Tokyo: Tokyo 2020 was supposed to be a marketing bonanza, but public opposition and a possible spectator ban over virus fears have left some Japanese sponsors with an Olympic headache.
Around 60 Japanese companies ploughed a record $3.3 billion into the event, which was postponed for a year over the pandemic, and leading firms such as Toyota, Bridgestone, and Panasonic have multi-year Olympic partnerships.
Polls show a majority in Japan want the Olympics cancelled or postponed further, making Games-linked advertising difficult. And spectator-free stadiums would deprive local firms of tickets and hospitality for clients, a key sponsor perk.
If the Tokyo Games open as planned on 23 July, sponsors can still expect global exposure from international broadcasters. But as Japan battle a fourth coronavirus wave, some are watching the situation uncomfortably.
Toyota last month acknowledged public "concern" and said it was worried that "some people's frustration is directed towards athletes".
"As a sponsor, we are truly distressed by that," said communications director Jun Nagata.
"We are agonising every day about what should be done."
And in a sign of the rising disquiet, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper - itself a sponsor of the Games - last week broke ranks to call for cancellation.
In an editorial, the left-leaning daily warned Japan were in no place to host the Olympics, given current infection levels and a sluggish vaccine rollout.
It also slammed the "self-righteous" leadership of the International Olympic Committee, which it said appeared committed to holding the Games at any price, and despite public concerns.
Some business leaders who are not involved with the Games have been even more forthright, with e-commerce giant Rakuten's CEO Hiroshi Mikitani calling the event a "suicide mission".
Local sponsors now find themselves in a "very tough" position, said Norm O'Reilly, director of the International Institute for Sport Business and Leadership at the University of Guelph.
"I would advise staying focussed on support of the athletes," he told AFP.
'Public backlash'
Organisers have taken the unprecedented decision to ban overseas fans at the Games, and will decide later this month how many local spectators will be permitted, if any.
While a Games behind closed doors would hit organisers through lost ticket sales, O'Reilly said big sponsors could still benefit from the global audience.
"They are very much focussed on the global platform of billions who will engage with the Games via television and streaming," he said.
"People in most countries are desperate for an end to the pandemic and a return to some semblance of normal life," he added.
"So from that perspective, I think there'll be high interest and following of the Games, which is what sponsors want and need."
It may be smaller local sponsors who are the worst hit, according to Taisuke Matsumoto, a lawyer and sports law specialist at Waseda University.
Before the pandemic, many were running Olympic-related adverts almost daily, "but from last year, they have stopped because of customer sentiment," he said.
Still, Matsumoto doesn't expect a mass defection of local sponsors, seeing the Asahi's editorial as "really exceptional".
Firms are largely keen to avoid stirring things up and "will not oppose the Tokyo 2020 Games individually", he said.
Local sponsors "can see the public backlash and the risk", added John Davis, an expert on strategy, branding and sports who heads consulting firm Brand New View.
"I suspect that sponsors are still trying to figure out how to convey recognition of Covid-19 while also communicating the inspirational sports stories," he told AFP.
"It's not an easy mix of messages to accomplish. But that doesn't mean it should be avoided."
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Inter Milan's Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal is receiving hospital treatment after testing positive for coronavirus, his national team said Monday.
The diagnosis means the 34-year-old will miss Thursday's World Cup qualifier between Chile and Argentina.
"The medical team of the Chilean national team emphasises that at the request of the player Arturo Vidal, it is announced that he has been diagnosed positive for Covid," the national team said on its official website.
It said no other players in the squad had tested positive for the virus.
Vidal was initially hospitalised with severe tonsilitis, but tested positive for coronavirus on Monday, the team statement said.
The former Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Juventus star, who was vaccinated against the virus on Friday, will now miss the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifier with Argentina and another qualifier against Bolivia next week in Santiago.
COVID-19 infections in Chile remain above 6,000 daily cases and the health system is overwhelmed.
The virus has killed more than 29,000 people out of a total 1.3 million cases in the country.
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Daniil Medvedev said on Monday he struggled from the effects of Covid-19 for "five to six weeks" after testing positive for the virus in April.
The Russian second seed reached the French Open second round for the first time in his career after four straight opening-round defeats at Roland Garros, beating Alexander Bublik 6-3, 6-3, 7-5.
The 25-year-old, a two-time Grand Slam runner-up, said afterwards that he only recently felt back to 100 percent fitness after recovering from coronavirus.
"Coming to Madrid (earlier this month), I was like at maybe 70 percent or 60 percent. I think that's how Covid affects your body," said Medvedev.
"It's always tough to say because sometimes during the year you're going to have these down moments.
