Entertainment

A still from ‘Burqa City’

Fabrice Bracq, the French director behind the 2019 Arabic short film Burqa City, has voiced concern over what he describes as “striking similarities” between his work and Kiran Rao’s recent feature Laapataa Ladies. The filmmaker said he was “shocked and saddened” upon watching the Indian film, which was brought to his attention by viewers online noting overlapping elements.

Bracq claims that the resemblance goes beyond surface-level coincidences. Speaking to IFP, he pointed out parallels in character archetypes, such as the “naive, loving husband,” a “violent, oppressive” spouse, and a corrupt police officer — figures that populate both narratives. He also flagged a pivotal twist in both films, where a veiled woman is revealed to have fled an abusive marriage, framing it as a core narrative similarity.

Bracq clarified that Burqa City was written in 2017, shot in 2018, and screened internationally in 2019, including at film festivals in Kolkata and Auroville in 2020. He said he had been in talks to adapt the short into a feature-length film, but now questions whether that remains viable in the wake of Laapataa Ladies’ critical and commercial success.

Laapataa Ladies was produced through a partnership between Kiran Rao’s Kindling Pictures, Aamir Khan Productions, and Jio Studios. With Laapataa Ladies recently making waves on the global stage and even entering the Oscars conversation, Bracq expressed hope of speaking directly with the producers “to sort this out.”

Meanwhile, Biplab Goswami, writer of Laapataa Ladies, has refuted any claims of plagiarism. In a statement issued Saturday, he noted that the story was registered with the Screenwriters Association back in 2014 under the working title Two Brides, with the full script filed in 2018. “These allegations not only undermine my work,” Goswami said, “but also that of the entire filmmaking team.”

Ram Charan in a still from ‘Peddi’
| Photo Credit: Vriddhi Cinemas/YouTube

The makers of Telugu superstar Ram Charan’s upcoming film, Peddi, directed by Buchi Babu Sana, unveiled a special glimpse video titled ‘First Shot Glimpse’ on Sunday (April 6). Further, the makers have also announced that the film will be released in theatres on March 27, 2026.

“To keep doing the same thing and living life on repeat—what’s the point of having such a big life? We must make the most of our time here. Who knows if there’s a next life?” says Ram as he steps into an arena to fight someone. We then see glimpses of slow-motion shots of the star from the film.

Peddi will star Janhvi Kapoor and veteran Kannada star Shivarajkumar in prominent roles. Jagapathi Babu and Divyendhu are also part of the cast.

With music composed by AR Rahman, the film has cinematography by R Ratnavelu, editing by Navin Nooli and production design by Avinash Kolla.

Peddi went on floors in Mysuru on November 22, 2024. The movie is produced by Mythri Movie Makers, Vriddhi Cinemas and Sukumar Writings.

ALSO READ:‘Game Changer’ movie review: The fun is tailormade for instant gratification

Meanwhile, Ram Charan was last seen S Shankar’s Game Changer. Also starring Kiara Advani and Sj Suryah, the movie was a social thriller. The pan-Indian film, produced by Dil Raju, failed to live up to its expectations at the box office.

Fans of pop sensation Ed Sheeran and iconic rock band Weezer are in for a musical treat, as both artists have been added to the much-anticipated Coachella 2025 lineup, reported Variety.

However, festival-goers won’t get both artists on the same weekend. Sheeran and Weezer will be playing virtually in the same time slot in the same venue on their respective Saturdays, with surprisingly early start times.

According to Variety, Weezer will perform in the Mojave tent on April 12 at 3:10 p.m., and Sheeran will take the same stage at 3 p.m. on April 19.

The ‘Blue Album’ fame rock band, Weezer, is scheduled to play for a brisk 45 minutes, while Sheeran will be given a full hour for performance.

Coachella posted the updated performance schedule on social media. The complete lineup includes the scheduled performances of singers Travis Scott, Lady Gaga, Ed Sheeran, Weezers, Green Day, and others.

The announcement of set times clears up a few mysteries, like how the equally billed Saturday headliners Green Day and Travis Scott will share performance duties on Saturday night of each weekend.

According to Variety, Green Day is scheduled to play those nights from 9:05 to 10:45 p.m. PT, and after a healthy set break, Scott will take the stage at midnight.

