Malayalam film sweeps all IFFK awards

December 12, 2015

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 12: Renowned Malayalam director R Jayaraj’s 'Ottal' (The Trap) swept all the top awards, including the Suvarna Chakoram (Golden Crow Pheasant) at the 20th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) which concluded here today.

ottalState Governor Justice (Rtd) P Sathasivam gave away the coveted Suvarna Chakoram, the Best Film of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) jury, the Best Malayalam film of the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) jury and the Audience Poll awards to Jayaraj.

The Suvarna Chakoram consists of Rs 15 lakh cash award, a certificate and a memento.
The citation stated that "Ottal," already a winner of national and state film awards, took the top prize for "its strong cinematic language, interweaving local and planetary concerns, humankind’s relationship to nature and nurture and child human right—all grounded in a deep honest connection to culture and place."

The Rajatha Chakoram for Best Director was awarded to Jun Robles Lana for the Filipino film ‘Shadow Behind the Moon.’ The Rajatha Chakoram for Best Debut Director went to Bangladeshi director Abu Shahed Emon for "Jalal’s Story."

Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s small-budget film, An Off-Day Game, took the FIPRESCI award for Best Malayalam Film. Israeli film Yona won the NETPAC Best Asian film award.

"It is often felt that Kerala is not only God’s Own Country but the favourite foster land of a variety of arts, so it is little wonder that it has produced notable names in filmmaking," Sathasivam said giving away the awards.

"The film festival provides an opportunity for film lovers to see films from around the world and thereby get a feel for lifestyles around the world," he said.

Besides the Governor, the closing ceremony was attended by leader of the Opposition V S Achuthanandan, Minister for Cinema Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, and Secretary (Cultural Affairs) Rani George.

"We have to make a better effort to market Malayalam films internationally," Achuthanandan said adding the government should also implement the recommendations of the Adoor Gopalakrishnan Committee report.

Legendary Iranian filmmaker Dariush Mehrjui, whose film package was shown in the festival’s Retrospective segment, was honoured with IFFK’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award carries a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, a memento and a citation.

Mehrjui presented the Film Employees Federation of Kerala’s (FEFKA) inaugural ‘Master’s award’ to avant garde Malayalam filmmaker K G George.

The Iranian director also presented the prize to the signature film winner Shri Shameer Babu. Tagore theatre, which was introduced this year as the festival’s main hub, won best theatre for its aesthetic quality, while New Theatre Screen 1 won for best technical quality.

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News Network
June 15,2020

Mumbai, Jun 15: Maharashtra police's cyber department has asked people to refrain from circulating online pictures of the body of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who was found hanging in his apartment in Mumbai's Bandra area.

Terming it as a "disturbing trend", it warned that circulation of such pictures could attract legal action.

Rajput, 34, was found hanging in his apartment on Sunday, sending shockwaves rippling through the Hindi film industry and elsewhere.

Later, some people circulated pictures of the actor's body on social media platforms, following which the state police's cyber department said it was in "bad taste".

A disturbing trend has been observed on Social Media platforms by Maharashtra Cyber that pictures of deceased actor Sushant Singh Rajput are being circulated, which are disturbing and in bad taste," it tweeted late Sunday night.

"It is emphasised that circulation of such pictures is against legal guidelines and court directions, and are liable to invite legal action," it added.

Urging netizens to refrain from posting such photos, the cyber department said the pictures already circulated should be deleted henceforth.

"In the digital age, every piece of information we read or watch needs to be cross-checked, verified and we all have to be careful before believing or forwarding them," it said.

After the actor's death, police said no note was found at the spot.

Police sources also said they did not find any foul play in their initial investigation.

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Agencies
July 20,2020

Los Angeles, Jul 20: Hollywood stars Robert Downey Jr and Tom Holland have joined their "Avengers: Endgame" co-star Chris Evans in sending sweet messages to a young boy who saved his sister from a dog attack.

Six-year-old Bridger saved his four-year-old sister on July 9 by standing between her and a charging dog.

According to Nicole Noel Walker, his aunt, the child received 90 stitches after getting bitten by the canine.

After Walker reached out to the Avengers team through an Instagram post, Evans, in a video message, promised to send Bridger, an avid Avengers fan, "an authentic Captain America shield".

Now the 'Iron-Man' star promised he will gift Bridger something "special" on his next birthday.

"Bridger, you're a rockstar. I hear (Captain America) sent a shield your way. I'm gonna do one better, you call me on your next birthday. I got something special for you. By the way, that's a promise. A promise beats a shield," Downey Jr said.

Holland, meanwhile, spoke to Bridger on a video call and invited him to come to the sets of the next "Spider-Man" film.

"If you ever want to come to set and hang out, and see the Spider-Man suit up close, and hang out with us, you're always welcome. I want to say you are so brave, mate. We are all so proud of you, and your little sister is so lucky to have someone like you," he added.

Other Marvel stars Mark Ruffalo and Brie Larson, Hollywood star Anne Hathaway, "The Flash" series stars Grant Gustin and Robbie Amell also praised Bridger's bravery.

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News Network
March 28,2020

Chennai, Mar 28: Chennai City Corporation personnel stuck a home quarantine sticker at the office of actor-politician Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam office on Saturday, leading to speculation that the matinee star was quarantined for the coronavirus.

While there was speculation if Kamal Haasan was quarantined, the Greater Chennai Corporation said their staffers pasted the sticker on the premises because actress Gautami Tadimalli "returned from Dubai recently and her passport has this address (Eldams Road in upscale Alwarpet)."

The present residence of the actress was not known immediately.

The sticker read, "We are in home quarantine to safeguard ourselves and Chennai from the coronavirus." It was removed soon, an official said, declining to elaborate.

Kamal Haasan clarified in a statement that he was not quarantined.

"Based on the notice stuck outside my house, news has been spread saying that I have been quarantined. But most of you already know that I have not been living there for the past few years and the Makkal Needhi Maiam party office has been functioning from there," he said.

Further, the actor said, the news that he has been quarantined "is not true."

As a precautionary measure, he has been maintaining social distancing, he said.

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