Senegalese-American singer Akon, who arrived in India to attend Shillong’s Cherry Blossom Music Festival, enthralled the audience by performing his iconic Bollywood song ‘Chammak Challo’. Akon left no stone unturned to captivate the crowd as he also crooned his legendary tracks ‘Smack That’ and ‘Lonely’ to name a few. Watch the video below. Latest: Akon performing 'Chammak Challo' at the Cherry Blossom Music Festival in Shillong last night.AN ABSOLUTE CHARTBUSTER @iamsrk pic.twitter.com/SqyFtMvRFU — ℣ (@Vamp_Combatant) November 16, 2024 Akon would love to reunite with Shah Rukh Khan Akon lent his voice to Shah Rukh Khan's film 'Ra.One' which did not perform well at the box office but left the audience with many messages, especially about how good triumphs over evil. It also made waves with the song ‘Chammak Challo’ that was filmed on SRK and Kareena Kapoor Khan. The film was a modern-day retelling of Ramayana but with a sci-fi twist. Speaking to Hindustan Times, the singer shared, "Bollywood has always been very close to my heart, and if an opportunity to work on Chammak Challo 2.0 presents itself, I would love to grab it." “I have been following India's music scene very closely and I miss Bollywood. There is a lot of Bollywood work that will happen in 2025. I am already in touch with some of my friends in the industry, and I am looking forward to announcing the project soon,” he added. Shillong’s Cherry Blossom Music Festival Akon’s performance was followed by an electric show by legendary group Boney M on their "Farewell Tour". The festival was inaugurated by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma in the presence of Union Minister of DoNER (Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region) Jyotiraditya Scindia and Tourism Minister of Meghalaya Paul Lyngdoh. The tradition of celebrating ‘Hanami,’ (Cherry Blossom) dates back over a thousand years in Japan while the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival was first launched in 2016 and is the first autumn Cherry Blossom Festival in the world. Akon at Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant’s pre-wedding Earlier this year, Akon set the stage on fire with his special performance at the pre-wedding festivities of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant. On day three of the gala event, Akon performed 'Chammak Challo' which got superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan to shake a leg on the dance floor.
17 November,2024 10:58 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Nicole Kidman will receive a special honour at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. As per The Hollywood Reporter, Nicole is set to be honoured with the International Star Award on January 3 at the festival, which will run from January 2 to January 13. On felicitating Nicole, Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi said, "Nicole Kidman once again showcases her unmatched talent for embracing bold and unexpected roles with remarkable ease. In Babygirl, she portrays a high-powered CEO whose life begins to unravel as she embarks on a dark, risky affair that threatens to shatter her carefully constructed world. For this tour de force performance, we are honoured to present her with the International Star Award, an accolade that truly embodies Nicole Kidman." Nicole Kidman earlier received the International Star Award for Lion, for which she also received a best actress Oscar nomination. Past recipients of the award include Carey Mulligan, Michelle Yeoh, Penelope Cruz, Helen Mirren, Saoirse Ronan and Charlize Theron. Yeoh went on to receive the best actress Oscar the same year she received PSIFF's recognition, while Mulligan, Cruz and Ronan were nominated. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
17 November,2024 08:47 AM IST | Los Angeles | ANIAce filmmaker Zack Snyder has come on board to direct a new feature film for Netflix, centered around the Los Angeles Police Department. As per Variety, Zack has penned the script for the project with his frequent collaborator Kurt Johnstad. The yet-to-be-titled film is in early development at the streamer. It is being produced by Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder, and Wesley Coller for Stone Quarry. Excited about the project, Zack said, "Years ago, Dan Lin and I had a conversation about our shared interest in telling a compelling and visceral character-driven story set within the intense, complex and captivating landscape of the LAPD." He added, "It's a conversation that has stuck with me. So, as you would expect, I'm very excited to now have the opportunity to partner with Dan, along with the rest of my amazing partners at Netflix, in developing this story." This marks the latest feature to fall under the creative partnership between Stone Quarry and Netflix, after the recent duology of "Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire" and "Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver." Stone Quarry also produced Snyder's "Army of the Dead" and its spinoff "Army of Thieves" for Netflix. The animated series "Twilight of the Gods" was released in September 2024. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
