Reviews of ‘Retro' and ‘Thunderbolts'
Around Tinsel Town
>> WAVES Summit 2025: Highlights
A constellation of Indian film celebrities attended the inaugural ceremony of the WAVES summit 2025 in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai, on Thursday. Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and hosted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), the four-day event is poised to position India as a global hub for media, entertainment, and digital innovation by bringing together creators, startups, industry leaders, and policymakers from across the world.
Here are some highlights from the summit:
> Deepika Padukone, Shah Rukh Khan light up WAVES summit 2025
> Aamir Khan explains why Indian films are struggling in theatres: Our business model is flawed
> Vijay Deverakonda slams English hegemony, bats for Hindi and Telugu: We need to expand our kingdom
> Nagarjuna, Karthi, Anupam Kher decode Pan-India filmmaking
>> Ajith Kumar receives Padma Bhushan from President Droupadi Murmu
Tamil superstar Ajith Kumar received the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian honour, from the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday. The actor is among the 19 Padma Bhushan awardees announced by the Union government. After receiving the award, the actor spoke about the tragic Pahalgam terror attack, urging Indians to rise above divisions and foster unity. Ajith also paid tribute to India's armed forces, recognising their sacrifices and service. The 'Good Bad Ugly' star, in an interview, also credited his wife Shalini as a huge pillar of support and that she stood by him even when he made some bad decisions.
>> Shaji N. Karun, veteran Malayalam filmmaker-cinematographer, passes away
Shaji N. Karun, filmmaker, cinematographer, and institution builder of Malayalam cinema, passed away on Monday evening. He was 73. In a condolence message, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Mr. Karun's works brought national and international repute to Malayalam cinema. Sunny Joseph, acclaimed cinematographer, paid his tribute to Mr. Karun and said that veteran cinematographers like him instilled the courage in the people who followed them to take a few risks and go the extra distance in capturing a frame. Here's a tribute to the late legendary Shaji N. Karun: How Shaji N Karun captured the realities of life through his lens
>> Film directors Khalid Rahman, Ashraf Hamsa arrested on the charge of possessing suspected hybrid ganja
Personnel of the Excise Department arrested film directors Khalid Rahman and Ashraf Hamsa during a pre-dawn raid on Sunday, April 27, on the charge of possessing suspected hybrid ganja from the apartment of a director-cum-cinematographer in Kochi. The suspected hybrid ganja was reportedly sourced from a supplier in Kerala. Since the quantity in their possession was minimal, the accused were released on bail. Meanwhile, actors Shine Tom Chacko and Sreenath Bhasi on Monday appeared before the Excise team investigating the seizure of hybrid ganja from a resort at Omanapuzha in Alappuzha for questioning.
>> Supreme Court notice to Centre, others on plea to ban sexually explicit content on OTT, social media platforms
The Supreme Court on Monday, April 28, sought responses from the Centre and others on a plea seeking a direction to take appropriate steps to prohibit streaming of sexually explicit content on OTT and social media platforms.
Bollywood
Actor Chhaya Kadam lands in legal trouble for allegedly eating mouse deer, monitor lizard, porcupine meat
Kajol introduces Shubhangi, the lead of Anupam Kher's upcoming directorial 'Tanvi The Great'
Aamir Khan addresses fake AI-generated poster, clarifies he's not portraying Guru Nanak
Vikrant Massey to play Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in Siddharth Anand's 'White'
'The Family Man' Season 3 actor Rohit Basfore found dead in Assam
Hollywood
Francis Ford Coppola honoured with AFI Life Achievement Award as Steven Spielberg, George Lucas lead tributes
Martin Scorsese to produce a documentary on Pope Francis titled 'Aldeas — A New Story'
Brad Pitt to star in A24's 'The Riders' from 'Conclave' director Edward Berger
Dev Patel to write, direct, and star in period revenge thriller 'The Peasant'
Tom Cruise praises Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan's 'Sinners', ahead of 'Mission: Impossible' release
Tom Hanks starrer 'Greyhound' sequel to start in January 2026
'Miami Vice' remake to be helmed by 'Top Gun: Maverick'-maker Joseph Kosinski
Regional Cinema
Jr NTR-Prashanth Neel movie gets a release date
Nani to be part of SS Rajamouli's dream project 'Mahabharata'
Suriya confirms teaming up with Venky Atluri for his next; film to go on floors in May
'KGF' star Yash's mother ventures into production; first film 'Kothalavadi' launched
'Thudarum' director Tharun Moorthy to work with Fahadh Faasil, Arjun Das and Naslen in his next
Santhanam reunites with Silambarasan TR in Ramkumar Balakrishnan's film; Kayadu Lohar also on board
All March releases, except 'Empuraan,' flopped at box office, as per Kerala producers' association's figures
World Cinema
Martin Scorsese boards Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khatter starrer 'Homebound' as executive producer
Payal Kapadia joins Cannes 2025 jury alongside Halle Berry, Jeremy Strong and more
Charli XCX to produce, star in legendary Japanese director Takashi Miike's next
