IIFA Awards 2020 to be held in Indore from 27 to 29 March; Salman Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez attend press con

Starting its journey from London 20 years ago and traversing across major world cities, the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA Awards) will this year travel to Indore, Madhya Pradesh's commercial hub that will host the mega Bollywood event from 27 to 29 March.

This was announced by IIFA organisers in the presence of Bollywood actors Salman Khan and Jacqueline Fernandez and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath at a press conference here.

Salman, who shares deep connect with Indore, will be hosting the three-day event, which mixes glitz, glamour, and marketing, for the first time, the organisers said.

An event related to the IIFA Awards will be held in Bhopal on 21 March, while the main function will be organised in Indore from 27 to 29 March, they said.

This will be the 21st edition of the IIFA Awards which were first presented in 2000 in London. So far, IIFA Award functions have been held in 12 countries in cities like Dubai, Bangkok, Singapore, Colombo, Toronto, Madrid, and Macau.

Check out posts on IIFA 2020

The 21st edition of #IIFA Weekend and Awards will be held from 27 - 29 March 2020 in #Indore, #MadhyaPradesh... The awards event will be hosted by #SalmanKhan and #RiteishDeshmukh along with performances by #KatrinaKaif and #JacquelineFernandez. pic.twitter.com/E4DsEVr1Ux

— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) February 4, 2020

Kicking off the #IIFA PresCon in Bhopal today. @OfficeOfKNath @Asli_Jacqueline @IIFA pic.twitter.com/IryGqxuBCC — Md Sahil (@YesIamSohail) February 4, 2020

#IIFA Press conference@BeingSalmanKhan @Asli_Jacqueline pic.twitter.com/G0VteAfX5f

— Being Salman Club (@BeingSalmanClub) February 3, 2020

Indore will be only the second Indian city, after Mumbai in 2019, to host the high-profile event, generally a star-studded programme attended by who's who of the Hindi film industry.

Indore is not just the birthplace of legendary playback singer Lata Mangeshkar but also of Salman.

"Though I was conceived in Bombay (Mumbai) I was born in Indore," said the 54-year-old superstar, sharing his deep connection with the city which has been topping cleanliness ranking for the last few years.

Salman informed that he did his schooling from Indore and Gwalior's Scindia School and added, "Whatever I am today is because of the education that I got here.

The popular filmstar said his five-six generations belong to Madhya Pradesh and reminisced that he used to spend his winter and summer vacations in Indore's Old Palasia area.

With the arrival of IIFA Awards, the entire film industry will converge in the city.

Referring to Nath, he said, The chief minister has so much energy that I won't call him as my elder brother, but younger one."

Nath (73), who played a major role in getting the showcase event to Madhya Pradesh, said, I dedicate this IIFA Awards function to tribals and youths of the state."

The decision of IIFA to host the function has raised the honour of tribal people of the state, the Congress leader added.

Nath said, "Though Madhya Pradesh is not endowed with sea or snow, we have vast forests and rich cultural heritage with good landscape and simple people, which is a major thing."

"We wanted to change the profile of the state. If the identity of the state changes, then it will attract investment which comes with credibility," he said.

Nath advised Jacqueline to visit the Tribal Museum of Bhopal to see the state's diversity.

At the press conference, the chief minister presented a collage of Salman's childhood photos to the actor.

On the occasion, Nath purchased the first ticket of the IIFA Awards function.

Later, Salman, Jacqueline, and Nath addressed a large number of movie fans gathered in the lawns of Minto Hall where the function to announce the IIFA Awards in Madhya Pradesh was held.

With the Filmfare Awards being hosted in Guwahati this year, and IIFA's shift in venue to Indore, it seems the major award functions are taking a step back from choosing lavish outdoor locales to focus on the national venues, emphasising on a need to highlight the diversity of India. There has also been a stark shift of these award functions from the Bollywood capital of Mumbai.

