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France 24
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- France 24
France's Luc Besson resurrects new 'romantic' Dracula
Besson, best known for "The Fifth Element" and embroiled in sexual assault allegations and financial problems in recent years, has produced what he believes is a "romantic" vision of one of the most notorious Gothic figures. Titled "Dracula: A Love Story" and based on a relatively minor plotline in the original Bram Stoker book, the 66-year-old director puts Dracula's search for the reincarnation of his late wife at the heart of his story. "I'm not a fan of horror films, nor of Dracula," Besson told Le Parisien newspaper about his production, which straddles several centuries in the life of the immortal blood-sucking count. It was sparked by discussions with Landry Jones, the star of "X-Men: First Class", whom Besson directed in his last film, 2023's "Dogman". "I'd love to do all my films with him. He's a genius," Besson told RMC radio in France this week of the 35-year-old Texas-born actor. Releasing first in France on Wednesday and then in other European and South American countries over the next month, the film is the biggest-budget French film of the year, according to media reports. Besson's career and personal finances took a major blow in 2017 with his hugely expensive flop "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets", which cost an estimated $180 million and had an A-list cast that included Rihanna. The year after, the man behind the popular thrillers "Leon" and "Nikita" faced rape allegations from the Dutch actress Sand van Roy, which he always denied. The case was dropped without charges after a legal battle that went all the way to France's top court in 2023. Initial reviews for Besson's "Dracula" are mixed, with Paris Match magazine calling it the "best horror film of the summer" while Le Figaro newspaper said it "unfortunately failed to bring fresh blood to the vampire myth." The original 1897 book has been adapted over a hundred times to the silver screen, with the two modern classics considered to be the 1958 version by British director Terence Fisher and a 1992 production by Francis Ford Coppola. Another Gothic literary masterpiece, "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley, is to get another overhaul later this year in a big-budget Netflix-funded production by Guillermo del Toro which will premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Saiyaara': Making sense of the sensation
It has been an eventful week for culture observers. On smart televisions, more than 40 crores watched India's young cricket team, with an average age of around 26 years, playing out a hard-fought draw in the Old Trafford Test, while on the big screens, Saiyaara, a debutant-led classic romance, has scored around ₹200 crores in its first week of release and is still going strong. No one invoked Ro-Ko in sprawling stadiums, and the audience quickly bypassed aging screen gods at the box office as they became smitten by the sensory relationship between memory and music, love and longing. As the spotlight shifted from T-20s, rom coms, and horror-coms to something more wistful, enduring, and hard-earned; patience is still a virtue, and commitment is still cherished. In Mohit Suri's Saiyaara, the relationship between the tune and the lyric in creating a song is personified by Krish and Vaani. The heartbroken girl, who has just deleted Instagram from her phone, demands space to etch something in the memory of time, while the headstrong singer boy questions privilege and shuns instant fame for fidelity. She doesn't hide her past and doesn't embrace unhealthy traits like smoking, abusive behaviour, and late nights because it would give her access to Krish's mindscape or give her a sense of equality. Instead, she channels the feral force of the singer, who in turn realises his incompleteness without her voice, the words that are fading away from our lives in the gibberish of endless reels. The imposing image of an explosive Ahaan Panday disintegrating on his haunches against the pixilated yet profound eyes of Aneet Padda on the gargantuan screen of London's Wembley stage made heartbreak great again. Suddenly, the cricket broadcaster's bluster, 'seekhne nahin, sikhane aaye hain' , starts to make sense. Like the fearlessness of T-20 contributes to resilience in Test cricket, Saiyaara echoes middle-class youth's familiarity with spaces that were previously forbidden, giving them the strength to overcome emotional and social taboos. It is not this or that; it is more about the best of both, diminishing the space for cynicism. The weather wanes of Bollywood gauged that the audience is yearning for a true tearjerker, ever since Imtiaz Ali's Rockstar and Laila Majnu made the cash registers ring in their second coming. Recently, Anand L Rai's Raanjhanaa made a strong comeback as well. Young romance with a tragic twist has been a go-to theme when things don't work out for Bollywood biggies at the box office, or they have to launch one of their own. In the 1970s, Raj Kapoor invested in Bobby when the audience didn't empathise with his aging Joker. Initially, the film had a tragic end, but Kapoor heeded the generational shift and concluded with a message of hope. Rajendra Kumar launched his son Kumar Gaurav with Love Story (1981), and Dharmendra introduced Sunny Deol with Betaab (1983). The Mehras turned to Sohini Mahiwal in the 1980s to revive their fortunes. Nasir Hussain had the last hurrah with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) after a series of flops, the Barjatya's found their mojo with Main Pyar Kiya (1989), and the Roshans' found a new lease of life with Kaho Na Pyaar Hai (2000). However, since the abject failure of Aditya Chopra's Befikre in 2016, Yash Raj Films, the unofficial home of romantics since Daag (1973), had not touched the genre for eight years and was busy expanding its spy universe when its low-key marketing of young romance turned out to be a well-thought-out strategy. ALSO READ: 'Saiyaara': Ahaan Panday goes 'Krish Kapoor' mode to thank fans as Mohit Suri's film completes a week Known for initiating a dialogue between Indian and Western notions of romance through diasporic culture when the country adopted a free market economy at the turn of the millennium, the banner apparently lost its way when the obstacles to urban romance were overcome. Meanwhile, OTT entertainment took off, and the young generation looked to the East to find romance in Korean dramas. So, the banner brought