As per the lineup, Lady Gaga will take the stage at 11:10 on the two Friday nights, and Post Malone will cap things off on the Sunday night bills starting at 10:25.

The Coachella festival will span two weekends, with Gaga kicking off the festivities on Friday, April 11 and 18. She will be joined by performers like Missy Elliott, Lisa, FKA Twigs, Glorilla, Benson Boone, The Go-Go’s, and Three 6 Mafia.

Green Day will take the stage on Saturday, April 12 and 19, with an exciting lineup of artists including Charli XCX, Misfits, Anitta, T-Pain, LA Philharmonic, Jimmy Eat World, Alok, and Yo Gabba Gabba!

Two Sundays, April 13 and 20, will feature Post Malone as the headliner, following performances from Megan Thee Stallion, Zedd, Jennie, Shaboozey, Ty Dolla $ign, and others.

According to Variety, for Sheeran, his surprising addition is part of a slow rollout of promotion, information and music for his upcoming album, “Play.”

No release date has been announced for the record, and it’s said not to be looming immediately, but a first single from the album, “Azizam.”

The ‘Perfect’ singer will next be embarking on a tour of Europe from late May through August.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Cheran in a still from ‘Autograph’

In February, actor-director Cheran had announced that his 2004 film Autograph, considered a cult hit in Tamil cinema, is getting a re-release after 21 years. On Sunday (April 6), the director took to social media to announce that the film will be released in theatres on May 16.

The film, which catapulted Cheran to fame, follows the journey of a middle-aged advertising agent as he reminisces about the three women who influenced his life the most. Gopika, Sneha and Mallika starred as the female leads. Kanika, Ilavarasu, Krishnakumar Ramakumar, and Rajesh also played pivotal roles.

Autograph is especially known for its chartbuster album, which had songs composed by Bharadwaj. ‘Gyabagam Varuthe’ continues to be the go-to anthem in Tamil cinema for nostalgia; also sung by Bharadwaj, the song explored themes of being caught in the tides of change and the melancholy of looking back at our roots. In 2004, Gopika’s yellow saree adorned with Tamil scripts in the song ‘Manasukulle Dhagam’ became a trendsetter.

In particular, ‘Ovvoru Pookalume’ got acclaimed playback singer KS Chithra the Best Female Playback Singer National Award and popular lyricist-director Pa Vijay the Best Lyrics National Award at the 52nd National Film Awards. Notably, the film also won the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment award.

The film also won Tamil Nadu State Film Awards under Best Film, Best Director, and Best Female Playback Singer categories.

Autograph was remade in Telugu as Naa Autograph, starring Ravi Teja, in Kannada as My Autograph, starring Sudeep, and in Bengali as Amar Aponjon, starring Soham Chakraborty.

Bill Murray is still grappling with the controversy that brought the production of Being Mortal to a halt and drastically altered how people view him. 

Back in April 2022, the actor was accused of inappropriate conduct involving a young crew member on the set of Disney’s Searchlight Pictures adaptation of Being Mortal. 

The incident reportedly involved Murray kissing the crew member during a rehearsal, and it led to a settlement of over $100,000. The film, which was already in production, was never completed and Murray’s image took a serious blow.

In a candid conversation on The Daily podcast by The New York Times, Murray opened up about how the situation continues to affect him. “I don’t go too many days or weeks without thinking about it,” he said.

Being Mortal was being directed by Aziz Ansari and featured Seth Rogen and Keke Palmer in pivotal roles. But the production came to a sudden stop after a complaint was formally raised. 

Murray explained that the incident happened during a rehearsal in a closed room – all while adhering to COVID protocols. He recalled that he kissed a female crew member, both of them masked. “It wasn’t like I touched her,” he said. “It was just a kiss through a mask, through another mask, to another person. And she wasn’t a stranger.”

He described the act as something he had done before, thinking it was just a harmless joke. “I thought it was funny. To me, it’s still funny. It’s stupid. That’s all it was.” However, the woman involved didn’t see it that way, leading to an internal investigation by Searchlight. Murray said he was caught off guard by how serious the situation became. “I thought I was trying to make peace,” he said. “I ended up, in my mind, being barbecued.” He added that there was never a direct conversation or chance to clarify things. “It just went straight to what he called ‘lunatic arbitration.'”

