06092025-LSTL-01.qxd 9/5/2025 8:46 PM Page 1 c m y b AVATAR IN CINEMAS AGAIN James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water is set to bring back the magic of Pandora. As announced by 20th Century Studios, the Oscar-winning film will return to the Indian theatres for a re-release on October 2, further building up the anticipation for Avatar: Fire and Ash. TRIBUNE Life Not now Singer Lady Gaga postponed her Mayhem Ball show in Miami moments before it was set to begin. Taking to her Instagram handle, Lady Gaga announced the postponement. LUDHIANA | SATURDAY | 6 SEPTEMBER 2025 Celebrating CINEMA WHEN NAWAZ TOOK ACTING The 50th Toronto International Film Festival opens with Ryan Reynold’s John Candy: I Like Me The Toronto International Film Festival kicked off its 50th edition on Thursday evening with the world premiere of John Candy: I Like Me, a documentary that celebrates the life and career of the titular funnyman, who died of a heart attack in 1994 at the age of 43. Amazon will be releasing the documentary on October 10. Candy was a local hero who grew up in Toronto before his breakout on the SCTV sketch comedy series in 1976. He eventually became one of the most popular comedy stars of his generation, thanks to such films as Stripes, Splash, Spaceballs, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Uncle Buck and Cool Runnings. Actor Ryan Reynolds, who hails from Vancouver and produced the documentary, also attended the Toronto Film Festival’s opening night on Thursday. “I grew up here. SCTV was big in my house,” Reynolds said of his introduction to Candy’s work. “We live in this really curated society in which kids — my own kids, too — they’re terrified to suffer. They’re terrified to experiment and be bad at something really. Perfectionism is like a disease. And you see John going fearlessly, having fun and doing so without consequence or penalty. It was just a reminder to allow that in more as you go,” added Reynolds. According to the outlet, Reynolds wore a T-shirt emblazoned with a Canadian maple leaf on the opening night and was joined onstage by the film’s director, Colin Hanks, whose father, Tom Hanks, worked with Candy on Splash. Candy’s two children, Jennifer and Christopher, also attended the screening of the movie at the Toronto International Film Festival. The ongoing 50th Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, will run till September 14. —ANI LESSONS Aditya Kripalani’s I’m Not An Actor, starring Nawazuddin, opens the 14th DC South Asian Film Festival Mona I t’s not every day that a casual comment on an Instagram post leads to a fullfledged feature film starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui. But for filmmaker Aditya Kripalani, that moment of serendipity has defined the heart of his latest cinematic venture — a story told through the screens of a video call and shot across two continents. Aditya, en route to Washington DC for the screening of his film I’m Not An Actor at the 14th DC South Asian Film Festival, was full of the characteristic energy and spontaneity that seems to have shaped this film’ journey. “It’s an opening night film at DC South Asian Film Festival, so I’m happy,” he said as he switched from video to audio mid-conversation, a fitting metaphor for a film deeply rooted in digital communication. Nawaz’s intense face, and the line: Main Actor Nahin Hoon, said Aditya.” TWO CONTINENTS, ONE STORY Shot across Frankfurt and Mumbai, the film’s structure is innovative — shot like a traditional feature film, but with all interactions taking place over video calls. “It was very effective,” he said. “If I needed to direct Nawaz, I’d call Chitrangada. If I had to guide Chitrangada, I’d call Nawaz.” FESTIVAL PRAISE AND A DREAM Already making waves at international film festivals, the film has been received rather well. “It’s the kind of film where people laugh and cry together,” Aditya said. Instead of heading straight to OTT, Aditya is planning a proper theatrical release next year. “This time, we want to see how people feel when they watch it together. That collective experience matters.” HOW A SONG LED TO A FILM BHARAT PAVILION INAUGURATED has been The Bharat Pavilion debut in at TIFF, marking it’s by inaugurated It was inaugurated North America. Joint Secretary, Ajay Nagabhushan, dcasting, of Information & Broa , Acting Ministry aja Pratap Singh and Kapidhw ia in Toronto, in Consul General of Ind O Cameron sence of TIFF CE the pre arat Pavilion Bailey. This year’s Bh zaar. Ba focuses on WAVES e, India is “For the very first tim TIFF by a represented at being ing solely of delegation compris jects. From pro women-led film ns, six over 200 applicatio were ding projects outstan ough the WAVES selected by a jury thr bhushan said. The ,” Naga Bazaar platform rs are Arshaly Jose (A six women filmmake epa Bhatia (Rabbit , De Dandelion’s