Prashanth

Prashanth Thiagarajan (born 6 April 1973) is an Indian actor and businessman, known for his works predominantly in Tamil cinema. He has also appeared in few Telugu, Hindi and Malayalam films. At the peak of his career in the late 1990s, Prashanth was one of the biggest actors in South India. He has won a Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut – South, a Kalaimamani Award from the Government of Tamil Nadu, and a Cinema Express Award.
The son of actor-director Thiagarajan, Prashanth began his career at 17 by appearing in "Vaigasi Poranthachu" (1990) and went on to feature in other films including Balu Mahendra's "Vanna Vanna Pookkal" (1992), R. K. Selvamani's "Chembaruthi" (1992), K. Rushendra Reddy's "Tholi Muddhu" (1993), and Mani Ratnam's action-comedy "Thiruda Thiruda" (1993). Prashanth rose to stardom with Shankar's blockbuster romantic comedy "Jeans" (1998) in which he played dual lead roles as identical twins alongside Aishwarya Rai. The success of this film saw him garner opportunities to work in bigger film projects and in the late 1990s, he featured in a series of breakthrough films such as "Kannedhirey Thondrinal" (1998), "Kaadhal Kavithai" (1998) and "Jodi" (1999).
Early life.
Prashanth was born on 6 April 1973 in Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. He is the son of Thiagarajan (actor and director) in Tamil films while his maternal grandfather Peketi Sivaram was an actor and an acclaimed director of Telugu, Tamil and Kannada films. His paternal cousin is an acclaimed actor Vikram.
He studied Computer Graphics and Multimedia and went to Trinity College of Music in London before embarking on an acting career. He completed his 12th grade and was enlisted in two medical colleges. His first intention was to be a doctor, but finally he decided to be an actor, like his father T. Thiagarajan, also producer and film director.
Prashanth owns a multi-storeyed jewelry mart in Panagal Park. He is also a trained pianist.
Career.
Early roles (1990–1997).
Prashanth started off as a leading romantic hero in the 1990 film "Vaigasi Poranthachu". He then appeared in the Malayalam film "Perumthachan" written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair where he played the son of the title character. He also acted in "Tholi Muddhu" alongside Divya Bharti which was the remake of the Bollywood film "Dil".
Prashanth focused on Tamil and acted in "Thiruda Thiruda" (1993) directed by Mani Ratnam and music by A. R. Rahman. Prashanth used to be the chocolate boy of Tamil cinema during the 1990s and he plays a variation of that stereotype in portraying Azhagu. This is the most adventurous of Mani Ratnam's movies. The film also won National Film Award for Best Special Effects. At the end of the year, he play in the film "Kizhakke Varum Paattu" (1993). In 1994, he released three films like "Rasa Magan", "Kanmani" and "Senthamizh Selvan". These films had an average success. "Aanazhagan" (1995), his only movie of the year was directed by Prashanth's father and actor Thiagarajan. In the film, Prashanth disguises himself as a woman in order convince the landlady. The film revolves around Prashanth and his friends who search for a new house after being kicked out from the previous place. Prashanth is forced to dress in the drag after the landlady insists that the house only for a family man and not bachelors. "Aanazhagan" was very successful at the box-office. The comedy tracks are still remembered today, and a stellar performance of Prashanth as Lakshmi. In 1996, he co-starred in "Kalloori Vaasal" with Ajith Kumar. The film opened on 18 February 1996 to mixed reviews. "Krishna" (1996) and "Mannava" (1997) are also two medium success films.
Breakthrough and success (1998–1999).
Prashanth appeared in dual roles in the 1998 film, "Jeans" under the direction of S. Shankar. It was quite the commercial enterprise. It featured Aishwarya Rai as the lead actress. The role of the male lead was declined by Abbas and Ajith Kumar, before it ended with the chocolate boy. The film was a modern-day "Twelfth Night" adaptation. The film has been nominated several awards in the country. The film opened to Indian audiences on 24 April 1998 and was the most expensive film to be made in Indian cinema at that time. "Jeans" has been shot all over the world. One particular song "Poovukkul", says Shankar, has been filmed at the "seven wonders of the world", with Rai being referred to as "the eighth wonder of the world", with her beauty being no less than those wonders. It was later dubbed into Hindi and Telugu languages. He acted in two other romantic films that year, namely "Kannedhirey Thondrinal" and "Kaadhal Kavithai". In 1999, he acted in romantic family dramas movies, "Poomagal Oorvalam", "Jodi", "Hello" and "Aasaiyil Oru Kaditham".
At the peak of his career in the late 1990s, Prashanth appeared in stage events across the world for the Tamil diaspora titled "Prashanth Star Nite". Featuring him alongside actresses and comedians, the show was held in Singapore and then at Wembley Arena in London.
Career consolidation (2000–2005).
In 2000, his films are "Good Luck", "Appu", and "Parthen Rasithen", with the latter being a huge commercial success. In 2001, he began the project "Piriyadha Varam Vendum" directed by Kamal which had a delayed release but was a success. He followed this with "Star", "Chocolate" and "Majunu".
Prashanth then collaborated with director Hari, making his debut, for the action drama film, "Thamizh" (2002). For his role, Prashanth worked out at the gym, grew a beard and began smoking cigarettes to get into character. The film gained positive reviews upon release, with a critic noting the "Prashanth has matured into a performer of merit" and that "the transformation of a fun-loving, cheerful young man into a thug has been conceived well by director Hari and creditably executed by Prashanth".
The film became a box office success despite opening with little publicity, with positive word of mouth significantly helping the film's prospects. The success of the film prompted Prashanth to move away from romantic films and strive to work on more action drama films. His next release, Susi Ganesan's "Virumbugiren" had a delayed release in 2002, and won positive reviews from critics. For his role of a firefighter, Prashanth undertook official training, and reviewers described his portrayal as "top class". Sundar C's "Winner" (2003) also won appreciation for its comedy track by Vadivelu, and performed well at the box office.
In a sudden change of strategy, Prashanth chose to focus on acting in films produced by his father Thiagarajan for the family's production studio, Lakshmi Shanthi Movies. Films such as the action drama "Jai" (2004) and horror film "Shock" were remakes of successful films, but also did not perform well at the box office and received mixed reviews. A critic from Sify.com called "Jai" "tedious" and added that "on the whole Prashanth has to try out something new" Post-release, Prashanth noted that as a producer of the film, the team had tried hard but ran into problems to begin with, lamenting that the project had been delayed by a year before filming started and thus the script lost its freshness. Other films including the action drama "Aayudham" (2005) and comedy "London" (2005), similarly met with a tepid response at the box office.
The actor suffered a setback in the mid 2000s, when he went on signing spree only for several of his projects to become shelved after being launched. In September 2004, Thiagarajan launched "Police", a remake of the Hindi film "Khakee" and the film received coverage from the media after producers had approached Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai for key roles, however the film failed to progress.
Prashanth next signed on to appear in Susi Ganesan's village action story "Sakkarai" in October 2004 only for the film to be discontinued after a grand launch ceremony. In mid-2005, the actor began filming for A. Venkatesh's "Petrol" and after several leading actresses were approached to play the lead heroine, newcomer Seema was selected. The film continued to shoot schedules for close to a year across India, but Prashanth's marital problems eventually led to delays in the director's schedule and the film remains uncompleted.
In December 2005, Prashanth started work on R. K. Selvamani's "Pulan Visaranai 2", a sequel to the director's 1990 film, with the film's soundtrack and trailer released by 2006. However, despite completion, the film was on hold for eight years due to producer's financial problems, before having a limited release in 2015. Furthermore, Ramesh Selvan's action film "Runway" was launched amidst much publicity in April 2006 but was discontinued despite the team filming a schedule with actress Ferhana. Morgan's "Taxi Driver" alongside Reemma Sen and Namitha was also planned amidst much hype, with the team announcing schedules in the Middle East as well as marking the debut of music composer G. V. Prakash Kumar; though the film was later shelved. His father's production "Kattan" with director Suresh also never took off despite an official announcement. The actor's other projects during the period which were announced but never made included Raghuraj's "Jockey", Mukil's "Arun Weds Harini" and Cheyyaru Ravi's "Vithagan".
Professional setback (2006–2011).
The actor's three films which released in 2006 had all been severely delayed during production and neither of the films made any notable impact at the box office. "Jambhavan", which released in September 2006, had gone through production hassles notably after the lead heroine Nila had a spat with the producers and delayed the film's shoot. The film opened to negative reviews and became a failure commercially. Debutant director's Bhuvanaraja's "Adaikalam", a family drama which had been completed the previous year, gained positive reviews but the low key nature of the release hampered any chance of a successful box-office run. Featuring no lead heroine, the film told the tale of an estranged family with Thiagarajan, Saranya and Uma also in the cast and a critic noted that "as a brother and a bitter son, Prashanth has churned out what is arguably one of his better performances till date." His final release of the year was Shiva Shanmugam's "Thagapansamy" which featured Prashanth in the role of a village do-gooder, with Pooja and Namitha in other pivotal characters. The film opened to below average collections and average reviews from critics, though Sify.com noted to "watch the film for the one-man-show of Prashanth, as he is the only silver lining in a film with a confused and confounded plot."
Prashanth had no film releases between January 2007 and April 2011, but was involved in the production of two heavily delayed films during the period – "Ponnar Shankar" and "Mambattiyan". The actor also invested in business opportunities, opening a 12-floor jewellery store in T Nagar, Chennai in 2008. In early 2007, Thiagarajan approached Karunanidhi with the intention of making a film on his adaptation of the Ponnar Shankar epic that he had written in the late 1970s. The latter accepted Thiagarajan's offer and approved of his decision to cast Prashanth in the dual lead roles. The film's grand production and shoot continued for over three years, and the film had a theatrical release in April 2011. A reviewer from The Hindu noted the film an "alluring canvas", praising the opulent sets, locations, rich costumes and imposing cast, yet noted that it was "too short to negate the many loopholes". Though Prashanth's stunt acts were appreciated, the reviewer pointed out his character flaws, such as minimal expressions which were "barely a smirk" in the initial scenes, and the distinct lack of distinguishable traits between the twin characters he depicted. In September 2008, Thiagarajan announced that he would remake his successful 1983 film "Malaiyoor Mambattiyan", with Prashanth portraying the lead role of a Robin Hood-esque figure. The team began filming in early 2009, and Prashanth grew his hair and put on weight for the project and the team shot in the forests of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. Prior to the film's release, Thiagarajan considered a possible sequel to the venture, stating he would decide after seeing the audience's response. The film opened to mixed reviews in December 2011, though Prashanth won positive reviews for his portrayal of the tribal man, with a critic from The Hindu noting the actor performed "perfectly" and as the "hero has slogged it out – it's only fair the industriousness is rewarded". The film took a good opening at the box office, but it however petered out to do average business commercially and due to its big budget, failed to recover costs.
Career decline (2012–present).
Prashanth's latest films have been synonymous with remakes, expansive press releases and long production delays. He began making "Saagasam", a remake of the Telugu film "Julai" (2012) during 2013, but the film had a delayed release in February 2016. Throughout the production, the film went through several changes in cast and crew and opened to mixed reviews, with a critic noting "Prashanth, making a return to the screen after quite a while, gives his best, but we can't help but feel that this required an even younger hero" and "what lets the film down the most is that it is directed without any feel for the material, so we are unsure if we need to take the film seriously or as a spoof". During 2014 and 2015, he worked on the proposed remake of the Hindi film "Special 26" (2013), and despite several press announcements unveiling updates and proposed cast members, the film was later transferred to a different production team. In early 2017, Prashanth worked on the thriller film "Johnny", a remake of the Hindi film "Johnny Gaddaar" (2007). The film went through changes in cast before being released in December 2018 to mixed reviews from critics and a below average opening at the box office. A comeback to Telugu films through a supporting role in "Vinaya Vidheya Rama" (2019) was also unsuccessful, with the film garnering negative reviews and having a poor performance commercially.
In March 2013, it was reported that the Tamil film "Naan" would be remade in Hindi with Prashanth in the lead role. Despite a production delay, Thiagarajan confirmed that the film would be made during an interview in December 2018. Moreover, in November 2013, Prashanth announced that he had registered the title "Jeans 2" and was completing the pre-production works of a sequel to the 1998 film. The film was set to be directed and produced by Prashanth's father Thiagarajan, who revealed that production would begin in May 2014 and that they were trying to bring members of the original team back for the venture. In January 2014, Ashok Amritraj stated that he was not involved in the sequel and questioned the viability of the project, citing that he did not believe that Prashanth and his father had the rights to make a sequel. In February 2016, Prashanth reaffirmed that the sequel was in development. In April 2019, Prashanth began working on an action film with director A. Venaktesh, where he would feature alongside model Anukreethy Vas. Prashanth also began working on the remake of "Andhadhun" (2018) in August 2019.
Personal life.
On 1 September 2005, Prashant married V. D. Grahalakshmi and their son was born on 31 July 2006. The couple divorced three years later.


