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Indo-Asian News Service or IANS is a private Indian news agency. The IANS was founded by Indian American publisher Gopal Raju as the India Abroad News Service. It was later renamed the Indo-Asian News Service. The IANS has its main offices located in Noida.

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'Turning Red' To Have A Direct Digital Release In March
1613 days ago
Digital Media

'Turning Red' To Have A Direct Digital Release In March

Los Angeles, Jan 8 (IANS) Pixar's upcoming film 'Turning Red' is skipping theatres and will have a direct digital debut exclusively on Disney Plus on March 11. The news was announced by Disney and it will be free for subscribers.## The family-friendly animated film follows 'Soul' and 'Luca' as fellow Pixar releases that went straight to the streaming platform during the Covid-19 pandemic.## The 'Toy Story' spinoff 'Lightyear', starring Chris Evans, is still slated to release in theatres on June 17, reports variety.com.## "Disney Plus subscribers around the world enthusiastically embraced Pixar's Academy Award-winning 'Soul' and the critically-acclaimed 'Luca' when they premiered exclusively on the service, and we look forward to bringing them Pixar's next incredible feature film 'Turning Red'," said Kareem Daniel, chairman of Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, in a statement.## "Given the delayed box office recovery, particularly for family films, flexibility remains at the core of our distribution decisions as we prioritize delivering the unparalleled content of The Walt Disney Company to audiences around the world".## 'Turning Red' follows Mei Lee (voiced by Rosalie Chiang), a confident, dorky 13-year-old who turns into a giant red panda when she gets overly excited, which is incredibly easy to do as an excitable youngster.## The voice cast includes Sandra Oh, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Ava Morse, Hyein Park, Orion Lee, Wang Ching Ho, Tristan Allerick Chen, and Addie Chandler.## Billish Eilish and Finneas O'Connell wrote original songs for the film, which will be performed by the fictional band 4*Town. O'Connell, Jordan Fisher, Josh Levi, Topher Ngo, and Grayson Villenueva play the band members.## Domee Shi, who created the adorable Pixar short 'Bao', directs the film, which is produced by Lindsey Collins. 'Turning Red' marks Shi's directorial debut and also the first Pixar movie to be solo directed by a woman.## Stay tuned...

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Korean Series 'The Silent Sea' Tops Non-English Shows On Netflix
1614 days ago
Digital Media

Korean Series 'The Silent Sea' Tops Non-English Shows On Netflix

Seoul, Jan 7 (IANS) South Korean sci-fi horror series 'The Silent Sea' was the most-viewed non-English TV show over the week from December 27 to January 2 on Netflix, the global video streaming service said.## The drama, according to Yonhap News Agency, topped Netflix's official weekly chart for non-English TV programmes with 47.8 million hours of viewing for the week, vastly outnumbering 'The Queen of Flow: Season 2' with 29.5 million hours and 'Money Heist: Part 5' with 26.3 million hours.## 'The Silent Sea' is ranked No. 10, just behind the Akshay Kumar-starrer 'Sooryavanshi', on Netflix in India. The Raveena Tandon-led series 'Aranyak' and the Malayalam superhero movie 'Minnal Murali' are in the top two positions.## 'Squid Game' and 'Money Heist' are at No. 6 and 7 in India.## For 'The Silent Sea', the week in review marked a remarkable increase in viewership, as it had placed third with 22.2 million hours in the previous week. The eight-part series premiered on December 24.## It is the third Korean-language series to have topped the Netflix chart for non-English TV shows, following the global sensation 'Squid Game' released in September and Yeon Sang-ho's fantasy horror 'Hellbound' in November.## Netflix said 'The Silent Sea' made the Top 10 in the category in 77 countries over the one-week period and topped the list in six nations, including South Korea and Thailand.## Starring Bae Doo-na and Gong Yoo, the latest Netflix original is set on the moon, where a special team is tasked with finding out the secrets of an abandoned research facility, Balhae Base.## Stay tuned...

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Kaun Banegi Shikharwati Review: Perfect Casting Saves This Series
1614 days ago
Digital Media

