News Analysis India

Tag: BBC

  • Guyanese President Schools Journalist On ‘Western Hypocrisy’ On ‘Carbon Emissions’ – Watch Viral Video | world news

    GEORGETOWN: A video of Guyanese President Irfan Ali’s all-out attack on “Western hypocrisy” on Carbon emissions has gone viral on social media. The viral video is related to the Guyanese President’s recent interview with BBC journalist Stephen Sackur during which the former launched a scathing critique of what he termed “Western hypocrisy” regarding carbon emissions. The interview centered on Guyana’s plans to extract oil and gas along its coast and the implications for carbon emissions.

    President Ali Challenges Western Assumptions

    Ali, countered the journalist’s query that Guyana’s extraction of oil and gas will lead to more than two billion metric tonnes of carbon emissions from its coast, saying, “Do you know that Guyana has a forest forever that is the size of England and Scotland combined ? A forest that stores 19.5 Gigatons of carbon, a forest that we have kept alive.” On this, the journalist questioned him about whether that would give Guyana the right to extract oil and gas and release emissions. The President said, “Does that give you the right to lecture us on climate change. I am going to lecture you on climate change because we have kept this forest alive. The store’s 19.5 gigatons of carbon that you enjoy, that the world enjoys, that you don’t pay us for, that you don’t value, that you don’t see a value in, that the people of Guyana has kept alive.”

    Guyanese President @presidentaligy gave @BBCNews a pic.twitter.com/vJIv3V01rf — Káyọ̀dé Ògúndámisí (@ogundamisi) March 29, 2024


    Guyana’s Environmental Stewardship

    President Ali emphasized Guyana’s environmental stewardship, highlighting the nation’s vast forest cover, which stores significant amounts of carbon. He defended Guyana’s right to pursue oil and gas extraction, citing the nation’s low deforestation rate and commitment to maintaining a net-zero carbon footprint.

    Call For Recognition And Compensation

    Asserting that Guyana has preserved its biodiversity while much of the world has suffered significant losses, President Ali called for recognition and compensation from the developed world. He accused Western nations of being beholden to interests that prioritize profit over environmental preservation.

    Global Debate On Carbon Emissions

    President Ali’s remarks reflect a broader global debate on carbon emissions and environmental responsibility. Many developing nations, including India, have called on the West to take concrete action to reduce carbon footprints and provide support to mitigate the effects of climate change in poorer countries.

    PM Modi’s Call For Action

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi echoed similar sentiments earlier in 2023, urging developed nations to accelerate efforts to reduce carbon footprints and provide tangible support to developing nations. Modi’s call underscores the urgency of addressing climate change on a global scale.

  • BBC and Netflix announce drama based on 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103

    By AFP

    LONDON: A series dramatising the Lockerbie bombing has been commissioned by the BBC and Netflix nearly 35 years after the flight from London to New York exploded mid-air, the BBC announced Monday.

    The British broadcaster and international streaming giant have asked World Productions to make Lockerbie, a six-part drama series based on real events of the December 1988 bombing and the joint Scots-US investigation which followed.

    Pan Am flight 103 was flying over the Scottish town of Lockerbie, en-route to JFK airport from Heathrow just days before Christmas, when a bomb exploded in its hold, killing all 259 on board and another 11 on the ground.

    The tragedy remains the worst-ever terror attack to take place in the UK. Former Libyan intelligence officer, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, is the only person convicted in relation to the attack so far.

    The series will shine a light on the aftermath of the bombing, from the cross-Atlantic investigation which followed to the turmoil experienced by the Lockerbie community and the families of the victims.

    Lockerbie will feature stories from interviews with officers involved in the investigations that have “never previously” been shared, according to the BBC statement.

    British novelist and screenwriter Jonathan Lee will be the lead writer of the series which was researched and initiated by filmmaker Adam Morane-Griffiths.

    “The Pan Am 103 Disaster and the global manhunt it spawned was a defining event in world history — one that contains so many instances of resilience and courage that deserve to be honoured and understood,” said Lee.

    Gaynor Holmes, BBC commissioning editor, said: “We have the right team in place to tell this extraordinary story with the greatest of care (reflecting) the devastating events of that night, the complex and far-reaching investigation that followed and the effect it had on all those who lost loved ones.”

    Lockerbie will first be aired by the BBC followed by Netflix in the UK and globally after filming later this year.

