Celebrated Polish filmmaker Andrzej Wajda dies aged 90
A legend in the world of cinema, Polish film director Andrzej Wajda died on Sunday aged 90. He left behind an opus of acclaimed films inspired by his country's turbulent history. Wajda had recently been hospitalised and died Sunday night, his colleague, film director Jacek Bromski, said on the private television station TVN24. Wajda's first films were marked by the painful experience of World War II and the Polish resistance against the Nazis, who occupied the country for almost six years. Wadja was awarded an Oscar for lifetime achievement in 2000. Following the news of his death, Polish screenwriter Krzysztof Piesiewicz hailed Wadja "one of the founders of Polish freedom". Born on March 6, 1926 in Suwalki, north-east Poland, Wadja's first feature-length film, 1955's Pokolenie (A Generation), is considered the debut of a "Polish school of cinema" which delves into heroism and romanticism. In 1957, Wajda won the Jury Special Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in France for Kanal (Canal), his masterpiece on the doomed 1944 Warsaw Uprising by Polish partisans against the Nazis. His 1981 picture, Czlowiek z zelaza (Man of Iron) focused on the rise of Poland's anti-communist Solidarity trade union and won the Cannes Palme d'Or in 1981. The award helped save Wajda from internment by the communist regime's continuing martial law crackdown, an episode which saw many of Wajda's friends and acquaintances jailed, including the legendary Solidarity leader Lech Walesa. Wajda continued working into his latter years, premièring his most recent film, Powidoki (Afterimage), in September at the Toronto Film Festival. Set in Stalinist-era Poland, it focuses on the struggles of avant-garde artist Wladyslaw Strzeminski and will be Warsaw's Oscar entry for best foreign film this year. — AFP
Dhruva teaser to be released on October 11
The first teaser of Ram Charan-starring Telugu blockbuster Dhruva, the official remake of Tamil blockbuster Thani Oruvan, is set to be released on Tuesday, October 11 at 5pm. Directed by Surender Reddy, the film also stars Rakul Preet Singh and Arvind Swami in the leads. The picture sees Ram Charan play an Indian Police Service officer. He went on a full vegetarian diet to play the part. Arvind Swami plays the protagonist, reprising his own role from the original. Produced by Geetha Arts, the film has music by Hip-Hop Tamizha duo. — IANS
Solange earns first number one with surprise album
Solange, the funk singer who has long endured comparisons with superstar sister Beyoncé, on Sunday earned her first No 1 album with an innovative and introspective work she surprise-released. A Seat at the Table, in which Solange examines both the role of African-American women and her own despair, debuted at the top spot on the US Billboard album chart for the week through to Thursday, tracking service Nielsen Music said. It is Solange's first full-length album since 2008. The singer, 30, is believed to have a warm relationship with her older sister but resents the constant comparisons, saying she is pursuing her own path, infusing her music with electronica, psychedelica and dark New Wave, and frequently performing at alternative rock-dominated festivals. — AFP
Amjad Ali Khan sings for peace at Washington’s Lincoln Memorial
India’s sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan and his two sons Amaan and Ayaan performed live with musicians from across the world at a high-profile peace concert, hosted at Washington DC’s Lincoln Memorial on Saturday night. The Chant4Change concert made use of music as the healing unifying force in wounded and terror-infested universe. “We dedicated our concert to world peace and harmony,” said Khan. “We paid our humble tribute to Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore and Hazrat Amir Khusro who created the qawwali and tarana singing styles.” – IANS
Daniel Craig back as James Bond?
Actor Daniel Craig has dropped heavy hints that he might be donning his tuxedo for more films in the hit James Bond franchise, but slammed reports of a $150 million (Dh550 million) pay cheque. Amid increasing speculation about his commitment to the popular franchise, Craig gave his strongest hint yet that he might not want to turn his back on 007, speaking at the New Yorker Festival on Friday, reported dailymail.co.uk. “I got the best job in the world doing Bond. The things I get to do on a Bond movie and the type of work it is, there’s no other job like it. If I were to stop doing it — just say — I’d miss it terribly,” said Craig. “It’s one of the most thrilling things as an actor you can do. I love this job. I get a massive kick out of it. And, if I can keep getting a kick out of it, I will.” The star rubbished recent reports that he has been offered $150 million to sign on for two more Bond films. “There’s no conversation going on, everybody’s just a bit tired,” he added. Reports initially surfaced that Craig, 48, would be quitting the franchise after he stated that he would “rather slash his wrists” than do another Bond film. — IANS