Sivakumar Vijayan

Sivakumar Vijayan(born 17 May) is an Indian Cinematographer.
Early life and education.
Sivakumar Vijayan was born in Chennai to a middle-class Tamil family and grew up in Chennai and Kolkata. He is an electronics engineer from Madras University and pursued a master's in Media and Entertainment business administration. His passion for film photography started during his college days and after completing his engineering he joined Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata specialising in Motion picture photography(cinematography). His first independent film as a cinematographer was Vidiyum Munn (2013).
Career.
After graduating from Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), he assisted cinematographer P. C. Sreeram in the film Paa (film) (2009), Ishq (2012 film).He was also cinematographer for the Tamil feature film Vidiyum Munn (2013) in which he was appreciated for the quality of photography and for the sense of framing by French critic Isabelle Arnaud. An article in The Hindu noted his work in "Vidiyum Munn" for creating the mood,textures,disoriented canted angles and other factors in the film which affected the audience at an almost subconscious level. He worked on a sports drama Iruthi Sutru directed by sudha k prasad, the film is a bilingual made simultaneously in Tamil and as "Saala Khadoos" in Hindi. Saala Khadoos movie released in 2016 and became both critically acclaimed and box office hit. Even the film critic subash k jha appreciated his cinematography in Saala khadoos and mentioned him as the third hero of the film.
Personal life.
He lives in Chennai.


Hrishikesh Ranade

Hrishikesh Ranade (born 18 October 1981) is an Indian playback singer in Marathi film industry. He has sung songs in Hindi, Marathi and in some other Indian languages. He won Idea Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Maharashtracha Ajacha Awaaj.
Childhood.
Hrishikesh is from the music family and his father Pramod Ranade is also a well known Marathi singer. He took initial training from Pandit Vijay Koparkar and Shekhar Kumbhojkar.
Career.
He has made performances in television, and various festivals in the light music and film music. Along with singer Shreya Ghoshal he made a stage performance during the 18th annual day celebration of Airports Authority of India in 2013 and sang some of hit songs. Later in 2013, he accompanied Shreya Ghoshal in UK and Europe tour in which they sang at various places in Europe, as a celebration of 100 years of Bollywood. Both gave a tribute to many legendary playback singers of Bollywood. They had a grand performance at the Royal Albert Hall in Westminster, London. On 17 May 2013 both performed at the Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium in United Arab Emirates.
Film singing.
He has sung songs in various films. Some of them are -
Personal life.
Hrishikesh Ranade is the elder son of Marathi singer Pramod Ranade. He is married to singer Prajkta Joshi- Ranade and has a daughter.


Bastardo (film)

Bastardo is a 2013 Tunisian drama film written and directed by Nejib Belkadhi. It was screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.
Plot.
Mohsen, "the bastard", was found in a dustbin 30 years ago by his adoptive father, and has always been rejected by the residents of the rundown district where he lives. When he is fired from his job, a mobile phone company comes to install a relay tower on the roof of his modest house in exchange for a monthly stipend, Bastardo has a reversal of fortune. The aerial makes Mohsen a wealthy and respected man, to the disgruntlement of the village mobster Larnouba.
Director Belkadhi says:
Production.
Bastardo received a grant from the Doha Film Institute in 2011.
The original, uncut version of the movie was 3 hours and 20 minutes' long.


I Feel Sleepy

I Feel Sleepy () is an Iranian film directed by Reza Attaran. In the film, the male actor Akbar Abdi portrays an old woman.
Plot.
Reza is a middle age teacher who has trouble communicating with women, but now falls in love with a saleswoman.


Jyothi Krishna (director)

Jyothi Krishna is an actor and director in Tamil and Telugu film Industry.
Career.
Jyothi Krishna at 17 was credited with the story of his father, A. M. Ratnam's production "Natpukaaga", starring Sarath Kumar and the film performed well at the box office. He was also story writer for the Chiranjeevi's film "Sneham Kosam" and was also involved in story discussions of Rajinikanth's hit film "Padayappa". He went on to make his directorial debut in the A. R. Rahman musical "Enakku 20 Unakku 18", starring Tarun, Trisha Krishnan and Shriya Saran in the lead roles. His next, "Kedi", featured his brother Ravi Krishna in the lead role, whilst Ileana D'Cruz and Tamannaah Bhatia were also in the cast.
In 2010, Jyothi Krishna began work on his acting debut with "Ooh La La La", scheduled for release in 2012. His latest directorial project is "Oxygen", set to release on 30 November 2017.


Norman Buckley

Norman L. Buckley (born November 25, 1955) is an American television director best known for his work on "The O.C.", "Chuck", "Gossip Girl", "Pretty Little Liars" and "The Fosters".
Early life.
Buckley was born on Loring Air Force Base in Limestone, Maine, to parents Betty Bob (née Diltz), a dancer and journalist, and Ernest Buckley, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force and later a college professor and dean of engineering. Buckley grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, studied history at the University of Texas at Arlington before moving to California where he would later graduate from the University of Southern California. In spite of initial disapproval from his father, who wanted him to become a civil engineer like himself and Buckley's two brothers, Norman Buckley attended the film school at the University of Southern California. He intended to become a writer, but was encouraged to take up a craft, in addition to writing, and he soon discovered he had a natural aptitude for film editing.
Career.
Buckley is most known for his directing work on the television series "Pretty Little Liars" and "Gossip Girl". In late 2011 he directed his first movie for Lifetime "The Pregnancy Project". He began his career as an assistant editor on the 1983 film "Tender Mercies", which featured his sister, actress Betty Buckley, who helped him land the job after hearing that the film's editor was seeking a local assistant while on location in Waxahachie, Texas. The editor was pleased with Buckley's work and took him to New York City to begin his career. Since then, he has worked on many films, television series and made-for-TV movies as an editor. He landed a job —as both an editor and director on "The O.C." due to his connections with Stephanie Savage and McG, after working with them on the television series "Fastlane". Following "The O.C."'s conclusion, Buckley followed Schwartz to direct and edit his next projects, "Gossip Girl" and "Chuck".
He was associate producer on the film "Happy, Texas". He has directed episodes on various television series: "The O.C.", "Gossip Girl", "Chuck", "Greek", "Melrose Place", "90210", "Privileged", "The Middleman", "Make It or Break It", "Pretty Little Liars", "The Client List", "The Carrie Diaries", "Rizzoli and Isles", "Switched At Birth", "Hart of Dixie", and the Josh Schwartz webseries "Rockville, CA". His episode of "The O.C." titled "The Metamorphosis" was chosen by Entertainment Weekly magazine as one of the five best episodes of the series. His episode of "Gossip Girl" titled "The Handmaiden's Tale" was chosen by Newsweek magazine as one of the ten best television episodes of 2007.
His only acting credit is a minor role in "Solomon & Sheba", a part he only landed because was editing another project in Morocco, and the producers shooting "Solomon & Sheba" did not want to fly in other English-speaking actors to play minor parts. He agreed to do it only as a lark.
Buckley has been nominated twice for an American Cinema Editors award: in 2003, for "Joe and Max", for Best Edited Motion Picture for Non-Commercial Television; and in 2008, for the pilot for "Chuck", for Best Edited One-Hour Series for Commercial Television. He won the latter award at the ACE banquet on February 17, 2008.
He has been an assistant visiting professor in the film school at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Personal life.
Buckley has a sister, Tony Award-winning actress Betty Buckley, and two brothers, Patrick and Michael. His two brothers became engineers, a profession his father thought more worthy than any job in the film industry, although Buckley has stated: "Fortunately, my father expressed his pride in my accomplishments before he died."
Buckley is openly gay. He has been widowed twice. He lived with Broadway dancer Timothy Scott from 1983 until Scott's death in 1988. In 2004, Buckley met artist Davyd Whaley and they moved-in together. They married as soon as they were able, during a brief window of legal opportunity in the state of California, and remained married up to Whaley's death on October 15, 2014.


Amar Bhoopali

Amar Bhoopali (English: "The Immortal Song", French: "Le Chant Immortel") is a 1951 Indian film, produced and directed by V. Shantaram and written by Vishram Bedekar. It is a true story about a simple cow herder who has an innate gift of poetry, set in the waning days of the Maratha confederacy, c. early 19th century. It is an ode to the saffron flag of Marathas, calling on people to rise again against the foreign enemy. It was nominated in the category of Grand Prize of the Festival at the 1952 Cannes Film Festival.
Plot.
It is about a simple cow herder who has an innate gift of poetry set in waning days of Maratha confederacy early 19th century.
Music.
The music for the film was composed by Vasant Desai, with lyrics penned by Shahir Honaji Bala. The soundtrack consists of twelve songs, featuring vocals by Panditrao Nagarkar, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. The song "Ghanashyama Sundara" is from this film.
Reception.
In popular culture.
The 1980s advertisement for the Marathi newspaper Maharashtra Times used the song "Ghanashyam Sundara Shreedhara" as part of its jingle.


