Bachchan, Kangana win big at Bollywood heavy National Awards

March 28, 2016

New Delhi, Mar 28: Megastar Amitabh Bachchan won his fourth National award for "Piku", while it was a second consecutive best actress win for Kangana Ranaut at the National Film Awards announced here today, which saw Bollywood's dominance in major categories, barring the top prize that went to multilingual "Baahubali".big-kangana

73-year-old Bachchan won the best actor honour for his turn as a hypochondriac father in the road-trip family drama. He previously won the honour for "Agneepath", "Black" and "Paa".

Ranaut, who turned 29 last week, was declared the winner for her endearing dual turn as Tanu, a troublesome wife and Haryanvi sportsperson Datto in romantic comedy "Tanu Weds Manu Returns".

The actress called it the "best birthday gift" especially since she gets to honour with Bachchan.

"It is the best birthday gift I could have got. I am thrilled and feel blessed especially since Mr Bachchan is the best actor with me," Ranaut said in a statement.

This is the third trophy for Ranaut at the National Awards, having won best actress for "Queen" last year and earlier for best supporting actress for 2008 film "Fashion".

SS Rajamouli's magnum opus "Baahubali" was announced the best feature film winner by filmmaker Ramesh Sippy, who headed a 11-member jury, even as last year's much appreciated "Masaan" had to contend itself with just a best debut director award for Neeraj Ghaywan.

"Baahubali" star Rana Daggubati said, "I am thrilled. We took a risk and attempted something different with it. Now with this award we feel honoured."

Sweeping historical romance "Bajirao Mastani", starring Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra, helped its director Sanjay Leela Bhansali win the best director honour, besides bagging five more honours.

"This is my first National award as a director, it is really very special to me. My mother always prayed that I should get one and here I get it. Her prayers are answered," Bhansali told PTI.

The director said his mother screamed with happiness when she got to know about his win.

Sharat Katariya's debut "Dum Laga Ke Haisha", a '90s set drama in Haridwar about the romance between a mismatched couple, was named the best Hindi film.

Salman Khan-starrer cross-border drama "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" was named best popular film providing wholesome entertainment.

"Thank you everybody for all your love. We are really happy that 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' got the National Award for Best Popular Film," director Kabir Khan tweeted.

Best adapted screenplay honour went to Vishal Bhardwaj for real-life inspired crime drama "Talvar", while the best original screenplay and dialouge was shared between Juhi Chaturvedi (Piku) and Himanshu Sharma (Tanu Weds Manu Returns).

"Nanak Shah Fakir" won the Nargis Dutt award for best feature film on National integration, besides winning best costume honour.

Actress Kalki Koechlin's stint as a girl affected with cerebral palsy in Shonali Bose's "Margarita with a Straw" got a special jury mention.

"Bajirao Mastani" also earned Tanvi Azmi the best supporting actress honour for her portrayal of a shrewd mother, while Remo D'Souza got his first National Award for choreographing two chart topping numbers "Pinga" and "Deewani Mastani".

The period drama also won majorly in technical categories like cinematography, production design, re-recordist and sound design, thereby becoming the biggest gainer at the ceremony with six trophies.

Tamil star Samuthirakani bagged the best supporting actor award for his role in thriller, "Visaranai", based on M Chandrakumar's novel "Lock Up". The movie also won the best Tamil film and best editing awards.

Dum Laga Ke Haisha's popular soft melody "Moh Moh ke Dhaage" earned two honours for its female singer Monali Thakur and lyricist Varun Grover.

Whereas, Mahesh Kale took home the best playback singer (male) award for crooning in Marathi film "Katyar Kaljat Ghusali".

"Baahubali", which won best feature film honour, also scored the best special effects award for CGI-laden screenplay.

Resul Pookutty's co-production "Nanak Shah Fakir", based on the life and teachings of the first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak Dev, won the Nargis Dutt Award for best feature film on national integration, besides best costume design and make-up.

"Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal", a dramatically disturbing exposition of the ill effects of pesticides in North Kerala, bagged the best film on environmental conservation/[preservation.

Story of a child prodigy "Duronto" won best children's film, while actor Gaurav Menon took home the best child artist award for his performance in "Ben".

"Nirnayakam" was named the best film on social issues.

Meghna Gulzar's "Talvar" also bagged the best location sound recordist honour. The best song award went to "Kaathirun Nu Kaathirunnu" from "Ennu Ninte Moideen", while ace composer Ilaiyaraaja won the best background score honour for "Thaarai Thappattai".

Bhaskar Hazarika's "Kothanodi" won the best Assamese film award, while veteran filmmaker Gautam Ghose's evocative story "Shankhachil" took home the trophy for the best Bengali movie.

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News Network
May 11,2020

Los Angeles, May 11: Iconic soul and R&B singer Betty Wright has died after a battle with cancer. She was 66. According to Entertainment Weekly, the Grammy winner passed away on Sunday in her hometown Miami, Florida, Wright's niece confirmed.

The news comes a week after singer-songwriter Chaka Khan tweeted praying for her "beloved sister", without mentioning the cause of ailment.

"Calling all my #PrayWarriors | My beloved sister, Betty Wright, is now in need of all your prays. 'Que Sera, Sera | Whatever Will Be, Will Be' In Jesus Name We Pray for Sister Betty All My Love Chaka," she wrote.

Wright, whose real name was Bessie Regina Norris, was born in 1953.

She started singing as part of her siblings' musical group called the 'Echoes of Joy', but she rose to fame in the 1970s.

The singer was a member of the gospel ensemble until they parted ways when she was 11, leading her to embrace R&B music.

