Richie Mehta’s Phoolan heads to Toronto Film Festival
Filmmaker Richie Mehta’s Phoolan, a film based on the dreaded Chambal dacoit-turned-politician Phoolan Devi, will have its world premiere at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The Hindi-language movie will be screened at the festival on September 16 at the Princess of Wales Theatre as part of the Special Presentations section, according to a press release. Inspired by the 1997 book I, Phoolan – The Autobiography of India’s Bandit Queen, the film chronicles a defining chapter in the life of Phoolan Devi, when thousands of armed men surrounded a village in an attempt to kill her. Phoolan, which will premiere on Prime Video after its festival run, features Sneha Kumari in the title role. The Toronto International Film Festival, one of the world’s leading film events and is regarded as a major platform for international cinema, will run from September 10 to 20. (PTI)
The Odyssey sets IMAX opening weekend record with $52 million
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey earned USD 52 million from IMAX screens worldwide during its opening weekend, accounting for 20 per cent of the film’s global box office debut and setting multiple records for the premium large-format exhibitor, IMAX Corporation said on Tuesday. According to the company, the mythological action epic has registered the biggest global and international IMAX opening weekend in comparable markets, excluding China, Japan and South Korea, where the film is yet to be released. In India, the film has emerged as one of the strongest-performing IMAX releases, raking in about Rs 14.6 crore (USD 1.7 million) in weekend box office. (PTI)
Shakira poses with BTS, Beyonce, Tom Cruise
Queen of Latin music Shakira, who performed at the FIFA World Cup finale, ran into names such as Beyonce, BTS, Tom Cruise and many more. Shakira shared a photo-dump featuring pictures of her posing with names such as Beyonce, BTS, Tom Cruise, Anya Taylor-Joy, Kevin Hart, David Beckham and Jay-Z. “What a day yesterday! Running into so many people I appreciate and respect, and receiving so much love from all of you!! Also, ¡que viva Colombia en este día y siempre!,” she wrote as the caption. Shakira made her recording debut with Sony Music Colombia at the age of 14. She rose to prominence with the albums Pies Descalzos and Dónde Están los Ladrones? Her first English release, Laundry Service in 2001. (IANS)
Harshad Chopda slammed after showing middle finger to Shreya Kalra
Lock Upp Season 2 seems to have kept viewers hooked with its daily dose of drama, and as the reality show reaches its halfway mark, a fresh controversy has grabbed attention online. The latest promo has sparked backlash against contestant Harshad Chopda after he was seen showing fellow contestant Shreya Kalra the middle finger during an argument. In the promo shared by Netflix on Tuesday, Harshad can be seen asking Shreya to listen to the gang leader and follow her instructions. However, when Shreya tells him not to interfere, the actor loses his temper and shows her the middle finger before walking away. Soon after the promo was released, the clip went viral on social media, with many users calling out Harshad’s behaviour. Some viewers even demanded that he be removed from the show. (ANI)
