Latest news with #Christo
The Star
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Rise of Popov brothers raises French hopes of historic medal
France men's singles shuttler Toma Junior Popov in action against India's Srikanth Kidambi in the quarter-final match of Malaysian Masters at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil on Friday. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star PETALING JAYA: Brothers Toma and Christo Popov's rise to the world's top 15 in the men's singles has raised French hopes of a historic medal in the World Championships from Aug 25-31 at home in Paris. Christo and Toma have showed steady improvement this year, rising to No. 10 and No. 15 respectively in the latest world rankings, joining world No. 7 teammate Alex Lanier in the top 15. Powerhouse China is the only other country to have three men's singles players in the world's top 15 - world No. 1 Shi Yuqi, world No. 4 Li Shifeng and Lu Guangzu (No. 11). No French shuttler has ever won a medal in the world meet and Lanier and the Popov brothers will be keen to end the long wait in front of their fans at the Adidas Arena in Port de la Chapelle. Among the three, fast rising youngster Lanier could have the best chance. The 20-year-old created history by becoming the first French player to capture a World Tour Super 750 title when he won the Japan Open last year. Lanier then did well to reach the final again this year before going down to Yuqi. He also proved his ability when he captured the Orleans Masters title and reached the All-England semi-finals in March. Lanier then won gold in the European Championships, beating Toma in an all-French final. The player has already declared his intentions to win the world title. Meanwhile, Christo caught the eye when he finished runner-up to China's Weng Hongyang in the Swiss Open. The 23-year-old also did well to reach the semi-finals of the Japan Open and Singapore Open. Christo has captured two World Tour titles so far in his career - the Super 300 German Open and Hylo Open last year. Toma's best performance in the World Tour this year came in the German Open where he made it to the semi-finals. Christo and Toma will also be competing in Paris together in the men's doubles and will be out to impress in the event too.
Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Soothravakyam movie review: Shine Tom Chacko, Vincy Aloshious deliver serviceable mystery thriller that needed better writing
Soothravakyam movie review: As I was watching Soothravakyam, I couldn't help but notice and admit how much potential Shine Tom Chacko has. It's not while playing the stereotypical eccentric characters, mirroring his once-infamous real-life persona, that he truly shines. To be honest, in such roles, his performances often come across as too manufactured, as if he's trying too hard to become the gaudy funhouse image we expect of him. Instead, it's in characters requiring a controlled, layered approach, or even in comedic roles, that his real talent surfaces, showcasing how much untapped potential he has; real-life problematic behaviour aside. Debutant director Eugien Jos Chirammel's Soothravakyam (Formula), as rugged and uneven as it is, stands as a testament to that. Christo Xavier (Shine) is not only the SHO of a police station but also the beloved mathematics tutor for a group of local school students. After he began offering evening tuition above his station, Nimisha (Vincy Aloshious), a teacher at the nearby school, claims that her students have stopped paying attention in her classes. They even bunk the last hour if she's teaching, assuming Christo will cover the topics more effectively. This sparks an initial clash between the two, which soon softens into compassion, as both have their hearts in the right place. Set in a village in Palakkad district, Soothravakyam begins as a feel-good, Manikyakkallu-type film before venturing into darker territory. For Arya (Anagha Annet), life is as beautiful as it can be when she's with her friends, especially her boyfriend Akhil (Naseef PP). But at home, she lives in constant fear of her elder brother Vivek (Deepak Parambol), who resents her. As she was born to their parents when he was 18, Vivek claims that he has been on the receiving end of so much humiliation and embarrassment because of her. Thus, he not only treats her coldly but often assaults her, especially because of her relationship with Akhil, warning her he won't let her cause him more 'humiliation'. Although Christo and Nimisha intervene, Vivek's violence continues. One day, he thrashes Arya and Akhil black and blue after catching them together. This incident becomes a turning point in the story, after which a crime unfolds that drives the rest of the film. Though Soothravakyam initially feels like a low-budget telefilm made by amateurs, Eugien never allows it to completely nosedive. He manages to keep it on track, at least technically. However, the writing falters quite a bit. Although Eugien introduces Christo as the students' favourite, we never understand why the children are so attached to him. Yes, he is a soft-spoken and chill guy, but what makes them eager to spend time with him, and that too learning? We don't know. In films like Manikyakkallu (2011), Life Is Beautiful (2000), Mohabbatein (2000) or the OG Dead Poets Society (1989), one key aspect the respective makers focused most on was establishing the bond between the teacher and the students, anchoring it in emotion, even showing that only the teacher saw their true worth. Those connections are why those films resonate decades later. This is exactly where Soothravakyam fails. Even if we set that aside, since Christo isn't a teacher by profession, and assume the students are simply drawn to his skills as a mathematics tutor, the film still doesn't offer more than the superficial. Occasionally, we see him writing equations on the board while the kids take notes, and that's it. The whole part feels half-cooked. When Soothravakyam shifts gears into thriller mode, Eugien's writing does improve but remains middling, relying heavily on the few already-established, overused elements. Opportunities to elevate the narrative are ultimately wasted. As the story progresses, it is revealed that a murder has occurred in the village and that it's connected to some of the central characters. However, in trying to build suspense and mislead the audience, Eugien underplays the victim's character so much initially that their death, upon eventual reveal, has almost no impact. Meanwhile, the final revelation as to who committed the murder and why feels too far removed from the core plot and the main characters' arcs that it comes across as a subplot forced into the film just to make it 'thrilling' or, worse, to pad the runtime. Also, if Soothravakyam gave you déjà vu of Sookshmadarshini (2024), you're not alone. The similarities were too obvious to ignore. At the same time, most characters in the movie end up being superficial and unexplored, the most unfortunate example being Nimisha. Even Akhil, who later endures significant trauma, is reduced to a unidimensional PTSD-stricken character with just one stable expression on his face afterwards. The same goes for Vivek. Although Christo himself is underwritten, the film cleverly keeps him busy enough that this weakness doesn't become glaring. One aspect of the writing that deserves credit is how the romance between Arya and Akhil is handled. Despite being between two late-teen students, the writer-director refrains from making their relationship cringeworthy by sidestepping clichés. Instead, their romance feels as mature as it can for kids their age. Despite all the narrative shortcomings, Eugien does manage not to bore audiences. He avoids letting the film bite off more than it can chew and wraps everything up at the right time, resulting in a watchable experience overall. Barring the extremely graphic depiction of the assaults on Arya, which could be very triggering, he keeps the film from becoming needlessly bloody. Although not all the visual imageries in the movie work, the final shot of Christo teaching kids at a juvenile home the mathematical concept of Integration (which also means the action or process of joining or mixing something/someone with a different group) was a noteworthy moment, underscoring the importance of rehabilitation. While Shine Tom Chacko's acting isn't extraordinary, mainly due to the weak writing, he demonstrates he shouldn't be written off and that he is a solid actor. Vincy Aloshious' performance, unfortunately, feels as clueless as her character, who seems unsure why she even exists in this story. Anagha Annet, nonetheless, is spectacular as Arya. Whether in tender moments with Akhil or in scenes of traumatic suffering, she remains fully committed, giving Arya a soul. Jean P Johnson's background score is effective, though the songs don't fare as well. Sreeram Chandrasekaran's cinematography has shining moments but also falls flat quite a few times. Soothravakyam movie cast: Shine Tom Chacko, Vincy Aloshious, Deepak Parambol Soothravakyam movie director: Eugien Jos Chirammel Soothravakyam movie rating: 2 stars
DW
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- DW
Berlin pays tribute to Christo's iconic 'Wrapped Reichstag' – DW – 06/06/2025
Thirty years ago, Germany's parliament building "disappeared" under silver fabric for two weeks. The work of art by Christo and Jeanne-Claude is now celebrated with a light installation. Anyone who was in Berlin in the summer of 1995 will probably remember it for the rest of their lives: how the Reichstag — the seat of the German parliament — disappeared. Not blown up, not demolished, but completely wrapped in silver fabric and tied up with thick ropes, almost like a gift. A crazy idea? Perhaps. But also one that made history. Behind this spectacular action was a pair of artists who have repeatedly surprised the world with their ephemeral mega works of art: Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Their vision of a wrapped Reichstag was big, bold — and took 23 years to plan. 2025: A special anniversary year 2025 is a real anniversary year for fans of Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Not only is Berlin marking the 30th anniversary of the "Wrapped Reichstag" with a light installation projected onto the west façade of the Reichstag building from June 9 to 22, but other cities around the world are also paying tribute to the couple's works: Paris commemorates the wrapping of its Pont Neuf that happened 40 years ago, while New York marked