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The Wire
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Wire
‘Sister Midnight' Is a Feel-Bad Fable That Liberates Radhika Apte From Bollywood
A still from Sister Midnight. Screengrab from video. Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute Now Even though it is widely known, I don't think enough gets written about how much of a nightmare it is to watch a film in its 'purest' form in India. One can overlook the overzealous censors that infantilise the audience with humongous smoking warnings, even for films rated 'A', desecrating the work of any self-respecting filmmaker. Along with that, most ambitious films play in sparsely-populated theatres. The screening for Karan Kandhari's Sister Midnight that I attended in Bengaluru had about a dozen audience members. I have a feeling I would've enjoyed the film more if I'd seen it in a packed theatre because it has many visual gags, and most of them are spot on. Also, muted cuss words can feel like sensory speed bumps even if one can decipher them by reading the lip movement. I wondered how the British-Indian director reacted to the alterations? But hey, at least the film released, unlike Sandhya Suri's Santosh (2024). A still from Sister Midnight. Screengrab from video. Kandhari's film, also produced in the UK, has the irreverence and an energy that no Bollywood film could muster in 2025 (or a film like this couldn't get funding in India right now). Intent on feel-good fables on newly married couples, where the demure bride discovers her agency in the finale (like say, Laapataa Ladies or Mrs), Kandhari's film could be labelled a feel-bad fable. Offering Radhika Apte the license to be at her most unhinged, especially after being repeatedly let-down by most films and directors, in one clean stroke, Kandhari liberates her from Bollywood. This might be the rare film where the 39-year-old actor's bravery is reciprocated. Uma (Apte) and Gopal (Ashok Pathak) are a newly-married couple navigating the initial awkwardness of an arranged marriage. The first time we see them, she's concerned about living in a city like Mumbai, while he's asleep. They're dumped in a one-room chawl in one of those back alleys in Bandra/Khar – ones that bustle with hawkers, autorickshaws in the mornings, and become dead silent at night. Gopal isn't the most expressive – on his first day after their marriage, he leaves for work without saying a word. To make matters worse, he comes back home drunk at night, not bothered about how Uma spent the day in this fully alien environment. A still from Sister Midnight. Screengrab from video. But it's not just him who is socially not equipped to play the part of 'husband'. If anything, Uma looks even more troubled by this life sentence of domesticity. She can't fathom her responsibility as a wife. Torn between understanding her 'duty' of providing the carnal pleasures of marriage, and fully aware of how completely ill-prepared she is to play the role of a homemaker, Uma suffocates, and then takes defiant strides to find her happiness. The first hour of Kandhari's film is a sensational study of arranged marriages and their deeply patriarchal nature, as much as about a life in an unforgiving metropolis like Mumbai. Gopal and Uma's chawl never feels like a set; one can almost smell the damp air, feel the heat trapped from the asbestos roofing and taste the humidity. What I found strained to believe in the film is how it shows Uma walking up and down from Khar to Fort everyday, for a job she takes up in a shipping company as a late-night janitor. Chhaya Kadam – India's resident character actor to showcase a middle-aged woman doling out advice to wet-around-their-ears women – plays Sheetal, the neighbour on the other side of a thin ply that separates her home from Uma and Gopal's. Kadam's wry, matter-of-fact delivery deepens the enigma of Uma's sense of displacement in Mumbai. Smita Tambe, playing Uma's nosy neighbour Reshma, is a delight. She's at the receiving end of Uma's best, most crude line, which is unfortunately muted in the version playing in Indian theatres. A still from Sister Midnight. Screengrab from video. I also liked the dynamic Apte and Pathak share on-screen. Uma's profane mouth and utter disregard for household work is balanced by Gopal's quiet fragility. His ignorance is not entirely intentional, some of it is also social awkwardness. He never asks her where she's coming from, holding a bucket and a mop, even though she can't clean their house. He eats out of polythene bags of rice and dal, too polite to confront Uma about why she hasn't cooked him a meal. Even though Uma is the author-backed role in the film, Pathak makes Gopal this luminous being, aware of his less-than-impressive face, so he tries to compensate with his soft, passive presence – never going on to become an obstacle in the path of his abrasive wife. As Uma, Apte delivers a physical performance for the ages. Saying the darndest of things, while shedding every last inch of vanity (from scratching her bum to projectile vomiting multiple times) – she never tries to lessen the blow of Uma as an anti-heroine. The best compliment I can think of paying Apte and Kandhari is how they never try to mine sympathy for Uma, and yet they also never let her become sub-human (even when the film dives deep into the pit of genre). It's in the second hour, and the longer Kandhari commits to the absurdity of his chosen genre, that