"So maybe it was just one of them. Yeah, I feel like Covid was tough for maybe five, six weeks since I got it. Now I feel 100 percent."
Medvedev had to withdraw from the Monte Carlo Masters when he tested positive on 13 April and only won one match in his next two tournaments ahead of the French Open.
"It's never easy to talk about this because coming with Covid is also isolation straight away, which meant that 10 days I was at home, basically almost all the time lying on the sofa," he added.
"Even if I tried to do some physical, I was also not feeling that well so I couldn't do much. And I have a small apartment.
"The toughest moment was during the 10 days, I think on the second or third day after I knew that I was positive, that's where I felt not so good.
"But nothing too serious either because I was able to leave. I was not laying down having hallucinations or anything."
Medvedev, whose 10 ATP titles have all come on hard courts, is looking to take advantage of being in the opposite part of the draw from Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
It was only his 12th win on clay out of 180 career matches.
"The most important (thing) is the level of tennis I've been showing, as I said before the tournament, it was not mind games," Medvedev said.
"My opponent can see I was really feeling good. I managed to play consistent today. I actually played much better in practice still than today, so there is room for improvement."
He will face Tommy Paul of the United States for a place in the third round.
Medvedev, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final in February, has no Grand Slam champions in his half of the draw after fourth seed Dominic Thiem's shock loss to Pablo Andujar on Sunday.
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Roger Federer marked his return to the French Open with a straight sets defeat of Uzbekistan qualifier Denis Istomin on Monday with "the measuring stick" remaining a delayed assault on a ninth Wimbledon title.
The 39-year-old Federer, the champion in Paris in 2009 but playing the event for only the second time since 2015, won 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 over 204th-ranked Istomin.
It was his eighth win in eight meetings with the Uzbek and gave him a second round clash against Marin Cilic, another familiar foe he has met 10 times.
Federer, who skipped the 2020 French Open, was playing just his fourth match of 2021 and first at a Slam since losing to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-finals last year, 487 days ago.
The need to recover from two knee surgeries plus the suspension of the tour due to the pandemic - which also saw Wimbledon cancelled - kept Federer sidelined until Qatar in March this year where he won one match.
He then stayed off tour until Geneva earlier this month where he lost first up to Pablo Andujar.
"The light at the end of the tunnel or the measuring stick was always can I come back to a good level against good players. I hope Wimbledon is going to be that place.
"Maybe there's going to be even something here in Paris. We'll see," said Federer who made the semi-finals on his last appearance in Paris in 2019.
He certainly looked the part on Monday, blasting 48 winners past Istomin without facing a single break point.
"I'll just be happy that I get another opportunity to play (at Wimbledon). So I hope I can stay healthy from now on forward.
"I'm quite confident that's going to stay that way. I've also been getting better every month that went by, which has been really positive. I didn't have any setbacks in a year."
However, he admitted there was still a degree of frustration: "It's been really slow progress. I can't deny the fact."
Federer, who is currently locked on 20 Grand Slam titles with Rafael Nadal, repeated that he still plans to play the Olympics in Tokyo but is "waiting to see how things are going to develop the next couple of weeks and month".
"I feel two ways. I would love to play. I wish things were better around the world that we wouldn't even have to debate the thought of is it going to happen, am I going to play or not.
"My wish and hope and dream is that I can play it. But it needs to make sense for me, my team, my family, my country."
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Bollywood today boasts of several filmmakers who engage with Indian politics in a variety of ways. While some like Anurag Kashyap, Tigmanshu Dhulia, and Vishal Bhardwaj choose to do it subversively, directors like Subash Kapoor and Prakash Jha follow a more knuckle-first approach, tackling Indian politics through its literalities.
Of the two, the former has undergone a curious transformation over his decade-long career. With his new show Maharani, Subhash continues to see politics through the red-hot lens of sensationalism and exaggeration, with a recently acquired fondness for the stories of the lower castes.
Subhash's last two creations are a marked shift in terms of his politics, as they go searching for the life-affirming amidst the grimly unpromising. It could be down to a director growing beyond his journalistic instincts or merely a tactical shift in siding with the margins for the purpose of appeasement.
Subhash came in from the cold with Say Salaam India, a two-fold soft exercise in nation appeasement bringing together the two things Indians love the most – an underdog story and cricket. The unremarkable film was followed up by the breakthroughPhas Gaye Re Obama (2010),a satirical comedy of errors that managed to connect India’s sense of desperation with the global economic recession of 2008. Shouldered by terrific actors like Rajat Kapoor, Amit Sial, and Sanjay Mishra, the film written by Subhash was coarse and earthy in its portrayal of Uttar Pradesh and its people. Born and brought up in Eastern UP, Subhash’s familiarity with the geography, and its many caste and cultural complexities, shined through this ensemble piece that despite its moderate technical accomplishments, remains eminently watchable till date.