the 20th anniversary of "The Gates," an installation in Central Park featuring thousands of gates on which fabric panels fluttered. And above all, both artists would have turned 90 this year: They were born on the same day, on June 13, 1935. Christo was born in Bulgaria and later fled from the communist East to Western Europe, first to Prague, then to Vienna, Geneva and finally Paris. There he met Jeanne-Claude in 1958 — she was French with roots in Morocco. The two became an unbeatable team. Christo was the artist, Jeanne-Claude the organizer — whereby both saw themselves as equal partners and later officially signed all projects together. After 23 years of planning, Christo and Jeanne-Claude's dream became a reality Image: 1995 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation, Photo: Wolfgang Volz Their specialty was huge, spectacular art installations in public spaces. They wrapped bridges, buildings or entire coastal strips, stretched gigantic curtains through valleys or erected kilometer-long fabric installations. None of it permanent, all self-financed, without advertisers or sponsors; the money for the projects was only generated through the sale of drawings, collages and designs. 'Wrapped Reichstag': A long wait for approval The idea of wrapping the Reichstag in Berlin was born back in 1971 — in the middle of the Cold War. At the time, the Reichstag stood right next to the Berlin Wall. It was a symbolic building, but was not actually used. The seat of government of the then Federal Republic of Germany was still in Bonn, and the Bundestag (the German parliament) only moved into the Reichstag building with its characteristic glass dome, remodeled by architect Norman Foster, in 1999. In 1978, Christo presented the model of the wrapped Reichstag at an exhibition in Zurich Image: Niklaus Stauss/akg/picture-alliance Christo and Jeanne-Claude were nevertheless fascinated by the building's symbolism and historical role. Time and again, this place has been the scene of significant moments in Germany's history, during the German Empire, the Weimar Republic, the Nazis' "Third Reich" and the Second World War, the division of Germany after the war and its eventual reunification. Christo and Jeanne-Claude wanted to make this building visible again by concealing it for a brief period. But a work of art like this required permission — and that took a long time coming. It was not until 1994, after more than 20 years of discussion, that the Bundestag finally gave its approval, following vigorous debate. And this paved the way to one of the most impressive art projects of the century. The then President of the Bundestag, Rita Süssmuth, supported the project Image: Jockel Finck/AP Photo/picture alliance Summer 1995: A silver dream in the middle of Berlin Finally, in June 1995, the Reichstag was completely wrapped in over 100,000 square meters of silver fabric and 16 kilometers of rope. The wrapping lasted several days and was followed around the world. The wrapped Reichstag appeared soft, shimmering, mysterious, like a work of art amid clouds. From June 24 to July 7, 1995, over 5 million people came to Berlin to witness this spectacle with their own eyes. It was like a huge public festival: People were lying on the grass, having picnics, taking photos and discussing it. Many people who experienced the work later said that they had never viewed the Reichstag as intensely as during these two weeks. A tourist magnet in the summer of 1995 Image: 1995 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation, Photo: Wolfgang Volz Why wrap it at all? Christo and Jeanne-Claude didn't set out to hide a building — quite the opposite. They wanted to give it a new experience. The wrapping removed everything superficial. You could no longer see the details, only the shape, the silhouette, the volume. And most importantly, this work of art was also ephemeral. After two weeks, the magic was over, the fabric was dismantled, and no trace remained. Only memories. For the artist couple, this ephemerality was a central part of their work. "The beauty lies in transience," they often said. You should enjoy the moment because you know it will soon be over. Although the Reichstag is a political symbol, the artwork itself was not intended to be political. Christo and Jeanne-Claude did not want to dictate an opinion. They wanted their art to be an open space for thoughts, feelings and interpretations. Nevertheless, many people saw the wrapping as a strong political symbol: for change, for reconciliation, for a new beginning. This had a special effect, especially in reunified Germany. From June 9 to 20, 2025 the artwork will be projected onto the west façade of the Reichstag in the evening Image: Jens Kalaene/dpa/picture alliance Jeanne-Claude died in 2009,Christo in 2020, but their art lives on — in photos, memories, exhibitions and now also in a special anniversary year. The wrapping of the Reichstag was not only a masterpiece of logistics and aesthetics, it was also a moment of collective fascination. It showed what art can achieve in public spaces. It can surprise, connect, challenge. And it can simply amaze people. Or, as Christo once said: "Our works belong to no one — and at the same time to everyone." This article was originally written in German.
