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The stories of Saadat Hassan Manto are not pretty evening-time entertainment to be ingested with a glass of ‘read’ wine. They are gut-wrenching, nauseating, stomach-churning renditions of a time when India was split into two.

So were human skulls, and while many fled to the new country next door, a lot of legs were forcibly parted by marauders masquerading as political vigilantes. Yes, rape is not pretty, and when a young gang-raped girl responds to the simple request ‘Khol de’ by reflexively loosening her salwaar, we know the times that this film takes us back to must never be visited again.

This cinematic visit to those troubled times serves up a telling warning.

Director Rahat Kazmi must be commended for bringing to life 4 of Manto’s most savage depictions of the pains of Partition. Rather than narrate the four Manto stories—Thanda Gosht, Khol Do, Aakhri Salute and Assignment—in one linear progression,...

Comedian Kunal Kamra who’s known for his biting political satire. Kamra’s recent controversy surrounds his jokes about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, which some deemed insulting. However, Khan’s support highlights the importance of free speech and artistic expression in Indian democracy.

As India has a rich history of embracing satire and criticism, with notable writers like Saadat Hassan Manto, Harishankar Parsai, and Balasaheb Thakrey using their work to address social and political issues. Thakrey, in particular, was known for his cartoons and caricatures that critiqued the system, showcasing the power of satire in sparking important conversations.

Kamra’s jokes, while provocative, are meant to be humorous and thought-provoking. By targeting various topics, including male empowerment and business leaders like Ambani, he’s exercising his right to free speech and satire. It’s worth noting that Ambani himself has taken Kamra’s jokes in stride, recognizing the...

Abhishek Kumar In Devil’s List!

Actor Abhishek Kumar makes a striking entry into the world of short films with The Devil’s List, directed by Shadab Ahmad. In his first major on-screen role, Abhishek embodies the chilling character of The Man—a mysterious and unsettling figure whose true motives remain concealed until the very last moment.

A seasoned theatre actor trained under the renowned Arvind Gaur at Asmita Theatre Group, Abhishek brings depth and nuance to his portrayal of a psychological enigma. His performance in The Devil’s List is a testament to his ability to captivate audiences with mere expressions and subtle shifts in demeanor. The film follows a charismatic yet sinister stranger who effortlessly infiltrates people’s lives, leaving behind an eerie trail of uncertainty and fear.

Speaking about his debut, Abhishek shared that he has always been drawn to complex characters. The challenge was to maintain...

What does Nawazuddin Siddiqui think about comparisons with Irrfan Khan? (Photo Credit – Wikipedia)

Nawazuddin Siddiqui is a name that resonates with brilliance in Indian cinema. His journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of the finest actors of his generation is nothing short of inspiring.

Time and again, the praiseworthy words have been equated with Nawazuddin and late Irrfan Khan, another magnificent film actor. However, Nawazuddin would always say his difference. He has said it one time too many, “Mein aapne jaise kaam karne ko aya hu, mein kissi ke jaisa kaam karne ko nahi aya hu. Of course, woh great actor hein, lekin mujhe apni pehchan banani hai.” One can see clearly in the quote his effort to distinguish himself from the line of artists whom he admires.

One can sense the truth of his heart by the exact style, he acts all his characters with. Taking into consideration the Haddi actor,...

Sampooran Singh Kalra, more famous by his pen name ‘Gulzar’, is renowned as a man and master of letters, in Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi, with over seven decades of rich contributions to the literary arena as well as Bollywood. On Saturday, Gulzar and Jagadguru Rambhadracharya, Sanskrit scholar, spiritual leader and educator, were declared the recipients of the coveted 58th Jnanpith Award-2023.

For Gulzar (89), this is yet another feather in his artistic cap brimming with an Oscar Award, a Grammy Award, five National Awards, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the Sahitya Akademi Award (Urdu), Padma Bhushan, and 22 Filmfare Awards. He also served as the Vice-Chancellor of Assam Central University besides being decorated with many more honours and accolades.

Born in Dina, Jhelum district (now in Pakistan), Gulzar started coining and penning couplets and ‘shayris’ from an early age, earning his father’s ire over his passion.

Post-Partition, when his clan also suffered a split,...

