News Analysis India

Tag: Movie

  • ‘Forgotten star’: Director of epic Somalian movie battling penury, health issues in Himachal

    By IANS

    MANDI: Writer, director and actor Amar Sneh who directed the historical Somalian movie ‘The Somali Darvish’ some 38 years ago, has been spending life battling penury with multiple health issues far from the limelight.

    Sneh, 70, is struggling to make ends meet in a rented accommodation at Dal village in Gohar subdivision, some 30 km from Mandi.

    When IANS got in touch with the film actor and director, he rued that he’s a forgotten star with no assistance from anyone when he’s struggling to meet his basic needs, either from the film industry or the government.

    Narrating his tale of woe, Sneh, who has worked in films, television, radio and the stage as a writer, director and actor, said he came to Himachal Pradesh to set up a film city on the assurance of late veteran Congress leader and former Union telecom minister Pandit Sukh Ram, who belonged to Mandi town.

    “I also met the late Virbhadra Singh several times when he was the Chief Minister and he assured me of government help in setting up an acting school,” he said, adding “the political rivalry between the two Congress stalwarts Sukh Ram and Virbhadra Singh had put the film city concept into cold storage.”

    In the meantime, Sneh, who has acted in scores of films like ‘Sister’ ‘Cinema-Cinema’, ‘Amman’, ‘Saiyan Magan Pahelwani Mein’ and ‘Jan-E- Alam’, started the Sneh Film Institution in Mandi town.

    For the past many years owing to his poor financial condition, Sneh, an approved commentator of Doordarshan who gave commentaries for 150 films and programmes, moved to an accommodation offered by one of his sympathizers in Dal where he’s giving acting tips to village students free of cost.

    In 2021, he was struck with paralysis in half of his body.

    Sneh has written and directed at least 17 plays — some of the popular ones are ‘Shoonya’, ‘Kavita Kahani Ke Beech’ and ‘Paravartan’.

    Despite the popularity, the actor, who had directed one of the biggest Somalian English movie titled ‘The Somali Darvish’ featuring multilingual artists from 16 countries, says he remains forgotten by the film industry.

    “Marne ke baad meri laash ko natak me istemal kar liya jaye (After my death, my body should be used in a drama),” he added.

    Local social activist Hem Singh Thakur told IANS that Sneh’s health deteriorated after his second Covid-19 vaccination.

    “There are many health problems. He needs proper medical examination. He needs financial help too for his day-to-day expenses,” he said.

    “Before death, Amar Sneh-ji wants to contribute to society by sharing his versatile experience with the youth,” Thakur, a journalist-turned-activist, added.

    A team from the district administration led by sub-divisional magistrate Raman Sharma on Thursday called on Sneh in his village and assured him of some financial assistance from the government.

    “We have got information from social media that such a big personality is living in our area,” Sharma told IANS.

    Overwhelmed by the arrival of the official team at his doorstep, Sneh said all this was possible only in Himachal Pradesh.

    Sneh presented a copy of his stories collection to the SDM. On this occasion, he also wrote an emotional poem.

    “How can I live, give me a new face to live. I fell far, far away from myself. If someone leaves me, then bring me to myself.” (Translated from his couplets in Hindi)

    MANDI: Writer, director and actor Amar Sneh who directed the historical Somalian movie ‘The Somali Darvish’ some 38 years ago, has been spending life battling penury with multiple health issues far from the limelight.

    Sneh, 70, is struggling to make ends meet in a rented accommodation at Dal village in Gohar subdivision, some 30 km from Mandi.

    When IANS got in touch with the film actor and director, he rued that he’s a forgotten star with no assistance from anyone when he’s struggling to meet his basic needs, either from the film industry or the government.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Narrating his tale of woe, Sneh, who has worked in films, television, radio and the stage as a writer, director and actor, said he came to Himachal Pradesh to set up a film city on the assurance of late veteran Congress leader and former Union telecom minister Pandit Sukh Ram, who belonged to Mandi town.

    “I also met the late Virbhadra Singh several times when he was the Chief Minister and he assured me of government help in setting up an acting school,” he said, adding “the political rivalry between the two Congress stalwarts Sukh Ram and Virbhadra Singh had put the film city concept into cold storage.”

    In the meantime, Sneh, who has acted in scores of films like ‘Sister’ ‘Cinema-Cinema’, ‘Amman’, ‘Saiyan Magan Pahelwani Mein’ and ‘Jan-E- Alam’, started the Sneh Film Institution in Mandi town.

    For the past many years owing to his poor financial condition, Sneh, an approved commentator of Doordarshan who gave commentaries for 150 films and programmes, moved to an accommodation offered by one of his sympathizers in Dal where he’s giving acting tips to village students free of cost.

