Pravesh Kumar: Film-maker says he wants to change ‘sexist’ Bollywood
Bollywood is adored worldwide, but it has also faced criticism for being sexist and misogynistic.
Pravesh Kumar, a filmmaker and actor, wants to alter that.
Kumar, who was born in Slough but spent a decade working in Bollywood, told BBC News he is using his new music, Frankie Goes To Bollywood, as a way to shine a light on the American film industry’s lighter area.
” I think it’s important to request the really important inquiries”, he said.
Gender injustice and discrimination have a far-reaching root beyond India alone.
The# MeToo movement, which was sparked by Harvey Weinstein’s allegations in 2017, was centered in Hollywood.
” It’s not just Bollywood, we know it’s Hollywood too, this is just the account we’re telling”, American Eastern artist Laila Zaidi told BBC News.
A fresh Milton Keynes artist who relocates to India and aspires to become a star is the subject of the music.
But once there, Frankie immediately becomes disenchanted by the market. She is objectified and preyed upon by people twice her age. Older female stars are cast away, although older man stars are celebrated. Nepo-babies advance more quickly and earn prizes.
The present is based on true tales.
As an assistant director and writer, Kumar worked for a number of well-known Indian film and television manufacturing businesses.
He claimed to have always enjoyed watching movies as a child but that he started to feel more uneasy about what he was seeing on the camera.
” You frequently witness scenes where a 50 or 60-year-old person romances a woman who is not even his senior.” And if we purchase that seat, we are all responsible in that.
He described the economy as “absolutely also sexist”, adding:” Bollywood film is also run by men, and it’s for guys”.
In his music, Kumar claims he aimed to make these themes known and cause alter by bringing them to life.
He also actively portrayed a strong female character, in the character Frankie, as part of the musical’s message of sexual independence.
” I did n’t want to make a fluffy Bollywood dance show”, he said. ” All I can do, as an actor, is ask important questions. And if it is hard, when you go back home, I want you to have a talk about it because that’s how shift happens”.
Derogatory and antiquated
Bollywood produces hundreds of movies annually and has a sizable after worldwide.
However, many of its films have received criticism for being discriminatory and portraying women in a cruel and negative way.
One new film, 2023’s Animal, faced a backlash from some critics, including in India. Controversial scenes like those that show a female character being asked to kiss a man’s boots and those that show regional and sexual abuse. Despite this, it was a field office hit.
Experts from Tiss ( Tata Institute of Social Sciences ) in Mumbai came to the conclusion that despite providing some reason for optimism, the box office visits are still discriminatory and backward, and gay picture and people continue to be dismal.
Anupama Chopra, a movie critic and Editor of Film Companion, based in Mumbai, said Bollywood is also sexist” but so is every movie industry in the world”.
She claimed that there is progress, which is fueled in part by the MeToo action, which launched in 2017.
” Absolutely there are more people in positions of power and greater knowledge. So there is shift. It’s slower but it’s certainly it”.
Nandini Ramnath, a movie writer at Scroll. in, likewise based in Mumbai, agreed that things are improving, even though there is also” a long way to go”.
” The productions behind Hindi movies, television shows and streaming set are packed with women, both in top positions as well as in important decision- creating departments”, she said.
” There has been a large transition in terms of picture. For example, there is greater consciousness that the song, which features a dancing woman surrounded by a hero and many men, is absolutely irrelevant and essentially sexist.
” The item song has n’t disappeared, but we do n’t see as much of it as before, and some filmmakers have consciously dropped it from their productions.”
Zaidi, who plays Frankie in the music, said she hoped it may help address the gender pay gap and discrimination in Bollywood.
She said it was” personal “acting the part of Frankie”. All people and all people will be able to connect. The first time we did a move through, I was in grief.”
The 30-year-old artist claimed that the issues did not only affect the Indian film industry, adding that she had had her own difficult experience in the UK.
I’ve certainly experienced power struggles, feeling like I’m being sexualized in a specific manner and feeling low.
She stated that the music wanted to savor South Asian ability and Bollywood, which it does by showcasing the stunning clothes, the songs, and dances. But it also wanted to highlight that it’s not perfect”. If we can make individuals more aware of the realities, next we’ll have played a little element.”
Stars are becoming more knowledgeable, according to reports.
For Channel 4’s current affairs program Unreported World, investigative writer Sahar Zand produced the video India: Bollywood# MeToo in 2018.
Women in India spoke out when the MeToo action began, with Tanushree Dutta, a Bollywood actress, leading the charge.
