Salaar 1 l Not Just A Review

By: Amit kumaR Agarwal

 

 

After the blockbuster success of KGF and KGF 2, Prashanth Neel is back with Baahubali, Prabhas, top-lining the cast of Salaar. Will Salaar turn the sipahsalaar of the Indian BO?

 

The 70's and 80's masala fare is back and how; the biggest hits of 2023 have all been action-extravaganzas with vendetta written loud and clear. The latest Indian release Salaar is in the same genre and needless to say set many BO records even before the first day is over.

 

Ironically, the star of the film it clashed with 'Dunki'; starring romantic-superstar, Shahrukh, had two of his career's highest grossing films in 2023 in action genre - when he tried to change the genre, the result is an overtly underwhelming performer, Dunki.

 

Salaar opens with childhood friends, Deva (Prabhas) and Vardha (Prithviraj Sukumaran) in a place called 'Khansar'. They share a very strong bond of till 'death-do-us-apart'. 

 

Cut to: 32 years later, a girl Adya (Shruti Haasan) flies to India much to the chagrin of her father, Krishnakant. To see Adya safe her father orders his man in India, Bilal, to take her to the only man that can save her, revealed to be Deva.

 

In a turn of events, Bilal tells Adya the story of Deva and Vardha. Many years ago, while Vardha and Deva were still kids, Deva together with his mother was banished from Khansar because of a fallout. Vardha's father, Raja Mannar (Jagapathi Babu) takes away Vardha's share of the kingdom as a punishment.

 

Vardha also does not get along with his step-brother, Rudra (Ramachandra Raju) and step-sister (Shriya Reddy). A power game ensues and to come on top, Vardha calls Deva to help him. Deva now a one-man-army meets Vardha after a gap of many years.

 

Together they go on to win the entire Khansar, or do they fail?

This is the basic plot of Salaar.

 

Prashanth Neel has modeled the film on his super-successful K.G.F. franchise. Though K.G.F. was a complete film with romance and comedy perfectly infused, here, the audiences are definitely going to miss romance and comedy. Also, while K.G.F. was seamless, the screenplay here is patchy, as a result, audiences might get confused. Also because of this patchy writing, the highlight scenes impact to elicit claps and whistles fades to an extent. Though there, claps and whistles are not as thunderous as K.G.F. As a stand-alone film, though, Salaar is a good action-drama.

 

Prabhas fits the character of Deva to the 'T', for Hindi-region audiences this is his best role post - Baahubali franchise. He looks phenomenal with a perfectly chiselled physique. Prithviraj Sukumaran is good as Vardha. Shruti Haasan hardly has a role in the film.

 

In the end, in spite of shortcomings, the film works. The lead-in to the second part is second only to Baahubali The Beginning. A perfect treat for those that love action-drama, Salaar 1 is a perfect-taster set for the wine, Salaar 2.

IFFI 2023 l Curtains fall, the joy of cinema to continue with IFFI 55

By: Amit kumaR Agarwal

 

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

• Persian film ‘Endless Borders’ by Abbas Amini bags Golden Peacock Award for best film at 54th IFFI
• Hollywood Actor/Producer Michael Douglas honoured with Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award
• ‘Drift’ by Anthony Chen receives ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal
• Best Web Series (OTT) Award for Amazon series ‘Panchayat Season 2’
• Over 5,000 films of multiple languages in the 4K digital format will be restored under National Film Heritage Mission: Union I & B Minister Anurag Singh Thakur

As the sun set over the Arabian Sea, casting a gleam golden glow upon the picturesque coast of Panaji, the 54th edition of International Film Festival of India concluded, reverberating the shores with echoes of cinematic excellence and charm. The festival reached its crescendo with a dazzling closing ceremony, attended by a constellation of celebrities, filmmakers and luminaries from the film and entertainment domain.

 
Notable winners at the 54th edition of IFFI were:

Persian Film Endless Borders bags Golden Peacock for the Best Film

 

Still from Endless Borders

 

The Persian film Endless Borders directed by Abbas Amini received the Golden Peacock award for the Best Film at the 54th IFFI.  The film depicts that the emotional and moral borders that you impose upon yourself can be more complicated than the physical borders, observed the jury.