the film begins to seem clueless about where it's headed. The whimsicality of the first hour – especially Paul Banks' score that features classical rock, grunge, blues, wonderfully at odds with bustling Mumbai compositions and its arid outskirts – becomes less novel towards the end. Especially, once we realise Kandhari hasn't quite figured out a way to make it land. The reflective commentary around Uma-Gopal's dysfunctional marriage – and how some people are simply not cut-out for 'conjugal bliss' – doesn't reach the heights I imagined; the messaging instead becomes garbled. Apte still swings for the fences till the last scene, but the film (with some dodgy VFX) starts to look less than what was initially promised. As it concludes, it's impossible to not admire the storm that is Karan Kandhari's Sister Midnight – even if it leaves behind a whole lot of wreckage in its wake. Such beautiful wreckage. *Sister Midnight is playing in theatres The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Rapid rise to top for Gold Guitar winner
New Zealand country music has a new star — with an English accent, an assertive performance style, and whose smoky and evocative tone fills a stadium with ease. Gore Town & Country Club was packed to the rafters on Sunday night as 1100 people watched the best country musicians from near and far competing at the MLT Gold Guitar Awards senior finals. The judges had their work cut out for them, as the high-quality entrants brought their A-game to the show. The hour was late, but the audience sat in anticipation as the big moment arrived — the crowning of country music royalty. Lawrence musician Keily Smith, after resounding performances in the country rock and New Zealand song sections, won the Gold Guitar for her song in the new country category. Following her big win, Mrs Smith said she felt a mix of joy and exhaustion after such a big night with a late finish. 'I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. There was such a plethora of talent here this evening, it was anyone's game. "I'm just so thrilled to have shared the experience with the other artists, and I'm ready for a nap," she said, laughing. County Durham in England, where Mrs Smith is from originally, is not known for its country music, but the musician grew up listening to the greats her mum would play for her. Listening to Mrs Smith, you would assume she was a seasoned veteran of the art, but she began her music journey only three years ago. Her smokey and powerful voice, alongside her energetic stage presence, made her a standout among standouts. Mrs Smith said it was only the start. "I'm going to use the resources, going to make sure I'm a good advocate for country music and other musicians, and Gore Country Music Club. "It's really going to get me going with releasing a single at the end of the year, hopefully with the songs I've been writing," she said. Runner-up Simon Thompson, of Invercargill, was overcome with emotion as he accepted several awards for his performances. He also won the male vocal solo award. Mr Thompson said the wins showed his hard work had been paying off. "I was just stunned. Even now I'm completely speechless. "Everyone in this room is a winner and to be called up, to be given that, it feels like I do belong and I am good enough," he said. MLT Gold Guitar Awards convener Phillip Geary said the night was one to be remembered, and the winner was a fantastic ambassador for the awards, and country music. "It's just another great milestone; it's a continuation of the jouney. The quality is as high as it's ever been, "[Keily Smith] represents very well, she's a very worthy winner. If she goes on from here, takes advantage of the prize package, we'll be really proud of her," he said.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
I had weeds cropping up all over my patio but 30p trick blitzed them for good – and it's safe for your garden
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A GARDENING fan has revealed a 30p hack for banishing pesky weeds from your patio for good. With summer now upon us, and the Met Office predicting glorious days ahead, many of us are likely making plans to invite friends and family over for garden parties or BBQs. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Patio weeds can be tricky to get rid of Credit: Getty 2 Salt is a penny pincher friendly hack to banish weeds Credit: Getty But before you have guests over to bask in the sun, you'll want to make sure your patio is looking its best. The warm spring weather mixed with occasional showers has been a perfect breeding ground for moss and weeds to grow in between patio slabs. The most obvious option to get rid of them is to pull them out of the ground, but this can be a strenuous and time consuming task. Searching for a solution to her patio predicament one budding Gardener posted in Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips, a public Facebook group with 537,000 members. The post read: "Hi, does anyone know how to get rid of weeds between patio slabs? "I think I have seen something about white vinegar. Many thanks." The post was flooded with helpful responses from garden lovers, keen to share their purse friendly hacks. The most popular recommendation was to use a cupboard staple, table salt, with some people suggesting adding washing up liquid and white vinegar. One person said: "Big tub of cheap table salt is about 30p last time I looked. "Dissolve it in some water and