The Hindu
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Composer Christo Xavier on his latest track ‘Aspirin', Diés Iraé and more
Whether it is 'Dhurooha mandahasame' from Sookshmadarshini, 'Age of Madness' from Bramayugam; or 'Kalyana raavaane' from Journey of Love 18+, composer Christo Xavier is known for the trippy temperament of his tracks. However, he often experiences a creative dry spell after producing such chartbusters. That is when he goes out into nature, spends time alone, records sounds from the surroundings, and realises the 'insignificance of existence in the larger scheme of things'. This idea has inspired Christo's latest single, 'Aspirin'. 'I composed this track in 2021 and have been thinking whether we should make a music video. Since I wanted to shoot this one, I waited and saved money. And we have finally put it out,' says Christo, over phone from Kochi. The video is directed by filmmaker Ramith Kunhimangalam, an assistant director in Madanolsavam, Christo's maiden project as a music director. 'I have often seen him capture moments very beautifully. You could see that his visuals have life. When I mentioned this track to him, we wanted to make something original, without any references.' The video, featuring Christo and Maithreyi, was shot over three days at Munnar. The video portrays the hill station reflecting Christo's vision on life. 'Aspirin' belongs to the line-up of tracks showcasing Christo's love for electronic elements in his music. 'Even in a romantic song, I try to bring in electronic elements without losing the soul of the song,' says Christo. 'I am inspired by artists like John Lennon and the way they deliver their lines, like a poem. My aim was to create a poem with electronic music as a medium.' The composer uses a modular synth as opposed to a traditional synthesiser for the track, which offers the user the option to choose the components within it. 'We do not use modular synth much in Malayalam. I wanted to show that it's not only for foreign musicians; we can also make music with it.' 'The bird sounds in the song were pre-recorded and blended with sounds of nature. I also treated vocals as instruments; for instance, there is a high-pitched portion in the beginning, which was recorded as vocals and later processed to sound like an instrument,' explains Christo, who built a custom waterphone instrument for his soundscape in Bramayugam. The composer confesses he carries a recorder or a phone to capture any sound that interests him, even when he is on a break. 'The person you see in the video is who I am.' The Kochi-based musician made his entry into films with the Fahadh Faasil-starrer Trance in 2020, assisting ace music director Sushin Shyam. The duo worked together on Bheeshma Parvam, Kurup, Minnal Murali, Malik, and Kappela. His last project as a composer was in the Tamil movie, Sorgavaasal(2024) and his latest work in Malayalam is the Mammootty-starrer Turbo. He also sang all the songs in Bramayugam. 'I have a background in Carnatic music and that has helped me. I started as a singer and then realised I liked composing more than singing. Even though I studied classical music, I was always listening to Coldplay, Linkin Park, Skrillex, Michael Jackson and so on.' Christo is currently working on a Telugu movie and Rahul Sadasivan's much-awaited Pranav Mohanlal-movie, Diés Iraé. He says, 'I am not going to say anything about it right now. Just watch the movie, it's an interesting project.'
News.com.au
30-05-2025
- Climate
- News.com.au
Footage shows landslide erase entire village
A catastrophic glacier collapse in the Swiss Alps has devastated the tiny village of Blatten, burying it under millions of cubic metres of ice, rock and mud. Videos of the collapsing glacier went viral as the natural disaster unfolded on Wednesday, showing homes and buildings being submerged followed by a haunting rumbling sound. A huge cloud was also created that covered parts of the mountain as rock and debris thundered down the valley. Regional police said a 64-year-old man was reported missing, and a search and rescue operation was underway. The small village was evacuated earlier in the week, with about 300 people and all livestock, fleeing for safety. Now, shocking before-and-after satellite imagery released by Maxar Technologies has revealed the true extent of the destruction as the once-idyllic town is erased. The first two images, both taken in November 2024, show the tiny town and its homes before the collapse. The remaining images show Blatten after the collapse on Thursday, May 29, with the town seen covered in ice and debris. 'What I can tell you at the moment is that about 90 per cent of the village is covered or destroyed,' Stephane Ganzer, the head of security in the southern Valais region, told local TV station Canal9. The regional government said a large chunk of the Birch Glacier above the village broke off, causing the landslide. It has also buried the nearby Lonza River bed. 'What happened is the unthinkable, the catastrophic worst-case scenario,' Christophe Lambiel, a specialist in high-mountain geology and glaciers at the University of Lausanne, told RTS Swiss Television. Lambiel said scientists knew something was coming, thanks to increasingly frequent rockfalls from the mountain face onto the glacier. But he said the glacier's total collapse was not predicted. Professor of environment and climate at the University of Zurich, Christian Huggel, told Reuters that climate change had likely played a part in the deluge. 'While various factors were at play in Blatten, it was known that local permafrost had been affected by warmer temperatures in the Alps. The loss of permafrost can negatively affect the stability of the mountain rock,' he said. In an emotional press conference Matthias Bellwald, the mayor of Blatten, offered words of encouragement to his devastated constituents. 'We lost our village but not our lives,' he said. 'The village is under the gravel but we're going to get up. We are going to be in solidarity and rebuild. Everything is possible.'