Mystery in Swing

Mystery in Swing is an American murder mystery film released in 1940. It was directed by Arthur Dreifuss, based on a script by Arthur Hoerl. (The University of California at Berkeley erroneously states it was directed by Arthur Hoerl.)
"Mystery in Swing" features music by The Four Toppers and Cee Pee Johnson and his Orchestra and was noted as being the first time a Black orchestra recorded an entire score for a film. It is currently held in the collections of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Synopsis.
The movie's plot features the murder of an unpopular band leader at a nightclub and a long list of suspects.
Songs in the movie include "Jump, the water's fine", "Let's go to a party" performed by The Four Toppers, "You can't fool yourself about love", "Beat my blues away", and "Swinging sweet and lightly" performed by Cee Pee Johnson and his Orchestra.
Reception and legacy.
A review in "Box Office" noted, "The cast, largely comprising night-club entertainers, delivers competently and there are a few welcome and well-done musical interludes." "Mystery in Swing" has been noted for being the first time a Black orchestra recorded an entire score for a film.
"The Pittsburgh Courier" ran a story on the film as it was in production.


Io (film)

Io is a 2019 American science fiction film directed by Jonathan Helpert. It stars Margaret Qualley, Anthony Mackie and Danny Huston.
It was released on January 18, 2019, by Netflix.
Plot.
The film is set in a post-apocalyptic present, where Earth's atmosphere has become toxic. Most humans have fled the planet, to live on a space station near Io, a moon of Jupiter.
Sam Walden is one of the few humans remaining on Earth. She lives alone at high altitude, where the air is still breathable, trying to raise bees that can survive in the atmosphere. Her intent is to use the bees to eventually clean the air via the pollination of oxygen-producing plants. Her long-distance boyfriend, who lives on the Io station, urges her to leave Earth on the last shuttle from the planet.
A storm creates a toxic cloud that passes through Sam's shelter, killing all of her bees. Micah, a man travelling by helium balloon, arrives shortly thereafter. He intends to reach the launch site and leave Earth, but first wants to speak with Dr. Harry Walden, Sam's father, who had urged mankind to stay because he still saw hope.
Initially, Sam states that her father is conducting field work elsewhere. However, after a day, she reveals that her father died the previous year. Hearing this, Micah is determined to take Sam with him to the space shuttle, to which she apathetically agrees. After receiving a message from her boyfriend saying goodbye, because he is part of an expedition embarking on a 10-year voyage to an exoplanet orbiting Alpha Centauri, Sam records a message informing everyone still on Earth that Dr. Walden's attempt to clean the planet was ultimately unsuccessful and that everybody should leave to Io.
While preparing and waiting for the right wind conditions, Sam and Micah grow closer and become romantically involved. They also discover that a new queen bee hatched in Sam's hive, which is immune to the toxic air. They are informed that the shuttle launch is rescheduled to another site, farther away than the original. As a result, they drive into a city blanketed by the toxic atmosphere to obtain the helium required for the journey. After finding the helium, Sam visits an art museum alone. Micah rushes after her, knowing her oxygen tank is running low. Instead of switching to a new tank, Sam pulls off her mask and breathes the toxic air hoping to survive. She takes several breaths, as the scene fades to black. Micah travels alone to the spaceship because Sam has decided to stay behind.
Like the new queen bee in her colony, the changed environment is not toxic to Sam. The film ends with her standing on a beach alone before being joined by a young child. A voice over of a letter from Sam to Micah tells how beautiful the Earth is, how those who have left the planet will have learned to fear it, and that they are waiting for them to return.
Production.
In January 2015, it was reported that Elle Fanning and Diego Luna would star in the film with Clay Jeter directing from a screenplay he co-wrote with Will Basanta and Charles Spano. However, in October 2016, Margaret Qualley replaced Fanning, while Anthony Mackie replaced Luna, with Danny Huston also cast for the film. Jonathan Helpert was also set to replace Jeter as director while retaining the Jeter/Basamta/Spano screenplay.
Principal photography began in October 2016.
Release.
The film was released on January 18, 2019.
Reception.
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, reported an approval rating of 31% based on 26 reviews, with a weighted average of 5.05/10. The website's critical consensus reads, ""IO" has some big ideas but little idea of how to effectively convey them, leaving viewers with a sci-fi drama whose attractive packaging can't cover its enervating core." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 40 out of 100 based on 6 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews."
Nick Allen of "RogerEbert.com" gave the film 2 stars out of 5, writing that, "However pure its intentions, "IO" is genre minimalism to a fault." He added, ""IO" isn’t science-fiction storytelling distilled so much as it is vaporized."


The Sweet Life of Count Bobby

The Sweet Life of Count Bobby (German: Das süsse Leben des Grafen Bobby) is a 1962 Austrian musical comedy film directed by Géza von Cziffra and starring Peter Alexander, Ingeborg Schöner and Gunther Philipp. It was the second in a trilogy of films featuring Alexander in the character of Count Bobby. It was followed by "Count Bobby, The Terror of The Wild West" in 1966.
The film's sets were designed by the art director Fritz Jüptner-Jonstorff.


K. Vijaya Bhaskar

K. Vijaya Bhaskar is Indian film director who works mainly in the Telugu film industry. He won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu for "Nuvve Kavali" (2000). He is an alumnus of Sainik School, Korukonda.


Krishna (Telugu actor)