In 2013, Subhash madeJolly LLB (2013), perhaps the definitive moment in his filming career. Taking a small-time lawyer (Jolly) to the high-stakes corridors of Delhi High Court, and transforming him from opportunistic pest to reawakened social warrior, Subhash, though resigned to the system, also presented a way of fighting it – again through the individual. The film, a thrilling, yet comical take on the farce that is the Indian judiciary also gets its teeth into the rich and the elite. It was a marked shift from the defamation of rural India to the takedown of the well-heeled.
His next was the watchable but messy Guddu Rangeela (2015) that signalled at a hangover from Phas Gaye Re Obama. His next, would be the sequel to Jolly LLB, fronted by the man who cannot let a moralistic ode go by without poking the acting nose in it. That said, Akshay Kumar’s comedic chops can rarely be criticised. This second film, for all its borrowed energy and déjà vus, remains watchable.
Now, before we look at what Subhash made next, we must also look back at how the director’s life publically came apart in 2014. Accussed by actress Geetika Tyagi of rape and molestation, and videotaped being slapped by her in a video that went viral, Subhash's public image took a massive beating.All of his subsequent projects have since been through the moral scrutiny of people who remember that episode. Herein lies the crucial connection, maybe, to Subhash’s last two projectsMadam Chief MinisterandMaharani, both of which came out this year.
Two projects, that look at two lower-caste women, who became significant political figures in India's history. One through ambition and the other through chance. Loosely modelled on Mayawati and Rabri Devi, both projects do a decent job of excavating Dalit politics and portraying their suffering. Yet they are marred, somewhat, by Subhash's sense of grandiosity, his over-the-top filing of political character that leaves the boundary between reality and imagination so blurred you cannot tell what is realistic and what is not. There is the obvious explanation that in order to excite and entertain, Subhash overdoes the bits where he can bring in some grace, some life-affirming etiquette. Granted these are stories about India’s rough corners, no man or woman seems to want to take up the mantle of decency and dignity. Maybe. to Subhash's glee, that is the sad truth.
Subhash's recent projects suggest he has, to an extent, internalised the fallouts of the allegations against him. He seems determined to unearth the heroes in women that the public has already evaluated one way or the other. While these are interesting stories to explore, it also indicates a tactical shift, a clear-up act of Subhash's image that continues to trail him.
All that said, Subhash's grasp of the hinterland and his ability to extract drama from local dialects alone is incomparable to many. With that, Subhash is also helping familiarise, however dramatically, India’s urban dwellers with a side of politics they neither engage with nor understand. Whatever the calculated intent behind this recent focus on forgotten women politicians, the results, the excessiveness withstanding, are largely positive, both in terms of education and entertainment.
Maharani is streaming on SonyLIV.
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Barcelona: Sergio Aguero said on Monday that he was hoping to have the "pleasure" of playing alongside Lionel Messi after signing a two-year deal with Barcelona.
Aguero will become a Barca player once his contract with Manchester City expires at the end of June, bringing an end to a decade at the Premier League champions, and his new team have slapped a €100-million ($122 million) buy-out clause on the 32-year-old.
However, he is still not sure that Messi will be his teammate next season as the club captain is yet to sign an extension to his current contract which expires next month.
"Let's hope we play together ... what happens with Leo is down to decisions that he will make with the club," Aguero told reporters at the Camp Nou after he was unveiled on the famous pitch.
"Obviously it will be a pleasure if we play together. If he continues here, which I think he will, we will try to do our best for the club as he always has done."
Barca will hope Aguero's arrival in Catalonia helps to convince his friend and fellow Argentine Messi to stay, as the club faces up to declining performances on the pitch and a worrying financial situation.
Ronald Koeman's side finished third in LaLiga this past season and have debts of €1.2 billion ($1.46 billion).
They were knocked out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage by Paris Saint-Germain, and could yet face sanctions from UEFA for refusing to back out of the short-lived European Super League project.
Last week, club president Joan Laporta said that talks for Messi's new contract were "going well", and on Monday insisted that Aguero's signing was part of a broader Barca rebuild.
"The signing of Aguero is for Aguero. We want to build a competitive team and obviously we also want Leo to stay, we have already told him this," Laporta said.
Aguero's signing for Barca comes two days after he missed out on winning the Champions League with City, Pep Guardiola's side losing this season's final to Chelsea at the end of a season disrupted by injury.
