News

The 1990s were an amazing time for comedy movies. Major stars like Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler seemed to be churning out one hit after another, dominating the box office with their seemingly endless stream of big laughs. Rom-coms also flourished during this era, with numerous major hits like Clueless and 10 Things I Hate About You consistently pleasing audiences with their enjoyable balance of humor and heart. No matter what your tastes were, there was bound to be something to make you laugh when you entered a movie theater in the '90s, even if it was cringe comedy.

However, not every great comedy from the '90s managed to achieve the same level of popularity or critical acclaim. Many hilarious films actually flew under the radar for the most part, falling in the shadows of other, more popular movies. Although these films may not have made as much of a splash,...

There have been many films about immigration, migrants, and homesickness. Brooklyn, Lost in Translation, East is East, My Beautiful Laundrette, and House of Sand and Fog are some of the films that discuss the struggle that comes from migrating to a new country and adjusting to that lifestyle. Maple Leaf Dreams is a story of a couple that moves to Canada but faces many hardships in their pursuit of a good lifestyle.

Spoilers Ahead

How did Molly and Macky meet?

Molly had been dreaming of moving to Canada for a while. Initially she wanted to do a caregiver’s course in the hope it would land her a job in Canada and she could pursue her life from then on. Molly met Macky at a favorite restaurant of hers, Manang Dinakdakan, and they shared a meal together and introduced themselves to each other. A year later, Macky was working in the same city as Molly.

BAFTA-nominated Irish actor Robert Sheehan (The Umbrella Academy) has signed on to lead a stage adaptation of Bruce Robinson’s 1987 cult tragi-comedy Withnail and I at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre alongside actors Adonis Siddique and Malcolm Sinclair.

Directed by the double Olivier Award-winning Sean Foley, Artistic Director of Birmingham Rep, and designed by Alice Power, the show will premiere at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, with performances from 3 May until 25 May 2024.

The adaption was written by Robinson. The original film was based on an unpublished novel by Robinson and was produced by Handmade Films, with Richard E Grant, Paul McGann, and Richard Griffiths leading. On stage, Sheehan will star as Withnail while Siddique is Marwood, and Malcolm Sinclair is Uncle Monty.

Sheehan made his acting debut in Aisling Walsh’s acclaimed feature Song For A Raggy Boy. Since then, his screen credits include Season of the Witch, Cherrybomb, Killing Bono, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones,...

Takeaway 1: Call the Midwife is praised for its standout cast, who bring engaging character drama to the historical medical series. Takeaway 2: The show explores poignant political and social topics, including abortion, racism, religion, poverty, and teen pregnancy. Takeaway 3: Each actor, such as Helen George and Linda Bassett, has the opportunity to shine in the show and has flexed their acting muscles in other projects.

When the BBC historical medical drama returned for a 12th season, the Call the Midwife cast was particularly praised for being one of its standout features. Call the Midwife takes place in London in the late 1950s and 1960s and follows a group of midwives working at the Nonnatus House and how their work and the patients they treat affect both their professional and personal lives. Call the Midwife is not only an engaging character drama, but it also explores poignant political and social topics like abortion,...

“Formula” can be a dirty word among music fans. For many, it evokes thoughts of unimaginative, knackered music by artists dropping off uninspired fan service just to say they did. Artists are pressured by sects of fans to expand their lyrical content, create versatile projects, and promise new innovations with every album. Sometimes, the right sonic pivot changes the scope of popular music. And other times, they get artists on lists of bad albums by brilliant artists.

Everyone can appreciate some sonic wandering, but sometimes, as is the case with Atlanta rapper Young Nudy,...

Cinematographer who brought his imaginative sensibilities to films such as Trainspotting, Billy Elliot and Quadrophenia

The cultural aesthetic of the Britpop and New Labour years was shaped partly by the cinematographer Brian Tufano, who has died aged 83. In films such as Trainspotting (1996), East Is East (1999) and Billy Elliot (2000), he combined social realism and absurdist fantasy, smudging the joins between the two. A typical Tufano production, said the film-maker Saul Metzstein, had “technical polish and a cinematic ambition at odds with its financially modest status”.

He worked for the BBC throughout the 1960s and 70s with directors including Lindsay Anderson, Ken Russell, Stephen Frears, Mike Leigh and Ken Loach. But it was in his work with a younger generation in the 90s that his imaginative cinematic sensibility was most strongly felt. For Danny Boyle, with whom he had already made the BBC period drama series Mr Wroe’s Virgins (1993), he shot the...

In British director Eddie Sternberg’s feature debut “I Used to Be Famous” – produced by Collie McCarthy at Forty Foot Pictures for Netflix – two sides of the music world clash with each other. Netflix released the trailer for the film Monday (below), and Variety has been given the first-look images, exclusively. The film is one of the first to come out of Netflix’s U.K. Original Slate, commissioned by Fiona Lamptey, director of U.K. features. It will be released in select U.K. theaters from Sept. 9, and on Netflix from Sept. 16.

