PVR MOVIES FIRST VOL. 41
YO U R WI ND O W IN TO T HE WORL D OF CIN EMA
MAY 2019
21 LittleKnown facts About….
Brad Pitt
ST GUE IEW RV INTE
ad Behz Khambata
THE BEST NEW MOVIES PLAYING THIS MONTH: SETTERS, BLANK, A DOG’S JOURNEY, AD ASTRA
GREETINGS ear Movie Lovers,
who makes his debut with the intriguingly
Here’s the May issue of Movies First, your exclusive
plotted Blank.
window to the world of cinema.
Also, don’t forget to take a shot at our movie quiz.
The month begins with the thrilling and vibrant live-action
We really hope you enjoy the issue. Wish you a
adaptation of Disney’s animated classic Aladdin.
fabulous month of movie watching.
Karan Johar introduces fresh young talent in his highly anticipated college drama Student of the Year 2.
Regards
Discover the filmmaking genius of legendary actor
Gautam Dutta
Clint Eastwood, and meet director Behzad Khambata,
CEO, PVR Limited
USING THE MAGAZINE We hope you’ll find this magazine easy to use, but here’s a handy guide to the icons used throughout anyway. You can tap the page once at any time to access full contents at the top of the page.
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CONTENTS
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Movie of The Month
Up Close & Personal
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MUST WATCH
Masters@Work
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Rising Star
guest interview
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RELEASING THIS MONTH
A sneak-peek into the big release of the month!
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Student of the Year 2 Take The Challenge
The 2012 hit film Student of the Year marked the Bollywood debut of Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan and Sidharth Malhotra. It was directed and produced by Karan Johar. The film quickly reached cult status, inspiring back-to-school looks, prom outfits and much more. The sequel, also produced by Karan Johar, features Tiger Shroff in the lead and marks the debut of Tara Sutaria and Ananya Pandey, daughter of Chunky Pandey.
Student Of The Year 2 will take fans of the franchise back to St Teressa’s or St T’s with a new batch of students who have new stories of friendship, competition and rivalry to tell. PVR MOVIES FIRST
e are not trying to replace the actors of Student of the Year: just trying to graduate with flying colours, like them. – Tiger Shroff
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Highlights
chartbuster song “Radha” from Student of the Year, features Hollywood star Will Smith with the trio of Tiger, Ananya and Tara. The song has been choreographed by Remo D’Souza.
n The
The Collection Punit Malhotra earlier made I Hate Luv Storys and Gori Tere Pyaar Mein.
n The
film will also have a remixed version of the classic song ‘Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani’.
n Old
students Alia, Varun and Sidharth will appear in cameo roles.
The Cast Tiger Shroff plays the lead role of Rohan. He is the everdetermined underdog in the film. Aditya Seal as Manav pulls off a bad-boy act, with powerpacked action sequences. Ananya Pandey portrays a no-nonsense character named Shreya. Tara Sutaria will be seen as the glamorous Mia.
I Hate Luv Storys (2010)
STUDENT OF THE YEAR 2 RELEASE 10 MAY
Genre: Romance Language(s): Hindi Director: Punit Malhotra Cast: Tara Sutaria, Tiger Shroff, Ananya Pandey Studio: Dharma Productions Pic courtesy: Dharma Productions
PVR MOVIES FIRST
Gori Tere Pyaar Mein (2013) PAGE 5
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Aladdin
MOVIE OF THE MONTH
Release Date: May 24, 2019 Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy Language(s): English Director: Guy Ritchie Cast: Will Smith, Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott Studio: Walt Disney Pictures, Rideback Pic courtesy: Walt Disney Pictures
Following the success of recent adaptations such as The Jungle Book (2016) and Beauty and the Beast (2017), Disney fans will experience a “whole new world” as the love story of Aladdin and Princess Jasmine comes to life once again.
y stories are really about street hustlers. That’s what I know how to do. And Aladdin is a classic street hustler who makes good. – Guy Ritchie, Director
The 2019 reimagining, based on the story “Aladdin and the Magic Lamp” from The Book of One Thousand and One PVR MOVIES FIRST
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Nights, will feature not only the original classic tunes of its 1992 predecessor, but also new music from composer Alan Menken.