    LONDON: A series dramatising the Lockerbie bombing has been commissioned by the BBC and Netflix nearly 35 years after the flight from London to New York exploded mid-air, the BBC announced Monday.

    The British broadcaster and international streaming giant have asked World Productions to make Lockerbie, a six-part drama series based on real events of the December 1988 bombing and the joint Scots-US investigation which followed.

    Pan Am flight 103 was flying over the Scottish town of Lockerbie, en-route to JFK airport from Heathrow just days before Christmas, when a bomb exploded in its hold, killing all 259 on board and another 11 on the ground.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The tragedy remains the worst-ever terror attack to take place in the UK. Former Libyan intelligence officer, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, is the only person convicted in relation to the attack so far.

    The series will shine a light on the aftermath of the bombing, from the cross-Atlantic investigation which followed to the turmoil experienced by the Lockerbie community and the families of the victims.

    Lockerbie will feature stories from interviews with officers involved in the investigations that have “never previously” been shared, according to the BBC statement.

    British novelist and screenwriter Jonathan Lee will be the lead writer of the series which was researched and initiated by filmmaker Adam Morane-Griffiths.

    “The Pan Am 103 Disaster and the global manhunt it spawned was a defining event in world history — one that contains so many instances of resilience and courage that deserve to be honoured and understood,” said Lee.

    Gaynor Holmes, BBC commissioning editor, said: “We have the right team in place to tell this extraordinary story with the greatest of care (reflecting) the devastating events of that night, the complex and far-reaching investigation that followed and the effect it had on all those who lost loved ones.”

    Lockerbie will first be aired by the BBC followed by Netflix in the UK and globally after filming later this year.

  • Delhi court issues fresh summons to BBC over the ‘The Modi question’ documentary row

    By Online Desk

    A Delhi court on Friday issued a fresh summons to British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in connection with a defamation suit filed by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader seeking an injunction on the airing of the documentary series “India: The Modi Question”.

    The summons was also issued to Wikimedia Foundation, and Internet Archives through the Department of Legal Affairs.

    Additional district judge Ruchika Singla of the Rohini court observed that the defendants are foreign entities and therefore, the service of summons must be effected as per guidelines issued by Delhi high court.

    “As the defendants are foreign entities, the service must be effected as per the guidelines issued by the Hon’ble high court….it is directed that the summons be issued afresh to the defendants on the filing of PF within seven days to be served through the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law & Justice, Govt. of India, as per rules,” the court order said.

    The court had earlier issued a summons in May. However, an objection was taken that since the defendants are foreign entities based in USA and UK, the service could be effected only as per the procedure prescribed.

    While issuing fresh summons, the court said that mere filing of vakalatnama by the lawyers shall not do away with the mandatory requirment of the service of summons on the defendant entities under the prescribed procedure, Live Law reported.

    “Hence, by virtue of the same, it is clear that as per the rules formulated under the Hague Convention and by the Government of India, the summons/ notices in foreign countries can be effected only through the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India, which admittedly not been done in the present case,” the court said.

    The complainant in the case is Binay Kumar Singh, a BJP functionary who pleaded for a ban in the broadcast of the documentary. Singh had through his suit sought a direction ordering them to tender an unconditional apology to him as well as the organisations for the defamatory content and has sought damages of Rs.10,00,000.

    The Centre had in January 2023 imposed a ban on the documentary which deals with the communal politics of BJP particularly the 2022 post-Godhra riots in Gujarat. The ban triggered protests and special screenings of the documentary in locations including college campuses by critics of the government and opposition parties.

    A Delhi court on Friday issued a fresh summons to British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in connection with a defamation suit filed by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader seeking an injunction on the airing of the documentary series “India: The Modi Question”.

    The summons was also issued to Wikimedia Foundation, and Internet Archives through the Department of Legal Affairs.

    Additional district judge Ruchika Singla of the Rohini court observed that the defendants are foreign entities and therefore, the service of summons must be effected as per guidelines issued by Delhi high court.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “As the defendants are foreign entities, the service must be effected as per the guidelines issued by the Hon’ble high court….it is directed that the summons be issued afresh to the defendants on the filing of PF within seven days to be served through the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law & Justice, Govt. of India, as per rules,” the court order said.

    The court had earlier issued a summons in May. However, an objection was taken that since the defendants are foreign entities based in USA and UK, the service could be effected only as per the procedure prescribed.

