After the impressive success of the BAFTA Breakthrough India programme in 2021 and 2022, BAFTA is once again launching the scheme for a third year. Applications open today until 5 July, and the programme is open to creatives from across the film, games and television industries nationally, as well as those working in the UK and the US.
This year also marks Netflix’s third year supporting BAFTA Breakthrough in India and its fourth year in the UK and US.
BAFTA Breakthrough aims to identify and nurture emerging talent from around the world and equip them with the resources they need to develop their skills and progress in their chosen field. First launched in the UK ten years ago, BAFTA Breakthrough is one of the arts charity’s flagship talent schemes, with over 200 careers developed and accelerated to-date.
Through this initiative, BAFTA Breakthrough India will once again identify and celebrate Indian talent by...
This year also marks Netflix’s third year supporting BAFTA Breakthrough in India and its fourth year in the UK and US.
BAFTA Breakthrough aims to identify and nurture emerging talent from around the world and equip them with the resources they need to develop their skills and progress in their chosen field. First launched in the UK ten years ago, BAFTA Breakthrough is one of the arts charity’s flagship talent schemes, with over 200 careers developed and accelerated to-date.
Through this initiative, BAFTA Breakthrough India will once again identify and celebrate Indian talent by...
- 5/12/2023
- by Editorial Desk
- GlamSham
The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim protection from arrest to filmmaker Leena Manimekalai in multiple FIRs lodged against her for depicting Hindu goddess Kaali smoking a cigarette in a poster of her documentary.
A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and P S Narasimha said: “At this stage, prima facie, it appears that the institution of FIRs in multiple states would be a matter of serious prejudice to the petitioner. We are inclined to issue notice so that all the FIRs shall be consolidated in one and the same place in accordance with law.”
Advocate Kamini Jaiswal, assisted by advocate Indira Unninayar, represented Manimekalai in the apex court. She said that FIRs have been filed against the petitioner arising out of the short film in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Delhi.
“As a result, it has been submitted that the petitioner is likely to be subjected to...
A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and P S Narasimha said: “At this stage, prima facie, it appears that the institution of FIRs in multiple states would be a matter of serious prejudice to the petitioner. We are inclined to issue notice so that all the FIRs shall be consolidated in one and the same place in accordance with law.”
Advocate Kamini Jaiswal, assisted by advocate Indira Unninayar, represented Manimekalai in the apex court. She said that FIRs have been filed against the petitioner arising out of the short film in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Delhi.
“As a result, it has been submitted that the petitioner is likely to be subjected to...
- 1/20/2023
- by News Bureau
- GlamSham
CinemaIt will be the fourth edition of the Shades International Short Film Festival.Tnm StaffSISFF director Jeeva SavithriThe Shades International Short Film Festival (Sisff), curated by an all-women jury, has invited entries for its fourth edition. The first edition was held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, while the last two were conducted online due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In its third edition, the Sisff had 136 competitive entries. This year, the festival director is filmmaker Jeeva Savithri Janardhanan, who made the critically acclaimed film Richter Scale 7.6. Others involved in the running of the fest include actor Divya Usha Gopinath, last year’s festival director Jijith Nambradth, former professor at St Xavier's College Patricia Janet Christo, filmmaker Vikas Valsan and producer Ajmal Shahul. The women jury comprises actor-director Revathi Asha Kelunni, writer-director Tahira Kashyap and actor Kani Kusruthi. Films shot on film or video (analog / digital format) after January 2021 within a running duration...
- 11/8/2022
- by AjayR
- The News Minute
Priyanka Chopra Jonas (“The White Tiger”), Richie Mehta (“Delhi Crime”) and Anurag Kashyap (“Sacred Games”) are among the luminaries who are part of Awedacious Originals’ slate.
Awedacious is a production company led by Apoorva Bakshi, one of the producers of Mehta’s International Emmy-winning Netflix series “Delhi Crime,” and Monisha Thyagarajan, who served as associate producer on the show.
Srishti Bakshi’s documentary “Women of my Billion,” which has just been announced as the winner at the Un Sdg Action Awards in their Changemaker category, has been boarded by Chopra Jonas and her company Purple Pebble Pictures. The film narrates the plight, dreams, rights and fight against all forms of violence, that unify the women of today’s India, via Bakshi’s epic foot journey of 3,800km over 240 days, from Kanyakumari (South India) to Kashmir (North India). Chopra Jonas will serve as presenter for the film, which is in distribution negotiations.
