Latest news with #Mahabharata
NDTV
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Hey Ram, Vishwaroopam, Thug Life: Why Kamal Haasan, In His Words, Keeps "Walking Into Trouble"
New Delhi: Kamal Haasan is unwilling to apologise for his controversial comments on how Kannada was derived from his mother tongue Tamil. The language row, which continues to be an undercurrent issue in the country, doesn't seem to be nearing its end. He is playing a thug in Thug Life, whose release appears to be in limbo, at least in Karnataka. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) on Thursday threatened to ban the film over his comments. The much anticipated Tamil film is more than a prestige project, it's a homecoming too. It reunites him with his Nayakan director Mani Ratnam after almost 40 years. But Haasan is no stranger to controversy. He was criticised for one of his earlier films, Thevar Magan, in 1992 for allegedly equating violence with the Thevar community. It went to earn five National Film Awards, including Best Feature Film in Tamil. His superhit 2004 movie Virumaandi was also caught in the crosshairs with political parties over its previous title 'Sandiyar' which Dr K Krishnasamy, leader of Pudhiya Tamizhagam, believed was allegedly derogatory and would encourage caste-related violence. Dasavathaaram (2008) also angered Hindu groups for hurting sentiments. Years later came the first part of Vishwaroopam. Written, directed by, and starring Haasan, the movie was the subject of multiple controversies. The release of the 2013 film was stalled, even faced a two-week ban despite CBFC approval, in Tamil Nadu citing potential law and order issues and its alleged anti-Muslim content. After several Muslims groups protested against the film, the actor had organised a special film screening for them. After a two week-long standoff between the actor and the Muslim groups in Tamil Nadu, the Madras High Court lifted the ban on the film by allowing it to release on February 7, 2013, days after it already released in other states. If you think Haasan would have appeased the majority by othering the minority, think again. Members of the Hindu Makkal Katchi, a right-wing organisation, had also filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the actor for his alleged derogatory remarks on Hindus and the epic Mahabharata. In an interview with a Tamil channel, as quoted by The Indian Express, Haasan had said, "In Mahabharata, Panchali was used as a pawn while the men gambled... She was used as a collateral and India is a country that respects and honours a book that revolves around men using a woman to gamble away as if she was a mere object." Eventually, the dust settled and the odds turned out to be in Haasan's favour. The film grossed Rs 220 crore in reported earnings. It won two awards in Best Art Direction and Best Choreography at the 60th National Film Awards in 2013. Four years later, he once again rubbed the ring-wing organisations the wrong way. In an article for Tamil magazine Ananda Vikatan, Haasan accused Hindu groups of converting state festivals into a muscle flexing activity. "There is Hindu extremism in Tamil Nadu, and you cannot say there is no Hindu terror," he wrote. BJP party spokesperson Narayanan Tirupati said Haasan should steer clear of making sweeping statements and instead speak on corruption in the film industry. Then again in 2019, Haasan invited the ire of Hindu nationalists when he said " independent India's first extremist was a Hindu". The actor, whose political party Makkal Needhi Maiyam made its debut in the 2019 general elections, defended his remarks, stating he only spoke about what was a "historic truth". Years before he sparked controversy with his comments referring to Nathuram Godse, Haasan was called out by various political parties for his revisionist period drama film Hey Ram for an alleged negative depiction of Gandhi and certain lines spoken by him. In the movie, also starring Haasan and directed by him, Haasan played a man called Saket Ram who is tasked with killing Gandhi but ultimately chooses not to. In his defence, Haasan spoke about using artistic liberty with the film after facing allegations of hurting people's sentiments. Even then, Haasan, the multihyphenate that he is, possessed the ability to smell trouble. "I keep walking into trouble. But I sleep peacefully with myself. That's my problem. I can't keep my conscience aside. This fellow wakes me up each night to ask me questions. Sometimes I don't have the right answers. I end up looking sheepish in front of him," he said in an interview to Subhash K Jha. The actor has often blended cinema and politics, so much so that he ended up taking the political plunge. He might be in the middle of a controversy right now but according to his track record, he has managed to wiggle out of prickly situations. June 5, 2025 is the release day of Thug Life, on which Haasan is a co-producer with Ratnam and Udayanidhi Stalin of Red Giant Pictures. The actor and filmmaker have been criticised for his kiss with much younger actor Abhirami and a suggestive dialogue he says to Trisha's character in the film's trailer. Haasan's comments have landed him and his film in trouble once again but let's not forget, he has also invested money in the film. The creative multihyphenate is also a sharp entreprenuer. He won't let his money, time, and efforts go waste.