Sternberg set out to create a film with “a British heart,” he says. “It is made in the vein of ‘The Full Monty,’ ‘Billy Elliot’ and ‘East Is East’ … that sort of heartfelt British film with a bit of grit, with earned heart that doesn’t become cheesy. It’s heartfelt rather than cheesy.” It is set in Peckham,...

Shooting is taking place across the UK, from Devon to Northumberland.

Production is underway on The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry, with shooting beginning on location in the UK on Monday (September 27), in Devon.

Linda Bassett, star of East Is East and Kinky Boots, has joined the previously announced cast of Jim Broadbent and Penelope Wilton.

The high-budget independent feature is the first work from director Hettie Macdonald since BBC series Normal People (for which she directed 6 of the 12 episodes), and is based on Rachel Joyce’s 2012 novel of the same. Joyce has also penned the screenplay.

The story follows...

Om Puri and Linda Bassett in East Is East We've got a bit of a retro focus going on for this week's selection and if you're looking for more inspiration, you can catch the tale of a tiger or two in this week's Streaming Spotlight.

East Is East, 11.25pm, Film4, Monday, August 2

Ayub Khan-Din skilfully adapts his culture clash play for the big screen, while Damien O'Donnell directs with plenty of energy to tell this Seventies set story of a Pakistani migrant to the UK, George Khan (Om Puri), his British wife Ella (Linda Bassett) and their family. Khan has a grand plan for his kids that includes arranged marriages but they have other ideas with revolution on the horizon. The humour here skewers its targets but there is a nuance to the compromises that must be reached which displays a winning warmth for the push and pull of families.

Theatre

The U.K.’s National Theatre has revealed a robust return to normal programming services with a host of plays and films scheduled through 2022, as the country limps back to normalcy post-pandemic.

Highlights include National Theatre director Rufus Norris’ new musical “Hex,” based on “Sleeping Beauty” which opens this Christmas in the Olivier Theatre, and The Lyttelton Theatre’s reopening in October with Ayub Khan Din’s “East Is East.” Anupama Chandrasekhar’s “The Father and the Assassin,” about Gandhi and his assassin, opens at the property’s Olivier Theatre in early 2022.

There are returns to Broadway for the acclaimed “The Lehman Trilogy” and tours across the U.K. and Ireland for “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” and “The Ocean at the End of the Lane.”

Clint Dyer directs and co-writes “Death of England: Face to Face” with Roy Williams, an original feature film from the Lyttelton Theatre,...

U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 and NBCUniversal streamer Peacock’s riotous new comedy “We Are Lady Parts” is releasing an official soundtrack, Variety can reveal.

The stereotype-busting, Working Title-produced series about a fictional Muslim female punk band premiered on Channel 4 on Thursday to effusive praise from the U.K. press, which has widely noted that the show’s subject matter is effectively unprecedented on British television, where harmful misconceptions about the Muslim community are still rife in programming.

One look at the “We Are Lady Parts” track listing, which includes tongue-in-cheek songs such as “Ain’t No One Gonna Honour Kill My Sister But Me” and “Voldemort Under My Headscarf,” speaks volumes about the show, which boldly presents a group of female characters rarely seen on British and American lineups.

“We Are Lady Parts” is centered on Amina Hussain, a nerdy microbiology PhD student and guitar virtuoso who is on...

British actor Shazad Latif is ready for his close-up.

After a decade of racking up impressive TV credits including “Spooks,” “Toast of London,” “Penny Dreadful,” “Star Trek: Discovery” and “Departure,” the actor is currently in the BBC’s “The Pursuit of Love,” Emily Mortimer’s adaptation of Nancy Mitford’s novel, where he stars alongside Lily James.

Latif also has some high-profile films rolling out. He has a featured role in opera-themed rom-com “Falling For Figaro” with Joanna Lumley and Danielle Macdonald, which was at the 2020 Toronto Film Festival as part of the festival’s ‘Industry Selects’ section and has sold around the world.

In Timur Bekmambetov’s “Profile,” Latif plays the male lead, a charming Isis recruiter with a core of steel. The film won audience awards at Berlin and SXSW in 2018 and Focus Features releases the film theatrically in the U.S. May 14. Revolving around the interaction between...

Tributes pour in for the veteran producer, best known for his work on films including ‘The Magdalene Sisters’.

Alan J. ‘Willy’ Wands, a producer of The Magdalene Sisters and detective series Rebus, died yesterday in Glasgow aged 67. He had been diagnosed with cancer.

An outspoken advocate of the Scottish production industry, Wands had more than 35 feature film credits and numerous TV drama series to his name.

Born in Ayr, on the west coast of Scotland, he started his career in the 1970s in theatre before moving into screen work as an associate producer on features including Mike Figgis’ 1988 crime drama...