Zand said that when it comes to discrimination, and sexual abuse in the industry, things are gradually changing.
You can see how more and more women are becoming conscious. MeToo brought more consciousness,” she said”. However, it is miles from where it is required to remain. Look at Hollywood, there is n’t equality, there are still sexual advances behind the scenes, but India still very much behind the curve,” she added”. What we’re seeing is a reflection of world.”
Zand said for change to occur quicker, more artists need to talk up and name offenders.
She argued that they needed to be secure in the knowledge that they would n’t risk sacrificing their lives and careers in the process.
” The rules needs to support them,” she said”. Instead of blaming them for speaking up, there needs to be a better system in place.
Watford Palace Theatre is currently hosting Frankie Goes to Bollywood, followed by a regional journey before moving to Southbank Centre in London in July.
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Lok Sabha 2024: The influencers driving India’s big election
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a few weeks before the first ballot for the Indian election of this year, and he was rubbing shoulders with people in Delhi who had been known as” BeerBiceps” and” Curly Tales.”
These celebrities were playing a significant role in reaching the younger, indifferent, and disillusioned as politicians battled it out for India’s billion vote.
However, some people celebrate the media’s democratic revolution, a place where anyone can freely express their opinions, but others paint a lighter picture, one where threats are frequent and the truth can be put off for the right pay check.
A decade ago, you may have struggled to find anyone calling themselves an “influencer”.
But then, says Vinay Deshpande, inc- creator of Rajneethi, a social management specialist firm, “it’s become a profession”.
” I know a lot of teens who work from home and make income.”
Pocket money underplays the earning ability fairly, however. At the lower end, people may cost around 2, 000 rupees ($ 24, £19 ) a day, but major influencers can take in about 500, 000 pounds for a post- similar to the monthly salary of someone in best- level management.
The father of the Ranting Gola network revealed to the BBC that election administration firms and political parties had offered” 100, 000 to 500, 000 pounds for a second battle.”
It is no small amount- but then, it could turn the tide in a candidate’s favour.
By promoting content through a curated list of local influencers with a small but active following, Mr. Deshpande claims they have assisted an opposition candidate win an assembly election.
According to Mr. Deshpande,” social media content is powerful and can influence how someone feels about a problem.” He continues,” It gives a belief or opinion social weight,” but this can cause people to not be critical of an issue.
Preethi Aggarwal, 25, is one of those who turns to apps like Instagram, YouTube and Twitter to help her understand the news.
Like thousands of others, Ms. Aggarwal follows a number of “political influencers” or people who “really understand what’s going on” on social media.
” News can get boring and complicated sometimes. I think these people]influencers ] make it fun and easier to understand”, she says, adding the context and their own perspective help her form her opinions.
But the problem is, whose perspective is she getting?
Samdish Bhatia, a YouTuber, discovers that numerous politicians have reached out to him, especially in the months leading up to this election, and offered him millions of rupees to speak with them.
He claims that they wanted me to ask questions in advance or have the video approved before it was published. He further states that he “likes to maintain editorial control” when he declines the offers.
According to Joyojeet Pal, an associate professor at the University of Michigan, the trend for longer-form, slightly chummy interviews, in which politicians are asked to show off their human side, is particularly vulnerable to management.
” Many of these interviews are carefully managed by politicians”, Mr Pal says.
A gentler approach to questioning can blur the distinction between an interview and a promotion, according to Mr. Pal.
” If your questions are n’t holding power to account, then the interview just becomes a platform for easy publicity”.
However, Mr. Pal believes that this is just one of the issues he encounters with social media politics.
In a recent research paper, he examined some of India’s top influencers and who they interviewed, finding BJP leaders were featured more often than opposition leaders.
His research also revealed that there has been a decrease in the number of accounts posting content that criticizes the current government overall in comparison to the increase in BJP-positive content.
According to Mr. Pal,” This suggests that there is a growing hesitancy among people to openly criticize the government,” while there appears to be more confidence in presenting polarizing content or material that supports the government’s ideologies.
” And this is dangerous for democracy”, he adds.
Supporters of the opposition certainly suggested that they were employed in a hostile environment.
In order to avoid repercussions from the government, some people who post content that criticizes the government spoke to the BBC for this article. Additionally, they use pseudonyms to control their channels.
The Ranting Gola claimed to frequently receive threatening or abusive comments from Instagram users, despite the platform not having provided her with a justification for it.
She also stated that she would never reveal her identity to the BBC.