(With inputs from Press Trust of India)

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Oscars 2020: Parasite, The Irishman, Joker, Jojo Rabbit, Marriage Story — how to watch all the Best Picture nominees

The full list of Oscars 2020 nominations has been revealed, analysed, and thoroughly discussed, all over the Internet. This year, a total of nine films are nominated for Best Picture at the 92nd Academy Awards. The films are a striking amalgamation of genres ranging from mafia thriller, dark satires to sheer crowd-pleasers.

However, if you are looking forward to catch all of the nominated films ahead of the 9 February awards show, we narrow down the ways to watch them close to the airing of the ceremony.

Once Upon A Time in Hollywood

Who's in it: Brad Pitt, Leonardo Di Caprio, Margot Robbie

What is it about:  Once Upon A Time in Hollywood features DiCaprio as a waning superstar and his stunt double Cliff Booth (Pitt), as they navigate the new cinescape life in a Hollywood they fail to recognise. Margot Robbie stars as Rick's next-door neighbour and star Sharon Tate, who is eventually murdered by serial killer Charles Manson (Damon Herriman). The film weaves "multiple storylines in a tribute to the final moments of Hollywood's golden age," the official description reads.

How to watch it: Once Upon A Time in Hollywood is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video India. The film is also scheduled to re-release in India on 14 February.

(Also read on Firstpost - Once Upon A Time In Hollywood's problematic politics: Beyond fan-boy admiration, looking at fault lines of Tarantino's film)

Joker

Who's in it: ‎Joaquin Phoenix, ‎Zazie Beetz

What is it about: Directed and co-written by Todd Phillips, Joker is one of the most talked films, with opinion pieces emerging every now and then ever since its release. The film is a gritty reimagining of the character’s early days, and offers a new take on the origin story of Batman's maniacal arch-enemy, painting a dark portrayal of a would-be stand-up comedian's descent into madness. Joker was screened at Toronto International Film Festival and New York Film Festival, and has become the first R-rated movie to hit $1 billion mark at global box office.

How to watch it: Joker is slated to re-release in India on 14 February.

(Also read on Firstpost - Joker is a film that takes itself too seriously but ultimately amounts to a whole lot of nothing)

Little Women

Who's in it: Saorise Ronan, Florence Pugh, Timothee Chalamet, Laura Dern, Emma Watson, Eliza Scanlen, Meryl Streep.

What is it about: In the world of numerous stage, television, and film adaptations, filmmaker Greta Gerwig brings a heartfelt spin on the classic tale of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. The novel follows the lives of four March sisters — Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, played by Watson, Ronan, Scanlen, and Pugh respectively — in 19th-century New England, in the aftermath of Civil War. With various nominations across the awards circuit, critics are all praise for Gerwig's Little Women, with many stating she has "modernised the book's timeless story in unexpected ways."

How to watch it: Little Women is scheduled to release in India this Friday on 7 February.

1917

Who's in it: Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay, Daniel Mays, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Madden, Andrew Scott

What is it about: The Golden Globe Best Picture winner, 1917, has been highly praised for its technique to unfold the entire film as a single-shot, with many reviewers calling it an 'immersive experience.' 1917 is set in the midst of World War I, where two British soldiers (McKay and Chapman) must cross enemy lines to deliver a message which will prevent over a thousand men from walking into a deadly trap.

How to watch it: 1917 is running across limited theaters in India.

(Also read on Firstpost - Sam Mendes' 1917, for all its horrors, is casual entertainment, its mood at odds with his melancholy oeuvre)

Ford vs Ferrari

Who's in it: Christian Bale, Matt Damon, Tracy Letts

What is it about: Premiered at the Telluride Film Festival, Ford vs Ferrari is based on the true story a group of maverick American engineers, led by automotive visionary Carroll Shelby to build a car that could defeat Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans World Championship in France.