Tributes pour in for the veteran producer, best known for his work on films including ‘The Magdalene Sisters’.

Alan J. ‘Willy’ Wands, a producer of The Magdalene Sisters and detective series Rebus, has died aged 67. He passed away yesterday (May 17) in Glasgow, having been diagnosed with cancer.

An outspoken advocate of the Scottish production industry, Wands had more than 35 feature film credits and numerous TV drama series to his name.

Born in Ayr, on the west coast of Scotland, his early credits were as an associate producer on Mike Figgis’ 1988 crime drama Stormy Monday and David Hayman’s 1990 gritty drama Silent Screen.

Sue Bruce-Smith, Film4’s Deputy Director and a much-loved figure in the UK biz, has died at the age of 62 following a battle with cancer.

She was diagnosed two years ago and had been receiving treatment at home in Dublin with the support of her family – she passed away on Saturday morning.

More from DeadlineFilm4, BBC, BFI & Pact Back UK Producers Survey That Reveals Stark Challenges Of Indie Biz'Under The Skin': A24 & Silver Reel In Bidding War For TV Rights To Jonathan Glazer's Cult Sci-Fi FilmFilm4 Boards Cornish Horror 'Enys Men', From Director Of Hit UK Indie Pic 'Bait'

Bruce-Smith started her career in 1985 at UK distributor and producer Palace Pictures, a key incubator for the local industry, working on titles including Absolute Beginners, The Company Of Wolves and Scandal. In 1989 she moved to the BFI where she stayed for four years before joining BBC Films.

See-Saw Films has hired “Killing Eve” producer Elinor Day for an executive producer role in its growing U.K. TV division. Day will oversee some of the company’s existing slate and develop her own projects, reporting to head of television Jamie Laurenson and TV COO Hakan Kousetta.

See-Saw’s new recruit recently produced the second season of BBC America series “Killing Eve.” Her credits include “Secret Diary of a Call Girl” for ITV, “White Heat” for the BBC, and Season 2 of “My Mad Fat Diary” for Channel 4.

She has been head of film at Darlow Smithson and deputy head of production at Film4, working on movies including “East Is East” and feature documentary “Senna.”

“We are thrilled to have Elinor join the See-Saw team, especially as we continue expanding our television slate in the U.K.,” said Kousetta and Laurenson. “Elinor’s breadth of experience and extensive...

She will help to expand See-Saw Films’ TV slate in the UK.

UK, Australian and Us production company See-Saw Films has hired the UK’s Elinor Day as executive producer for the UK television division.

Day will help to expand See-Saw’s TV slate in the UK. She will oversee some of See-Saw’s existing TV titles as well as developing her own projects.

She will report to head of television Jamie Laurenson and chief operating officer, TV division Hakan Kousetta

Day most recently produced Responsible Child for Kudos/BBC and season two of the Emmy-award winning series Killing Eve.

“The Favourite” reaped a leading 12 nominations for the BAFTA Awards. Among these are bids for both Best Picture and Best British Film. But these two categories could cancel each other out in the minds of the BAFTA voters. Since the British academy reintroduced Best British Film in 1992, separate from the top award for Best Picture, only two movies have won both races.

“The King’s Speech” was the first film to pull off this double act at the BAFTAs in 2010 and it went on to win Best Picture at the Oscars. Last year, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” repeated this feat on home turf but lost the top Oscar race to “The Shape of Water.”

For Best Picture, “The Favourite” is up against two seven-time nominees — “Roma” and “A Star is Born” — as well as five-time contender “BlacKkKlansman” and four-time nominee “Green Book.” Its rivals for Best British Film are seven-time nominee “Bohemian Rhapsody,...

Hulu’s slate of new titles arriving on the platform in January is here.

The second season of Hulu original “Future Man” will arrive on the service Jan. 11, while the Natalie Portman-Tessa Thompson science fiction film “Annihilation” will be available to stream on Jan. 4. The film is Alex Garland’s follow-up to “Ex Machina” and starred Portman, Thompson and Jennifer Jason Leigh as a group of scientists investigating a strange environmental phenomenon known as “the shimmer.”

Here’s the full list of what’s coming and going in January.

Also Read: Here's What You Can Stream With Your Amazon Prime Membership in January

Available Jan. 1

Atlanta: Complete Season 2 (FX)

The Detectorists: Complete Season 3 (Drg)

Dot.: Complete Season 2B (Universal Kids)

Saints & Sinners: Complete Seasons 1-3 (Bounce TV)

X Company: Complete Seasons 2&3 (Sony)

54 (1998)

10 Years (2011)

2 Days in the Valley (1996)

9 to 5 (1980)

A Charlie Brown Valentine (2002)

A Simple Plan (1998)

A...

Hulu has confirmed that several of its original series will be debuting new episodes on the streaming service in August, including more installments in the first season of the critically acclaimed Stephen King thriller “Castle Rock” as well as more of season 2 of the costume drama “Harlots” and season 4 of the comedy “Casual.” And there will also be new to Hulu seasons of some of your favorites from other networks, including season 3 of “Insecure” and season 4 of “Ballers.”

