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In the small Bombay theater that showed big films, his father brought him — over and over again — to see the biggest of them all. With every one of his 18 viewings of “Mughal-e-Azam,” a hit 1960 musical about a forbidden romance between a prince and a courtesan, the young boy fell more in love. The rays of light, beamed in black and white, opened to him a world at once majestic and lost. The music swept him to places that only later in life would he fully understand. India, cinema and music — they would all change, too.

Persons: —, ”, Sanjay Leela Bhansali — Organizations: Alankar Talkies Locations: Bombay, Mumbai, India

☆ ‘Annapoorani’: Netflix removes Indian movie after backlash by right-wing Hindu groups
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New Delhi CNN —Netflix has removed an Indian film from its platform after it sparked backlash and protest from right wing Hindu groups – the latest in several recent controversies where India’s entertainment industry has caved to religious pressure campaigns. The movie was released on Netflix on December 29, where it quickly became the streaming platform’s top trending movie in India, according to production studio Zee Entertainment. “We removed this film at the request of the licensor,” a Netflix spokesperson confirmed to CNN in a statement Tuesday. CNN reached out to Zee Entertainment and the film’s director, but did not receive a response by the time of publication. That incident, like the ongoing controversy over ‘Annapoorani,’ prompted a police complaint against Netflix executives.

Persons: ”, Ramesh N Solanki, Lord Ram, Shriraj Nair, Vikram Seth, Narendra Modi’s, ‘, ’, Modi Organizations: New, New Delhi CNN, Netflix, Zee Entertainment, CNN, Hindu IT Cell, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, India, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, – Locations: New Delhi, India, Asia, Indian, Delhi, Mumbai

☆ Netflix removed an Indian film after religious viewers criticized meat-eating characters
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Yoonji Han | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewNetflix pulled an Indian film from its platform just days after it began streaming after backlash from right-wing Hindu groups, reports say. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. The phrase "love jihad" refers to an Islamaphobic conspiracy theory purporting that Muslim men are seducing Hindu women to convert them to Islam. 'Fanaticism won, creativity lost'It's not the first time Netflix and other streaming platforms have faced pressure from religious Hindu groups. AdvertisementNetflix did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Persons: —, Narendra Modi's, Shri Ram, Annapoorani, — Ramesh Solanki 🇮🇳 ( Organizations: Service, Netflix, Business, Hindu Parishad, Zee Studios Locations: Tamil Nadu

☆ India same-sex marriage: The Supreme Court may be about to legalize it for millions
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

But they’re up against a tough opponent: the ruling government of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which argues that same-sex marriage is a “Western” concept without “any basis” in the constitution. Since then, India’s LGBTQ community – likely one of the world’s largest given its population of 1.4 billion people – has faced widespread marginalization from society. But Victorian laws governing same-sex marriage are one throwback to the colonial past his party has fought to retain. In 2018, after a decade-long battle, the Supreme Court struck down the colonial-era law that criminalized same-sex intercourse – though it left intact the legislation limiting marriage to heterosexual couples. Anand agreed, adding that what started off as a conversation in their home has morphed into a movement that has united India’s LGBTQ community.

Persons: Aditi Anand, Susan Dias, ” Anand, “, ” Weeks, Dias, Anand, Susan Dias India, ”, Dipa Chakraborty, India’s, –, Narendra Modi, Vivek, Vivek Kishore, Karan Johar, ” Vishwa, Suvir Saran, Saran, ” Saran, Anish Gawde, ” Gawde, ” Vivek, It’s Organizations: CNN, India’s, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Pride, Future Publishing, Bollywood, Pink List Locations: Mumbai, India, India’s British, England, Wales, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Pink List India

☆ 'Jawan': Shah Rukh Khan fans pack India cinemas for latest movie release
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Jubilant movie fans thronged Indian cinemas before the crack of dawn on Thursday, bursting fire crackers and dancing on the street to welcome the latest release by one of the country’s biggest stars. Some screenings began at 5 a.m. as die-hard fans of Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan packed into theaters to see the nationwide premiere of “Jawan,” his latest Hindi-language action thriller. In a social media post, Khan thanked his fans and said he stayed up late to watch the commotion unfold. Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan in Mumbai, on January 30, 2023. “I was never trying to be a movie star, I became one by chance.”Jubilant Shah Rukh Khan fans wait for his latest movie, "Jawan," to open in Mumbai on September 7, 2023.