Murray also mentioned how the studio’s HR team responded – in a way he described with dry humor. “More intense than some countries’ entire governments,” he joked. He said they told him there were “preexisting conditions,” something he claimed he was unaware of. “How is anyone supposed to know stuff like that?” he asked.

But what seems to linger most for Murray is the public reaction and the broader implications on his legacy. “When someone has an episode like mine on Being Mortal, the world goes searching for more proof that this person is a monster – an absolute monster,” he said. “I’ve had interactions with hundreds of thousands of people over 40-50 years. You can come up with half a dozen bad ones. If you really worked, maybe a couple dozen. But that’s not the full story.”

While on the podcast, Murray also took the opportunity to respond to other past accusations. Addressing Geena Davis’ claim of inappropriate behavior on Quick Change, and Richard Dreyfuss’ allegation that Murray once threw an ashtray at him during What About Bob?, the actor pushed back. 

“That story’s never gonna be true,” Murray said of the Dreyfuss allegation. “If I’d have thrown it at Dreyfuss, I’d have hit him.” He clarified that he did throw something, but not at anyone directly. “I threw it up in a far corner of the townhouse, assuming it might break upon contact with the ceiling and the walls, but I didn’t throw it at anyone.”

When asked whether he took anything away from the Being Mortal episode, Murray paused. “You can teach an old dog new tricks.” Still, he added that he continues to feel misrepresented in the public eye.

You must be living under a rock if you have not heard about the latest controversy surrounding Laapataa Ladies. A video making the rounds online highlighted striking similarities between Kiran Rao’s film and an Arabic short film titled Burqa City, which was released in 2019 — five years before Laapataa Ladies. 

Soon after the video went viral, social media users began raising plagiarism allegations against Laapataa Ladies, which was also India’s official entry to the Oscars this year.

Now, Fabrice Bracq, the director of Burqa City, has raised concerns about the originality of Laapataa Ladies in a statement.

“First of all, even before watching the film, I was surprised by how closely the pitch matched that of my short film. Then I watched the film, and I was both surprised and shocked to see that, although the story had been adapted to Indian culture, many aspects of my short film were clearly present,” Fabrice said as quoted by India Today.

He continued, “Notably – and this is by no means an exhaustive list – the kind, loving, naive husband who loses his wife, contrasted with the other husband who is violent and despicable. The scene with the police officer is also striking: a corrupt, violent, and intimidating policeman surrounded by two sidekicks. Of course, there’s the moment with the photo of the veiled woman.”

Pointing out the similarities in the plot, Fabrice Bracq said, “The scene where the kind husband searches for his wife in various shops is particularly revealing – he shows the shopkeepers a photo of his veiled wife, just like in the short film, and then the shopkeeper’s wife comes out wearing a burqa, almost like a nod to Burqa City. There’s also the similarity in the plot twist at the end, where we learn that the woman deliberately chose to run away from her abusive husband – a key narrative element in Burqa City.”

The filmmaker concluded by saying, “And more broadly, the film carries a similar message about women’s emancipation and feminism.”

On Saturday, Laapataa Ladies writer Biplab Goswami responded to the controversy and claimed that his story is “100% original.” He stated that he had registered the synopsis of Laapataa Ladies with the Screenwriters Association in 2014, before the Arabic film was even made. Click here to read his full statement.

Released in 2024, Laapataa Ladies follows the story of two brides who are accidentally swapped during a train journey. The film features Pratibha Ranta, Nitanshi Goel and Sparsh Shrivastava in pivotal roles.

A still from ‘Tron: Ares’
| Photo Credit: Disney

Over four decades since the original Tron hit theaters, and 14 years since it’s cult classic follow up, Tron: Legacy shaped an entire generation of fans, Disney has released the first trailer for the highly-anticipated Tron: Ares, the third installment in the long-running sci-fi franchise. The film stars Jared Leto as Ares, a highly advanced program sent from the digital world into the real one on a dangerous mission that marks the first contact between humans and AI entities.

The trailer opens with a dramatic light cycle chase through city streets. Rogue programs on the run quickly outmaneuver pursuing police cars, with the return of the franchise’s iconic light walls — one of which gloriously slices a police vehicle in half. The brief but action-packed footage blends the franchise’s digital aesthetic with real-world settings, teasing the clash between two realities.

