Latest news with #Academy
Hans India
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Kamal Haasan thanks TN CM Stalin for congratulatory note on Oscar academy invite
Veteran actor, filmmaker, and politician Kamal Haasan expressed heartfelt gratitude to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday after receiving his congratulatory message for being invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the body behind the prestigious Oscar Awards. Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Kamal Haasan wrote, 'If the invite from the Academy is a joy, then the congratulatory message from the Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has added more joy. Thank you very much.' The message came shortly after CM Stalin posted his own note on social media, extending warm congratulations to Kamal Haasan for receiving the rare honour. 'Heartfelt congratulations to my dear friend and versatile artiste Kamal Haasan on being invited to join the Academy,' Stalin wrote. He further added that the honour was 'long overdue' and a 'recognition of the profound impact Kamal Haasan has had on the film industry across languages and national boundaries.' Stalin concluded by expressing confidence that 'many more heights will come searching for him.' The Academy, known globally for awarding excellence in cinema through the Oscars, announced its 2025 invitee list on Friday, comprising 534 artists and executives who have made significant contributions to the world of film. Kamal Haasan was listed in the Actors category, with the acclaimed films 'Vikram' and 'Nayakan' noted beside his name. Kamal Haasan is only the second South Indian actor to be invited to join the Academy, following actor Suriya, who was invited in 2022. In a statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang said: 'We are thrilled to invite this esteemed class of artists, technologists, and professionals to join the Academy. Their commitment to filmmaking has made an indelible impact on our global cinematic community.' The Academy also highlighted its continued efforts toward representation, inclusion, and equity. Of the 2025 invited class, 41% are women, 45% belong to underrepresented communities, and 55% hail from 60 countries outside the U.S. Among them are 91 Oscar nominees, including 26 winners, and three Scientific and Technical Award recipients. Kamal Haasan's latest honour marks yet another milestone in a career spanning over six decades, reaffirming his status as one of Indian cinema's most influential figures.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
TN CM Stalin congratulates Kamal Haasan on joining Oscars voting panel
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has extended heartfelt congratulations to legendary actor Kamal Haasan on his invitation to join the esteemed Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) as an Oscar voting member. MK Stalin took to social media to express his joy and admiration for Haasan, writing, "My heartfelt congratulations to my dear friend and artist, Mr. @ikamalhaasan, who has received an invitation to join the committee for the Oscar Awards , considered the pinnacle of recognition in the global film industry! This is a long-overdue acknowledgement of the profound impact you have had on the film industry, transcending language and national boundaries. May many more heights seek you out!" — mkstalin (@mkstalin) by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why Seniors Are Snapping Up This TV Box, We Explain! Techno Mag Learn More Undo In a gracious response, Haasan thanked the Chief Minister and expressed his gratitude. "The invitation from the Oscar organization is a joy, and the congratulatory words from the Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu add even more joy. Many thanks," he wrote. Live Events — ikamalhaasan (@ikamalhaasan) The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has extended invitations to Indian actors Ayushmann Khurrana and Kamal Haasan, as well as other distinguished figures such as Kieran Culkin and Mikey Madison. According to Variety , the 534 invited individuals represent an eclectic mix of talent, with the Academy further broadening its international presence. Haasan and Khurrana's inclusion as voting members of the Oscars reflects their substantial contributions to cinema. Haasan, a superstar of Indian cinema , has been an integral figure in the industry for over three decades, known for his versatile roles in films such as Nayakan, Vishwaroopam, and Dasavathaaram. His most recent appearance was in Thug Life, directed by MRatnam. Ayushmann Khurrana, who gained fame through critically acclaimed films like Andhadhun, Vicky Donor, and Article 15, is also recognised for his significant contributions to the modern cinematic landscape. Both actors represent a diverse array of global cinematic perspectives, underlining the Academy's ongoing efforts to diversify its membership, as per Variety. The inclusion of such distinguished figures brings the Academy's total membership to 11,120, including 10,143 voting members. The invitees hail from 60 countries and territories outside the United States, with AMPAS continuing its efforts to reflect the global scope of the film industry. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang jointly commented on the new members, stating, "We are thrilled to welcome this esteemed class of artists, technologists, and professionals into the Academy. This year's class embodies the diversity and global breadth of today's film community, and their inclusion will continue to enrich the Academy's mission and work," as quoted by Variety. The new members will join one of the Academy's 19 branches or as Associates. Branch members and artist representatives are eligible to vote in Oscar categories, while Associate members will not have voting or governance rights. Notably, 12 filmmakers, including Brady Corbet, Magnus von Horn, and Smriti Mundhra, were invited to multiple branches and must choose one upon accepting membership. In addition to Haasan and Khurrana, other celebrities such as Jason Momoa, Stephen Graham, Ariana Grande, and Dave Bautista have also been invited to join the Oscars voting panel.
