Documentary brings alive India's most famous tiger Machli

Agencies
May 6, 2018

New Delhi, May 6: The fascinating story of Machli, the tiger queen of Ranthambhore National Park who lived to an extraordinary age of 20 years and won the hearts of tiger fans like no other feline did, has been captured on celluloid.

Meet Machli: World's Most Famous Tiger , directed by National Award-winning filmmaker S Nallamuthu and produced by Natural History Unit India for National Geographic channel, is a homage to the legendary tigress who was known for her fierce determination, bravery and confidence.

The 60-minute documentary, which was recently screened in the national capital, has exclusive footage of never-captured sequences.

Nallamuthu filmed Machli for more than nine years. And all these years, he was able to capture some priceless moments like Machli catching her prey, how she established herself as the ruler of Ranthambore, how she gradually lost her say to her daughters and sons, and also her final moments. 

The filmmaker has his own way of promoting conservation - through his films.

These have had great impact. But I feel a different kind of impact when people actually see tigers as sentient, mindful beings and bond with them. That is why I show people why you should save tigers by creating a human connect, he says.

Nallamuthu says he has been making films with own funding, many a times borrowing.

His documentary Tiger Dynasty , tracing the journey of translocated tigers in India and shown in Britain as part of a special BBC series on endangered wildlife, won him National Film Awards for best environment movie and cinematography in 2012.

He has also worked on some of the country's premier television shows - Living on the Edge , The Great Escape , Off the Beaten Path and Wheels . He is now working on a documentary on Machli's daughter Krishna, who is now the ruling feline in Ranthambore.

I don't finish a film unless I get a good story, because I am passionate about filmmaking and wildlife. And I want the audience to connect with the animals, he says.

I could get a much higher profit margin and my life would be definitely a lot easier by churning out films every six months than focusing on one film every two years. Perhaps that is why there are not many wildlife filmmakers in the country, he adds.

Nallamuthu feels each tiger has a story waiting to be told, some more fascinating than the others.

There is something very intuitive and instinctive about making documentaries and telling stories. You marry your observations with what you feel that place and characters have to say and what the viewer needs to know. These tiger films are my way of promoting - tiger conservation, he says.

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News Network
January 9,2020

Los Angeles, Jan 9: Actors Salma Hayek and Tiffany Haddish are hopeful about the future for women in Hollywood and now cinema is making films about women because the audience was "neglected".

The duo along with Rose Byrne star in Like a Boss, a comedy directed by Miguel Arteta, which follows best friends Mia and Mel (Haddish and Byrne) who join forces to run their own boutique cosmetics company.

When the prospect of a big buyout offer from a notorious titan of the beauty industry (Hayek) tempts them, their lifelong bond - and their business - is put in jeopardy.

Hayek said she is happy with the increase in female-driven films in Hollywood.

"We're on the right path. And we're not going to stop," the actor told Variety.

"What I can tell you is that a lot more women are directing and acting and writing and producing. And there are a lot more movies made about women and for women because the audience was neglected, she said.

She was speaking at the premiere of the film in New York.

Haddish added that the mantle for change shouldn't be left to the traditional decision-makers.

To get things, one has to sometimes make noise, the actor-author said.

"It's about us putting in the work and creating the projects and creating the opportunities in order to do those things to make it better. I sit back and I listen to people talk sometimes, saying, 'They're not letting us; they're not giving it to us.' Why do we have to ask permission? Why can't we just start putting it together? If they want to come on board with it, come on board. And if not, oh well," Haddish said.

"I'm about creating an opportunity. People say I'm loud and obnoxious, but sometimes it’s the squeaky wheel that gets the oil and gets things done," she added.

The comedy comes on the heels of a year gone by in cinema that featured female protagonists in films like Little Women and Captain Marvel.

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Agencies
August 3,2020

Mumbai, Aug 3: Megastar Amitabh Bachchan says he has immense gratitude for the doctors who provided him with medical care for Covid-19 and feels overwhelmed to be free of the virus finally.

Amitabh, on Sunday, tested negative for the novel coronavirus and was discharged from hospital.

The 77-year-old actor was admitted to Nanavati hospital along with son Abhishek after testing positive for Covid-19 on July 11. Abhishek, 44, is still positive and will remain under medical care.

"It has been heartening to be back from the Hospital after the ‘mukti’ from the coronavirus but a sour taste in the mouth when Abhishek has to still be in the medical care," Amitabh wrote in his blog.

The actor said doctors are tirelessly working towards battling the virus "each hour" through consultation, sharing of information and experience with their fraternity from other parts of the world which gives "the hope of repair."

"Assuring us each minute that ‘all shall be well’ , when in fact they themselves struggle to find that confirmed patent that can be used, delivered, executed to save lives and conditions from the virus.

"When I had addressed them as 'angels in white' I had never imagined that I would be supine in their midst to savour their angelic presence, as they give us hope, inspiration and the strength to fight. They are quite quite remarkable. My gratitude shall never fail for them... feeling bad for Abhishek .. prayers he comes home soon," he added.

On Sunday, Abhishek thanked well-wishers for their continued support and said he would remain under medical care.

"I, unfortunately, due to some comorbidities remain Covid-19 positive and remain in hospital. Again, thank you all for your continued wishes and prayers for my family. Very humbled and indebted. I'll beat this and come back healthier! Promise," he wrote.

Abhishek's wife, actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, 46, and eight-year-old daughter Aaradhya were discharged from the hospital on Monday after testing negative for Covid-19.

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News Network
February 27,2020

Mumbai, Feb 27: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan on Wednesday said it's with constant education that a country, a family can move forward as there is never an end to learning.

In December last year, when the actor visited the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, the La Trobe University announced the 'Shah Rukh Khan La Trobe University PhD Scholarship'. At the event to announce therecipient of the scholarship here on Wednesday, Shah Rukh said it was his honour to lend his name or be attached to the scholarship.

"I am a big believer in education. I truly believe that the way forward for any country, any family, city, state is by educating itself more and more.

"There is never an end to education. I've come to realise the more I know, I figure out, the less I understand. It's very important to keep educating ourselves for the rest of our lives.

"I've always believed education in India and elsewhere in the world, is the most important step forward for any nation," he said.

The scholarship aims to provides an opportunity for an aspiring female researcher from India to undertake research.

The 54-year-old superstar said what also will help taking the world move ahead is educating women.

"Related to the fact, is of course, education of women, empowering women, to look after themselves to look after their families...

"If you are able to empower them with education, the world goes even further forward," the actor added.

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