How to watch it: Ford vs Ferrari is currently in theaters. It is also available for digital purchase on iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play

The Irishman

Who's in it: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci

What is it about: Veteran filmmaker Martin Scorsese reunites with De Niro for a mafia thriller based on a true story, that follows real-life hitman Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran. A festival favourite, the film was extraordinarily praised for the well-placed use of de-aging technology to make De Niro and Pacino appear younger.

De Niro is Frank Sheeran, a World War II veteran and a hitman, who possibly played a role in the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa, played by Al Pacino. Pesci plays mob boss Russell Bufalino. The film throws light on the life of Frank, and how he attained his deadly skills, and his plot with Russell to assassinate union leader Jimmy Hoffa.

How to watch it: The Irishman is currently available on Netflix.

(Also read on Firstpost - The Irishman: Scorsese's decision to cast charismatic stars as gangsters compromises film's politics)

Jojo Rabbit

Who's in it: Scarlett Johansson, Taika Waititi, Roman Griffin Davis

What is it about: Written and directed by Taika Waititi, the World War II satire is based on Christine Leunens's book Caging Skies. The story revolves around Jojo Betzler (Davis), a young boy who longs to be part of the Hitler Youth (an organisation set up to train young men in Nazi ideology), and whose imaginary friend is Adolf Hitler (Waititi). However, his life turns upside down when he discovers his mother (Johansson) is hiding a Jewish girl (McKenzie) in their attic. Jojo Rabbit recently took home the Best Adapted Screenplay honour at the Writers Guild of America Awards 2020.

How to watch it: Jojo Rabbit is currently playing in theaters.

Marriage Story

Who's in it: Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver, Laura Dern

What is it about: Noah Baumbach's Marriage Story takes a profound look at the gnawing, heart-wrenching pain of a divorce. The film follows stage director Charlie (Driver) and actress Nicole (Johansson) as they try to navigate through a complex yet inevitable divorce. The film is also billed as “incisive and compassionate portrait of a marriage breaking up, and a family staying together."

How to watch it: Marriage Story is currently available on Netflix.

Parasite

Who's in it: Kang-ho Song, Sun-kyun Lee, Yeo-jeong Jo

What is it about: The international success of Parasite, the black comedy thriller by Bong Joon-ho, has been rather spectacular. It started with a slew of early season awards, including the prestigious Palme d'Or at Cannes. It has won Best Motion Picture – Foreign Language at the Golden Globes, an original screenplay win at the Baftas, and six Oscar nominations, including in some of the most distinguished categories (film, director, and screenplay).

Parasite is touted as a “pitch-black modern fairytale,” and follows two very different families who find themselves tangled up in a complex bond that is threatened by encroaching outside forces. "As the Kims provide 'indispensable' luxury services while the Parks obliviously bankroll their entire household, a parasitic interloper threatens the Kims’ newfound comfort, a savage, underhanded battle for dominance breaks out, threatening to destroy the fragile ecosystem between the Kims and the Parks," says the official description.

How to watch it: Parasite released on 31 January in India, and is currently playing across select theaters.

(Also read on Firstpost - Bong Joon-ho interview: Parasite director decodes his Oscar-nominated masterpiece, and its thrilling climax)

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Brad Pitt's acceptance speeches this awards season are a work of art, from Brexit jokes to digs at his singlehood

Brad Pitt has been garnering acclaim for his performance in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. He won the Best Supporting Actor at not only the Golden Globes, but also the Screen Actor Guild Awards (SAGs), and most recently, the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs). Besides his winning streak, the actor has floored everyone with his witty and charming acceptance speeches.

At the Golden Globes, Pitt instantly had the audience in stitches as he thanked the "eclectic and ever-raucous" Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). But the cherry on the cake was seeing him gush about his Once Upon a Time In Hollywood co-star Leonardo DiCaprio before he threw in a Titanic reference, " I also want to thank my partner-in-crime LDC. Before The Revenant, I used to watch year after year, his co-stars accept awards, and get up and thank him profusely. I know why, he’s an all star, he’s a gent, and I wouldn’t be here without you, man. I thank you. Still, I would’ve shared the raft."