17 November,2024 08:42 AM IST | Los Angeles | ANIMusician Will.i.am has shared the reason behind him living in a hotel as he’s never owned a house. The musician, 49, is said to be worth around $70 million partly due to his string of hits including ‘Boom Boom Pow’ and ‘I Gotta Feelin’’, but has revealed he doesn’t feel like he’s “made it”, partly he’s never put down permanent roots, reports ‘Female First UK’. He said at the AfroTech conference in Houston, “As far as the idea of ‘I made it’, I don’t think I made it, because every milestone takes me to the next milestone. I’m making it. I’ve never had a house. I bought myself a studio. I have my office, but I stay in a hotel. “I don’t have a house because I ain’t bought the house that says ‘I made it’”. As per ‘Female First UK’, the musician, who was born William James Adams Jr, also stressed he grew up living in a South Los Angeles housing project. He added: “I remember my mom was like, ‘Wait, put your clothes on. You go up here to get our food stamps. Sit in this line to get this cheese’. When you are in a project, that’s your reality. You come outside, your best friend that you grew up with is no longer with you because he got shot and you want to dream different – that’s where I get ambition from”. Will.i.am has added to his music fortune by investing in technology companies. He is also the founder and CEO of Fyi.AI, a new messenger and tool for streamlining apps. He said about the firm’s service, “You don’t need a thousand apps, especially when apps don't talk to each other. With FYI it’s all in one place – your news, your calendar, your collaborative work. It may sound like a foreign concept, but eventually it’s going to be the system”. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
17 November,2024 08:20 AM IST | Los Angeles | IANSRapper and singer Drake who had placed a USD 355K bet on Mike Tyson, that promised a payout of more than USD 1 Million, lost after YouTube Jake Paul beat the heavyweight icon in Texas during a boxing match. Drake lost approximately Rs 2.9 crore as Tyson, 58, barely landed a punch during the eight-round bout at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, with Paul winning by big margins on all three cards - 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73. View this post on Instagram A post shared by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) Mike Tyson satisfied with his performance After the fight, Mike Tyson said, "I came to fight. I didn't prove nothing to anybody, only to myself... I'm just happy with what I can do." Tyson had fought with a brace on his right knee but said it had not impacted his performance. "I can't use that as an excuse. If I did I wouldn't be in here," he said. Tyson, meanwhile, praised the quality of his opponent Paul. "He's a very good fighter," said Tyson, who refused to rule out the possibility that he might even fight again. Tyson was reportedly paid USD 20 million to sign up for Friday's contest, which came 19 years after his last officially sanctioned professional bout, a defeat to Irish journeyman Kevin McBride in 2005. Drake and his public feud with Kendrick Lamar Drake made headlines for his public feud with Kendrick Lamar, which resulted in both artists exchanging a series of diss tracks. Lamar accused Drake and even raised questions about his personal life which led to the rising tension between them Lamar's scathing accusations, including claims that Drake has a questionable personal life, have led to rising tensions. The differences aggravated after Drake reportedly unfollowed NBA stars LeBron James and DeMar DeRozan on Instagram for their support of Lamar. Their feud began in March when Lamar was featured on "Like That" with Future and Metro Boomin. Last month, Drake took the stage at the Nostalgia Party in Toronto and addressed the crowd, saying, "I'm going to tell you, you're going to come to a point in life where people you thought were your friends or people you thought were close to you, they might switch up. They might try to move funny with you. They might stab you in the back. They might do a lot of things to you. You'll come to that realization, wherever you're at in life. You've probably been there and you'll be there again. That's how life is. Sometimes it's you and you alone by yourself."