His final appearance for City was as a substitute for Raheem Sterling late in the final in Porto as the newly-crowned Premier League champions tried in vain to win Europe's top prize for the first time.
He leaves City as their all-time record goal-scorer with 260 goals, and with the most goals scored for a single club in Premier League history — 184 goals in 275 appearances.
"Leaving aside last season, I had nine very good years at City," said Aguero.
"A knee issue kept me out for a few months, I recovered, I got Covid ... but in the last four months I've felt very good physically."
His move to Barcelona had been long in the offing, with Guardiola saying a week ago that he was close to a deal with the Catalan giants.
He will participate in this year's Copa America, which on Monday was moved from Colombia and his home country Argentina to Brazil.
"If they have made that decision it is because things are not going well in Argentina, there have been a lot of infections over the last few days and many deaths. I think it was a good decision," said Aguero.
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French Tennis Federation (FFT) president Gilles Moretton took a seat in the press conference room in Paris on Monday. Neatly dressed in a white shirt and black blazer, he read out a statement in French, then English and made way for the exit door. 85 words in English and 94 in French for a combined less than five minutes. Surprisingly, he took no questions from the media joining in virtually – even those on site. The irony wasn’t lost on anyone.
On Sunday – day 1 of the second major of the year - Naomi Osaka took court and won in straight sets over Patricia Maria Tig at the French Open. Thereafter, she skipped the mandatory press conference – as she said she would. Not long after, Roland Garros authorities fined her $15,000 as per the code of conduct. The statement, signed by Tennis Australia, FFT, All England Club, and United States Tennis Association, threatened bigger fines, default, and suspensions from future Grand Slams if she continued to miss her contractual obligations.
On Monday, in a social media post, Osaka stated she was pulling out from the tournament. “I think now the best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focussing on the tennis going on in Paris. I never wanted to be a distraction and I accept that my timing was not ideal and my message could have been clearer,” Osaka wrote. “More important I would never trivialize mental health or use the term lightly. The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018 and I have had a really hard time coping with that.”
She explained her thought process over deciding to skip media interactions. “So here in Paris I was already feeling vulnerable and anxious so I thought it was better to exercise self-care and skip the press conferences. I announced it pre-emptively because I do feel like the rules are quite outdated in parts and I wanted to highlight that. I wrote privately to the tournament apologising and saying that I would be more than happy to speak with them after the tournament as the slams are intense.”
The final paragraph said she would take time off court which could very well result in her skipping Wimbledon which gets underway on 28 June. The Japanese player hasn’t made it past the third round of either the French Open or Wimbledon while winning twice at the US Open and Australian Open each.
Osaka’s decision to withdraw from the French Open and possibly skip Wimbledon is not good news for a sport that is still reeling from COVID-19 induced financial strain. Moreover, this strong-arming, near-bullying, and menacing statement by all four Slams hampers one of the most charismatic players the sport has seen recently over… press conferences? Bear in mind, the 23-year-old didn’t go for a blanket ban. She spoke to Fabrice Santoro courtside and took a few queries off-court from Japanese outlet Wowow.
Naomi isn’t your entitled, showboat-y, overconfident star. She keeps her head down, wears headphones while entering the court, and has been shy when the limelight has been on her. And yet she has shone when seeking change.
Last year, she pulled out of the Western & Southern Open to draw attention towards police brutality against Black people following the shooting of Jacob Blake. The tournament buckled under growing pressure and suspended play for a day. And at the US Open, which she won, she had names of Black people who died due to police brutality on her masks. In Paris, she wanted to highlight the mental health concerns and the need to avoid press conferences, if required.
“If the organisations think they can keep saying, ‘do press or you’re going to get fined,’ and continue to ignore the mental health of the athletes that are the centerpiece of their cooperation then I just gotta laugh,” Osaka, a four-time major winner, wrote.
To further highlight that her heart was in the right place, she said the funds from fines collected be donated to a charity dedicated to mental health. Except, the Slams were having none of it.
You shouldnt ever have to make a decison like this-but so damn impressive taking the high road when the powers that be dont protect their own. major respect @naomiosakahttps://t.co/OcRd95MqCn
"We have advised Naomi Osaka that should she continue to ignore her media obligations during the tournament, she would be exposing herself to possible further Code of Conduct infringement consequences. As might be expected, repeat violations attract tougher sanctions including default from the tournament (Code of Conduct article III T.) and the trigger of a major offence investigation that could lead to more substantial fines and future Grand Slam suspensions (Code of Conduct article IV A.3.)," read the statement.