Kaun Banegi Shikharwati Review: Perfect Casting Saves This Series

Series: 'Kaun Banegi Shikharwati' (Streaming on Zee5); Duration: Averaging 40 minutes per episode## Directors: Gauravv K. Chawla, Ananya Banerjee; Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Raghubir Yadav, Soha Ali Khan, Lara Dutta, Anya Singh, Kritika Kamra, Cyrus Sahukar, Varun Thakur## IANS Rating: **1/2## Set in the royal land of Rajasthan, 'Kaun Banegi Shikharwati' is a hackneyed ten-episode dramedy where a father attempts to reunite his four estranged daughters to save the legacy they hold.## Naseeruddin Shah plays Raja Mrityunjay, the erstwhile King of Shikharwati, who is bogged down with empty coffers and a huge debt to the Indian Government - in terms of property tax in arrears. To save himself from the situation he is in, with the help of his close confidant Mishraji, he feigns a strange illness and calls his four estranged daughters; Devyani, Gayatri, Kamini, and Uma to his palace with the assurance that he would decide an heir after the four of them compete in a competition.## The rules of the competition are simple. There would be nine rounds in the competition, and each round would be a task which the princesses would have to perform. In the end, the winner of the competition would be appointed the next "King". That is how the plot kicks in and thus begins the predictable misadventures of the quirky princesses who do their darndest to win.## Each episode is astutely crafted with art that seems insubstantial and meandering on the surface and thus may repulse some. But by the tenth episode, after you have had the patience of sitting through the earlier nine, you'd get hooked to find the series end on a meaningful and heart-warming note.## As for the characters; Naseeruddin Shah as the idiosyncratic Raja with his fuzzy tuft looking as cozily rumpled as an unmade bed, making it clear that Raja Mritunjay is not a heartless, mean man and that he has the welfare of his daughters and his estate at heart, Lara Dutta as Devyani his oldest daughter with marital issues, Soha Ali Khan as his considerate second daughter Gayatri who is a single mom to her two children, Kritika Kamra as his third unmarried daughter Kamini who is obsessed over her social media follower count and Anya Singh as Uma his allergy-prone, gamer daughter, Cyrus Sahukar as Devyani's husband Harsh Neotia, Raghubir Yadav as Mishraji, and the rest of the ilk, all appear stereotypical and oft-seen.## Similarly, spare for a handful of inspired scenes, the rest of the series appear cliched and unoriginal.## In the lesser hand, 'Kaun Banegi Shikharwati' could have been indigestible pablum, but its pitch-perfect cast won't let you soon forget the poignant bonding of the series. There is a natural performative quality to the actors' embodiment of their characters. They all seem to be living their parts effortlessly and are impressive in their marked roles, with them going big at all times with smirks, sighs, smiles, and tears.## Overall, mounted with ace production values, the series appears staged with damaged individuals in search of - connection and unity, who wind up tidy to a cheesy fault.## Stay tuned...

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Sanjay Mishra, Vijay Raaz Speak About Reasons For Doing 'Waah Zindagi'
1616 days ago
Digital Media

Sanjay Mishra, Vijay Raaz Speak About Reasons For Doing 'Waah Zindagi'

Mumbai, Jan 4 (IANS) Sanjay Mishra, and Vijay Raaz feel that their film 'Waah Zindagi' allowed them to touch a broad set of audience all the while telling an important story in the most engaging way through their performances.## Talking about the film, Sanjay Mishra says, "I choose stories that hold some meaning in a larger sense".## He takes into account another film of his 'Turtle', as he says, "While I take on characters that resonate better with the masses but at the same time taking on films such as 'Waah Zindagi' and 'Turtle', makes me complete as an artist. Working with Dinesh, Vijay Raaz, Manoj Joshi, and Naveen was a fulfilling experience, we all shared a time bond owned by adventurous encounters on the sets".## Both the films will have an HD first premiere on &pictures. While 'Waah Zindagi' will be aired on January 6, 'Turtle' will be showcased on January 20.## Commenting on the same, Sanjay says, "I am elated to know that these two films, which are very close to my heart, are going to reach huge audiences through the medium of TV".## Adding to his co-actor, Vijay Raaz says, "If 'Make in India' vision had come sooner, the scenario would have been different today. One should watch 'Waah Zindagi' with an open mind and it'll absolutely change their perspective. Ashok and Dinesh had a clear view on things they wanted to convey through the story of 'Waah Zindagi'".## "I did the movie because I wanted to make this story reach as many people as possible. It was a good experience overall to work with such an amazing team that brought forth the story in all authenticity", he concluded.## Stay tuned...

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Raghubir Yadav Explains Why 'Kaun Banegi Shikharwati' Is A Unique Series
1618 days ago
Digital Media

Raghubir Yadav Explains Why 'Kaun Banegi Shikharwati' Is A Unique Series

Mumbai, Jan 3 (IANS) Actor Raghubir Yadav says what he felt unique about the series 'Kaun Banegi Shikharwati' is that it showcases the life of kings and queens of that era and how they live in the current times.## "What I felt unique about this series is that it showcases the life of kings and queens of that era and how they live in the current times. It narrates an engaging story of two different generations and their completely different thought process and how they put in efforts in understanding each other," Raghubir said.## He added: "This is what I liked about the series and characters".## 'Kaun Banegi Shikharwati' is a dramedy based on the life of a royal king played by Naseeruddin Shah and his dysfunctional family. The show also stars Lara Dutta and Soha Ali Khan among many others.## He said: "Lara, Soha, Anya, and Kritika were new for me and I was new for them, however when we began shooting for this series, we in no time felt like a family living in a Raj Mahal".## Raghubir added: "We were all thoroughly focused on our work and there weren't any challenges in the shooting process. In fact, working with them was fun and I really enjoyed it".## The series premiere on January 7, 2022, on ZEE5.## Stay tuned...