Likewise, there will be plenty of movies making their first Hulu appearances including the Oscar-winning “Leaving Las Vegas” and “Lost in Translation” and the recent nominee “Baby Driver.”

See Netflix schedule: Here’s what is coming and leaving in August

Available August 1

A Conspiracy to Rule: The Illuminati

American Gigolo

American Ninja

American Ninja III: Blood Hunt

Babe

Be Cool

The Beatles: Made on Merseyside

Black Hawk Down

Black Mask

Black Rain...

Under the brooding warmth of the secular sun, the state of the human experience is in constant flux. It is an age of traditional perversion: an age where moral codes are subverted for hedonistic voyages of pleasure; an age where national identities become twisted in a battle for a homogenous cultural society, defending the antiquated borders of the nation-state from the outside. To be young here is to relish in this pursuit of pleasure and to seldom worry about the repercussion of our actions – within reason we are entitled to make our own decisions and to do as we please. Those we look up to encourage us to pursue our dreams and mould our lives any way we so wish. For Nisha, who is bound to a heritage culture which neither approves nor even welcomes the lifestyles of their host, the corruptible indulgence of an adolescence submerged in alcohol, club music,...

“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” won the very first BAFTA Award of the evening on Feb. 18 when it was named Best British Film. And it ended the night by claiming the Best Picture prize. That marked just the second time since the British academy reintroduced Best British Film in 1992 that the same movie won both awards. The only other double dipper was “The King’s Speech,” which went to win Best Picture at the Oscars in 2011.

It might seem odd that a film like “Three Billboards,” which is set in the American heartland, qualified for consideration as Best British Film. However, it was written and directed by an Englishman, Martin McDonagh, and co-financed by UK broadcaster Channel 4.

See 2018 BAFTA Awards: ‘Three Billboards’ wins 5 including Best Picture, ‘The Shape of Water’ takes 3 [Updating Live]

Over the last quarter century, seven other British films have been named Best Picture at the BAFTAs: “Howards End...

“Darkest Hour” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” each reaped nine nominations for the 2018 BAFTA Awards. Among these are bids for Best British Film. While that nomination for the former makes sense given the subject matter and pedigree of Joe Wright‘s biopic about prime minister Winston Churchill, the latter doesn’t appear to be British. However, while the film is set in the American heartland, it was written and directed by an Englishman, Martin McDonagh, and that qualified it for consideration in this category.

Both films also number among the five in contention for Best Picture, alongside the American-made “The Shape of Water” and the international co-productions “Call Me By Your Name” and “Dunkirk.” Fans of either of “Darkest Hour” or “Three Billboards” should be rooting for one of their rivals in the Best British Film race — “The Death of Stalin,” “God’s Own Country,” “Lady Macbeth” or “Paddington 2” — to win on Feb.

Author: Competitions

Based on the true story of the final months of British rule in India, Gurinder Chadha’s Viceroy’S House will release in the UK on Digital Download 24 July 2017 and on Blu-ray™ and DVD on 7 August 2017. To celebrate, we’re giving away 2 Blu-ray copies!

The release coincides with the 70th Anniversary of the Independence of India and the founding of Pakistan. After 300 years of British rulers, the last Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, was charged with handing India back to its people. It is a story that is deeply personal to Gurinder, whose own family was caught up in the tragic events that unfolded as the Raj came to an end.

The film’s story unfolds within the great House. Upstairs lived Mountbatten, his wife, Lady Mountbatten and daughter; downstairs lived their 500 Hindu, Muslim, Sikh servants. As the political elite – Nehru, Jinnah and Gandhi – converged on the House to wrangle...

Viceroy’s House, directed by Gurinder Chadha is releasing nationwide on 3rd March 2017 and stars Hugh Bonneville, Gillian Anderson, Huma Qureshi and Manish Dayal. The film tells the true story of the final months of British rule in India and its release will coincide with the 70th Anniversary of the Independence of India and the founding of Pakistan.

The film is accompanied by a beautiful and moving score, composed by Oscar and Grammy winning maestro A.R. Rahman. Speaking in a recent interview, Rahman references Viceroy’s House:

“Gurinder’s expectation was to have something very classic, very rooted and at the same time universal. I’ve used the sarangi, a strings and brass orchestra, a lot of flute — mainly classical instruments.”

The official soundtrack for Viceroy’s House coincides its release with the film and will be available to buy on all digital outlets on Friday 3rd March. The album...

Author: Zehra Phelan

Two new character posters have arrived for British drama, Viceroy’s House and we can’t help thinking they have a link to Valentine’s Day. With Gillian Anderson gazing lovingly at her Husband, Lord Mountbatten (Hugh Bonneville) on one side and the young lover’s, Jeet and Aalia cosying up to each other.