Indian Express
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Discover the ‘write' side of Shashi Tharoor
Diplomat, party spokesperson, civil servant, minister, wordsmith—even a stand-up comic (for a short time): Shashi Tharoor wears many hats—and wears them well. But the man who is currently going around the world, casting wordy spells as he carries India's message on Operation Sindoor to the global stage, is also a remarkably prolific author. In fact, he first came to national (indeed, international) attention with a book: The Great Indian Novel (1989). And as in other walks of life, his literary work is rich in variety. You might expect him to focus primarily on political matters, but Tharoor has never limited himself to any one genre. He has written biographies, essays (including on cricket), analyses, travelogues, critiques, and even novels. Indeed, until he pens a proper, no-holds-barred autobiography (and we're sure he will), his books—he has nearly two dozen to his name and surely more to come—are an excellent way to understand the man who weaves magic with his words, spoken and written, for a wide variety of audiences. The Great Indian Novel (1989) brought Shashi Tharoor into the literary spotlight in the late 80s. A work of fiction, it remains his most famous—and, in the opinion of many (us included), his best book. It showcases all the Tharoor hallmarks: wit, humour, wordplay, and sarcasm, blended with a keen sense of history and mythology. And what history and mythology it is—because The Great Indian Novel is actually a retelling and reimagining of the Indian freedom struggle and the decades that followed, narrated in the style of perhaps the greatest Indian epic of them all, the Mahabharata. Tharoor reimagines characters from Ved Vyas' epic as legendary freedom fighters and political figures, often blending names with telling effect. Across its 380-odd pages, you'll encounter Jayaprakash Drona, Priya Duryodhini, Mohammad Ali Karna, the Kaurav Party (Real), and the Kaurav Party (Old Guard). Often darkly funny, sometimes moving, and always fast-paced, this is one of those rare books that can be picked up for sheer entertainment, only to leave the reader deep in thought—accompanied by the occasional giggle. Indian leaders have generally not been well-served by their biographers. Most biographies tend to be either overly critical or excessively hagiographical—rambling affairs, rich in detail but poor in narrative. Tharoor changed that with his compact biography of Jawaharlal Nehru in 2003. Nehru: The Invention of India was released in a small, almost pocketbook format, spanning just over 275 pages. Yet it offered a more complete picture of India's first Prime Minister than many far weightier tomes. Tharoor's take on Nehru is largely positive, but what makes the book special is its ability to capture Nehru's essence and his importance to India without falling into excessive adulation. He notes Nehru's 'classic Little Lord Fauntleroy upbringing' and does not shy away from discussing how a corrupt bureaucracy is as much a part of Nehru's legacy as his achievements. Tharoor sticks to sound narrative basics—no extravagant flourishes here. In this, he's like a stroke player curbing flair for the sake of a bigger score. The result is perhaps the best short biography ever written of any Indian leader: succinct yet substantial. If there is one book you should read about Nehru—it is this, it is this, it is this. A significant portion of Tharoor's writing post his entry into active politics reflects the views of his party and its leadership. However, there are moments when he takes off his political hat and dons his academic one. One of those moments was An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India (2017). Later re-released as Inglorious Empire: What the British Did to India, the book won the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism (2017) and the Sahitya Akademi Award (2019). Inspired by his now-viral 2015 Oxford Union speech on colonial reparations, the book—about 330 pages long—is perhaps the most accessible, easy-to-read account of the consequences of British colonial rule in India. Some academics have called it one-sided and bitter, but Tharoor's righteous outrage burns through the pages. 'Britain's rise for two hundred years was financed by its depredation of India,' he observes, dismantling the myths that suggest the British gave India political unity or a free press. This is Tharoor in debate mode—armed with data, arguments, and flashes of wit and sarcasm. It's compelling stuff, even if classic historians might occasionally wince. Agathokakological, fefenestrate, floccinaucinihilipilification… Booking that Tharoor Vocabulary Shashi Tharoor's command of the English language has achieved near-legendary status. His use of words many have never encountered has repeatedly expanded his audience's vocabulary. For those enchanted by his linguistic flair, Tharoorosaurus (Penguin Random House, 2020) is the perfect pick. A compact volume (336 pages), it's easily the most entertaining book Tharoor has written. It features 53 of his favourite rare words, with definitions, etymologies, trivia, and even cartoons. Included are delights like Agathokakological, Cromulent, Defenestrate, Floccinaucinihilipilification, Kakistocracy, Rodomontade, and Snollygoster, alongside more familiar terms like Vigilante, Yogi, and Namaste. Whether or not he ever pens a tell-all memoir, we hope Tharoor writes several sequels to this book. It may not be as profound as some of his other works, but it delivers information memorably and always with a smile. A bit like the man himself.
