Veteran actor Pran passes away at 93

July 13, 2013

Pran_PassMumbai, Jul 13: Veteran actor and Dadasaheb Phalke awardee Pran, the legendary silver-screen villain, passed away in Mumbai on Friday following prolonged age-related ailments. He was 93.

Pran, remembered for his brilliant on-screen histrionics, was conferred with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke award — the country’s highest cinematic accolade — at his residence in May this year.

He was suffering from several ailments and undergoing treatment at Lilavati Hospital, where he breathed his last. “He was not keeping well, he was very weak. His health was deteriorating,” said his daughter.

Family sources said his funeral will be conducted at the Shivaji Park crematorium on Saturday afternoon.

Born on February 12, 1920, Pran Krishan Sikand acted in over 350 films, including a Kannada film “Hosa Raga”.

In a career spanning over six decades, adorned with accolades and awards, Pran gave a subtle edge to his roles.

He made them memorable, be they negative characters (Madhumati), an urban suave bourgeoise predator (Naya Zamana), a cynical outsider (Upkaar), a magnanimous Pathan (Zanjeer) or an outwardly inflexible grandfather (Parichay).

The actor, whose father Lala Kewal Krishnan Sikand was a government officer, was desperate to become a photographer.

A chance meeting with a film producer landed him a role in a Punjabi film called “Yamla Jat” in 1940.

There was no looking back after that as he went on to star in films like “Chaudhary” (1941), “Khandan” (1942), “Kaise Kahun” (1945) and “Badnami” (1946).

After Partition, Pran came to Mumbai with wife Shukla and sons Arvind and Sunil. He struggled to find work as an actor in the city of dreams.

As he was about to give up on making it big in Bombay, writer Saadat Hasan Manto helped him get a role in the Dev Anand-starrer “Ziddi” in 1948, which revived his career.

Thereafter, he carved a niche for himself in the tinsel town and held his own until his last appearance in 2007.

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News Network
January 2,2020

Jan 2: A young filmmaker was allegedly assaulted by an acquaintance during an argument over CAA-NRC in neighbouring Salt Lake City, police said on Wednesday.

The police have arrested the accused following a complaint by the filmmaker.

According to a senior police officer, the argument over the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) began following a social media post by the filmmaker.

The accused allegedly went to the house of the filmmaker on Monday night and picked up an argument, which led to a scuffle.

"During the scuffle, the accused attacked the filmmaker with a knife," the senior police officer said, adding that the accused has been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

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News Network
April 28,2020

Los Angeles, Apr 28: A top-secret documentary feature about former first lady Michelle Obama is set to start streaming worldwide on Netflix from May 6.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the doc shares its title with Michelle Obama's best-selling 2018 memoir "Becoming" and recounts some of the same history of her life.

"Becoming", like the best documentary feature Oscar winner "American Factory", comes from Higher Ground, the production company run by former President Barack Obama and the former first lady, which has an exclusive pact with the streamer.

The documentary marks the feature directorial debut of cinematographer Nadia Hallgren known for her work on "Trouble the Water", the 2008 indie about a couple surviving failed levees, bungling bureaucrats, and their own troubled past and a portrait of a community abandoned long before Hurricane Katrina hit.

"Becoming" also picks up where that story left off by following her on the 34-city tour that she undertook while promoting her book.

"Those months I spent traveling meeting and connecting with people in cities across the globe drove home the idea that what we share in common is deep and real and can't be messed with.

"In groups large and small, young and old, unique and united, we came together and shared stories, filling those spaces with our joys, worries and dreams. We processed the past and imagined a better future. In talking about the idea of 'becoming,' many of us dared to say our hopes out loud," Michelle Obama said in a statement.

The former first lady also addressed the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

"It's hard these days to feel grounded or hopeful, but I hope that like me, you'll find joy and a bit of respite in what Nadia has made. Because she's a rare talent, someone whose intelligence and compassion for others comes through in every frame she shoots.

"Most importantly, she understands the meaning of community, the power of community, and her work is magically able to depict it.

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News Network
April 10,2020

New Delhi, Apr 10: Actor Akshay Kumar has pledged to contribute Rs 3 crore to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to assist the making of personal protection equipment, masks and rapid testing kits to help the battle against COVID-19.

Film critic and movie trade analyst Taran Adarsh announced on the same on Twitter on Friday and wrote, "After donating Rs25 crores to the PM CARES fund, Akshay Kumar contributes Rs3 crores to BMC to assist in the making of PPE, masks and rapid testing kits."

The 'Good Newwz' actor has been informing people about the necessary precautions to be taken to stay safe amid the coronavirus outbreak through his social media handles. On Thursday, Akshay acknowledged the contribution of all essential workers during the lockdown period, and encouraged people to use the hashtag 'Dil Se Thank You' to express their gratitude to the people "who work to ensure our safety."

Earlier, the 'Mission Mangal' actor joined hands with actors including, Kartik Aaryan, Tiger Shroff, Taapsee Pannu, Kiara Advani and launched a hope anthem - 'Muskurayega India,' and made an attempt to pump up Indians with positivity amid the testing times of coronavirus.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday informed that India's total number of COVID-19 positive cases now stands at 6,412.

Out of the total cases, 5,709 are active patients and 504 of them have been cured/discharged and migrated. With 30 new deaths reported in the last 12 hours, the death toll reached 199, according to the ministry.

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