The Story
A kindhearted Arabian street urchin and a power-hungry Grand Vizier vie for a magic lamp that has the power to make the deepest wishes come true.
The Cast:
Mena Massoud: Plays the titular protagonist, Aladdin. Known around the streets of Agrabah as a scoundrel and a thief, the poor but warmhearted Aladdin impersonates a prince in order to win the heart of the beautiful Princess Jasmine. Naomi Scott: Plays Princess Jasmine, the daughter of the Sultan who wishes to break free from the confines of the royal palace. Will Smith: Plays the beloved Genie, voiced by the late Robin Williams in the 1992 animated version. Smith has hinted that his interpretation of the role will be “a little bit hitch, a little fresh prince and a whole lot of attitude.”
The Director
Guy Ritchie is one of the most interesting contemporary directors. His films like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking
PVR MOVIES FIRST
don’t think this movie is a comedy by any means, nor do I think it’s a musical by any means; that’s what I’m really excited about in this film, that there’s a good balance of everything and Guy Ritchie does an incredible job at that. – Mena Massoud, Lead Actor
Barrels and Snatch are noteworthy for their irreverence and style. He has won critical acclaim for his entertaining adaptation of Sherlock Holmes.
A Timeless Tale Retold
The Guy Ritchie live-action remake will differ slightly from the original as he has made changes to the Genie’s look, introduced a new character to the film, and given Princess Jasmine a new empowering solo song. The beloved animal characters Abu, Iago, and Rajah from the original film will be appearing in some capacity. The story of Aladdin takes place in the fictional land of Agrabah, said to be located near the Jordan River in the Middle East. While most of the film was shot at Longcross Studios in Surrey, England, some filming took place in Wadi Rum Desert, Jordan.
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Trivia 01
The original story of Aladdin was set not in the Arabic world, but in China, and was gradually transformed into a Middle Eastern tale by storytellers.
02
Mena Massoud, who plays Aladdin, was flown out to England to learn to perform stunts for the film, which include things like scuba diving and riding a camel. No, Aladdin doesn’t scuba dive in the film: It’s for a scene following when he gets thrown off a cliff.
03
This is Disney’s second live-action adaptation of a Middle Eastern tale, after
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010). Both the Prince of Persia and Aladdin sagas feature an evil wazir named Jafar who schemes for power and tries to forcibly possess a princess.
04
Guy Ritchie chose Will Smith to be Genie because he believed Smith could give a performance as good as the late Robin Williams, but not similar.
Award-winning composer Alan Menken has scored the film. Menken is widely known for scoring several Disney animated films: Pocahontas, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Tangled and, of course, the original 1992 Aladdin. PVR MOVIES FIRST
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MUST WATCH BOLLYWOOD BLOCKBUSTERS MAY
Setters
03
MAY
Arjun Patiala
03
Genre: Thriller
Genre: Romance, Thriller
Language(s): Hindi
Language(s): Hindi
Director: Ashwini Chaudhary
Director: Rohit Jugraj
Cast: Shreyas Talpade, Aftab Shivdasani, Sonnalli Seygall
Cast: Diljit Dosanjh, Kriti Sanon, Varun Sharma
Studio: Lovely Films,
Pic courtesy: Sony Pictures
Studio: Sony Pictures
Movie Plot: The film follows a cat-and-mouse game between two good friends: one a cop, and the other a “setter” who arranges brilliant students in place of weak students to appear in examinations. Reason to Watch: This fast paced thriller tosses up interesting revelations on how technology is helping scammers. Did You Know: The film stars actress Tanushree Dutta’s sister, Ishita Dutta in the role of a gangster.
Movie Plot: A tall lady journalist falls in love with a Sardar from a small town in Punjab. A number of hilarious situations crop up due to their height difference. Reason to Watch: It’s a character-driven comedy with a touch of magic, realism and great music. Did You Know: Comedy star Varun Sharma plays a lackey cop in the film. He’s called Oninda Singh and has a sarcastic tongue.
