20022026-LSTC-01.qxd 2/19/2026 8:22 PM Page 1 c m y b BLOODY POSTER TEASES TOXIC The makers of Toxic: A Fairytale for Grownups unveiled a new poster, confirming its teaser would release on February 20 at 9.35 am. The image shows Yash as Raya amid a bloodstreaked blizzard, signalling a dark, violent world. The film is written by Yash and Geetu Mohandas and directed by Mohandas. WHAT’S HOT eat TASTE OF RAJASTHAN I shimla F you want a true taste of Rajasthan while in Shimla, Rasa Rajasthan is the place to visit. Run by Arjun Sharma from Jodhpur, the restaurant serves freshly prepared authentic Rajasthani dishes, from Kachhi Haldi ki Sabzi and Gatte ki Sabzi to Jodhpuri Tedi and Mewar Special Dal, alongside beverages like Kheera Pudina Chach and desserts such as Bajra Churma and Mawa Kheera. A hit with both tourists and locals, the outlet also impresses with its Mandala-inspired décor, reflecting traditional Rajasthani architecture. Sharma explains that the restaurant was conceived to offer Shimla visitors a genuine Rajasthani culinary experience, especially for those unable to travel to Rajasthan, making it a perfect stop to explore the state’s rich flavours and cultural charm. play SIKHLENS CELEBRATES 25 YEARS S chandigarh IKHLENS, the Sikh Arts & Film Festival 2026, kicks off its global run in Chandigarh on February 28, celebrating its 25th global anniversary and seventh year in India. The one-day festival will screen over 25 films from six countries and feature 13 exhibitions showcasing more than 1,000 heritage artefacts, including Sikh Empire-era coins, manuscripts, miniature paintings, rare books and archival collectibles. Highlights include the India premiere of the UK documentary Crafting Legacy on Aston Martin engineer Bal Choda, the launch of the book The Legend of 1972: Life, Hockey and Beyond on Olympian Kuldeep Singh Bhogal and the unveiling of the SikhLens 2026 Art Calendar. The event runs from 11 AM to 8 PM at Tagore Theatre, with free entry. love CULTURE & CRAFTS CARNIVAL P ludhiana UNJAB Agricultural University, Ludhiana will host a nine-day Swadeshi Mela from February 21 to March 1, celebrating India’s rich cultural and traditional heritage. The fair will showcase khadi, handicrafts, clay and metal artworks, organic products, millet-based foods, and Ayurvedic items, while also highlighting Ludhiana’s hosiery industry with sweaters and T-shirts. The event will feature vibrant folk dances and music performances by renowned artists including Usha Uthup, Parvez Alam, Mander Brothers, Ali Jain, Satinder Badali, Adil, Abhishek Manga, Jagdeep Bhullar, and Jagdeep Sanga. TRIBUNE Life Global reign Taylor Swift was named 2025’s best-selling global artist by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, securing the title for a sixth time. Her album, The Life of a Showgirl, set a modernera first-week sales record. CHANDIGARH | FRIDAY | 20 FEBRUARY 2026 The BAFTA-nominated Manipuri gem humanises a conflicted state through a tender children’s tale Boong wins Nonika Singh L IKE her heart-tugging, BAFTA-nominated Boong, filmmaker Lakshmipriya Devi is heart-warming, simple yet profound, and full of life. For those of us geographically and emotionally distant from Manipur, the beautiful northeastern state is often reduced to a hotbed of conflict. But here comes a Manipuri film that humanises the state and its people with poignant, evocative clarity. As the cinematic gem earns a prestigious nomination for Best Children’s and Family Film at the 2026 BAFTA Awards, Lakshmipriya is still trying to process the honour. “It’s still so unreal,” she admits, taking us through the film’s journey. For her, the BAFTA nomination feels like a climax, a final high for the film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year. Since then, it has toured many film festivals, picking up accolades along the way. The fact that the film is in the BAFTA ‘Family and Children’ category does not dampen her spirits; it gladdens her heart immeasurably. Indeed, Boong, a heartfelt story of a boy searching for his father, touches on many pertinent themes. “But at heart,” observes Lakshmipriya, “it’s a children’s film.” The film also introduces the remarkable child actor Gugun Kipgen. Lakshmipriya recalls her serendipitous discovery: “I had almost become a ‘child kidnapper’, constantly asking everyone, ‘Do you know any child actor?’” Fate intervened when someone walked in for a production job, accompanied by this impish child. It was “love at first sight.” Only Gugun, a Kuki boy, initially hesitated, as he did not know Meitei. But mastering Meitei proved surprisingly straightforward for him. Directing child actors, Lakshmipriya admits, has spoiled her: “They are so natural.” She is also full of praise for actress Bala Hijam, who plays Boong’s mother, especially for how she interpreted Mandakini’s character. She laughs, “Had she followed my brief, Mandakini’s character would have been a flop.” Yet Boong is deeply personal for Lakshmipriya; it contains snapshots of her own childhood. If Boong represents a ‘male version’ of herself, she sees herself in the impudent Juliana. In the film, she flips the ‘insider-outsider’ thesis, holding a mirror to society. The theme of ‘othering’ is rooted in her own experiences. Having faced discrimination hearts beyond BORDERS PRODUCERS’ MIGHT All my producers brought something to the table; it was like a marriage. Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment ensured that a small indie film like Boong had a theatrical release at PVR. Alan McAle is an indie stalwart with films like Santosh and Sister Midnight under his belt and then Vikesh Bhutani who is so good on the field is someone all indie makers are dying to work with. ❝ , not a small filmfilm, king a I was mabuster. An indie re was block n top of it; the er at p o regional for Boong on paade, it no hopeut once it was m n. least. B d a life of its ow foun hmipriya Devi - Laks while living in New Delhi, she insists, “Boong’s best friend in the film had to be none other than a Marwari.” The film’s overriding message, she stresses, is not the prejudices we hold but the importance of closure and moving forward—both for the people of her state and beyond. Though unsure how to respond to effusive CHAT UP Important to say it Tanvi The Great loud & clear Anubhav Sinha on exploring rising rape cases in Assi Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha, known for his hard-hitting social dramas, says his new film Assi is an attempt to understand the reasons behind rising sexual assault cases in a society that has grown numb to such violence. Starring Kani Kusruti in the role of a rape survivor and Taapsee Pannu, as her lawyer, the movie narrates the story of a Delhi woman’s quest for justice following a violent sexual assault, and focuses on the obstacles faced during the police and court proceedings. The title of the film is derived from the statistics that approximately 80 (Assi) rape cases are reported daily in India. Every 20 minutes in the film, the screen appears red, reminding viewers that another rape has taken place in the country. “The idea was to re-normalise the news (about rape cases) that we have accepted as a part of life. And as long as it’s happening a thousand kilometres away from us to someone else’s daughter, we are not fine with it but we take it as Ho gaya hai, ab kya kare. I think we as a society collectively need to think about it,” the director, known for films like Mulk, Article 15, Thappad, Anek and Bheed, said. praise, she believes deeply in the power of cinema and “the need to use it responsibly, especially in times of hatred and violence.” An assistant director for decades (Lakshya, PK, Dahaad and more), she explains why she waited so long to direct: “I didn’t want to direct till I had a story to tell.” Asked whether her next film will be in Manipuri, she answers succinctly: “Story will determine the language.” Regarding the wider impact on Manipuri cinema, she puts it in perspective: “First, there has to be acknowledgement that there is regional cinema beyond Tamil and Telugu. With Boong, we have gained attention; hopefully, action will follow. Before me, there have been acclaimed Manipuri films such as ‘Ishanou’, directed by Aribam Syam Sharma and written by my aunt MK Binodini Devi. So, I am not the first, nor will I be the last.” Still, she made Boong as if it were her last film, packing in all her precious experiences while maintaining zero expectations: “I didn’t care if I failed.” Unsurprisingly, as the nation watches with bated breath, she has none regarding winning the BAFTA either. But BAFTA or no BAFTA, Boong, like its maker, is a clear winner, holding hearts captive. sweeps top honours ANUPAM KHER WITH SHUBHANGI DUTT Tanvi The Great, the directorial effort from actor-filmmaker Anupam Kher, swept major honours at the Iconic Gold Awards 2026, winning the Best Film Jury Trophy while debutante Shubhangi Dutt took the Best Actress Jury Award in Mumbai. The film, which explores themes of autism and the Indian Army, was praised by critics, with Dutt earning particular acclaim for her portrayal of a young autistic girl inspired by her late father’s military service. Kher accepted the top accolade for Best Film on behalf of the cast and crew. ANI (CLOCKWISE) HUMA QURESHI, RASIKA DUGGAL, RAKUL PREET SINGH, KRITI KHARBANDA c m y b PEECEE RECALLS MOTHER’S FIERCE ACT Priyanka Chopra Jonas says motherhood shaped her role as Bloody Mary in The Bluff, recalling how her mother once grabbed a Delhi cab driver’s throat after he took a wrong turn late at night. BAD BUNNY LANDS PORTO RICO LEAD Grammy winner Bad Bunny is set to lead historical drama Porto Rico alongside Edward Norton, Javier Bardem and Viggo Mortensen. Directed by Rene Perez Joglar in his feature debut and cowritten with Alexander Dinelaris. SONY JOINS AI COPYRIGHT PROTEST Sony Pictures has joined Hollywood studios in protesting Seedance 2.0, the Chinese platform facing criticism over AI-generated copyright infringement. In a letter, Sony demanded ByteDance remove IP including Breaking Bad and the SpiderVerse films from the AI’s training data.