The BJP government has refuted claims that it has resisted dissent and free speech.
Even BJP supporter Sham Sharma, a YouTuber, claimed that Indians may struggle with free speech.
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Opposition parties are targeting voters in what they perceive as a challenging environment despite these concerns.
Supriya Srinate, the party’s social media head, claims that” the mainstream media has been taken over by the BJP.”
Influencers, Ms Srinate argues, are a good way to reach voters as a result of these alleged hurdles, explaining the Congress has been working with “volunteers” who believe in the party’s ideology and want to share its work on social media.
Former Aam Aadmi Party ( AAP ) political advisor Ankit Lal acknowledges how influencers have aided in the development of the media landscape.
Former journalist Akash Banerjee, who runs the YouTube channel The DeshBhakt, claims that influencers can push boundaries even more than traditional media can.
He cites the video ‘ Is India becoming a dictatorship?’ – created by well-known German-based content creator Dhruv Rathee, who directly criticizes the government and has been viewed on YouTube for about 24 million times. The video has n’t yet received a response from the government.
” After the video, the term’ dictatorship’ has popped up more in conversations, and this is something that has never happened before”, Mr Banerjee says.
” We may not be able to check whether it’s really raining, but we owe it to the people of the country to take a look outside the window and inform them that dark clouds are brewing so they can vote,” the statement reads.
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Thai workers lauded in Taiwan, meet president
PUBLISHED: 1 May 2024 at 05: 15
Two Thai employees received individual awards in Taiwan and had the chance to meet the president of the nation.
Employee recognition awards were presented to local and foreign staff at Taiwan’s Ministry of Labour’s yearly Labour Day prizes meeting, according to Labour Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn.
Mr Pipat said Thai people Worapot Boonliem, 44, from Roi Et and Teerasit Kiboonma, 62, from Lampang, won prizes in the manufacturing industry.
The two laborers ‘ victory was attributed to their hard work, compassion, and excellent performance, which earned them respect from their employers and job officials and organizations in Taiwan.
He added that the two gentlemen received their honors on Monday and also had the honor of meeting Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, on Tuesday.
Due to the demand from employers, Taiwan is the place where most Thai personnel work, according to Mr. Pipat.
He added that his government has confirmed that the Thai government will pay for the transportation of 50 Thai employees to Taiwan for labor.
Mr. Pipat claimed that the two awardees have helped to promote Thai employees among Japanese employers, which will help to attract more Thai employees it.
CNA launches on UK’s largest TV platform
SINGAPORE: CNA is then available on the United Kingdom’s largest broadcast system,  , Freeview UK. The CNA , free advertising- supported streaming television ( FAST ) channel will present viewers , the latest news from Asia, since properly as , award- winning movies and current affairs programs with an Asian view. Some ofContinue Reading
Mediacorp wins awards for use of AI and audience engagement at Digital Media Awards Asia 2024
Said Mediacorp Editor- in- Chief Walter Fernandez:” The wins demonstrate Mediacorp’s strong track record of continuously innovating to better assist our visitors.
One of our many initiatives to change the way we consume and use technology is the use of AI to rewrite our technique to television news and quickly create report highlights for distribution across different platforms.
” For example, CNA even just unveiled FAST, a new feature offering descriptions of our best reports for the period- pressed reader. People who want a quick update on the news you quickly browse bullet point reports created with the aid of AI, which are then subject to rigorous editorial and research scrutiny before being published.
We will continue to look into the proper use of AI to enhance our processes, develop new products for our viewers, and improve the user experience on our systems.
Mediacorp’s Brand Studio won a gold for Best Native Advertising with Behind the Mask, a , video feature , that looks up at Singapore’s COVID- 19 medical journey, and its high and low details. The project was done in partnership with Singapore’s Ministry of Health.
The second-largest success, South China Morning Post, won two silver and two gold prizes, while SPH Media won five silver and three gold.
Jin Yinji on missing out on Best Supporting Actress at Star Awards 2024
Veteran artist Jin Yinji had been commonly anticipated to get Best Supporting Actress before the Star Awards on April 21 for her heartfelt performance in Cash On Delivery.  ,
So you can picture the 76- yr- old’s despair when she went present empty- handed. Aileen Tan received the award in the end for her vile role in SHERO.
When Yinji was onstage at the awards ceremony, when 8days caught up with her, she admitted to being disappointed by the horror damage, especially since she had been denied a nomination for a Major 10 Most Popular Female Artiste this year.