Blank
MAY
03
Genre: Drama Language(s): Hindi Director: Behzad Khambata Cast: Sunny Deol, Karan Kapadia, Karanvir Sharma Studio: Carnival Motion Pictures, Ease My Trip Pic courtesy: Carnival Motion Pictures
Movie Plot: A suicide bomber loses his memory and has a bomb attached to his heart. It is up to the police officers to prevent this bomb from taking innocent lives. Reason to Watch: It’s a hard-hitting, high-octane thriller about terrorism, with a slew of fresh faces. Did You Know: Debutant actor Karan Kapadia is actor-author Twinkle Khanna’s first cousin and the son of actor-designer Simple Kapadia. TO BOOK TICKETS GO TO PVRCINEMAS.COM OR DOWNLOAD OUR MOBILE APP. AVAILABLE ON PVR MOVIES FIRST
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MUST WATCH BOLLYWOOD BLOCKBUSTERS Chhota Bheem Kung Fu Dhamaka
MAY
10
MAY
De De Pyaar De
17
Genre: Animation, Adventure
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Language(s): Hindi
Language(s): Hindi
Director: Rajiv Chilaka
Director: Akiv Ali
Cast: Bheem, Chutki, Ming, Kia
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Rakul Preet Singh
Studio: Green Gold Animations
Studio: Luv Films, T-Series Pic courtesy: Luv Films, T-Series
Pic courtesy: Green Gold Animations
Movie Plot: A middle-age divorcé falls in love with a woman Movie Plot: On the emperor’s invitation, Bheem, now stronger than ever, is in kingdom of China, participating in a prestigious martial arts competition. Reason to Watch: This is the first Chhota Bheem feature film in digital 3D. Did You Know: The Chhota Bheem franchise includes a long-running animated television series, three feature films, multiple television films and various spin-offs.
20 years his junior. Reason to Watch: The story has been written by Luv Ranjan, known for his messy but loveable comic romances. Did You Know: This movie marks the directorial debut of Akiv Ali, a well-known Bollywood film editor.
India’s Most Wanted
MAY
24
Genre: Thriller Language(s): Hindi Director: Raj Kumar Gupta Cast: Arjun Kapoor, Amrita Puri, Rajesh Sharma Studio: Fox Star Studios, Raapchik Films Pic courtesy: Fox Star Studios
Movie Plot: The story is about finding and arresting a terrorist during a secret mission in which no bullets were fired. Reason to Watch: It’s an unbelievable story of the manhunt for India’s Osama. An operation that had no guns but guts. Did You Know: Arjun Kapoor plays an intelligence officer in the film. TO BOOK TICKETS GO TO PVRCINEMAS.COM OR DOWNLOAD OUR MOBILE APP. AVAILABLE ON PVR MOVIES FIRST
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MUST WATCH HOLLYWOOD BLOCKBUSTERS MAY
A Dog’s Way Home
03
MAY
Ugly Dolls
03
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Family
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Language(s): English
Language(s): English
Director: Charles Martin Smith
Director: Kelly Asbury Cast: Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas, Janelle Monae
Cast: Jonah Hauer-King, Ashley Judd, Edward James Olmos
Studio: STX Family, Troublemaker Studios
Studio: Columbia Pictures, Bona Film Group
Pic courtesy: STX Family
Pic courtesy: Columbia Pictures Movie Plot: The film follows a dog named Bella, who travels more than 400 miles to find her owner. Reason to Watch: This heartwarming canine adventure is based on a book of the same name by W. Bruce Cameron. Did You Know: The dog that plays the adult version of Bella is named Shelby and she was a rescue dog, found living in a junkyard.
Movie Plot: An animated adventure in which the free-spirited UglyDolls confront what it means to be different, struggle with a desire to be loved, and ultimately discover who you truly are is what matters most. Reason to Watch: With a beautiful message about embracing your flaws, this promises to be the movie musical event of the year. Did You Know: This is Nick Jonas’ second time voice acting in a theatrical film, After Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009).