Related: Viceroy’s House Trailer and Poster

Viceroy’s House is set in a time where men were seen to rule their women and these posters depict this in a blatant manner with both Lord Mountbatten and Jeet in regal, honourable stances ever so slightly in front of the ladies. Even though fitting for the time, to portray this on promotional posters in the 21st century makes them feel dated. Oh and while we are here does anyone else, after watching our previous trailer post for Viceroy’s House, think Gillian Anderson has...

Viceroy’s House by BAFTA nominated director Gurinder Chadha will celebrate its World Premiere at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival on Sunday 12th February 2017.

Gurinder Chadha, director of Viceroy’S House, said: “I am honoured that Viceroy’S House has been selected by the Berlin Film Festival. My film is an inspirational intensely personal true story about the traumatic events that took place at the end of the British Empire in India, events that tore my own family apart. The Festival gives us a brilliant opportunity to showcase my passion project to a global audience.”

Gurinder Chadha’s Viceroy’S House will be released in cinemas by Pathe in the UK and by Reliance Entertainment in India on 3rd March 2017.

The film tells the true story of the final months of British rule in India and its release will coincide with the 70th Anniversary of the Independence of India and the founding of Pakistan.

Huma Qureshi’s debut international film Viceroy’s House is fast becoming the talk of the town. The film is all set to premiere at the Berlinale 2017 on Sunday 12th February 2017.

Directed by acclaimed director Gurinder Chaddha (of Bend it like Beckham fame) this large canvas period film is a historical drama as well as a sweeping love story. The film tells the true story of the final months of British rule in India and its release will coincide with the 70th Anniversary of the Independence of India and the founding of Pakistan.

http://bollyspice.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Viceroys-House-Trailer.m4v

Viceroy’s House marks Huma’s big Hollywood debut. Huma is no stranger to international festivals as this will be her third film to be screened at one. Her debut film Gangs of Wasseypur was screened at the Cannes Film Festival 2012 and Dedh Ishqiya, was also screened at Berlin...

Film actor successful in Hollywood and Bollywood, best known in Britain for East Is East

The actor Om Puri, who has died aged 66 from a heart attack, exuded a reassuring warmth and gravitas over a long career divided largely between Bollywood and Hollywood. His Hindi hits included the political comedy Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983), the Macbeth-inspired drama Maqbool (2003), the action romp Singh Is Kinng (2008) and the thrillers Don (2006) and Don 2 (2011). Appearances in two Mike Nichols films – he shared a scene with Jack Nicholson in Wolf (1994) and starred with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts in Charlie Wilson’s War (2007), in which he was very wry as President Zia-ul-Haq – were among the Us roles that followed his brief English-language debut in Gandhi (1982). He credited his more prominent part in Roland Joffe’s City of Joy (1992), where he was a struggling farmer who befriends a doctor (Patrick Swayze) in Calcutta, with increasing...

The prolific, veteran Bollywood actor Om Puri, best known as the star of British films “My Son the Fanatic” and “East is East,” died yesterday at the age of 66, reported the Indian Express.

Born in in 1950, Puri attended the Film and Television Institute of India as well as National School of Drama, and later made his film debut in the 1976 film “Ghashiram Kotwal.” He quickly followed it up with award-winning performances in films like “Aakrosh” in 1980, for which he won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award, “Arohan” in 1982 and “Ardh Satya” in 1983, for which he won the National Film Award for Best Actor two years in a row.

Besides his many character roles in Bollywood film, Puri also appeared or starred in numerous English and Hollywood films and TV shows as well. He co-starred in 90s American films like “City of Joy,” “Wolf” and “The Ghost and the Darkness.” He...

Narenda Modi, Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kapoor pay tribute to the celebrated actor.

Famous faces from film, politics and sport have tweeted tributes to Indian actor Om Puri, who died of a heart attack aged 66.

Puri was familiar to audiences in India and worldwide for his roles in East Is East, My Son The Fanatic, Aakrosh, Arohan and Singh Is Kinng.

Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi tweeted: “The Prime Minister condoles the passing away of actor #OmPuri and recalls his long career in theatre and films: Pmo”.

Film star Shah Rukh Khan said: “Gods garden must b beautiful, He always takes the best” Will miss ur laughter over the shared brandy in Berlin. Will miss u lots Omji. Rip”.

Quantico and Barfi! star Priyanka Chopra said: “The end of an era …. The legacy lives on.. Rip #OmPuri”.

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar tweeted: “You will live in our hearts forever through the impressions you have left with your...

Indian actor Om Puri, who starred in films from Hollywood, Bollywood and the UK, has died in Mumbai. The 66-year-old was found dead at his home on Friday, reportedly after suffering a heart attack. He was best known in the UK for his roles in British films such as East is East

Om Puri, celebrated Indian actor, dies aged 66

Continue reading...

Om Puri in West Is West, who has died at age 66 Photo: BBC Films East Is East star Om Puri has died at age 66.