Awedacious is a production company led by Apoorva Bakshi, one of the producers of Mehta’s International Emmy-winning Netflix series “Delhi Crime,” and Monisha Thyagarajan, who served as associate producer on the show.
Srishti Bakshi’s documentary “Women of my Billion,” which has just been announced as the winner at the Un Sdg Action Awards in their Changemaker category, has been boarded by Chopra Jonas and her company Purple Pebble Pictures. The film narrates the plight, dreams, rights and fight against all forms of violence, that unify the women of today’s India, via Bakshi’s epic foot journey of 3,800km over 240 days, from Kanyakumari (South India) to Kashmir (North India). Chopra Jonas will serve as presenter for the film, which is in distribution negotiations.
- 10/7/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
ControversyFilmmakers question selection criteria for films in International Women’s Film Festival.Tnm StaffAfter Malayalam director Kunjila Mascillamani, who protested the exclusion of her film from the third International Women’s Film Festival being held at Kozhikode, was detained by the police, many film personalities have expressed their solidarity with her. They also raised questions regarding transparency of the selection process. Film director Vidhu Vincent, who won the Best Film award in 2017 for the film Manhole, announced that she is withdrawing the film Viral Sebi, which was part of Wiff, in solidarity with Kunjila. Kunjila had staged a protest against the exclusion of her film Asanghatithar (part of anthology Freedom Fight) from the film festival by occupying a chair on the dais and raising slogans against the Cpi(M) and the Chief Minister on Saturday, the opening day of the event. She was forcibly taken away from the venue by the police,...
- 7/17/2022
- by Haritha
- The News Minute
Bhopal, July 7 (Ians) The Madhya Pradesh Police on Thursday issued a lookout circular against filmmaker Leena Manimekalai following outrage over the poster of film ‘Kaali’ showing the Hindu goddess smoking and holding LGBT flag. The development came hours after Madhya Pradesh home minister Narottam Mishra said he would urge the Centre to issue a […]...
- 7/7/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
ControversyThe poster of Leena Manimekalai’s documentary 'Kaali' received widespread backlash from Hindu groups as they said it hurt their religious sentiments.PTIInstagram/ Leena ManimekalaiLeena Manimekalai, who has been at the receiving end of severe backlash and trolling for her latest documentary Kaali, has reacted to the row and said that she “does not feel safe anywhere at the moment”. "It feels like the whole nation that has now deteriorated from the largest democracy to the largest hate machine wants to censor me. I do not feel safe anywhere at this moment," Manimekalai wrote on social media, while tagging The Guardian and sharing an interview she has given to the British newspaper. The documentary, Kaali, was set to premiere in Canada’s Aga Khan Museum, as part of its ‘Under the Tent’ project. On July 2, Leena Manimekalai had shared the film’s poster, which depicted the Hindu goddess smoking a...
- 7/7/2022
- by SaradhaU
- The News Minute
Mumbai, July 6 (Ians) While there is outrage over the controversial poster of the documentary film ‘Kaali’ directed by filmmaker Leena Manimekalai, Bollywood actress Meera Chopra also criticised the image shown in the poster of Goddess Kaali smoking a cigarette. Meera is known for appearing in films like ‘Section 375’, ‘1920’, and Disney Hotstar’s show […]...
- 7/6/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
An India-born parliamentarian from Canada, Chandra Arya said on Wednesday that anti-Hindu and anti-India forces have joined hands in Canada. The Canadian parliamentarian, who originally hails from Karnataka, made these remarks in connection with an offensive poster by filmmaker Leena Manimekalai on Hindu goddess Kaali that has created outrage and condemnation throughout the country. “Painful […]...
- 7/6/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
ControversyThe poster of Leena Manimekalai’s documentary 'Kaali' received widespread flak from Hindu groups as they said it hurt their religious sentiments. Tnm StaffInstagram/ Leena ManimekalaiThe Indian High Commission in Canada has issued a statement urging the organisers of the ‘Rhythms of Canada’ festival to withdraw filmmaker Leena Manimekalai’s documentary Kaali from being screened. The statement comes after the documentary’s poster — featuring the Hindu deity Kali smoking and holding an Lgbtqia+ flag — drew widespread condemnation from right-wing groups. The filmmaker was attacked online following the release of the poster of the documentary. The statement issued by the High Commission of India in Ottawa on Monday, July 4, states that they received complaints from leaders of the Hindu community in Canada about “disrespectful depiction of Hindu Gods” on the poster, which was showcased as part of the ‘Under The Tent’ project. Noting that the concerns have been communicated to the organisers of the event,...