    In 2021, he was struck with paralysis in half of his body.

    Sneh has written and directed at least 17 plays — some of the popular ones are ‘Shoonya’, ‘Kavita Kahani Ke Beech’ and ‘Paravartan’.

    Despite the popularity, the actor, who had directed one of the biggest Somalian English movie titled ‘The Somali Darvish’ featuring multilingual artists from 16 countries, says he remains forgotten by the film industry.

    “Marne ke baad meri laash ko natak me istemal kar liya jaye (After my death, my body should be used in a drama),” he added.

    Local social activist Hem Singh Thakur told IANS that Sneh’s health deteriorated after his second Covid-19 vaccination.

    “There are many health problems. He needs proper medical examination. He needs financial help too for his day-to-day expenses,” he said.

    “Before death, Amar Sneh-ji wants to contribute to society by sharing his versatile experience with the youth,” Thakur, a journalist-turned-activist, added.

    A team from the district administration led by sub-divisional magistrate Raman Sharma on Thursday called on Sneh in his village and assured him of some financial assistance from the government.

    “We have got information from social media that such a big personality is living in our area,” Sharma told IANS.

    Overwhelmed by the arrival of the official team at his doorstep, Sneh said all this was possible only in Himachal Pradesh.

    Sneh presented a copy of his stories collection to the SDM. On this occasion, he also wrote an emotional poem.

    “How can I live, give me a new face to live. I fell far, far away from myself. If someone leaves me, then bring me to myself.” (Translated from his couplets in Hindi)

  • ‘Forgotten star’: Director of epic Somalian movie battling penury, health issues in Himachal

    By IANS

    MANDI: Writer, director and actor Amar Sneh who directed the historical Somalian movie ‘The Somali Darvish’ some 38 years ago, has been spending life battling penury with multiple health issues far from the limelight.

    Sneh, 70, is struggling to make ends meet in a rented accommodation at Dal village in Gohar subdivision, some 30 km from Mandi.

    When IANS got in touch with the film actor and director, he rued that he’s a forgotten star with no assistance from anyone when he’s struggling to meet his basic needs, either from the film industry or the government.

    Narrating his tale of woe, Sneh, who has worked in films, television, radio and the stage as a writer, director and actor, said he came to Himachal Pradesh to set up a film city on the assurance of late veteran Congress leader and former Union telecom minister Pandit Sukh Ram, who belonged to Mandi town.

    “I also met the late Virbhadra Singh several times when he was the Chief Minister and he assured me of government help in setting up an acting school,” he said, adding “the political rivalry between the two Congress stalwarts Sukh Ram and Virbhadra Singh had put the film city concept into cold storage.”

    In the meantime, Sneh, who has acted in scores of films like ‘Sister’ ‘Cinema-Cinema’, ‘Amman’, ‘Saiyan Magan Pahelwani Mein’ and ‘Jan-E- Alam’, started the Sneh Film Institution in Mandi town.

    For the past many years owing to his poor financial condition, Sneh, an approved commentator of Doordarshan who gave commentaries for 150 films and programmes, moved to an accommodation offered by one of his sympathizers in Dal where he’s giving acting tips to village students free of cost.

    In 2021, he was struck with paralysis in half of his body.

    Sneh has written and directed at least 17 plays — some of the popular ones are ‘Shoonya’, ‘Kavita Kahani Ke Beech’ and ‘Paravartan’.

    Despite the popularity, the actor, who had directed one of the biggest Somalian English movie titled ‘The Somali Darvish’ featuring multilingual artists from 16 countries, says he remains forgotten by the film industry.

    “Marne ke baad meri laash ko natak me istemal kar liya jaye (After my death, my body should be used in a drama),” he added.

    Local social activist Hem Singh Thakur told IANS that Sneh’s health deteriorated after his second Covid-19 vaccination.

    “There are many health problems. He needs proper medical examination. He needs financial help too for his day-to-day expenses,” he said.

    “Before death, Amar Sneh-ji wants to contribute to society by sharing his versatile experience with the youth,” Thakur, a journalist-turned-activist, added.

    A team from the district administration led by sub-divisional magistrate Raman Sharma on Thursday called on Sneh in his village and assured him of some financial assistance from the government.

    “We have got information from social media that such a big personality is living in our area,” Sharma told IANS.

    Overwhelmed by the arrival of the official team at his doorstep, Sneh said all this was possible only in Himachal Pradesh.

    Sneh presented a copy of his stories collection to the SDM. On this occasion, he also wrote an emotional poem.