"We want to underline that rules are in place to ensure all players are treated exactly the same, no matter their stature, beliefs, or achievement. As a sport, there is nothing more important than ensuring no player has an unfair advantage over another, which unfortunately is the case in this situation if one player refuses to dedicate time to participate in media commitments while the others all honour their commitments," it added.
To lump Osaka’s desire to skip press conferences over her mental health and well-being with a Novak Djokovic, after being defaulted, is a gross miscalculation by the FFT. When something as complex as mental health needed to be treated with kid gloves and empathy, the organisers’ heavy-handed approach made things significantly worse.
This tweet, now deleted, took a dig on Naomi Osaka for declining to engage with press. Is this how you address a mental health concern @rolandgarros ?
You are nothing but one giant bully. And I bet you'd have tweeted praises had a top white male player said the same thing. Shame! pic.twitter.com/Oh2cd14E4D
An example of their brash approach came to the fore in a now-deleted tweet with the caption of “They understood the assignment” alongside images of Kei Nishikori, Aryna Sabalenka, Rafael Nadal, and Coco Gauff.
Moretton’s statement on Monday highlighted how far the tournaments and tours have to go in dealing with mental health. “First and foremost, we are sorry and sad for Naomi Osaka. The outcome of Naomi withdrawing from Roland-Garros is unfortunate. We wish her the best and the quickest possible recovery, and we look forward to having Naomi at our Tournament next year,” he said. “Recovery” as if she was dealing with a twisted ankle injury. On an issue that needed to be dealt with smartly and cautiously, the organisers royally dropped the ball and no one comes out looking pretty.
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When Covid-19 overwhelmed Argentina too badly to host the South American football championships, officials decided to move the tournament to pandemic-battered Brazil of all places, drawing criticism from epidemiologists and a flurry of jokes.
Already forced to delay the Copa America by a year, organisers are struggling to pull off the world's oldest running international football competition in a region still reeling from Covid-19 and - in the case of original co-hosts Colombia - violent unrest.
With its huge economy and wealth of stadiums from the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, Brazil looked in some ways like a good last-minute fix after officials pulled the plug Sunday on would-be hosts Argentina two weeks from kickoff on 13 June.
But there is one glaring problem with Monday's announcement that Brazil would step in: Covid-19 is devastating the country, where the death toll stands at more than 460,000, second only to the United States.
And experts warn a third wave is coming.
"An event of that size moves countless people, even if the matches are held in empty stadiums. And moving people increases the spread of the virus. It's going to contribute to a new flare-up," said infectious disease specialist Jose David Urbaez, of Brasilia's pandemic response committee.
"The tournament should have been cancelled, full stop," he told AFP.
'Championship of death'
The news quickly turned political in a Brazil deeply divided over far-right President Jair Bolsonaro's unorthodox pandemic response.
Bolsonaro has fought lockdowns, snubbed face masks and refused offers of vaccines, instead touting ineffective medications such as chloroquine against Covid-19.
When the South American Football Confederation, Conmebol, thanked him for "opening his country's doors" to the tournament, critics pounced.
It will be the "championship of death," said Senator Renan Calheiros, rapporteur of a Senate commission investigating accusations of criminal negligence in the government's pandemic management.
"Offers of vaccines sat gathering mold in officials' drawers, but the tournament got a speedy OK. Ridiculous," he wrote on Twitter.
The deputy chair of the investigative commission, opposition Senator Randolfe Rodrigues, said the head of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Rogerio Caboclo, should be called to testify on "what safety measures have been planned to guarantee Brazilians' safety" during the tournament.
Another opposition lawmaker, Congressman Julio Delgado, vowed to go to the Supreme Court to block the tournament.
At least three governors in states tipped as likely hosts of matches have already said they would refuse because of the health situation.
But Vice President Hamilton Mourao argued there would be less risk holding the tournament in Brazil than Argentina.
Mascot: 'Little Covid'
Football-mad Brazil has mostly been holding matches without fans, though several hundred were allowed in for the Copa Libertadores final in Rio de Janeiro in January.
The Copa America was due to be held in empty stadiums if Argentina and Colombia had hosted. But speculation swirled that Conmebol would try to hold at least the final with fans present in Brazil.
The Covid-19 curve in Brazil has declined recently, from a weekly average of more than 3,000 deaths a day in April to about 1,800 last week.
But the country remains one of those hit hardest. Experts say state and local officials lifted restrictions too soon, with just 11 percent of Brazil's 212 million people fully vaccinated.
They warn rising infections and hospital occupancy rates indicate a new surge is coming.