The veteran Indian star reportedly died of a heart attack in Mumbai early today.

Puri, who became known as a character actor in the 1980s, finding fame both in his homeland, with films such as Ardh Satya and Sadgati, and in Britain, where he starred in films including culture clash comedy East Is East and its sequel West Is West. He also found fame in Hollywood, with films including The Hundred-Foot Journey and The Reluctant Fundamentalist.

He was awarded an OBE for his contribution to British film in 2004 and the Padma Shri for his services to the film industry in India in 1990.

On December 21, Puri wrote on Twitter: "I have no regrets at all. I have done quite well for myself. I didn't have a conventional face,...

The actor was best known in Britain for East Is East and My Son The Fanatic.

Veteran Indian actor and former chairman of India’s National Film Development Corporation (Nfdc) has died from a heart attack, aged 66.

Puri was a familiar figure in British cinema due to his roles in films such as Udayan Prasad’s My Son The Fanatic (1997), Damien O’Donnell’s East Is East (1999) - for which he was BAFTA-nominated - and its sequel West Is West, directed by Andy De Emmony in 2010.

He had recently completed filming a role in Gurinder Chadha’s upcoming Viceroy’s House, alongside Gillian Anderson, Michael Gambon and Hugh Bonneville.

Born in the north Indian state of Haryana, Puri made his film debut in Ghashiram Kotwal, directed by a collective of ‘parallel cinema’ filmmakers in 1976. He was one of the leading actors of India’s non-mainstream cinema movement of the 1980s and 1990s, with award-winning...

Author: David Sztypuljak

Here’s the first poster and trailer for Viceroy’s House which sees X-Files star Gillian Anderson team up with Downton Abbey’s Earl of Grantham Hugh Bonneville.

In the movie, Bonneville plays Lord Mountbatten while Anderson plays his on-screen wife Lady Mountbatten alongside Lily Travers (Kingsman: The Secret Service) as their daughter, Pamela, Michael Gambon (Harry Potter’s Dumbledore) and Simon Callow (A Room With A View, Four Weddings and a Funeral) as key civil servants.

Viceroy’s House Movie cast – Lily Travers, Hugh Bonneville, Gillian Anderson, Manish Dayal and Huma Qureshi

The Indian and Pakistani cast helmed by Manish Dayal (The Hundred Foot Journey), Huma Qureshi (Gangs of Wasseypur) and Om Puri (The Hundred Foot Journey, East Is East). The roles of the principal political leaders are played by Tanveer Ghani (Nehru), Denzil Smith (Jinnah) and Neeraj Kabi (Gandhi).

The movie tells the story of...

Gurinder Chadha’s Viceroy’s House will be released in UK cinemas on 3rd March 2017. The film tells the true story of the final months of the British Rule in India and its release will coincide with the 70th Anniversary of the Independence of India and the founding of Pakistan.

The British cast is led by Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey, Paddington) as Lord Mountbatten; Gillian Anderson (The X Files, The Fall) as his wife, Lady Mountbatten; Lily Travers (Kingsman) as their daughter, Pamela; and Sir Michael Gambon (Harry Potter, Quartet) and Simon Callow (A Room With A View, Four Weddings and a Funeral) as key civil servants.

The Indian and Pakistani cast is led by Manish Dayal (The Hundred Foot Journey), Huma Qureshi (Gangs of Wasseypur) and Om Puri (The Hundred Foot Journey, East Is East). The roles of the principal political leaders are played by Tanveer Ghani (Nehru), Denzil Smith...

Alex Westthorp Sep 19, 2016

We revisit Tom's Midnight Garden, Moondial, The Chronicles Of Narnia and a few lesser-known UK children's TV series...

Read our look-back at UK kids' fantasy dramas 1980 - 1984 here.

By 1985 British TV's children's drama had really hit its stride, achieving "a balanced diet of programmes" as Edward Barnes, the head of the BBC children's department observed. The late 80s, arguably, saw a new golden age for spooky and magical kids drama. Excellent production values, improved significantly by well-honed special effects work using Quantel, Paintbox and Harry, and moreover some interesting casting - often of very talented newcomers - produced some of the most memorable dramas of the era.

The second half of the decade saw the BBC riding high on the back of the success of their state-of-the-art adaptation of John Masefield's Box Of Delights. Meanwhile, anthology series Dramarama was going from strength to strength on ITV.

facebook

twitter

google+

It's funny, it's moving, it's brilliant: we look back at Brassed Off, starring the late, great Pete Postlethwaite...

This article contains spoilers for Brassed Off and The Full Monty.

“If this lot were seals or whales, you'd all be up in bloody arms. But they're not, are they? No, no they're not. They're just ordinary common-or-garden honest, decent human beings. And not one of them with an ounce of bloody hope left”. – Danny, Brassed Off

One of the things that I love about a certain subset of contemporary British comedies is their core of steel. That, hiding underneath some often very hefty belly laughs, there’s a political story, a foundation of social outrage, and a desire to address through cinema issues that often get swept under the carpet. It’s what keeps such films in my mind, long after the latest R-rated comedy screen filler has...