Pokemon: Detective Pikachu
MAY
10
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Family Language(s): English Director: Brad Peyton Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Naomie Harris, Malin Akerman Studio: New Line Cinema, Flynn Picture Company, Rickard Pictures, Seven Bucks Productions Pic courtesy: New Line Cinema
Movie Plot: In a world where people collect Pockmon to do battle, a boy comes across an intelligent talking Pikachu who seeks to be a detective. Reason to Watch: Based on the 2016 video game Detective Pikachu, it is the first live-action/animated film in the Pokémon franchise. Did You Know: One of the most adored character in Pokemon, Detective Pikachu is voiced by Ryan Reynolds, known for his title role in Deadpool. Also Rob Letterman, the director of the movie is known for popular animated movies such as Monsters vs. Aliens and Gulliver’s Travels. TO BOOK TICKETS GO TO PVRCINEMAS.COM OR DOWNLOAD OUR MOBILE APP. AVAILABLE ON PVR MOVIES FIRST
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MUST WATCH HOLLYWOOD BLOCKBUSTERS MAY
Brightburn
10
MAY
A Dog’s Journey
17
Genre: Horror
Genre: Family
Language(s): English
Language(s): English
Director: David Yarovesky
Director: Gail Mancuso
Cast: Elizabeth Banks, David Denman, Jackson A. Dunn
Cast: Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid, Kathryn Prescott
Studio: Screen Gems, Stage B Films
Studio: Amblin Entertainment, Reliance Entertainment, Walden Media, Alibaba Pictures
Pic courtesy: Screen Gems
Pic courtesy: Amblin Entertainment Movie Plot: What if a child from another world crash-landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero to mankind, he proved to be something far more sinister? Reason to Watch: The trailer promises The Omen like chills; scary and utterly unmissable. Did You Know: The film is a horror take on the myth of Superman.
Movie Plot: A dog finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he meets. Reason to Watch: It’s a story of devotion and heartbreak, music and laughter, and few really good belly rubs. Did You Know: This is a sequel to 2017’s superhit family film, A Dog’s Purpose.
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum
MAY
17
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller Language(s): English Director: Chad Stahelski Cast: Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Laurence Fishburne Studio: Lions Gate International, 87Eleven, Thunder Road Pictures Pic courtesy: Lions Gate International
Movie Plot: Super-Assassin John Wick is on the run after killing a member of the international assassin’s guild, and with a $14 million price tag on his head - he is the target of hit men and women everywhere. Reason to Watch: Fans can’t wait for this beloved cult franchise, with its stylish action scenes and freewheeling Asian cinema influences. Did You Know: The title “Parabellum” comes from the Latin phrase: “Si vis pacem, para bellum” which means “If you want peace, prepare for war.” It is also an alternate name for the ubiquitous 9mm handgun cartridge (“9mm Parabellum”). TO BOOK TICKETS GO TO PVRCINEMAS.COM OR DOWNLOAD OUR MOBILE APP. AVAILABLE ON PVR MOVIES FIRST
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MUST WATCH HOLLYWOOD BLOCKBUSTERS MAY
The Hustle
17
The Sun is Also a Star
MAY
17
Genre: Comedy
Genre: Drama, Romance
Language(s): English
Language(s): English
Director: Chris Addison
Director: Ry Russo-Young
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Rebel Wilson, Tim Blake Nelson
Cast: Yara Shahidi, Charles Melton, Faith Logan
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Studio: Alloy Entertainment, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Warner Bros.
Pic courtesy: Metro-GoldwynMayer
Movie Plot: Two female scam artists, one low rent and the other high class, team up to take down the dirty rotten men who have wronged them. Reason to Watch: The trailer, already a superhit, promises solid laughs. Did You Know: The Hustle is a remake of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988) with Steve Martin and Michael Caine in the lead roles.
Pic courtesy: Warner Bros
Movie Plot: A teenager finds love at a difficult time in her family’s life. Reason to Watch: It is a deeply moving, philosophical love story that has won hearts worldwide. Did You Know: The film is based on the book by New York Times bestselling author Nicola Yoon.