Actor Gopal Datt, who has narrated Harishankar Parsai’s classic story ‘Ek Film Katha’, has said that our cinema lacks connection to the literature right now, and that it is very important to find that missing link.

The actor, who is known for his work in films like ‘Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai’, ‘Tere Naam’, ‘Samrat & Co.’ and ‘Filmistaan’, recently reconnected with theatre and featured in the Seema Pahwa directorial, ‘Koi Baat Chale.’

This evocative literary anthology produced by Zee Theatre showcased six stories by iconic writers, and Gopal narrated ‘Ek Film Katha’.

The actor believes that the younger generation of filmmakers should maintain a connection with the works of eminent writers like Harishankar Parsai.

“What’s lacking in our cinema right now is a connection to literature. Old films still had that connection but now it is lost. The younger generation has no idea about the great writers in Indian literature.

Main Atal Hoon Movie Review Rating:

Star Cast: Pankaj Tripathi, Piyush Mishra, Raja Rameshkumar Sevak, Daya Shankar Pandey, Payal Nair

Director: Ravi Jadhav

Main Atal Hoon Movie Review Is Out! (Picture Credit: IMDb)

What’s Good: The fact that it informs something about one of the greatest political leaders of all time…

What’s Bad: …but the makers don’t use that information to execute an entertaining film

Loo Break: Multiple times!

Watch or Not?: Skip it, especially if you’re a fan of the man

Language: Hindi

Available On: Theatrical Release

Runtime: 2 hours 19 minutes

User Rating:

Growing up being righteous, getting inspired by the political philosophy of Kb Hedgewar (Ajay Purkar) and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (Daya Shankar Pandey), a very young Atal Bihari Vajpayee is a proud member of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. This might ruffle some feathers, but just like Saadat Hasan Manto, even Vajpayee held the mirror...

Actor Manoj Pahwa has opened up on his experience of narrating Saadat Hasan Manto’s classic story ‘Toba Tek Singh’ in the anthology ‘Koi Baat Chale’, and shared how it holds a personal resonance for him.

Post-Partition literature in the subcontinent ranges from Khushwant Singh’s ‘Train to Pakistan’, Bhisham Sahni’s ‘Tamas’, Amrita Pritam’s epic poem ‘Ajj Aakhaan Waris Shah Nu’, ‘Cracking India’ by Bapsi Sidhwa that was filmed as ‘1947 – Earth,’ and Manto’s wrenching tale, ‘Toba Tek Singh’ among many others.

This theme of transcendent pain continues to deeply resonate with audiences across epochs and generations. The literary anthology ‘Koi Baat Chale’ revisits ‘Toba Tek Singh,’ a timeless tale published in 1955.

This poignant tragedy narrated by Manoj in a dramatic reading, unfolds within the confines of a Lahore asylum, where inmates including the protagonist Bishan Singh face the prospect of being transferred to India in the aftermath of the 1947 Partition.

Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who is known for films like ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’, ‘Raman Raghav 2.0’ and many more, is celebrating the fifth anniversary of his biographical film ‘Manto’, in which he starred in the titular role of prominent Urdu author Saadat Hasan Manto.

The actor shared that to essay the character in its full glory, the trick was to tap into the honesty in himself.

“When one speaks the truth, and is honest, he starts to get closer to the character of Manto. Because, when I got into the character of Manto, I thought that if Nawaz had to become Manto, he would have to start speaking honestly. And that way, the characterisation of Manto will be easy,” the actor told Ians.

Written and directed by Nandita Das, ‘Manto’ also starred Tahir Raj Bhasin playing the 1940s Hindi film superstar Shyam Chadda.

Shyam was Manto’s friend, confidant,...

Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who is known for films like ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’, ‘Raman Raghav 2.0’ and many more, is celebrating the fifth anniversary of his biographical film ‘Manto’, in which he starred in the titular role of prominent Urdu author Saadat Hasan Manto.

The actor shared that to essay the character in its full glory, the trick was to tap into the honesty in himself.

“When one speaks the truth, and is honest, he starts to get closer to the character of Manto. Because, when I got into the character of Manto, I thought that if Nawaz had to become Manto, he would have to start speaking honestly. And that way, the characterisation of Manto will be easy,” the actor told Ians.

