Mani Ratnam presented with Icon award at London Indian Film Festival

July 25, 2015

London, Jul 25: Acclaimed Indian film director Mani Ratnam, known for his films like Roja, Bombay and Dil Se, has won the Icon award at the Bagri Foundation London Film Festival for his outstanding contribution to cinema.

Icon awardReceiving the award at the closing night of the festival on Friday night, Ratnam said "I am honoured and humbled to receive this icon award. I think that Indian cinema is at the threshold of a new era, and the Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival is a showcase of this next generation.

"I am sure that future awards will be won by some of the bright young talent that is coming up." Ratnam also gave a rare Screen Talk masterclass at the BFI Southbank, with Peter Webber (Girl With a Pearl Earring), was part of the festival.

Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala won the Spirit of Inspiration award from Sun Mark Ltd for her outstanding work in supporting the earthquake appeal in Nepal. "We admire Manisha's work in cinema where she was known for taking on difficult roles and her support for social causes and for those who have no voice and whose message needs to be spread," the Foundation said.

Delhi-born actor Suraj Sharma, whose lead role in film Umrika helmed the festival, was the recipient of the festival's Outstanding Young Talent award. "The festival has been so kind, awarding me it's first outstanding young actor award and opening the festival with our film Umrika! The response for our film has been better than we could ever imagine. My gratitude goes out to the festival for doing such a great job!" said Sharma.

Satyajit Ray Short Film Award in association with the Bagri Foundation went to Khargosh (Rabbit), while Lebara Play Audience award went to Nachom-la Kumpasar (Let's Dance to the Rhythm). The Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival's Lebara Play audience award was a very close race this year, with Fox's Indian National Award winning feature Kaakkaa Muttai (The Crow's Egg) by M Manikandan pipped to the post by sleeper festival super-hit Nachom-ia Kumpasar, directed by Bardroy Barretto, a film about Goan Jazz and its impact on Hindi film music.

The film was so popular with audiences that additional screenings had to be added at Cineworld cinemas during the festival, to cope with demand.

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Agencies
July 28,2020

Mumbai, Jul 28: Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Manoj Tiwari has urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to look into the case of actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death and direct the state police to register an FIR in this connection.

Wishing Thackeray on Monday on his birthday, Tiwari, who has acted in Bhojpuri films, pointed out that over 40 days have passed since the death of Rajput, but an FIR is yet to be registered.

"Many happy returns of the Day @CMOMaharashtra Shri Uddhav Ji, on this day I request with folded hands to give justice to Sushant who died 43 days ago, but no FIR has been registered so far. I hope you will help. Please do justice to millions of SSR fans," he tweeted.

Bollywood actor Rajput was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14, which the police said was a case of suicide. His death had triggered an outcry from several quarters alleging that the late actor, who hailed from Bihar, was a victim of nepotism in the film industry.

The lawmaker from Northeast Delhi's Lok Sabha seat, who visited the deceased actor's family in Patna last month had then said: "Sushant's father and sister requested me to take up the issue and get him justice. It was really a sentimental moment for me".

Previously, Tiwari had demanded a CBI investigation into the matter

According to the police, statements of 40 people including film critic Rajeev Masand, director-producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and filmmaker Aditya Chopra and actor Rhea Chakraborty have been recorded in the investigation so far.

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News Network
June 15,2020

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 15: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has condoled the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput and recalled his support to the state during the floods in 2018.

The 34-year old Bollywood actor was found hanging at his apartment in Mumbai on Sunday.

"We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Sushant Singh Rajput. His early demise is a great loss to the Indian Film industry. Our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and supporters," Vijayan said in a tweet.

"We take a moment to remember his support during the time of Kerala floods

During the deluge in August, 2018, a fan had tagged him in a comment on his Instagram post and said, he don't have the money, but wanted to donate some food.

The actor, who spotted the comment, replied that he will donate Rs one crore in his fan's name.

Rajput donated Rs one crore to CMDRF in the name of his fan and uploaded the screenshot saying, My Kerala.

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Agencies
March 14,2020

Los Angeles, Mar 14: Hollywood superstar Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson on Friday gave a health update from coronavirus quarantine, saying they are taking it "one day at a time".

The couple, who is in isolation at a hospital in the state of Queensland in Australia, said they are being well cared for.

"Hello folks. @ritawilson and I want to thank everyone here Down Under who are taking such good care of us. We have COVID-19 and are in isolation so we do not spread it to anyone else.

"There are those for whom it could lead to a very serious illness. We are taking it one-day-at-a-time.There are things we can all do to get through this by following the advice of experts and taking care of ourselves and each other, no?" Hanks posted on Instagram.

The post was accompanied by a photograph that showed the couple smiling.

Hanks announced on Thursday that he and his wife have been tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The actor couple, who is currently in Australia to shoot for the pre-production of Baz Luhrmann's untitled Elvis Presley film, decided to get tested after they felt "a bit tired".

The deadly virus that first originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year has claimed over 4,200 lives and infected more than 117,330 people across 107 countries and territories, with the World Health Organisation on Wednesday describing the outbreak a pandemic.

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