Toronto Star
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
2025 Dora Awards nominations: The complete list of nominees
Nominations for the 2025 Dora Awards, recognizing the best of Toronto theatre, opera and dance, were revealed Wednesday morning, with the Canadian shows 'Mahabharata' and 'Life After' earning the most nominations. The announcement marks the end of a jam-packed performing arts season in the city. This year's nominations were spread among 81 shows, representing some 59 companies. The winners of the 45th Dora Awards, administered by the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts, will be announced on June 30 at Meridian Hall. The ceremony will be hosted by Peter Fernandes, a Dora-winning actor who's nominated again this year for his starring role in 'Fat Ham.'
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sanskrit epic ‘Mahabharata,' musical ‘Life After' among leading Dora Award nominees
TORONTO – A contemporary take on a 4,000-year-old Sanskrit epic is among the leading stage productions vying for this year's Dora Awards. Why Not Theatre's two-part show 'Mahabharata' collected 15 nominations overall, including nine for 'Part One: Karma: The Life We Inherit' and six for 'Part Two: Dharma: The Life We Choose,' both presented by Canadian Stage. Because each part got separate nods, the elaborate show will compete against its other half in multiple races, including best new play for Ravi Jain and Miriam Fernandes, who developed the work using poetry from Carole Satyamurti's 'Mahabharata: A Modern Retelling.' The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts announced 225 nominations for the Dora Mavor Moore Awards, which celebrate Toronto's professional theatre, dance and opera communities. For a second year in a row, Mirvish Productions is absent from the list because it withdrew from the alliance known as TAPA in 2023. However, nine nominations in the musical theatre division went to the off-Mirvish show 'Life After,' from Yonge Street Theatricals and other non-Mirvish partners, while five went to 'A Strange Loop' from The Musical Stage Company, Soulpepper Theatre Company, Crow's Theatre and TO Live. The independent theatre division saw eight nominations each go to 'Last Landscape,' from Bad New Days in partnership with Common Boots Theatre, and 'Mukashi, Mukashi (Once Upon a Time)' from Corpus. The awards will be presented June 30 at an evening ceremony in Toronto hosted by actor Peter Fernandes, who is up for a best performance award for Canadian Stage's 'Fat Ham.' Other contenders in the general theatre division include Crow's Theatre and Obsidian Theatre Company's 'FLEX,' which scored six nominations including best production and Canadian Stage's 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf,' starring Martha Burns and Paul Gross, which pulled four nominations including one for Burns. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. The opera race includes seven-time nominee 'La Reine-garçon,' a Canadian Opera Company co-production with Opéra de Montréal and two shows with five nominations: 'Madama Butterfly,' a Houston Grand Opera production presented by the COC, and 'Aportia Chryptych: A Black Opera for Portia White,' from the COC in association with the National Arts Centre's National Creation Fund, Canada Council for the Arts, and Ontario Arts Council. The dance division includes two productions with five nominations each — Citadel + Compagnie's 'Everything I wanted to tell you (but couldn't, so here it is now)' and 'Big Time Miss,' from Rock Bottom Movement presented by Fall For Dance North. The Dora Awards are nominated by members of Toronto's professional performing arts community. Jurors include performers, designers, directors, producers, administrators and educators. Online: This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 28, 2025.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Iskcon summer camp to revive Vedic values
Prayagraj: With the aim of reviving Vedic values among children and youths, Iskcon Prayagraj is running a five-day 'Prahalad Summer Camp' for kids from 5 years to adolescents. The camp, which will run till May 30, is offering a range of activities and courses aimed at uplifting the spiritual and ethical values of the participants. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The participants perform mega Harinam Sankirtan (congregational chanting) on the streets of the city. They engage in various activities, ranging from organising drama based on the Ramayana and Mahabharata, teaching art and craft, shloka learning from the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam, Ramacharitmanas and gau sewa, among others . According to Iskcon officials, around 350 children and youths, along with a massive gathering of 500 residents, performed mega Harinam Sankirta on the streets of the city in the early hours of the day. Starting from Kydgunj, the procession witnessed kids dressed in colourful clothes as Ram, Sita, Lakshman, Sri Krishna and Radharani. Hundreds of people were seen chanting and dancing to Harinam Kirtan performed by the devotees of Iskcon throughout the procession.
