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Cuba is roughly 1,300 miles away, but in a rehearsal space in downtown Manhattan, it doesn’t feel all that far. Cradling their percussion instruments, horns, and guitars, a ten-piece band of musicians, some from Latin America, preparing to play a sinuous piece of son Cubano, as a theater crew — director, writer, actors and choreographers — hover around.

“Nothing like this has been attempted before,” says music supervisor Dean Sharenow. “It’s important that this is the real thing, not a Broadway musical production.”

Welcome to the next iteration of the enduring...

For a wildly popular rock band like Radiohead, it would seem that rejection is a scarce sentiment the group has to face when it comes to their artistic material. After all, the band's contributions to alternative rock remain significant, with several of their albums — including the masterful "Ok Computer" and the beautiful, bizarre "Kid A" — completely redefining the meaning of experimental music within the confines of the genre. Moreover, one will often stumble upon a Radiohead track being used in films to heighten ambience, key examples of which include the use of "Codex" to capture the escalating dread of "Prisoners" or the surreal use of "Everything in its Right Place" in "Vanilla Sky."

In 2015, when the band was approached to conceive a theme song for "Spectre," it was expected that their rendition of the theme would end up being used in the film. However, director Sam Mendes decided that the...

Tl;Dr:

A 1990s rocker said the middle of Radiohead’s “Karma Police” sounds like The Beatles’ “Sexy Sadie.” He discussed the reaction to this similarity. The star revealed the ways The Beatles, The Who, and other bands influenced his work.

A classic rock star said Radiohead’s “Karma Police” copied part of The Beatles’ “Sexy Sadie.” In addition, the star said Radiohead garnered praise for drawing influence from the Fab Four while he did not. Notably, The Beatles’ “Sexy Sadie” and Radiohead’s “Karma Police” both appeared on seminal albums.

Oasis’ Noel Gallagher compared Radiohead’s ‘Karma Police’ to The Beatles’ ‘Sexy Sadie’

Noel Gallagher is a songwriter from the band Oasis. Critics and fans compared Oasis to The Beatles repeatedly. In the 2013 book The Art of Noise: Conversations with Great Songwriters, Gallagher discussed why the Fab Four influenced his work. “I guess it’s so ingrained in my...

Lizzo, a documented fan of Radiohead and regular performer of unexpected covers, flexed her pipes by singing the band’s hit “Creep” during a recent night out at karaoke.

The “About Damn Time” singer shared a brief clip of her “Creep” rendition in a carousel post on Instagram Tuesday night, along with a caption that raised a rhetorical — albeit important — question: “What does Lizzo do after her shows?” Why, sing one of the biggest alt-radio hits of the ’90s, of course. (While donning baggy jeans and a t-shirt to suit the occasion.)

But Lizzo hasn’t always made her love for Radiohead so apparent. In a Vanity Fair cover story last fall, she explained she felt the need to keep her more rock-leaning music taste “hidden” from her friends at her predominantly Black school growing up.

“They were all listening to what was on the radio: Usher, Destiny’s Child,...

On World Theatre Day, it is worth celebrating the countless actors who honed their craft on stage before making their mark in the world of cinema. From the likes of Manoj Bajpayee, and Pankaj Tripathi to Sunny Hinduja. There are several exceptional actors who began their careers in theatre before transitioning to the big screen. These actors are a testament to the fact that theatre provides a solid foundation for any actor looking to develop their skills and build a successful career in the performing arts. Their performances continue to inspire audiences and serve as a reminder of the power and magic of live theatre.

Let’s take a look at a few actors who started their journey with theatre and continue to shine at the films

Manoj Bajpayee

Manoj Bajpayee is a critically acclaimed actor who started his career in theatre. During his time at the National School of Drama,...

Acclaimed actor Vijay Varma is one of the leads in “Dahaad” (“Roar”), the first Indian series to compete in the Berlinale Series competition.

Produced by Excel Entertainment and Tiger Baby and directed by Reema Kagti (Amazon’s Prime Video series “Made in Heaven”) and Ruchika Oberoi (Venice winner “Island City”), the series’ other leads are Sonakshi Sinha, Gulshan Devaiah and Sohum Shah.

“‘Dahaad’ is about the investigation of a series of crimes conducted by a small town, rookie police officer at a small police station in Rajasthan [western India]. There are these disappearing girls and somehow the young police officer finds a certain similarity between these these disappearances,” Varma told Variety, talking from Berlin. “It’s a slow burn, investigative drama and it’s also very atmospheric and moody and noir-ish.”