Hosting the Copa America now is "reckless," said epidemiologist Pedro Hallal of the Federal University of Pelotas.
"Many other countries... have the pandemic much more under control. It's hard to understand where this decision came from," he said.
Social media wits were quick to upload a flood of jokes.
"Suggestions for the Copa America mascot? How about 'Little Covid'?" quipped sports commentator Alexandre Lozetti on Twitter.
Sugestões de mascote para a Copa América no Brasil? Que tal Covidinho?
Osaka said she had decided against taking part in any media activity to safeguard her mental health.
Moretton had said on the eve of the tournament that Osaka's decision not to attend mandatory press conferences was a "phenomenal error".
"We wish her the best and the quickest possible recovery," Moretton added as he read out a prepared statement without taking questions.
"We look forward to having Naomi in our tournament next year.
"As all the Grand Slams, the WTA, the ATP, and the ITF, we remain very committed to all athletes' well-being and to continually improving every aspect of players' experience in our tournament, including with the media, like we have always strived to do."
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Serena Williams said she "feels for" Naomi Osaka and has also experienced "very difficult" press conferences in her career after her rival's shock withdrawal from the French Open on Monday.
Japanese star Osaka pulled out of the tournament after being threatened with disqualification for declining to speak to the media, saying she suffers from "bouts of depression".
Williams, who famously lost to Osaka in the controversial 2018 US Open final, said she sympathises with Osaka.
"The only thing I feel is that I feel for Naomi. I feel like I wish I could give her a hug because I know what it's like," said the 39-year-old, after her first-round 7-6 (8/6), 6-2 win over Irina-Camelia Begu in the first ever night match at Roland Garros.
"We have different personalities, and people are different. Not everyone is the same. I'm thick. Other people are thin.
"Everyone is different and everyone handles things differently. You just have to let her handle it the way she wants to...
"I've been where I've been very difficult to walk in (to press conferences) in those moments. But, you know, it made me stronger."
Williams, seeded seventh this year, saved two set points in a first-set tie-break as she started her latest bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title.
Williams, who has lost four major finals since her last Slam success at the 2017 Australian Open, will take on Begu's compatriot Mihaela Buzarnescu in the second round.
"It wasn't easy in that first set. I was up and I felt like I had some opportunities. She's a really good player, she's had some really good wins so I was really happy I was able to get that first set and the match," said the three-time Roland Garros champion.
The first official night match under the lights on Court Philippe Chatrier was played behind closed doors due to a 9pm curfew imposed by the French government due to Covid-19.
Williams, who had suffered early defeats in both Roma and Parma earlier this month, improved as the match progressed.
Begu fought back from 5-2 down in the opening set, but failed to serve it out when leading 6-5 and then saw two set points come and go when leading the breaker 6-4.
Williams needed only one opportunity, driving a forehand volley into the corner to take control.
The former world number one strengthened her grip on the tie by breaking 74th-ranked Begu in the first game of the second set.
She moved through the gears on her own serve from there and broke again in the seventh game before wrapping up victory after an hour and 42 minutes.
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Paris: Naomi Osaka stunned tennis on Monday when she withdrew from the French Open after refusing to hold press conferences during the tournament.
Here, AFP Sport looks at some of the reactions to the announcement, in which Osaka said she has suffered from "bouts of depression" for nearly three years:
"The truth is I have suffered bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018 and I have had a really hard time coping with that," Osaka says she has struggled since her maiden Grand Slam win.
"In Paris, I was already feeling vulnerable and anxious so I thought it was better to exercise self-care and skip the press conferences," the world number two explained why she wanted to avoid the usual media obligations. "The only thing I feel is that I feel for Naomi. I feel like I wish I could give her a hug because I know what it's like," said former world number one Serena Williams.
"I am so sad about Naomi Osaka. I truly hope she will be ok. As athletes we are taught to take care of our body, and perhaps the mental & emotional aspect gets short shrift. This is about more than doing or not doing a press conference. Good luck Naomi- we are all pulling for you!" 18-time Grand Slam singles winner Martina Navratilova responds to the news on Twitter.
I am so sad about Naomi Osaka.I truly hope she will be ok. As athletes we are taught to take care of our body, and perhaps the mental & emotional aspect gets short shrift. This is about more than doing or not doing a press conference. Good luck Naomi- we are all pulling for you! — Martina Navratilova (@Martina) May 31, 2021
"We are sorry and sad for Naomi Osaka that she has withdrawn from the tournament."
—French tennis federation president Gilles Moretton.
"Stay strong. I admire your vulnerability," teenage American player Coco Gauff.