16 November,2024 01:30 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBrad Pitt will do a world tour to promote his film 'F1', which is set to release on June 25, 2025, informed producer Jerry Bruckheimer, reported Deadline. "Brad is really invested in this movie," said Buckheimer, adding, "He doesn't like to do press, but I think we'll take him on a world tour where he'll be glad to show his efforts in driving and acting in this movie." 'F1' is scheduled to be theatrically released by Warner Bros. Pictures on June 25, 2025, overseas, and in the United States on June 27, 2025. When asked about the film's planned premieres before its commercial release, probably referring to Cannes or other film festivals, Bruckheimer didn't open up much and said, "That's up for discussion. I think we're going to show it in Monaco, to the drivers and the F1 teams and then we'll have premieres in New York and London and a bunch of other cities." Apple Original Film announced the film's title, 'F1', and the film's poster featuring Pitt in his racing gear. The film stars Brad Pitt and directed by Joseph Kosinski. Additionally, a teaser poster was released. "It's going to be everywhere around the world - Imax theatres, where you're going to get the huge experience that Imax gives you," the producer said. Bruckheimer shared that F1 drivers, "are booked every five minutes. It's unbelievable what their life is like. The physical toll that it takes on them, the amount of training that they have to do, you never see that. But we'll certainly show you some of that in the movie. I love to make what I call process movies. I've done it over and over again. I had a TV series called CSI that takes you behind the curtain and shows you what the world is really like and that's what our movie does. You get inside the world of F1 and you see how it actually works. But there's a lot of wonderful dramatic stories I keep telling," reported Deadline. 'F1' is an upcoming American sports action drama film directed by Joseph Kosinski and written by Ehren Kruger based on the motorsport of the same name, created in collaboration with the FIA, its governing body. The film features actors like Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, Lewis Hamilton, Javier Bardem and Sarah Niles. Pitt plays a former Formula One driver who returns to the grid with his colleague (Damson Idris) at APXGP, a fictitious team. The film stars Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem, Tobias Menzies, Sarah Niles, Kim Bodnia, and Samson Kayo. Top Gun: Maverick filmmaker Kosinski directs and produces the film alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and Chad Oman of Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Pitt, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner for Plan B Entertainment, and Lewis Hamilton under his Dawn Apollo Films banner. The film is made in collaboration with Formula 1 and the F1 community, including the 10 F1 teams and their drivers, the FIA and race promoters. Copper CEO Penni Thow serves as executive producer, reported Deadline. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 November,2024 10:14 AM IST | Washington | ANIDwayne Johnson talked about his latest Christmas action-adventure film 'Red One' and shared his views that it should be released on Imax screens like Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer', reported Deadline. 'Oppenheimer' is a 2023 epic biographical thriller film written, directed, and produced by Christopher Nolan. He said that he watched Nolan's directorial film in the same Imax screening room the director uses to screen his films and after watching it he felt that 'Red One' would be a "game changer" if screened the same way. "With Red One, our intention was to make a movie that you can enjoy on the biggest screen possible," said Johnson. "Legitimately, the biggest screens possible are Imax. I was midway through shooting 'Red One' and I had an opportunity to see 'Oppenheimer'. I watched in the Imax theater where Christopher Nolan watches and screens his movies. Him and Emma [Thomas], his wife. I even asked to let me sit where Chris sits. They said, 'Chris sits here.'" He continued, "I watch 'Oppenheimer'. It was amazing, but I was thinking: 'Holy shit. 'Red One' on this screen and with this technology could be game over.' I remember texting director Jake Kasdan a picture of my bare chest and a picture of the screen and we realized how cool it would be." 'Red One' is a film directed by Jake Kasdan. The film follows Johnson's Callum Drift, the head of North Pole security, as he teams up with a bounty hunter to find a kidnapped Santa Claus. Johnson's co-stars include Chris Evans, JK Simmons, Lucy Liu, Kiernan Shipka, Bonnie Hunt, Nick Kroll, Kristofer Hivku, and Wesley Kimmel, reported Deadline. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 November,2024 10:03 AM IST | Washington | ANIFilm: The Substance (playing on MUBI)Cast: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid, Edward Hamilton-Clark, Gore Abrams, Christian Erickson, Robin Greer, Hugo Diego GarciaDirector: Coralie FargeatRating: 3.5Runtime: 141 min Coralie Fargeat’s “The Substance” is a macabre body horror satire that takes wounding hits at beauty standards governed by ‘viagra’ fortified men. Ironically, this film arrives at a time when the one-shot weight loss solution ‘Ozempic’ is in peak demand, and the storyline could well be an echo of what horrors could be in store for similar solution takers - of course, based on a very fertile imagination. The subject matter of the film is a ‘fountain of youth’ solution. Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) once dazzled audiences as an actress and fitness guru, but, like her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, she has seen better days. After losing her job leading a fitness class for a daytime TV show because Harvey (Dennis Quaid) decides she needs to make room for someone younger, she goes down in the dumps. Then she hears of a mysterious product, a black-marketed drug called The Substance, which creates a younger version of herself. The Substance comes with several rules and specifications. She can only activate her younger self once, and she and her perky alter ego are to switch off every seven days without exception. Both are supposed to be one - having the same consciousness, but Elisabeth and her younger self, Sue (Margaret Qualley) after continuing with The Substance, realise how difficult it is to maintain a grip on beauty without paying a heavy price for it. The obsessiveness regarding beauty is overwhelming. Fargeat, who wrote and directed the film, makes the search for youth into a blood-and-fluid-drenched horror spectacle. What was meant to be a fresh new beginning ends up as a horrific experiment with unintended consequences. References from David Cronenberg’s films are obvious. Fargeat’s script, a winner at Cannes this year, is tight and has less than a handful of characters. Cinematographer Benjamin Kracun builds his visuals around a bright color palette, Emmanuelle Youchnovski’s costumes suit the characters, and the background compositions by Raffertie, help the narrative race up to an unexpected adrenaline gush. Fargeat basically uses revolting body horror trappings to critique the entertainment business. The film is brilliantly lit and looks amazing. Everything including the shot-taking, the editing, and production design are well thought out. Fargeat’s visuals feel surreal with its ultra wide-angle shots, eye-popping close-ups and a vivid unreal color palette. The Substance is an ambitious film but the ending fails to become resounding. Moore, Qualley and Quaid do their jobs well but the contrived end fails to provide a triumphant climax to an imaginatively constructed horror fantasy.