Persons: Shah Rukh Khan, “, ”, Khan, ” Khan, Khan’s, Gauri Khan, Atlee, Khan ”, Indranil Aditya, Indranil Mukherjee, ” –, Raj, Simran, Le, “ Pathaan Organizations: CNN, Getty, Office Mojo Locations: India, Mumbai, Delhi

☆ The unlikely love affair between Australia and Bollywood
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Lianne Kolirin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —It is the kind of unlikely love story that would make the scriptwriters of Asia’s biggest movie business proud. Film & Casting TempleHarman Baweja starred alongside Priyanka Chopra in “Love Story 2050,” shot in South Australia and released in 2008. “Australia realized that after ‘servicing’ Bollywood for over 13 years it was time to shift gears and move to collaboration with Indian cinema,” said Sharma. Salim MerchantChanging global appetiteOf no little importance is the growing audience for Bollywood productions in Australia. Anupam Sharma films for Australia's first ethnic reality show, "Bollywood Star," on SBS TV by WTFN.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Narendra Modi, Tony Burke, “, ”, Anupam Sharma, Sharma, Feroz Khan –, “ Bollywood’s Clint Eastwood ” –, I’m, ’, “ Prem Aggan, Khan, Harman Baweja, Priyanka Chopra, Mike Rann, Baweja, Harry Baweja, Ajay Devgan, ” Sharma, Garth Davis, Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman, David Wenham, Weinstein, ” Brothers Salim, Sulaiman Merchant, “ UnIndian, Salim Merchant, Salim, Sulaiman, Mitu Bhowmick Lange, Bhowmick Lange “, ” Bhowmick Lange, Bhowmick Lange, La Trobe, Anupam, “ Everyone’s Organizations: CNN, Asia’s, Australian, Indian Film, of Melbourne, Sydney Opera House, Baweja Studios, “, Mumbai, –, ”, Co, “ Salaam, La Trobe University, La, SBS, WTFN Locations: Australia, Delhi, Brisbane, Sydney, Australian, Melbourne, India, Lake Gairdner, South Australia, Western Australia, “ Australia, ” Australia, Canada, China, Mumbai, Victoria, China Town

In fact, they were the real-life celebrations of thousands of cinema fans in South India as they welcomed the latest film release by one of the country’s biggest superstars. Fans dance during the screening of Indian actor Rajinikanth's new Tamil-language movie 'Jailer' on the first day of its release in Mumbai on August 10. Punit Paranjpe/AFP/Getty ImagesA cult-like followingRajinikanth, 72, who has starred in more than 160 movies, is near synonymous with South Indian cinema. Its release day became an unofficial public holiday for many with several companies in the cities of Bengaluru and Chennai giving their employees a day off to watch the film. One of the biggest South Indian hits last year, “RRR,” made history by scooping its first Oscar for the best original song, “Naatu Naatu.”Video Ad Feedback This Indian film is nominated for an Oscar.

Persons: ”, Rajinikanth, Rajinikanth's, Punit Paranjpe, Tom Cruise, Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, jubilation, John Lennon, Padma Bhushan, Vibhushan, India’s, Kollywood ”, “, Oscar, M.M, Keeravani Organizations: CNN, Redbooks, Le, Getty, Padma, Confederation of Indian Industry, Globe, Carpenters, The Carpenters Locations: South India, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Mumbai, AFP, Bengaluru, Chennai

☆ Bollywood film ‘Bawaal’ accused of trivializing Holocaust and demeaning victims
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

They travel to Europe to prominent World War II sites, where their love for one another deepens. And we want what others have.”In another scene in the film, she says: “Every relationship goes through their Auschwitz”. The dialogue and plot has sparked outrage with the SWC calling on the Amazon Prime to stop monetizing the film. Tiwari, Kapoor and Dhawan have not publicly addressed the SWC statement. Dhawan said he respected everyone’s opinion, adding that critics are harder on Hindi movies and give more leeway to Western films.

Persons: New Delhi CNN —, Simon Wiesenthal, Nitesh Tiwari, Janhvi Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Kapoor, We’re, Adolf Hilter’s Nazi, Dean, Rabbi Abraham Cooper, “ Nitesh Tiwari, India’s, Shantanu Das, “, Tiwari, Dhawan, ”, ” Kapoor Organizations: New, New Delhi CNN, Simon Wiesenthal Center, Amazon Prime, Nazi, SWC, Prime, Global, CNN, Hindustan Times, ” Locations: New Delhi, Indian, Europe, India

☆ Sex scene with Florence Pugh in 'Oppenheimer' becomes latest target of India's Hindu nationalists
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Pugh stops during intercourse and picks up a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, one of Hinduism’s holiest scriptures, and asks Murphy to read from it. India’s film board gave “Oppenheimer” a U/A rating, which is reserved for movies that contain moderate adult themes and can be watched by children under 12 with parental guidance. In 2020, Netflix (NFLX) received significant backlash in India for a scene in the series “A Suitable Boy” that depicted a Hindu woman and Muslim man kissing at a Hindu temple. Ahead of the release of “Oppenheimer,” Murphy said he read the Bhagvad Gita in preparation. “I thought it was an absolutely beautiful text, very inspiring,” he told Indian film critic Sucharita Tyagi in an interview.