While Jeff Bridges’ Kevin Flynn doesn’t appear onscreen in the trailer, his voice is heard toward the end, addressing Ares with the words, “Ready? Cause there’s no going back.” Bridges, who first portrayed Flynn in Tron (1982) and reprised the role in Tron: Legacy (2010), spoke about the franchise’s longevity during the film’s reveal at the 2024 D23 Expo. “It’s amazing — we never thought we would have this legacy that’s continued on all these years,” he said.

Directed by Joachim Rønning, Tron: Ares features a cast that includes Evan Peters, Greta Lee, Jodie Turner-Smith, Cameron Monaghan, Sarah Desjardins, Hasan Minhaj, Arturo Castro, and Gillian Anderson. Peters plays Julian Dillinger, a character whose name nods to the original film’s antagonist, Ed Dillinger.

The film’s production faced delays due to the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, but filming eventually wrapped in May 2024. Nine Inch Nails, led by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, are composing the score. Known for their award-winning work on The Social Network, Soul, and their recent collaborations with Luca Guadagnino on Challengers and Queer, the duo brings a dark, electronic tone fitting for the digital world of Tron.

Jack Thorne, best known for the breakout Netflix miniseries Adolescence, co-wrote the screenplay for Tron: Ares alongside Jesse Wigutow. Cinematography is handled by Jeff Cronenweth, a longtime David Fincher collaborator whose credits include The Social Network, Gone Girl, and other acclaimed films.

Tron: Ares is set to release in theaters on October 10.

Palak Tiwari, starring in the horror-comedy ‘The Bhootnii’, discusses the challenges faced by young actors in Bollywood, highlighting the industry’s potential for growth and optimism for the future. She reflects on learning from Salman Khan and aims to showcase her growth as an actor in her new film. ‘The Bhootnii’ releases on April 18, 2025.

Palak Tiwari, who stars with Sanjay Dutt and Mouni Roy in the horror-comedy The Bhootnii, shared her thoughts on the pressure and uncertainty faced by young actors in Bollywood today. She opened up about her journey and remained optimistic, believing that the best is yet to come for her.
Facing Harsh Criticism
Palak Tiwari acknowledged the uncertainty in Bollywood but expressed strong belief in her generation’s potential. She feels that, while it may take longer for young actors to win audiences over compared to previous generations, the passion for cinema among today’s actors and filmmakers is just as deep.Palak Tiwari acknowledges the current confusion in the industry but remains hopeful. She believes that while young actors may take longer to achieve success compared to past generations, they share the same aspirations and passion for cinema, and in time, they will reach their goals.
Palak Tiwari reflects on the harsh criticism faced by new-age actors, acknowledging the frustration felt by both audiences and performers. While the feedback can be tough, she understands the frustration and believes that actors, like the audience, are also working hard to meet expectations.
Learning from Salman Khan
Palak Tiwari reflects on how her approach to choosing roles has evolved. In her early days, she was eager to just get noticed and is grateful for her first film with Salman Khan. She feels it was a valuable learning experience, teaching her what it truly means to be a successful actor.

Palak Tiwari speaks highly of Salman Khan, praising his work ethic and the valuable lessons she’s learned from him. She considers the experience of working with him on her first film invaluable and something she will carry with her throughout her career.
In her second film, The Bhootnii, Palak Tiwari focuses on showcasing her growth as an actor. She wanted to demonstrate how much she has developed and sought an opportunity to be noticed and recognized for her progress. Working with Sidhaant Sachdev helped her achieve that.
Optimism for Bollywood’s Future
Palak Tiwari expresses optimism for 2025, believing it will be a great year for cinema and the industry as a whole. She highlights that Bollywood still has untapped potential, and despite its rich legacy, a new era of Bollywood is emerging and will find its rightful place.

Palak Tiwari is eager to explore a wide range of roles as a new artist. With a passion for diverse work, she expresses her readiness to take on any opportunity, saying she’s available for whatever comes her way. She’s open to all kinds of projects and looks forward to what lies ahead.
The Bhootnii, starring Palak Tiwari, Sanjay Dutt, and Mouni Roy, is set to release on April 18, 2025.