    While issuing fresh summons, the court said that mere filing of vakalatnama by the lawyers shall not do away with the mandatory requirment of the service of summons on the defendant entities under the prescribed procedure, Live Law reported.

    “Hence, by virtue of the same, it is clear that as per the rules formulated under the Hague Convention and by the Government of India, the summons/ notices in foreign countries can be effected only through the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India, which admittedly not been done in the present case,” the court said.

    The complainant in the case is Binay Kumar Singh, a BJP functionary who pleaded for a ban in the broadcast of the documentary. Singh had through his suit sought a direction ordering them to tender an unconditional apology to him as well as the organisations for the defamatory content and has sought damages of Rs.10,00,000.

    The Centre had in January 2023 imposed a ban on the documentary which deals with the communal politics of BJP particularly the 2022 post-Godhra riots in Gujarat. The ban triggered protests and special screenings of the documentary in locations including college campuses by critics of the government and opposition parties.

  • After Gujarat, MP House resolution against BBC documentary

    Express News Service

    BHOPAL:  Three days after PM Narendra Modi’s home state Gujarat passed a resolution against the BBC documentary on the 2002 Godhra riots, another BJP-ruled state of Madhya Pradesh on Monday cleared a censure motion on the same issue.

    The MP Vidhan Sabha, which resumed its Budget session on Monday, after a 10-day festive break, passed the censure motion against the BBC documentary for allegedly tarnishing PM Modi’s image. The motion, which was passed by voice vote, was moved as a private member resolution by three-time BJP legislator Shailendra Jain and seconded by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narottam Mishra.

    Moving the resolution, the BJP legislator accused the BBC of telecasting an objectionable documentary by misinterpreting the 2002 riots and ultimately presenting the then Gujarat CM and present PM in a bad light. He also alleged that the BBC documentary had even cast aspersions on the judiciary, which amounted to contempt of court. Jain demanded strict action against BBC.

    Subsequently, the resolution was put to test by the Assembly Speaker, followed by its passage with a voice vote in the 230-strong House, where the BJP enjoys a majority with 120-plus members.

    CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “The Vidhan Sabha accepted and passed with a voice vote the BJP MLA Shailendra Jain’s private member resolution, demanding strict action against the broadcaster, which while wearing the mask of investigative journalism, has actually attacked India’s sovereignty through the documentary. The broadcaster has tried to weaken India’s constitution…” 

    “It’s to condemn BBC’s act and demand action against the broadcasters that the censure motion has been passed by MP Vidhan Sabha today.”

    BHOPAL:  Three days after PM Narendra Modi’s home state Gujarat passed a resolution against the BBC documentary on the 2002 Godhra riots, another BJP-ruled state of Madhya Pradesh on Monday cleared a censure motion on the same issue.

    The MP Vidhan Sabha, which resumed its Budget session on Monday, after a 10-day festive break, passed the censure motion against the BBC documentary for allegedly tarnishing PM Modi’s image. The motion, which was passed by voice vote, was moved as a private member resolution by three-time BJP legislator Shailendra Jain and seconded by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narottam Mishra.

    Moving the resolution, the BJP legislator accused the BBC of telecasting an objectionable documentary by misinterpreting the 2002 riots and ultimately presenting the then Gujarat CM and present PM in a bad light. He also alleged that the BBC documentary had even cast aspersions on the judiciary, which amounted to contempt of court. Jain demanded strict action against BBC.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Subsequently, the resolution was put to test by the Assembly Speaker, followed by its passage with a voice vote in the 230-strong House, where the BJP enjoys a majority with 120-plus members.

    CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “The Vidhan Sabha accepted and passed with a voice vote the BJP MLA Shailendra Jain’s private member resolution, demanding strict action against the broadcaster, which while wearing the mask of investigative journalism, has actually attacked India’s sovereignty through the documentary. The broadcaster has tried to weaken India’s constitution…” 

    “It’s to condemn BBC’s act and demand action against the broadcasters that the censure motion has been passed by MP Vidhan Sabha today.”

  • BJP to propose resolution against BBC’s 2002 riots documentary in Gujarat Assembly

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Vipul Patel will on Friday move a resolution in the Assembly seeking “strong action” against the “concocted” findings shown in a BBC documentary, which he alleged “once again attempts to blame the then-state government” for the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

    The proposed resolution will likely say the BBC documentary was a “low-level attempt” to tarnish India’s global image.