Trailers
Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, and Riteish Deshmukh promise a comedy with a mystery twist in 'Housefull 5' teaser
'Now You See Me: Now You Don't' trailer shows Jesse Eisenberg lead a new generation of magicians
Dwayne Johnson transforms into UFC legend Mark Kerr in trailer of Benny Safdie's biopic 'The Smashing Machine'
'Devil's Double Next Level' trailer shows Santhanam as a film critic stuck inside a quirky horror film
Women watching a television soap get possessed in trailer of Samantha's debut production, 'Subham'
Josh Brolin and Julia Garner search for creepy kids in trailer of Zach Cregger's new horror 'Weapons'
Essential reading
1) 50 Years of Rajinikanth: the filmmakers who made the star
>> Here's a look at the directors whose contributions proved pivotal for superstar Rajinikanth to not only stay relevant, but thrive as one of Asia's biggest stars
2) Veteran writer Javed Siddiqui on Satyajit Ray's unique approach to filmmaking
>> Introduced to cinema with 'Shatranj Ke Khiladi,' Siddiqui recalls how Ray sketched every shot in a logbook
3) Actor Sandeep Pradeep: 'Alappuzha Gymkhana' made me physically and mentally strong
>> The actor also speaks about his upcoming projects, including playing the lead in the new project of the 'Kishkindha Kaandam' team
4) Director Bhaskhar Maurya: 'Muthayya' was born out of my fear
>> As his debut Telugu indie feature gears up to stream on ETV Win, Maurya talks about it being fueled by his journey and observations
5) Narrated by Khatija Rahman, 'Stardust' short film shines light on vanishing fireflies
>> A rare firefly gathering in Tamil Nadu's Anamalai forests glows to life in a poetic nature video voiced by Khatija Rahman
6) Shalini Vijayakumar's 'Seeing Red,' brings power and patriarchy to the fore
>> The Chennai-based actor and director speaks about how her thirty-minute film, shot entirely using an iPhone, explores feminine rage and the culture of silence
7) Malayalam short film 'Kovarty' explores romance between a typewriter and the typist
>> Kovarty, starring Rajisha Vijayan, is among the four short films selected for the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival's MAMI Select: Filmed on iPhone programme
8) Film retrospective to celebrate Suchendra Prasad, his legacy and his stance to swim against the tide
>> A four-day retrospective, 'Samagama,' will be held at Suchitra Film Society, where Prasad's films will be screened
What to watch
1) An excellent Suriya carries Karthik Subbaraj's admirable experiment 'Retro'
Read the full review here
2) Ajay Devgn delivers a taxing statement in 'Raid 2'
Read the full review here
3) Florence Pugh shines in 'Thunderbolts*' amid the ennui of Marvel's mid-life crisis
Read the full review here
4) In 'Havoc,' Tom Hardy slugs it out with a rogues' gallery in a gory shoot 'em up
Read the full review here
5) Nani lifts the visually slick but uneven thriller, 'HIT 3'
Read the full review here
6) Sanjay Dutt's ghosthunter act cannot enliven 'The Bhootnii'
Read the full review here
7) Nawazuddin Siddiqui anchors 'Costao,' a biopic that shines in the second half
Read the full review here
8) Sasikumar-Simran's feel-good film 'Tourist Family' leaves you all fuzzy
Read the full review here
9) 'Muthayya' is a charming tale about long-cherished dreams that pays homage to cinema
Read the full review here
10) Penn Badgley's Joe Goldberg swims gleefully in a crimson tide in 'You' Season 5
Read the full review here
11) 'Another Simple Favor', starring Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick, is an exhausting sequel
Read the full review here
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Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Pagla Ghoda's local version has raw take on patriarchy
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For one, the soul that haunts the cremation ground in this version is not that of the dead woman, but of a man. "There's a big difference when a man asks certain questions to society and when a woman does," said Singla, who also plays the central, ghostly character. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 月 *만원대 "실비보험" 최적가 비교가입! "가성비 굿 맞춤설계+할인혜택"... 굿리치 보험대리점 (등록번호:제2006038313호) 가입하기 Undo "When woman ask these questions to men, there would be no effect. But when a man is asking them, ego comes into play. It frames fragile masculinity," he said. By flipping the gender of the unfulfilled soul, Singla reframes the entire emotional landscape of the play. "This shows how different emotions are evoked when patriarchy is questioned by different genders. It also shows how little and how slowly society has changed over the last 65 years. There is awareness, but no acceptance," said Singla. Though the original play has been staged across India and abroad by countless theatre troupes, the Pune production leans into rawness. There is no attempt to cushion the audience from the discomfort of confrontation. "The play has exaggerated pauses between dialogues to let the heavy emotions sink in. These dramatic silences provide space for the audience to feel what's being said and to think about it in real time," Singla explained. Among the play's ensemble, the character of Laxmi, stands out in this staging for her compassion. "She is a prostitute, treated quite rudely by everyone. She's like a blank canvas, coloured by how life and people have treated her. It makes you see her not just as a