Written and directed by Nandita Das, ‘Manto’ also starred Tahir Raj Bhasin playing the 1940s Hindi film superstar Shyam Chadda.

Shyam was Manto’s friend, confidant,...

Actress Rasika Dugal, best known for her role in the acclaimed serials ‘Mirzapur’, ‘Delhi Crime’ and ‘Lootcase’, is now celebrating five years of her critically acclaimed film ‘Manto’. Reminiscing the impact it had on her career, she called the film “special.”

Taking to her Instagram, the actress was inside a plane with a book of ‘Manto’ captioned her post: “Just the perfect time (looong) and perfect day to revisit Manto (5 years of @mantofilm) And revisit so many beautiful memories… Some films will always be special. ️ Thank you for the book @nanditadasofficial.”

She added: “Still can’t choose a favourite from these stories…@nawazuddin._siddiqui @tahirrajbhasin @kartikvijay @rajshri_deshpande @shashank.arora @dan.husain @snekhanwalkar @mrsheetalsharma @iamroysanyal @divyadutta25 #MantoTheFilm #Manto #5YearsOfManto #5YearsOfSafia.”

‘Manto’ is a biographical drama that chronicles the life and works of the renowned Urdu author-playwright Saadat Hasan Manto. In the film, Rasika essayed the character of Safia Manto, the...

Actress Rasika Dugal, best known for her role in the acclaimed serials ‘Mirzapur’, ‘Delhi Crime’ and ‘Lootcase’, is now celebrating five years of her critically acclaimed film ‘Manto’. Reminiscing the impact it had on her career, she called the film “special.”

Taking to her Instagram, the actress was inside a plane with a book of ‘Manto’ captioned her post: “Just the perfect time (looong) and perfect day to revisit Manto (5 years of @mantofilm) And revisit so many beautiful memories… Some films will always be special. ️ Thank you for the book @nanditadasofficial.”

She added: “Still can’t choose a favourite from these stories…@nawazuddin._siddiqui @tahirrajbhasin @kartikvijay @rajshri_deshpande @shashank.arora @dan.husain @snekhanwalkar @mrsheetalsharma @iamroysanyal @divyadutta25 #MantoTheFilm #Manto #5YearsOfManto #5YearsOfSafia.”

‘Manto’ is a biographical drama that chronicles the life and works of the renowned Urdu author-playwright Saadat Hasan Manto. In the film, Rasika essayed the character of Safia Manto, the...

Mumbai, June 18 (Ians) Actor Manoj Pahwa, who is known for his work in films like “Article 15”, “Mulk”, the show “Office Office”, “Singh Is Kinng” and several other works, on Father’s Day revealed why family is so central to his existence and why he takes the role of a father seriously.

The actor began his acting journey with India’s first daily soap “Hum Log” in 1984 but put his ambitions on hold for many years to take care of his father’s business and also looked after his siblings.

“Both Seema (his wife) and I come from close-knit families and grew up seeing how much our parents did for our education, well-being, and our future. We imbibed their values of commitment and sacrifice and as parents, we learnt to find a balance between work and family. During school breaks in summer, we consciously made the decision to not take...

The trailer of the upcoming film ‘Zwigato’, which stars actor-comedian Kapil Sharma in the lead, was unveiled on Wednesday.

It follows the story of the struggle of a food delivery partner played by Kapil and how the mounting pressures of the food delivery app coupled with standard of living in big cities really gets to those who are at the lower rung of the society but still work tirelessly.

Kapil, who is otherwise known for his forte in comedy, takes complete departure from his image as a comic and merges in the dramatic universe of the film as he effortlessly portrays his character

Actress Shahana Goswami plays the wife of Kapil’s character in the film, she works as a masseuse to support her family financially as her husband struggles to keep with the rapidly changing demands of the titular food delivery app and tried to wrap his head around...

With Yusuf Khan back in Mumbai and his Pune sojourn over, his major goal was to get gainfully employed or target new avenues of earning to share the family burden. He was blissfully unaware that lady luck was about to smile on him. The turn of events propitiously sequenced by providence was to catapult young Yusuf Khan into Dilip Kumar, the megastar of the then Bombay film industry now dubbed as Bollywood.

There are many versions of Dilip Kumar’s entry in the film industry but we shall recount here only the version we believe is the most authentic.

