04092023-LSTL-01.qxd 9/3/2023 9:58 PM Page 1 c m y b Shah Rukh Khan conducted an interactive session on X. During the session, he revealed his son AbRam’s favourite song from the film. He said, “There’s a beautiful Lori in the film. Otherwise my favourite is Chaleya and the film version of Not Ramaiyya VastaVaiya.” Jimmy Buffett dies at 76 Elton John, Paul McCartney, Andy Cohen pay tribute to the singer Singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, whose music was often called ‘island escapism’, has died at the age of 76 due to skin cancer. Buffett died on September 1. The rockstar’s death was confirmed through a statement on his official website: “Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs. He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many.” The musician combined elements of folk rock, country, reggae, rock’n roll and world music to create a somewhat happy-go-lucky sound, which became his signature style. Over the course of a 50-year career, Buffett collected just one top-10 pop hit, Margaritaville, an escapist tropical island vacation themed song, which inscribed visions of drinking tequila on the hot sands of a beach, somewhere in the tropics. The song at the time of its release hit No. 8. Celebrities have offered their condolences and tributes to the late singer including Elton John, Andy Cohen, John Stamos and Paul McCartney. Elton John, who had worked with Buffett wrote in his Instagram stories, “Jimmy Buffet was a unique and treasured entertainer. His fans adored him and he never let them down. This is the saddest of news, a lovely man gone way too soon. Condolences to Jane and the family from David and me.” Paul McCartney, shared a picture of the two on his X (formerly called Twitter) and wrote a lengthy message. He wrote: “It seems that so many wonderful people are leaving this world, and now Jimmy Buffett is one of them. I’ve known Jimmy for some time and found him to be one of the kindest and most generous people. “I remember once on holiday when I had forgotten to bring my guitar and was itching to play. He said he would get me one of his, but I said, ‘I’m left-handed’. So, Jimmy had his roadie restring one of his guitars which he loaned me for the duration of the holiday.” Andy Cohen wrote on his X: “The king of cool…Paradise was wherever Jimmy Buffett was.” — IANS TRIBUNE She in love Life Grammy Award-winning singer Gloria Estefan is very much still in love, as she celebrates 45 years of her marriage with husband, Emilio Estefan. IANS LUDHIANA | MONDAY | 4 SEPTEMBER 2023 ByGeorge,what a man! Biopic: Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World Director: George Tillman Jr Cast: Khris Davis, Sullivan Jones, Forest Whitaker, Lawrence Gilliard Jr, John Magaro, Sam Trammell, Carlos Takam, Cedric Boswell, Tom Virtue and Phillip Craddock-Haney Rating: ★★★ The biopic on boxing champion George Foreman is all about grit, faith and redemption Zendaya thanks fans & friends on her birthday NET, FLICKS & MORE American actor and singer Zendaya uploaded an old snapshot of herself on Instagram to mark her birthday. She captioned the picture with, “Every year I grow I’m reminded of how precious this life is, thank you all for helping me fill it up with so much love. Your kind words and constant support mean everything to me. Thank you so so much and here’s to 27.” Celebrity friends congratulated her in the post’s comments’ section. ANI Sheetal “I was 28 years old when I died”… says the titular character George Foreman in the opening scene and thus begins the story. The sports biopic is based on the two-time heavyweight champion George Foreman, the second time at the age of 46, which makes him the oldest boxer to have achieved this feat till date. While most sports dramas inspire us to be better sportspersons, this one is also about being better human beings. In a way, the ‘big’ in the title stands for his big heart. Foreman’s (Khris Davis) journey from the ghetto in Houston, Texas, to the ring isn’t a smooth one, which makes for a good watch, but it’s the second half of the film that is engaging. Not that the actors leave any stone unturned while re-enacting Muhammad Ali (second left) and George Foreman (second right) the historic moments in Foreman’s life, but because we relate to a redemption story better. The director’s choice not to over-dramatise the boxer’s life for entertainment is a good decision. However, the biopic underplays George and his success and gives too much credit to the people around him. For boxing fans, this 129minute film wouldn’t do justice to Foreman’s legendary career and personal life. Khris has not just aced the physical transformation but also the heavy mental work better life for his family. But it gives him an ego boost, which is, however, barely touched in the film. George Tillman Jr has made sure that filming of the fights are in sync with real matches which Foreman played against Joe Frazier (Carlos Takam), Muhammad Ali (Sullivan Jones), Sonny Liston (Cedric