Ghattamaneni Siva Rama Krishna Murthy (born 31 May 1943), known mononymously as Krishna, is an Indian actor, director and producer known for his works predominantly in Telugu Cinema. In a film career spanning five decades, Krishna starred in more than 350 films in a variety of roles. In 2009, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan for his contributions to Indian Cinema.
 He was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Congress party in 1989. In 1997, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South.
He debuted with 1965 film "Thene Manasulu" and went to star in films such as "Saakshi", which won critical acclaim at the "Tashkent film festival" in 1968. In 1972, he starred in "Pandanti Kapuram", which garnered the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu for that year. He has essayed roles across different genres including mythological, drama, social, cowboy, western classic, folklore, action and historical.
He is credited for producing many technological firsts in the Telugu film industry such as the first Eastmancolor film – "Eenadu" (1982), the first cinemascope film – "Alluri Seetharama Raju" (1974), the first 70mm film – "Simhasanam" (1986), the first DTS film – "Telugu Veera Levara" (1995) and introducing cowboy genre to the Telugu screen. He starred in the Telugu spy film sequels "Gudachari 116" (1966), "James Bond 777" (1971), "Agent Gopi" (1978), "Rahasya Gudachari" (1981) and "Gudachari 117" (1989). Krishna directed "Shankharavam" (1987), "Mugguru Kodukulu" (1988), "Koduku Diddina Kapuram" (1989), "Bala Chandrudu" (1990) and "Anna Thammudu" (1990), casting his son Mahesh Babu in pivotal roles. Krishna directed 17 feature films and he produced various films under Padmalaya Film Studio, a production house owned by him. Krishna was one of the highest-paid actors during his time.
Krishna collaborated with several directors of the time such as Adurthi Subba Rao, V. Madhusudhana Rao, K. Viswanath, Bapu, Dasari Narayana Rao and K. Raghavendra Rao. He also has the record of pairing up with the same actress for more than 48 films with Vijayanirmala and 47 films with Jayaprada. In December 2012, at the age of 69, Krishna announced his retirement from politics. He has acted in dual roles in 25 movies and triple roles in 7 movies.
He has produced many films under his Padmalaya Studios along with his brothers Hanumantha Rao and Adiseshagiri Rao and has also directed 15 films.
Early life.
Krishna was born on 31 May 1943 in Burripalem, Guntur district of present-day Andhra Pradesh state. His parents are Ghattamaneni Raghavayya Chowdary and Nagaratnamma.
Film career.
Early work: 1962–1965.
His career began with minor roles in films such as "Padandi Mundhuku", "Kulagothralu" and "Paruvu Prathishta". He was then cast in "Tene Manasulu" as one of the male leads. Despite commercial pressure being placed on Adurthi Subba Rao, the film director, to drop Krishna, the film was released as originally planned. It was a success and Adurthi repeated the cast for his next film "Kanne manasulu".
Breakthrough: 1966 to 1975.
Krishna was also selected to play the lead role in Doondi and Sunderlal Nehta's hit movie"Gudachaari 116", which brought the detective genre of films to the forefront in Tollywood (Telugu cinema). Though action films were his standard, Krishna also acted in films such as "Marapurani Katha", "Atthagaaru Kotthakodalu" and "Undamma Bottu Pedathaa". He also worked with more established actors, such as N. T. Rama Rao and Akkineni Nageswara Rao, in films such as "Sthree Janma", "Niluvu Dopidi", "Vichithra Kutumbam", "Akka Chellellu" and "Manchi Kutumbam" during this period.
At this time, Krishna established his own production house, Padmalaya Films and produced several high budget films such as "Mosagallaku Mosagadu", "Pandanti Kapuram", "Devudu Chesina Manushulu", "Alluri Seetharama Raju" and "Agnipariksha". With his friend Vijaya Nirmala, Krishna also set up another production house called Vijaya Krishna movies, and produced some critically acclaimed films, including "Meena" and "Devadasu". "Mosagallaki Mosagadu", which Brought the Cowboy genre of films in 1971 and "Alluri Seetharamaraju", which released in 1974 were sensational in many ways. In 1975, Except for "Cheekati Velugulu", none of his films of this time made any impact at the box office as people were reluctant to watch him in softer roles after his portrayal of Alluri Seethaa Rama Raju in the eponymous film. He suffered 14 consecutive flops (Devadasu also one of them) after the release of Alluri Seetarama Raju.
Continued success: 1976–1989.
Krishna bounced back with his lavishly made home production "Paadi Pantalu" in 1976. The film, which dealt with several contemporary agrarian issues, was a runaway hit at the box office. His performance in "Raja Rajeswari Vilas Coffee Club" - his second film under the Vijaya banner - was also successful. A third film produced by Krishna in that year was the moderately successful "Rama Rajyamloo Raktha Paasam".
Aside from his production work and his acting in those self-produced films, he also acted in "Kolleti Kapuram", "Bhalee Dongalu" and "Devudee Gelichaadu" during 1976. While "Kolleti Kapuram" was critically acclaimed for its thought-provoking dialogues and for capturing the serenity of Kolleru Lake in West Godavari district, "Bhalee Dongalu" - a re-make of the Hindi film "Chor Machaayee Shoor" - hit the bull's eye. "Devudee Gelichaadu" did not.
It was in 1976 that Krishna also announced that he was to produce "Kurukshethram". This surprised N. T. Rama Rao, who also wanted to make a movie called "Daana Veera Soora Karna", based on the epic. The relationship between the two legend actors was strained further when Krishna expressed his inability to drop his project and both started producing their films at a frenetic pace. Both the films were successful. Krishna's good run at the box office continued with "Saavaasagallu" and the actor further penetrated into the urban mass segment with the super-hit film "Dongalaku Donga". Between the years 1978 and 1986, Krishna acted in several hit films such as "Anna Dammula Sawaal", "Kumara Raja", "Agent Gopi" and other commercially successful films such as "Indradanassu" and "Allari Bulloodu". Six of his films fared very well in 1979, While "Viyyalavaari Kayyaalu", "Mandeegundelu", "Hema-Heemeelu", "Kottha Alludu" and "Burripalem Bulloodu" were other commercially successful films in Krishna's repertoire. Krishna and Sridevi became a hit-pair in 1980 and the two acted together in "Gharana Donga", "Maama Allulla Sawaal", "Chuttaalunnaaru Jagrattha" and "Ram Robert Rahim".
Krishna also scored big against all his competitors when his "Ooriki Monagaadu" became the biggest hit among all films released during Sankranthi in 1981. 1982 was another eventful year in his life and he started it with the super-hit film "Bangaaru Bhoomi", which was an improvisation of his "Paadipantalu". Towards the end of the year, Krishna became the fastest to complete 200 films in a lead role. He also became a studio owner and produced "Eeenaadu" as its maiden venture. A string of successful films such as "Mundhadugu", "Kiraayi Kotigaadu", "Adavi Simhaalu", "Sakthi" and "Prajaarajyam" catapulted him to the top position in 1983. Krishna's reign at the box office continued in 1984 with films such as "Iddharu Dongalu", "Bangaaru Kaapuram", "Mukyamanthri" and the lavishly made "Kanchukaagada". Krishna's career was at its pinnacle in 1985. He acted in swashbuckling hits such as "Agniparvatham", "Palnati Simham" and "Vajrayudham" in that year. Krishna's fantastic portrayal of the larger than life characters created by the writer duo Paruchuri Brothers helped these films have spectacular runs at the box office. He also acted in other hit films such as "Suryachandra", "Pacchani Kapuram" and "Mahasangramam", with his peer Sobhan Babu. Krishna started 1986 on a low key as audiences turned down both his early releases "Krishnagaaradi" and "Brahmasthram". He then produced his debut directorial ventures "Simhaasanam" and "Shankharavam".
"Khaidhi Rudrayya" was another smash-hit musical in his career and the film created several records at the box office. The Superstar continued his slug fest according to his political beliefs by satirising some of the policies of the Telugu Desam Party in his home production "Naa Pilupee Prabhanjanam". Disgruntled supporters and leaders of this regional Party protested against the screening of this film in several places. But their ruckuses generated more publicity for it and helped the film succeed. Though Krishna starred in the record-breaking "Muddayi", and in other hits such as "Dongodocchaadu" and "Thandri Kodukula Challenge". His elder son Ramesh Babu debuted as a full-fledged actor with "Samraat". 1988 was another mediocre year in his professional life because only four ("Kaliyuga Karnudu", "Aswaddhama", "Rowdy No 1" and "Mugguru Kodukulu") of his ten releases had average runs. The next year, however, he has acted in successful films such as "Koduku Diddina Kapuram", "Saahasamee Naa Oopiri", "Gudachari 117" and "Goondaarajyam".
Later work: 1990–2016.
1990 started with average fares; "Nagaasthram" and "Anna Thammudu". Krishna took his longest break from work after "Raktha Tharpanam", his last directorial venture in Telugu, tanked at the marquee. Ramesh's failure to capitalize on his blockbuster "Bazaar Rowdy" would have presumably upset him further during those unsettling times. In 1993, he came back strongly with the unexpected super-success of "Pacchani Samsaaram". But it was "Varasudu", his second release in the year, which made him the cynosure of the film fraternity again. With the films "Number 1" and "Amma Dongaa!" (1995) he had other thumping successes. Krishna also directed the Bollywood film "Ishq Hai Tumse" produced by Padmalaya Tele films, starring Dino Morea and Bipasa Basu, which is the remake of the Telugu film "Sampangi" in the year 2004.
Andhra University felicitated Mr. Krishna with an honorary doctorate in 2008. For the recognition of his contribution to Telugu film industry as an actor, director, producer, writer government of India gave him Padma Bhushan in 2009.
Personal life.
Krishna was married to Indira, and later to Vijaya Nirmala. He has five children with Indira; two sons—Ramesh Babu and Mahesh Babu, and three daughters—Padmavathi, Manjula, and Priyadarshini. Ramesh Babu is a film producer while Mahesh Babu is one of the highest-paid actors in Telugu cinema. Padmavathi is married to Galla Jayadev and Priyadarshini is married to Sudheer Babu.
Krishna worked with his wife Vijaya Niramala in over 40 films.


Karthik Ghattamaneni

Karthik Ghattamaneni is an Indian cinematographer and director known for his works in Telugu cinema. He made his debut as a cinematographer with Prema Ishq Kaadhal in 2013, and has worked in several movies since his debut. He is also one of the key founders of Pondfreaks Entertainment, a short film production house.
Early career.
After graduating in Computer Science from Institute of Aeronautical Engineering, Karthik Ghattamaneni aimed to become a director and tried to enter the Film and Television Institute of India Pune but couldn't make it. Then he decided to try cinematography and enrolled himself in Rajeev Menon's Mindscreen Institute for a year-long course. Later he directed a short film titled "Infinity" featuring Harshvardhan Rane which drew critical acclaim with celebrities like Farhan Akhtar appreciating Karthik's work. This appreciation resulted in him meeting Pavan Sadineni and both of them collaborated for Prema Ishq Kaadhal.


Aanazhagan

Aanazhagan is a 1995 Indian Tamil-language comedy film directed by Thiagarajan and produced by S. Balaji. The film stars Prashanth, Suneha, Vadivelu, Charle, and Chinni Jayanth , while K. R. Vijaya, Gandhimathi, and Vaishnavi play supporting roles. The film is based on Telugu film "Chitram Bhalare Vichitram". The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja. In the film, Prashanth disguises himself as a woman in order to convince the landlady.
Plot.
Raja (Prashanth), Sudhakar (Charle), Raghava (Chinni Jayanth), and Marudhu (Vadivelu) are good friends who stay together as tenants at Gandhimathi's house. After being thrown out of the house, they start searching for a new house on rent, but no one is willing to give their house for bachelors. Finally, they come to know a landlady (K. R. Vijaya) in search of a family as her tenants. A plot is hatched by, and all four bachelors dress up to be a family man (Sudhakar), his retarded brother (Raghava), his uncle (Marudhu), and his wife Lakshmi (Raja being the wife). Now, Raja's (who happens to be in a woman's attire) lady love (Suneha - debut) happens to be the landlady's daughter. At one point of time by mistake, the friends inform the landlady that Lakshmi is pregnant. The landlady arranges for Valaikaapu function, followed by a doctor (Vaishnavi) checkup. This bursts into a series of rumbled conflicts, and all hell breaks loose. In a woman's disguise, Raja looking extremely beautiful and his dramatic histrionics, as well as Bharatanatyam dance in a woman's costume are the best parts and highlights of the movie Anazhagan.
Production.
Prashanth appeared in drag role in "Aanazhagan" and noted the most daunting aspects of the role were the "waxing, the threading, the works" as well as "wearing a sari in summer, doing a bharatanatya sequence in a woman's costume, and getting the nuances and variations right were the other challenges", revealing his mum had assisted him. The actor was also involved in the production of the film. The voice for Prasanth's female character Rajalakshmi was given by the famous dubbing artiste Anuradha.
The film became the first project to have scenes shot in the newly created JJ Studios in 1995.
Soundtrack.
The film score and the soundtrack were composed by film composer Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics were written by Vaali. The soundtrack, released in 1995, features 8 tracks.
Release.
The film performed well at the box office. Soon after the film's release, Thiagarajan and Prashanth began working on another project titled "Padagotti Babu", which eventually did not develop. Likewise, another production by his father during the period, "Pulithevan" co-starring Manisha Koirala and Sangita, was also stalled.


Jada Alberts

Jada Alberts is an Australian actor, playwright and director. They are a Larrakia, Yanuwa, Bardi and Wardaman person. They were a regular on "Cleverman" and a co-winner of the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Series in a Drama Series at the 2018 Equity Ensemble Awards. They wrote for the series and have written for the stage including the play "Brothers Wreck" which they also directed for the Malthouse Theatre in 2018.


Shakthi (cinematographer)

K.A.Sakthivel, is an Indian cinematographer, primarily working in Tamil cinema.
Early life and career.
He was born in Pattukottai, Tamil Nadu. He received his early training from the Ace Cinematographer turned Director Jeeva. Shakthi started his career by assisting in films such as "12B", "Ullam Ketkume", "Run", "Unnale Unnale", and "Anandha Thandavam" before becoming independent.
Renigunta was Shakthi's debut film written and directed by newcomer Paneer Selvam. Starring Johnny, son of producer, S. S. Chakravarthy of Nic Arts and newcomers. The film was a success at box office and its cinematography was well-praised including other technical aspects like stunts and editing.
Then he worked on "Muppozhudhum Un Karpanaigal" starring Adharvaa, Amala Paul written, directed & produced by a newcomer Elred Kumar. Though the film was technically sounded good it bombed in the box office due to its poor content.
Later, he worked on "18 Vayasu", starring Johnny with the same team of "Renigunta". And also he working on the multi-starrer "Vettai Mannan", starring Silambarasan, Hansika Motwani, Jai, Deeksha Seth which is also written and directed by debutant "Nelson".
Moreover, he is handling the cinematography for STR's "Love Anthem", an International Music Album, also composed by "Silambarasan" where the lyrics are penned in several world languages. The music video has been shot with the latest digital cinema camera "RED EPIC 5K".
In 2015, much awaited film "Vaalu", got released starring STR's And Hansika Motwani with his cinematography.
3 June 2016, his latest movie "Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran" hit the screen with positive reviews. In May 2017, he was signed to be the cinematographer of "Sandaikozhi 2", which is the sequel of "Sandaikozhi".