Period drama stars Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville and The X Files’ Gillian Anderson as Lord and Lady Mountbatten.

Pathé International has revealed a raft of sales on Viceroy’s House secured at the American Film Market (Afm) (Nov 4-11).

The period drama has sold to Australia/Nz (Transmission), Germany (Tobis), Greece (Feelgood), Italy (Cinema), Latin America (Gussi), Malaysia (Suraya), Middle East (Gulf), Portugal (Nos), Scandinavia (Nordisk) and Singapore (Shaw).

Pathé will distribute the film in the UK and France and Reliance Entertainment will distribute the film in India.

The film is in postproduction and scheduled for completion in May 2016

Viceroy’s House is directed by Gurinder Chadha (Bend it like Beckham) from a screenplay by Chadha, Paul Mayeda Berges and Moira Buffini. The film was shot in Jodhpur, India.

The British cast are led by Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey, Paddington) as Lord Mountbatten; Gillian Anderson (The X Files, House of Mirth) as his wife, Lady Mountbatten...

Exclusive: Starry short wraps for Bill Kenwright Films ahead of company’s feature push.

Pride star Andrew Scott and Munich actor Ciaran Hinds lead cast in recently wrapped short The Hope Rooms, the filmmaking debut of theatre director Sam Yates.

Daniel Konrad Cooper (Burn Burn Burn) produces for Bill Kenwright Films and under his own banner Rather Good Films. Screenplay is from David Watson.

The high-end short tells the story of estranged father, Eamonn, and his son, Sean, who meet up after 15 years in a café in London in order to heal old wounds.

The film also stars Polish actress Agnieszka Grochowska, who joined the film set straight from the premiere of Obce Niebo at the Gdansk Film Festival for which she collected the Best Actress award.

Director Yates is known for his work in theatre with recent productions including East Is East with Jane Horrocks and Ayub Khan Din and The El. Train with Golden...

Director Atul Malhotra’s romantic comedy drama Amar Akbar and Tony set in present day multicultural London is getting ready to hit the big screen on Friday April 17th.

Written by Malhotra, Aat tells the tale of a a Sikh, a Muslim and an Irish Catholic who take stock of their lives in the coming-of-age story.

The film explores the predicaments that face its lead trio – Amar (Rez Kempton), whose promising career gets derailed by a turn of events, Tony (Martin Delaney), whose obsession with winning over the Asian woman of his dreams finds him pursuing the wrong woman, while Akbar (Sam Vincenti), an ambitious charmer, tries to manage business, love and friendship with the gift of the gab.

A British Independent film, Amar Akbar & Tony‘s cast offers a mix of some of the coolest talent in the UK including Karen David, Laura Aikman, Nina Wadia, Goldy Notay, Ace Bhatti,...

Cast your minds back to 2002 - a time when Pop Idols didn't need to have The X Factor, Fifty Shades of Grey were just colours on a paint sampler chart and David Beckham was a mere international superstar rather than global megastar.

Bend It Like Beckham, with a modest estimated budget of £3.7 million, opened that same year and became a critical and commercial success - breaking box office records and scoring BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations, as well as making household names of many of its stars.

As the cast continues preparing for the West End stage adaptation of Gurinder Chadha's screen hit ahead of previews on May 15, find out what the movie's ensemble cast went on to achieve - including who is coming back for the musical...

Parminder Nagra (Jess Bhamra)

Nominated for Best Newcomer at the Empire Awards on the back of the movie's success, Parminder went...

Gurinder Chadha’s hit film Bend It Like Beckham is being readied for the West End stage and following a host of auditions and workshops, the cast for the highly anticipated stage version Bend It Like Beckham the Musical has been formally announced.

Natalie Dew will play football crazy Jess with Lauren Samuels as Jules, a player with the Harriers, a local women’s football team, and Jamie Campbell Bower as their coach Joe. The three young leads will be supported by some familiar faces, including comedian Ronni Ancona who plays Paula, Jules’s Mum, with Jamal Andréas as Jess’ good friend Tony.

Preeya Kalidas who appeared in the original film as one of the cousins, will take on the role of Pinky, Jess’ sister and Tony Jayawardena andNatasha Jayetileke take on the all important roles of her parents, Mr and Mrs Bhamra.

Jess needs extra time. She is facing...

A universal story of standing up for yourself, the (dys) functionality of family and the question of identity, East is East is a must see production.

BollySpice had the chance to plunge in deeper and get to know the issues provoked – even more closely.

A conversation with three East is East cast members resulted in an interview exploring multitude avenues.