    “How can I live, give me a new face to live. I fell far, far away from myself. If someone leaves me, then bring me to myself.” (Translated from his couplets in Hindi)

    MANDI: Writer, director and actor Amar Sneh who directed the historical Somalian movie ‘The Somali Darvish’ some 38 years ago, has been spending life battling penury with multiple health issues far from the limelight.

    Sneh, 70, is struggling to make ends meet in a rented accommodation at Dal village in Gohar subdivision, some 30 km from Mandi.

    When IANS got in touch with the film actor and director, he rued that he’s a forgotten star with no assistance from anyone when he’s struggling to meet his basic needs, either from the film industry or the government.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Narrating his tale of woe, Sneh, who has worked in films, television, radio and the stage as a writer, director and actor, said he came to Himachal Pradesh to set up a film city on the assurance of late veteran Congress leader and former Union telecom minister Pandit Sukh Ram, who belonged to Mandi town.

    “I also met the late Virbhadra Singh several times when he was the Chief Minister and he assured me of government help in setting up an acting school,” he said, adding “the political rivalry between the two Congress stalwarts Sukh Ram and Virbhadra Singh had put the film city concept into cold storage.”

    In the meantime, Sneh, who has acted in scores of films like ‘Sister’ ‘Cinema-Cinema’, ‘Amman’, ‘Saiyan Magan Pahelwani Mein’ and ‘Jan-E- Alam’, started the Sneh Film Institution in Mandi town.

    For the past many years owing to his poor financial condition, Sneh, an approved commentator of Doordarshan who gave commentaries for 150 films and programmes, moved to an accommodation offered by one of his sympathizers in Dal where he’s giving acting tips to village students free of cost.

    In 2021, he was struck with paralysis in half of his body.

    Sneh has written and directed at least 17 plays — some of the popular ones are ‘Shoonya’, ‘Kavita Kahani Ke Beech’ and ‘Paravartan’.

    Despite the popularity, the actor, who had directed one of the biggest Somalian English movie titled ‘The Somali Darvish’ featuring multilingual artists from 16 countries, says he remains forgotten by the film industry.

    “Marne ke baad meri laash ko natak me istemal kar liya jaye (After my death, my body should be used in a drama),” he added.

    Local social activist Hem Singh Thakur told IANS that Sneh’s health deteriorated after his second Covid-19 vaccination.

    “There are many health problems. He needs proper medical examination. He needs financial help too for his day-to-day expenses,” he said.

    “Before death, Amar Sneh-ji wants to contribute to society by sharing his versatile experience with the youth,” Thakur, a journalist-turned-activist, added.

    A team from the district administration led by sub-divisional magistrate Raman Sharma on Thursday called on Sneh in his village and assured him of some financial assistance from the government.

    “We have got information from social media that such a big personality is living in our area,” Sharma told IANS.

    Overwhelmed by the arrival of the official team at his doorstep, Sneh said all this was possible only in Himachal Pradesh.

    Sneh presented a copy of his stories collection to the SDM. On this occasion, he also wrote an emotional poem.

    “How can I live, give me a new face to live. I fell far, far away from myself. If someone leaves me, then bring me to myself.” (Translated from his couplets in Hindi)

  • Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial movie to air on streaming platform

    By IANS

    LOS ANGELES: The controversial defamation case between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard is the subject of a new movie, ‘Hot Take: The Depp/Heard Trial’, set to debut exclusively on the free Tubi streaming service.

    The film stars Mark Hapka (Parallels’, ‘Days of Our Lives’) as Depp and Megan Davis (‘Alone in the Dark’) as Heard. It is set to premiere on Friday, September 30, on Fox’s Tubi.

    According to a report by Variety, Melissa Marty will join Hapka and Davis as Depp’s lawyer Camille Vasquez and Mary Carrig will portray Heard’s lawyer, Elaine Bredehoft.

    ‘Hot Take’ follows the tumultuous relationship — in and out of court — of Depp and Heard, dramatizing the two-month defamation trial that concluded on June 1, with the jury finding that Heard had defamed Depp by alluding to domestic violence allegations against him in a December 2018 op-ed piece.

    The jury also held Depp liable for a defamatory statement made about Heard by his lawyer

    ‘Hot Take’ comes from Fox Entertainment’s MarVista Entertainment. The film is written by Guy Nicolucci and directed by Sara Lohman.

    The movie was fast-tracked into production by Tubi and MarVista “to capture a timely take on a story that became part of the cultural zeitgeist, painting a unique picture of what millions watched play out in the headlines over the summer,” Adam Lewinson, Tubia’s chief content officer, said in a statement.