15 November,2024 07:15 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasDanish actress Connie Nielsen, who returns to the role of Lucilla in 'Gladiator 2', admitted she is a huge fan of Indian music. In an interview with IANS, Nielsen revealed that her playlist is filled with many classic Indian songs and expressed her deep admiration for both Indian cinema and music. While Connie acknowledged that she often struggles with remembering names, especially during interviews, her passion for Indian culture was undeniable. When asked if she has seen any Indian films or is familiar with any Indian actors or their work, Connie shared, “Yes, I have watched a lot. The only thing I have to say is that I am one of those people who struggle to remember names, especially during interviews. I just go blank on everything. But I am a huge fan, not just of Indian films, but also of Indian music—I’m crazy about it. My playlist is filled with many classic Indian songs. I love Indian movies in general, and obviously, they are incredible. Additionally, female directors are so inspiring, and the storytelling is haunting. I must say, I am a big fan of Indian culture, and it’s just amazing.” Talking about returning to 'Gladiator 2', the ‘Wonder Woman’ star expressed, “My feelings upon arriving back in Malta and walking up this ancient fort were overwhelming. I couldn’t help but remember the first time I walked up the same hill to the ancient limestone fort and saw the Colosseum rising in front of me.” “I recall back in the day when Withley was walking towards me, chomping on a cigar, always smiling a little slyly, as he does. Then he asked, ‘What do you think?’ This time, as I was coming up again, it felt almost unbelievable to be having the same experience. But, of course, it wasn’t exactly the same because you can never step into the same river twice. Still, stepping into a new version of that experience was incredible, and I was deeply moved,” Nielsen further mentioned. The 59-year-old actress portrayed Lucilla, the daughter of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris), in the original 'Gladiator' film 24 years ago. In a shocking twist, her character was killed by her brother, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). 'Gladiator 2' sees Nielsen return to the role of Lucilla, now the mother of Paul Mescal’s Lucius. The movie was released in UK cinemas on November 15 and will be released in US cinemas on November 22. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 November,2024 06:59 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSFilm: Gladiator IICast: Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Derek Jacobi, May CalamawyDirector: Ridley ScottRating: 3.5Runtime: 148 min This sequel to Ridley Scott’s landmark period spectacular is a great movie experience as a standalone. Written by David Scarpa (“Napoleon”) and directed by an 86-year-old Scott who continues to blend Machiavelli, pageantry, and visual grandeur in epic proportions, this is a movie experience that is still top-notch (even if it does not match up to the much-vaunted original). Twenty-four years ago, the slash-and-burn hyperviolent “Gladiator” which blended in Cecil De Mille’s epic proportions with intensely engaging philosophies of warfare and romance while incorporating novel VFX was a near hypnotic experience and continues to be revered by most who have experienced it. “Gladiator II,” may not become as well-loved but it is a wonderful experience nevertheless. The entire film is centered around Paul Mescal as Hanno/Lucius whose voyage comes full circle when he enters the coliseum as a captive of Rome. The story here complements that of the original film and provides some fan service too. The credit sequence hearkens back to the original and lends the unschooled some idea of what took place 16 years before. Incidentally, Lucius Verus was sent away as a pre-teen, to a safe place in order for his life to be spared. It’s not a surprise then to find him a descendant of Maximus. In one of the dialogues, Lucius admits he does not have the strength of his father and the film plays strongly to that vein. Mescal is no Crowe. His Hanno/Lucius goes from commander to captive to gladiator not with contemplative raging hostility that Maximus displayed but with a fixated vengeance-led rage. His rage is centered around General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) who ordered the killing of his wife Arishat(Yuval Gonen) at the battle for Numidia, and later on spreads to the rulers of Rome-- twin-brother emperors, Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger), both extremely fey yet as vicious as Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) in their