    “India is a democratic country and freedom of expression is at the core of its Constitution, but that does not mean that a news media can abuse such freedom,” according to a summary of the proposed resolution shared by the Assembly secretariat on Tuesday.

    The two-part BBC documentary, titled “India: The Modi Question”, claimed it investigated certain aspects relating to the 2002 Gujarat riots when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief minister of the state.

    “If someone behaves or acts like this (BBC), then he cannot be taken lightly. BBC is losing its credibility and seems to be working with some hidden agenda against India and the Indian government. Hence, this House requests the Central Government to take strict action against the mind-boggling findings shown in the BBC documentary,” said a note on the resolution to be moved by Patel.

    The controversial documentary again “attempts to blame the then-state government for the 2002 Godhra riots and subsequent communal riots in Gujarat,” said the note.

    The BBC documentary misrepresents the events of 2002 and is a malicious and low-level attempt to tarnish India’s global image, it said.

    Through the documentary, deliberate attempts have been made to tarnish the image and popularity of Prime Minister Modi with an agenda to affect India’s goal to be in a top place in the world, said the note.

    This, despite the fact that the Nanavati-Shah inquiry commission concluded after a thorough investigation that burning of the Sabarmati Express near Godhra railway station on February 27, 2002, was a premeditated conspiracy, and the riots that followed were spontaneous, it said.

    The commission found no evidence that the state government or any religious organization or political party played any role in the riots, stated the note.

    The Assembly, which is having its Budget session, will meet on Friday after a two-day break.

    AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Vipul Patel will on Friday move a resolution in the Assembly seeking “strong action” against the “concocted” findings shown in a BBC documentary, which he alleged “once again attempts to blame the then-state government” for the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

    The proposed resolution will likely say the BBC documentary was a “low-level attempt” to tarnish India’s global image.

    “India is a democratic country and freedom of expression is at the core of its Constitution, but that does not mean that a news media can abuse such freedom,” according to a summary of the proposed resolution shared by the Assembly secretariat on Tuesday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The two-part BBC documentary, titled “India: The Modi Question”, claimed it investigated certain aspects relating to the 2002 Gujarat riots when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief minister of the state.

    “If someone behaves or acts like this (BBC), then he cannot be taken lightly. BBC is losing its credibility and seems to be working with some hidden agenda against India and the Indian government. Hence, this House requests the Central Government to take strict action against the mind-boggling findings shown in the BBC documentary,” said a note on the resolution to be moved by Patel.

    The controversial documentary again “attempts to blame the then-state government for the 2002 Godhra riots and subsequent communal riots in Gujarat,” said the note.

    The BBC documentary misrepresents the events of 2002 and is a malicious and low-level attempt to tarnish India’s global image, it said.

    Through the documentary, deliberate attempts have been made to tarnish the image and popularity of Prime Minister Modi with an agenda to affect India’s goal to be in a top place in the world, said the note.

    This, despite the fact that the Nanavati-Shah inquiry commission concluded after a thorough investigation that burning of the Sabarmati Express near Godhra railway station on February 27, 2002, was a premeditated conspiracy, and the riots that followed were spontaneous, it said.

    The commission found no evidence that the state government or any religious organization or political party played any role in the riots, stated the note.

    The Assembly, which is having its Budget session, will meet on Friday after a two-day break.

  • BBC’s reporting ‘venomous’, allow I-T dept to do its job: BJP on Tax ‘survey’

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The BJP on Tuesday accused the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) of unleashing “venomous” reporting against India and alleged that its propaganda and the Congress’ agenda go together.

    The remarks came soon after Income Tax officials ‘surveyed’ the British broadcaster’s offices in Mumbai and Delhi.

    Addressing a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia rejected the Congress’ criticism of the Income Tax (I-T) action and said the government agency should be allowed to do its job.

    Hitting out at the London-headquartered public broadcaster, he said BBC is the “most corrupt” organisation in the world, adding that the Congress should remember that the then prime minister Indira Gandhi had also banned the broadcaster. The BJP leader further claimed that BBC has a “tainted and black history of working with malice against India.”

    He cited its past reports, including the one which described a terrorist as a “charismatic young militant” and allegedly called Holi a “filthy” festival. It works in India, but has little regard for its constitution, he said.

    At a time when India is marching ahead globally under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, there are many powers which do not like it, Bhatia said, claiming that the Congress, its leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition parties also feel the “pain” at the country’s rise.