Mint
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
TN CM Stalin congratulates Kamal Haasan on joining Oscars voting panel
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 28 (ANI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has extended heartfelt congratulations to legendary actor Kamal Haasan on his invitation to join the esteemed Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) as an Oscar voting member. MK Stalin took to social media to express his joy and admiration for Haasan, writing, "My heartfelt congratulations to my dear friend and artist, Mr. @ikamalhaasan, who has received an invitation to join the committee for the Oscar Awards, considered the pinnacle of recognition in the global film industry! This is a long-overdue acknowledgement of the profound impact you have had on the film industry, transcending language and national boundaries. May many more heights seek you out!" In a gracious response, Haasan thanked the Chief Minister and expressed his gratitude. "The invitation from the Oscar organization is a joy, and the congratulatory words from the Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu add even more joy. Many thanks," he wrote. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has extended invitations to Indian actors Ayushmann Khurrana and Kamal Haasan, as well as other distinguished figures such as Kieran Culkin and Mikey Madison. According to Variety, the 534 invited individuals represent an eclectic mix of talent, with the Academy further broadening its international presence. Haasan and Khurrana's inclusion as voting members of the Oscars reflects their substantial contributions to cinema. Haasan, a superstar of Indian cinema, has been an integral figure in the industry for over three decades, known for his versatile roles in films such as Nayakan, Vishwaroopam, and Dasavathaaram. His most recent appearance was in Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam. Ayushmann Khurrana, who gained fame through critically acclaimed films like Andhadhun, Vicky Donor, and Article 15, is also recognised for his significant contributions to the modern cinematic landscape. Both actors represent a diverse array of global cinematic perspectives, underlining the Academy's ongoing efforts to diversify its membership, as per Variety. The inclusion of such distinguished figures brings the Academy's total membership to 11,120, including 10,143 voting members. The invitees hail from 60 countries and territories outside the United States, with AMPAS continuing its efforts to reflect the global scope of the film industry. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang jointly commented on the new members, stating, "We are thrilled to welcome this esteemed class of artists, technologists, and professionals into the Academy. This year's class embodies the diversity and global breadth of today's film community, and their inclusion will continue to enrich the Academy's mission and work," as quoted by Variety. The new members will join one of the Academy's 19 branches or as Associates. Branch members and artist representatives are eligible to vote in Oscar categories, while Associate members will not have voting or governance rights. Notably, 12 filmmakers, including Brady Corbet, Magnus von Horn, and Smriti Mundhra, were invited to multiple branches and must choose one upon accepting membership. In addition to Haasan and Khurrana, other celebrities such as Jason Momoa, Stephen Graham, Ariana Grande, and Dave Bautista have also been invited to join the Oscars voting panel. (ANI)
Indian Express
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
F1: Brad Pitt, Joseph Kosinski reminds what going to the movies is all about
In a world too eager to draw lines between 'cinema' and 'content,' there's something liberating about watching a film that unapologetically blurs them. F1: The Movie is that film. It screeches into the cultural conversation like a perfectly timed overtake — sleek, loud, emotionally resonant, and utterly commercial. But most importantly, it reminds us why we fell in love with going to the movies in the first place. Yes, it's a popcorn flick. But perhaps, it's time we act as if it's a bad thing. There's a particular kind of snobbery that often trails behind the phrase 'popcorn movie.' It suggests something frivolous, temporary, even intellectually disposable. As if real cinema can only happen in quiet conversations, long takes, or prestigious festival halls. But anyone who's ever clutched their armrest during a climactic car chase or felt goosebumps rise as the score swelled in a packed auditorium knows that what commercial cinema offers is no less sacred. As I walked out of my IMAX show of F1, heart racing, breath caught somewhere between awe and adrenaline, I was entertained, sure, but I was also revived. It was a visceral reminder that spectacle, when done with care and vision, is not the enemy of art. It is art. When we talk about blockbusters – real, heart-thumping, stadium-filling blockbusters – we have to start with Tom Cruise. The man has never pretended to chase awards. The Academy's recent decision to honour him with a career-first Honorary Oscar is less about a golden statue and more a belated acknowledgment of something much bigger: Cruise doesn't just make movies. He fights for them. He was one of the first global stars to urge people back to theatres when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak –– even flying to London to support Christopher Nolan's Tenet. That was less about promotion and more about preservation. Cruise, more than a star, has always been a patron of the big screen. His last major commercial success, Top Gun: Maverick, was described by Spielberg as the film that 'saved Hollywood's a**.' That wasn't hyperbole, it was history. But Cruise didn't do it alone. Director Joseph Kosinski, who returned after the elegant dogfights of Maverick, now turns his eye to the tarmac. In F1, Kosinski cements his place as the next great architect of big-budget cinema –– one who understands that spectacle without soul is just noise. Kosinski doesn't just choreograph speed, he composes with it. His action sequences aren't stitched together in the edit, they're scored like symphonies. There's rhythm. Tension. Payoff. Somewhere along the way, 'popcorn movie' became shorthand for something unserious. But what if that label isn't an insult, but an invitation? I've argued against this kind of cinema myself. I've scoffed at Minecraft making millions. I've raised eyebrows at Animal dominating the box office. But then, F1 hit me like a memory I didn't know I'd misplaced. It brought me back to Ta Ra Rum Pum, a racing drama that might not rank high in Bollywood's pantheon but, for me, was where it all began. I rooted for Saif Ali Khan's RV. I sang the title track. I felt something. Maybe I've always had a thing for racing films. Or maybe racing films just know how to tap into something primal: motion, momentum, meaning. There is a strange, beautiful alchemy that happens in a dark theatre. The communal gasps. The silence that falls before the final lap. The vibration of engines that you feel in your ribcage. That can't be replicated on a phone. It's not supposed to be. F1 is a reminder of why we gather in the dark –– why we still need those towering screens and that cavernous sound, and why the theatrical experience isn't dead, just dormant, waiting for the right ignition. And F1 is nothing if not a push-start for cinema. Let's retire the old dichotomy: that art belongs at Cannes and commerce belongs at the box office. History has proven otherwise. From Jaws to Titanic, The Dark Knight to Avatar, and now Maverick to F1—blockbusters can have brains, and heart, and soul. F1 doesn't just make the case for popcorn movies. It makes them personal again. It proves that emotional depth and mass appeal aren't contradictions—they're co-drivers. Beneath the rubber, the smoke, the turbocharged glitz, there's philosophy. Time. Obsession. Mortality. A meditation on the human need to chase, to risk, to move. Blockbusters like F1 don't dumb us down. They lift us up. They unite us, move us, and yes, sell us popcorn. And maybe – just maybe – that's exactly what movies are meant to do.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
WWE legend Dave Bautista joins The Academy after 2 decades in Hollywood
Batista (Image via WWE) Dave Bautista was once the feared Batista when he came inside the WWE the squared ring. His dominance was majestic and his talent unparalleled. But over the years, he has left his wrestling days behind to focus more on his acting career, and with so many accolades, it's time to say that he has made his mark in Hollywood. And it was further accentuated recently with his induction into the Class of 2025 of The Academy. The Academy invites Batista and 533 other artists into its Class of 2025 The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences invited 534 artists and executives to join the organization in its esteemed Class of 2025. And in the list of individuals, one name that caught the eye of wrestling fans was WWE star Dave Bautista Bautista, whose movies like Dune: Part Two and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery have both been nominated for The Academy. The actor has been a part of the movie industry since 2006, and with two decades in the business he has become one of the top stars of Hollywood. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang in a joint statement expressed their excitement to invite the newest batch of Academy members to their midst, applauding their commitment to the world of moviemaking. 'We are thrilled to invite this esteemed class of artists, technologists, and professionals to join the Academy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Duong Chuc Dong: Beautiful New Senior Apartments with Two Bedrooms Senior Apartments | Search Ads Search Now Undo Through their commitment to filmmaking and to the greater movie industry, these exceptionally talented individuals have made indelible contributions to our global filmmaking community.' The list of all the names being invited into the Class of 2025 was added in the latest announcement by The Academy. And Dave Bautista aka Batista is one of a total 33 actors who have been extended this invitation alongside other members of the industry. While his stint with wrestling seems most likely over, fans of Batista still remember the glory days, reminiscing his greatness inside the ring. Whether he returns or not, Batista will always be considered a legend in WWE and fans will forever have him in their hearts. Also Read: WWE SmackDown Results & Highlights (6/27/25): Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton faceoff before KOTR, Rey Fenix makes a surprise entry, John Cena and more Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
