Slamming National Awards
Veteran filmmaker and Dadasaheb Phalke awardee Adoor Gopalakrishnan has criticised recent National Film Awards, alleging that substandard films have been receiving top honours for some time. “If the quality of the jury is poor, it will select bad films for recognition. For some time now, the worst films of the year have been getting the National Awards. It needs to be investigated how this is happening.” He added that if the situation continues, it would be better to stop the system of giving National Awards for films altogether.
In the mood for some gup-shup
Rashami Desai
Actor and reality TV star Rashami Desai is set to launch a new unscripted chat show, Rashami Ke Dil Se Dil Tak, marking her foray into long-form, digital-first storytelling. Created with VidUnit, the influencer-first platform expanding into original digital IPs, the YouTube series will feature Rashami in candid conversations with real couples, exploring “love in all its shades” through discussions on trust, compatibility, and modern relationship challenges. We have learnt that the episodes will blend heartfelt moments with playful tasks and games. The line-up includes Dipika Kakar Ibrahim and Shoaib Ibrahim, Gauahar Khan and Zaid Darbar, and Surbhi Chandna and Karan Sharma. Calling the project “very, very close to my heart”, Rashami said it offers “a heartfelt space where emotions and real stories get the room they deserve.”
Films for the environment
Richa Chadha
Actor Richa Chadha has been named the Goodwill Champion for the All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF), which promotes cinema centred on sustainability. Calling the role a natural extension of her long-standing commitment to ecological causes, she said in a statement, “The climate emergency is here and is now shaping how we live, in real time. There is no economy without ecology.” She added that a home-grown festival telling “stories of the earth” can be a powerful driver of change.