Both DiCaprio and Pitt made their Golden Globe appearances sans dates. As he thanked his parents, who were not present at the ceremony, "I wanted to bring my mom (to the Globes) but I couldn't because anyone I stand next to, they say I'm dating. And that would just be awkward." The camera stayed focused on his ex-wife Jennifer Aniston throughout the entirety of this remark.

Watch his Golden Globes speech here

This one's for Rick Dalton. Brad Pitt wins Best Supporting Actor, Motion Picture at The #GoldenGlobes. pic.twitter.com/0QK3TfomI1

— NBC Entertainment (@nbc) January 6, 2020

Pitt joked about adding his second SAG for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role to his Tinder profile.

He extended gratitude towards his colleagues, admitting he watched all of their work. The crowd erupted as Pitt took a jab at director Quentin Tarantino's foot fetish, "Seriously, Quentin has separated more women from their shoes than the TSA", and then at himself, "Let's be honest, it was a difficult part: a guy who gets high, takes off his shirt, and doesn't get on with his wife."

Watch the speech here

Pitt was unable to make it to the BAFTAs ceremony on 2 February, and had his Once Upon A Time In Hollywood co-star Margot Robbie pick up the award instead. She read out the brief yet hilarious acceptance speech on Pitt's behalf, which was peppered with jokes on Brexit and Meghan Markle-Prince Harry's renunciation of royal roles.

“He starts by saying, ‘Hey Britain. Heard you just became single. Welcome to the club!," Robbie referred to Britain's exit from the European Union. Pitt said he would christen the award Harry because "he’s really excited about bringing it back to the States with him." Robbie made sure to clarify the speech was entirely Pitt's words, and not hers as the audience laughed along.

Watch the speech here

Brad Pitt wins the Supporting Actor award for @OnceInHollywood but Margot Robbie was there to accept it on his behalf! 🌠🙏 #EEBAFTAs #BAFTAs pic.twitter.com/GHnkGiEZpI

— BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 2, 2020

Now, we wonder what more of his unapologetic humour he has got in store for his Oscars victory speech, in case he bags the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award.

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Taj Mahal 1989 Season 1, starring Neeraj Kabi, Geetanjali Kulkarni, to premiere on Netflix on 14 February

Taj Mahal 1989, a series exploring with the themes of love, friendship, politics, and heartbreak, is slated to be released on 14 February, Netflix announced on Tuesday.

Starring Neeraj Kabi (Sacred Games, Once Again) and Geetanjali Kulkarni (Bombay Rose, Photograph), the Lucknow-set series will encompass the old-world charm of love and the complicated nature of relationships in small town India.

Here's a poster

"Tracing the lives of a Lucknow University professor couple, their students, a long-lost friend, his lover, and a schoolgirl in love with an older boy, this series is a tribute to love in all its unadulterated forms," read the synopsis of the show.

Taj Mahal 1989 also features Danish Hussain, Sheeba Chaddha, Anud Singh Dhaka, Anshul Chauhan, Paras Priyadarshan, Shiri Sewani, Mihir Ahuja and Vasundhara Singh Rajput.

This show has been produced by Tipping Point, the digital production arm of Indian media giant Viacom18 Studios. This collaboration previously released Jamtara - Sabka Number Aayega, which explored the conflicts that emerged after small town is identified as India's phishing capital, and the upcoming She, a gritty story of an undercover cop’s journey discovering her sexuality and breaking stereotypes while taking down a drug cartel.

(With inputs from Press Trust of India)

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Salman Khan announces Sooraj Pancholi's upcoming biopic on Indian boxer Hawa Singh, shares first look poster

Superstar Salman Khan on Tuesday unveiled the first look of the biopic on Hawa Singh, known as the father of Indian boxing, featuring actor Sooraj Pancholi.

