s advocate, Dia Mirza, discussed the role of cinema as a platform for raising awareness. Dia Mirza delivered a speech at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards 2023. Speaking as a concerned mother, she shed light on the alarming conseIt is time to quences of the triple planetary crises of climate change, air polenvision and create lution, and biodiversity loss. She a sustainable, safe, believes that the world could harmonious, and happy still course-correct with the help planet for all our of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “The SDGs offer a children. comprehensive roadmap to protect DIA MIRZA the planet, combat poverty, achieve gender equality, and enhance the wellbeing of people worldwide. If every citizen, leader, policymaker, and stakeholder plays an active role in championing at least one goal, transformational progress can be made,” she says. “It is time to envision and create a sustainable, safe, harmonious, and happy planet for all our children. And we must act now because, as I read somewhere, the future will either be green or not exist at all,” she adds. ‘Randeep, get your facts right’ Randeep Hooda’s directorial debut, Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, has stirred a controversy, thanks to his claim that the freedom fighter and Hindutva’s ideologue was the inspiration behind Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh and Khudiram Bose, the youngest martyr of the freedom struggle. The first salvo was fired by Netaji’s grandnephew and on-again, off-again BJP politician Chandra Kumar Bose, who warned Hooda in a tweet, “If you respect #Savarkar, please don’t distort history”, and then said in an interview with a news channel that his famous granduncle was inspired by two people—Swami Vivekananda and Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das. Interestingly, Chandra Kumar Bose ran an excerpt from a speech delivered by Netaji at Jhargram in West Bengal on May 12, 1940, which had a message that is more relevant than ever today. Netaji had said, “By taking advantage of religion and desecrating it, the Hindu Mahasabha has entered the arena of politics. It is the duty of all Hindus to condemn it... Banish these traitors from national life. Don’t listen to them.” Savarkar, incidentally, was a Hindu Mahasabha leader. Bhagat Singh was a committed Marxist who had also read up Mikhail Bakunin, the founder of Anarchism. Coming to Khudiram Bose, he was barely 18 when he was hanged. Bose had nothing to do with Savarkar. Savarkar, contrary to what Hooda is propagating, had no role in the lives of these three freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the country.—IANS Actor’s claim runs up against factual history A guest’s outfit gives out an important message at Cannes Film Festival 2023 A woman wears a dress with an anti-Putin message at Cannes 2023. BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT CELEBRITY PROTESTS During the Black Lives Matter movement, many celebrities from Hollywood showed solidarity with the black community worldwide. OSCARS 2021 Travon Free used his Oscars red carpet outfit to make a poignant statement about police brutality. He wore a gold and black Dolce and Gabbana suit, which featured the names of individuals in the US who had been killed. EMMYS 2020 Oscar winner-turneddirector Regina King accepted her trophy while paying tributes to Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old emergency medical technician from Louisville, Ky., who was shot and killed by police during a raid at her home in March. King wore a T-shirt printed with Taylor’s face and the phrase “Say Her Name” on the front. BET AWARDS 2016: Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar opened the BET Awards with a rebellious performance that highlighted the Black Lives Matter movement and called for justice. Actor Kristen Stewart removes her heels on the red carpet at the 71st Cannes Film Festival in 2018 CUT(Cinema United for Transition) members hold placards demanding a united cinema for energy transition at Cannes, 2023. harassment and discrimination in the entertainment industry. It took place in the wake of the #MeToo movement, which shed light on the widespread prevalence of sexual misconduct . A pin was designed to draw attention to the problem. ATTIRE AND MORE ‘ME TOO’ ANGLE TIME’S UP PROTEST AT GOLDEN GLOBES 2018 It was a significant moment in the fight against sexual The other way to raise a rebellion is by adding an extra zing of fashion. If some wore symbolic ensemble, some went naked in protest Victory mode MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings (CSK) defeated Hardik Pandya’s Gujarat Titans (GT) in a last-ball thriller by five wickets at Ahmedabad on Monday to clinch their fifth Indian Premier League (IPL) title. A rock-solid partnership between Conway-Ruturaj had helped set the foundation for a successful run-chase, but a gamechanging spell from Mohit Sharma threatened to take away the win from CSK. However, Dube and Jadeja kept calm to seal a memorable title win for the Men in Yellow. Soon after the match, several Bollywood celebs took to their social media handles and congratulated CSK for their fifth IPL title win. Taking to Instagram, actor Kartik Aaryan shared a picture on her Instagram stories and wrote, “Goosebumps. @ravindra.jadeja you beauty. Dhoni.” Taking to Twitter, actor Ranveer GOWN MOMENT AT THE ACADEMY AWARDS (2023) Shohreh Aghdashloo, an Iranian actress, wore a gown to the Academy Awards which conveyed her solidarity with anti-government protesters in Iran who were fighting for human rights. Similar to that, in Cannes 2023, Iranian model, Mahlagha Jaberi wore a dress with a noose around her neck to call out the executions happening in Iran. HEELSGATE INCIDENTS One of the protests at Cannes, better called Kartik to Vicky, B-town celebs congratulate CSK for 5th IPL win PTI PHOTO ‘We must act now’ In 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, it had become the hot topic for debates around the globe. While the armed forces of the countries are still at war, many protesters, activists and influencers have used red carpet events into proxy war zones. In 2022, a woman ran onto the red carpet naked, with her body painted in the colours of the Ukrainian flag and the words “Stop raping us” written on her stomach. Fitness influencer and model, Ilona Chernobai, appeared at the 76th Cannes Film Festival’s red carpet dressed in the blue and yellow, representing the flag of Ukraine, and spilled fake blood on herself which she sneaked into the event. Model Alina Baikova from the country made a bold statement as she wore a dress with ‘F*** You Putin’ at same festival. Sara Ali Khan and Vicky Kaushal at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Singh shared few pictures and wrote, “Ravindra Singh KARTIK Jadeja! Oh My Godddddd #CSKvsGT #IPLOnStar @StarSportsIndia @imjadeja @ChennaiIPL. What a finish! What a final!” Actor Vicky Kaushal and Sara Ali Khan witnessed the match live at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The c m y b duo shared a video in which they could be seen beaming with joy and cheering for the winning team. The Sanju actor captioned the video, “Badle Tere Mahi.....Leke ko koi saari, duniya bhi dede agar. To kise duniya chahiye! Mahi for the win! Jaddu you rockstar!!! What a match! GT... the best team through the tournament. Clearly the game was the real winner.” —ANI Heelsgate, began in 2015 when a group of women protested against the festival’s dress code, which required women to wear high heels. They wore flat shoes and were turned away from the red carpet. In 2016, Julia Roberts and Sasha Lane walked barefoot on the red carpet. It went on until Kristen Stewart’s 2018 red carpet video not only went viral but won many hearts. She took off her heels on the red carpet. (Inputs by Shereen Jalali)