18032025-LSTL-01.qxd 3/17/2025 8:07 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE IT’S A WRAP Taapsee Pannu and producer Kanika Dhillon announced the wrap-up of the shooting of the revenge drama Gandhari. It is directed by Devashish Makhija, known for films such as Bhonsle, Joram and Ajji. The release date of the film has not been revealed yet. Happy vibe Reese Witherspoon, on Instagram, shared about her recent night out with her kids that made her feel good about her parenting journey. LUDHIANA | TUESDAY | 18 MARCH 2025 Honey Trehan, who is making a biopic on poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi, says his film will be a gift from ‘one Shiv fan to all Shiv fans’ Nonika Singh “I Serenading Shiv LOVE everything about Punjab,” says noted filmmaker Honey Trehan. For someone who has grown up on the literary might of Kartar Singh Dugal, Sardar Panchhi, Shiv Kumar Batalvi and iconic singers like Gurdas Maan and Amar Singh Chamkila, Trehan swears by the rich content Punjab has to offer to the world. Quintessential storyteller, who thrills to telling stories with refreshing takes on life and history, he quips, “The cherry on the cake is when the story is from Punjab.” Take his latest film project on Kargil war veteran Major (retd) DP Singh, who learnt to transcend disability and became India’s first blade-runner. As the project is part of the Cinevesture International Film Festival market, he shares what makes a good biopic and why certain global subjects like DP Singh’s need to be pitched at international festivals like CIFF. He also lets us into his film on the Bard of Punjab, I SHIV KUMAR BATALV legendary poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi. If his film on Batalvi, still at the writing stage, will bring out many ‘real sachaai’ of as if we know nothing and the man whose poetry has the dilemma starts from enthralled generations, the simple things like where to story on Major DP Singh is put the camera.” no less inspirational. However, make no mistake, Director of Punjab 95 and mentored by celebrated filmRaat Akeli Hai, Trehan pro- maker Vishal Bhardwaj, Trefesses, “With every new sto- han is as professional as it ry, every filmmaker is a first gets. If for his ‘true guru’ he time maker for that particu- has worked in many capacilar story. There isn’t a per- ties (from associate director son, howsoever, acclaimed to creative producer), Trehan who isn’t nervous before he has a huge body of work as a starts a new project. We all producer himself. The film go on the sets of a new film on DP Singh, he assures, will Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana was named the official Fit India Icon by Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya at the Fit India Movement’s inaugural ceremony in New Delhi. The event was held on Sunday in the national capital. With this, the actor joins Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Fit India Movement, which aims to make fitness an integral part of daily life in India and to promote physical fitness as a fundamental aspect of our everyday lifestyle. Ayushmaan, known for his impactful roles and strong fan following among the youth, is determined to inspire millions of Indians to embrace fitness with enthusiasm and dedication, encouraging people from all walks of life to prioritise their health and well-being. The movement aims to spread awareness about fitness by highlighting various physical activities. According to a statement, A STIL FROM RAAT AKELI HAI ❝ A BIOPIC IS NOT JUST FOUR OR SIX HIGHPOINTS OF A PERSON’S LIFE. WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME IS THE CHARACTER ARC, THE JOURNEY WHICH MADE HIM WHO HE WAS. HONEY TREHAN DILJIT DOSANJH IN PUNJAB 95 not be a regular template of chronological events. If the story of Jaswant Singh Khalra (Punjab 95), had been on his mind since school days, for the film on DP Singh he spoke to the brave soldier for nearly 14 hours for four days at a stretch, cocooned in hotel in Chandigarh, not even stepping out for a minute. He observes, “A biopic is not just four or six highpoints of a person’s life. What is important to me is the character arc, the journey which made him who he is.” For Batalvi’s biopic, well, he has been in touch with his family ever since he took the rights of the song Ikk Kudi for Udta Punjab from Meharban Batalvi, Batalvi’s son. But when the family comes on board, isn’t there a danger of undue interference and the film turning out to be more of a hagiography? Trehan promised, it becomes the only challenge that matters. Good health empowers us to do anything. A healthy individual is capable, confident, and resilient—even when the world around them feels uncertain. Health truly is everything. A healthy nation is a wealthy nation. When we are healthy, we are more productive, more prosperous and contribute to nationbuilding.” — ANI Lady Gaga’s Mayhem tops chart Lady Gaga’s seventh studio album Mayhem debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. The highestcharting single of the album is Abracadabra, which she premiered in a commercial break during the Grammys in February. The collection of dance floor songs includes the