Bulgarian Director Stephan Komandarev gets Silver Peacock for Best Director

 

Eli Skorcheva and Rozalya Abgaryan actresses of Blaga's Lessons

receive the Silver Peacock award for Best Director on behalf of Stephan Komandarev

Bulgarian Director Stephan Komandarev won Silver Peacock for Best Director for his film Blaga’s Lessons - a powerful and shocking lesson through the character of a woman who has to decide to achieve her goals and in doing so compromise her values, reads the Jury’s citation. Goa CM, Pramod Sawant, Turkish Director Nury Ceylan, Australian Film Producer Helen Leake and Film Actress Esha Gupta presented the coveted prize.

Iranian Actor Pouria Rahimi Sam won the Best Actor (Male) for his role in the Persian film Endless Borders. The Jury chose the actor “for the richness of acting and interacting with his partners, children and adults in challenging shooting conditions.”

 

Melanie Thierry won Silver Peacock for Best Actor (Female) for her exemplary role in the film Party of Fools. The jury remarked that the range of expressions by the actress gives audience with subtlety all the emotions from hope to despair, encountered in her character’s crazy journey. 

 

Indian Filmmaker and Actor, Rishabh Shetty of Kantara fame won the Special Jury Award for his critically and commercially successful blockbuster film "Kantara". The Jury praised the director’s ability to put across a very important story. “The film, rooted in its own culture of the forest demons, reaches out to audiences worldwide, regardless of culture and social status,” the jury cited.

Animal l Not Just A Review

By: Amit kumaR Agarwal

 

 

Recipe to make chicken soup is the same, it is the presentation that makes the difference.

The latest Hindi film, Animal, is a striking testimony to this fact.

 

Animal has a done to death story-line. 

Two brothers fall out, the progeny of one brother wants to kill their paternal uncle, but their cousin stands between their mission.

This hackneyed story-line is made into a 'cult' film for generations to remember, thanks to a very imaginative screenplay that is turned into an equally novel narrative.

 

The beauty of the screenplay is such that the audiences forget that the law and the police are both missing in the film!

Another thing that audiences forget is the 3 hours and 23 minutes long runtime, such is the grip of the movie! 

 

Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the director had said on record before making Animal that he will tell the audiences what violence is.

 

Did the reviewer found the violence unsettling. Not really, having been exposed to European-Arthouse, which is much more violent and explicit.

 

Though, Indian audiences not exposed to world cinema might find the film violent.   

Ranbir is out of this world, the way audiences root for him shows the conviction with which he has played the role of Rannvijay Singh. Rashmika nails the role of Geetanjali. Bobby Deol is menacing as Abrar. Anil Kapoor leaves a mark as an unintentionally-abusive father. Everyone else in the cast is good. A special mention ought to be made of Tripti Dimri, her portrayal of Zoya is uninhibited packing in all the emotions and oozing oomph, given the right roles, the next superstar!

 

Technically the film is very polished. While everyone has done a great job, one person that stands out is Harshavardhan Rameshwar the man behind the BGM. If Barfi, Baahubali The Beginning  and Befikre established the power of BGM, here it is reiterated and how! Each strain greatly heightens the impact of a scene.

 

Animal is a masterclass in cinema and must for all that love to see cinema in cinema!

India joins Executive Committee of Codex Alimentarius Commission

India has been unanimously elected as a member representing Asian region in the Executive Committee of Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) during its 46th meeting being held at FAO Headquarters at Rome.

Executive Committee is an important arm of the CAC and the member countries have a considerable interest in getting its membership. In this capacity, India would not only get an opportunity to contribute substantially in the International standard setting process for different food product categories but will also be involved in the decision making process. The Executive Committee supports in the management of the Commission’s programme of standards development by conducting a "critical review" of proposals to undertake work and monitors the progress of standards development.

The Executive Committee comprises of the Chair, three vice Chairs, six regional coordinators and seven elected representatives from the various geographical regions of Codex.

India’s proposal for setting up group standards for millets was also accepted by the Commission and India’s initiative for establishing global standards for millets was acknowledged by the Commission and supported by the member countries.