Yusuf commenced his endeavours in the city by helping his Agha ji in his fruits business. His ageing father was becoming rather frail, so Yusuf started travelling to the orchards in the hilly regions of Dehradun and Nainital in north India. Little did the young man know that one of these...

Celebrated Indian actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui was in fine fettle at a masterclass at the International Film Festival of India (Iffi), Goa, on Tuesday.

The actor, several of whose films have premiered at Cannes, was outspoken in a candid conversation with actor and festival steering committee member Vani Tripathi, speaking about his storied career as an actor and some of his pet peeves.

“I’m sorry to say this, but I have to so that people know about it, before we start a shot [on Bollywood sets] there is so much noise and so many voices and the director expects the best from his actors?,” Siddiqui said. “All of a sudden they say the shot is ready and ‘action’ – are we computers? I have a problem with this – we could achieve so much more with some silence on set, but that’s not possible as we have no silence at all.”

Another peeve of...

While recalling the journey of becoming actor, Nawazuddin Siddiqui on Tuesday said that initially, he accepted small roles for survival as he had no other alternative. He was speaking on the topic – ‘Journey as an Actor’ in International Film Festival of India, underway in Goa.

“I was offered small roles which I accepted for survival then. I had no other alternative. But I never got disappointed. It is the difficult time that makes you strong,” he said.

He said, “if you have to begin from zero, you have to first unlearn what you have learnt”.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who has appeared in some of Bollywood’s major films such as ‘Black Friday’, ‘New York’, ‘Peepli Live’, ‘Kahani’, and ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, spoke about struggles and challenges.

Nawazuddin said that after graduating from a college, he worked as a chemist in a petrochemical company for a short while. However, to fulfil the dream of becoming an actor,...

From a family of prominent lawyers, he was expected to follow in their footsteps, but instead chose a career in the fledgling Hindi film industry – and uncharacteristically, not as a hero. Virtually dragooned by his legendary boss taking over a lead role, despite the director’s opposition, he, in his first-ever take, muffed up a simple scene with the heroine, and then, left the villain with a fractured leg.

That, in 1936, was the rather farcical start of the career of Ashok Kumar, who was born on this day in 1911.

Undaunted, he went on to establish himself not only as Hindi cinema’s first superstar as the 1940s began, but also one who was known for his air of naturalness and his willingness to reinvent himself and experiment with playing morally ambiguous or anti-hero roles.

At the appropriate time, he moved on to playing more mature roles in line with his age,...

Paying tribute to 75 glorious years of Independence, Zindagi is all set to celebrate love and freedom as it takes its audience on an emotional journey with the Indian TV premiere of ‘Toba Tek Singh’. Toba Tek Singh is a window into the post partition world and how the division of borders changed lives of people with a blink of an eye.

Inspired by the poignant story written by Saadat Hasan Manto, the film captures the pain and loss brought by partition on people irrespective of who they were, where they were from or what mental state of mind they were in. The film is set to premiere on Zindagi’s Dth platforms Tata Play, Dish TV and D2H on 14th August at 8 pm awakening the deepest emotions of the viewers.

Set against the background of India-Pakistan partition, the movie revolves around the life of Bishan Singh’s journey from...

Nadine Labaki takes director prize for Capharnaüm.

The jury of the 12th Asia Pacific Screen Awards has awarded the best film prize to Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Shoplifters (Manbiki Kazoku), continuing the Palme d’Or winner’s dream run.

Full list of winners below

The film, which depicts a makeshift family living on the fringes of Japanese society, won the highest honour at the region’s film awards, which took place in Brisbane, Australia, tonight.

The best director prize went to Nadine Labaki for Capharnaüm (Lebanon).

Shoplifters’ win marks the first time that a Japanese film has won the best feature...

Actress and filmmaker Nandita Das and Nawazuddin Siddiqui are at the 70th Cannes Film Festival for the curtain-raiser of their film, Manto. Nawazuddin Siddiqui will be seen in the role of Saadat Hasan Manto. Rasika Duggal, who play’s Manto’s wife in Manto, had also joined them to present the film to the fraternity. Speaking aboutRead More

The post Check out: Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Nandita Das present their film Manto at Cannes 2017 appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.