previously released singles Disease, Abracadabra and Die With A Smile with Bruno Mars. Her seventh studio album, Mayhem, earned her the biggest opening week for an album by a woman this year with 219,000 units earned. Gaga has debuted at No. 1 pre- viously with 2020’s Chromatica, the 2018 soundtrack to A Star Is Born with Bradley Cooper, 2016’s Joanne, 2014’s Cheek to Cheek with Tony Bennett, 2013’s Artpop, and 2011’s Born This Way. Blackpink member Jennie debuts at No. 7 for the first time as a solo artist with her debut LP Ruby logging , 56,000 units earned. It tallied nearly 40 million streams der if he has an actor in mind. He says, “As I am writing the film, I only have Shiv’s image in mind.” Could it be Diljit Dosanjh again, his actor of Punjab 95, he won’t commit either way. On his directorial signature that brings to life the martyrdom of Jaswant Singh Khalra, a Sikh activist who stood up against extra-judicial killing of Sikhs, he has much to say and observe. All We Imagine As Light& Shahana Goswami win big at Asian Film Awards Ayushmann becomes Fit India icon Ayushmann stressed the importance of good health. He said, “When your health is good, the challenges in life— whether personal or professional—seem manageable. But when your health is com- begs to differ and shares, “Aruna auntie (Batalvi’s wife) is such a mature person with profound thoughts. All the family wants is there should be no exploitation or manipulation of his name. Today’s generation should know what all he wrote.” Incidentally, Trehan can’t recall when it was that, he fell in love with Batalvi’s poetic genius. Today, as he is etching him out, we won- As the release date of Punjab 95 is postponed time and again, he says, “It’s not a propaganda film, hence it troubles the system.” What irks him is how the CBFC, “a puppet and government’s backdoor entry into cinema” is demanding unnecessary cuts and extraneous pressure is being put on the producers to toe the line. Beyond making a statement, he does admit film is business too. Each time he and his production partner at MacGuffin Pictures, the acclaimed director Abhishek Chaubey, set out to make a film, Trehan ensures his financial backers at least recover their money. Interestingly, they turned producers to safeguard their films. He laughs, “So, we are not forced to put songs in the end credits.” On the recent trend of clutch of producers coming together for the same film, he reasons, “For our different projects we have different partnerships. Like for Killer Soup and Raat Akeli Hai, it was Netflix, for Punjab 95 it had to be Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP and for Sharmaji Namkeen Excel was a natural ally.” Interestingly, he managed to convince Ronnie who claimed to not even know the M of Malayalam to back the Malayalam film Ullozhukku. The film has since been winning plaudits. Any wonder his advice to Punjabi filmmakers is, “Go for it, with your belief. Turn the tables.” He himself is racing to complete the sequel to the Netflix film Raat Akeli Hai. One on Batalvi too will be out soon, if not too soon. “I have put it out in the universe.” Yet another promise he makes is how it will be a gift from “one Shiv fan to all Shiv fans.” and 26,500 sales. A collection of pop and R&B, Ruby includes features from Childish Gambino, Doechii, Dominic Fike, FKJ, Dua Lipa and Kali Uchis. Ruby is the third record by a Blackpink member to place in the top 10 of the albums chart, following Rosie by Rose, which debuted at No. 3, and Lisa’s Alter Ego, which arrived at No. 7. — ANI Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light, Santosh star Shahana Goswami and its director Sandhya Suri won top honours at the Asian Film Awards 2025. The 18th edition of the awards took place on Sunday at the Xiqu Centre in the West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong. The Asian Film Awards shared the winners list on its official website. All We Imagine As Light went on to win the Best Film award. It was in the competition alongside Black Dog (China), Exhuma (South Korea), Teki Cometh (Japan) and Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (Hong Kong). Goswami was named the Best Actress for her role in Santosh, which also won Suri the trophy of Best New Director. All We Imagine As Light, an official India-French coproduction, charted history by becoming the first Indian title from India to win the Grand Prix Award at the Cannes Film Festival last year. Santosh revolves around a newly widowed housewife (Goswami) as she inherits her late husband’s job as a police constable and becomes embroiled in the investigation of a young girl’s murder. It is a joint production of India, United Kingdom, France, Germany. Other nominees in the Best Actress category were: Kani Kusruti (All We Imagine...), Sylvia Chang (Daughter’s Daughter), Kawai Yuumi (Desert of INDIA SHINING TEAM ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT Namibia) and Kim Go-eun (Exhuma). Suri, a BritishIndian filmmaker, bested Yamanaka Yoko (Desert of Namibia), Sora Neo (Hap- pyend), Dong Zijian (My Friend An Delie), and Truong Minh Quý (Viêt and Nam) in the Best New Director category. —PTI SHAHANA GOSWAMI c m y b