Bob Marley’s son leads birthday tribute in Dubai
Bob Marley's son Ky-Mani will visit Dubai to lead celebrations marking his father's birthday. The 40-year-old artist will perform at Reggae Beachfest's fourth annual tribute to the late icon, taking place at Dubai International Marine Club on February 10 — four days after what would have been Bob's s 72nd birthday. Marley is one of 10 biological children acknowledged during the late reggae legend's life, and the only born to mother Anita Belnavis, a Jamaican table tennis champion. He shares the musical mantle with more renowned brothers Ziggy, Damian and Stephen. Ky-Mani was just 21 when he launched a solo career with 1996's Like Father Like Son LP, and a year later crossed over to work with United States-based urban names Shaggy and Fugees's Praswell. Marley later established himself as an actor in 2003 movie One Love. Stylistically strafing from reggae and dance hall into hip-hop and R& B, Marley has continued to release new music sporadically in the past decade, most recently with 2015's sixth album Maestro. Advance tickets are available now for Dh125 from www.platinumlist.ae (Dh150 at the door). See www.reggae-beachfest.com. — The National Staff
Chiranjeevi denies nerves ahead of screen comeback
Chiranjeevi might be breaking a nine-year screen hiatus with his appearance in Telugu action-drama Khaidi No 150 — but the ageing megastar denies feeling any nerves. Released on January 11, the comeback vehicle is a remake of Tamil blockbuster Kaththi, directed by VV Vinayak. "I don't think I'm nervous, but curious to know how I would look on screen after so many years, and how I will be received by my fans," says the 61-year-old. "I always had the zeal to come back to acting, but I never imagined the kind of support I would get — both from within the family and from well-wishers outside." Chiranjeevi's son Ram Charan is the producer of Khaidi No 150. "The minute we locked the script, it was my son who took it up as a challenge to transform me physically. From monitoring my diet and working out alongside me in the gym, he cared more than a son would normally for his father," added the star. — IANS
Murakami preps new book for release next month
Best-selling author Haruki Murakami's new book has a title, though its content remains a mystery. Kishidancho Goroshi, or Killing Commendatore, will hit Japanese bookstores on February 24, the book's publisher, says Shinchosha Publishing Co. Overseas availability is not yet known. Shinchosha says the book will have two parts, with the Japanese subtitles meaning Emerging Ideas and Moving Metaphor. The esoteric titles suggest a contrast from the past works by the acclaimed writer, which Murakami has described it as a very strange story. The 67-year-old usually shies away from the limelight His 1987 romantic novel Norwegian Wood was his first best-seller, establishing him as a young literary star. — Associated Press
Bollywood celebs back Streep against “joker” Trump
Bollywood celebrities including Priyanka Chopra and Sonam Kapoor hailed Meryl Streep for taking on the US president-elect after Donald Trump called her an “overrated actress”. Sonam also dubbed Trump a “joker”. Streep, honoured at the 74th Golden Globe Awards on Sunday night, slammed Trump in her acceptance speech, before he pettily hit back on Twitter. Chopra, who was also at the Golden Globes, tweeted a photograph posing warmly with Streep, captioned: “Quoting my favourite Meryl Streep from last night. When you have a broken heart ... turn it into art. You are astounding! Fan girl.” Meanwhile Sonam, known for her strong opinions, called Trump a “joker”, while actress Swara Bhaskar described Streep as a “brilliant woman” and Trump a loser. “OK, India isn’t in such a bad way ... This person is a joker ... at least our leader has a semblance of intelligence,” Sonam tweeted. — IANS
Los Angeles to house movie mogul George Lucas museum
Star Wars creator George Lucas picked Los Angeles over San Francisco as the home of his future $1 billion (Dh3.67 billion) museum. The Museum of Narrative Art will be located in LA's Exposition Park, near the downtown area, and will house the filmmaker's extensive collection of art and film memorabilia, including some from the Star Wars franchise. Lucas has said he will almost entirely fund the museum, which will sit on a seven-acre (three-hectare) location and whose design looks like a huge space ship. LA beat out competition from its California rival, which had proposed housing the museum on Treasure Island, in the middle of the San Francisco Bay. Lucas, 72, for years had been trying to find a location to house his art collection, that includes works by Rockwell, Edgar Degas, Winslow Homer and Pierre-Auguste Renoir as well as memorabilia from the Star Wars saga and his other films. The museum's board of directors and city officials had no official date at this time. — Agence France Presse