Dream) r (Sons of The River), ma Hole), Katyayani Ku raman (The Guest Madhumita Sundara (Ulta) and Pramati ita Dhar House), Parom n Dream). — PTI Anand (A Late Autum Ramayana will bring together two powerhouse talents from the world of music — Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman — and the Indian maestro says they will deliver a background score that will be different yet culturally resonant. The two musicians are hard at work for the score of Ramayana, a live-action adaptation of the epic from filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari. Namit Malhotra of Prime Focus Studios is producing the film, which will feature Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita, and Yash as Ravana. “Hans Zimmer is a prolific composer, who has done great things. I have known him since 2009 and he had great things to share with me. I’ve great respect for him. He invited me before to score but I couldn’t as I was doing other things,” Rahman said. Zimmer, a two-time Academy Award winner, has composed some of Hollywood’s most iconic soundtracks, including those for The Lion King, Gladiator, Pirates of the Caribbean, Inception, Interstellar, The Dark Knight Rises and Dune. With Ramayana, Rahman said both him and Zimmer have tried to create music that is unique and will resonate with the global audience. “Ramayana is part of our culture, and the music …I’ve studied in Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan and every year there would be Ramyana or Mahabharat or Shakuntala kind of plays (happening there). So, the culture is within me. Aditya’s story began, like many modern tales, on Instagram. “There was a post by Nawaz (Siddiqui) where he had uploaded a song. I just commented and asked other followers for the name of the track because I really liked it,” he recalled. The conversation was joined by Nawazuddin himself. What followed was nothing short of cinematic destiny. “I found his number and met him at his house in Mumbai,” Aditya said. And 45 days later, they were on the set. LESSONS FROM FTII A PANDEMIC-ERA IDEA COMES ALIVE BRIDGING ART AND ENGAGEMENT Interestingly, the script was born during the pandemic. “I wrote it thinking actors wouldn’t have to travel. Two countries, no stars, no commercial pressure,” he shared. But things took a turn when Nawaz not only joined the project but came on board as a co-producer — alongside his brother Faizuddin Siddiqui. “That wasn’t the plan at all,” Aditya said. “But that’s how organically this film came together.” While his sensibility is grounded in independent cinema, Aditya was quick to clarify that his films are as entertaining “I grew up on Bollywood films. Even my previous film Tikli & Laxmi Bomb was a love story,” he said. POSTER PERFECT One of the film’s standout elements is its unusual casting. Nawazuddin plays an actor, being coached by Chitrangada Satarupa. “I thought that poster would be interesting in itself — AR Rahman teams up with Hans Zimmer for Ramayana “For this, we had to be different from all the other scores which have come before because it is for a world audience. When you look at the trailer music, it shows what we’re trying to do. We will hopefully (be) particular about cultural relevance, but we are careful about it,” the musician said. —PTI c m y b A graduate of the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Aditya said the school instilled in him the core spirit of filmmaking. “FTII taught me that no one is more or less than anyone else. We all did everything, there was no ego, no hierarchy.” And perhaps most importantly, it taught him to tell stories without thinking of commerce. “We didn’t make films for money. ” MEMORIES OF CHANDIGARH He fondly recalled his visit to Punjab in his student days. “I am so in love with watches and distinctly remember my visit to HMT factory. And, boy, if I have to turn vegetarian, I will stay a month in Amritsar, such delectable is food there!” Aditya’s latest film is a testament to how storytelling, even in its simplest form can bridge continents and cultures. Sophie Turner to playLara Croft Sophie Turner will step in as the next Lara Croft, following the likes of Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander. In its latest announcement, Prime Video confirmed that the Game of Thrones star will play Lara Croft in its upcoming Tomb Raider live-action series. While Phoebe Waller-Bridge will serve as the creator, writer, and executive producer, Chad Hodge has been added as the executive producer and co-showrunner alongside WallerBridge. Jonathan Van Tulleken has boarded as the director and executive producer. “I’m so excited to announce the formidable Sophie Turner as our Lara alongside this phenomenal creative team, ” said WallerBridge. ❝ that no FTII taught me than less one is more or e all did anyone else. W as no ego, re w everything, the rchy. no hiera