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‘A Beautiful, Emotional Journey’: Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Share Insight on Their ‘Wicked’ Set Bond

Nov 6, 2024 · 4:25 PM Blog

One of the most cherished and enduring musicals, Wicked is making its way to the big screen this holiday season as a spectacular cinematic event. Directed by the acclaimed JON M. CHU (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights), Wicked tells the untold story of the witches of Oz. It features Emmy, Grammy, and Tony-winning powerhouse and Oscar nominee Cyntia Erivo (Harriet, Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Elphaba, a young woman misunderstood due to her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power. Joining her is Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a privileged and ambitious young woman who has yet to find her true heart.

The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Elphaba Thropp, essayed by Cynthia Erivo, is the eldest daughter of Governor Thropp (Andy Nyman) of Munchkinland, was born with iridescent green skin and mysterious abilities that she cannot control, casting her apart from just about everyone besides her younger sister, Nessarose, and her beloved nanny Dulcibear. It’s a role that requires emotional gravity – an ability to communicate the weight and the pain Elphaba has been forced to carry throughout her young life. The only person in Oz with green skin, Elphaba is a racial minority and it has made her an outcast and hardened her defenses. But that tough exterior hides a full and compassionate heart.

Talking about working with Erivo and going through this Wicked journey together, co-star Ariana Grande says, “I can’t even fathom going through this experience without Cynthia. It’s such a privilege to share that safety and love with someone you’re constantly working with on screen. It could have easily been a nerve-wracking environment, but everyone made it feel incredibly secure. There wasn’t a day when either of us couldn’t reach the emotional depths required. Looking back, it’s amazing how smoothly everything fell into place, and how effortlessly it flowed from us. It was a beautiful, emotional journey. At the end of intense days, Cynthia and I would jokingly call ourselves ‘husks,’ feeling like we had poured everything into our performances. Having her by my side during and after, exchanging texts praising each other’s work, was the most precious part of it all.”

The Broadway stage musical is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, the Araca Group, Jon B. Platt, and David Stone, and will be released in India by Universal Pictures(distributed by Warner Bros. Discovery) on November 22, 2024 in English.

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7 new South Indian movies to watch with your family on OTT this November: Vettaiyan, Devara, ARM and more

Nov 6, 2024 · 4:25 PM Blog

November is going to be an eventful month with several great South Indian movies releasing on OTT platforms. From Rajinikanth starrer Vettaiyan to Jr NTR’s Devara, viewers are in for a big treat with non-stop entertainment. So, let’s take a look at some of the most awaited films that are all set to make their digital debut across Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and more.

1. Vettaiyan

Superstar Rajinikanth starrer Vettaiyan is going to release on Amazon Prime Video on November 8. Directed by TJ Gnanavel, the movie also features Amitabh Bachchan, Fahadh Faasil, Rana Daggubati, Manju Warrier and several others in prominent roles. The film follows the life of SP Athiyan who fights against the system for justice. He is well-known as Vettaiyan for the fear he has amongst the criminals. On the other hand, Amitabh Bachchan plays SC Justice Sathyadev, an advocate for human rights who opposes extrajudicial encounters.

2. ARM (Ajayante Randam Moshanam)

ARM, starring Tovino Thomas, is a Malayalam period action film that is all set to make its digital debut on November 8. Directed by Jithin Laal, this film received positive response from audiences and critics alike due to its unique storyline. Those who haven’t watched this movie can stream it online on Disney+ Hotstar. ARM is set against the backdrop of three timelines including 1900, 1950, and 1990. The story follows the lives of three heroes named Maniyan, Kunjikelu and Ajayan who strive to protect their land’s most prized treasure.

3. Devara

After a successful theatrical run, Jr NTR and Janhvi Kapoor starrer Devara: Part 1 is all set to release on Netflix on November 8. Directed by Koratala Siva, the film will stream on the OTT platform in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi languages. In Devara, Jr NTR played a dual role as both father and son. Meanwhile, Saif Ali Khan portrayed the character of the main antagonist. The movie also featured actors like Narain, Prakash Raj, Shine Tom Chacko and more.

4. Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale

Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale is an upcoming documentary featuring the Annapoorani actress alongside her husband Vignesh Shivan and others. Directed by Amith Krishnan, the film is all set to release on Netflix on Nayanthara’s birthday, November 18. Rana Daggubati and Nagarjuna will make a special appearance in this documentary to talk about her journey in the Indian film industry. They will also share how the actress became a superstar with her dedication and hard work. The runtime of this documentary is around 1 hour and 21 minutes.

5. Lucky Baskhar

Lucky Baskhar, starring Dulquer Salmaan and Meenakshi Chaudhary, hit the big screens on October 31. The movie has been performing well in theaters owing to good word-of-mouth. Amid the buzz surrounding the DQ starrer, it has been reported that the film will make its digital debut on Netflix on November 30. Lucky Baskhar follows the life of a middle-class banker who works hard to make ends meet for his family. However, after being denied a promotion, he resorts to money laundering to make easy money. From here, the movie takes an unexpected turn that leaves the viewers on the edge of their seats.

6. Thangalaan

Thangalaan, featuring Chiyaan Vikram, Malavika Mohanan and others, was initially set to release on Netflix some time ago. However, it was delayed due to unforeseen reasons, and the makers are now working to secure a new date for the film’s digital debut. According to media reports, Thangalaan is expected to arrive on the OTT platform in November.

7. Amaran

Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi’s film Amaran is running successfully in theaters. Fans love how the actor portrayed the character of Major Mukund Varadharajan on-screen. Amid the buzz surrounding the movie, it has been reported that the streaming rights of Amaran have been secured by the streaming giant Netflix for a whopping Rs 60 crore. If reports are to be believed, the Sivakarthikeyan starrer will release on the OTT platform by late November.

Which one of these films are you excited to watch on OTT? Let us know in the comments below.

ALSO READ: 6 New South movies to watch on OTT on Amazon Prime Video: Jiiva’s Black to Kannada film Laughing Buddha

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Donald Trump’s Message On “Wars” In His Victory Speech

Nov 6, 2024 · 4:25 PM Blog

Donald Trump is set to enter the White House again. In his victory speech, he indicated one of the major policy decisions he will make will likely be about working to end wars around the world. Though he did not say where, Ukraine and Israel have been cited by geopolitical experts as the likely focus of Trump 2.0.

“I’m not going to start wars, I’m going to stop wars,” the Republican US presidential nominee said in his victory speech.

“We had no wars, for four years we had no wars. Except we defeated ISIS,” Mr Trump said.

During his last reign from 2016 to 2020, the billionaire businessman had become the first sitting US President to meet a North Korean leader when Mr Trump shook hands with Kim Jong Un at a historic summit in Singapore.

As the US election results unfolded today, Ukrainians nervously followed the news, some fearing that a victory for Mr Trump could halt Washington’s vital aid to the nation fighting Russian forces.

The outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian army is on the backfoot against Russia’s advancing troops. Moscow’s alliance with North Korea also appears more solid than ever, with Washington and Seoul saying thousands of North Korean troops have been sent to Russia.

By contrast, Ukraine’s war-fatigued backers could be further disheartened by the return to the White House of Mr Trump, who has given no assurance of support to Kyiv.

“A Trump victory would create grave risks. The situation would be alarming,” former Ukrainian ambassador to the US Oleg Shamshur told news agency AFP.

Washington has driven NATO-wide support to Ukraine, with Kyiv receiving billions of dollars in financial and military aid enabling it to keep up the fight against a much more powerful Russia. That support has however been eroded in Europe and the United States over the past few months.

Mr Trump’s repeated criticism of US support for Ukraine and claims that he would end the fighting within 24 hours, have only raised Ukraine’s fears.

With inputs from AFP

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