    Accusing the opposition Congress of supporting “anti-national” forces, he said, “Your hate for Modi is so much that you politicise even a probe agency’s work. You always question constitutional authorities like the Supreme Court and the Election Commission.”

    The Income Tax Department on Tuesday conducted a survey operation at BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai as part of a tax evasion investigation, officials said.

    The Congress on Tuesday took a swipe at the government over the Income Tax survey operation at the BBC offices, saying while they were demanding a JPC on the Adani issue, the Centre is after the BBC.

    Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also used a Hindi idiom to attack the government, saying “Vinash Kale, Vipreet Buddhi” (when doom approaches, a person’s intellect works against his interest).

    A recent BBC series on the 2002 Gujarat riots has come in for criticism from the ruling BJP in India, with the government blocking access to it on social media platforms.

    NEW DELHI: The BJP on Tuesday accused the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) of unleashing “venomous” reporting against India and alleged that its propaganda and the Congress’ agenda go together.

    The remarks came soon after Income Tax officials ‘surveyed’ the British broadcaster’s offices in Mumbai and Delhi.

    Addressing a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia rejected the Congress’ criticism of the Income Tax (I-T) action and said the government agency should be allowed to do its job.

    Hitting out at the London-headquartered public broadcaster, he said BBC is the “most corrupt” organisation in the world, adding that the Congress should remember that the then prime minister Indira Gandhi had also banned the broadcaster. The BJP leader further claimed that BBC has a “tainted and black history of working with malice against India.”

    He cited its past reports, including the one which described a terrorist as a “charismatic young militant” and allegedly called Holi a “filthy” festival. It works in India, but has little regard for its constitution, he said.

    At a time when India is marching ahead globally under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, there are many powers which do not like it, Bhatia said, claiming that the Congress, its leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition parties also feel the “pain” at the country’s rise.

    Accusing the opposition Congress of supporting “anti-national” forces, he said, “Your hate for Modi is so much that you politicise even a probe agency’s work. You always question constitutional authorities like the Supreme Court and the Election Commission.”

    The Income Tax Department on Tuesday conducted a survey operation at BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai as part of a tax evasion investigation, officials said.

    The Congress on Tuesday took a swipe at the government over the Income Tax survey operation at the BBC offices, saying while they were demanding a JPC on the Adani issue, the Centre is after the BBC.

    Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also used a Hindi idiom to attack the government, saying “Vinash Kale, Vipreet Buddhi” (when doom approaches, a person’s intellect works against his interest).

    A recent BBC series on the 2002 Gujarat riots has come in for criticism from the ruling BJP in India, with the government blocking access to it on social media platforms.

  • SC dismisses plea seeking complete ban on BBC from operating in India

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking to impose a complete ban on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in India, saying it is “entirely misconceived”.

    A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and M M Sundresh passed the order while hearing a plea filed by Vishnu Gupta, president of the Hindu Sena, and Beerendra Kumar Singh, a farmer.

    “The writ petition is entirely misconceived and has no merit and is accordingly dismissed,” the bench said.

    Alleging that the BBC has been biased against India and the Indian government, the plea alleged that its documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a “result of deep conspiracy against global rise of India and its prime minister”.

    “The documentary film by BBC relating to Gujarat violence 2002 implicating Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not only reflective of anti-Narendra Modi cold propaganda broadcast to tarnish his image alone but this is anti-Hinduism propaganda by the BBC to destroy the social fabric of India,” the plea had alleged.

    On February 3, the apex court had sought responses from the Centre and others on the separate petitions challenging its decision to block the documentary.

    The pleas, on which notice was issued by the top court, have been filed by veteran journalist N Ram, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan and lawyer M L Sharma.

    The top court had on February 3 also directed the central government to produce original records relating to its decision to block the BBC documentary.

    On January 21, the government had issued directions for blocking multiple YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the controversial documentary.

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking to impose a complete ban on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in India, saying it is “entirely misconceived”.

    A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and M M Sundresh passed the order while hearing a plea filed by Vishnu Gupta, president of the Hindu Sena, and Beerendra Kumar Singh, a farmer.

    “The writ petition is entirely misconceived and has no merit and is accordingly dismissed,” the bench said.

    Alleging that the BBC has been biased against India and the Indian government, the plea alleged that its documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a “result of deep conspiracy against global rise of India and its prime minister”.