There are some stories that transcend the borders of time and geographies, stories that need to be told; Manto (the film) narrates the life of one of the most irreverent writers of his era – Saadat Hasan Manto (1912-1955). The first look of this feature film based on the life of Manto directed by Nandita Das, was launched at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival 2017. The festival is held in the French Riviera and celebrates the best of cinema from around the world.

Redefining the mainstream ‘hero’ and content led cinema – the always incredible Nawazuddin Siddiqui will bring alive the various shades of Manto with acclaimed actress Rasika Dugal essaying the character of his wife; Safia. The film also features an ensemble star cast of Rishi Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar, Ranveer Shorey, Paresh Rawal, Swanand Kirkere

The film Manto which has already been receiving accolades from celebrated authors like Paulo Coelho and Salman Rushdie...

Hp is getting into the content business with Manto, a theatrical feature that marks the first time it has taken a producing role on a film. First-look footage from the film will be shown to prospective buyers today.

Manto is an biographical film, set in India during the 1940s, that tells the true story of famed writer Saadat Hasan Manto. The film is directed by Nandita Das and stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Manto.

Hp Studios is co-producing with Viacom 18 and Sameer Dixit of Movie Makers; plans are to release the film, which is seeking distributors in Cannes, both in Hindi...

Starring: Raghuvir Yadav, Veerendra Saxena, Shoaib Nikash Shah, Sonali Sehgal

Directed by Rahat Kazmi

The stories of Saadat Hassan Manto are not pretty evening-time entertainment to be ingested with a glass of ‘read’ wine. They are gut-wrenching nauseating, stomach-churning renditions of a time when India was split into two.

So were human skulls and while many fled to the new country nextdoor, a lot of legs were forcibly parted by marauders masquerading as political vigilantes. Yes, rape is not pretty and when a young gangraped girl responds to the simple request ‘Khol de’ by reflexively loosening her salwaar we know the times that this film takes us back to must never be visited again.

This cinematic visit to those troubled times serves up a telling warning.

Director Rahat Kazmi must be commended for bringing to life 4 of Manto’s most savage depictions of the pains of Partition. Rather than narrate...

Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor will be seen making a special appearance in filmmaker Nandita Das’ upcoming biographical film titled Manto which is based on the life of controversial Indo- Pakistani writer Saadat Hasan Manto. Nawazuddin Siddiqui is playing the title role in the upcoming film. On Wednesday, the actor shared his experience on working withRead More

The post Confirmed: Rishi Kapoor to have special appearance in Nawazuddin’s Siddiqui’s Manto appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.

His works are considered legendary and now Sadat Hasan Manto’s writings will be revived by Nandita Das in her forthcoming biopic on the progressive author. And joining the cast of the film is yet another renowned poet-writer Javed Akhtar whose works are considered evergreen in Bollywood. Nandita Das recently expressed her happiness when Javed AkhtarRead More

The post Javed Akhtar to defend Sadat Hasan Manto in reel life appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.

Saadat Hassan (Vinay Pathak, whose character’s name serves as a nod to the author who wrote the story the film is based on) arrives at the Lahore Mental Hospital in 1947, just prior to Partition and the subsequent independence of India and Pakistan. He serves both as a narrator of events outside the hospital, and a witness to events inside it.

Ketan Mehta (perhaps best known for Mirch Masala and Bhavni Bhavai)’s film is an adaptation of Saadat Hassan Manto’s short story, “Toba Tek Singh”, which deals with the exchange of the patients of a mental institution several years after Partition. The Lahore Mental Hospital’s most curious inmate is Bishan Singh (Pankaj Kapur), a man who never sits, never lies down, and who, it is said, has not slept for ten years. Bishan Singh, generally quiet, does, nevertheless, have a bit of nonsense that he babbles every so often,...

One more year after five amazing editions the 6th London Indian Film Festival closed its doors on Thurday with the world premiere of Toba Tek Singh, based on the story written by Saadat Hasan Manto.

Toba Tek Singh follows the story on Bishan Singh (Pankaj Kapoor), a Sikh inmate of a mental institution, who hasn’t slept for 15 years and always asks the same question “Where is Toba Tek Singh?”, the name of his home village. The new warden (Vinay Pathak) takes delight on Bishan and the other patients’ eccentricities. However, with the Partition of India and Pakistan it seems that the world outside is more insane then the people inside, and the institution must give up all its Hindu and Sikh inmates. Singh is marched to the new border, but in which country is his beloved home?