About his own character Varma said: “I play a literature professor in a girl’s college, seemingly having a normal, good life.

Origins is a recurring series giving artists a space to break down everything that went into their latest release. Today, Michael Goldwasser of Easy Star All-Stars digs into their cover of David Bowie’s “Moonage Daydream.”

Reggae group Easy Star All-Stars have released a new cover of David Bowie’s “Moonage Daydream,” which features Alex Lifeson of the rock band Rush. The new single is part of their upcoming album, Ziggy Stardub, a reggae reinvention of Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars.

The mesmerizing rendition strips the gritty sound of the original, leaving a slick and sultry cover in its place. Lifeson closes out the track with an ethereal guitar solo, while Naomi Cowan’s vocals flow through the chilled track, blending his celestial guitar stylings seamlessly. Perfectly balancing an aura of psychedelic and reggae, the essence of Bowie’s classic sci-fi...

If you think of iconic ’90s albums, a few may come to mind. Perhaps you’re a rap fan and go for Biggie’s “Ready to Die” or Nas’s “Illmatic.” If you’re more of a heavy rocker, there’s Nirvana’s “Nevermind,” and if you’re into more alternative records then Radiohead’s “Ok Computer” and Fiona Apple’s “Tidal” are probably on your list. However, much like records like “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” or Oasis‘s “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory,” one answer that you might hear coming from any avid consumer regardless of genre preference is Alanis Morissette’s “Jagged Little Pill.” The pop-rock record is widely hailed as one of the best of the ’90s and, sometimes, ever. Among its many honors, it won Album of the Year at the 1996 Grammys.

SEEWhy Bad Bunny’s ‘Un Verano Sin Ti’ could win Grammy for Album of the Year,...

Mumbai, Nov 27 (Ians) Anand Gandhi changed the landscape of Hindi cinema with his directorial and production ventures like ‘Ship Of Theseus’, ‘Tumbbad’, ‘An Insignificant Man’ and ‘Ok Computer’. The filmmaker, who is known for a different kind of cinema surrounding offbeat topics, has announced his next titled ‘The Future of Living Terra’, a 1-minute […]...

The New Zealand International Film Festival had to cancel the Auckland leg of its multi-city exhibition series, but will continue in Wellington and Christchurch and other regional stops with a diverse lineup that includes an impressive Asian selection.

Wellington will screen a total of 164 feature films from 51 countries over 18 days (Nov. 4-21) across its eight venues. Christchurch will screen 95 features from 37 countries.

International highlights include Wes Anderson’s “The French Dispatch,” Maggie Gyllenhaal’s “The Lost Daughter,” Zhang Yimou’s “One Second,” and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Oscars contender Jasmila Zbanic’s “Quo Vadis, Aida?” Germany’s Oscar contender, Maria Schrader’s “I’m Your Man,” “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” and “My Salinger Year” also screen. So too does Jane Campion’s U.S.-set, New Zealand-made “The Power of the Dog.” The middle of the festival includes Cannes Palme D’or winner “Titane” and Paulo Sorrentino’s Venice grand...

Disney is taking a new step to streamline its streaming portfolio: The media company plans to phase out the Hotstar U.S. service — which provides live cricket and South Asian programming to American audiences — over the next year.

Instead, Disney will take the sports and entertainment programming in Hotstar and repackage it into ESPN Plus (which will pick up all of Hotstar’s U.S. cricket rights) and Hulu for the U.S. market. It’s hoping Hotstar customers in the States will switch over to the Disney Bundle.

Disney is aiming to fully shut down Hotstar in the U.S. in late 2022, but doesn’t have a specific date at this point. The Mouse House picked up Star India, which operates Hotstar globally, through the acquisition of 21st Century Fox.

Starting Sept. 1, Hotstar U.S. subscribers who don’t currently have any other Disney streaming service will be eligible...

Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.

Asako I & II (Ryūsuke Hamaguchi)

Full-fledged, complicated, rapturous romance is relatively rare in cinema nowadays, and one of the very best examples is Ryūsuke Hamaguchi’s Asako I & II, which uses its doubled lovers as a way to reflect back upon its main character, in all of her doubts and uncertainties. Deeply rooted in its present moment, yet prone to flights of fancy as transportive and unreal as any in contemporary filmmaking, the film delights as much as it aches, staying in close step with the turns caused by the whims of the self and the other, moving back and forth in rapture. – Ryan S.

