Category: Entertainment

South Star Vijay Remains Focused on Tamil Cinema, Keeps Distance from Hindi Films

May 5 (BNP): Leading South Indian actor Vijay continues to focus his career on Tamil cinema and has largely stayed away from working in Hindi films.

Over the years, the actor has built a strong presence in the Tamil film industry, earning wide popularity through regional projects and maintaining a consistent connection with his core audience.

His career choices reflect a sustained preference for South Indian storytelling, with a strong emphasis on Tamil-language films. This approach has helped him maintain a significant fan base and commercial success in the regional market.

Industry reports suggest that Vijay remains committed to working primarily within Tamil cinema, reinforcing his position as one of the prominent figures in the South Indian film industry.

Karan Johar Makes His Met Gala Debut in a Manish Malhotra Creation, Making Him India’s First Filmmaker to Walk the Carpet

New York, NY / Mumbai, May 05:  Karan Johar, one of India’s most celebrated filmmaker and producer at Dharma Productions makes his Met Gala debut this year, marking a defining moment as the first Indian director to represent India at the event. Known for shaping contemporary Indian cinema and its visual language, Johar arrives at the Met with a perspective that is both deeply personal and inherently reflective of where he comes from. Under his stewardship, Dharma Productions has grown into a name that travels – most recently with Homebound, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, which premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes 2025, also shortlisted at the 98th Academy Awards, where he acted as the one of the producers, along with Adar Poonawalla (CEO of the Serum Institute of India and co-owner of Dharma Productions); marking a new chapter for what the studio represents on the world stage.

The ensemble, designed by Manish Malhotra, draws its visual language directly from the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, interpreting the master’s iconic command of drape, light, and ornament through contemporary couture. The silhouette is rooted in classical Indian drapery, restructured with a precision that allows fabric to move with the body without losing its sculptural authority. The garment draws from some of Varma’s most iconic works, among them – Hamsa Damayanti, Kadambari, Arjuna and Subhadra, and There Comes Papa – each painting selected not for spectacle, but for the quiet emotional truth it carries. What sets the look apart is its surface: hand-painted detailing executed in gold by traditional artisans, applied directly onto the garment as a painter would work on canvas. The strokes are deliberate, luminous, and irreducible bringing the intimacy of a Ravi Varma portrait into the architecture of a garment. The result is a piece that is neither costume nor conventional couture, but something in between: an image that carries history in its construction and lives differently once worn.

“I didn’t want to arrive here trying to explain India,” Johar says. “I wanted to arrive feeling like myself and that automatically brings everything I come from with it.”

For Johar, the reference to Raja Ravi Varma was an instinct. Varma’s imagery is embedded in Indian visual memory at a depth that often precedes conscious recognition: the way a goddess holds her sari, the light falling on mythological skin, the stillness of a composition that somehow holds movement within it. This look enters that legacy by translating its sensibility into fashion where drape becomes silhouette, brushstroke becomes embroidery, and the body becomes the canvas. Varma’s genius lay in making the epic feel intimate – in finding the human inside the mythological, the everyday inside the grand. It is, in many ways, the same instinct that has driven Johar’s own body of work in cinema for nearly three decades.

Karan Johar shared, “For me it had to feel personal and the moment it felt personal, it became Indian, because that’s where everything I know comes from. Every story I’ve told, every film I’ve made, every emotion I’ve tried to put on screen has come from this place. Raja Ravi Varma felt right because his work does something I’ve always tried to do in cinema. Ravi Varma painted feelings. The way a sari falls, the way a figure holds itself, the light on a face that is somehow both divine and completely human. I’ve grown up with those images without always knowing it. They live in you before you can name them. This look is my way of wearing that inheritance and I think that’s the most honest thing I could have done for my first MET. To arrive not with a concept, but with a feeling I’ve carried my whole life and finally found the right form for.”

The look has been developed with stylist Eka Lakhani in collaboration with Manish Malhotra, a natural and longstanding creative partner. Their association spans decades of cinema, where clothing has always played a role far beyond styling, shaping character, mood, and memory. That shared history allows for an ease in process, where ideas don’t need to be over-articulated to be understood.

“With Manish, there’s no translation needed,” Johar adds. “We’ve worked together for so long that there’s an instinct there. I knew if I was doing this, it had to be with him.”

At the centre of the look is craft and the hands that make it possible. The artisans and karigars whose labour animates Indian luxury at its finest are not a footnote here; they are the story. The hand-painted gold work, the precision of surface treatment, the hours held within each detail: these are the elements that distinguish a garment from a statement. In this sense, the ensemble does not simply draw from Indian heritage it is made through it.