"I respect her decision. I respect what she does. I can't really comment on that. I feel like everyone's dealing with their own stuff," American fourth seed Sofia Kenin. "You shouldnt ever have to make a decison like this-but so damn impressive taking the high road when the powers that be dont protect their own. major respect @naomiosaka," NBA star Stephen Curry on Twitter.
You shouldnt ever have to make a decison like this-but so damn impressive taking the high road when the powers that be dont protect their own. major respect @naomiosakahttps://t.co/OcRd95MqCn — Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) May 31, 2021
"The challenge today is to convince people of the value of truth, honesty, compassion and a concern for others," two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka.
"Mental Health is nothing to criticize. Nothing to joke about. Pls take your mental health seriously. Without my support system, I truly believe I would not be here today. Here for you @naomiosaka," former top-10 ATP player Mardy Fish.
Mental Health is nothing to criticize. Nothing to joke about. Pls take your mental health seriously. Without my support system, I truly believe I would not be here today. Here for you @naomiosakahttps://t.co/8UdJexQPVj
"Everyone talks about mental health after someone commits suicide but ridicules everyone who tries to protect their mental health. You are strong for standing up and speaking out and even giving up the game you love to protect your mental health. I salute you young queen," West Indies cricket international Carlos Brathwaite.
Everyone talks about mental health after someone commits suicide but ridicules everyone who tries to protect their mental health. You are strong for standing up and speaking out and even giving up the game you love to protect your mental health. I salute you young queen 👸🏾 https://t.co/Anhz8DWtla — Carlos Brathwaite (@TridentSportsX) May 31, 2021
"Just a question for the tennis authorities — is it better for your sport to have Naomi Osaka playing and not speaking to the media or not playing at all?" Stan Van Gundy, head coach of NBA team the New Orleans Pelicans.
from Firstpost Sports Latest News https://ift.tt/3p80SDP
Director-stuntman Buddy Van Horn who often doubled for American actor Clint Eastwood has passed away at the age of 92. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he is survived by wife Konne and their daughters Erika and Jennifer along with his five grandchildren.
Van Horn directed three films in his lifetime, all starring Eastwood. These films are the 1980 movie Any Which Way You Can, The Dead Pool released in 1988 and the 1989 film Pink Cadillac.
Speaking about Eastwood, in a 2011 interview with The Independent, Van Horn had said that the actor liked doing some of his own stunts. Van Horn also said that he had tried to talk Eastwood out of doing his own stunts but was not successful most of the time. The stunt double had said, “He went and did ’em anyway, several of ’em. He’s been banged up a few times.”
People reported that an obituary was published for the veteran stunt double in the Los Angeles Times which says that he died on 11 May. Van Horn worked as a stunt coordinator with Eastwood’s company Malpaso for around 44 years.
A highlight of his career was being the stunt double for Guy William in the 39 episodes of Disney’s Zorro. The stuntman was able to use his equestrian skills and fencing.
Another prominent role of Van Horn’s career was his appearance in the 1973 film High Plains Drifter, reported Deadline. He played the role of Marshal Jim Duncan in the film and was also the stunt coordinator.
According to the publication, he worked as a stunt double in films that were released in the recent past like the 2000 film Space Cowboys, 2004 movie Million Dollar Baby and 2008 film Gran Torino.
He has also worked as a stunt coordinator in movies like Enforcer, The Gauntlet and Sudden Impact. Van Horn was also a second unit director on The Rookie and Magnum Force.
from Firstpost Bollywood Latest News https://ift.tt/3fVD7uM
For many independent musicians in India, life has looked drastically different after the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Before, they relied almost entirely on live gigs to earn a livelihood. Streaming websites contribute very little to their incomes, unless they are extremely popular; most use platforms like Spotify as a promotional tool. Now, after the passage of 15 months and the imposition of several lockdowns, their future remains uncertain. Clubs and other performance venues shut abruptly, then opened months later, only to shut again as the second wave of the pandemic struck. The result is that these artists lost their biggest source of revenue.
In the absence of any state-backed unemployment support scheme for self-employed individuals, these musicians were left to fend for themselves. In 2020, in a feeble attempt to address the crisis, the Indian Performing Rights Society (IPRS) — a representative body of artists, music owners, composers, lyricists, and publishers of music responsible for collecting royalties on behalf of artists — announced a small grant for its members during the lockdown. Recently, the organisation announced a similar one-time special relief fund of Rs 7,500 for its members to address the growing financial insecurity among artists in aftermath of the second wave of the coronavirus in the country. Music composers and author members of the IPRS who had earned less than Rs 1 lakh in royalties between April 2020 and March 2021 are eligible for the grant. But since the IPRS is largely dominated by artists who work in the Hindi film industry, most independent musicians do not have access to this fund.
