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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Agencies
June 6,2020

Hollywood star Angelina Jolie feels discrimination and impunity cannot be justified in any way, and says she hopes people in the US can come together to "address the deep structural wrongs in our society".

The Oscar-winning star, who turned 45 on Thursday, also donated $200,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, reports people.com.

"Rights don't belong to any one group to give to another. Discrimination and impunity cannot be tolerated, explained away or justified. I hope we can come together as Americans to address the deep structural wrongs in our society," Jolie said.

"I stand with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in their fight for racial equality, social justice, and their call for urgent legislative reform," she added.

Meanwhile, the actress celebrated her birthday amid lockdown with her six children -- Maddox, 18, Pax, 16, Zahara, 15, Shiloh, 14, and 11-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.

The actress and activist has been active since the COVID-19 pandemic spread around the world and has donated to different organisations.

Jolie previously donated $1 million to No Kid Hungry, the organisation working to feed children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I knew that there were problems in America, that there was poverty, but I could not believe when I realised how many school children in America were dependent on a meal to not go hungry. I was so disgusted that we have gotten to this point as a country and that we would let the most vulnerable be in such a state. I can't imagine what it feels like for those parents," she said while opening up about her reason to get associated with the organisation.

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News Network
May 1,2020

May 1: Rubbishing reports of hospitalisation, veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah on Thursday said he was "fine" and at home observing the nationwide lockdown.

Shah, 69, in a Facebook post, thanked people for their concern and reassured them about his health.

"I thank all those enquiring after my health and reassure them I am fine," he said.

"I'm at home and observing the lockdown. Please don't believe any rumours," he added.

"A Wednesday" actor's younger son Vivaan Shah also dismissed rumours about his father's health.

"He's alright. These are just rumours," Vivaan said.

Reports about Shah's health started surfacing on social media as the industry was coming to terms with the deaths of Irrfan Khan and Rishi Kapoor.

Rishi Kapoor, aged 67, died on Thursday in a hospital here after a two year-long battle with lukaemia, while Irrfan, 54, passed away on Wednesday due to neuroendocrine tumour, a rare form of cancer.

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News Network
June 19,2020

New Delhi, Jun 19: With the demise of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput stirring a debate on nepotism in the film industry, singer Sonu Nigam on Thursday spoke out on the "mafia" of the Indian music industry.

Nigam shared a 7-minute-long Vlog (video blog) on his YouTube channel where he is seen talking about roadblocks in the career of the newcomers created by big music labels and in turn urged them to be kind.

"I want to request everyone and especially our music companies to be kind because today an actor - Sushant Sigh Rajput - has passed away, tomorrow you can hear the same about a singer or a composer or a lyrics writer because unfortunately there is a bigger mafia in the music industry than the film industry," the 46-year-old musician said.

He then talks about how the young and struggling musicians are distressed because of the monopoly of "only two music companies" in the industry that rule and decide everything.

"I came into the industry years ago and at a younger age so I didn't fall in the trap but this new generation is going through a lot," he said.

"They are distressed because the composer would want to work with them, the producer and director would want to work with them but the music company would say 'no this is not our artist.' This is not right that the power is in just two hands - two music companies only - they will decide who will sing who will not sing," he added.

He then stressed on the fact that he is completely out of the music industry but the situation is very grim for the newcomers.

"I am out of it and neither do I have any wish to sing since the last 15 years, I am very happy in my own world but I have seen the frustration in the eyes, in the voice and in the words of new singers, new composers, new lyric writers," he said.

"They cry and if they attempt suicide you too will have to answer the questions. Be a little kinder please, to the newcomers because they are Gandharva (skilled singers), please be a little easy on them," he added.

Nigam then shared a personal experience and without naming anyone described how a powerful actor from the Bollywood industry had control over the music world too.

"It might happen with me that the song I am singing and the same actor who is being questioned these days would say 'don't make him sing' as he has deals with Arijit Singh. So, how can you use your power like that?" he said.

"You call me, ask me to sing, and then get my song dubbed. This is funny especially because I have been working since 1991 in Bombay, I have been working since 1989 in the music industry and if you do this with me then what will you do with the young generation," he added.

The 'Aal Izz Well' singer ended the Vlog urging the big music labels to be "a little more chill" and humane towards the younger lot and warned that the distress might cause the newcomers to attempt suicide.

"Guys you need to chill a little, be a little humane. Please don't torture the younger ones, please step into their shoes, they need you, they need your help, they need your kindness," he said.

"Even directors and producers are not happy because they are not being allowed to make the music that they wish to. This is not right. Creativity should not be only in two hands. Be kind so that more people do not suicide," he added.

The alleged suicide of Sushant Singh Rajput has led to a lot of controversies in the entertainment industry. The investigations in the matter are still underway.

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