This debut is, above all, an act of self-assurance, India arriving at the world’s most watched fashion moment not to explain itself, but to be seen on its own terms. The look makes a case for Indian craft as a living, globally resonant language: sophisticated, confident, and entirely its own.

 

Bob Nguyen ACS wins Milli Award for 2026 Australian Cinematographer of the Year at the 56th ACS National Awards

ADELAIDE, 4 May 2026 – At this year’s Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) 56^th National Awards in Adelaide, it was Bob Nguyen ACS who won the prestigious Australian Cinematographer of the Year Milli Award. Nguyen also won a Gold Tripod in the Feature Films – Budget Under $5m category for Ky Nam Inn.

Bob Nguyen ACS accepting his awards by video link

Nguyen is a critically acclaimed and highly awarded member of the Australian Cinematographer’s Society and an extremely experienced celluloid cinematographer. His notable works include SUT and SONG LANG, with SONG LANG garnering more than 30 international awards. In 2019 Nguyen won the Golden Tripod and the prestigious Milli Award for Australian Cinematographer of the Year for the first time. Bob’s cinematography on BLACK HEN and MUOI – THE CURSE RETURNS also earned him double Gold Awards and two additional Golden Tripods at previous ACS National Awards.

On winning the award Nguyen said, “It is a great honour to have won the Milli for the second time, particularly when the standard of cinematography in Australia is so high. I would like to thank the ACS, all of their sponsors for putting on the awards and for everything they do for cinematographers and congratulate all of the other nominees for their excellent work.”

(l-r) Ray Martin AM and ACS national president Brent Crockett ACS

The 2026 56^th ACS National Awards was, as always, in the ever capable and professional hands of host and MC for the evening, Ray Martin AM. Martin, in his inimitable fashion, entertained and guided the full house alongside presenters that included ACS national president Brent Crockett ACS.

Crockett presented Hall of Fame Awards to Mark Wareham ACS and László Baranyai HSC ACS HCA, the Life Membership Award to Richard Chataway ACS and Carolyn Constantine ACS and the John Leake OAM ACS Emerging Cinematographer Award to Emilie Lowe.

Then the Student Cinematography Award went to Jake Frazer for The Native Police and other Gold Tripod winners included Aaron Farrugia who won the John Bowring ACS Station Breaks & Promos for The Block “Heartland”, Maximilian McKay took home the Music Videos award for 21st Century Cool Girl – Chloe Qisha and Haidarr Jones who won the Neil Davis International News award for Gaza Aid Delivery.

The Current Affairs award went to Tom Hancock for Australian Story: Betrayal, The Story Of Hannah Grundy and Dave May ACS won in Entertainment & TV Magazine for Love on the Spectrum U.S. – E7.

The Ron Taylor AM ACS & Valerie Taylor AM Wildlife & Nature award went to Jack Riley and Nick Robinson for The Kimberley S1E1 and Alper Kasap took out the gong for Short Films with KUDUZ.

The Gold Tripod for Drama Series budget under $1m went to Brendan Barnes SASC ACS for Go and the Gold Tripod for Drama Series budget $1m and over went to Nicola Daley ACS BSC for The Handmaid’s Tale.

Then the Feature Films – Budget $5m and over Gold Tripod award went to Stephen Windon ACS ASC for THE ELECTRIC STATE.

The Judges’ Merit Award went to Matthew Davies for Javelin Aerospace ‘In Our Blood’.

ACS national president Brent Crockett ACS

ACS National President Brent Crockett ACS said, “A huge congratulations to Bob Nguyen ACS on being named Australia’s Cinematographer of the Year for the second time. It’s a powerful reflection of Bob’s consistency, craft and extraordinary eye behind the camera. This recognition is thoroughly deserved. My sincere thanks to our industry sponsors, supporters and the South Australian ACS Branch Committee for delivering an outstanding night in Adelaide and congratulations to all award recipients. Australian cinematography continues to stand among the very best in the world and it’s exactly why our talent is so highly sought after here and internationally.”