    “The documentary film by BBC relating to Gujarat violence 2002 implicating Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not only reflective of anti-Narendra Modi cold propaganda broadcast to tarnish his image alone but this is anti-Hinduism propaganda by the BBC to destroy the social fabric of India,” the plea had alleged.

    On February 3, the apex court had sought responses from the Centre and others on the separate petitions challenging its decision to block the documentary.

    The pleas, on which notice was issued by the top court, have been filed by veteran journalist N Ram, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan and lawyer M L Sharma.

    The top court had on February 3 also directed the central government to produce original records relating to its decision to block the BBC documentary.

    On January 21, the government had issued directions for blocking multiple YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the controversial documentary.

  • Bar Association writes to Amit Shah for probe into ‘international conspiracy’ angle in BBC documentary 

    Express News Service

    DELHI: All India Bar Association Chairman and Senior Advocate Dr Adish C Aggarwala has written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting him to order 360 degree probe into an international conspiracy angle in BBC’s recent documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

    AIBA’s chairman while wholeheartedly welcoming government’s move to block YouTube channels and Twitter handles spreading this documentary in the letter has sought for constitution of an investigation team comprising of retired SC judge, jurists and investigators. 

    Aggarwala in his letter has said that the invisible hands behind this documentary and the minds that have got together to stitch an imaginary tale with discredited and rejected evidence should be identified and brought to the book.

    “This so-called documentary has nothing new to show or speak of. Much of its contents had been thoroughly circulated and discussed in public, considered and rejected by various courts, including the Supreme Court of India. The 20-year-old Gujarat riot has several layers to it, but this BBC tries to have a linear narrative, and quite maliciously tries to pin down our Prime Minister and the nation itself on the mat,” the letter to the Home Minister states. 

    Along with a probe, AIBA in the letter has also prayed for writing to the UK govt to identify people behind this production, probe their background and further cooperate with the Government of India in accessing the so-called documents in possession of the BBC and hold inquiry with persons who had conceived, produced and spread it across the world.

    On Sunday, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju while taking on the malicious campaigns had said that some people consider BBC above SC. Taking to twitter, Rijiju while levelling allegations on these people for lowering country’s dignity and image to the extent of “pleasing their moral masters” had said, “Minorities, or for that matter every community in India is moving ahead positively. India’s image cannot be disgraced by malicious campaigns launched inside or outside India. PM Modi Ji’s voice is the voice of 1.4 billion Indians.”

    In his tweet he had also said, “Some people in India have still not moved away from the colonial influence. They consider BBC to be above India’s highest court and pull down the country’s prestige and image to any extent to please their ideological masters (naitik aaka).” 

    DELHI: All India Bar Association Chairman and Senior Advocate Dr Adish C Aggarwala has written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting him to order 360 degree probe into an international conspiracy angle in BBC’s recent documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

    AIBA’s chairman while wholeheartedly welcoming government’s move to block YouTube channels and Twitter handles spreading this documentary in the letter has sought for constitution of an investigation team comprising of retired SC judge, jurists and investigators. 

    Aggarwala in his letter has said that the invisible hands behind this documentary and the minds that have got together to stitch an imaginary tale with discredited and rejected evidence should be identified and brought to the book.

    “This so-called documentary has nothing new to show or speak of. Much of its contents had been thoroughly circulated and discussed in public, considered and rejected by various courts, including the Supreme Court of India. The 20-year-old Gujarat riot has several layers to it, but this BBC tries to have a linear narrative, and quite maliciously tries to pin down our Prime Minister and the nation itself on the mat,” the letter to the Home Minister states. 

    Along with a probe, AIBA in the letter has also prayed for writing to the UK govt to identify people behind this production, probe their background and further cooperate with the Government of India in accessing the so-called documents in possession of the BBC and hold inquiry with persons who had conceived, produced and spread it across the world.

    On Sunday, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju while taking on the malicious campaigns had said that some people consider BBC above SC. Taking to twitter, Rijiju while levelling allegations on these people for lowering country’s dignity and image to the extent of “pleasing their moral masters” had said, “Minorities, or for that matter every community in India is moving ahead positively. India’s image cannot be disgraced by malicious campaigns launched inside or outside India. PM Modi Ji’s voice is the voice of 1.4 billion Indians.”