Boswell) and Johnny Carson (Tom Virtue). The film scores in casting, be it his family members or the opponents. The background score amps up the ghetto feel in the outset and culminates perfectly well with the song, King is Born by Aloe Blacc. It’s rare to find faith in a sports drama and Forman’s redemption story is full of it. The second time he walks into the ring, he is a changed man, without his infamous rage. It is not a sports biopic if it doesn’t leave the viewers motivated and positive about life. Big George Foreman does reasonably well in putting across the winning mind-set whilst talking about a legend worth knowing. Celebrating the cinematic tsunami She is Makers of Gadar 2 host a grand success party back Kangana Ranaut shines as a dancer in trailer of Chandramukhi 2 Director P Vasu has finally revealed the trailer of his upcoming Tamil comedyhorror film Chandramukhi 2, and it harbours much of the aura of the 2004 original, while being its own thing. Among all this, the most noticeable is Kanga Ranaut’s portrayal of Chandramukhi, a beautifully haunting ghost of a long dead dancer. Portraying the titular role, actress Kangana Ranaut portrays the dancer Chandramukhi, from the court of both inside and outside the ring. He nails the scenes where Foreman reconnects with Christ and decides to take a path opposite to boxing and the ever-growing rage in him. As he befriends Muhammad Ali, the boxer who defeated him once, and tackles his tormentors with a smile, Foreman comes across as an endearing character. After winning a big fight against Joe Frazier in 1973 to become the heavyweight champion of the world, he achieves what he wants, a ‘Here’s to 27’ King Vettiyan Raja, and showcases her great dancing skills, along with her avatar of a beautifully seductive, and haunting dancer. We also have actor Raghava Lawrence, who dishes out all the bombastic action as Vettiyan Raja, along with Vadivelu stepping in as Murugesan and lighting up the screen with his comic timing. Cutting between events of the past and present, the movie has some elements of Bhool Bhulaiyaa in it. — IANS Actor Sunny Deol is currently flying high over the success of his recently released action drama film Gadar 2. On Saturday night, the makers of Gadar 2 hosted a grand success party of their film in Mumbai where several big celebs marked their presence. Superstar Shah Rukh Khan attended the success bash with his wife Gauri Khan. He was later seen posing with Sunny in front of the paps. Both of them also shared a warm hug. Salman Khan Meanwhile, Gadar 2 till now the film has minted Rs 487.65 crore at the Indian box office. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh, on Saturday, shared a post on Instagram and wrote, “#Gadar2 is an UNSTOPPABLE FORCE, inches closer to Rs 500 cr.” Helmed by Anil Sharma the film also starred Utkarsh Sharma and Ameesha Patel in the lead roles. Gadar 2 became the second-best opener of 2023 after SRK’s Pathaan. — ANI PHOTOS: PTI ABRAM’S FAVOURITE SONG Sunny & Bobby Deol Ajay and Kajol Devgn Baby No. 4 on way Miranda Kerr expecting fourth child Foot note Carmen Electra reveals weirdest request made to her — pictures of her feet. Baywatch star Carmen Electra thinks it’s hilarious that her adult subscription platform subscribers are obsessed with her feet. She turned into a global sex symbol, courtesy her stint as Lani McKenzie in Baywatch in the 1990s and joined the adult website last year. “I get lots of requests for my feet, it cracks me up,” she said. —IANS Supermodel Miranda Kerr has announced that she is pregnant with her fourth child, a baby boy. “So excited to announce baby no. 4. And it’s a boy,” Kerr, 40, posted on Snapchat over the weekend alongside a photo of herself. — PTI Milan Peschel, Fortunato Cerlino, Fanny Ardant, Luca Barbareschi, Oliver Masucci and Joaquim de Almeida pose. PHOTO: REUTERS Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski’s film The Palace received a 3-minutelong standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday night. Polanski directed the black comedy from a screenplay he wrote alongside Jerzy Skolimowski and Ewa Piaskowska. The Palace takes place during New Year’s Eve in 1999, when a The Palace gets 3-minute standing ovation at Venice Film Festival A round of applause dinner party at Switzerland’s Gstaad Palace hotel takes an unexpected turn. The cast includes Oliver Masucci, Fanny Ardant, John c m y b Cleese, Bronwyn James, Joaquim de Almeida, Luca Barbareschi, Milan Peschel, Fortunato Cerlino, Mickey Rourke, Alexander Petrov, Viktor Dobronravov Irina Kastrinidis, Olga Kent, Naike Anna Silipo, Matthew T. Reynolds, Teco Celio, Marina Strakhova, Michelle Shapa, Danylo Kotov and Davide Gagliardi. Before the film’s premiere The Palace’s set designer Tonino Zera received Venice’s Campari Passion for Film prize from artistic director Alberto Barbera. Polanski has a history at Venice, having premiered his film Carnage, which starred Kate Winslet and Jodie Foster, at the festival in 2011. — ANI