Other Gold Tripod and Award Winners included:

Serial TV & Comedy Series – Dave Cameron NZCS ACS for Madam S1E1

Branded Content & Advertising – Christian Fitzpatrick ACS for Penta Tequila – Método Penta Quintaesencia

Corporate – Branded Content, Education & Events – Christian Fitzpatrick ACS for Sub-Atmospheric Carbon Neutral Vacuum Distillation

Commercials – Budget under $200K – Jackson England for AMAN – Amankora

Commercials – Budget $200K and over – Jani Häkli for Go Mongolia

Bob Miller ACS Scholarship – Tom Waugh and Tad Errey

Ron Windon ACS Contribution award to Mick Fanning (presented to Mick by Ron’s son Steve Windon ACS ASC)

Images by Sam Oster

Bollywood, Breakthroughs & Beyond: Raghav Sachar’s Story Takes the Spotlight on Dreamers Show

New Delhi, 3 May 2026: The latest episode of the acclaimed Dreamers Storytelling Series, curated and narrated by storyteller Sudhanshu Rai, brings to life the extraordinary early journey of musical prodigy Raghav Sachar, a story rooted in instinct, resilience, and unwavering passion for music.

The episode opens with a remarkable childhood moment that would unknowingly set the stage for Sachar’s future. At just three years old, he watched his father play the harmonica for his mother. Drawn by curiosity, the young Sachar approached and asked for the instrument. Though hesitant, his father handed it over, assuming the child would simply experiment with sound. What followed left both parents astonished, the three-year-old effortlessly reproduced the same tune and returned the harmonica. This defining moment marked his first introduction to music and revealed an innate gift that would shape his life.

Recognizing his talent, Sachar’s parents supported his musical inclination, even as he struggled academically. He was enrolled in a boarding school, where he found himself emotionally distanced from music, the very thing that defined him. This sense of disconnect weighed heavily on him. During this period, he was also involved in a physical altercation with another student, which led to hospitalization. Feeling confined and increasingly detached from his true calling, he made the bold decision to leave the hospital, driven by an unshakable urge to return to music and pursue it on his own terms.

The episode delves deeper into the challenges he encountered, including discouragement from educators, one of whom labelled him a “disgrace.” Despite societal pressures during the 1980s, when conventional education was prioritized over artistic pursuits, Sachar persisted. With the steadfast support of his parents, he pursued formal training and eventually enrolled at Monash University, specializing in saxophone and flute.

Studying abroad came with its own set of hardships. Financial constraints required Sachar to undertake advertising gigs from India to fund his education. His perseverance paid off when his debut album received support from renowned artists including Sunidhi Chauhan, Kailash Kher, and Kunal Ganjawala, who contributed their voices without charging a fee, an early testament to the respect he commanded within the industry.

A significant turning point in his career came when legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra recognized his talent and invited him into his studio. This led to Sachar’s debut as a music director with the film Kabul Express. He further established his presence by contributing as an instrumentalist in popular Bollywood films such as Salaam Namaste, Parineeta, Dhoom, and Hum Tum.

Today, Raghav Sachar stands as a multifaceted artist, composer, performer, innovator, and entrepreneur. He leads his own music label, continues to experiment with and invent new musical instruments, and explores the therapeutic dimensions of sound, using music as a tool for healing.

Through this episode, Dreamers Storytelling Series not only celebrates Sachar’s journey but also reinforces its mission of spotlighting real-life stories that inspire courage, creativity, and conviction.

Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/kDKhIXng0?si=1mtexpa854rqeWP

Bhubaneswar to Host ‘Shraddhanjali 2026’ — A Musical Tribute to Guru Bauri Bandhu Sethi

Bhubaneswar, April 30: Delhi-based cultural organization Swaranjali is set to bring an evening of classical music and tribute to Odisha’s capital with Shraddhanjali 2026, a commemorative concert dedicated to Guru Late Suramani Bauri Bandhu Sethi.

The event will be held on June 20, 2026, at 5 PM at Gita Govinda Sadan, Jayadev Bhawan, Ashok Nagar, Bhubaneswar. Organized in association with Shreyas Webmedia Solutions, the program aims to honor the legacy of the late guru through a curated lineup of classical performances.

The evening will feature a group vocal presentation by the disciples of Shri Avimanyu Sahoo from Sishuniketan School, Mancheswar. Instrumental highlights include a sitar and sarod duet by Shri Jeeban Prakash Das and Shri Sandeep Rout. Vocal recital by Smt. Bilambita Banisudha and a solo sitar performance by Shri Subrata De are also part of the program.

The event will be anchored by Vidwan Shri Alok Das, adding a narrative touch to the musical proceedings.

Organizers have extended an open invitation to music lovers, patrons of classical arts, and the general public to attend the event and pay tribute to the revered गुरु through music.

For further details and RSVP, interested attendees may contact 9910300319, 8447507053, or 9937001349.