Ad Astra
MAY
24
Genre: Sci-fi, Thriller Language(s): English Director: James Gray Cast: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland Studio: 20th Century Fox, Regency Enterprises, Plan B Entertainment Pic courtesy: 20th Century Fox
Movie Plot: Twenty years after his father left on a one-way mission to Neptune in order to find signs of extra-terrestrial intelligence, Roy McBride, an Army Corps engineer, travels through the solar system to find him and understand why his mission failed. Reason to Watch: Director James Gray has said it will feature “the most realistic depiction of space travel that’s been put in a movie.” Did You Know: Ad Astra has been shot by Interstellar cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema, an expert at creating a cinematic space odyssey. TO BOOK TICKETS GO TO PVRCINEMAS.COM OR DOWNLOAD OUR MOBILE APP. AVAILABLE ON PVR MOVIES FIRST
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MUST WATCH HOLLYWOOD BLOCKBUSTERS Godzilla — King of the Monsters
MAY
31
MAY
Rocketman
31
Genre: Biography, Drama, Fantasy
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Language(s): English Director: Dexter Fletcher
Language(s): English
Cast: Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden
Director: Michael Dougherty Cast: Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown
Studio: Paramount Pictures Pic courtesy: Paramount Pictures
Studio: Legendary Pictures Pic courtesy: Legendary Pictures Movie Plot: The crypto-zoological agency Monarch faces off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla. Reason to Watch: This time around, Godzilla wouldn’t be alone, with stalwarts like Mothra, Rodan, and King Ghidorah joining the party. Did You Know: This film is a sequel to Godzilla (2014) and will be the 33rd film in the Godzilla franchise, the third film in Legendary’s MonsterVerse, and the third Godzilla film to be completely produced by a Hollywood studio.
Movie Plot: The fantastical human story of iconic singer Elton John’s breakthrough years. Reason to Watch: It’s an epic musical fantasy on the life of a living legend. Did You Know: Taron Egerton, who plays Elton John, has done his own singing in the film.
Ma
MAY
31
Genre: Horror, Thriller Language(s): English Director: Tate Taylor Cast: Octavia Spencer, Juliette Lewis, Diana Silvers, Luke Evans Studio: Blumhouse Productions, Wyolah Films Pic courtesy: Blumhouse Productions
Movie Plot: The story follows a loner called “Ma,” who lets a bunch of teenagers party in her basement. Soon, she begins terrorising and murdering them. Reason to Watch: The role of the obsessive Sue Ann, nicknamed “Ma,” is played by Oscar winner Octavia Spencer. Did You Know: Blumhouse Productions has also made modern horror classics like Get Out, Happy Death Day and Jordan Peele’s superhit Us. TO BOOK TICKETS GO TO PVRCINEMAS.COM OR DOWNLOAD OUR MOBILE APP. AVAILABLE ON PVR MOVIES FIRST
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Up Close & Personal
01
William Bradley Pitt (born on December 18th, 1963) is the son of Jane Etta, a school counsellor, and William Alvin Pitt, a truck company manager.
02
Before he became successful at acting, Pitt supported himself by driving strippers in limos, moving refrigerators and dressing as a giant chicken while working for “El Pollo Loco.”
03
His high school nickname was Brad the Pitt-Bull.
04
Brad is a distant cousin of President Barrack Obama.
05
He could have become a journalist, but dropped out of college two weeks shy of graduation. He moved to Los Angeles in 1986 with $325 in his pocket.
06
Pitt gained widespread attention with a small part in Thelma & Louise, where he played JD, a handsome criminal. George Clooney had auditioned for the role of J.D. multiple times before it went to the relatively unknown Brad Pitt.
07
21 Little-Known facts About….
Brad Pitt PVR MOVIES FIRST
08
Pitt was the first man ever to be named “Sexiest Man Alive” twice by People magazine. He was awarded the title in 1994 and 2000. Pitt has appeared in three movies with the number seven in the title: Se7en (1995), Seven Years in Tibet (1997) and Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003). Has also appeared in three movies with the number twelve in the title: Twelve PAGE 18
Monkeys (1995), Ocean’s Twelve (2004) and 12 Years a Slave (2013).
