FAVOURITE JULIET..OLIVIA HUSSEY!

Beautiful Argentinian-English Actress Olivia Hussey's 75th Birth Anniversary just happened!

She became famous with Italian filmmaker Franco Zeffirelli's hit screen adaptation of 'Romeo and Juliet' (1968). I wrote a lot on this my favourite film & Olivia's lovely portray of Juliet in it!

"It is the east and Juliet is the sun!"

Shakespeare's quote of 'Romeo and Juliet' was really perfect on her in this classic film!

Tribute to her!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

'98TH OSCARS'...SENTIMENTS & SOCIAL STATEMENT!

Our India's famous actress Priyanka Chopra and
acclaimed Spanish actor Javier Bardem presented
award for 'Best International Feature Film'!

The '98th Academy Awards' ('Oscars') ceremony recently happened. Both American films..political & horror thrillers won highest awards in it. But on the current world scenario there was a social statement which caught the attention!

Best Picture 'One Battle After Another's (2025)
filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson with
 famous star Leonardo DiCaprio!

 In this, our India's world famous actress Priyanka Chopra and acclaimed Spanish actor Javier Bardem presented the award for 'Best International Feature Film'. It was announced to Norwegian film 'Sentimental Value'. (I already wrote on this film here.) And in this moment Bardem made a social statement "No to war!"

Famous Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio acted Paul Thomas Anderson's political thriller 'One Battle After Another' won six 'Oscar' awards in it. These includes Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Editing and Best Picture!

Autumn Durald Arkapaw with her
'Best Cinematography' 'Oscar' for
American film 'Sinners' (2025).

 

After this, Ryan Coogler’s supernatural horror-thriller 'Sinners' won four awards. These includes Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score & 'Best Actor' to Michael B. Jordan. And for this visually stunning film Autumn Durald Arkapaw won 'Best Cinematography'. She made history as the first woman to win the 'Oscar' for this category!

Jessie Buckley won 'Best Actress'
for her role in film 'Hamnet' (2025).

Then Jessie Buckley won 'Best Actress' Oscar for her role as Agnes Shakespeare in 'Hamnet'. Her performance was described as a powerful, emotional portrayal of grief & maternal love. She dedicated her win to the "beautiful chaos of a mother's heart". She became the first Irish actress to win in this category! Notable that Chinese filmmaker Chloé Zhao made this historical drama related to world famous English playwright!

In this Oscar Memoriam, there was a remembrance of legendary American Actor Robert Redford among artists who passed away last year. But they did not include our Indian legendary Actor Dharmendra in it!

Anyway, Congratulations to all the 'Oscar' winners!!

-Manoj Kulkarni

'Sentimental Value' a Norwegian film won '98th Oscar's 'Best International Feature Film'! I was expecting this & specifically wrote on this film here!

Congratulations to its entire team!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

'WAG THE DOG' & WORLD SCENARIO!

There are few films based on the theme of how war being used to divert attention from political scandal or crises! From these, film 'Wag the Dog' (1997) is in focus again on the current world situation!

This American political satire shows how a spin-doctor and a Hollywood producer fabricate a war in order to cover up a Presidential sex scandal! With famous actor-producer Robert De Niro, renowned filmmaker Barry Levinson made this film which is based on a novel, for which Hilary Henkin & David Mamet wrote the screenplay. De Niro and veteran method actor Dustin Hoffman did the main roles in it with artists Anne Heche, Denis Leary, Wilie Nelson, Andrea Martin, Kirstern Dunst & William H. Macy. Robert Richardson cinematographed this film which edited by Stu Linder and music composed by Mark Knopfler!

This film was critically acclaimed and it won 'Golden Bear' at 'Berlin International Film Festival'!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

'BAFTA' AWARDS..SOME GOOD THINGS!

Our Popular Indian Cinema's pretty talented actress Alia Bhatt
as award presenter in 'BAFTA' 2026 ceremony!

'79th 'BAFTA' ceremony was held at London day before yesterday and few good things were noticed there!

Norwegian 'Sentimental Value' director
Joachim Trier with his 'BAFTA' award!

First, our Popular Indian Cinema's pretty talented actress Alia Bhatt turned presenter in it and she began her speech in Hindi with a "Namaskar!

She announced the award for 'Best Film Not in the English Language' and this was given to Joachim Trier directed Norwegian film 'Sentimental Value'! 

I wrote special aritcle on this film which already won awards of 'Cannes' and 'European Film Academy'!

Producer Farhan Akhtar & director Lakshmipriya Devi with
'BAFTA' 2026 award & poster of their Manipuri film 'Boong'!

Then, in this 'BAFTA' our India's 'Boong' a Manipuri-language film is awarded 'Best Children's & Family Film'. This shows a young schoolboy's determination to reunite his divided family on a backdrop of racial tensions! Produced by Farhan Akhtar and directed by Lakshmipriya Devi in this film Gugun Kipgen & Bala Hijam did roles naturally!

Congratulations to all!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

It was good to meet senior Journalist & writer Mr. Hemant Desai in Alumni Meet of 'Department of Communication and Journalism' recently at 'Ranade Institute', Pune!

- Manoj Kulkarni

It was nice meeting to our BCJ batchmates Sanjay Kher & Triveni Goswami Mathur in Alumni Meet of our 'Department of Communication and Journalism' recently at 'Ranade Institute', Pune!

- Manoj Kulkarni