    ‘Hot Take: The Depp/Heard Trial’ is one of many timely, culturally relevant original movies to come from our expanding partnership and slate of movies being produced in collaboration with Tubi,” said Hannah Pillemer, EVP creative of affairs for MarVista.

    “Connecting viewers to stories with this kind of social currency and topicality make watching them a must for any fan of pop culture or celebrity drama.”

    The film is executive produced by Brittany Clemons, Angie Day, Marianne C. Wunch, Hannah Pillemer and Fernando Szew. Autumn Federici and Kristifor Cvijetic serve as producers under their Ninth House banner.

    LOS ANGELES: The controversial defamation case between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard is the subject of a new movie, ‘Hot Take: The Depp/Heard Trial’, set to debut exclusively on the free Tubi streaming service.

    The film stars Mark Hapka (Parallels’, ‘Days of Our Lives’) as Depp and Megan Davis (‘Alone in the Dark’) as Heard. It is set to premiere on Friday, September 30, on Fox’s Tubi.

    According to a report by Variety, Melissa Marty will join Hapka and Davis as Depp’s lawyer Camille Vasquez and Mary Carrig will portray Heard’s lawyer, Elaine Bredehoft.

    ‘Hot Take’ follows the tumultuous relationship — in and out of court — of Depp and Heard, dramatizing the two-month defamation trial that concluded on June 1, with the jury finding that Heard had defamed Depp by alluding to domestic violence allegations against him in a December 2018 op-ed piece.

    The jury also held Depp liable for a defamatory statement made about Heard by his lawyer

    ‘Hot Take’ comes from Fox Entertainment’s MarVista Entertainment. The film is written by Guy Nicolucci and directed by Sara Lohman.

    The movie was fast-tracked into production by Tubi and MarVista “to capture a timely take on a story that became part of the cultural zeitgeist, painting a unique picture of what millions watched play out in the headlines over the summer,” Adam Lewinson, Tubia’s chief content officer, said in a statement.

    ‘Hot Take: The Depp/Heard Trial’ is one of many timely, culturally relevant original movies to come from our expanding partnership and slate of movies being produced in collaboration with Tubi,” said Hannah Pillemer, EVP creative of affairs for MarVista.

    “Connecting viewers to stories with this kind of social currency and topicality make watching them a must for any fan of pop culture or celebrity drama.”

    The film is executive produced by Brittany Clemons, Angie Day, Marianne C. Wunch, Hannah Pillemer and Fernando Szew. Autumn Federici and Kristifor Cvijetic serve as producers under their Ninth House banner.

  • Camila Mendes joins romantic comedy Musica

    By Express News Service

    Camila Mendes of Riverdale fame has joined the cast of Musica. The actor will be seen pairing up opposite Rudy Mancuso, who is also directing the film. The film is currently in development at Amazon Studios and Wonderland Sound and Vision, the banner behind films like Love Hard, Holidate and Tall Girl.

    Billed as a romantic comedy, the film will reportedly follow a young man, played by Mancuso, who is obsessed with music and wrestles with the uncertainty of life and Brazilian culture in New Jersey.

    Deadline reports that the film will enter production shortly. In addition to directing, Mancuso also co-wrote the script along with Dan Lagana, and will also compose the film’s original score and soundtrack.Camila Mendes, meanwhile, has Strangers and Ameican Sole, coming up.

  • Sony confirms Venom 3

    By Express News Service

    Sony Pictures has officially confirmed Venom 3. They made the announcement during their CinemaCon panel.

    But there is no word on the crew and release date of the film. The announcement isn’t a surprise as the previous two films of the series: Venom and Venom: Let There Be Carnage, were successes at the box office. Both the films saw Tom Hardy playing Eddie Brock, the journalist who comes in contact with an alien symbiote. 

  • ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ banned in Saudi Arabia.

    By PTI

    LOS ANGELES: Marvel Studios’ much-anticipated movie “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” has been banned in Saudi Arabia and several other Arab countries due to the presence of a gay character.

    The “Doctor Strange” sequel, which will release in the US on May 6, was originally scheduled for hit theatres in the Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries on May 5.

    According to Variety, the Saudi Arabian censors didn’t issue the distribution certificate to the Benedict Cumberbatch-led superhero movie.

    The Sam Raimi-directed sequel stars Cumberbatch as the titular character and also features new hero America Chavez, played by actor Xochitl Gomez. Her character in the film is reportedly gay.

    Prior to “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”, Marvel’s “The Eternals” was banned in Saudi Arabia, over its same-gender couple romance and the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first gay superhero.