Swaranjali, founded by Subrata De, continues to promote Indian classical music through performances and cultural initiatives across the country, in collaboration with partners like Shreyas Webmedia Solutions.

NCPA’s Mudra Dance Festival 2026 Highlights Young Talent in Indian Classical Dance

Mumbai, Apr 30 (BNP): The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) has successfully concluded the 2026 edition of its annual Mudra Dance Festival, placing a strong focus on young performers and the future of Indian classical dance traditions.

Held on April 16, 23, and 24 at the Experimental Theatre, the festival also featured its first-ever interschool dance competition on April 20 and 22. Celebrated around International Dance Day, Mudra is known for presenting thematic performances rooted in culture and tradition, with this year’s editions exploring ideas such as motherhood, emotions, colours, and expressive art forms.

A major highlight of the 2026 edition was the “Children’s Edition,” which brought young dancers to the centre stage. The initiative aimed to recognise early-stage learners and provide them with a formal platform to showcase their training, discipline, and artistic growth.

Performances across the festival featured students from several reputed dance institutions, reflecting the depth of classical training and the diversity of styles being nurtured across Mumbai.

The newly introduced Mudra Interschool Classical Dance Competition received an overwhelming response, with participation from more than 75 schools and 115 entries. Students performed in classical styles such as Kathak and Bharatanatyam, along with group and fusion presentations.

Organisers said the initiative is an important step in integrating classical dance into school-level education, encouraging institutions to treat it with the same seriousness as sports and other structured disciplines. The festival also aims to strengthen appreciation for Indian classical arts among younger generations.

From Foster Care to Homelessness, “No Address” Exposes a Growing Crisis

The feature film ‘No Address’ delivers an emotional and urgent look at the pipeline from foster care to homelessness, and the courage to find a way out

Sacramento, Calif. – Apr 30 – May is Foster Care Awareness Month, a time to recognize the challenges faced by youth in the foster care system and the families, professionals, and advocates who support them. According to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), more than 320,000 children are currently in the U.S. child welfare system, with an average age of just eight years old.

Against this backdrop, Robert Craig Films’ feature movie No Address brings a deeply human perspective to the issue, illustrating how quickly a child’s life can be disrupted, and the critical role support and stability play in shaping a better future. The film has resonated with audiences, earning a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

“No Address humanizes the story of so many individual experiences of homelessness, and Lauren’s story begins with her entering the foster system,” said Robert Craig, Producer at Robert Craig Films. “It’s heartbreaking when children are left without support due to circumstances beyond their control.”

“Films like No Address are critical in helping people understand the real-life challenges foster youth face every day,” said Cheryl Williams, Founder of Fundamentals For Foster Care, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting foster youth through educational stability initiatives. “When young people age out of the system without strong support, they are at significantly higher risk of homelessness.

In No Address, actress Isabella Ferreira portrays Lauren, a young girl whose life is upended when her mother, her only family, passes away, forcing her into the foster care system. Her journey reflects one of many pathways into care, showing how quickly a child’s world can change. Through the support of those around her, Lauren begins to find stability, hope, and a path forward.

The film features an acclaimed ensemble cast including William Baldwin, GRAMMY® Award-winning artist Ashanti, Xander Berkeley, Beverly D’Angelo, and Ty Pennington, whose performances bring authenticity and depth to this powerful story.

Robert Craig Films invites the public to host their own group screenings of the movie as a step toward greater understanding of foster care and homelessness and a better future for those suffering. Information can be found at www.NoAddressMovie.com/Groups. 

Through No Address and its broader storytelling initiatives, Robert Craig Films is committed to creating films that inspire empathy and meaningful action. Central to this effort is The Big 5 GIVEBACK, part of the No Address Movement, which pledges 50% of net profits from five No Address productions to nonprofit organizations and churches working to combat homelessness in their communities.

For streaming, rental, and purchase information for the feature film, NO ADDRESS, visit www.NoAddressMovie.com.

Tribeny Rai’s ‘Shape of Momo’ Creates History with Triple International Honours!

Los Angeles[US], Apr 29 (BNP): Filmmaker Tribeny Rai’s acclaimed film “Shape of Momo” has earned international recognition by securing triple honours at film festivals in Los Angeles and the Indie Meme Film Festival.

At the prestigious Indie Meme Film Festival, the film created history by winning both the Jury Award and the Audience Choice Award, becoming the first film in the festival’s history to receive both top honours simultaneously.

The remarkable achievement highlights the film’s strong critical acclaim as well as its popularity among audiences.