09
Pitt went to a dentist to have his front teeth chipped for the role of Tyler Durden in Fight Club. His teeth were fixed after he finished making the movie.
10
To get into character for Twelve Monkeys, he spent a day at a Philadelphia psychiatric ward. Pitt won The Golden Globe for his performance in the film.
11
Brad Pitt’s Toyota commercials are banned in Malaysia because the authorities there have concluded that if the commercials run for too long with Pitt in them, Malaysian men will start feeling inferior!
12
Pitt has been a gun owner since the age of 6 and fired his first handgun when he was 8. The actor acknowledged that it’s simply a rite of passage to inherit your ancestors’ guns in Missouri.
13
Some of Brad Pitt’s most favourite hobbies include swimming, playing instruments and paying attention to detail in interior designs and famous architectural monuments. His $4 million home is known for its amazing architecture and immaculate design.
14
Pitt has his own pilot’s license. More specifically, he has himself a single engine license, and took helicopter lessons in the Czech Republic.
15
He owns a WWII-era Supermarine Spitfire aircraft, which he purchased for $3.3 million
16
A passionate biker, he owns a whole fleet of powerful sports motorcycles.
17
Brad Pitt knows how to speak Japanese well. He has often made appearances over on Japanese television in commercials and interviews over there.
18
Following a chase scene in the movie Se7en, Brad Pitt’s character Detective David Mills was shown to be injured and wore a cast on his hand for the remainder of the movie. This was not because it was in the script, but because Pitt really injured himself.
19
Ironically enough, Brad Pitt sustained an injury on his Achilles heel on the set of Troy while playing Achilles.
20
While he has yet to win an Oscar for acting, he has one for producing as one of the several
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producers awarded Oscars for 12 Years a Slave after the film won Best Picture.
21
Brad Pitt is one of the few actors whose hand and shoe prints are embossed in cement outside the TCL Chinese Theatre on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his powerful performance in the movie Ocean’s Eleven.
Guess the Movie • This 1939 classic swept 8 Oscars out of the 13 it was nominated for. • It was the first ever colour film and the longest-running motion picture to win the Best Picture award. • The novel on which the film was based won a Pulitzer Prize for its female American author. • The movie is set during the period of the American Civil War. • The director of this film also made The Wizard of Oz.
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ad z Beh K hambata ST GUE
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W
IN
VIE TER
PAGE 21 PAGE 18
Behzad Khambata
GUEST INTERVIEW
Director
Blank promises to be a tense suspense thriller. Behzad Khambata, the film’s director, takes us behind the scenes: This film marks your debut as director Yes, and not just mine. The film in fact marks the debut of seven people, including the lead actor Karan Kapadia, my Director of Photography and Assistant Director. How did the idea for Blank emerge? Someone put the thought in my head with a remark: what if a person was strapped with a bomb and lost his memory. I found it to be an immensely interesting premise for a story. The basic plotline could go in many directions, and each possibility seemed intriguing. I worked on the idea, and here it is! The trailer promises a thriller The story is very layered, with much more drama PVR MOVIES FIRST
unravelling than you see in the trailer. Every minute that you watch the film, you’ll be thinking, “What next?” There is a lot of guesswork, anticipation and amazing action for the audience to enjoy. And we have kept the duration short and crisp at a runtime of one hour and 42 minutes. Your opinion of the stars in the film Well, as far as Sunny Deol is concerned, he is a league apart, and I had no doubt in my mind that I wanted him in the film. Karan has got that X factor which gives an actor his mass appeal. You won’t believe it is his first film. Ishita Dutta, who you earlier saw in a mild role as Ajay Devgn’s daughter in Drishyam, plays a hard as nails character in Blank. Where did you shoot It is an out and out Mumbai story, shot entirely in the city. PAGE 22
Mena Massoud R ISIN G
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Mena Massoud
You’ll see 27-year-old Mena Massoud in Aladdin this month. After an extended search for Aladdin, he beat out hundreds of other actors in a search process that also included names like Riz Ahmed and Dev Patel.