    “Doctor Strange” sequel follows the Sorcerer Supreme as he tries to contain the aftermath of the multiverse-fracturing spell he cast in “Spider-Man: No Way Home” which caused villains from across the multiverse to spill over into the central Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline.

  • Kevin Bacon, Farrah Mackenzie join Netflix’s Leave the World Behind

    By Express News Service

    Actors Kevin Bacon and Farrah Mackenzie have joined the cast of Netflix’s upcoming film Leave the World Behind. The actors join the previously announced cast that includes Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke and Myha’la Herrold.

    Based on the bestselling novel by Rumaan Alam, the film is set to be directed by Sam Esmail who also adapts the book to screen. The story revolves around a couple vacationing in a rental house on Long Island, who are surprised when the homeowners arrive bearing news of a mysterious blackout.

    Esmail also produces the film with Chad Hamilton through Esmail Corp, alongside Roberts, Lisa Gillan, and Marisa Yeres Gill for Red Om Films. Higher Ground’s Tonia Davis will serve as executive producer alongside Alam, Danny Stillman and Esmail Corp’s Nick Krishnamurthy.

    Bacon currently stars on City on a Hill and has been on series such as SMILF and I Love Dick. His other recent film credits include You Should Have Left and Patriots Day. Mackenzie, who was previously seen on Amazon’s Utopia, currently stars on United States of A1. 

  • Angela Bassett joins Millie Bobby Brown in Netflix’s fantasy feature ‘Damsel’

    By PTI

    LOS ANGELES: Critically acclaimed actor Angela Bassett has been tapped to star alongside Millie Bobby Brown in Netflix’s upcoming fantasy movie “Damsel”.

    Oscar-nominated filmmaker Juan Carlos Fresnadillo is directing the film from a script penned by Dan Mazeau.

    According to Deadline, the story centres on a princess who is shocked to discover that she’ll be sacrificed to the kingdom’s sacred cave dragon, after being married to her prince charming.

    Bassett, who recently finished filming for Disney/Marvel’s much-anticipated sequel, “Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever”, will play essay the role of Lady Bayford, the stepmother to Brown’s Elodie in “Damsel”.

    Brown is also serving as executive producer for PCMA Productions, alongside Mazeau, Zack Roth, Chris Castaldi and Sue Baden-Powell. Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum are the producers.

  • Anthony Mackie, Priyanka Chopra team up for Ending Things

    By Express News Service

    It has been announced that actors and Priyanka Chopra will be teaming up for a film titled Ending Things.

    The film, which is currently in development at Amazon Studios, tells the story of a hit-woman who decides to quit the assassination business and end her relationship with her business partner. She quickly realises that she is not wholeheartedly willing to end the relationship, and the couple must team up for one last job.

    According to Deadline, Davis Entertainment’s Jeremy Stein and Lit Entertainment will produce the film along with Mackie’s production house, Make It With Gravy Productions and Jason Spire of Inspire Entertainment. Chopra Jonas will also be serving as the executive producer through her banner, Purple Pebble Pictures.

    Further details related to the project, such as the director and other cast members, are currently under wraps considering the nascency of the project.

    In addition to this film, Mackie has Desert Warrior coming up. He will also headline the fourth Captain America film. Chopra Jonas, on the other hand, will be seen in Text For You alongside Sam Heughan and the limited series, Citadel.

  • Hoyeon, Renate Reinsve, Lily-Rose Depp to star in The Governesses

    By Express News Service

    Actor Renate Reinsve (of The Worst Person in the World fame), Hoyeon (of Squid Game-fame), and Lily-Rose Depp will star in filmmaker Joe Talbot’s upcoming movie The Governesses.

    Based on author Anne Serre’s novel of the same name, the feature will have an adapted screenplay written by Talbot in collaboration with poet-novelist Olivia Gatwood.

    The film will follow three rebellious governesses who upend the household-they work in by inspiriting the minds of the boys in their care, igniting the imaginations of the bohemian couple who employ them, and abandoning their charges for erotic adventures.

    Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe of Element Pictures will produce the film along with Rob Richert of Talbot’s Longshot Features and Angus Lamont. BBC Film will co-finance the project alongside A24. Filmmaker Talbot previously directed the critically-acclaimed 2019 film The Last Black Man in San Francisco.

    Norweigian star Reinsve most recently starred in Joachim Trier’s Oscar-nominated hit The Worst Person in the World. Hoyeon, who made her mark in Netflix’s Squid Game, will be seen next in Alfonso Cuaron’s thriller series Disclaimer. Depp, known for titles like Tusk, The King, Planetarium, Voyagers, will be seen next in HBO’s The Idol.