The film, directed by Ketan Mehta, is part of Zeal For Unity,...

After the success at the recently concluded Cannes Film Festival and worldwide right distribution deal with a famous Hollywood company, Rahat Kazmi’s Mantostaan is officially selected to be screened at the prestigious Festival of Globe, Silicon Valley (FOGsv) 2016, San Francisco. The festival will run from 5 to 14 August 2016.

Fog Movie Fest San Francisco is a premier show that features the best of world cinema with a gateway to Silicon Valley that fosters creative and technical talent. It is a 10-day jubilant celebration in Silicon Valley with movies, cultural events, awards night, mela and a grand parade. The star-studded event is attended by popular Bollywood, Hollywood, Latino World, Europe, China and Far East celebrities including top filmmakers, independent movie makers and investors from around the world.

“I am thrilled with the official selection of Mantostaan at the esteemed Fog Movie Fest 2016. It is a triumph and honour for the entire team.

While Cannes proved to be yet another memorable experience for the popular actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, he will soon be gearing up for several of his upcoming projects. One amongst them is Nandita Das' Manto.

Though earlier we had reported that it was Irrfan Khan who was supposed to play the role, it seems that the actress turned filmmaker Nandita Das changed her mind regarding the same. On the other hand, Nawaz is equally excited to play the role. Claiming it to be an interesting challenge, the actor has already completed the costume trials for the period drama that will be set in the 40s and 50s.

We hear that the entire process for the film moved forward during the Cannes film festival this year. While Nandita Das is a frequenter there, Nawazuddin Siddiqui had flown to the French Riviera for the premiere of his film Raman Raghav 2.0 along...

Exclusive: Gangs Of Wasseypur actor will star in Nandita Das’ biopic.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui has been cast to play Saadat Hasan Manto in Nandita Das’ biopic of the Indian writer.

In addition, Vivek Kajaria of Holy Basil Productions and Us-based investor Robin Raina have boarded the project as producers.

Known as South Asia’s greatest short story writer, Manto wrote extensively about the Partition of India and was tried for obscenity six times but never convicted. Das’ biopic follows the last decade of his life until his early death at the age of 42.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to play Sadaat Hasan Manto, a writer I have admired for a long time,” said Siddiqui, who also stars in Anurag Kashyap’s Raman Raghav 2.0, which premiered yesterday in Directors’ Fortnight.

Das, an acclaimed actress who made her directing debut with Firaaq (2008), said: “Manto is a challenging role and the nuances required to perform Manto are found...

Award winning Indian filmmaker and director of acclaimed film Identity Card Rahat Kazmi makes a comeback with Mantostaan, another hard-hitting storyline based on the India-Pakistan partition. The film will be screened on May 14th and 16th in the Le Marche du Film category at the Cannes International Film Festival this year.

The film Mantostaan is a dark satire based on four burning and the most controversial short stories of Legendary Urdu writer Saadat Hassan Manto. ‘Thanda Ghosht’, ‘Khol Do’, ‘Assignment’ and ‘Aakhri Salute’ are among his most controversial shorts. Shot in Punjab and Jammu, the stories are set in 1947 India Pakistan partition time throwing a spotlight on most inhuman side of human beings.

Sonal Sehgal is excited to play the character of Kulwant Kaur from ‘Thanda Ghost’. “Mantostaan is entirely a different experience, a very powerful film indeed. The character I play is strong and has shades of grey.” Raghubir Yadav,...

Sharib Hashmi first caught my eye in Jab Tak Hai Jaan as Shah Rukh Khan’s roommate, and I thought this was an actor we would see again. And here he is in a National Award winning film. Sharib stars in Nitin Kakkar’s Filmistaan, which won the National Award for Best Hindi Feature Film in 2012. Though showcased at film festivals around the world, it has taken a while for this critically acclaimed film to get to theaters, but now audiences will finally get to experience the magic of Filmistaan when it releases on June 6th.

Sharib plays the starring role of Sunny Arora, a wannabe actor and assistant director who, more than anything, wants to be a hero in a Bollywood film. Through a series of misadventures, including a kidnapping to Pakistan, Sunny finds himself staying with another Bollywood fanatic, Aftaab. What happens next shows how Bollywood can bring people together.