Where to Stream: Mubi (free for 30 days)

Caro Diario (Nanni Moretti)

With Nanni Moretti’s latest film,...

Thom Yorke has released a new remix of Radiohead classic “Creep.” The new slowed-down rendition is called “Creep (Very 2021 Rmx).”

Aptly living up to its namesake, the remix slowly unfurls over the course of nine minutes. It’s fitting for our pandemic era, where a sense of time is warped and singular moments can seem both fleeting and drawn out simultaneously. Woozy synths and reverb enhance the feeling of discombobulation and uncertainty. The song’s accompanying video features artwork from Jun Takahashi.

In June, Dave Chappelle made a surprise appearance...

Actor Vijay Varma uploaded a fun video on Thursday, from the set of his recent web series "Ok Computer". In the video the he posted on Instagram Story, Vijay is seen in get-up as Saajan Kundu. He swings a long wire around himself while co-star Radhika Apte stands nearby talking to the crew. Vijay then moves to one side smiling, letting the camera crew to pass.

"#Behindthescenes", "@itsvijayvarma aka Saajan Kundu aka Nature Boy," Vijay captioned the video, referring to the fact that theywere filming in the outdoors amidst the backdrop of woods.

The actor had garnered positive reviews for his performance in the show that also starred Jackie Shroff.

Vijay will soon be seen in "Darlings" starring Alia Bhatt, "Fallen" with Sonakshi Sinha, as well as "Hurdang" with Nushrratt Bharuccha and Sunny Kaushal.

Making its European debut in International Film Festival Rotterdam’s new talent category Bright Future is “Ok Computer,” a six-part Hindi sci-fi comedy set 10 years in the future.

Featuring an AI-driven “New India” of towering smart holograms and drone superhighways, the Disney Plus Hotstar series stars Vijay Varma (“A Suitable Boy”), Radhika Apte (“Sacred Games”) and Jackie Shroff (“Criminal Justice”), and follows the capers of a hard-boiled detective (Varma) who is called out of retirement when a self-driving car gets hacked, killing a random pedestrian.

The series was produced through Mumbai-based Memesys Culture Lab and created by two of the company’s Goa-based stakeholders: first-time directors Pooja Shetty, a former production designer and architect, and Neil Pagedar, a writer and documentary filmmaker.

Fellow Memesys cofounder Anand Gandhi (“Ship of Theseus”) – an IFFR alumni – also co-wrote the script.

The directorial duo spoke to Variety about the challenge of futuristic world-building in...

Radhika Apte graced the May cover of a leading magazine and she is exuding sexy summer vibes. Taking to her social media she shared the cover in which the actress looks super hot in a neon yellow ring detailed bikini and a pink tie-dye shirt. The talented actress completed the look with some boho necklaces and a watch while her hair is tied up in a bun.

Radhika Apte in neon yellow ring detailed bikini and a pink tie-dye shirt

Radhika shared another picture for the magazine and she looks stunning as ever in it. The 'Raat Akeli Hai' star can be seen wearing a tie-dye maroon jacket with a white tube top and red-white striped shorts under while she poses atop a horse statue. The star looks mysterious and attractive as she looks away from the camera as her face rests on her palms.

Radhika Apte in...

Creators Neil Pagedar and Pooja Shetty of the new sci-fi comedy series "Ok Computer" feel it is time for us to become aware of how artificial intelligence is affecting life and lifestyle around us. "If science and technology is moving so fast, how quickly should civilisation, laws, lifestyle and structure change and be aware of these things? This was what we wanted to do with the show. The central premise of the show is that if AI kills a human being, who is to blame? Our life is surrounded by Artificial Intelligence. What will you do if your phone kills someone? These are very important and pertinent questions," said Shetty.

Can technology overpower human beings in future? "The question isn't really how or when technology will overpower humankind, the questions is what humankind intends to do with that technology. In the hands of an oppressor, even the most positive technology can turn into a weapon.

Rasika Dugal has a special appearance in the new sci-fi comedy web series "Ok Computer", and the actress admits she was initially sceptical to come on board the show!

