Satyajit Ray film institute student at Cannes La Cinef: Want to be voice for Africans
"As I am an international student too, I realised how much he was missing home. He also spoke about his love for football and his love for the city, which made him pick odd jobs to survive. The film is a documentary on his life, and so many more such people. We rehearsed for 15 days and then shot the film. Also, it was a no-budget film, and hence, friends and students from different departments came together to make it. The film is about a boy who sells his father's land to come to Kolkata to pursue professional football, but a tragic injury makes him quit the game. And because he has no money, he's stuck there," Kokob shared about the film.He added that there were seniors and mentors who had earlier been to Cannes, who guided him to enter the competition. He shared that he completed the process himself, and got selected. The filmmaker shared, "I was stunned and excited when I got the news. I cannot express in words the joy of representing India at that prestigious stage. This country is also home to me, as I have spent three years without going back to Africa. I am also proud of the fact that I will take Ethiopia to Cannes. I am so thankful to everyone involved with this film... we could pull this off only because of our love for films."advertisementWhen asked if he's evaluated what it takes to be selected at Cannes, Kokob Gebrehaweria said that foremostly, one needs to have a voice, and a very strong one. "And then a rooted story.. It's that easy. A lot of the students are scared to apply, so I will tell them to do that without fear. It's not about being selected but giving yourself a chance. Make something that's personal and very rooted, something around folk tales," he shared.The director further spoke about his aspirations and his vision with his films: "Both my works have an African connection, and I plan to have more Indo-African stories. While there are a few footballers who manage to earn well and send money back home, most of them are exploited. But given the weather, they play only half a year, and get paid per match. The ones who cannot often get into addiction. They cannot get medical help and have no money, and because they do not even know the language, they are tragically stuck. Most of them have run away from home, sold their assets. I want to be their voice and tell their stories in the hope that some organisation can come forward and help them. I may not have the financial ability to do it myself, but being an African, I want to be there for them."Talking about the Cannes La Cinef, the filmmaker shared that while he's positive about the outcome, his heart is already filled with gratitude. He also shared that he is working on another short film and plans to make a feature soon. At the film festival, he not only wishes to be recognised but also plans to network and find international producers. The director shared that he also wants to collaborate with programmers, distributors for his future projects. Kokob Gebrehaweria also shared that since he is an international student, he did not get any funds for his Cannes visit as per the policy. An agency did aid, but it was his family that supported him to be there, apart from his teachers and fellow students.
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India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
When Sunil Gavaskar turned a new chapter
(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today issue dated January 15, 1971)Sunil Gavaskar, who made a spectacular entry into the arena of Test Cricket, has made his debut as an "author" with the same flourish. In the first instance, he took the world of cricket by storm and earned the admiration of all lovers of the game. I wish one could say the same thing about his maiden venture as an shy and modest 21-year-old Bombay university cricketer won the hearts of the West Indians and his own countrymen, not only by his prodigious feats with the bat, but his innate sense of sportsmanship and all that it implies. We see a different Gavaskar in the author of Sunny Days, which is his pity of it all is that Gavaskar himself recognizes that it is "always hazardous for an active cricketer to venture into the realm of authorship". And yet, he has not only chosen to open his mouth, but has put his foot into it!In the early chapters of the book one meets the Gavaskar, as before fame overtook him after his historic deeds in the West Indies in 1971. He takes his remarkable successes with the bat as a schoolboy and university cricketer in his stride, without being spoilt by his outstanding performances. He accepts his failure to get into the Bombay Ranji Trophy team with a sense of fatalism, but there is no bitterness to unsettle his poise. There is, in his mental approach to his uneven cricketing career, a balance that one would hardly expect from a young player anxious to make the fortune finally smiles upon him and he is selected for the West Indies tour, his first thought is for his friend, Saeed Ahmed Hattea, who is left out. On his way to the Caribbean, he is the young cricketer, as yet unspoilt by success, finding everything and everybody wonderful - a kind word for "friend" and "foe" alike, and the capacity to see the funny side of his phenomenal successes in the West Indies left him unaffected, except that he was happy that he didn't "disappoint" the members of the Cricket Control Board's Selection Committee, which had placed confidence in him, and the vast legion of cricket lovers at metamorphosis of Gavaskar begins, if one may see, when he is selected to tour England in the summer of 1971, soon after the team's triumphant return from the West Indies. A typical example of his penchant for unnecessary, often foolish, criticism of men and things is his comment about Lord's, which has always been regarded as the "Mecca of Cricket".advertisementHe says, "Quite frankly, I don't understand why cricketers are overawed by Lord's. The members are the stuffiest know-alls you can come across, and the ground is most uninspiring. It slopes from one end to the other. I shuddered to think of it as the Headquarters of Cricket!"In every sport, the decisions of the umpire or referee are not always palatable to the players concerned; but, very few sportsmen dispute the decisions, and more especially, come out with open criticism of the men assigned the difficult and unenviable task of supervising when he found the going difficult in England, particularly after his spectacular showing in the West Indies, started cribbing about umpiring decisions. He is particularly critical of England's umpire David Constant, about whom he says, "Umpire Constant was 'constant' in his support for England that year."The English Press has also come in for rough treatment at his hands, perhaps with some