in Suri. He carved out his niche under the brooding shadow of his uncle, Mahesh Bhatt, who helmed the original Aashiqui (1990) and made us believe in the decisions of the heart with Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin (1991). Suri's filmography is dotted with films that are rooted in Korean romance, which emphasise the journey of courtship, engage with trust and understanding, and explore complex relationships within the context of family and social expectations, but the melancholic tone, raw emotions, and an air of vulnerability that his films exude remind one of the best of Bhatt. His themes resonate with a generation that has lived through the assumed 'befikri' (carefree) period of instant gratification, of finding love on dating apps, and the individualism prevalent on Instagram. ALSO READ: 'Saiyaara': Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta praises YRF's promotional strategy of Mohit Suri film Suri is one of the few filmmakers of this generation who can convey deep emotions through soulful music, a defining strength of Indian cinema once. Can the thought 'Kaise Zakhmon Ko Bata Marham Ka Milta Achaanak Pata'(How do wounds suddenly get the address of balm?) in Irshad Kamil's 'Humsafar' be expressed in a dialogue or through silence? The line stores the crux of the story where two lacerated souls heal each other. There is a sense of sacrifice and commitment that lasts beyond the wave of physical attraction. When the cynics underline that Saiyaara draws from John H. Lee's A Moment To Remember (2004), they perhaps forget that memory has been playing tricks with lovers for a long time. For those unaware of the Korean film, Krish playacting Virat Kohli in the climax of Saiyaara reminds us of Balu Mahendra's Sadma (1983), where Kamal Haasan transforms into a monkey on a railway platform. It was in the early 1980s when we could not spell Alzheimer's syndrome. In Satish Kaushik's Tere Naam (2003), a remake of Bala's Sethu, too, memory loss triggers a tragic end. Or the lesser-known U, Me Aur Hum (2008), whereAjay Devgn experimented with the Korean universe before it was cool. From the times of Heer Ranjha and Romeo & Juliet, writers have been telling the same story of unrequited romance with tragedy striking in different forms. My father would recall how youngsters thronged theatres to cry with Dilip Kumar in Nitin Bose's Deedar (1951) and would sing 'Bachpan Ke Din Bhula Na Dena, Aaj Hanse Kal Rula Na Dena' on the way back. As the visually impaired Shyamu, who regains his eyesight, the tragedy king stabs his eyes the moment he learns that his childhood love has no recollection of their friendship, embracing darkness. Fifteen years later, Manoj Kumar took Raj Khosla along to watch a re-run of Deedar and reworked the script to create Do Badan (1966), featuring 'Lo Aa Gayi Unki Yaad Woh Nahin Aaye', which became the new anthem for the lovesick. Legendary poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan wrote in his iconic poem, Madhushala, that every generation finds its chalice, its tavern, more intoxicating. What makes a romance shine is how the young lovers resonate with the audience. Like cricketers delaying their retirement, film stars too don't want to give up on the genre and make writers tweak the template according to their age. Some filmmakers also struggle to move beyond their chemistry with a star or their image. Suri also remained stuck with Emraan Hashmi until Humari Adhuri Kahaani (2015), which could have benefited from fresh faces. However, after every decade, a new pair emerges that changes the status quo. Cinephiles remember the huge impact a young Kamal Haasan made in the North when he asked Rati Agnihotri, 'Tere Mere Beech Main', in S.P. Balasubrahmanyam's clipped Hindi accent in K. Balachander's Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981), which sounded authentic for the Tamil boy Vasu, whose love hits a roadblock because of cultural differences. Similarly, what makes Saiyaara sound fresh is the lead pair. After a long time, we have two young actors who can make your heart throb, who can combine intensity with vulnerability without being self-conscious in front of the camera. While Ahaan reminds one of a young Sanjay Dutt with the way he owns the big screen and opens the character's wounds to the audience in all their raw richness, Aneet conveys the deepest of emotions even in stock scenes laced with standard lines. Not cut from the Bollywood cloth that makes most female actors pout and preen like clones, Aneet, after Alia Bhatt, is a natural powerhouse who can cause an emotional upheaval with her performance. The pathos in romance has just returned to Bollywood. This week, Dharma Productions, a factory of wafer-thin rom-coms, is taking a break from the genre to produce Dhadak 2, where caste plays the killjoy. Towards the end of the year, Anand will return with yet another tale of love and rage, Tere Ishq Mein, where he carries forward his bond with tragic romance and, of course, Dhanush.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Mahesh Babu honours late Telugu producer Narayan Das Narang, calls him a ‘visionary' in emotional post
On the birth anniversary of veteran Telugu producer Narayan Das Narang, actor Mahesh Babu penned a heartfelt tribute in his fond memory. Remembering a Telugu cinema visionary Taking to Instagram Story, Mahesh Babu posted a priceless picture with Narayan Das Narang. "Remembering the visionary Narayan Das Narang Garu on his birth anniversary. Always in our hearts, forever in our prayers," he wrote. Narayan Das Narang passed away in 2022. He began his career as financier in the 1980s, and successfully financed over 600 films including Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi 's 'Love Story' and Naga Shaurya's 'Lakshya'. At the time of his demise, several members of the film industry paid tributes to Narayan Das Narang. Namrata Shirodkar 's fond memories "I have fond memories of Uncle... A true visionary whom I learnt so much from. Today is a very sad day for all of us at AMB Cinemas. Thank you #NarayanDas uncle for your guidance and support through the years. We will miss you. Love, light, and prayers to his family and loved ones," Namrata Shirodkar had posted. Ravi Teja wrote, "Deeply saddened by the sudden demise of shri. #NarayanDasNarang Ji. He was truly a warm and affable personality who made a noteworthy contribution to Telugu cinema with his extreme efforts. My deepest condolences to the entire family . Rest in peace sir (sic)." Narayan Das Narang was 76 when he breathed his last.