- 7/4/2022
- by SaradhaU
- The News Minute
ControversyThe poster showed a depiction of goddess Kaali as smoking and holding an Lgbtqia+ flag.PTIUnder attack for a poster of her documentary Kaali showing the goddess smoking and holding an Lgbtqia+ flag, filmmaker Leena Manimekalai on Monday said that she will continue to use her voice fearlessly as long as she is alive. The poster has led to a social media storm with the hashtag 'Arrest Leena Manimekalai', allegations that the filmmaker is hurting religious sentiments and a member of a group called Gau Mahasabha saying that he has filed a complaint with Delhi Police. In response to the attacks, the Toronto-based director hit back to say she was willing to pay with her life. "I have nothing to lose. Till the time I live, I wish to live with a voice that speaks what I believe without fear. If the price for that is my life, it can be given,...
- 7/4/2022
- by Cris
- The News Minute
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has named ten emerging talents from across the Indian film, gaming and television industries that will participate in the 2022 edition of its BAFTA Breakthrough India initiative supported by Netflix.
The 2022 contingent includes writer-director Ajitpal Singh; composer Alokananda Dasgupta (“Sacred Games”), writer-director Arati Kadav (“Cargo”), producer Mathivanan Rajendran (“Nirvana Inn”), writer-director Leena Manimekalai, game director Nakul Verma (“In My Shadow”), writer-director Prateek Vats (“Eeb Allay Ooo!”), cinematographer Saumyananda Sahi (“Eeb Allay Ooo!”), writer Shubham (“Eeb Allay Ooo!”) and performer Sumukhi Suresh (“Pushpavalli”).
The talents were selected by a jury consisting of BAFTA-winning composer A.R. Rahman, editor and writer Apurva Asrani, actors Anupam Kher and Ratna Pathak Shah, games producer Charu Desodt, Amazon India head Gaurav Gandhi, Netflix India content chief Monika Shergill, producers Siddharth Roy Kapur and Guneet Monga, BAFTA chair Krishnendu Majumdar, GOQii CEO Vishal Gondal and filmmaker Shonali Bose.
During the program,...
The 2022 contingent includes writer-director Ajitpal Singh; composer Alokananda Dasgupta (“Sacred Games”), writer-director Arati Kadav (“Cargo”), producer Mathivanan Rajendran (“Nirvana Inn”), writer-director Leena Manimekalai, game director Nakul Verma (“In My Shadow”), writer-director Prateek Vats (“Eeb Allay Ooo!”), cinematographer Saumyananda Sahi (“Eeb Allay Ooo!”), writer Shubham (“Eeb Allay Ooo!”) and performer Sumukhi Suresh (“Pushpavalli”).
The talents were selected by a jury consisting of BAFTA-winning composer A.R. Rahman, editor and writer Apurva Asrani, actors Anupam Kher and Ratna Pathak Shah, games producer Charu Desodt, Amazon India head Gaurav Gandhi, Netflix India content chief Monika Shergill, producers Siddharth Roy Kapur and Guneet Monga, BAFTA chair Krishnendu Majumdar, GOQii CEO Vishal Gondal and filmmaker Shonali Bose.
During the program,...
- 3/9/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Me TooJustice M Dhandhapani, who pronounced the order, set aside the Saidapet Magistrate Court’s order that had allowed for Leena’s passport to be impounded based on Susi Ganesan’s petition.Tnm StaffIn what comes as a relief for filmmaker Leena Manimekalai, the Madras High Court on Friday, December 3, ordered the Passport Authority to return her passport within a week. Justice M Dhandapani who pronounced the order set aside the Saidapet Magistrate Court’s order that had allowed for Leena’s passport to be impounded based on Kollywood director Susi Ganesan’s petition to impound her travel documents. The director had claimed that Leena would attempt to flee the country to escape proceedings in the defamation case he has filed against her for naming him in the 2018 Me Too movement. Leena has repeatedly denied Ganesan’s claim, stating that she only has a student visa to go to Canada...
