Tag: Oscar

  • ‘Laapataa Ladies’ has been selected for Oscars 2025

    ‘Laapataa Ladies’ has been selected for Oscars 2025

    Director and writer Kiran Rao’s dream has come true as her film ‘Laapataa Ladies’ has been chosen as India’s official entry for the Oscars Academy Award 2025 in the Best Foreign Film category.

    On Saturday September 21, 2024, during an interview with Press Trust of India,
    Kiran Rao said, “My dream will be fulfilled… if it (Laapataa Ladies) will go to the Oscars. But it’s a process, and I am hoping it will be considered. I am sure the best film will qualify, whoever they (Film Federation India) choose in the scheme of things.”

    “Our primary recognition comes from the audience’s response at the box office. If the audience and the nation appreciate our work, that would be the greatest accolade for us”, Kiran Rao added.

    On her Instagram account Rao wrote, “I am deeply honored and beyond delighted that our film Laapataa Ladies has been chosen as India’s official entry to the Academy Awards. This recognition is a testament to the tireless work of my entire team, whose dedication and passion brought this story to life. Cinema has always been a powerful medium to connect hearts, transcend boundaries, and ignite meaningful conversations. I hope that this film will resonate with audiences across the world, just as it has in India.

    “I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the selection committee and to everyone who believed in this film. It is indeed a great privilege to be selected from among such amazing Indian films this year, who are equally worthy contenders for this honor.”

    The cast of the charming film includes Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastav Ravi Kishan, Chhaya Kadam, and Geeta Aggarwal Sharma. The story line revolves around two brides who get mixed up while making their way to their sussraals. What follows is an adventure on which both the young women discover their strengths.

    Here is the post shared by Kiran Rao :

    Here are the Instagram stories of the cast Laaptaa laidies who shared the story:

  • Fans call for 3 Idiots to win an Oscar after academy shares clip

    Fans call for 3 Idiots to win an Oscar after academy shares clip

    The social media handles of the Academy Awards surprised fans by sharing a classic scene from Aamir Khan’s ‘3 Idiots’. A scene from the film, based on an examination incident where the characters cleverly deceive the exam proctor, was shown on the Academy Award’s Instagram account with the caption, “Rancho’s presence of mind was at 100% here.”

    It also included details of the film with the caption, “Film: 3 IDIOTS.Directed by Rajkumar HiraniWritten by Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi (based on the novel “Five Point Someone” by Chetan Bhagat),Starring Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, R. Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Omi Vaidya, and Boman Irani”

    The story of 3 Iditos revolves around the lives of three engineering students and their journey through college and beyond.
    Fans of the Indian film left comments on the post, with one saying that “the film is better than Hollywood movies and deserves an Oscar.”

  • ‘Zindagi Tamasha’ makes history as first Pakistani film released on TikTok

    ‘Zindagi Tamasha’ makes history as first Pakistani film released on TikTok

    Director Sarmat Khoosat’s beleaguered film ‘Zindagi Tamasha’ is making history as the first full-length film to partner with TikTok. The film will be divided into 12 to 15 parts, each part lasting more than a minute and will be available on Tik Tok.

    ‘Zindagi Tamasha’ (Circus of Life) tells the story of a religious man who faces criticism for dancing, highlighting Pakistan’s strict gender roles. Despite controversy, the film won international awards, including the Kim Ji-Seok Award and Snow Leopard Award for Best Film. It was also Pakistan’s official entry for the 93rd Academy Awards.

    Tik Tok press team quoted Sarmad Khoosat as saying, “Our film inspires kindness, promotes tolerance, and encourages peace. I’m thrilled it will be the first Pakistani film officially released on TikTok, and we cannot wait for the platform’s vibrant global community to enjoy the movie.”

    @khoosatfilms Zindagi Tamasha | Intro | Sarmad Khoosat #whattowatch #whotofollow #zindagitamasha ♬ original sound – Khoosatfilms – Khoosat Films

    @khoosatfilms

    Zindagi Tamasha | Trailer | Feature Film #whattowatch #whotofollow #zindagitamasha #circusoflife @sarmadkhoosat

    ♬ original sound – Khoosatfilms – Khoosat Films

  • Hollywood star Will Smith is reading the Holy Quran

    Hollywood star Will Smith is reading the Holy Quran

    Hollywood superstar and Oscar winner has talked about finding comfort in spirituality and reading the Quran during tough times in the last two years. In a recent interview, the 55-year-old A-lidter shared that he’s fond of spiritual practices and faced challenges that made him reflect on his inner self.