Her most recent success came in 2021 when she won the Best Evergreen Artist and Major 10 prizes.
” Before the Star Awards ceremony, my daughter told me not to acquire winning so seriously. That I received a nomination confirms that I am now a winner. I said fine, but in my heart, my objectives were high”, said Yinji.
I was hoping for a great effect when I appeared on a magazine’s cover and a few magazines named me the top choice. I yet prepared my embrace speech”.
Yinji has had to deal with the last six decades with nothing but hardship.
Anthony Lee, her father of 51 ages, passed away in October at the age of 85 from a heart attack at home.
” I was crying every day after his departure. However, when I learned that I had been chosen for Best Supporting Actress, it gave me a boost. Yinji gushed as her grief filled up,” It gave me something to look forward to.”
” Winning the award”, she said, “would help ( her ) get over the grief of ( her ) husband’s passing quicker”.
She even wanted to show her late husband and two grandchildren, her biggest followers, that she” also has what it takes to win prizes”.
Unfortunately, she’s taking the loss in her foot.
” I’ll work hard all the way up and try again the next day. After all, I have been waiting so long for an honor. I waited more than three decades before clinching my second Top 10 spot, compared to some of the artists who do so in a flash,” Yinji said.
” I’m not longer focusing on the irritating things. Living must go on”.
This tale was originally , published , in 8days.  ,
Aileen Tan on winning Best Supporting Actress at Star Awards 2024
Aileen Tan, 57, won her second Best Supporting Actress award at the Star Awards 2024 for her outstanding performance in the role of the major terrible in SHERO. Her final win was in 2017, for her part in Hero.
However, the actress, who was left out of the Major 10 Most Popular contenders list this year, was no holding out hopes of bringing home a medal this year.
Speaking to 8days behind after her gain, Aileen was all smiles as she said: “Actually, I’m very glad just to get an honor. This season, there is a lot of competition. I’ve been in the market for 30 years, and I respect the rules of the game. ”
“ When we act, it is n’t for the awards. When I joined the industry ( in 1988 ), Star Awards was n’t even a thing. I feel like as long as you do your part, and work well in every function you’re given, you will still get the recognition you deserve, ” she continued.
When we questioned Aileen about whether playing a monster made her stand out, she burst out in a wild chuckle as she replied,” No the, I think I stand out in any position I play. This is my seventh nomination for Best Supporting Actress, which is incredible! It’s the sole occasion I’ve been nominated in a criminal part, though. ”
Her candid rationale of why it ’s not “nice ” to play the role of a bad guy took us by surprise, though.
It can have a really negative psychological impact on how you think, she said. “ When you’re so into playing a character, and if you’re placing all your mind and energy into it … It’s very difficult. After you’re done playing the role, you have to adapt (your mental space ), if not you’ll lose your mind and go around killing people! It’s definitely not great. But of course, if you accept the role, you have to enjoy it to the best of your ability. ”
Aileen was so pessimistic about winning that she “did n’t even prepare a thank you speech ” for the night, and her manager was “really worried she would n’t show up”.
She then revealed that she had vertigo symptoms and was n’t feeling well that day.
Her father, producer Gerald Lee, was equally, if not more, blasé.
“ He did n’t think I was going to win this year so he’s not watching ( Star Awards ). Maybe he does n’t yet know I’ve won! Today, he said,’ Aiyah, you’re just there to make up the statistics. ‘
“I’ve been nominated so many times, and for all three honors on some occasions. Even therefore, I’ve always won. This year, I was just nominated for one award – all the more he thinks I’m just here for joy! He told me’ I won’t watch’, and I said’ I know, it ’s okay’, ” chuckled Aileen.
When questioned about her plans following the win, she stated that events would have to rush.
I took some medicine, so I’m going to bed and get some rest second. I can’t honor very much though. I’m wearing a qipao in Emerald Hill and it demands that I continue to be healthy. I’ll been playing a criminal again! ” she shared with a laugh.
Did that result in her ninth-placed election?
This tale was originally published in 8days.