- 12/3/2021
- by Geetika
- The News Minute
OTTRegional Ott players had their moment in the sun during the pandemic when consumers flocked to these platforms but how are they competing with deep-pocketed streaming giants to stay relevant?Saradha UFacebook/ Sharaf U DheenFeaturing actors Rima Kallingal and Jitin Puthenchery, single-shot Malayalam film Santhoshathinte Onnam Rahasyam started streaming on Over-the-top (Ott) platforms like Neestream, Koode, Cave, Roots and Saina Play, among others, in July this year. In the case of Parvathy Thiruvothu starrer Aarkkariyam, before Amazon Prime Video bagged its streaming rights, it was available to watch on multiple Malayalam Ott platforms. Leena Manimekalai’s Maadathy premiered on Neestream in July following screenings at international film festivals. What’s common between these films is that they all started streaming on regional Ott platforms that have gained traction in recent times. With cinema halls closed due to the coronavirus pandemic last year, it was a natural progression to Ott for viewers.
- 11/26/2021
- by SaradhaU
- The News Minute
Kollywood These Tamil films, both old and new, discuss topics ranging from institutionalised caste discrimination to the daily struggles faced by people from marginalised communities. Saradha UInstagram/ Leena Manimekalai, Facebook/ Suriya Actor Suriya’s latest outing Jai Bhim is a legal drama based on true events and revolves around the unfair treatment and discrimination of people from the Irular tribe. The film has been critically acclaimed and largely received a positive response from viewers for portraying the frightening realities of discrimination that people from marginalised communities face. The success of the movie, which was recently released on Amazon Prime Video, has inspired many to look at popular Tamil movies from over the years that have an anti-caste narrative. Tamil cinema has had a complicated history with respect to anti-caste films. While the 80s saw a couple of films like Sivappu Malli and Alai Osai with Dalit protagonists, these types of...
- 11/16/2021
- by SaradhaU
- The News Minute
Before the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, when the Taliban ruled over the country, women were barred from public life, schools for girls were shuttered, and non-religious art was banned. In the subsequent two decades, women have become politicians, girls have been educated, and the country’s films have gained international attention. But that’s all threatened now that the Taliban has once again seized control of Afghanistan, Afghan filmmaker Sahraa Karimi wrote in a recent open letter.
Karimi, who in 2019 was appointed as the first woman to lead the state-run Afghan Film company, posted the letter on Twitter on Friday. In it, she pleads with members of the international film community to use their voices to fight the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.
“Everything that I have worked so hard to build as a filmmaker in my country is at risk of falling,” Karimi wrote. “If the Taliban...
Karimi, who in 2019 was appointed as the first woman to lead the state-run Afghan Film company, posted the letter on Twitter on Friday. In it, she pleads with members of the international film community to use their voices to fight the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.
“Everything that I have worked so hard to build as a filmmaker in my country is at risk of falling,” Karimi wrote. “If the Taliban...
- 8/16/2021
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
Sahraa Karimi, the Afghan filmmaker and general director of national film company Afghan Film, has called for support from cinema communities around the world as her country falls to the Taliban insurgency.
The Taliban effectively took control of Afghanistan on Sunday after seizing the capital Kabul, overthrowing the incumbent government, with president Ashraf Ghani fleeing the country. The U.S. has evacuated embassy staff and troops have been dispatched in a bid to take control of Kabul airport to help evacuate thousands more who are fleeing the new regime.
Karimi posted a statement on Twitter addressing “all the film communities in the world”.
“I write to you with a broken heart and a deep hope that you can join me in protecting my beautiful people, especially filmmakers, from the Taliban…They have massacred our people, they kidnapped many children, they sold girls as child brides to their men,” she wrote.
The Taliban effectively took control of Afghanistan on Sunday after seizing the capital Kabul, overthrowing the incumbent government, with president Ashraf Ghani fleeing the country. The U.S. has evacuated embassy staff and troops have been dispatched in a bid to take control of Kabul airport to help evacuate thousands more who are fleeing the new regime.
Karimi posted a statement on Twitter addressing “all the film communities in the world”.
“I write to you with a broken heart and a deep hope that you can join me in protecting my beautiful people, especially filmmakers, from the Taliban…They have massacred our people, they kidnapped many children, they sold girls as child brides to their men,” she wrote.