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Fun Episode Of 'Unstoppable With NBK' As Rana Daggubati And Balakrishna Share Great Time
1618 days ago
Digital Media

Fun Episode Of 'Unstoppable With NBK' As Rana Daggubati And Balakrishna Share Great Time

Hyderabad, Jan 3 (IANS) Hosted by Nandamuri Balakrishna, celebrity talk show 'Unstoppable with NBK' will have 'Baahubali' actor Rana Daggubati in the upcoming episode.## Balakrishna, who entered into hosting, has so far been successful in creating his own mark by having Tollywood's biggies present on his show.## Now that Rana Daggubati is all set to appear on the show 'Unstoppable', the makers unveiled a fun-filled promo. The promo of the upcoming episode features Rana Daggubati having a witty conversation with Balakrishna.## Rana, who is the guest on the talk show, is seen quizzing Balakrishna, the host, in return.## When being quizzed about Balakrishna's bond with his wife, Balakrishna answers that he is the one who apologizes when the two have an argument.## "Lord Krishna himself held Satyabhama's feet when she was upset. Who am I?" Balakrishna said.## A few more questions and Rana dares Balakrishna to propose to his wife on the phone. As Balakrishna says "I Love You", his wife replies, "I know that you always love me", which is accompanied by claps from the audience.## The episode is to be aired on Aha on January 7.## Stay tuned...

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Ravi Dubey Credits 'Matsya Kaand' For Changing His Career Trajectory
1618 days ago
Digital Media

Ravi Dubey Credits 'Matsya Kaand' For Changing His Career Trajectory

Mumbai, Jan 3 (IANS) Ravii Dubey, whose web show 'Matsya Kaand' has garnered a positive response, holds his character of Matsya very close to his heart for it has opened up new avenues for him thereby changing the course of his career as an actor.## The actor said, "'Matsya Kaand' has truly changed the trajectory of my career. It challenged me as an actor and made me align physically mentally and spiritually with this craft like never before. Matsya came with a lot of makeovers, physical transformation and an emotional quotient like no other character I have played so far".## Defining the journey of the show, he said, "It required a lot of hard work and throughout the process, my director Ajay Bhuyan, producer Deepak Dhar (Banijay Asia) and Team MX asserted that we were on the brink of cracking something big".## The show produced by Banijay Asia for MX Player, recently clocked 100 million views on streaming platform MX Player, elated with the response to the show, Ravi shared, "Receiving positive reviews of the show affirmed that all the hard work we've put in as a team has paid off. However, when the show crossed 100 million views on MX Player, I was speechless. To be honest, I couldn't have asked for a better end to this year".## Talking about the success of the show, Deepak Dhar, CEO & Founder, Banijay Asia said, "We are amidst a content revolution where we are witnessing refreshing, experimental content taking the front seat with the audience all over the world".## He added, "A show like 'Matsya Kaand', which centers on an atypical conman, charming his way through the heists created such a hype among the metro cities as well as the rural corner of the nation that crossed 100 million views really fuels our belief in investing in such unconventional stories".## "At Banijay Asia, we thrive on presenting narratives that resonate with the cultural milieu and we look forward to following the same route with accelerated zeal and efforts in our forthcoming presentations", he concluded.## Stay tuned...

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Shefali Shah Calls Her 'Human' Character A Pandora's Box
1618 days ago
Digital Media

Shefali Shah Calls Her 'Human' Character A Pandora's Box

Mumbai, Jan 3 (IANS) Shefali Shah, who is gearing up for the release of her upcoming medical thriller series 'Human', had her share of challenges while getting into the nuances of her character of Gauri Nath.## The actress says, "Gauri Nath is Pandora's box. You don't know what hits you at each moment. She's complicated, unpredictable, and indecipherable".## What made it tricky was the fact that the character came with a blank slate, Shefali mentions, "Not only is 'She' unlike anyone I've played before, I don't know nor have heard of anyone like her!"## 'Human' is a medical thriller based on human drug trials in India, it sheds light on the collateral damage due to fast-tracked drug trials for financial gains as innocent lives are lost to greed. Touching compelling themes like the value of human life, medical malpractice, class divide, and ramifications of fast-paced medical science, 'Human' brings forth the greed to make money in a compelling tale of power struggles, secretive pasts, trauma, and murders.## In addition, the series also stars Kirti Kulhari, Vishal Jethwa, Ram Kapoor, Seema Biswas, Aditya Srivastava, and Mohan Agashe. Directed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah and Mozez Singh, 'Human' has been penned by Mozez Singh and Ishani Banerjee. The series will be available to stream on Disney+ Hotstar from January 14.## Stay tuned...