The Obituary of Tunde Johnson

The Obituary of Tunde Johnson is an American drama film, directed by Ali LeRoi and released in 2019. The film stars Steven Silver as Tunde Johnson, a gay African-American teenager who is trapped in a time loop that forces him to repeatedly relive the day of his fatal, racially motivated shooting by a police officer.
The film also stars Nicola Peltz as Marley Meyers, Tunde's longtime friend; Spencer Neville as Soren O'Connor, a closeted classmate who is secretly dating both Tunde and Marley in a love triangle; David James Elliott as Soren's father Alfred; and Sammi Rotibi and Tembi Locke as Tunde's parents Ade and Yomi.
The screenplay was written by Stanley Kalu, a film student at the University of Southern California. It was the first-ever winner of The Launch, a screenwriting competition to find and develop screenplays by promising new writers on which LeRoi was a judge; the competition's prize included the screenplay being produced as a feature film, and LeRoi signed on to direct it as his own feature film debut.
The film premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival.


Baghtos Kay Mujra Kar

Baghtos Kay Mujra Kar ("What Are You Staring At?, Just Salute!") is a 2017 Marathi language political comedy-drama film which is directed by Hemant Dhome. It stars Jitendra Joshi, Aniket Vishwasrao and Akshay Tanksale in lead roles. The film was released on 3 February 2017.
Plot.
Settled at the foothills of a fort is a quaint village 'Kharbujewaadi'. This village is a land of many a 'Mavla' who served Shivaji Maharaj with great valour. The courage, grit and sacrifice that this village had to offer, played a major role in King Shivaji's fight for 'Hindavi Swarajya'.
But ... those were the days. Today, Kharbujewadi is a much developed modern town. Their eternal loyalty to the Maratha king Shivaji, forever on exhibit, the village is strewn with shops named: Shivaji Vada Pav Centre, Jijamata Saree Corner, Sambhaji Pan Shop, Tanaji Medicals etc. Unfortunately, their love for their beloved king is limited to the signboards, slogans on the cars and saffron coloured tilak on the foreheads.
The most important symbol of the Hindavi Swarajya, the forts of Shivaji are long forgotten. The once majestic fort overlooking this buzzing town lays in ruins, tainted with tobacco laden spit, garbage, empty beer bottles and lovers declaring their love for each other on the same walls where the brave mawlas spilt their blood for Swarajya.
What is this outrageous plan? Is it going to work? Will their dream to restore this fort become a reality?
Release.
"Baghtos Kay Mujra Kar" set to release on 3 February 2017 with English subtitles in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Publicity.
The trailer of the film is revealed on 5 January 2017 on Sinhagad Fort. This was the first instance when a trailer launch was held on a fort.
Soundtrack.
The songs for the film are composed by Amitraj and written by Kshitij Patwardhan.


List of programs broadcast by Sun TV (India)

This is a list of current, upcoming and former programmes broadcast on the Indian television Tamil-language channel Sun TV.
Former programming.
Telefilms.
List of films made exclusive for television release.


The Wordsmith

The Wordsmith is a Canadian television film, directed by Claude Jutra and released in 1979. Based on a screenplay by Mordecai Richler, the film stars Saul Rubinek as Mervyn Kaplansky, a writer in Montreal who aspires to sell his debut novel while navigating his relationships with his landlords Mr. and Mrs. Hersh (Peter Boretski and Janet Ward) and his love interest Molly (Sherry Lewis).
The film received six Genie Award nominations in the Non-Feature Film categories at the 1st Genie Awards in 1980, for Outstanding TV Drama Over 30 Minutes, Best Actor in a Non-Feature (Rubinek), Best Actress in a Non-Feature (Ward), Best Art Direction (Milton Parcher), Best Screenplay (Richler) and Best Editing (Arla Saare). It won the awards for Best Art Direction and Best Screenplay.


Fanfare of Marriage

Fanfare of Marriage () is a 1953 West German comedy film directed by Hans Grimm and starring Dieter Borsche, Georg Thomalla and Inge Egger. It is the sequel to the 1951 German film "Fanfares of Love".
It was shot at the Bavaria Studios in Munich and on location around Genoa and Naples in Italy. The film's sets were designed by the art director Fritz Lück and Hans Sohnle.
Synopsis.
While their musician wives are away working on a cruise ship, their husbands are forced to dress up in drag and pretend to be woman in order to convince the social services that they are able to look after their children properly.


SIIMA Award for Best Actor

South Indian International Movie Awards, also known as the SIIMA Awards, rewards the artistic and technical achievements of the South Indian film industry. SIIMA Awards are presented for numerous categories in each of the four language films(Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil & Telugu). SIIMA award for Best Actor recognizes the performance of an actor in a leading role in South Indian movie. SIIMA award for Best Actor was first given during the year 2012.


Ramjeevan

Ramjeevan is an Indian film composer and musician in the Tamil film industry.
Education.
Ramjeevan attended D.A.V Boys Higher Secondary School, Gopalapuram, Chennai and graduated from DG Vaishnav College, Arumbakkam, Chennai.
Career.
He debuted in the Tamil movie "Aalamaram". The song "Aalamara Kathada" sung by Vijay Prakash and Harini was a hit.
Other songs of the album such as "Thereri vaararu", "Kuthu Rasikum", "Kolladhe ennai" and "Silsillai" received a positive response.


Pawan Kumar (director)

Pawan Kumar (born 29 October 1982) is an Indian film director, actor, producer, and screenwriter from the Kannada film industry.
Pawan Kumar is well known for writing the films "Manasaare" and "Pancharangi". His directorial debut "Lifeu Ishtene" (2011) and the 2013 psychological thriller "Lucia" became one of the biggest turning points of his career. Being from a theatre background, he wrote scripts for plays on stage before working as an associate director with Yograj Bhat. He has also acted in the plays he wrote namely "The Final Reharsal" (2002) which is about an actor and reality television and "The woman in me" which is loosely based on the concept that there is a woman in every man and vice versa.
Pawan also holds a production house named Pawan Kumar Films. His mother tongue is Marathi.Recently during lockdown,Pawan has given free online workshop on YouTube on topic how to make a movie which has 7 chapters during workshop he also revealed that why his film-C10H14N2-is not yet made.He also shot a short film at home- A Labour unthanked.


Bandh Nylon Che

Bandh Nylon Che (Marathi: बंध नायलॉन चे) is a 2016 Marathi language family drama film directed by Jatin Wagle. Presented by "Maharashtra Times" & Zero Hits and produced by Sunil Chandrika Nair and Siji Nair. Bandh Nylon Che features an ensemble cast of Mahesh Manjrekar, Medha Manjrekar, Subodh Bhave, Sunil Barve, Shruti Marathe, Sanjay Narvekar and Pranjal Parab in lead roles. Mahesh Manjrekar and Medha Manjrekar will be acting together for the very first time on a silver screen and that too in a double role. This film is based on an award-winning one-act play by the same name.
Teaser poster of the film was unveiled on 11 November 2015, and Official poster was released on 20 November 2015 which met with very good response. The film released on 29 January 2016.
Soundtrack.
Music for this film is composed by Amitraj while lyrics are penned by Mandar Cholkar.


Before the Summer Crowds

Before the Summer Crowds (, translit. Qabl Zahmet El Seif) is an Egyptian film directed by Mohamed Khan and released in 2016. Starring Maged el Kedwany, Hana Sheha, Ahmed Dawood, Lana Mushtaq and Hany El Metennawy, it premiered at the 12th Dubai International Film Festival in 2015. It was then selected to represent Egypt in the 5th Luxor African Film Festival in March 2016 before commercial release in Egyptian cinemas in April and rollout to Iraq, Tunisia and the UAE in May.
Plot.
The film follows a group of people who meet in a beach resort on the North Coast of Egypt. Described as "a wry satire on the self-centred middle classes occupying Egypt’s “first row”" by Screen Daily, it follows Dr. Yehia (Maged el Kedwany) and his wife Magda (Lana Mushtaq) as they arrive at the beach resort. They are soon joined by Hala (Hana Sheha), a "a needy, negligent recently-divorced mother" who quickly attracts the attention of both Dr. Yehia and Goma'a (Ahmed Dawood), the resort caretaker. Over the week, each of their individual frustrations comes to a head and "the pre-summer holiday they all hoped for turns out to be yet another backdrop for the same frustrations." This is a story of accidental neighbours and frustrated voyeurs who are the recognisable bourgeoisie of the Egyptian summer.


Abi foq al-Shagara

Abi foq al-Shagara (My Father Up on the Tree), is a 1969 Egyptian drama musical romantic film directed by Hussein Kamal and produced by Abdel Halim Hafez for Sawt al-Fann. The film stars Abdel Halim Hafez and Nadia Lutfi in lead roles where as Mervat Amin, Jenita Furneau, Samir Sabri and Salah Nazmi made supportive roles.
The film has been shot in and around Alexandria, Egypt. The film became a blockbuster of that year particularly due to many kissing scenes. The film is considered as one of the best films ever made in Egypt. Itis the final film appearance by lead actor Abdel Halim Hafez before his death on March 30, 1977 due to liver failure as a complication from "Schistosoma mansoni".


Girls Will Be Boys

Girls Will Be Boys is a 1934 British comedy film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring Dolly Haas, Cyril Maude and Esmond Knight. It is based on "The Last Lord", a play by Kurt Siodmak. The film was shot at Elstree Studios with sets designed by the art director Cedric Dawe. Haas made this, her first English-language film, following a Nazi-led riot at the premiere of her previous film "Das häßliche Mädchen", and in 1936 fled Germany altogether.
Plot.
A young woman dresses up as a boy to fool a wealthy misogynist.


Aadatha Aattamellam

Aadatha Aattamellam is a 2009 Tamil drama film directed by A. B. Azhagar. The film features Ravi Ganesh, Bharathi and Jenny Jasmine in lead roles, with Mansoor Ali Khan, T. P. Gajendran, Rishi and Srinath playing supporting roles. The film, produced by T. Radhakrishnan Kabilan, had musical score by A. R. Reihana and was released after on 27 March 2009, after three years of production delays. This film marked the debut of Meera Jasmine's sister Jenny Jasmine in Tamil cinema.
Plot.
The film begins with Ashok (Ravi Ganesh) being urgently transported to the hospital by his sister Sudha (Jenny Jasmine) and his brother-in-law Kannan (Rishi).
Sudha and Ashok are orphan siblings. When their parents committed suicide due to debts, Sudha had to support her little brother; so she had to raise him like a mother. In addition to working hard at school, Sudha worked in a petrol station. The years passed by, Sudha became a bank receptionist and Ashok grew to become a basketball player. Ashok and his college mate Divya (Bharathi) fell in love with each other. First reluctant, Sudha accepted to marry Kannan, a marketing manager. What matters the most to Sudha was her brother so she imposed one condition to Kannan: that her brother lives with them after the marriage. They eventually married, but married life was not as she expected, the in-laws refused her condition. Ashok was then forced to live in his college hostel where he became a drug addict. Ashok could neither perform well in basketball games nor focus on studies and was eventually suspended from his college. So Sudha took him to her home but the situation had only worsened, his addiction hurt his entourage. Ashok was then rejected by his friends, his girlfriend and even his sister. During an argument with his sister and his brother-in-law, Ashok accidentally fell off a building.
Back to the present, Ashok dies in the hospital bed in front of his helpless sister Sudha.
Soundtrack.
The film score and the soundtrack were composed by film composer A. R. Reihana. The soundtrack, released in 2006, features 5 tracks. The audio was launched alongside director K. Balachander, V. Z. Durai, Gana Ulaganathan, Chintamani Murugesan, Bharathi and Jenny Jasmine.
Reception.
"Behindwoods.com" wrote, "The movie’s story talks about the ill-effects of doing drugs, but sadly the effort falls flat — courtesy the slipshod direction, camera, editing and the sorry performances of actors" and concluded with, "Save yourself, from drugs and the movie".