- 8/16/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Cinema‘Maadathy’ is a fictionalised story on the lives of the Puthirai Vannar community in Tamil Nadu.Tnm StaffMollywood actor Parvathy Thiruvothu launched the motion poster of director Leena Manimekalai’s feature film Maadathy on Monday, June 14. Based on the coming-of-age story of a fictional adolescent girl from the Puthirai Vannar community in Tamil Nadu, the film points out how they are discriminated against to the point where they are deemed unfit to even be seen, and are treated as “unseeables”. Maadathy is written as well as produced by director Leena Manimekalai under the banner of Karuvachy Films. Maadathy will be streaming in Malayalam Over-the-top (Ott) platform Neestream from June 24. Sharing the film’s motion poster, Parvathy Thiruvothu wrote, “Presenting the official motion poster of 'Maadathy: An Unfairy Tale' directed by @LeenaManimekali Congratulations to the cast & crew for such a powerful film. Watch@MaadathyTheFilmon @neestreamfrom June 24th onwards.” Touted to be an ‘unfairy’ tale,...
- 6/14/2021
- by SaradhaU
- The News Minute
MeToo Leena is facing hurdles in going abroad because of Susi Ganesan’s cases against her. Geetika MantriFilmmaker Leena Manimekalai was one of the two women who spoke up against Kollywood director Susi Ganesan during the 2018 Me Too movement. Since then, she has found herself on the receiving end of several cases filed by Ganesan including criminal defamation, and a petition for her passport to be impounded — all for speaking up. This petition to impound her passport was dismissed by Saidapet Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Chennai in November 2020. However, on Monday, the Chennai regional passport office issued a show cause notice to her, asking why it shouldn’t impound Leena’s passport as “criminal trial” is pending against her under sections 499 and 500 (criminal defamation) of the Indian Penal Code. This is a setback for Leena, who wants to go to Canada for film related studies at the York University -...
- 2/8/2021
- by Geetika
- The News Minute
KollywoodDetails about the cast and crew of this historical biopic are expected to be out soon.Digital NativeDigital NativeNayanthara, known as the Lady Superstar, has been bagging some of the best roles for quite a few years now. According to the latest buzz, the actor has been approached to play the lead role in the biopic of the legendary queen Velu Nachiyar. Born in 1730, Rani Velu Nachiyar ruled the Sivagangai jameen from 1780 to 1790. This valiant queen who fought the British is credited to be the first queen to fight against foreign rule. She also busted the ammunition storage of the British courageously. Rani Velu Nachiyar is known as Veeramangai, which literally translates to ‘brave lady’. With plans for a film on this brave queen, we are sure that it would be a meaty role for Nayanthara to essay. Grapevine has it that director Susi Ganesan (who has been accused of...
- 12/28/2020
- by Vidya
- The News Minute
CinemaThe festival’s live viewing on October 9 will be at 5.30 am Ist followed by a live question-and-answer session with its director.Tnm StaffIndependent filmmaker Leena Manimekalai’s Maadathy: An Unfairy Tale will now be available to watch on demand until October 17 as part of the Coalition of South Asian Film Festivals (CoSaff) 2020. The live viewing on October 9 will be at 5.30 am Indian Standard Time (Ist), followed by a live question-and-answer session with its director. The 15-day festival is the first of its kind, bringing together South Asian film festivals across North America with free online screenings and Q&a sessions with its creators. Maadathy–An Unfairy Tale is back in the Festival circuit. We are really excited that the film is officially selected for the International Narrative Feature Competition in the 2020 edition of Herat International Women Film Festival@LeenaManimekali @GRfilmssg @karuvachyfilms pic.twitter.com/DyW1pzlHY3 — Maadathy - An Unfairy...
- 10/5/2020
- by Anjana
- The News Minute
The Coalition of South Asian Film Festivals will kick off Oct. 3 with Baba Azmi’s “Mee Raqsam” (I Dance) and close with Prateek Vats’ “Eeb Allay Ooo!” on Oct. 17. The centerpiece film will be Shirish Gurung’s “Lato Kosero” from Nepal. Azmi’s sister the veteran Hindi actress Shabana will present his film.
In-between more than 20 films and shorts will play at the fest, which will also host virtual programs including Q&As with talent and creatives. The films will be streamed on Vimeo’s Ott platform, while the Q&As can be seen on-demand.
The coalition, which comprises South Asian fests from Seattle; Chicago; Washington, D.C.; Mississauga/Toronto; Maryland; Montreal; and Vancouver, will also unspool blocks of shorts covering themes of interest to the South Asian diaspora, the Lgbtqi community, racism and love and relationships. Unable to host a festival on the ground due to the coronavirus, CoSaff...