In addition to its success at Indie Meme, the film also received recognition at a film event in Los Angeles, completing a memorable hat-trick of honours on the global stage.

“Shape of Momo” has been praised for its compelling storytelling, unique cultural narrative, and emotional depth, helping it connect with viewers across different backgrounds.

The triple win is being seen as a proud moment for Indian independent cinema, especially for emerging voices bringing regional stories to international platforms.

Film enthusiasts and critics have lauded Tribeny Rai’s achievement, noting that such global recognition will inspire more diverse and original storytelling from India.

Indian Golf Legend Vijay Kumar Passes Away at 57

New Delhi, Apr 29 (BNP): Veteran Indian golfer Vijay Kumar, one of the most accomplished figures in the country’s professional golf circuit, passed away in Lucknow following a heart attack. He was 57.

Kumar was widely respected for his consistency and dominance in Indian golf, particularly during the late 1990s and early 2000s. He turned professional in 1988 and went on to build a distinguished career spanning more than a decade at the top level.

Among his notable achievements, he won the Indian Open in 2002 and secured the Order of Merit title four times, making him one of the most successful players in Indian golfing history.

Known for his disciplined approach and competitive spirit, Vijay Kumar played a key role in shaping the growth of professional golf in India and inspired a generation of emerging golfers.

His demise has been widely mourned across the sporting community, with tributes highlighting his contribution to Indian golf and his legacy as a champion athlete.

Dance, drama, and a second shot at love: Here are 5 reasons what makes Amazon MX Player’s Campus Beats Returns is unmissable

Mumbai, Apr 29: Amazon MX Player, India’s leading free, premium, ad-supported video streaming service, today released the sixth season of its fan-favourite youth-drama series Campus Beats Returns. After five successful seasons, the much-awaited series picks up with a fresh emotional core, a new rhythm of love, and stakes that feel more personal than ever. The show features a dynamic ensemble cast led by Shantanu Maheshwari, Shruti Sinha, Sahaj Singh Chahal, Dipankana Das, and Adnan Ahmed, with exciting new faces featuring Paras Kalnawat, Chandni Sharma, and Suvansh Dhar. Produced by Banijay Asia, written and creatively produced by Palki Malhotra, and directed by Aniruddha Rajderkar, the new season leans into rediscovering love while navigating new beginnings, unexpected turns, and a past that refuses to stay buried. 

Here are 5 reasons why Campus Beats Returns needs to be on your watchlist:

1. Introducing a New Beat of Love:

This season dives into Ishaan and Netra’s story at a turning point, where love faces new rhythms, rivalries, and revelations. As life pulls them into a fresh campus filled with ambition, attraction, and unexpected connections, their equation begins to shift in surprising ways. Between growing tensions, brewing love triangles, and moments that blur the lines between friendship and romance, the story explores how far one will go to fight for the heart that feels like home.

2. A cast that keeps the energy alive:

At its core, Campus Beats Returns thrives on its vibrant ensemble. Shantanu Maheshwari and Shruti Sinha anchor the story with emotional weight, while Sahaj Singh Chahal, Dipankana Das, and Adnan Ahmed bring layered performances.  The addition of new faces like Paras Kalnawat, Suvansh Dhar, and Chandni Sharma doesn’t just expand the world; it complicates it in the best way. 

3. Romance meets mystery:

This season goes beyond a simple, straightforward love story. It is all about rediscovering love, as Ishaan tries his best to remind Netra of their past. Their paths continue to cross in unexpected ways, with hidden truths and unresolved feelings keeping the story engaging and unpredictable. With every encounter, the real question stays constant: Can love survive when only one person remembers it?

4. Power-packed dance performances and  faceoffs:

Dance remains the heartbeat of Campus Beats Returns, but this time it carries more than spectacle. Every face-off and every intense performance becomes a bridge between Ishaan and Netra.  It’s where familiarity slips through, where emotions surface before words do, and where their story keeps finding its way back. 

5. It’s free to watch on Amazon MX Player:

With its mix of romance, drama, and high-energy dance performances, Campus Beats Returns delivers a full-scale entertainment experience without the need for a subscription. Streaming exclusively on Amazon MX Player, stays accessible across devices, making it easy to step into its world anytime.

As emotions run high and equations shift, the lines between love, friendship, and rivalry begin to blur. Step into the world of Campus Beats Returns and experience a journey of dance, drama, and rediscovery. Now streaming for free exclusively on Amazon MX Player, available across mobile devices, Connected TVs, the Amazon shopping app, Prime Video, Fire TV, Jio TV, and Airtel Xstream.