RELEASE
Influential Indian filmmaker Anurag Kashyap‘s “Almost Love” (“Almost Pyaar With DJ Mohabbat”) is getting a Feb. 3, 2023 theatrical release in India from Zee Studios. The Good Bad Films production had its world premiere at the Marrakech Film Festival in November. It is an India-U.K. co-production set across both countries and follows two love stories in parallel universes that face challenges of social status, caste, religion and inequality. It stars Alaya F (“Jawaani Jaaneman”) and debutant Karan Mehta.
The film marks Kashyap’s return to the romantic musical genre with composer Amit Trivedi, with whom he memorably teamed on “Dev.D” (2009).
Kashyap said: “ ‘Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat’ is very close to my heart as it’s something which has taken shape over the years from my conversations with my daughter. It’s my going back to my constant exploration of relationships vis-a-vis the generation which actually defines us and is our future. It’s about love and all kinds of prejudices that plagues it. I feel great to move to the next phase of my life with this film.”
Shariq Patel, CBO, Zee Studios, added: ” ‘Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat’ comes with a unique concept and is helmed by the genius Anurag Kashyap and exudes emotions via Amit Trivedi’s music.”
Watch the teaser here:
VENICE FEST TARANEH ALIDOOSTI APPEAL
The Venice Film Festival is joining the voices of institutions and personalities worldwide who are demanding the immediate release of Iranian star Taraneh Alidoosti from prison.
“The recent, unmotivated arrest of the actress Taraneh Alidoosti, the beloved star of the Oscar-winning film ‘The Salesman’ by Asghar Farahdi, is yet another act in the noted violent crackdowns and death sentences issued in recent days by the authorities in Iran to quash the peaceful public protests of so many young men and women,” the festival’s parent organization, the Venice Biennale said in a statement.
“La Biennale di Venezia – joining the voices of institutions and personalities worldwide who are demanding an immediate stop to every form of repression, the liberation of Taraneh and that of all the dissidents who were arrested without cause – renews its firm protest against a vicious and oppressive regime, which uses violence and bloodshed and disproportionate means against the protesters, to quash the legitimate demands for freedom and civil rights expressed by a people at the end of their tether, that is fighting its symbolic battle barehanded, simply expressing its pain and anger in peaceful street protests,” the statement added.
“La Biennale di Venezia and the Venice International Film Festival, persisting in the commitment they undertook with the flash mob organized at the most recent Venice Film Festival and other initiatives, will continue to raise their voices, together with other festivals and cultural institutions, to defend the sons and daughters of Iran who are being violently oppressed, including the over 100 exponents from the world of cinema who have been imprisoned over the past three months,” it concluded. (Nick Vivarelli)
REBOOTS
Bollywood studio Eros International is teaming with producers Anand Pandit (“Chehre”) and Parag Sanghvi (“Partner”) to reboot two popular films – Rohit Dhawan’s “Desi Boyz,” a 2011 romantic comedy starring Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone and Chitrangada Singh in lead roles, with Sanjay Dutt in an extended cameo; and Vishal Bhardwaj’s “Omkara,” a 2006 crime drama adapted from William Shakespeare’s “Othello,” starring Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Vivek Oberoi and Bipasha Basu.
Sunil Lulla, chair, Eros Motion Pictures, said: “We have often wondered what happened to our favourite cinematic characters and if their journey took them in surprising directions. These films will answer many such questions. We will work together to ensure that the essence of these classics remains untouched even as we infuse new energy and fresh vibrance in them.”
ALLIANCE
The International Academy of Film and Media has become the first film education institution in Bangladesh to become a member of the Green Film School Alliance. In all, the alliance has added 16 new schools to its ranks, more than doubling its membership to 27 sustainability minded schools. The membership now hails from seven U.S. states and four countries across three continents. These schools join the effort to lessen the environmental impacts of film production practices.
Other new member institutions include the South African Film Academy and Vancouver Film School, who join the likes of AFI, NYFA, NYU, UCLA and USC.