‘Village Rockstars’ is India’s official entry to Oscars 2019 Best Foreign Language Film

Agencies
September 22, 2018

Mumbai, Sept 22: Rima Das’ National Award-winning Assamese feature “Village Rockstars” has been chosen to represent India in the Best Foreign Language category at the 91st Academy Awards next year, the Film Federation of India (FFI) announced Saturday.

The film follows Dhunu, a girl who grows up in poverty and learns to fend for herself. However, that does not prevent her from following her dream of forming a rock band and owning a guitar someday. Elated with the news, Das said: “Village Rockstars” selection is a “huge recognition” for filmmakers from northeast.

“It feels great. I don’t have many words to explain. The whole journey is kind of a fairy tale. It is a huge recognition for northeast and I think it is the first Assamese film to get selected. So I believe it will change a lot for filmmakers from the region.

“I was always hopeful. I was always looking forward to going to the festivals and winning accolades. But most important for me was that people should connect with the film. That emotional connection is something which I have achieved through this film,” Das told news agency.

“Village Rockstars”, starring Bhanita Das in the lead role, had its world premiere at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and has toured more than 70 prestigious international and national film festivals.

The coming-of-age film had bagged the Best Feature Film trophy at the 65th National Film Awards, besides also winning Best Child Artist, Best Location Sound Recordist and Best Editing. The announcement was made by SV Rajendra Singh Babu, Chairman, Selection Committee for Oscar Award, FFI.

“It is technically a film with good human concept that would touch people around the world. We are honouring a film that deserves to be at the Oscars. We are hopeful and confident that people will see and respect the film,” he told reporters.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Padmaavat”, Alia Bhatt-starrrer “Raazi”, Rani Mukerji fronted “Hichki”, Shoojit Sircar’s “October”, “Love Sonia” directed by Tabrez Noorani, “Tumbaad”, “Halkaa”, “Kadvi Hawa” and latest release “Manto” were part of the list of 28 films submitted for next year’s Oscars.

No Indian film has ever won an Oscar. The last Indian film that made it to the final five in the Best Foreign Film category list was Ashutosh Gowariker’s “Lagaan” in 2001. “Mother India” (1958) and “Salaam Bombay” (1989) are the other two Indian movies to have made it to the top five.

Hindi film “Newton” by director Amit Masurkar and starring Rajkummar Rao was India’s official submission to the Oscars last year.

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News Network
June 2,2020

New Delhi, Jun 2: Actor Anushka Sharma on Tuesday exhorted people to maintain hygiene and advised to stop open defecation in a bid to avoid coronavirus spread.

As the country is grappling with the coronavirus crisis, the 'PK' actor has joined the initiative with the Swachh Bharat Mission, which aims to tell the people that the contagion can be curbed through strict sanitation process.

"When women all over the country had decided that they would educate everyone on the lesson of close the door, shun the disease, no one had thought that their initiative would turn into such a huge wave!," the actor was seen saying in a video posted in the official Twitter handle of Swachh Bharat I #IndiaFightsCorona.

"Today, in the time of coronavirus pandemic, we all have to again remember and remind others about the lesson of cleanliness," she added.

"If we take care of cleanliness around us, by not defecating in the open, we will keep ourselves healthy and India clean. We will become strong to fight against any kind of disease," the 32-year-old star said.

The 'Sultan' actor noted that by stopping defecating in open and closing the toilet door at all times can be a solid measure to drive the disease out of the country.

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News Network
July 24,2020

New Delhi, Jul 24: With more than 50 movies under her credits and being one of the few actors from Bollywood to make a strong imprint in Hollywood, actor Priyanka Chopra started it all by winning Miss India 2000 pageant.

Chopra who is currently celebrating the completion of 20 years in the entertainment industry, on Friday looked back and reacted to the video where she was crowned as Miss India.
The' Fashion' actor shared a video on Instagram, where she is seen watching the throwback video. The 'Dostana' actor recalled winning the title and joked about her sense of style and poses back then.

Sharing the reaction video, she wrote: "Alright guys, we're doing this! I'm watching footage from my Miss India pageant in 2000! This is where it all began... If you've never seen these before, you are in for quite a treat. #20in2020 @feminamissindia."

Throughout the video, the 'Gunday' actor is seen casually commenting on her hairstyle, enacting her own movement on stage, and also recalled her luscious hair, which she now wonders where it all got lost.

However, she took a moment to appreciate the "clever and profound" answer she gave for the question that won her the crown.

While watching the winning moment, the 'Don' star noted how she never expected to win it. She explained that she had a train booked as she was to go back and take her board exams.

Going through the old photographs that run parallel to the video, she says: "These pictures are hard to look at." Pausing at a particular photograph, she laughs and says, "I don't even know how to do that pose."

"Well, this is where everything started. These are the pictures that sent me to Tinseltown," said the actor towards the end of the video.

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News Network
February 21,2020

Los Angeles, Feb 21: Nepalese-Australian actor Dichen Lachman has joined the cast of the third film in the Jurassic World franchise.

Lachman, best known for Netflix series Altered Carbon and TNT show Animal Kingdom, is the latest addition to the Colin Trevorrow-directed picture, reported Deadline.

Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment project will see Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard reprise their roles. Mamoudou Athie and DeWanda Wise are also part of the cast.

The movie marks the return of original Jurassic Park stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum.

Trevorrow has co-written the script of the new film with Emily Carmichael. He will also executive produce the film with Steven Spielberg.

Jurassic World 3 hits theatres on June 11, 2021.

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