    During this tough period, Smith explored various holy books, including the Quran.
    He said, “I read the Quran from cover to cover during the month of Ramazan this year.” Smith expressed admiration for the Quran’s simplicity and clarity, finding it easy to understand without confusion.
    He was particularly moved by the stories of Prophet Musa mentioned in the Quran. Smith highlighted the common thread running through different holy books, from the Torah to the Bible to the Quran, emphasizing their connection.
    Asked about how he raises his children, the American actor said, “My youngest son is now 23-years-old, and yet I am still working on raising them.

    “I thought that raising children would end at the age of 21, but it has just begun. All of my children are in their twenties, except for the eldest, who is 31.
    Their relationships have become more serious, and therefore they always need advice and help more than ever before.”
    Smith emphasized the importance of the concept that “every soul is responsible for itself” in the Quran, which he believes helps in raising his children and understanding them, as they will ultimately be responsible for themselves.
    Furthermore, Smith added that reading the Holy Book relieved him of his worries.

    Smith also expressed his love for Saudi Arabia. “I went on a tour of the NEOM project, saw the city of Jeddah, and made two trips to Riyadh and this was my third visit to Saudi Arabia. I enjoy my life here and feel like I belong here.”

  • Pakistani documentary ‘As Far As They Can Run’ bags Emmy nomination

    Pakistani documentary ‘As Far As They Can Run’ bags Emmy nomination

    Another proud moment for Pakistani entertainment! The documentary ‘As Far As They Can Run’ was nominated for the prestigious Emmy awards under the category ‘Oustanding Documentary Short’. Haya Fatima Iqbal was the field producer along with Ziad Zafar co-producer, Tanaz Eshaghian the director and Nadir Siddiqui was the cinematographer behind this project.

    The film follows the lives of three young adults dealing with intellectual disabilities, while competing for the Special Olympics.

    The filmmaker, who had previously won an Oscar and two Emmys, shared the exciting news on her Instagram stories, revealing that one of the kids in the film, Sana Kapri, lit the torch at the Special Olympics in Berlin only a month ago.

    It was a joy and honour for me to witness the care and love that the coaches put into this work to ensure that these children can fly high,” she gushed about the project.

    Haya Fatima Iqbal has previously been a producer for Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s 2015 documentary ‘A Girl In The River’, an exploration of honor killings in Pakistan. The film followed the story of a woman who survived attempted murder at the hands of her family, after she married of her own choice. The documentary received critical acclaim and won an Oscar for ‘Best Documentary Short’.

  • Lupita Nyong’o wears breastplate designed by Pakistani artist Misha Japanwala

    Lupita Nyong’o wears breastplate designed by Pakistani artist Misha Japanwala

    Oscar winning actress Lupita Nyong’o wore a stunning tuxedo and breastplate to the Tony Awards. She shared pictures of the silver breastplate designed for her by Yale college buddy and artist Misha Japanwala on Instagram, calling it an “out of body experience” in the post.

    “Honored, humbled, strengthened and energized to don this breastplate created by @mishajapanwala, which she cast and molded of my body.”

    Speaking about the significance of the body art, Nyong’o quoted Japanwala’s explanation about how her craft is designed to help destigmatize shame, and help women embrace themselves for who they are.

    “She writes, ‘The word ‘beghairat’ (translation: shameless) has become an anchor in my practice; thousands of people have used it to describe me and the work I create, in an effort to insult and shame me into silence. In reclaiming the word and understanding that the rejection of others’ narrow definitions of shame is one of the most powerful tools for liberation, I’ve come to deeply appreciate and respect what living a life of shamelessness truly means. My craft pertains to documenting our existence in the most truthful way I possibly can — I change nothing about the body and how it looks.I think that act of surrendering and allowing our bodies to simply be, is such a beautiful and powerful thing.’”

    Nyong’o also shared a video of her look for the Tony Awards, where she celebrated her best friend Saheem Ali’s nomination for ‘Fat Ham’.

    Lyongo also shared the forehead tattoo henna artist Sabeen, whom she had met in Karachi at Japanwala’s wedding, painted onto her shaved head