Observer
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Observer
Wax lyrical: Taylor Swift gets 13 Madame Tussauds statues
US pop megastar Taylor Swift will be honoured with 13 waxworks of her at Madame Tussauds venues around the globe, the museum said on Wednesday. In honour of Swift's lucky number, 13 of the waxwork museum's 22 branches will each receive a statue of the 'Love Story' and 'Blank Space' singer, in what it called the 'most ambitious project' of its 250-year history. The statues were inspired by some of the 35-year-old songwriting sensation's looks from her record-shattering 'Eras Tour' from 2023 to 2024. With 149 shows across the world over nearly two years, the tour raked in $2 billion, making it the most lucrative in music history to date. More than 40 artists worked for more than a year on the statues of Swift, one of the most acclaimed artists of her generation with 14 Grammy Awards. 'This is the most ambitious project in Madame Tussauds' 250-year history, which only feels right to reflect the stratospheric status of Taylor Swift,' said Danielle Cullen, the museum's senior figure stylist. UK-based Swifties are well served, with one waxwork slated for London and another for the northern seaside resort town of Blackpool. Another 10 will find a permanent home at the branches of Madame Tussauds in Amsterdam, Berlin, Budapest, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Las Vegas, Nashville, New York, Orlando and Sydney. The thirteenth statue, which will travel around the remaining museums, will begin its worldwide walkabout with a residency at Madame Tussauds Shanghai. — AFP
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The real reason why Travis Kelce went Instagram-official with Taylor Swift: report
Travis Kelce's Taylor Swift photo dump was more than just his way of making their romance Instagram-official — according to a source, it was also proof that he's 'serious' about the 'Love Story' songstress. 'It was intentional,' an insider told People on Friday. 'They've been private in their own way, but this was his way of showing how serious things have become.' The source added that the couple is 'in a really solid place and more in sync than ever.' Reps for Swift and Kelce did not immediately respond to Page Six's requests for comment. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end and 'Blank Space' singer, both 35, began dating in September of 2023 — however, it took until Thursday for the athlete to share relationship highlights to his personal account, captioning the carousel, 'Had some adventures this offseason, kept it .' The intimate look into their romance included pics of Kelce and Swift rocking matching caps, enjoying drinks with friends and snuggling up during a snowy outing. In a sweet photo of the pair in a restaurant, eagle-eyed fans noticed that Kelce's iPhone lock screen featured a photo with Swift. Still more tantalizing, a zoomed-in look at the pic revealed the 'Cruel Summer' singer rocking rings. However, according to a source for TMZ, they were the athlete's trio of Super Bowl rings — not an engagement token. Kelce's comments thread featured some high-profile support. 'things we love to see: travis happy ,' wrote the official Kansas City Chiefs account, while pal Patrick Mahomes remarked, ' ' 'The whole world happy for y'all,,, may God continue to bless you and your families with happiness and pure joy ,' gushed rapper Flavor Flav. 'i'm printing so many of these for my wall,' wrote MTV's official account, while purveyor of sweet baking products, Betty Crocker, wrote, 'This might break the internet.' The NFL star's big social media moment landed amid a pivotal summer for the famous couple, as Swift wrapped up her Eras Tour in December and Kelce finished his season with a Super Bowl loss in February. 'It's been a turning point for their relationship in a lot of ways,' an insider told People earlier this month. 'They're incredibly happy and in sync. There's a calmness and ease to their relationship right now that's been really grounding for Taylor and Travis.' They continued, adding that the couple is 'soaking up every minute of this slower season together.' 'They've been splitting their time between New York, Nashville, and a few quiet getaways, just enjoying each other's company without all the usual chaos,' the insider said. 'This kind of downtime is rare for both of them, and it's really allowed their bond to deepen.' Solve the daily Crossword