RISING STAR
HIS FILMS
Aladdin is Mena Massoud’s first major film. His first credit is from 2011, when he guest starred in an episode of The CW Television Nework’s Nikita.
The young actor is also tipped to appear in four more movies destined for cinemas this year: Strange but True, Run This Town, Warning and Reprisal. All films are currently in post and pre-production, with release dates towards the end of 2019.
HIS LIFE
Mena Massoud hails from Canada. He was born in Egypt and his parents immigrated when he was 3 years old. He grew up in Markham, a suburb northeast of Toronto. After studying neuroscience for a year in college, he transferred to Ryerson University, Toronto, to study acting and graduated in 2014. PVR MOVIES FIRST
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He has also appeared in Amazon’s Jack Ryan series, starring John Krasinski and Timothy Hutton. In the series, Massoud plays Tarek Kassar, described as “the best and brightest” of the CIA analysts. While this was his first blockbuster TV production, he’s no stranger to television screens. He played Jared Malik in Open Heart, and he has also appeared in the series Saving Hope.
On Instagram, Massoud posts sayings about love. He wrote in one recent post, “The stars shined as bright as her two illuminating eyes. Find your inspiration. Use it to drive your passion. Go out and get it. #passion #drive #focus #poetry.”
Massoud has signed on to be in the film Strange but True, which follows a young woman who suddenly finds herself pregnant five years after the death of her boyfriend. When she confronts his family with the idea that this child could be his, the truth begins to unravel.
UP CLOSE
Massoud says Robin Williams has been a huge inspiration “in everything he did, he was an incredibly well-rounded actor but I grew up on his role in Mrs. Doubtfire.” Judging from Mena Massoud’s Instagram, the actor is a fitness fanatic. Mena frequently posts pictures of himself in the gym and on hikes. Massoud funded his very own company to promote a healthy vegan lifestyle. The company – Evolving Vegan – tours cities to find the best ‘plant-friendly’ restaurants. His website also regularly shares vegan recipes. The actor plans to release a cookbook this summer.
QUICK FACTS BIRTH NAME: Mena Massoud _______________________ OCCUPATION: Actor _______________________ BIRTH DATE: 17 September, 1991 _______________________ PLACE OF BIRTH: Egypt _______________________ YEARS ACTIVE: 2011–present _______________________ Nationality: Canadian
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Clint Eastwood’s
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Clint Eastwood
Masters@Work
Cinematic Style
You definitely have to step up to the bat and try to hit the ball out of the park. If you don’t, you should at least try to be innovative, and hopefully the audience will respond to that. Nobody else has had a career like Clint Eastwood’s, and nobody else ever will. The 88-year-old, San Francisco-born Oscar winner has one of the longestrunning success stories in Hollywood, and he’s still going strong. Once a lumberjack and steel mill worker, Eastwood went on to direct 37 films in a 47-year span, not to mention having over 70 acting roles — including iconic characters in some of the most famous action and Western films of all time. As an actor and director, he has been a singular presence and voice in cinema for more than half a century. His best work as a director includes western classics and contemporary gems such as: • Play Misty for Me (1971) • Honkytonk Man (1982) • Bird (1988) • Unforgiven (1992) • The Bridges of Madison County (1995) • Mystic River (2003) • Million Dollar Baby (2004) • Invictus (2009) • American Sniper (2014) • Sully (2016) • The Mule (2018) • The 15:17 to Paris (2018) Next time you watch a Clint Eastwood film, notice these signature elements: He loves exploring aspects of American history. Films like The Bridges of Madison County, Mystic River, and Changeling focused on life in America in the past. High Plains Drifter, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Pale Rider, and Unforgiven belong to his favourite genre of American westerns. In fact, the only Eastwooddirected movie that isn’t really related to American culture or history is Invictus. He uses authentic, realistic locations in which the landscape itself becomes an important player in the film. Characters are seen driving along the coast, traversing beaches, woodlands and meadows to the accompaniment of music. PVR MOVIES FIRST
Fun Fact
Unlike other directors, Clint Eastwood doesn’t yell ‘Action!’ He says, in a really quiet, soft voice: ‘All right, go ahead,’ and instead of shouting ‘Cut!’ he says: ‘That’s enough of that.’