"I have a special appearance in the show. I appear very briefly though the character is connected to the story in a big way. I was initially sceptical because special appearances are common in the West but not so common in the Indian scenario, and people tend to consider it as a small role," Rasika told Ians.

Throwing light on the web series, she added: "It examines what technology is doing to us and how we respond to it and what the future of something like Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be. It is already an integral part of our lives. In a sense, I feel the series is way ahead of its time."

How tech savvy Rasika is in real life?...

By Ahana Bhattacharya

Mumbai, March 27 (Ians) Gone are the days of emperors, warriors and business magnates. Geeks would be the heroes in future, feels actor Vijay Varma.

"It's the age of the geeks, so we've imagined that the heroes of the future would be geeks. Earlier warriors, kings, big businessmen, sportsmen -- they were the heroes. But the heroes of the future would be people who are intelligent and studious and excelling in their field of academics, because the future is technology," Vijay told Ians.

Referring to his character Saajan Kundu in the new sci-fi comedy web series "Ok Computer", he added: "We created a hero who is a geek and looks exactly like someone who has passed from Iit. There is also a sarkari babu kind of feel to it because he is working for the government. My character Saajan Kundu is a cyber cell police officer. In future,...

Mumbai, March 26 (Ians) Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff has opened up on his experience of a piggyback ride on actor Vijay Varma in the new web series "Ok Computer". In the web show, the two actors have created a modernday Vikram-Betal sequence.

In the series, Jackie Shroff plays a character called Pushpak, a cult leader who is seen without clothes. In one particular scene, Vijay had to carry Shroff on his back.

"I am sure piggybacking for this scene was not as comfortable for Vijay as it was for me. I literally put my entire weight on his back as my character, Pushpak was supposed to look least bothered with what was happening around him -- whether he was being arrested or the fact that he was not wearing any clothes," Shroff said.

"My brief for the scene was very simple... to not give a damn about anything and just let things happen.

The 'Ok Computer' web series review is here. India’s first sci-fi comedy - Ok Computer stars Radhika Apte, Vijay Varma, Jackie Shroff & many Robo-sapiens. Co-produced and written by critically acclaimed filmmaker Anand Gandhi and produced, created, written, and directed by Pooja Shetty and Neil Pagedar, this 6-part series is set to launch on 26th March 2021 in 7 languages on Disney+ Hotstar VIP on 26th March for all subscribers of Disney+ Hotstar VIP and Disney+ Hotstar Premium.

Ok Computer Web Series Review

‘Ajeeb’ dastan hai yeh, kaha shuru kaha khatam, computer / technology strong hai ki human, na who samaj sake na hum.

First of all, kudos to Disney+ Hotstar, Anand Gandhi, Pooja Shetty and Neil Pagedar for this ‘Ajeeb’ but quirky futuristic peep into the age-old battle of man Vs machine which opens the gate for India’s first sci fi series.

Sir Charles Chaplin was so right in...

Mumbai, March 25 (Ians) Vijay Varma is excited to work with veteran actor Jackie Shroff, his hero from the 1990s Bollywood films.

Vijay and Jackie share the screen in the upcoming sci-fi comedy web series titled "Ok Computer".

Sharing his experience of working with Jackie, Vijay said: "There is something about Jackie sir and his energy, as soon as he arrives, everyone is very comfortable. His style and swag are inimitable and I was really excited to be working with one of my 90s film heroes."

Jackie plays Pushpak, a cult leader who believes in being all natural, in the web series.

About that, Vijay added: "However, I was getting the Jackie experience in an entirely new space. I knew, when I read the script, what I was in for when shooting the scenes where he is in his 'all-natural state' in front of us. But honestly, the vibe that he...

Mumbai, March 23 (Ians) Actor Jackie Shroff plays an au naturale cult leader in the upcoming series "Ok Computer". He says playing a character who is practically not wearing any clothes throughout the show comes with its set of challenges.

Jackie plays Pushpak, a cult leader who believes in being all natural all the time, and sans clothes too.

"Playing a character who is practically not wearing any clothes throughout the show comes with its own set of challenges, but one can overcome such challenges by giving the character your personal touch. I have tried doing exactly that. While Pushpak is an eccentric character on its own, I feel that a little touch of my personal eccentricity worked well for the character as well as the story," Jackie said.

"Ok Computer" is series written and produced by "Ship Of Theseus" maker Anand Gandhi, and directed by Pooja Shetty and Neil Pagedar.