Wilaya (film)

Wilaya (, also known as "Tears of Sand") is a 2011 Spanish film directed by Pedro Pérez Rosado. The film is a minimalist drama about a Sahrawi refugee family suddenly confronted with the death of the mother and the return of the younger sister, who had lived most of her life in Spain, reflecting the separation of many Sahrawi families.
Plot.
Fatimetu is a Sahrawi girl who returns for the burial of her mother to the Sahrawi refugee camps after 16 years living in Spain. Her older brother Jatri tells Fatimetu that, in her last will, her mother left her both the family's jaima (tent) and the responsibility of taking care of her handicapped sister Hayat. Fatimetu reluctantly accepts the responsibility. She buys an old pickup truck and finds work transporting goods between the camps (wilayas), but Fatimetu is torn between life in the desert and the memories of her Spanish foster family and friends.
Filming locations.
The film was shot entirely at the Sahrawi refugee camps located in Tinduf, Algeria.


Action 3D

Action 3D is a 2013 Indian Telugu-language 3D comedy film directed by Anil Sunkara, starring an ensemble cast of Allari Naresh, Shaam, Vaibhav Reddy, and Raju Sundaram. The film was released on 21 June 2013. Action 3D is India's first 3D Comedy film.
Production.
Anil Sunkara, making his directorial debut after the success of his production venture "Dookudu", signed on Allari Naresh to play the lead role in a comedy 3D film in November 2011. In March 2012, the cast was finalised with Shaam, Raju Sundaram and Vaibhav Reddy. Kamna Jethmalani, Neelam Upadhyaya and Sneha Ullal were also selected to play leading female roles in the film. Bappa Lahiri, son of Bappi Lahiri, was signed on to compose the film's songs while Sunny M.R. composed the film's background score. The film will be shot in 3D with the Red One camera system by Sarvesh Murari, with technicians brought in from the USA to guide production. Sunil and Posani Krishna Murali made guest appearances.
The Tamil version of the film was titled as "Aasu Raja Rani Jackie Matrum Joker" and the Telugu version was titled as "Action", with both versions being launched at Karnataka School located in T Nagar, Chennai on 22 March 2012, with Tamil Nadu Governor K. Rosaiah gracing the event as chief guest. The film is expected to be shot across the USA and Thailand. Since 3D Camera does not support Zoom-in, Naresh had to use 78 retakes to complete a fight shot jumping six feet in the air to land a punch which should end exactly 3 feet from the camera from 8 PM to 6 AM. Also, Naresh and Neelam Upadhyay shot the remix of the song "Swati Mutyapu Jallulo", from Nagarjuna's Prema Yuddham, which gained a cult status in those days. The film's filming and post-production activities were wrapped up on 8 June 2013 and a function was held in regard of this fact. However, apart from Multiplexes and A Centers, the film is releasing in 3D even in C Centers using Anaglyph 3D technology to overcome poor infrastructure in C centers for which special glasses were imported from China. After getting feedback from the audience on the day of release, 15 minutes of film were edited out of the second half.
Reception.
"The Times of India" gave the film a rating of two-and-a-half out of five stars and stated that " The movie does pack a few gags, but there’s plenty that can make you cringe as well. Watch it purely to get a taste of the extra dimension". "The Hindu" wrote that "Watch this only if your idea of having fun is watching crude humour on 3D". "Oneindia Entertainment" gave a review of rating 3/5 stating "Watch it for the fun of it. Enjoy a 3D Telugu film with good enough acting, Action 3D".
The film's poor performance at the box office meant that the Tamil version, "Aasu Raja Rani Jackie Matrum Joker", did not have a release.
Soundtrack.
Bappi Lahari and his son Bappa Lahari composed the songs for this film. The audio was launched on 22 April 2013 at Prasads Multiplex in Hyderabad.


V. Gowthaman

V. Gowthaman (Tamil: வ. கவுதமன்) is a Tamil film director and actor. He has directed few Tamil films. These include Magizhchi, Kanave Kalaiyadhe. He has also directed the famous thriller biography serials of Auto Shankar and Veerappan in the name of Auto Sankar and Santhanakkaadu in Makkal TV. He is preparing to direct a new film based on Neela Padmanaban's novel. He has participated in Jallikatu demonstration in Chennai.
Career.
Gowthaman made his directorial debut with "Kanave Kalaiyadhe" (1998) starring Murali and Simran. In 2001, he started a film titled "Poranthaalum Pompalaiyaa Porakkakkoodaathu" with Livingston and Pandiarajan in the lead, though the film was later dropped.
After a long gap he directed a tele series for Makkal TV based on the life of serial killer Auto Shankar and "Santhanakaadu" based on Veerappan. He made his comeback as a director with "Magizhchi" (2010) in which he also made his debut as an actor. Gowthaman was working with the screenplay of the movie for 12 years. The film, received good reviews for its content and went unnoticed due to its low key release.
He went on to direct a short film called "Vetti" which received controversy as the police felt that it was insulting against national flag.
Politics and activism.
Gowthaman have organized and participated many protest favoring Tamil people interests. He has been part of Jallikattu protest, Cauvery water dispute, farmer related issues, katchatheevu reinstatement and other issues.
He floated a new party Tamil Perarasu Katchi and contested in 2019 by-election held in Vikravandi constituency in Tamil Nadu.


Poppy Liu

Poppy Liu is a Chinese-American actor known for her roles in the sitcoms "Sunnyside" and "Hacks".
Career.
In 2019, Liu had a starring role in the NBC sitcom "Sunnyside", which after four episodes moved to Hulu. Liu has also had roles on "New Amsterdam", "", and Better Call Saul. She has a recurring role as the blackjack dealer to a wealthy comedian in the 2021 HBO Max sitcom "Hacks".
Personal Life.
Liu was born in China and grew up in both Minnesota and Shanghai. She is a doula and offers free services to women and transgender people of color. She identifies as queer. In 2019, "The Advocate" named Liu one of their "Champions of Pride."
External links.
Official site


J. Anbazhagan

Jayaraman Anbazhagan (10 June 1958 – 10 June 2020) was an Indian politician and a 3 times MLA (2001, 2011 & 2016), a Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency in Chennai District from 2011 to 2020.
As a representative of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party, he was previously elected to the Theagaraya Nagar Constituency in 2001 elections, and was also defeated in the year 2006 election.
Biography.
He was elected in the elections of 2011 and was re-elected from the same Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency in Chennai District in the elections of 2016.
Anbazhagan died on his 62nd birthday on 10 June 2020 in Rela Institute & Medical Centre in Chromepet, Chennai due to COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in India, making him the first legislator in India to have died from the disease.
A diehard party loyalist, Anbazhagan was also bold and was often referred to as the second Veerapandy S. Arumugam (a senior leader and former DMK minister from Salem who died a few years ago) within the DMK. A three time MLA - though he was a strong man, he could not become a Minister as he returned to the Assembly all the times when his party DMK was sitting in opposition.


Santhosh Dhayanidhi

Santhosh Dhayanidhi is an Indian film composer and singer. He made his debut as a music composer through "Inimey Ippadithan" (2015).
Career.
Dhayanidhi began his career in film music by working as a keyboard programmer for A. R. Rahman and worked with him for two years from the production of the albums to "Kadal" (2013) and "Lingaa" (2014). He simultaneously worked as a composer for TV commercials, notably for an advertising promoting the Indian reality show "Bigg Boss 8". Dhayanidhi made his debut as a composer with the film "Inimey Ippadithan" (2016) after being recommended to the producer by the lead actor Santhanam. Santhanam had heard about Dhayanidhi after looking for a debutant and being briefed about Santhosh by Kaushik, an employee at Sony Music India.


Amma Cheppindi

Amma Cheppindi (English: "Mother Said So") is a 2006 Tollywood drama film written, screenplay, dialogues and direction by Gangaraju Gunnam. Sharwanand, Shriya Reddy and Suhasini play the lead roles while Nagendra Babu and Pavan Malhotra play supporting roles. M. M. Keeravani provided the music and background score for the film, cinematography was by Gunnam's son Sandeep and, editing by Mohan Rama Rao.
Plot.
Bose (Sharwanand) is a mentally underdeveloped youngster. His family includes his father who is a scientist in a rocket center; his mother (Suhasini) who dotes on him; and his academically bright brother. Bose is considered to be dumb in the residential township, and he is looked down upon. When Inter-Services Intelligence plans to bomb the rocket center during a prominent event, Bose helps the township and the country with his heroic deed as his token of appreciation to his doting mother.
Production.
Pre-production.
Gunnam's previous films "Little Soldiers" (1996), "Aithe" (2003) and "Anukokunda Oka Roju" (2005) could not garner much at the box-office. In an interview, he said that he "could not connect with larger section of audiences." However, he expressed optimism that the viewership has increased for his last two movies. While he produced the last two, his last directorial venture was "Little Soldiers" back in the nineties. This hiatus, according to him, was neither optional nor intentional but, it was either due to lack of funds or lack of offers to direct films. It was only after his friend who began a production house, Just Yellow Productions, he ventured into production.
For "Amma Cheppindi", the short story "Flowers for Algernon" that Gunnam read a long time ago, provided him with the necessary ideas. However, he said that the film's final screenplay is not similar to that story. The script for the film was written six years before filmmaking, even before his last two production ventures were conceptualized. Despite this, the script remained the same.
Casting.
Urmila Gunnam, the director's wife and producer for the film was responsible for selecting the cast for the film.
The Gunnams noticed Sharwanand in "Vennela" (2005) and called him to discuss about this project. After a screen test, he was selected for the role of "Bose". After Sharwanand was selected after a long and futile search, director Gunnam said that he could not imagine any one else performing that role.
About Suhasini, who plays the mother of the protagonist, Gunnam was initially hesitant about her being too young and slim to play a mother's role. However, he appreciated her performance and termed it as one of the most natural ones seen in recent times. Gunnam said that Sriya Reddy performance was one of the rarest seen by a Telugu actress in a while.
Music.
Amma Cheppindi songs were composed by M. M. Keeravani.
Reviews.
Reviews were generally positive. One review said that Sharwanand "should feel lucky to get this role in the beginning of his career that has given him scope to come up with an award winning performance." Though the review wrote well about the music, dialogues, story and depiction of emotional scenes, the editing, screenplay and direction was hoped to have been better. Another review said that though the pace of the film was slow in the beginning, the performance by the cast and the technical departments was good.