Persons: New Delhi CNN — Christopher Nolan’s, “ Oppenheimer ”, Robert Oppenheimer, Cillian Murphy, Florence Pugh, Jean Tatlock, Pugh, Murphy, Uday Mahurkar, “ Oppenheimer, Greta Gerwig’s, Barbie, Vivek Agnihotri’s, ” Murphy, ”, Sucharita Tyagi, “, Oppenheimer, ” Oppenheimer Organizations: New, New Delhi CNN, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Netflix, ISIS, Trinity Locations: New Delhi, India, Kerala, Indian

MUMBAI, April 18 (Reuters) - About 300 people queued at Apple's (AAPL.O) store in Mumbai on Tuesday, as fans took selfies with Chief Executive Tim Cook, who inaugurated the first retail store run by the tech giant in India, underscoring the importance of its market. "We are so excited to open ... our first store in India." People flocked to the store from across India, hoping to be among the first to enter, in an opening event featuring local music and folk dancers. Some queued outside from the previous night to get their hands on Apple products, even though they are available online in India. [1/8] Apple CEO Tim Cook interacts with people as Deirdre O'Brien, Apple's senior vice president of Retail and People looks on, during the inauguration of India's first Apple retail store in Mumbai, India, April 18, 2023.

☆ Watch a parking lot of around 100 Teslas put on a light show tribute to the Oscar-winning song 'Naatu Naatu'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A video on Twitter shows around 100 Tesla vehicles performing a light show to the popular song "Naatu Naatu." The official "RRR" account also shared footage from the event, which has racked up over 8.8 million views. Custom Tesla light show websites created by Tesla fans have also cropped up. The website TeslaLightShows.io allows users to upload and download free custom light shows from other Tesla owners. To perform a light show, Tesla owners can follow similar set-up instructions as setting up Tesla's "Boombox" feature, per Tesla's website.

☆ Indians erupt in celebration after two films win at Oscars
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Indians had won Oscars previously, but no Indian film had won an Academy Award before Sunday night in Los Angles. "The popularity of 'Naatu Naatu' is global. They have brought India to the world stage," singer Prudhvi Chandra, one of the singers of "Naatu Naatu," told the India Today news channel. In the film, made in the South Indian language of Telugu, and directed by S.S. Rajamouli, "Naatu Naatu" begins when the two leads, played by Ram Charan and N.T. When a young British man aims racist insults at the leads, they decide to educate him using the song "Naatu Naatu."

☆ How ‘RRR’ Created the Most Rollicking Movie Scene of the Year
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( John Jurgensen | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

It’s the first song from an Indian film ever nominated for an Academy Award, and it has a good shot at beating numbers from pop heavyweights including Lady Gaga and Rihanna at next Sunday’s Oscars. But despite the addictive chorus and propulsive beat of “Naatu Naatu,” the biggest force behind the song’s success is a dance—a heel-thrusting, suspender-bending, dust-kicking sequence that accompanies the tune in the action epic “RRR.”

LOS ANGELES, Jan 25 (Reuters) - "Naatu Naatu", the standout song in the Indian period film "RRR," has won a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Award, garnered hundreds of millions of views on YouTube and spawned a TikTok challenge. Keeravani, songwriter of ''Naatu Naatu'' from the movie ''RRR'', which is nominated for best original song at the Oscars, poses for a portrait at the Reuters office in Culver City, California, U.S. January 13, 2023. "Naatu Naatu" and Keeravani are competing with some big household names in the best song category, including Lady Gaga's "Hold My Hand" from "Top Gun: Maverick" and Rihanna's "Lift Me Up" from "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever". In the action-Bollywood epic directed by S.S. Rajamouli, "Naatu Naatu" begins when the two leads, played by Ram Charan and N.T. Rahman won the Oscar for the Hindi song “Jai-Ho,” but that was for the U.S.-British production of “Slumdog Millionaire,” which was set in India.

☆ What to know about 'Naatu Naatu,' the song that beat out Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga at Golden Globes
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Brahmjot Kaur | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

“Naatu Naatu,” a song from the hit Telugu-language film “RRR,” was the unexpected and historic winner for best original song at the Golden Globes Tuesday, beating out Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and Rihanna. Majumdar said she was surprised but thrilled “Naatu Naatu” took home the award. “Earlier, that was seen as a feature that was strange about Indian cinema. Keeravani accepts the Best Original Song award for "Naatu Naatu" from "RRR" during the Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Tuesday. “When I envisioned the ‘Naatu Naatu’ song,” Rajamouli told Variety.

"RRR" stars N.T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan and is based on two real-life Indian revolutionaries, Alluri Sitarama Raju (Charan) and Komaram Bheem (Rama Rao), who form a friendship and fight against the colonialist British crown in the 1920s. The cast of "RRR" features big Bollywood names, like Ajay Devgn and Alia Bhatt and showcases Telugu-language stars like Junior NT Rama Rao and Ram Charan. "When we initially set out to make (the film), we don't have the critical acclaim in mind. We set out to make the movie for the audience, for them to love it, for them to experience the movie," Rajamouli told Reuters.

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