He does a lot of hand-held camerawork, tracking shots, aerial photography, and low camera placement when filming actors. The juddering hand-held camera proved especially effective for moments that combine physical and emotional tension. The Eastwood character aspires to make a useful contribution to society while proving that he has a personal worth. In Bronco Billy, Eastwood cast himself as an ex-shoe salesman who reinvents himself as “the fastest gun in the West.” In Dirty Harry, Harry is represented as crusading for the rights and values of the common man. The message: you can be whoever you want to be. Authority figures, be they politicians, high ranking army officials, police chiefs or other imperators, are often presented as unambiguously corrupt. Strong female characters feature regularly, perhaps best epitomised by Sondra Locke’s roles in The Gauntlet and Sudden Impact. Eastwood in His Own words
• Sometimes you have to wait for a while for a very good script to come and I don’t make films just to be working. • Whether it’s a drama or an action film, the story content is everything to me. • When I am going on a location, I don’t say it has to be this way because this is the way we looked at it two months ago. I’m always flexible, I always improvise. • If an actor is left-handed instead of right-handed, I ask them to come in whichever direction is more natural to them. PAGE 27
— The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
PVR MOVIES FIRST
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Out This MAY MOVIE NAME (LANGUAGE)
GENRE
FORMAT
icons
RELEASE DATE
A DOG’S WAY HOME (ENGLISH) ADVENTURE, DRAMA, FAMILY 03 MAY __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 03 MAY UGLYDOLLS (ENGLISH) ANIMATION, ADVENTURE, COMEDY __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 03 MAY SETTERS (HINDI) THRILLER __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 03 MAY ARJUN PATIALA (HINDI) ROMANCE, THRILLER __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 03 MAY BLANK (HINDI) DRAMA __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 10 MAY POKEMON: DETECTIVE PIKACHU (ENGLISH) ANIMATION, ADVENTURE, FAMILY 4DX __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 10 MAY BRIGHTBURN (ENGLISH) HORROR __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 10 MAY STUDENT OF THE YEAR 2 (HINDI) ROMANCE __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 10 MAY CHHOTA BHEEM KUNG FU DHAMAKA (HINDI/ENGLISH) ANIMATION, ADVENTURE __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 17 MAY A DOG’S JOURNEY (ENGLISH) FAMILY __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 17 MAY THE HUSTLE (ENGLISH) COMEDY __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 17 MAY THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR (ENGLISH) DRAMA, ROMANCE __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 17 MAY JOHN WICK - PARABELLUM (ENGLISH) ACTION, CRIME , THRILLER IMAX __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 17 MAY DE DE PYAAR DE (HINDI) COMEDY, ROMANCE __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 24 MAY AD ASTRA (ENGLISH) SCI-FI, THRILLER 4DX __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 24 MAY ALADDIN (ENGLISH) ADVENTURE, FAMILY, FANTASY 3D/ IMAX 3D/ 4DX __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 24 MAY INDIA’S MOST WANTED (HINDI) THRILLER __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 31 MAY GODZILLA II – KING OF THE MONSTERS (ENGLISH) ACTION, ADVENTURE, FANTASY 3D/ IMAX 3D/ 4DX __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 31 MAY ROCKETMAN (ENGLISH) BIOGRAPHY, DRAMA, FANTASY __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ MA (ENGLISH) PVR MOVIES FIRST
HORROR, THRILLER Subject to release at PVR. Movie schedule is subject to last minute change.
31 MAY PAGE 29
IN THE NEXT ISSUE:
EDITOR Shubhra Krishan DESIGNER VIJAY Features Writer Chetna Srinivasan Conceptualized by Ranjeet Ahluwalia The views, ideas and content of this magazine are not of PVR’s. PVR shall not be held responsible for the outcome of any action or decision based on the information contained in this publication. PVR does not give any warranty for the completeness or accuracy for this publication’s content, explanation or opinion. To share your feedback about the magazine, write to us at pvrmoviesfirst@gmail.com