actions. Lucius Verus is also not shown as a swordsman. He is a wily fighter though and has experience as a commander of a small battalion of the Numidian army. Mescal doesn’t possess Crowe’s physicality nor does he exhibit Maximus’ silent fury. The film sets him up as an unequal to Maximus and that’s a good thing here. Mescal’s Lucius is branded by nobility and therefore not as rugged and imposing as Maximus. The narrative and character development are not as robust as the original. The script draws so many parallels between the new film and the old one that they begin to feel one and the same. There’s no new dramatic thrust to speak of here. The storyline feels rushed, and some character arcs lack depth. Lucius’ goalposts transition from revenge to saving the nation within a hair-breath. It felt as though the director and writer wanted to cram-in as many events as possible to make the narrative consequential. The characters that work are pivotal to the telling of this tale. Connie Nielsen who returns from the original cast as Lucilla, the mother who sent Lucius away from Rome as a boy after the death of Maximus and Macrinus (Denzel Washington), the former gladiator who rises up to the post of second-in-command in Rome’s power hierarchy. The wily ease with which Denzel tackles this role and the tremulous heart with which Nielsen establishes her pathos, lend the film quite a bite. Ravi (Alexander Karim), a soulful former slave and gladiator originally from India, who earned his freedom but chose to become a healer for the wounded combatants may not be an important character but he gets quite a bit of screen time and is impactful in helping put an end to the scheming and dealing in Rome. Gladiator 2 uses CGI & practical effects to rousing affect. The neoclassical epic spread of brutal warfare, lavish Colosseum duels, stunning decapitations, and decadent palace intrigue is well served by it. The music score is a little overwhelming with way too many nostalgic callbacks for it not to sound similar to the original’s score. The battle scenes are also quite spectacular. The cinematography, as in every Ridley Scott film is extraordinary. It’s the story that falls short dependent as it is on contrivance and familiarity. Nevertheless, this sequel is still a highly enjoyable film and deserves to be seen in all its glory on the big screen!
15 November,2024 06:50 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasDaniel Craig's journey as James Bond ended three years ago with the film 'No Time to Die' directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga. After playing the esteemed role on screen for years, Craig got the perfect ending. Now, all eyes are on the future of the characters. There have been speculations and rumours surrounding who will take the baton forward to play 007 in the future installments of the popular character. Eon Productions which produces the Bond films has not confirmed the face of the eighth person to play Bond but sure has a list of requirements in mind for the actor who will play the role. Talking to The Independent, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson spoke about the future of James Bond and who will play the role,. Barbara said that it is a big decision indeed. Talking about what they are looking for in the next Bond, she shared, "It will be a man. He'll likely be in his 30s. Whiteness is not a given. And whoever says yes is doing so with the expectation of at least a decade's worth of films." For months, rumors have persisted that Aaron Taylor-Johnson ("Bullet Train," "Kick-Ass") is the front-runner for the role. He's a man in his mid-30s, and he's not afraid to sign onto a franchise. He seems to check all of the boxes. Idris Elba and Tom Hardy who were also heard to be fan favourites to play the role do not check the boxes. Actors who have played James Bond The first Bond film came out in 1962 titled Mr No. The role was essayed by Sean Connery. In 1965, David Niven was signed to play Bond in Casino Royale after Connery and Peter Seller refused to play the role. With the departure of Connery after You Only Live Twice (1967), Broccoli and director Peter R. Hunt chose little-known Australian actor George Lazenby (born 1939), to be the third major actor (following Sean Connery and David Niven) to play the role of Bond. He played the role in 1969 film 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Roger Moore played the role from 19772 to 1985 and did 7 films. Timothy Dalton played the role from 1986 to 1994 and did 2 films in this duration. Pierce Brosnan played Bond in 4 films in a decade. Daniel Craig was the seventh Bond and did five films.
14 November,2024 10:35 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