prostitute, but as a human being crushed by patriarchy," said Singla. It's this layered humanisation and refusal to let audiences escape into stereotypes that makes Pagla Ghoda still hit hard today. Pune: Pagla Ghoda is not the kind of play that disappears quietly into theatre history. This powerful piece, written by Badal Sircar in the 1960s, has haunted Indian stages for over six-and-a-half decades. Audiences will experience its piercing truths once again on the weekend, with 9Thirty Theatre Company staging the work at The Box2 in Erandwane on June 8 at 1 pm, under Chahat Singla's direction. The play is set in a crematorium where four men gather for a young woman's funeral who died by suicide following a love affair. What follows is a slow, smouldering confession that exposes the hypocrisies, fears, and fragile egos of men who had failed the women in their lives all along. Badal Sircar's writing is sharp and subtle, implying that no matter how educated or refined, men often share a brutal indifference when it comes to love and emotion. However, Chahat Singla's staging of the play brings a fresh, confrontational edge. For one, the soul that haunts the cremation ground in this version is not that of the dead woman, but of a man. "There's a big difference when a man asks certain questions to society and when a woman does," said Singla, who also plays the central, ghostly character. "When woman ask these questions to men, there would be no effect. But when a man is asking them, ego comes into play. It frames fragile masculinity," he said. By flipping the gender of the unfulfilled soul, Singla reframes the entire emotional landscape of the play. "This shows how different emotions are evoked when patriarchy is questioned by different genders. It also shows how little and how slowly society has changed over the last 65 years. There is awareness, but no acceptance," said Singla. Though the original play has been staged across India and abroad by countless theatre troupes, the Pune production leans into rawness. There is no attempt to cushion the audience from the discomfort of confrontation. "The play has exaggerated pauses between dialogues to let the heavy emotions sink in. These dramatic silences provide space for the audience to feel what's being said and to think about it in real time," Singla explained. Among the play's ensemble, the character of Laxmi, stands out in this staging for her compassion. "She is a prostitute, treated quite rudely by everyone. She's like a blank canvas, coloured by how life and people have treated her. It makes you see her not just as a prostitute, but as a human being crushed by patriarchy," said Singla. It's this layered humanisation and refusal to let audiences escape into stereotypes that makes Pagla Ghoda still hit hard today. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
31 minutes ago
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However, the light and sound show at this historical monument, which started around two decades ago, is operating in fits and starts. Visitors said they are often denied entry to the show due to technical glitches. The operators of the show impose conditions like "no refund of ticket fees in case of rain" as weather protection or roof covers are not available in the spectators' section. Civic officials said the show started in 2000 and is held daily from 7pm to 9pm. It features a water screen created using pressure pumps and jet nozzles, on which a 45-minute short film about the history of Shaniwarwada is projected. Visitor Manisha Kolhapure said that the operators put conditions while giving tickets. "The operators claimed that if a particular number of tickets are not sold, they will not conduct the show. We came to visit the place and see the show. If they are scheduled, they should be held without any prerequisites like the number of attendees," she added. Shivajinagar Madhuri Datar said that they planned a group trip to the monument but had to postpone it. "We learned that the shows get cancelled due to rain and other issues. There are no arrangements to protect citizens from showers. So we preferred to plan the tour at a more suitable time," she said. Civic officials said the shows stopped months ago due to technical glitches. Some lights used for the show were damaged, so the visitors were not allowed to attend it. The system was damaged in 2009 and 2022. "The problem pertained to equipment used for lights which has now been repaired. The show has been getting a good response. The issues raised by the visitors will be addressed," Manisha Shekatkar, head of PMC's electrical department, said. The administration is preparing a plan to upgrade the system. Shaniwarwada, a 13-storey fort palace of the Peshwas, was built by Bajirao Peshwa I in 1736. The residential fort complex saw many chapters of the Peshwas' history, where the stories were not only about the brave and influential administrators but also about gruesome deaths and their fall. It is among the most popular tourist attractions in Pune, from the ruins to the fort's five doorways – Delhi Darwaza, Khidki Darwaza, Ganesh Darwaza, Narayan Darwaza, and Mastani Darwaza. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
News18
3 hours ago
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Ananya Panday Calls Herself A ‘3/10 Actor' In Viral Video; Reddit Trolls Her Brutally
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