    In his tweet he had also said, “Some people in India have still not moved away from the colonial influence. They consider BBC to be above India’s highest court and pull down the country’s prestige and image to any extent to please their ideological masters (naitik aaka).” 

  • BBC developing documentary on composer Hans Zimmer

    By Express News Service

    BBC is reportedly making a documentary on Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer.

    The prolific composer is known for films like The Lion King, Dune, Pirates of the Caribbean, Gladiator, Rain Man, Black Rain, and The Dark Knight series.

    He has won the Oscars for his work in The Lion King (1995) and Dune (2022). The BBC Two documentary will reportedly be a celebration of the composer’s life and career, which spans across a period of 40 years. 

    Planned with a runtime of 60 minutes, the documentary will be titled Hans Zimmer – Hollywood Rebel.

    Apart from tracing his journey from post-war Germany to the USA, the documentary will also shed light on the creative process and how he finds inspiration for his music. 

    Hans Zimmer has also composed music for nature documentaries like Frozen Planet II, Blue Planet II, and Planet Earth II.

    He is currently composing music for Dune 2, The Son, and Mufasa: The Lion King. The documentary will be directed by Francis Hanly.

    (This story originally appeared on Cinema Express)

    BBC is reportedly making a documentary on Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer.

    The prolific composer is known for films like The Lion King, Dune, Pirates of the Caribbean, Gladiator, Rain Man, Black Rain, and The Dark Knight series.

    He has won the Oscars for his work in The Lion King (1995) and Dune (2022). The BBC Two documentary will reportedly be a celebration of the composer’s life and career, which spans across a period of 40 years. 

    Planned with a runtime of 60 minutes, the documentary will be titled Hans Zimmer – Hollywood Rebel.

    Apart from tracing his journey from post-war Germany to the USA, the documentary will also shed light on the creative process and how he finds inspiration for his music. 

    Hans Zimmer has also composed music for nature documentaries like Frozen Planet II, Blue Planet II, and Planet Earth II.

    He is currently composing music for Dune 2, The Son, and Mufasa: The Lion King. The documentary will be directed by Francis Hanly.

    (This story originally appeared on Cinema Express)

  • Cillian Murphy and a star’s charisma

    Express News Service

    Last week the first poster of Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film Oppenheimer dropped with a release date of July 21, 2023. It stars Cillian Murphy as the titular physicist and one of the frontmen in the creation of the atomic bomb. Cillian Murphy despite being a frequent collaborator with Nolan has never headlined a major role in any of their projects together.

    This will be the first and it’s a gargantuan role for one of the best actors who are not known for his star persona and screen presence, something he possesses a great deal of. He brings both to the screen whenever he appears, his chiselled face and natural grace lending any role a big screen quality. Ironically, Murphy’s best and biggest role belongs to the smaller screen—as Thomas Shelby in BBC and Netflix drama Peaky Blinders. 

    In Nolan’s Dunkirk, Murphy played a nameless role simply credited as Shivering Soldier, an army man overwhelmed by the deaths and mutilations of war, his future life already altered even before making out of the battlefield. In Peaky Blinders, a show created and written by Steven Knight, Thomas Shelby too is a decorated veteran having served during the Great War, at Somme. He returns to his Romani working-class family—his two brothers and best friends served along with him too—in Birmingham, all of them suffering from either alcoholism or different degrees of PTSDs. 

    ALSO READ: Cillian Murphy on Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’: Interested in the man, not mechanics

    But Thomas Shelby is a man on a mission. He looks around Small Heath, the working class neighbourhood of Birmingham with its factories and manufacturing units and how his brethren is looked down upon. At a time of great upheaval, Thomas Shelby takes it upon himself to uplift the family both in terms of wealth as well as social class, beginning with betting, illegal at first and licensed later, racing and manufacturing automobiles to selling liquor. 

    Peaky Blinders which concluded its final season on Netflix this year is an epic that charts the class war in the post-war UK when the underclass awakens to communism and socialism, the IRA is in its nascent but influential stages and the aristocrats go through a churn, nothing revolutionary but more of a nudge. Murphy’s Shelby plots a growth path for the big family, derogatively looked down as ‘gypsies’, taking on the local bourgeoisie and power centres like the police force and gradually moving to London, the Jewish and Italian mafia and all the way to Westminster Abbey. 