In-between more than 20 films and shorts will play at the fest, which will also host virtual programs including Q&As with talent and creatives. The films will be streamed on Vimeo’s Ott platform, while the Q&As can be seen on-demand.
The coalition, which comprises South Asian fests from Seattle; Chicago; Washington, D.C.; Mississauga/Toronto; Maryland; Montreal; and Vancouver, will also unspool blocks of shorts covering themes of interest to the South Asian diaspora, the Lgbtqi community, racism and love and relationships. Unable to host a festival on the ground due to the coronavirus, CoSaff...
- 9/9/2020
- by Shalini Dore
- Variety Film + TV
MollywoodThe film, directed by Siddique, has Bollywood actor Arbaaz Khan along with actors Anoop Menon, Sarjano Khalid, Satna Titus and others in the cast.Digital NativeMalayalam superstar Mohanlal’s fans will have to wait until next year for the release of Big Brother. The film was initially scheduled to release for Christmas this year but now stands postponed to January 2020. There has been a slight change in the shooting schedule as Mohanlal is on a short vacation to New Zealand, say sources. The shooting of Big Brother is currently in progress in Ernakulam and will go on for the next few weeks. The film, directed by Siddique, has Bollywood actor Arbaaz Khan along with actors Anoop Menon, Sarjano Khalid, Satna Titus and others in the cast. While Mohanlal, Anoop Menon and Sarjano Khalid play brothers in this flick, Arbaaz will be seen as a police officer. It may be noted...
- 11/12/2019
- by Cris
- The News Minute
Film FestivalTitled ‘Reform the Iffk’, the group of film personalities accuses the organisers of the festival of not watching the films before rejecting them.Tnm StaffA few filmmakers have come together to protest against the selection process of the prestigious International Film Festival of Kerala which will have its 24th edition this December. Titled ‘Reform the Iffk’, the group of film personalities accuses the organisers of the festival – the Kerala Chalachitra Academy – of not watching all the films before rejecting them, and also choosing popular films in the Malayalam Cinema Today category. The films in the Malayalam Cinema Today category this time include Ishq, Kumbalangi Nights, Virus, And The Oskar Goes To, Uyare and Unda, all of which had a good run at the theatres. “For years the organizers of the International Film Festival of Kerala - Iffk Official have been flouting rules and the very purpose of a film...
- 11/1/2019
- by Cris
- The News Minute
InterviewIn this interview with Tnm, Leena talks about what went into the making of 'Maadathy', her journey as a person and filmmaker during the course of shooting it and more.Anjana ShekarAll photos courtesy Leena ManimekalaiIndependent filmmaker Leena Manimekalai’s latest feature, Maadathy - An Unfairy Tale, will premiere at South Korea’s Busan International Film Festival along with other popular entries from India like Gitanjali Rao’s Bombay Rose and Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Jallikattu. Maadathy is a fiction-feature by the award-winning filmmaker/poet filmed over a period of time in the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli district. On paper, the film follows a young girl who rebels against every notion foisted upon her, based on her birth. Leena, who is excited about this 90-minute drama, is currently in Canada, working on her next titled Love Queen of Malabar, which is a screen adaptation of Canadian author...
- 9/12/2019
- by Anjana
- The News Minute
Me TooSusi Ganeshan's lengthy complaint has a long list of attachments to "prove" that Leena is of bad character - from her support for a queer film festival to her stand against the right wing.Sowmya RajendranDirector Susi Ganeshan has filed a complaint against writer and filmmaker Leena Manimekalai for leveling allegations of sexual harassment against him in October last year. Leena first spoke of the incident, which allegedly took place 13 years ago, without mentioning the director in February 2017, but later decided to reveal his identity in the wake of the Me Too movement through a Facebook post. The complaint filed by Susi Ganeshan runs into several pages and has 16 attachments. The director has filed a complaint under section 200 of the CrPC for charges under section 500 (punishment for defamation). Susi Ganeshan has also asked for adequate compensation under section 357 and costs of litigation under section 359. However, reading through the complaint,...
- 6/18/2019
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
Me TooLast year, Leena had accused the 'Thiruttu Payale' director of sexually harassing her in 2005. Sowmya RajendranDirector Susi Ganeshan, who was accused of sexual harassment by writer and filmmaker Leena Manimekalai in October last year, has filed a complaint of defamation. The complaint has been filed under section 200 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for charges under section 500 of the Ipc (punishment for defamation) at the Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Saidapet. In the complaint copy, which Tnm has accessed, Susi Ganeshan has alleged that the accusations made by Leena are false. The director has further resorted to maligning Leena by making aspersions on her character. Claiming that Leena had "begged" him for an opportunity in his "artistic productions", Susi Ganeshan has said that he rejected her because "her contents and sexual ideology did not suit my choice for public consumption". Susi Ganeshan has further alleged that Leena's 'Me Too...