Watch Star Awards 2024: Live red carpet arrivals and awards show
STAR AWARDS 2024 WINNERS ( Aug. 15 )
Best Drama Prolific: All That Glitters
Best Entertainment Programme : Foodie Trio
Best Entertainment Programme: Inside Crime Image S2
Best Short-form Entertainment Programme:# JustSwipeLah
Best Theme Song: Wind From The Galaxy ( Kim Jae-hoon )
Best Director ( Drama ) : Wong Foong Hwee for All That Glitters
Best Screenplay ( Drama ) : Ang Eng Fairway for All That Glitters
Best Producer ( Entertainment ) : Goh Si Jiau for Star Awards 2023- Awards Service
Best Research Writer ( Entertainment ) : Chua Ing Tze for Curious City S2
Best Radio Programme: The Breakfast Quintet ( LOVE 972 )
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Sun AWARDS 2024 Nominations
Best Artist
- Andie Chen ( Silent Walls )
- Chen Hanwei ( Whatever Will Be, Will Be )
- Desmond Tan ( All That Glitters )
- Jeremy Chan ( All That Glitters )
- Richie Koh ( Cash On Delivery )
Best Artist
- Chantalle Ng ( All That Glitters )
- Jernelle Oh ( Cash on Delivery )
- Joanne Peh ( SHERO )
- Kym Ng ( Till The End )
- Rui En ( Oppa, Saranghae! )
Best Supporting Actor
- Andie Chen ( Whatever Will Be, Will Be )
- Darren Lim ( SHERO )
- Peter Yu ( Cash on Delivery )
- Zhang Ze Tong ( All That Glitters )
- Zhu Hou Ren ( Till The End )
Best Supporting Actress
- Aileen Tan ( SHERO )
- The Horizon is Still Blue is a song by Chen Liping.
- Hong Hui Fang ( Strike Gold )
- Jin Yin Ji ( Cash on Delivery )
- Ya Hui ( Family Ties )
Best Programm Host ( Entertainment & ); Entertainment )
- Chen Shu Cheng ( Foodie Trio )
- Darren Lim ( Fixer 4 )
- The Zoe and Liang Show host Guo Liang.
- Old Taste Detective S4 ( Kym Ng )
- How Do You Learn You Out S4?
Fresh Talent Award
- Alfred Lee ( All That Glitters )
- Ang Yu Heng Tesla ( Cash on Delivery )
- Chia Zhi Xuan Ivory ( All That Glitters )
- Natalie Mae Tan ( All That Glitters )
- Teo Jing Yuan Andre – Foodie Trio
Best Rising Star
- ( Stranger in the Dark ) by Hank Wang
- Isabelle Quek ( Curious City S2 )
- Karyn Wong ( Battle of the Buskers )
- Yang Yan ( Stranger in the Dark )
- To ( Stranger in the Dark ) Yunis To
Best Audio Personality
- Chen Ning ( The DAKA Show )
- Dennis Chew ( The Breakfast Quintet )
- Hazelle Teo from The Shuang and Kunz Show.
- Lim Leng Kee ( Double-O-7 )
- Zhong Kun Hua ( KUNZversations )
***
All-Time Favourite Artiste : Jesseca Liu, Ann Kok
Most Popular Rising Stars : ( stay tuned )
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes : ( stay tuned )
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes : ( stay tuned )
***
My Pick! Prizes
Favorite CP: Chantalle Ng and Desmond Tan
Show Stealer: Ayden Sng
Most Detested Villain: Zhang Ze Tong
Jesseca Liu: What were the 5 roles that defined her acting career?
We’re certain Jesseca agrees that one would not fully understand what it’s like to be a mother until one does.
Since 2017, the actress and Mediacorp actor Jeremy Chan have n’t had children.
For Mind Matters, Jesseca explained,” It was my first time acting as a mother, and it was very memorable for me because I could n’t mentally convince myself to pretend to be a mother.”
” But this year, when I played a grandmother in When Upon A New Year’s Eve, I somehow gained a distinct knowledge. I instantly could feel the emotions, remain it happy or sad, of a grandmother. “
In fact, Jesseca yet began dressing her on-screen children, Brian Ng and He Yingying, like her own.
Jess has certainly had a wonderful ride, but we could n’t help but wonder if she ever regretted leaving Malaysia to pursue a career in Singapore.
Since I’m someone who prefers to look ahead, she said,” I believe everything in life serves as a lesson and I wo n’t regret any decisions I’ve made.”
” If I did n’t come to Singapore back then, people would n’t have gotten to know Ruan Mian Mian, which means the Jesseca Liu we see today wo n’t exist. “
Mediacorp wins 19 awards at New York Festivals TV & Film Awards 2024, including five golds
SINGAPORE: Mediacorp won 19 honors at the New York Festivals Television & Film Awards 2024, including five medals. In a media release on Thursday ( Apr 18 ), the company announced that it also received five silver and nine bronze awards. These were among the 57 honors which Mediacorp achieved,Continue Reading