use that after you've pulled what you can up, then it goes straight to any roots... [they] stay away for ages." The secret feature you can use to stop draughts coming through your patio doors - and it's on some windows too Another person said: "Salt and white vinegar. "Tip is to do this on a warm sunny day, works a treat." A third person said: "Salt. It kills everything. "It's a safe chemical to use in your garden... but be careful." What is a weed? And why are they important? Simply put, a weed is a plant that grows in an area or space you don't want it to. Rebecca Miller, Fabulous' Associate Editor, and keen gardener, explains why gardeners need to become friends with weeds. "From nettles, buttercups, docks and dandelions - there are so many wonderful plants that are called weeds. And yet, as soon as the weather warms up, and we spend more time in outside, we want to pluck, pull and kill as many of them as possible, to make our gardens look perfect and pristine. "Weeds are essential to our ecosystem - many are pollinators, providing food to bees, bats, beetles, butterflies, moths and wasps. And without weeds, these animals wouldn't survive past early Spring. "Weeds also give back to nature - when they die and decay, their roots break down, feed microorganisms and insects, and make pathways and tunnels for worms. Bountiful life below means plentiful life above. "Weeds are also brilliant indicators of soil health - which is important if you want to grow anything in your outdoor space. When microorganisms and insects break down weeds, they release essential nutrients into the soil that plants soak up. They also store nitrogen and carbon dioxide in the ground, creating cleaner air and removing greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere, mitigating the climate crisis. "So before you pull out every weed in your garden, why not give a few of them a chance to grow and bloom, and see what enters your garden to enjoy the flowers..." A fourth added: "Then, I got a gardening tool that looks like a wire brush with a long handle, and went over the cracks where they had been growing but were now brown and dried and got them out. "Cheap and easy." Salt is a great natural alternative to toxic weedkiller. It works by increasing the levels on ions in the soil and increasing osmotic pressure, which means the weeds will be unable to absorb water and will dry out. White vinegar works in a similar way, as the acidity of it breaks down cell walls and removes moisture from weeds. Washing up liquid does not work on its own to kill weeds but improves the effectiveness of the formula by holding the salt and the vinegar on the weeds.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Allowing 70-year-olds to have a baby is daft. Why don't we ever say no anymore?
Here goes. I know little ears might be listening. More saliently, I know elderly ears might be listening, too. A British couple in their 70s have just been granted permission by the courts to become the legal parents of a 14-month-old baby boy. Not because of family breakdown, not through necessity. But because they paid a surrogate in California £151,000 to carry the embryo made from the husband's sperm and a donor egg. Now, I also know that whatever the unfortunate, regrettable or just plain awful circumstances of its conception, once a baby is born, the slate is wiped clean and jubilation is the only possible human, humane response. Because babies are a blessing. They represent hope, love and all that is squidgy and precious – they should never be burdened with the sins of their proverbial fathers and mothers. But sometimes – and it would seem, more often than just sometimes – we need to speak up and say 'enough'. Speak out and shout: 'NO! No, you can't. No, you mustn't. JUST STOP!' The court papers describe how the wealthy retired couple, referred to as Mr and Mrs K, decided to have a surrogate baby after their son 'A' died from cancer in 2020 shortly before he turned 27. By any measure that is an out-and-out tragedy. A life-long bereavement. But how could they possibly believe that having another baby in their twilight years was the best course of action? Did no-one advise them against it? Did they not have friends or wider family to forcefully impress upon them that effectively replacing their son with a new baby would be an act of grief-induced madness? It would seem not. In a written judgement handed down last month in the family division of the High Court, Mrs Justice Knowles said she had made her judgement public because it raised an 'important welfare issue and offers some advice for those who may, in future, engage in a foreign or other surrogacy arrangement'. She added that it was an 'undeniable fact' that when the child – referred to as 'B' – started primary school, Mr and Mrs K would be both aged 76. 