Page 4 - Film Industry

Venice Film Fest 2024: 'Joker Folie a Deux' gets 11-mins standing ovation

Joker: Folie a Deux, a musical psychological thriller film helmed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga gets a standing ovation at the 81st Venice International Film Festival

Puri Jagannadh's Double iSmart arrives on OTT just 21 days after release

Puri Jagannadh's Double iSmart is now on Amazon Prime Video. On August 15, the film was released in theatres. It features Ram Pothineni, Sanjay Dutt, and Kavya Thapar in the lead roles

HC to form special bench to hear matters related to Hema Committee report

The Kerala High Court on Thursday said it will constitute a five-judge special bench to hear cases related to the Justice Hema Committee report. A bench of Acting Chief Justice A Muhamed Mustaque and Justice S Manu made this oral observation while hearing a plea challenging a single judge's decision allowing release of the committee's report. The special bench would also comprise women judges, the High Court said in its oral observation, a lawyer associated with the petition said. The single judge on August 13 had allowed release of the report by dismissing a plea challenging the State Information Commission's order permitting the panel's findings and recommendations to be made public. The single judge order came while rejecting the plea by Sajimon Parayil, a film producer, who had challenged the Information Commission's July 5 order directing the State Public Information Officer (SPIO) to reasonably disseminate the information in the report while ensuring that it does not compromi

Stars appeal to Kerala CM for policy to address issues in film industry

In a joint appeal, 72 prominent personalities, including author Arundhati Roy, have urged Kerala Chief Minister to enact a law addressing concerns raised by the Justice K Hema Committee report on sexual atrocities against women in the film field. The signatories to the appeal include Supreme Court advocates Indira Jaisingh and Vrinda Grover, actors Aparna Sen, Prakash Raj, Swara Bhasker, musician T M Krishna, a few retired bureaucrats and several journalists who have sought a "360-degree approach" from the state government to achieve the objectives for which the committee was set up. In their letter to the CM, the concerns they have highlighted include the "inordinate focus on the sexual misdemeanours and crimes mentioned in the report" and the "virtual exclusion" of issues like the working conditions in the film industry, lack of contracts, pay disparities, etc. which also find mention the panel's findings. One of the signatories, T M Krishna, in a post on social media platform ...

K'taka filmstars urge CM for panel to address sexual harassment in industry

Over 100 film professionals on Wednesday urged the Karnataka government to appoint a committee led by a retired judge to address the sexual harassment issue in the Kannada film industry. In a letter addressed to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, sent on behalf of Film Industry for Rights & Equality (FIRE), 153 film professionals, including actors Kiccha Sudeep and Ramya, demanded the government to "conduct a thorough investigation into the systematic issues faced by women in KFI, including sexual harassment". The letter, dated September 4, comes in the wake of the Justice K Hema Committee report that is taking the Malayalam film industry by storm with many survivors coming forward to name the preparators. FIRE, led by film director, screenwriter and lyricist Kavita Lankesh, has been pushing for reform in the Kannada film industry following the #metoo wave as well. FIRE also urged the government to "develop and recommend policies to ensure a healthy and equitable work ...

Malayalam film actor Nivin Pauly, five others booked for sexual assault

Actor Nivin Pauly was on Tuesday booked for the offence of rape on a complaint by a 40-year-old woman that he sexually assaulted her over a year ago in Dubai, police said. An officer of Oonnukal police station, where the FIR under section 376 of the IPC was registered, said that there are six accused, including a woman, in the case. The first accused is a woman and Pauly is the sixth accused, the officer said. According to the woman, the incident occurred over a year ago in Dubai, the officer said, and declined to give further details. Pauly is among the many actors and directors who are facing allegations of sexual harassment or rape by female actors following the publication of the Justice K Hema Committee report. The committee was constituted by the Kerala government after the 2017 actress assault case and its report revealing instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry. Following the allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation crop

Samantha urges T'gana govt to publish report on sexual abuse in Tollywood

Praising the efforts of the Women in Cinema Collective in Kerala, actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu has urged the Telangana government to publish the report of a sub-committee on 'sexual harassment' in the Telugu film industry which can help frame policies to establish a safe working environment for women. Taking cue from the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), The Voice of Women, a support group for women in TFI (Telugu film industry), was created in 2019, she said on Instagram. "We, the women of the Telugu film industry, welcome the Hema Committee report and applaud the persistent efforts of the WCC in Kerala, which has laid the path to this moment," she said. "We hereby urge the Telangana government, to publish the submitted sub-committee report on sexual harassment, which can help frame government and industry policies, to establish a safe working environment for women in the TFI," Samantha said. The state government had in 2019 constituted a committee, comprising government officials o