Wright signed with the label Deep City Records in 1966, a year later becoming a local hit with songs "Thank You Baby" and "Paralyzed".

Her first album My First Time Around wasn't released until two years later featuring the hit "Girls Can't Do What the Guys Do."

The biggest hit of her career Clean Up Woman came a year later, which was certified gold barely days after her 18th birthday.

At the age of 23, she went on to win her first Grammy Award for Best Song, Where is the Love?

Wright continued writing and producing music for two decades, her final hit  No Pain, (No Gain) was released in 1988.

Wright also collaborated with talent in the industry including fellow Miami superstar Gloria Estefan, for whom she arranged the harmonies on the 1991 track Coming Out of the Dark, as well as Jennifer Lopez, Kelly Clarkson, and Joss Stone.

She served as the vocal coach of the girl group Danity Kane on "Making of the Band" (2006).

With her collaboration with The Roots titled Betty Wright: The Movie, Wright again came under spotlight in 2011. This was her first album in a decade.

She scored a Grammy nod for the song Surrender from the album. Her work has been sampled throughout the years by Beyonce, Mary J Blige, Afrika Bambaataa, and Chance the Rapper. Several names from the music industry such as Snoop Dogg, John Legend, and DJ Khaled condoled Wright's demise on social media.

Snoop shared a video of Wright singing "Tonight is the Night" and thanked his mentor for inviting him to "thankful Thursday's" at her Florida house years ago.

"I know god is pleased with your work. Tonight is the night you get to heavens gates. Long live. Betty Wright," he wrote on Instagram.

Legend said Wright will be missed.

"She was always so loving and giving to younger artists. Always engaged, always relevant," he tweeted.

Khaled shared a clip of his performance with Wright on the song "Holy Key" at the 2016 BET Hip Hop Awards.

"Betty Wright, you are an angel. You one of my realest friends I have! You are like a mom to me! You had my back from the very beginning! We made beautiful music together! Betty Wright is an icon! And the Mother of Miami," he wrote.

Wright was married three times - her final marriage was to reggae legend Noel 'King Sporty' Williams from 1985 until his death in 2015.

She had five children: Aisha McCray, Patrice Parker, Patrick Parker, Patrice Parker, and Chaka Azuri. Her son Patrick was shot to death on Christmas Day 2005 at the age of 21.

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News Network
January 7,2020

Mumbai, Jan 7: Actor Anil Kapoor, who next will be seen onscreen in Malang, revealed that he always tells superstar Aamir Khan not to stop working with filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani.

Kapoor was interacting with the media at the trailer launch of Malang along with his co-actors Adtiya Roy Kapur, Disha Patani, Elli AvRam, film's director Mohit Suri and producers Luv Ranjan, Bhushan Kumar, Ankur Garg and Jay Shewakraman on Monday in Mumbai.

Anil Kapoor has worked with many directors and producers in his 40-year acting career.

Talking about camp culture in the Hindi film industry and praising makers of Malang, Kapoor said, "I feel we need producers like Ankur (Garg) and Luv (Ranjan). I have told Mohit (Suri) to continue doing films with them. I always tell Aamir Khan by calling him on the phone to say that you should not leave Raju Hirani (Rajkumar Hirani). Whenever I see films of both of them, I tell Aamir not to leave him."

He continued, "I feel whenever you make a good team then you should hold on to it. Team is very important and there are certain stars that come together to make something interesting and exciting."

Kapoor gave an example of Hollywood actors and filmmakers while backing his viewpoint.

"If you see Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio they do so many films together. They can work with others, too, but they keep working with each other. There is some magic, obviously. You have to go with the casting but somewhere I feel teams should stand by each other," the actor added.

Malang stars Aditya Roy Kapur, Disha Patani, Anil Kapoor and Kunal Khemu in lead roles. It is scheduled to release on February 7.

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Agencies
July 31,2020

New Delhi, Jul 31: After an FIR was registered against her in various sections including abetment of suicide in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case, actor Rhea Chakraborty on Friday said that she has faith in the judiciary and she will get justice.

In a video statement issued by her lawyers, the actor refrained from commenting on "horrible things" being said against her saying that the matter is sub judice. 

“I have immense faith in God and the judiciary. I believe that I will get justice. Even though horrible things are being said about me in the electronic media. I refrain from commenting on the advice of my lawyers as the matter is sub judice. Satyamev Jayate. The truth shall prevail," Chakraborty said in the video statement. 

An FIR was filed by Rajput's father KK Singh against Chakraborty in Bihar under several sections including abetment of suicide.

Days after Rajput's death, Chakraborty said she was the "girlfriend" of the 'Dil Bechara' actor while requesting a CBI inquiry in the case.

Rajput was found dead in his Mumbai residence on June 14.

Chakraborty has also approached the Supreme Court for transfer of investigation to Mumbai in the FIR registered against her in Patna. 

Earlier in the day, targeting Chakraborty over Rajput's death, Bihar Minister and JD-U leader Maheshwar Hazari said she played the role of "vishkanya" and alleged that there is a "big gang" behind the "killing" of the actor.

"There is a big gang behind the killing of Sushant Singh Rajput. Earlier also talented people who went to Mumbai for work were killed. This gang used Rhea Chakraborty. She trapped Sushant Singh Rajput in a love affair, got his money transferred. Later, she started drama of 'bhoot pret' (ghosts) and played the role of a 'vishkanya'. She sabotaged his talent and defamed love," Hazari said.

According to the Maharashtra police, statements of 41 people, including filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, film critic Rajeev Masand, director-producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and filmmaker Aditya Chopra have been recorded in the investigation so far.

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had said that Mumbai Police are investigating the case and it will not be transferred to the CBI. 

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