'Put starkly, Mr and Mrs K will both be 89 years old when B reaches his majority,' Judge Knowles said. Despite those concerns, she granted a parental order to give 'permanence and security' to the child's care arrangements 'in circumstances where no one else other than Mr and Mrs K seek to provide lifelong care for him'. The couple, it was said, have made provisions in their will for friends of their deceased son – a couple in their early 30s – to become the child's legal guardians if they die or are unable to look after him. So that's all right then. Or is it? It is troubling to note this is the third such case to emerge in the last year where a 'parental order' has been given to British 'intended parents' in their 60s and70s for children born to surrogate mothers abroad. And none of that is OK. These acts of blind selfishness are so egregiously wrong that it's hard to fathom where to start – and I speak as someone who suffered the torment of infertility for many years. Even as I struggled and invested my life's savings, I knew deep down there was a cut-off point; and it was a good two and a half decades before my 70th birthday. Not just because any reputable clinic would have stopped treating me – although many a less scrupulous outfit beyond these shores would have stepped in. But because it would have been weird and icky and unnatural (the irony of being pumped with drugs is not lost on me) to keep going and going. I felt – I still feel – that beyond 50 it would be wrong. For me, 45 was my limit. Just because my husband and I looked young and fit, didn't mean we were. Above all, however, it felt immoral to bring – let's be honest, engineer – a baby into the world at the point when menopause decreed my reproductive days were over. I was lucky. I had two daughters by the age of 42. I will urge them that if they want families they should start early in case my infertility is inherited. Or in case their partner has been hit by 'spermageddon'; over the past 40 years, sperm counts worldwide have halved and sperm quality has declined 'alarmingly', with one in 20 men currently facing reduced fertility. I would never have gone down the surrogacy route to become a mother although I know women who have and that's their business. It becomes society's business, however, when elderly couples start doing the same. There's no legal age limit for people in the position of Mr and Mrs K. There should be – if only because as a nation we seem to be increasingly in the thrall of the pernicious 'you do you' hands-off mentality fostered by social media. Blithely letting people do as they like without regard for the consequences might empower the individual, but it sure as hell disempowers the rest of us. Time and again we fail to condemn unpalatable behaviour because a spurious and deeply juvenile notion of 'kindness' takes precedence over common sense. Activists have taken advantage – why wouldn't they? For years our pusillanimous institutions have fallen foul of aggressive transgender ideologues demanding rights to which they were never entitled. I for one found it downright humiliating that it took the Supreme Court to assert the biological fact that trans women are not women (the clue being in the title). Then we have doctors lambasted for doing their jobs. GPs informing patients they are obese and their health is at risk has been reframed by campaigners as 'weight-shaming'. And as that might 'cause offence' it is, of course, to be avoided. What are medics supposed to do? Send a text? Mime it? All too often we find ourselves kowtowing to the few at the expense of the many and tolerating the intolerable. At dinner tables the length of the land, the tiresome cry from younger generations of 'you can't say that!'goes up daily. When the grown-ups acquiesce for an easier life, that doesn't burnish our liberal credentials, it makes fools of us all. We have a responsibility to safeguard our values. And when it comes to pensioners commissioning babies, age isn't just a number. Yes, Mr and Mrs K suffered a terrible loss, but what they desperately needed was a grief counsellor not a fertility clinic. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Scoop
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Roll Up, Roll Up! Mr And Mrs Alexander Bring Sideshows And Psychics To Toitoi
Step right up for a theatrical experience like no other—prepare to be mystified, mesmerised and utterly entertained when Mr and Mrs Alexander: Sideshows & Psychics! takes the stage at Toitoi – Hawke's Bay Arts & Events Centre for one night only on Saturday, 28 June. Hailed as 'gripping theatre, full of laughs and thrills, surprises and delights', this internationally acclaimed production is part play, part spectacle—blending mind reading, illusion, and sideshow stunts into a devilishly clever night of entertainment. Set in 1888 colonial New Zealand, the story invites audiences into the spellbinding world of the country's most infamous showbiz couple. With a flair for the dramatic and a touch of the supernatural, Mr Alexander makes objects disappear, while Mrs Alexander astonishes with psychic feats and dangerous illusions. Created and performed by award-winning duo Lizzie Tollemache and David Ladderman, and directed by Mike Friend, the show features original music by Robbie Ellis and the expertise of Magic Advisor Mike Hines. This is homegrown New Zealand theatre at its boldest and most bewitching. 'Presenting original New Zealand theatre that's as inventive as it is entertaining, is something we take pride in at Toitoi.' says Glen Pickering, Toitoi's Presenter Services Manager. 'Mr and Mrs Alexander is a clever and charismatic blend of storytelling, sideshow, and stage magic. Audiences get to experience the mystery and spectacle live on the Opera House stage.' With accolades including Outstanding Ensemble at the Ottawa Fringe Festival and Critics' Choice at the World Buskers Festival, this is a rare theatrical treat for lovers of history, mystery, and the extraordinary. Don't miss your chance to witness the magic—live on stage for one unforgettable night Tickets are $35 and strictly limited.