Hema panel report: Film employees federation to not protect accused members

The Film Employees Federation of Kerala on Saturday said it won't protect members who were found to be facing allegations with regard to the Justice Hema Committee report and they would be suspended from it if arrested. Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) itself would provide relevant information to police in this connection if it comes to know about any such complaints, it's general secretary B Unnikrishnan said here. FEFKA is the apex body of 21 trade unions working at various levels of the Malayalam film industry. Unnikrishnan admitted that some of the Association members were also facing allegations. "We won't take any immediate action if just FIR is lodged against any of our members. But, if the police later file any report, the court makes any mention against the person or he is arrested, the individual will be suspended from the Association," he said. The filmmaker also rejected allegations that the Association remained silent over the shocking revelations in the ex

Hema Committee report: 'I am not part of any power group', says Mohanlal

Actor Mohanlal on Saturday said he was not part of any power group in the Malayalam film industry and he has no knowledge of the existence of any such group in the sector. He said Malayalam cinema is a huge industry where thousands of people work and the actors's association AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) could not address issues that cropped up there. He said the executive panel of the Association headed by him resigned recently in the wake of allegations being raised against it after the release of the report by Justice Hema Committee. It was for the first time that Mohanlal, former president of AMMA, was addressing the media following the release of the expert panel report which shed light on the alleged harassment and exploitation of women professionals in the Malayalam film industry. "Wrongdoers should be punished if there is evidence against them," the "Kireedam" actor said while referring to the allegations of sexual misconduct and assaults that surfaced again

Mollywood Director Ranjith faces fresh #MeToo allegations; FIRs filed

The latest complaint has been lodged by a young actor who alleges he was sexually abused by director Ranjith in 2012

British film investors aim to revive studio plan amid push for growth

Marlow Film Studios said it would appeal to a national planning body after the proposed new studio complex was rejected

Mohanlal, AMMA team quit over scandal, new leadership expected soon

The association announced the resignation through an official statement, assuring that a new leadership will be selected soon

Hema Committee report paves way for #MeToo movement in Mollywood

What was the MeToo movement and how has the Hema Committee report, delayed by five years, reignited the fight against sexual harassment in the film industry

Media misleading public perception of film industry, says Suresh Gopi

Union Minister Suresh Gopi on Tuesday lashed out at the media, accusing it of misleading the public's perception about the film industry regarding the recent allegations of sexual harassment against actors and directors. The actor-politician termed the allegations as "food" for the media and said they were welcome to make money out of it. The Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Tourism, however, said they should not try to destroy such a huge industry like cinema. He was responding to reporters' queries over the recent allegations of sexual harassment and abuse against various directors and actors, including CPI(M) MLA M Mukesh. "This is all food for you, is what I understand. You can use it to make money. (There is) no problem with that. But these issues are before the court, and it has the intelligence and logic to arrive at a decision regarding them. "You (media) are not only making people fight each other for your own gains, you are also misleading public ..

'Code names for women': Hema committee report shakes Malayalam cinema

The Hema committee, appointed by the Kerala government, highlighted issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry, including unwanted physical advances even before commencing work

Sridevi's 61st birthday: Husband Boney kapoor with daughters wish the actor

On her 61st birth anniversary, filmmaker Boney Kapoor paid tribute to his late wife and actor Sridevi. Daughter and actor Khushi Kapoor also shared a photo of herself with her late mother

Saudi Arabia: MBS wants Hollywood's help to grow local film industry

Beyond attracting foreign producers, Saudi Arabia is hoping to plant the roots of its own industry, reflecting its values

Recreating magic of single-screen: UP looks to revive closed cinema halls

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked officials to draft a blueprint to revive cinemas and facilitate construction of multiplexes and single-screen movie halls

House of the Dragon Season 3: Release date, cast, plot and what to expect

After the end of season 2, the third season of House of the Dragon has been confirmed. This television drama is an American series made by George R. R. Martin and Ryan Condal for HBO

The Kerala script: What is behind the resurgence of Malayalam cinema?

Few would have imagined the blockbuster year for Malayalam cinema that 2024 is turning out to be