justification. However, the somewhat biased comments on the "London-based Indian journalists" during the unfortunate tour of 1974, are quite unnecessary. Even allowing for the fact that the Indian team had taken terrible punishment in the Tests, despite Gavaskar scoring a century in the Old Trafford match, it is difficult to understand why a cricketer of the stature of Gavaskar should have indulged in harsh criticism of anyone who dared to find fault with the is when Gavaskar talks about his visit to New Zealand and the West Indies early this year that he pulls no punches in giving expression to his views about people. For instance, he found the umpiring in New Zealand "was so partial that we thought we must have really played well to win the first Test".He adds, "but for the umpiring decisions we would have won the first Test by an innings. Also, we were denied victory in the second Test because of the bias shown by the umpires for the home team." Gavaskar's views on the New Zealand Press are equally things were really bad on the New Zealand tour, which was made miserable because of the terribly cold weather. But, I wonder whether it is, at all, advisable for one actually in the game to indulge in this kind of criticism, and create enemies all over. What is particularly regrettable is that, in this present trend of umpire-baiting, Gavaskar's complaints may not find ready most unfortunate part of Gavaskar's anxiety to find fault with all manner of things, is the criticism levelled against the spectators who came to watch the Test at Kingston (Jamaica). The provocation for this was the "way they shrieked and howled every time Holding bowled" Gavaskar makes this astounding statement: "All this proved beyond a shadow of doubt that these people still belonged to the jungles and forests, instead of a civilized country." Apart from being in bad taste, such sentiments cannot create friendliness among peoples, and cannot possibly be forgiven in a Gavaskar has, with considerable justification, pointed out the peculiar behaviour of the then Cricket Control Board's President, K. M. Rungta, who asked for Gavaskar's explanation for his slow batting in the first World Cup match against unkindest cut of all was the accusation that Gavaskar's batting "had a demoralizing effect on the younger players, and was also against the country's interest," as alleged by Manager G.S. Ramchand. One can sympathize with Gavaskar for the patiently foolish action of the Board President. The revelation also goes to show the hazards that Indian sportsmen face and the indignities to which they are subjected by over-zealous pointed out the more undesirable aspects of Sunny Days, let me say that the book is a commendable effort on the part of one who has no pretensions to being a "writer". Gavaskar's story is told in simple language, and is a sincere and honest effort to record his personal experiences as a cricketer and as a man. It is a reflection of the inherent honesty, however misguided at times, of Sunil is a book which everyone who loves the game will enjoy reading. The Publishers, who have "fathered" more books on Cricket in India than any other film, have reason to be proud of their "catch". The printing and get-up of the book are of good standard, and the large number of illustrations printed on art paper are an added attraction. Sunny Days is a book which will be read, whatever one may think about the tendency of Gavaskar to hit everyone and everything for a six, with to India Today Magazine- Ends
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
R Madhavan feels the era of older heroes romancing younger heroines has ended in Bollywood: 'Because people have criticised it so much...'
R Madhavan is promoting his upcoming Netflix film, 'Aap Jaisa Koi,' and sparking conversations about Bollywood's evolving portrayal of romance. He notes the industry is moving away from pairing older male actors with much younger heroines, acknowledging audience criticism. Madhavan emphasizes that filmmakers must now portray age-appropriate romance with sensitivity. R Madhavan is known for choosing stories that challenge convention, and with his upcoming Netflix film Aap Jaisa Koi, he's doing just that—both on screen and off. As he promotes the film, Madhavan is also sparking an important conversation about how Bollywood is finally evolving when it comes to romance. In an interview with India Today, Madhavan noted a clear shift in the way love stories are being portrayed on screen—especially regarding the once-common trend of pairing significantly older male actors with much younger heroines. He pointed out that audiences have become more vocal in their criticism of such mismatched pairings, prompting a change in the industry. According to him, most leading men now recognize that the era of playing decades younger to romance much younger actresses is behind them. Calling the shift inevitable, the actor added that such mismatched pairings are no longer being accepted by audiences. He noted that the trend has largely come to a halt, and filmmakers now need to be more thoughtful in portraying age-appropriate romance. If older actors are cast in romantic roles, he emphasized, it must be done with sensitivity and realism. Still, he acknowledged that the shift isn't about following a trend—it's about listening to the audience. He explained that if viewers aren't connecting with certain portrayals, it's a clear sign the approach isn't working. For him, storytelling must evolve with the audience's expectations, and ignoring their feedback could leave filmmakers and actors out of touch, making films that fail to resonate or find an audience. While discussing Aap Jaisa Koi, R Madhavan hinted that the film delves much deeper than just an age-gap romance. He shared that, while it may appear to be a simple love story on the surface, the narrative is rooted in contemporary themes and explores far more than just the age difference between the characters. According to him, that element is only a small facet of a much broader, layered story. Madhavan further shared that Aap Jaisa Koi dives into the emotional complexities of modern life—particularly the sense of isolation people feel even while surrounded by others. He praised director Vivek Soni's approach in capturing how loneliness is navigated in today's fast-paced world. Interestingly, he pointed out that smaller towns and villages often seem to strike a better emotional balance than cities, and the film explores that contrast through its central relationship—something that deeply appealed to him. Aap Jaisa Koi, starring R Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh, is slated for release on July 11.
New Indian Express
5 hours ago
- New Indian Express
R Madhavan says Bollywood is embracing age-appropriate romance
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