Dithee

Dithee () is an upcoming Indian Marathi drama film, written and directed by Sumitra Bhave under her banner Sumitra Bhave Films along with Mohan Agashe. The movie is about a simple ironsmith's journey of undergoing the pain of his son's death and experiencing the non-duality of life and death. The movie was also showcased at the Cannes Film Market in 2019. Dithee also marks the last directorial film of filmmaker Sumitra Bhave.
The film will be released on 21st May 2021 exclusively on Sony Liv.
Synopsis.
The film tells the story of Ramji, a simple iron-smith from a small village, who is a devotee of Lord Vitthal. For years he followed the Waarkari (a devotional sect) tradition of going on a pilgrimage with thousands of other devotees. One tragic incident and his world comes crashing down. Ramji is not only sad but also angry at God. The story is further built upon how this tragedy affects the family and everyone trying to make sense of the tragedy. One rainy night unfolds a tale of grief and ecstasy - where the seeming opposites just collapse and dissolve into the oneness of being. Life offers Ramji a chance to 'see' the non-duality of birth and death, and make peace with his grief.


Abouna (film)

Abouna (, English: "Our Father") is a 2002 film by Chadian director Mahamat Saleh Haroun. It was filmed on location in Gaoui and N'Djamena, Chad. It was the Chadian submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 75th Academy Awards but was not nominated.
Plot.
Two boys (Tahir and Amine) awake one morning to find that their father has abandoned their family. Shocked, they begin to misbehave. While surreptitiously watching a movie, they think they see their father speaking to them and steal the film to examine the frames. Their mother (Achta) eventually despairs and sends them to Koranic school. Unhappy, they plan their escape until the eldest boy falls in love with a deaf girl (Khalil).
Casting and production.
Ahidjo Mahamat Moussa, who played the 15-year-old Tahir, was offered a choice of boys to play his younger brother Amine. He eventually chose eight-year-old Hamza Moctar Aguid because he felt that Aguid could really be his brother.
After each day for shooting, film was sent 2600 miles to Paris for processing. Only after waiting several days, when word came back that there were no problems, would shooting resume.
Awards.
The film won the following awards:


Aayiram Poi

Aayiram Poi () is a 1969 Indian Tamil-language comedy film, directed by Muktha Srinivasan and written by Cho. Music was by V. Kumar. The film stars Jaishankar, Vanisri, Cho and Manorama.
Plot.
Chinna Durai (V. K. Ramaswamy) dislikes his brother-in-law, Kanagasabi (V. S. Raghavan) and stands in the way of a marriage arrangement for his daughter Malathy (Vanisri) and Kanagasabi's son Ravi (Jaishankar). The film deals with how Ravi's resourcefulness helps him in getting Malathi's hand in marriage.
Production.
"Aayiram Poi" is the feature film debut of Neelu, previously a theatre actor. The film's title references the Tamil proverb, "Aayiram Poiyai Solliyaavadhu Oru Kalyanathai Pannu" (At least tell a thousand lies to make a marriage work).
Soundtrack.
Music was by V. Kumar and lyrics were written by Kannadasan.
Reception.
"The Indian Express" wrote, "The picture suffers from uneven stress. And it is too long to sustain th humour or the suspense" but praised the absence of vulgarity.


A Change of Heart (film)

A Change of Heart is a 2017 American comedy film directed by Kenny Ortega and starring Jim Belushi, Virginia Madsen, Kathy Najimy, Eduardo Yáñez, Gloria Estefan and William Levy.
Plot.
Discouraged with cards that life has dealt him, Hank (Jim Belushi) is a man whose circumstances have steered him to fear change, but his town is adhering less to traditional white man and wife partnerships of which he is comfortable. After suffering a heart attack, Hank's life is saved by a transplant from a Puerto Rican drag queen. What will Hank do? Embrace a diverse society or continue to fear change? Tackling sensitive issues that need to be addressed in today's society, "A Change of Heart" is a feel-good movie that reminds us that even the most stubborn and hardened souls among us can still change and learn to let love in.
Production.
The film was shot in Miami.
Release.
A Change of Heart premiered on March 10, 2017, at the Miami International Film Festival. It premiered in Europe at the 2017 Parool Film Fest in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. As of June 2020, it has not had a wide theatrical or home video release.


Patrikeya

Patrikeya (born 15 August 1971 as Manikeswaram Bhaskara Rao) is a journalist and screenwriter in Telugu Cinema. Patrikeya introduced as a screenwriter for Telugu movie Krishna Vamsi's "Paisa".
Early life and education.
Patrikeya was born in Chirala, Andhra Pradesh. Patrikeya completed post graduation in Potti Sriramulu Telugu University Hyderabad.
Career.
Patrikeya works as film journalist in Telugu newspapers. His screenwriter career started with Krishna Vamsi's Telugu movie "Paisa".


Adarshavanthudu

Adarshavanthudu () is a 1984 Telugu-language drama film, produced by Ch. Prakash Rao under the Maheejaa Films banner and directed by Kodi Ramakrishna. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Radha and music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao.
Plot.
Sridhar (Akkineni Nageswara Rao) an advocate, son of a millionaire and retired Chief Justice Raja Shekaram (Jaggayya). Sridhar always enjoys the life in the frolic, after completing his studies he returns to his hometown. On the way, he gets acquaintance with a beautiful girl Lakshmi (Radha) who abuses his arrogance but he likes her attitude. After reaching home, Sridhar takes up his first case and proves an innocent girl as a prostitute. Due to which the girl commits suicide which suffers Sridhar out of contrition. At that moment, his driver Chiranjeevi (Ramakrishna) consoles and makes him understand the difference between justice & injustice. There onwards, Sridhar decides to stand for piety. Meanwhile, Sridhar's maternal uncle Dattudu (Gollapudi Maruthi Rao) who behaves like a dictator of a village and performs a lot of atrocities along with adjacent village head Lingaiah (Nutan Prasad) brings a false case where Sridhar supports the truth and punishes the accuses. Keeping this grudge in mind Dattudu tries to kill Sridhar when Chiranjeevi sacrifices his life to save him. Before dying, he entrusts his family responsibilities to Sridhar. In this issue, Sridhar has to differ with his father and leaves the house. After that, Sridhar reaches Chiranjeevi's village which is headed by Lingaiah, meets his parents Raghavaiah (Kanta Rao) & Janakamma (Anjali Devi) where he is surprised to see Lakshmi as their daughter. At Present, Sridhar merges with them, but Lakshmi has a doubt, so, she digs out the truth and blames him for the cause. On the other side, Lingaiah has a bad eye on Lakshmi and threatens Raghavaiah to make his marriage with her for his debt which leads to his death. Even Lingaiah enormities increase day by day who occupies entire fields of villagers and does not allow them to farm. Here Sridhar aids them when Lakshmi understands his virtue and both of them fall in love. Parallelly, Dattudu witnesses Sridhar and mistakes him as an identical person to him and makes a ploy with Lingaiah that to replace him as Sridhar to grab his property. Knowing their malice Sridhar agrees, plays a drama along with Lakshmi and sees their end. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note with the marriage of Sridhar & Lakshmi.
Soundtrack.
Music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao. Lyrics were written by Acharya Aatreya. Music released on Audio Company.


Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival

The Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival was a 10-day film festival founded in 2006 by filmmaker and artist Harish Saluja and held every year in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to show mostly recent films and music by artists with Asian ethnic origins, such as from Japan, China, Taiwan, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Korea, Turkey, the Philippines, and The middle east. It also included films whose topical matter is about Asians or Asian Americans.
Year-round programming included a Classic Asian Film Series. In Partnership with Pittsburgh Filmmakers, Silk Screen presented a classic Asian film each month, which was screened each Sunday of the month at Regent Square (Pittsburgh) Theater. New programming included an interview series, "Behind the Silk Screen", through which Silk Screen interviewed board members, artists, and community members about how they shape both Silk Screen and the culture around it. Silk Screen also held a children's event to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
The festival showed feature-length films and short films. The formats accepted were DCP, DVD, and Blu-ray discs.
Shortly after the completion of its 13th annual festival in 2018, Silk Screen shut down, amid allegations of sexual harassment against Saluja.
Introduction.
In 2005 Harish Saluja founded Silk Screen Asian Arts & Culture Organization which celebrates diversity & multiculturalism. Silk Screen brings together the region's diverse ethnic communities. Through the media of film, music, dance, and theater, these communities are able to learn and experience each other's cultures and come to recognize our shared human experience. The main event of Silk Screen is a 10-day Asian-American Film Festival. Each year, Silk Screen brings 20 + feature-length current Asian Films to Pittsburgh. Films range from drama to comedy to human interest to animation. Audience appeal is from 8 years to senior citizens. Internationally acclaimed filmmakers are invited to attend screenings and for Question and Answer sessions with the audiences. Silk Screen is the only organization in Western Pennsylvania to provide programming of this type.
2014 Film Festival.
The 9th annual Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival began Friday, April 25, with a gala party, and ran for 10 days. The festival showcased 25 feature films and two short films during 47 screening events taking place at Regent Square Theater, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, The Andy Warhol Museum and Waterworks Cinemas. Films and filmmakers from the 2014 hail from India, Japan, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Iran and more.
2015 Film Festival.
The 2015 Festival took place July 10–19, 2015. It was the most successful to date, boasting record attendance numbers. "Theeb", a collaborative effort from the UAE, Jordan and Qatar, opened the festival. The Centerpiece Presentation was "Dukhtar", an affecting drama about a mother's love, which pulled in record single-screening audience record for the festival. Closing out the Festival was the crowd-pleasing "Miss India America", directed by Ravi Kapoor, who flew in from Los Angeles to speak with the audience following the film.
2016 Film Festival.
The 2016 festival began on September 16, and concluded 10 days later on the 25th. The festival showcased a total of 31 of the newest and most acclaimed feature-length, as well as 7 short films. This year, the festival expanded to reach a total of 7 different venues including Frick Fine Arts, CMU McConomy Auditorium, Carnegie Museum of Art, and Cranberry Cinemas. The festival opened with the Kurdish film "El Clasico," which was awarded Best Fiction Feature at the Dubai International Film Festival. "Nawara", an Egyptian film set against the backdrop of the 2011 Revolution, highlighted this year's Centerpiece Presentation on Thursday, September 22 at Regent Square Theater. The festival concluded on Sunday, September 25 at Melwood Screening Room in Oakland. The Closing Night Film was the Indian film, Parched, which took home the Grand Jury Prize at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles and the Impact Award at the Stockholm Film Festival. During the festival, the film "Psycho Raman" made its US premier just months after making its world premier at Cannes.
2017 Film Festival.
The 2017 festival took place September 15–24. The festival showcased a total of 32 feature-length films, as well as 10 short films. The films screened at 6 venues including Carnegie Museum of Art, Cranberry Cinemas, Frick Fine Arts, Harris Theater, Melwood Screening Room, and Waterworks Cinema. 14 countries were represented this year, from cultural powerhouses India and Japan to nations with smaller film industries, like Nepal and Malaysia. The Festival opened with the Indian Film, A Death in the Gunj, which is the feature debut for award-winning actress, Konkona Sen Sharma, as both writer and director of this Indian dramatic thriller. The Closing Night Film was the Indian film, Hotel Salvation, which took home India's National Film Award - Special Jury Award/Special Mention (Feature Film) in 2017. Of the 2017 Gala, held on September 17, founder Harish Saluja said, “This is by far our best gala yet". The 2017 Silk Screen Gala was also named “Best Event on the Rise” by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
2018 Film Festival.
The 2018 festival was held between September 21 and September 30, and the 2018 Gala was held on September 21.
Silk Sound.
Silk Screen's reach extends to the music industry as well. The non-profit produced an Asian fusion jazz ensemble called Silk Sound in 2014. The band's distinct sound combines traditional Asian classical music with modern American jazz to create gorgeous, unique harmonies. The group's debut album, Sun Gate, was released in January 2015. Among other live performances, Silk Sound was the featured musical act at Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto's inauguration celebration.


