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Around Tinsel Town
The 14th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK) was held earlier this week in Thiruvananthapuram, with over 261 films being screened at the venue. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to documentary filmmaker and editor Reena Mohan during the event.
Here are a few highlights from the event.
1) Much promise in these short tales
— 5 women filmmakers tell profound tales in short films shot on iPhones
2) Fatima’s fight gives a lifeline to many women
— The docu depicts a woman’s solo fight against inter-generational prostitution prevalent in her community
3) Chronicling a photographer just through his images
— Israeli photographer Micha Bar-Am’s life and work forms the documentary ‘1340 Frames of Love and War’
Bollywood
Netflix announces ‘The Archies’, ‘Plan A Plan B’, and other new Hindi films
We are humans and make mistakes: Aamir Khan Productions on Jain festival of forgiveness
Vishal Bhardwaj says he changed character’s gender for Tabu in ‘Khufiya’
John Abraham, Riteish Deshmukh to star in Sajid Khan’s next directorial ‘100%’
Kartik Aaryan’s ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’ set for comic book adaptation
Hollywood
‘House of the Dragon’ renewed for second season, Miguel Sapochnik quits as co-showrunner
Venice Film Festival: For Cate Blanchett, Todd Field’s ‘TÁR’ was ‘undeniable’
JK Rowling opens up on skipping ‘Harry Potter’ reunion special
Jason Momoa on finding closure with Baba Voss in Apple TV’s ‘See’
Matt Shakman in talks to direct Marvel’s ‘Fantastic Four’, leaves new ‘Star Trek’ film
Jennifer Connelly joins Joel Edgerton in Apple series ‘Dark Matter’
Nicolas Cage to star in comedy drama ‘Dream Scenario’
Shia LaBeouf, Jason Schwartzman join Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis’
‘Triangle of Sadness’ actor, model Charlbi Dean dies at 32
Regional Cinema
First glimpse of Pawan Kalyan’s period film ‘Hari Hara Veera Mallu’ out
Mohanlal to lead multilingual movie ‘Vrushabha’
Ilaiyaraaja collaborates with Budapest Symphony Orchestra
Singer Bamba Bakya passes away at 49
‘Sinam’ trailer shows Arun Vijay as a cop heading a murder investigation
First look of Bhavana’s Malayalam comeback film ‘Ntikkakkakkoru Premondarnn’ out
From ‘Gold’ to ‘Oru Thekkan Thallu Case,’ Mollywood expects a blockbuster Onam 2022
New in streaming
Coming to Netflix: Fifth season of Cobra Kai, Second season of Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives, Broad Peak, and more
Unscripted titles coming to Netflix: Second season of Indian Matchmaking, serial killer docuseries Indian Predator: The Diary of a Serial Killer, and more
New on Apple TV Plus: Charlie Hunnam-starrer Shantaram, Documentary film Sidney, the third season of Central Park, and more
New Korean titles to watch this month: Korean adaptation of Little Women, Park Min-Young’s Love In Contract, Jung Woo starrer Mental Coach Jegal, and more
Essential reading
1) ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’: Middle-earth, magic, and madness returns
>> The cast and crew of the series talk about J.R.R. Tolkein’s legacy, introducing a new visual language, and more
2) Pa. Ranjith: The game changer of Tamil cinema
>> His success has ensured that Dalit culture, traditions and anti-caste politics be an important part of the mainstream
3) ‘Review bombing’ of titles like ‘She-Hulk’ and ‘Turning Red’ is ruining the credibility of online ratings
>>This happens to stories with diverse cast and crew, especially those that espouse progressive views
4) Basil Joseph: ‘Palthu Janwar’ is a coming-of-age comedy
>> The Minnal Murali director speaks about the upcoming ‘Palthu Janwar’, in which he plays the lead
5) Adina Verson on ‘Only Murders in the Building’: ‘Poppy understands how to manipulate hierarchy’
>> The actor has a different take on the harassed and abused assistant in the popular comedy-mystery series
What to watch
1) ‘Natchathiram Nagargirathu’ is perhaps Pa Ranjith’s best, despite being too long
2) ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ is a swaggering new epic that assures that Tolkien is in safe hands
3) ‘Cobra’ has a brilliant Vikram who fails to save a middling outing
4) Akshay Kumar is both the strength and weakness in ‘Cuttputlli’, a thriller with loose strings
5) ‘Ranga Ranga Vaibhavanga’ is old wine in an old bottle
6) Basil Joseph shines in ‘Palthu Janwar’, a middling feel-good drama
7) Idris Elba’s ‘Beast’ is an enjoyable survival thriller despite silly character writing
8) ‘Ben Stokes: Phoenix from the Ashes’ is a captivating take on mental health in modern sport
9) George Miller’s ‘Three Thousand Years of Longing’ is the right kind of narrative to lose oneself in
10) BJ Novak’s directorial debut ‘Vengeance’ leaves no gun unfired
Published - September 02, 2022 06:08 pm IST
