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UAE Moments
3 hours ago
- UAE Moments
'Bend it Like Beckham' Director Confirms Sequel
In a long-awaited announcement, Gurinder Chadha, the visionary director behind the beloved 2002 hit Bend It Like Beckham, has confirmed a sequel is officially in development. More than twenty years after the original film inspired many young women to play football, Chadha says she has finally found the right story—one that reflects how much the sport and its cultural resonance have evolved. Chadha shared her excitement in an interview with Deadline, emphasizing her intent to revisit the original characters —including Jess (Parminder Nagra) and Jules (Keira Knightley)—and build on the legacy they helped establish in women's football. She hopes the entire original cast will return, though their participation depends on presentation and script quality. Chadha aims for a 2027 release, aligning with Beckham 's 25th anniversary and the FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil. The sequel could take the form of a feature film or a television series, depending on the final creative direction. Chadha is collaborating with her husband and original co-writer, Paul Mayeda Berges, and has enlisted Emma Hayes, coach of the U.S. women's national team, to help shape an authentic football narrative. The original Bend It Like Beckham became a defining film of early 2000s British cinema and was instrumental in spotlighting diversity, female empowerment, and cross-cultural identity in sports. Fan anticipation is high for the return of stars like Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Archie Panjabi, Juliet Stevenson, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. The original cast has been informed about the script, so fans are excited to see them return to the sequel. This sequel marks a pivotal moment—not just for fans nostalgic for Jess and Jules, but for a sport and culture that has evolved dramatically in the years since the original game-changing film.
Gulf Today
10 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Oasis, Adolescence: How the UK finally got cool again
Helen Coffey, The Independent If you're Gen Z or younger, you probably can't remember the last time the UK was cool. It was before your time, I'm afraid – a Nineties heyday embodied by Britpop bands such as Oasis and Blur, Richard Curtis romcoms, YBAs (Young British Artists) headed up by Damien Hirst and his provocative animals in formaldehyde, and Tony Blair's Labour Party finally booting the Tories out of power in 1997 after an 18-year stronghold. It marked a period of genuine optimism — a feeling epitomised by sexy smackhead Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor) 'choosing life' at the end of Danny Boyle's Nineties masterpiece, Trainspotting – when British fashion, music and culture were the envy of all. A time when the country felt progressive, thriving and relevant. A time when, in fact, one might feel the tiniest bit justified in being 'proud to be British'. Ginger Spice was even able to wear a union jack mini-dress to the 1997 Brit Awards without the merest hint that she was making some kind of anti-immigration political statement. That same year, Katrina and the Waves won the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of the United Kingdom with their uplifting ballad 'Love Shine a Light'. Since that golden era of Cool Britannia petered out, we've been sorely lacking in the trendy department. The Tories wrested power back from Labour again in 2010, introduced the chokehold of austerity, and clung on for the next 14 years. The flame of excitement prompted by the success of the 2012 London Olympics was comprehensively doused by the damp squib that was the Brexit referendum — and ensuing economic downturn — in 2016. Our street cred was further dented by dodgy Covid contracts and a succession of cringe-making leaders who ran the gamut from robotic to corrupt. Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak: it's practically a four-way tie in the 'which of our prime ministers was the most embarrassing' race to the bottom. No, for a nigh-on a quarter of a century, 'cool' was not a word one could feasibly use to describe the British Isles – not without a knowing flicker of irony, at any rate. But now, all of a sudden, we might just be on the cusp of Cool Britannia Mark II. Now, for the first time in decades, might it be — whisper it — cool to be British again? Of course, the country has long continued to hold a certain charm for anglophiles the world over, but it was previously always our past, rather than our present, that captivated foreigners. Jane Austen adaptations of varying quality may have flown off the shelves; Downton Abbey may have garnered such global popularity that endless series continued to be made, regardless of the increasing 'jump the shark' implausibility that the Crawley family were barely ageing through the decades. But modern Britain, with its deflated economy and mortifying politicians, its littering and its rioting and its binge drinking, was an understandably unappealing prospect for all but the country's staunchest defenders. People wanted the Britain of bonnets and smouldering heroes in the mould of Pride and Prejudice's Mr Darcy or a topless Aidan Turner as Poldark. They did not want the Britain of The Only Way Is Essex. Yet it seems the tide might finally have turned. The signs that the UK's cultural cachet was about to experience an unexpected surge were already there, of course. No, Keir Starmer's thrashing of the Tories last year was far from the jubilant landslide of Labour in the late Nineties, but it at least represented some kind of hope after years in exile for those on the Left. The official trend and soundtrack for that summer – Brat summer – was orchestrated by unabashedly hip British musician Charli XCX, whose album emboldened a generation of young people to sack off curating a perfect Insta grid and stay out raving all night in yesterday's makeup. Even Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris got in on the action after Charli declared 'kamala IS brat' on social media. Now, 2025 seems to be the year when everything has coalesced – and people are once again loving the UK for her grittiness, rather than her prettiness. The Gallagher brothers, pivotal in Cool Britannia's previous iteration, have kick-started a frenzy of Britpop nostalgia single-handed with their reunion tour. Guy Ritchie's latest gangster series, MobLand, with its hard-as-nails London crime scene juxtaposed by picturesque Cotswolds manor houses, was an instant success for Paramount. Adolescence, a dark mini-series set in Yorkshire about a 13-year-old boy who murders a classmate after becoming radicalised online, is Netflix's most-watched show of the year and its second most-watched English-language series of all time. The show's standout performances earned Emmy nominations for Stephen Graham, Erin Doherty and Ashley Walters, as well as 15-year-old Owen Cooper, who made history by becoming the youngest ever nominee in the limited series supporting actor category. And then there are the celebrity endorsements that keep rolling in. 'Everything here is just better,' comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres recently said of the UK after moving here with wife Portia de Rossi following Donald Trump's re-election. 'The way animals are treated, people are polite. I just love it here.'