Speaking exclusively to Amit Shah, Ashley Kumar and Rani Moorthy, we heavily explored identity, what finding oneself entails, the strengths and weaknesses of being human, the history of Bollywood, women’s power, suppression and even Shah Rukh Khan!

East is East is currently being performed at Trafalgar Studios, London.

Sibling Love. Identity. Being Human

In conversation with Amit Shah, Aka Abdul

Shah’s credits include Salim in theatre production “Bombay Dreams” and Mansur in “The Hundred Foot Journey” and awards include the Ian Charleson Commendation for The Alchemist at the...

Going into I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! is a dangerous business.

We're not talking about the poisonous spiders, bitey snakes or what might be lurking in the dunny.

No. When the frightened famous faces leap out of the plane and parachute into the jungle, they are taking their careers in their hands.

And while being on I'm a Celeb can revitalise a flagging career, it can also ruin it if you come out unfavourably during a campside spat or six.

Ahead of the show launching tonight, Digital Spy present our very own Snakes and Ladders. Who had a slippery slide down the public's favour? And who climbed the career ladder when they got to the other side of the rope bridge?

The Ladders

1. Katie Price (and Peter Andre)

Although Jordan was a relatively well-known glamour model pre-2004, not many people knew who Katie Price was when she...

Going into I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! is a dangerous business.

We're not talking about the poisonous spiders, bitey snakes or what might be lurking in the dunny.

No. When the frightened famous faces leap out of the plane and parachute into the jungle, they are taking their careers in their hands.

And while being on I'm a Celeb can revitalise a flagging career, it can also ruin it if you come out unfavourably during a campside spat or six.

Ahead of the show launching tonight, Digital Spy present our very own Snakes and Ladders. Who had a slippery slide down the public's favour? And who climbed the career ladder when they got to the other side of the rope bridge?

The Ladders

1. Katie Price (and Peter Andre)

Although Jordan was a relatively well-known glamour model pre-2004, not many people knew who Katie Price was when she...

Families.

Families are messy, complicated, confusing – no matter which part of the world or what generation one is born into. Perhaps for many it’s the family, that unit of supposed safety and belonging, which becomes the biggest catalyst for personal change and inevitably shakes up the boundaries of identity.

Ayub Khan Din’s play East is East, currently performed at Trafalgar Studios in London, is a high intensity drama exploring the vulnerability and strength of family and finding oneself as an individual.

Explored in particular is the South Asian Diaspora.

George Khan (Ayub Khan Din) is the father and the head of the house. He is a somewhat intimidating Muslim father obsessed with instilling Pakistani culture and roots into his half-English, half Muslim children.

We learn that George emigrated from India to the UK in 1936. He describes how he struggled, how he did not belong but eventually reached success.

Channel 4 is bringing back 8pm dramas in 2015 with a new weeknight series The ABC, a show about a multicultural school in Lancashire.

Inspired by shows such as Educating Yorkshire and Educating The East End, the series is being written by East is East's Ayub Khan Din.

The show promises to "offer a funny and revealing insight into the daily drama of the teachers, teenagers and families whose lives and cultures collide in the large Northern comprehensive".

A press release adds: "With the wide ethnic mix of the community reflected in the corridors and classrooms, education isn't always the first thing on the agenda for the staff and pupils of The Arnold Braithwaite College.

"But if anyone can appreciate the nuances and pressures of educating a diverse flock, it's new headteacher Emma Hussein."

Ayub Khan Din recently enjoyed success taking East Is East to the stage, which has won critical acclaim.

Ayub Khan Din's award-winning East is East was first performed on the stage all the way back in 1996, becoming an acclaimed feature film three years later and even spawning a fine follow-up movie West is West.

It returns to London with a new cast as part of Jamie Lloyd's second Trafalgar Transformed series, with Ayub himself taking on the role of patriarch George 'Genghis' Khan. Its themes are as potent as ever, as wars in former colonies continue to bubble and Ukip weasels its way in to our leaders' debates.

Set in '70s Salford, first-generation immigrant George is married to white Englishwoman Ella (Jane Horrocks). He owns a chip shop run with the help of Ella's friend Auntie Annie (Sally Bankes). His son Nazir has flown the nest under a cloud, running off to be a hairdresser in Eccles.

Also at the shop are the six kids...

There’s just something about the Indian cuisine that translates so effervescently onto the silver screen. The meticulous, intricate process to create these vibrant dishes is more like art than it is cooking, and there’s such a passion and fervour that comes with pleasing their consumers, it’s a spirit that emanates through to the audience. It’s evidently an area filmmakers are keen on exploring, as to follow both Jadoo and The Lunchbox, which also used Indian cooking as a means of driving their narratives, comes Lasse Hallström’s The Hundred Foot Journey.

When the Kadam family, led by the impassioned father (Om Puri) relocate to a serene, isolated village in France, they decide to open up a restaurant, with the talented young Hassan (Manish Dayal) as head chef. However, the building they purchase just so happens to be on the same street as a Michelin star enterprise,...