Based on the true story of the iconic heavyweight boxer, the film will be directed by Prakash Nambiar. It will be produced by Sam S Fernandes and Kamlesh Singh Kushwaha.

"Hawa se baatein karega singh (This Singh will fly)," Salman captioned the first look on Twitter.

Check out the tweet

Hawa se baatein karega singh... #HawaSinghBiopic @Sooraj9pancholi pic.twitter.com/2zS0AQYs0n

— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) February 4, 2020

The poster shows a beefed up Sooraj, guzzling a glass of lassi in a boxing ring. Pancholi also shared the first look poster.

Check out his post

Hawa Singh traced the boxer's journey from a village boy to a legendary figure in the world of boxing.

A recipient of the Arjuna Award and the Dronacharya Award, Singh dominated Indian and Asian Boxing in his weight class for a decade.

He won the Asian Games Gold medal in the heavyweight category in consecutive editions of the Games at the 1966 and 1970 Asiads, a feat unmatched by any Indian boxer till date.

The film, set in Haryana, will go on floors soon.

(With inputs from Press Trust of India)

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Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan song Mere Liye Tum Kaafi Ho sees Ayushmann Khurrana take to the mic again

A new song from Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer upcoming feature Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan has been released. Titled 'Mere Liye Tum Kaafi Ho,' the song is sung by Khurrna, and composed by Tanishk and Vayu.

Attached to various montages from the film, the song traces the relationship of Khurrana's Kartik and his partner Aman (Jitendra Kumar), with a glimpse of their struggle to find acceptance in society. With poignant lyrics in tow, the breezy romantic track sees Kartik proclaim his love to Aman, the duo spending an evening by the sea, and always having each other's back during tense moments with family.

Check out the song here

Tum saath ho phir kya baki ho.. #MereLiyeTumKaafiHo! 🎶 Song out now!https://t.co/pB4ux90eF1#ShubhMangalZyadaSaavdhan 👬 ♥@smzsofficial @ayushmannk @raogajraj @Neenagupta001 @Farjigulzar @iammanurishi @SunitaRajwar @maanvigagroo @tanishkbagchi

— TSeries (@TSeries) February 4, 2020

The actor has previously sung many popular Bollywood song for his movies, such as 'Paani Da,' 'Saadi Galli Aaja,' 'Naina Da Kya Kasoor,' and many more. Khurrana on Monday took to social media to express his thoughts on singing yet another track from his film.

Directed by Hitesh Kewalya, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan will deal with same-sex relationships, and the social stigma surrounding it. The trailer charts the budding romance between Khurrana and Kumar as a couple, and the struggle to find acceptance within society as a homosexual couple.

Manurishi Chaddha, Sunita Rajwar, Maanvi Gagroo, Pankhuri Awasthy, and Neeraj Singh, as well as Ayushmann's Badhaai Ho co-stars Gajraj Rao and Neena Gupta, also play pivotal parts in the film.

Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan is slated to release on 21 February.

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British rock band Radiohead to take a year long sabbatical from music, says drummer Philip Selway

Singer Thomas Yorke-fronted English rock band Radiohead is taking a "year away" from working together.

Drummer Philip Selway made the revelation in an interview with NME.

Radiohead

"There are always conversations going on, but we've always got other projects going on. This is kind of a year away from Radiohead, but we will pick that up again," Selway said.

Asked whether they would return in 2021, he teased, "We'll see. We're talking."

The band also features brothers guitarist Jonny and bassist Colin Greenwood, and guitarist Ed O'Brien.

Radiohead's most recent album, A Moon Shaped Pool released in 2016. NME notes that the band uploaded its entire discography on YouTube alongside 18 hours worth of outtakes from OK Computer. 

The members have also been pursuing their individual projects — Yorke scored Luca Guadagnino's Suspiria in 2018 and then released a solo album ANIMA alongside a short film of the same name. O'Brien has an upcoming Brazillian inspired solo album titled EOB.

(With inputs from Press Trust of India)

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