By Ahana Bhattacharya

Mumbai, March 22 (Ians) Veteran actor Jackie Shroff says being known as new-age Bollywood star Tiger Shroff's father makes him feel really proud.

"I am so proud of him. In fact, he has inspired me to keep myself as healthy as possible and he inspires a lot of children to keep their health strong. I am so happy, God has been really kind and people who love him have been so kind. I've got a boost in my life and career also. I am known as Tiger's father, which makes me feel really proud of him," Jackie Shroff told Ians.

"I am stating a fact, dear. I'm actually called Tiger Shroff ka pappa by kids. He has a lot of tiny fans who recognise me that way," the actor said with a hearty laughter.

Jackie will soon be seen in the sci-fi comedy web series "Ok Computer...

Anand Gandhi, a visionary when it comes to film making and an unsung perfectionist when on set for his projects. The director and his team are known for bringing a new wave of story-telling and engaging audiences with content that provokes a change in the usual. His previous outings like Tumbbad and Ship of Thesus have been critically acclaimed and also loved by the audiences.

A source close to the director shared, "Anand Gandhi is that prolific filmmaker who invests a lot of time in research and development before he starts shooting it. With Tumbbad he took almost 6 years and Ship Of Thesus (his first film) took 7 years to complete the heavy research that was needed to develop the project."

Adding further he said, "For Tumbbad, 50 lanterns and lamps were used for several scenes to maintain the authenticity of the period film and he waited for the rainy season to arrive,...

Actor Vijay Varma, in his almost decade-long journey in Bollywood, has tried several genres. Although he feels he cannot run around trees, he would not mind giving it a shot.

Vijay made his Bollywood debut in 2012 with "Chittagong", a historical film. He was then seen in genres such as action, crime drama, neo-noir action thriller, bio-pic and musical drama among others. He has also entered the space of comedy with "Ok Computer", the upcoming sci-fi web-series.

Is there something Vijay cannot do? "I am sure I cannot do running around the trees... but let me try," pat came the reply.

Vijay rose to fame as Moeen in Zoya Akhtar's 2019 release, "Gully Boy". He was later praised for his performance in the web-series "Mirzapur 2".

With all the success coming his way, where does he see himself going? "You will see me headlining more. I was participating in projects I wanted to participate in,...

Radhika Apte will be doing a never before seen character for her upcoming show Ok Computer. The first sci-fi comedy of India will show Radhika working closely with robots in a futuristic world, making it all the more difficult for the actress to prep for such a different role.

Talking about her experience on working with robots for the first time Radhika said, "Working with the robots was really very fun, I have never really been so interested in A.I. or machines in my life and ever indulged in that idea. So when we had scenes where I just had to talk to robots in the series, the robots felt so innocent and harmless and you could just fall in love with them, they are very friendly and very helpful."

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A post shared by Radhika (@radhikaofficial)

Radhika further added, "Neil, one of our writer...

Mumbai, March 15 (Ians) Actress Radhika Apte is all set for her upcoming series "Ok Computer". She says she is excited, because this is her first sci-fi project.

The series is produced by Anand Gandhi, director of the acclaimed film "Ship Of Theseus". Gandhi has written the script with Pooja Shetty, and Neil Pagedar, directors of the show. Radhika stars with Vijay Varma and Jackie Shroff in the series that explores themes inspired by current realities and is brimming with wry humour.

"After doing multiple projects in the digital space, I was really excited for my first sci-fi project, especially playing the character of Laxmi -- a really cool character who accepts the new future and befriends robots like they are humans, I quite enjoyed playing her," Radhika said.

Vijay says his roles have always been intense, and he was eager to pick up something more in the space of comedy.

Mumbai, March 15 (Ians) Actress Rasika Dugal will soon be seen in a special appearance in the web series "Ok Computer". The sci-fi comedy series stars actor Vijay Varma and Radhika Apte. Rasika says she loved the unique script and was excited to work with Vijay once again.

"I am delighted to have a special appearance in this super quirky show. The script had a very unique sense of humour. Sci-fi and comedy is the perfect recipe for a lot of fun. And the creators of the show Pooja, Neil and Anand have given it a very unique style of storytelling, led by their humour and vision. Am excited to watch it and to watch an ensemble of some very good actors play off each other," said Rasika.

The actress also reveals that being part of this series gave her a chance to work again with Vijay.

"Vijay and I are from the same film school.