Seven Islands and a Metro

What:

Screening of documentaries:

Seven Islands And A Metro

And the Stars Look On

At fd Zone.

When:

29 March. 4 Pm.

Entry:

Free and open to all.

Venue:

Rr Theatre

10th floor

Films Division

24, Pedder Road

Mumbai-400026

About the event:

And The Stars Look On

Direction: Omprakash Sharma

(Music, B/W, 12 min, 1968)

Night comes to give peace and rest to the tired soul. But in modern cities bubbling with industrial activity, it is not rest for all. How different sections of the community spend their hard-earned and well-deserved rest, is depicted in this short documentary.

Seven Islands And A Metro

Direction: Madhusree Dutta

(Hindi, English, Urdu and Bombaiyya, Colour, 100 min, 2006)

To the seven goddesses who reign over Bom Bahia / Bombay / Mumbai.

The multilingual Bombay, the Bombay of closed mills, of popular culture, sprawling slums and real estate onslaughts, the metropolis of numerous ghettos, the El Dorado.

Kolkata, Jan 28: Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah is upset that moral policing of art has become "politically motivated" nowadays in comparison to the time when authors like Saadat Hasan Manto produced their most famous works.

Naseer captivated a packed house at the third Kolkata Literary Meet here Monday evening with a reading of the India-born Manto, who migrated to Pakistan after the sub-continent's partition in 1947, who wrote in Urdu from the 1930s to 1950s.

"It's really worrying to see how far the moral policing of art has come... what we are seeing over the last 10 or 12 years is a very worrisome trend where anybody can decide to take offense..it is terrible...it is politically motivated now...I don't know about then.

Vidyarthy Chatterjee remembers Saadat Hasan Manto on his 101st birth anniversary

Saadat Hasan Manto

May 11, 1912-January 18, 1955

If Saadat Hasan Manto had been living, he would have been a centenarian, thirty-five years older than the Indian nation he loved deeply and which he did not wish to leave for an unknown land called Pakistan, but had to under tragic circumstances. As Ahmed Rahi, a close friend, said in April 1990 at Lahore in course of a conversation with other friends of Manto: “In my opinion, Manto began to die the day he set foot in Pakistan.”

Manto who? That would have been the reaction of even a well-read person if you had mentioned the writer’s name two decades ago. But no longer. In fact, these days it is fashionable to drop his name at least once in course of an intense literary evening brought to life by alcohol and cigarette fumes.

I&B Minister Manish Tewari presented Dadasaheb Phalke Award for Lifetime Achievement to veteran actor Pran Kishan Sikand (Pran) at his residence in Bandra, Mumbai on Friday, May 10, 2013

Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Manish Tewari presented the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke award for life time achievement to Pran Kishan Sikand (popularly known as – Pran) at his Bandra residence today in Mumbai. The veteran actor, 93, was unable to travel to New Delhi to attend the National Film Awards function held on May 3, 2013.

The Minister, accompanied by I & B Secretary Uday Kumar Varma and a delegation of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Directorate of Film Festivals presented the coveted award, comprising a Swarn Kamal, citation, shawl and a cash prize of Rs 1 million (Rs 10 lakhs).

Speaking on the occasion, Manish Tewari said “it is an honour for me to present this award to Pran saab in person, in the centenary year of the Indian Cinema.

Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2012 will be bestowed upon veteran actor Pran. The award ceremony will take place on May 3 in New Delhi.

He is the 44th Dada Saheb Phalke Award Winner. The award is conferred by the Government of India for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian Cinema. The award consists of a Swarn Kamal, a cash prize of Rs.10 lakhs and a shawl. It is given on the basis of recommendations of a Committee of eminent persons.

93-year-old Pran, whose real name is Pran Krishan Sikand, has appeared in close to 350 films. He has also been awarded a Padma Bhushan by the Government of India for his contribution to cinema in 2001.

Pran has given sterling performances in many films along with Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor in 1950s and 60s. Pran’s performances have received acclaim in films like Azaad, Madhumati, Devdas, Dil Diya Dard Liya,...

Mumbai Mantra|Sundance Institute Screenwriters’ Lab 2013 announced the eight fellows of the second edition of the lab on Sunday.