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'The Umbrella Academy' To Return With Season 3 In 2022
1619 days ago
Digital Media

'The Umbrella Academy' To Return With Season 3 In 2022

Los Angeles, Jan 2 (IANS) Streaming giant Netflix is teasing the upcoming third season of 'The Umbrella Academy', the superhero series based on the comics of Gerard Way and created for Netflix by Steve Blackman and Jeremy Slater.## A series of posters on the main characters was counted down today on Twitter, the first signs of the show's imminent arrival, although Netflix said in November that it would be returning, reports deadline.com.## No exact date has been set for the third seasona¿s release, but it is promised for 2022.## The series revolves around a dysfunctional family of adopted sibling superheroes who reunite to solve the mystery of their father's death and the threat of an imminent apocalypse.## Producers include Borderline Entertainment, Dark Horse Entertainment, and Universal Cable Productions.## The cast includes Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, David Castaneda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, Cameron Britton, Mary J. Blige, John Magaro, Adam Godley, Colm Feore, Justin H. Min, Ritu Arya, Yusuf Gatewood, Marin Ireland and Kate Walsh.## Stay tuned...

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Netflix will be required to stream 20 state TV channels in Russia
1620 days ago
Digital Media

Netflix will be required to stream 20 state TV channels in Russia

Moscow, Jan 1 (IANS) Streaming giant Netflix will have to stream 20 state television channels in Russia starting in March. ## The country's media watchdog Roskomnadzor registered the platform as an "audiovisual service" this week, reports Engadget. ## Among the channels Netflix will have to carry are the flagship Channel One, entertainment network NTV and a Russian Orthodox Church channel called Spas (which means "Saved"). ## Streaming services with more than 100,000 daily users in Russia are included on the register, which was established late last year, the report said. ## Not only must registered platforms offer state TV channels, but they also need to set up a Russian company, according to The Moscow Times. ## Companies on the register also have to abide by Russian laws. For one thing, Netflix will not be allowed to promote "extremism". Critics claim that provision has been wielded against those who support the Kremlin's opponents. ## Other video services in the country reportedly argued that Netflix should be added to the register to level the playing field since it meets the requirements. ## The Russian version of Netflix is operated by Entertainment Online Service, a subsidiary of National Media Group, which has a stake in Channel One. ##

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'Aranyak' co-writer Rohan Sippy believes OTT belongs to writers and actors
1621 days ago
Digital Media

'Aranyak' co-writer Rohan Sippy believes OTT belongs to writers and actors

Mumbai, Dec 31 (IANS) Filmmaker-writer Rohan Sippy, who has been garnering positive responses for his web series, 'Aranyak', feels that good writing clubbed with good performances are the mainstay for the medium of OTT. ## For him, both the verticals need to work in close association to extract the best out of each other and eventually shape the film or series. ## He shares his observation saying: "I believe that OTT is the writer's medium at the top, very closely aligned with the actors'. When you are getting into drama, comedy, or relationship kind of a thing for your stories, then it's really about actors who can compel you and make you sit down." ## Recollecting his experience of working with actor Pankaj Tripathi, he says: "I had the good fortune of working with Pankaj Tripathi and you can see what he brings to this medium. Be it Pankaj, Param (Parambrata Chattopadhyay) or Raveena; they all can use this medium wonderfully." ## "And of course, all the heads of departments have to work really hard because you are looking to do film quality at maybe four times the speed of films. But, writing and performance really are the heart and soul of this medium", he concludes. ## Stay tuned.

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How 'Decoupled' director Hardik Mehta keeps his politics out of his work
1621 days ago
Digital Media

How 'Decoupled' director Hardik Mehta keeps his politics out of his work

Mumbai, Dec 31 (IANS) Director Hardik Mehta, whose recent web show 'Decoupled' has struck a chord with connoisseurs of humour, feels that for a filmmaker to do complete justice to a script, it's imperative that they don't let their personal inclinations or politics seep into the design and positioning of a scene. ## The director says: "My thought process or politics might not completely align with what Manu (Joseph, the writer and creator of, 'Decoupled') would have proposed in a scene. But as a filmmaker, it's my job, it is my prerogative to ensure that a scene is directed and made in a way that is absolutely convincing." ## For him, keeping the personal inclinations aside and to work together towards a constructive outcome forms the essence of the collaborative process that filmmaking is. ## He says: "That is exactly where collaboration comes in. That has actually been a very interesting part of making this series." ## Stay tuned.

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