    Peaky Blinders employs great camerawork, compelling family dynamics, musical score and old-world storytelling coupled with brilliant performances to essentially depict a family at endless war with the outside world. One of the best-looking TV series in recent times, there is a discernible change in disposition when the series moved to Netflix in Season 4 when the anamorphic lenses were adopted to film the series that had expanded in scope. Everything becomes wider and deeper in focus, complementing the plot’s direction.

    But even though its weaker sections—which are arguably not many—the force holding the series together is Cillian Murphy. His gait, his natural air of authority that is at odds with his unassuming nature towards his comrades in the proletariat and a commanding dialogue delivery makes for an arresting portrayal that sits in the pantheon of great performances. 

    Murphy has a natural star charisma that flows out of the screen no matter what role he is playing, but Thomas Shelby is the biggest of them all with the widest spectrum of emotions and character arcs. It’s the one artwork that does justice to his talents and for that alone, Nolan’s Oppenheimer is a prospect to relish. Murphy is known to maintain a low profile outside of the screen, his disinterest and shyness are palpable during the few talk shows and promotional events he’s appeared in over the years but in front of a movie camera, he is rarely short of electric. Who better than Nolan to bring that to big cinema magic?

    Last week the first poster of Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film Oppenheimer dropped with a release date of July 21, 2023. It stars Cillian Murphy as the titular physicist and one of the frontmen in the creation of the atomic bomb. Cillian Murphy despite being a frequent collaborator with Nolan has never headlined a major role in any of their projects together.

    This will be the first and it’s a gargantuan role for one of the best actors who are not known for his star persona and screen presence, something he possesses a great deal of. He brings both to the screen whenever he appears, his chiselled face and natural grace lending any role a big screen quality. Ironically, Murphy’s best and biggest role belongs to the smaller screen—as Thomas Shelby in BBC and Netflix drama Peaky Blinders. 

    In Nolan’s Dunkirk, Murphy played a nameless role simply credited as Shivering Soldier, an army man overwhelmed by the deaths and mutilations of war, his future life already altered even before making out of the battlefield. In Peaky Blinders, a show created and written by Steven Knight, Thomas Shelby too is a decorated veteran having served during the Great War, at Somme. He returns to his Romani working-class family—his two brothers and best friends served along with him too—in Birmingham, all of them suffering from either alcoholism or different degrees of PTSDs. 

    ALSO READ: Cillian Murphy on Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’: Interested in the man, not mechanics

    But Thomas Shelby is a man on a mission. He looks around Small Heath, the working class neighbourhood of Birmingham with its factories and manufacturing units and how his brethren is looked down upon. At a time of great upheaval, Thomas Shelby takes it upon himself to uplift the family both in terms of wealth as well as social class, beginning with betting, illegal at first and licensed later, racing and manufacturing automobiles to selling liquor. 

    Peaky Blinders which concluded its final season on Netflix this year is an epic that charts the class war in the post-war UK when the underclass awakens to communism and socialism, the IRA is in its nascent but influential stages and the aristocrats go through a churn, nothing revolutionary but more of a nudge. Murphy’s Shelby plots a growth path for the big family, derogatively looked down as ‘gypsies’, taking on the local bourgeoisie and power centres like the police force and gradually moving to London, the Jewish and Italian mafia and all the way to Westminster Abbey. 

    Peaky Blinders employs great camerawork, compelling family dynamics, musical score and old-world storytelling coupled with brilliant performances to essentially depict a family at endless war with the outside world. One of the best-looking TV series in recent times, there is a discernible change in disposition when the series moved to Netflix in Season 4 when the anamorphic lenses were adopted to film the series that had expanded in scope. Everything becomes wider and deeper in focus, complementing the plot’s direction.

    But even though its weaker sections—which are arguably not many—the force holding the series together is Cillian Murphy. His gait, his natural air of authority that is at odds with his unassuming nature towards his comrades in the proletariat and a commanding dialogue delivery makes for an arresting portrayal that sits in the pantheon of great performances. 

    Murphy has a natural star charisma that flows out of the screen no matter what role he is playing, but Thomas Shelby is the biggest of them all with the widest spectrum of emotions and character arcs. It’s the one artwork that does justice to his talents and for that alone, Nolan’s Oppenheimer is a prospect to relish. Murphy is known to maintain a low profile outside of the screen, his disinterest and shyness are palpable during the few talk shows and promotional events he’s appeared in over the years but in front of a movie camera, he is rarely short of electric. Who better than Nolan to bring that to big cinema magic?