The creative advisers of the Lab are: Screenwriters Bill Wheeler (The Hoax, The Reluctant Fundamentalist), Anjum Rajabali (Ghulam, The Legend of Bhagat Singh, Raajneeti), Malia Scotch Marmo (Hook, Jurrasic Park), Sabrina Dhawan (Monsoon Wedding, Kaminey, Ishqiya); BAFTA award winning filmmaker Asif Kapadia (The Warrior, Senna); Mexican screenwriter, director and film producer Carlos Cuaron (Y Tu Mama Tambien, Solo Con Tu Pareja); Indian screenwriter and director Habib Faisal (Do Dooni Chaar, Ishaqzaade); writer-director Joshua Marston (The Forgiveness of Blood, Maria Full of Grace) and writer-producer Marti Noxon ( I Am Number Four, Fright Night).

Selected projects:

Betamax by Terrie Samundra

Betamax is set in the summer of 1976 in London on the brink of a youth uprising. The South Asian ghetto of Southall pulses with the sounds of dancehall, punk and bhangra. Gurmel, a Sikh cornershop owner,...

Pran Kishan Sikand

Pran Kishan Sikand dreamt of becoming a professional photographer. Little did he know that a measly, humble ‘paan’ (betel leaf) would change his life and set him on his destined path. It was 1939 or thereabouts. Pran was at a ‘paan’ shop at Lahore, enjoying a munch with his friends when a stranger approached him and asked whether he wanted to act in films. Pran was amused and asked his name. Stranger introduced himself as Muhammad Walli, a renowned film maker in the flourishing film district of Lahore. He said he was making a Punjabi film and Pran looked a perfect fit for the role of a villain in the film. Pran just brushed him off. Walli kept insisting that he pay a visit to the studio, and pushed a piece of paper with his address into Pran’s hands. The film was Yamla Jat (1940), a runaway hit that year.

New Delhi, Sep 6: Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto's popular short story 'Toba Tek Singh' is being turned into a play, which is being produced by Sunil Bohra.

The play is being directed by actor Vipin Sharma, who played Darsheel Safary's father in 'Taare Zameen Par'. The story revolves around Bishan Singh, a Sikh inmate (played by Vipin) in a Lahore asylum who is going to be transferred to India from the town Toba Tek Singh following the partition.

'I was thinking of this for a long time but things were not working out as.

I have the highest regard for Amitji (Amitabh Bachchan). He is a gentleman and loves me too much. I refuse to believe that he could say anything damaging about my film or me,” says Aamir Khan, on being questioned on a recent post on Bachchan’s blog that supposedly lashes out at Delhi Belly producer’s “immodesty”. The actor-producer however admits that there is a section of conservative purists, who have been running down his film. He reasons, “Anyone who’s a youth icon — Elvis Preseley and the Beatles or Madonna and Michael Jackson — has been panned. Saadat Hasan Manto and ...

No Man's LandShemaroo/Utv, Rs 349Review: **** This 2001 Oscar winner directed by Danis Tanovic is a tragi-comedy nuanced in the manner of Saadat Hasan Manto's Dog of Titwal. Two young soldiers — Ciki from the ragtag Bosnian 'civilian' army and Nino from the opposing Serbian camp — happen to find themselves injured in the no man's land in the middle. The greenhorns, unblooded yet in the extreme oddities of war, are getting strafed from both sides. Complicating matters is their 'ditch-mate', another injured Bosnian who has been placed gently on a mine. After trading insults at gunpoint, Nino and Ciki perform a ...

London, Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan is set to star in his first Hollywood film alongside Oscar winning actress Kate Winslet, if reports are to be believed. Helmed by acclaimed filmmaker Pan Nalin, the film will show the funny side of an Indian mental asylum in 1947 during the partition of India. The film is based on a Pakistani play "Toba Tek Singh" by Sadat Hasan Manto, reports femalefirst.co.uk. Winslet is lined up for the film but if she rejects, Nalin has plans to approach actress Rachel Weisz to play the role. "Either Kate or Rachel will be doing my film. I will be meeting both of them after my Cannes trip to finalise the casting. Either of them will be able to do justice to this marvellous story," said Nalin. Aamir is said to have been ...