Vennelakanti

Vennelakanti Rajeswara Prasad (30 November 1957 – 5 January 2021) was an Indian lyricist and writer known for his work in Telugu cinema. He wrote over 2000 film songs, and was awarded Andhra Pradesh State Nandi Award for Best Lyricist in 2000.
Career.
Vennelakanti was inclined towards Harikathas, and began writing from a young age. Initially, he worked as a banker and wrote his first film song for Krishnam Raju-starrer "Sriramachandrudu."
He was also known for his works as dubbing script writer and contributing lyrics for Tamil films, dubbed into Telugu language.
Personal life and death.
His elder son Shashank Vennelakanti works as dialogue writer for dubbed films. His younger son, Rakendu Mouli, also started his career as a lyricist and singer for several dubbing films. His first 'direct' film was "Andala Rakshasi", in which he wrote two songs and rendered his voice for one. He made his debut as a lead actor with "Moodu Mukkallo Cheppalante".
He died on 5 January 2021 in Chennai after suffering from cardiac arrest.


Jamil Rostami

Jamil Rostami (born 1971 in Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province, Iran) is an Iranian film director of Kurdish origin.
In 2002 he made his first short film titled "The Trouble of Being a Boy" in Kurdish, which was screened in 24 domestic and international Festivals and was awarded several prizes.
He made his first feature-length film, Requiem of Snow, in 2005. Fariborz Lachini, one of the most famous Iranian film music composers, made the music of the film. The photography of the film was done by Morteza Poursamadi, a celebrated Iranian photographer. The movie was awarded prestigious Crystal Simorgh for the best director in Asia and Middle East Films section of the International Fajr Film Festival. A joint production of Iran and Iraq, Requiem of Snow was the first film to represent Iraq in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Oscars.
His latest film, "Jani Gal", is a Kurdish language drama, about Kurdish separatists in the 1940s and 1950 trying to create a Kurdish state from parts of Iran and Iraq. This film was also selected to represent Iraq in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Oscars.


Sasi Shanker

Sasi Shanker (1957 – 10 August 2016) was an Indian film director. He directed one Tamil film and ten Malayalam films. He won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues in 1993 for his film "Naaraayam". He died on 10 August 2016.


Aaradugula Bullet

Aaradugula Bullet () is an unreleased Indian Telugu-language action film directed by B. Gopal. Produced by Thandra Ramesh under the banner of Jaya Balaji Real Media, the film stars Gopichand and Nayanthara, with music composed by Mani Sharma. As of 2020, the film remains unreleased due to financial difficulties.
Soundtrack.
Music composed by Mani Sharma. Lyrics were written by Sri Mani. Music released on Zee Music Company.
Production.
The film's production began in 2012 with Boopathy Pandian as a director under the title "Jagan Mohan IPS" however he left the film due to disagreements over the script. His replacement was B. Gopal who directed the film based on the story of Vakkantham Vamsi.
Release.
After receiving a U/A certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification, the film was scheduled to release theatrically on 9 June 2017. Financial troubles led to the film's shows getting cancelled on the aforementioned release date.
In 2020, the makers decided to release the film digitally.


Natarajan Sankaran

Natarajan Sankaran is an Indian film composer and musician in the Tamil film industry. He made his debut as a film composer in the 2013 Tamil film "Moodar Koodam". His works in later films including "Oru Kanniyum Moonu Kalavaniyum" and "Kappal" were critically acclaimed.
Early life.
Natarajan Sankaran was born in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu to a Tamil family. His father Sankaran is an electrical engineer and his mother, Sundari, is a housewife. He began his career as a mechanical engineer and worked in EID Parry and GlaxoSmithKline, Delhi. He resigned the job to pursue his career as a music director. He is trained in piano from "Musee Musical", which is affiliated to Trinity College, London.
Career.
In 2011, Sankaran got his first opportunity to compose music for "Moodar Koodam" through his friend and long-time industry associate Naveen, who was the director and an actor of the movie. Naveen offered him to compose five songs for Moodar Koodam. His score won critical acclaim and fetched him the opportunity from leading director Chimbu Deven for his Arulnithi-starrer Oru Kanniyum Moonu Kalavaanikalum. He got an opportunity from Karthik G. Krish's Kappal. His score won critical acclaim. Kappal's were part of the top five in Radio Mirchi for six weeks, top 10 in Sooriyan FM, and held 2nd place in the iTunes chart for two weeks. The song "Kadhal Cassatta" became the most favorite song in all stations.


Chandra Sekhar Yeleti

Chandra Sekhar Yeleti (born 4 March 1973) is an Indian film director, known for his works in Telugu cinema. He made his directorial debut with the Neo-noir crime film, "Aithe", which received the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu, and the Nandi Award for Best Story for that year. Another Neo-noir film "Anukokunda Oka Roju" has garnered two State Nandi Awards, including Best Screenplay for Yeleti.
Early life and career.
He was born in Tuni on 4 March 1973. He studied in Ganavaram St.Johns until 10th grade. He is the cousin of Gangaraju Gunnam. He was married on 19 May. He worked as an assistant Director under Gangaraju Gunnam for "Little Soldiers". He had directed the first 10 episodes of "Amrutham" TV series.
Breakthrough (2004–2015).
After working as an assistant director, Chandra Sekhar Yeleti made his debut with a small budget film titled "Aithe". That film was made on a small budget of about 1.5 crores and performed well commercially, with a box office of 6 crores. After almost two years he produced another film "Anukokunda Oka Roju". Both the films were produced by Gunnam Gangaraju. After a gap of two years, he directed his third film with Gopichand as the protagonist, titled "Okkadunnadu". In 2009, Yeleti directed his fourth film "Prayanam" with Manchu Manoj as the lead actor. After four year, Yeleti teamed again with Gopichand with an adventure movie Sahasam.
In October 2015, Yeleti met Mohanlal and narrated a family subject to him. The plot was green-lit by Mohanlal, and Yeleti started production work for the Telugu drama thriller, titled "Manamantha" with an ensemble supporting cast including Gautami, Viswant Duddumpudi, Nassar, Chandra Mohan, Vennela Kishore, Gollapudi Maruti Rao, Paruchuri Venkateswara Rao, Brahmaji, L. B. Sriram, and Ayappa P. Sharma. The movie received positive reviews from both critics and audience upon release on 5 August 2016.


S. P. Kodandapani

Sripati Panditharadhyula Kodandapani was an Indian music director and playback singer in Telugu cinema. In the film "Pandanti Kapuram" (1972), he voiced the memorable song "Idigo Devudu Chesina Bomma" on the Hindu philosophy of human life.
He introduced the famous playback singer S. P. Balasubramanyam (also his relative, unknown to him during the introduction) to the Indian film world in the movie "Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna" (1967).
Life.
He spent his childhood in Guntur. He used to sing songs and poems and learned to play harmonium. Addepalli Rama Rao gave him chance to sing in a group song in "Naa Illu" in 1953. He worked as harmonium player with Susarla Dakshinamurthi. He sang as an independent singer in the 1955 film "Santanam". He worked under veteran music director K. V. Mahadevan for five years.
He is the music director in the Rekha Murali and Arts of comedian B. Padmanabham. He became music director as an independent charge for the first time in "Kanna Koduku" (1961), followed by "Padandi Munduku" (1962), "Manchi Rojulochayi", "Bangaru Timmaraju", "Thotalo Pilla Kotalo Rani", "Loguttu Perumallakeruka" (1966) and many more. He composed some of the memorable songs
One of his most memorable song is from maryada ramanna katha- emi ee vintha mohamu, it is exactly this song which made singer SPB popular.
Sri Rama Katha(1969) was probably his best as a music director.He excelled in this mythological film in both the song composition and back ground score. His performance in this movie placed him in a high pedestal, alongside S Rajeswara Rao, Pendyala, Ghantasala,etc.


S. Sriram

S. Sriam was an Indian film producer from Tamil Nadu.
Biography.
Sriam and Mani Ratnam established Aalayam Productions. He produced films like "Thiruda Thiruda", "Bombay" and "Aasai". "Samurai" was the last film which was produced by him.
Sriram died of cardiac arrest on 4 September 2019.


Milly Shapiro

Amelia "Milly" Shapiro is an American actress and singer. She starred in the 2018 horror film "Hereditary" and originated the role of Matilda Wormwood in the Broadway production of "Matilda". She has also played Sally Brown in an Off-Broadway production of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown".
Awards.
Shapiro won a Tony Honor in 2013 with Sophia Gennusa, Bailey Ryon, and Oona Laurence for their Broadway debuts in "Matilda," making them the youngest recipients of the award in history. In 2013, Shapiro was also nominated for the Grammy for "Best Musical Theater Album" for the musical's cast album.
Personal life.
Shapiro is the younger sister of Abigail Shapiro, who is also an actress and singer. The siblings perform together as the Shapiro Sisters. Along with her sister and mother, Shapiro was born with cleidocranial dysostosis.
Shapiro is a lesbian