- 6/17/2019
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
CinemaThe festival will have special sessions by directors M Manikandan and Mysskin.Tnm StaffTamil Studio, which defines itself as "the movement for good cinema functioning in Chennai", is all set to hold the Independent Film Festival of Chennai (Iffc) 2019, beginning from February 4. According to Tamil Studio, the film festival will provide opportunities to filmmakers, individuals, students and assistant filmmakers to submit versions of promising films in short reels or trailers. The 3-day festival will also have multiple sections that will screen movies on seven screens for seven days, identifying and celebrating independent filmmakers. Directors and film technicians from all over India and abroad will assess the entrants for their screenwriting and production skills, and choose the best among the contestants. The festival will then assist the chosen filmmakers to film their screenplay, screen the films and participate in reputed film festivals around the world. The festival will also have a...
- 1/29/2019
- by Priyankar
- The News Minute
InterviewIn this interview with Tnm, Sruthi Hariharan says it has been over a month since she accused Arjun of sexually harassing her and film offers have almost completely dried up.Sowmya RajendranFacebook/Sruthi HariharanIt's been over a month since actor Sruthi Hariharan accused co-star Arjun Sarja of sexually harassing her on the sets of the Tamil film Nibunan, which released in Kannada as Vismaya. The allegation came amid the #MeToo movement, with several women taking to Twitter and Facebook to out their alleged harassers. Women from the film industry like singer Chinmayi, filmmaker Leena Manimekalai and actor Amala Paul also came out and spoke about their experiences. While Chinmayi recently gave an interview to The Hindu about her dwindling work opportunities, the members of the Women in Cinema Collective (Wcc), which was formed after a prominent woman actor from the Malayalam film industry was abducted and sexually assaulted, have also...
- 12/11/2018
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
KollywoodTentatively titled as 'Dream Warrior Pictures 21' the film will be helmed by debut director S Raj. Tnm StaffJyothika, who awaits the release of Kaatrin Mozhi that is scheduled to hit the screens this Friday, has revealed that her next would be with Dream Warrior Pictures. This movie will be the production house's 21st venture. Tentatively titled as Dream Warrior Pictures 21 the film will be helmed by debut director S Raj. The film’s inauguration puja was done on Wednesday and it was announced that the shooting would commence from November 16. While Jyothika will be seen playing the film’s protagonist, Poornima Bhagyaraj, Sathyan, Hareesh Peradi and Kavitha Bharathi are part of the film’s star cast. It was also revealed during the ceremony that an elaborate school set is being erected in Chennai for this film. Composer Sean Rolden has been roped in for music while Gokul Benoy will...
- 11/14/2018
- by Anjana
- The News Minute
CinemaActors Aishwarya Rajesh, Shraddha Srinath, Aishwarya Lekshmi and filmmaker Leena Manimekalai speak to Tnm about how the public views the bodies of women in cinema. Sowmya RajendranThe Me Too movement has come to the southern film industry, with several women actors speaking up against sexual harassment in their workplace. However, it has been far from easy for them to do so. Many on social media and even journalists have questioned them on why they were speaking up now, after all these years. The disbelief is compounded by the fact that as actors these women may have worn certain clothes on screen or performed in certain scenes or roles that are considered “vulgar” or “bold” by the audience. This, several people believe, erases their right to complain when they are subjected to harassment. There seems to be a lack of understanding that what they do on screen is their work, performed with consent,...
- 11/9/2018
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
Me TooAmala Paul tweeted that she would not be scared by such tactics.Tnm StaffActor Amala Paul came out in support of filmmaker Leena Manimekalai on Wednesday. Amala tweeted that she believed Leena's #MeToo story because she too had an unpleasant experience working with director Susi Ganesan in the film Thiruttu Payale 2. However, soon after Amala put out her statement, she tweeted that she had received a call from Susi Ganesan and his wife Manjari, who has been vocal in her support for her husband. Amala said that she had picked up the call to explain her stand and had also consoled Manjari about what was happening. Midway, however, she alleged that Susi Ganesan took over the call and started abusing her, following which his wife started laughing and the two of them together proceeded to slut-shame her. Amala has said that she will not be scared by such tactics.