India had proposed for setting up the global standards for millets under the Additional Agendas category on the first day of the CAC meeting on 27th November 2023 and the matter was deliberated at length on 30th November and was approved by the Commission for preparation of three Project document.

The Indian delegation was led by G Kamala Vardhana Rao, CEO, FSSAI and comprised of Aradhana Patnaik, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harinder Oberoi, Director, NIFTEM, P Karthikeyan, Joint Director, FSSAI, Dr. Saswati Bose, General Manager, APEDA and Dr JS Reddy, Additional Director, EIC.

PASSING OUT PARADE OF AGNIVEERVAYU TRAINEES

 

The Passing Out Parade (POP) of the maiden intake of Agniveervayu (Women) along with second intake of Agniveervayu (Men), was held at Airmen Training School Belagavi on 02 December 2023 after completion of their Ab- initio training. 

 

This day would be etched in the history of Indian Air Force as the first batch of 153 Agniveervayu (Women) marched shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. A total of 2280 Agniveervayu (Men and Women) trainees successfully completed 22 weeks of training. Air Marshal R Radhish, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command, Indian Air Force, reviewed the parade and witnessed the scintillating display of Drill and March Past by the trainees.

The Air Marshal congratulated and felicitated the award winners who had performed exceedingly well in different fields. The RO lauded the Agniveervayu for their excellent effort to make the parade impressive and magnificent. He exhorted that new challenges were emerging from the global security scenario. Hence, the combat training and military preparedness acquired during the 22 weeks should be used in deliverance of military objectives. He also impressed upon the Agniveervayu to continue enhancing their knowledge, skill and conduct themselves in exemplary manner at all times.

The RO also expressed his appreciation to the parents of the Agniveervayu, acknowledging their contribution to the country and for raising men and women of honour, who are all set to be part of the fourth largest Air Force of the world.

This intake of Agniveervayu was inducted into the IAF on 28 June 2023 under the Agnipath scheme. The passing out parade marked the culmination of their basic military and stream based training that not only imparted physical training but also enhanced intellectual and moral capabilities of Agniveervayu, essential to the ethos of an air warrior.

It was a momentous occasion for the families of young men and women who were present to witness the impressive passing out parade function.

Uttarakhand CM calls on PM

 

The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami called on the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on December 2, 2023.  

The Prime Minister’s Office posted on X:

“Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
 

Reportedly they discussed the progress made in the state of Uttarakhand. They also discussed various programs undertaken to better the quality of life of the people in Uttarakhand. A major point of discussion was the infrastructure and progress of the state. 

Press Release l President of India Graces Covocation Ceremony

The President of India, Droupadi Murmu graced the 111th convocation of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University at Nagpur, Maharashtra on December 2, 2023.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that research and innovation play an important role in the development of any country. She was happy to note that Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University is encouraging research, innovation and technology development. She noted that faculty members of this university have been granted more than 60 patents by the Indian Patent Office. The university has an Incubation Center to encourage start-ups culture among the students. She urged students and faculty to do research and innovation keeping in mind the local problems and needs and also implement those innovations.

The President said that today the whole world is a global village. No institution can remain cut off from the world. She urged Nagpur University to promote inter-disciplinary studies and international collaboration. She emphasized that only by sharing research and innovation with each other, we can face the challenges before the world.

Speaking about the use of technology, the President said that any resource can be used or misused. The same fact applies with technology too. If we use it properly, it will be beneficial for the country and society and if we misuse it, it will be harmful for humanity. Today the use of artificial intelligence is making our lives easier. But its use for Deepfake is a threat to society. She stated that moral education can show us the way.

Addressing the students, the President said that getting a formal degree is not the end of education. They should remain curious and keep learning. Today, when rapid changes are taking place in the field of technology, it becomes even more important to keep learning continuously.

The President told students that they are the asset of the nation and society. The future of India rests on their shoulders. Adverse circumstances may come in their life but they should not be afraid of them. She advised them to face those situations with their knowledge and self-confidence, to stay connected with their loved ones and to have faith in their abilities.