Zawya
15 hours ago
- Zawya
Yango Play takes the music experience to the next level with new features and releases
Yango Play, the AI-powered entertainment super app, is elevating its music offerings with a suite of new product features and an exciting lineup of regional music releases. These enhancements aim to provide users with a more personalized and seamless listening experience across various devices and platforms. Offline Music Playback on Apple Watch: Yango Play on Apple Watch now supports direct music downloads, allowing users to enjoy their favorite tracks without needing an iPhone nearby. This feature is particularly beneficial during workouts, commutes, or outdoor activities. Once downloaded, the music can be played directly from the watch, even without an internet connection. This enhancement offers greater flexibility and convenience for music lovers on the go. Enhanced Playback and Control on Yasmina Speakers: Yasmina speakers now offer enhanced music control by allowing users to connect their smartphones via the Yango Play app. This integration enables users to manage their music playlists and queues directly from their devices, providing a seamless and intuitive experience. Through the app, users can organize their music library, create custom playlists, and adjust playback settings, all from the convenience of their smartphones. This feature complements existing voice control options, offering users multiple methods to interact with their music, and is now available on iOS and Android devices. Personalized Playlist Creation: Music lovers now have a smarter and more engaging way to discover and enjoy their favorite tunes with the launch of a new personalized playlist creation feature, available on both Android and iOS. Whether exploring the latest hits by mood, genre, or activity or diving into top charts from around the world, users can now take full control of their listening experience. The app's intuitive design allows users to create and customize playlists that reflect their unique tastes. Once created, playlists can be easily shared with friends or made public, encouraging a vibrant and connected community of music enthusiasts. This feature allows users to curate their music collections by selecting specific tracks, arranging them in preferred order and adding descriptive titles and cover images. Yango Play continues to enrich its music library with a diverse array of tracks and albums from renowned artists across the Arab world. From emerging talents to established icons, here's a curated selection of the latest releases available on the app: Nancy Ajram - 'Nancy 11' (Album) Nancy Ajram's eleventh studio album spans 12 tracks, led by 'Sidi ya Sidi.' With her signature blend of Egyptian and Lebanese dialects and musical styles, and their vibrant fusion and cultural harmony she proves her status as a regional megastar across the Arab pop scene. Tamer Hosny - 'Leena Maad' (Album) Tamer Hosny's newest 15 track album titled "Leena Maad" features exciting collaborations, including a track with the popular folk singer Reda El Bahrawy titled 'El Magas', and another duet with Syrian singer Al Shami titled 'Malket Gamal El-Kon'. Several songs from the album, like "Halal Feek", have already been released as successful singles. Assala – 'Daribet Al Bo'd' (Album) A new full-length album from one of the Arab world's most beloved voices, featuring tracks like Mesh Wehsha, Daribet El Bo'd, El Enab El Saqe', and Ana Hansak. Latifa - 'Galbi Ertah' (Album) Latifa's anticipated 13-song album with 4 tracks released in its first week. This VIP release features exciting collaborations, including three tracks with Mohamed El-Kazmy and one with Kazem Al-Saher, and many more exciting features! Ramy Sabry - 'Ana Bahebak Enta' (Album) Ramy Sabry's new album, "Ana Bahebak Enta," features 11 exciting tracks, including a thrilling remix with producer Aly Fathallah. Adding to the excitement, two tracks from the album have been released as official music videos, including the single, 'Ana Bahebak Inta'. Najwa Karam – 'Halet Tawari' ' The Lebanese superstar returns with a fresh release for fans across the region. Fadel Chaker – 'Elhob w Bass' A heartfelt ballad that underscores his romantic style. Melhem Zein – '22' (Album) To celebrate 22 years in the music scene, Melhem Zein releases an album that reflects his long-standing career. The album features a mix of energetic Dabke tracks, romantic slow songs, and upbeat summer anthems, all highlighting Zein's versatile voice and musical journey. The songs featured include Albi Daa', Hlaftellik, Maana El Eshe', Kawkabi, Alf Mabrouk, Kiff Aaanni, and Tannour. Mohamed Mounir - 'Malamehna' Malamehna is the latest pop song from one of Egypt's most iconic artists. Fadel Chaker and Mohamed Chaker - 'Kifak Ala Foragi' The father-son duo's collaboration showcases their undeniable musical chemistry and heartfelt delivery. About Yango Play Yango Play, an all-in-one entertainment super app, is a pioneering AI-powered entertainment service that combines video, music streaming, mini-game's and live TV channels into a single platform. Launched in the GCC, it offers a seamless and comprehensive entertainment experience. Subscribers enjoy a vast selection of video content, including beloved classics and exclusive new releases, spanning movies and TV series from the Middle East, Turkey, and Hollywood, all presented ad-free and in high quality. Additionally, the app features an innovative music stream that personalized recommendations to match user preferences, blending international hits with regional favorites. Available on both Google PlayStore and iOS App Store, Yango Play stands out for its diverse content library and personalized entertainment experience. For more information about Yango Play and its offerings, visit Stay in the loop with the latest content by following Yango Play on social media: Facebook: Yango Play Instagram: @yangoplay Twitter: @Yango_Play TikTok: @yangoplay YouTube: Yango Play Channel