- 10/24/2018
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
Me TooAmala said that the 'Thiruttu Payale 2' director has utterly low respect for women. Tnm StaffActor Amala Paul, who starred in Thiruttu Payale 2, directed by Susi Ganesan, has come out in support of filmmaker Leena Manimekalai who recently accused the director of sexually harassing her in 2005. Amala Paul put out her statement on Twitter. Calling Susi Ganesan "a man who has a twisted set of moral values and utterly low respect for women", Amala said that she could very well imagine the director misbehaving with Leena. Amala went on to detail her experience of working with Susi Ganesan in Thiruttu Payale 2. Calling it a "mentally fatiguing experience", Amala said that despite being the leading actor for the film, she was subjected to "double meaning talks, misrepresented offers, and unchivalrous bodily contacts." The actor went on to applaud Leena for taking on Susi Ganesan on a public platform and added...
- 10/24/2018
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
Line-up includes projects from Geetu Mohandas, Mostofa S. Farooki and Haobam Paban Kumar, along with the event’s first ever animation projects.
India’s National Film Development Corp (Nfdc) has unveiled the 18 projects selected for the Co-production Market at this year’s Film Bazaar, including new works from Geetu Mohandas, Mostofa S. Farooki [pictured] and Haobam Paban Kumar.
Mohandas, whose first feature Liar’s Dice screened at Sundance and won six international awards, is bringing her new project Insha’allah to Film Bazaar, with Jar Pictures attached as producer. Farooki, whose credits as director include Television and Ant Story, is producing fellow Bangladeshi director Abu Shahed Emon’s A Foolish Man.
Manipuri filmmaker Haobam Paban Kumar, whose debut Lady Of The Lake premieres in New Currents at Busan this week, is again working with Oli Pictures on Joseph’s Son.
The Film Bazaar line-up also includes the event’s first two animation projects –Soumitra Ranade’s Kabuliwala, to be...
India’s National Film Development Corp (Nfdc) has unveiled the 18 projects selected for the Co-production Market at this year’s Film Bazaar, including new works from Geetu Mohandas, Mostofa S. Farooki [pictured] and Haobam Paban Kumar.
Mohandas, whose first feature Liar’s Dice screened at Sundance and won six international awards, is bringing her new project Insha’allah to Film Bazaar, with Jar Pictures attached as producer. Farooki, whose credits as director include Television and Ant Story, is producing fellow Bangladeshi director Abu Shahed Emon’s A Foolish Man.
Manipuri filmmaker Haobam Paban Kumar, whose debut Lady Of The Lake premieres in New Currents at Busan this week, is again working with Oli Pictures on Joseph’s Son.
The Film Bazaar line-up also includes the event’s first two animation projects –Soumitra Ranade’s Kabuliwala, to be...
- 10/4/2016
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Mumbai, Oct 21: 'Whether we see our wives or not, we see a dead body every day,' complains a policeman inspecting the body of a fisherman who has been shot at sea by the Sri Lankan Navy. That one line in Leena Manimekalai's film 'Sengadal' ('The Dead Sea') -- the only Indian film in the international competition in the just-concluded Mumbai Film Festival, seems to sum up not just this movie, but Indian films in general.
Whether you see good cinema in India or not, you invariably get to see tactless blockbusters every Friday, could be a common complaint of any cinema fan in India.
And nowhere is this metaphoric.
Whether you see good cinema in India or not, you invariably get to see tactless blockbusters every Friday, could be a common complaint of any cinema fan in India.
And nowhere is this metaphoric.
- 10/21/2011
- by Arun Pantit
- RealBollywood.com
The 13th edition of the Mumbai Film Festival(Mami)that kickstarted Thursday has an impressive line-up of over 200 films from 60 countries. Almost half the films in the competition section are by women directors.During the seven-day-long film festival, movie buffs will enjoy visual delights from the masters of the art like renowned international directors Lars Von Trier, Wim Wenders, Gus Van Sant and Bela Tarr.Apart from this, the winners from the world.s best film festivals, including Cannes, Berlin and Venice, will also be showcased during the festival..This is by far the best festival we have had under Mami so far and the best in the country,. Mami chairman Shyam Benegal told Ians..The quality of any film festival should be judged by its films. This year we have an enviable line up of not only the best films made in the world last year, but also the...
- 10/13/2011
- Filmicafe
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