An inherently unsustainable career path
In an interview with Firstpost, Indian Idol contestant-turned-playback singer Bhavya Pandit shared that she had made some ill-timed investments around the announcement of the first lockdown. "I thought I would be able to recover the money through live gigs, but that did not happen. The reality of my situation hit me hard when the time came to pay rent for the second consecutive month and I had no money. I was depressed for a long time before I started looking for other sources of income,” she says.
Without any financial support from the government or private organisations like the IPRS, independent musicians had to extensively diversify their portfolios to earn a living. “Many musicians, including me, had to leave Mumbai at the start of the lockdown because staying in the city was no longer sustainable. I started to teach vocals, music composition and arrangement to earn a living. Additionally, I have also started giving background scores for independent films and short films, so that’s how I coped,” says Aditi Ramesh, a musician-vocalist and one of the founders of the dynamic Mumbai-based band Ladies Compartment.
Artists also started performing on live streams for free to sustain their audiences’ interest in their work, but this necessitated investing in high-quality equipment, which further added to their financial woes. The absence of such equipment, as well as other resources such as high-speed internet and a strong social media presence, meant that some lacked the basic means to diversify and find alternative sources of income within the industry.
“As a musician, the lockdown was extremely tough. Even before the pandemic, due to the political nature of my songs, I struggled to generate an income through gigs. But once the lockdown was announced, I had to abandon music entirely and move back to my village. Now I spend most of my time farming alongside my father,” says Deepak Peace, an independent musician based in Pune.
A few private individuals and companies like ArtUnites and SkillBox attempted to support artists either by providing high-quality equipment on rent for live concerts or by creating platforms where online live performances could be ticketed. But much of these initiatives were either a result of isolated acts of kindness or were entrepreneurial endeavours aimed at generating a profit.
The unorganised 'meritocracy'
The dominant feeling underpinning much of the independent music scene remains: if you are talented, you will eventually succeed. The status quo is perceived as the industry’s tough but fair meritocracy. While some artists might acknowledge that their privilege accruing from their caste-class status gives them an advantage in the initial days, they continue to believe that with the right combination of talent and hustle, anyone can succeed.
Thanks to the internet, and the aforementioned belief about talent and hard work, more and more individuals are trying their luck at launching a successful DIY musical career. Most work in isolation away from their peers, competing over a small pool of resources even as the top earners — a small minority within this group — continue to rake in unprecedented profits. As a result, musicians from marginalised backgrounds — bereft of the necessary cultural, social and financial capital needed to sustain their musical journeys — are left to fend for themselves.
In a study on the working conditions of independent artists, entertainment lawyer Manojna Yeluri argued that irregular and delayed payment schedules, a paucity of performance venues, irresponsible creative sharing (intellectual property and credit-related legal issues) and a lack of solidarity among artists have rendered them vulnerable to exploitation. In other words, musicians were already grappling with numerous challenges before the coronavirus pandemic drastically altered the scene.
Further, unlike the musicians in the Hindi film industry, artists in the independent scene continue to remain fairly unorganised.
The absence of a formal collective or union has to a great extent prevented independent musicians from forging bonds based on mutual interests and from holding stakeholders like venues, organisers and agencies accountable.
The need for solidarity
In a survey conducted by Firstpost, 16 out of 20 independent musicians acknowledged the need for a collective or union to address the growing insecurity plaguing the field. “If artists start focusing on what they have in common rather than focusing on things that set them apart, we will be able to come together. Today, in every state, you will at least find one successful independent musician who has the potential to bring other artists in their region together. A centralised collective of musicians, therefore, is possible, and can act as a platform for knowledge and resource sharing,” says Aditi Ramesh.
Similarly, singer-songwriter Maalavika Manoj, popularly known by her stage name Mali, also emphasised the need for more established artists to lead future initiatives to collectivise. “A musicians’ collective can certainly help artists hold powerful stakeholders in the field accountable for their actions, but any collective or union in India can only be effective if popular artists join the effort. The solidarity among only three-and-a-half independent artists will hardly help the scene,” she remarks.
Most musicians accept that greater solidarity among artists is required to transform the scene from one that has traditionally been dominated by a privileged few into a more equal space. However, many remain sceptical about the scene’s potential for change. “To put up a fight (for better working conditions), a musician has to be madly committed to the cause. In India, however, most musicians don’t even know if they will continue making music two or three years down the line. Most young musicians are given a year or two by their families to prove that they can make money through music. So for most of them, it is about survival; things like artistic integrity and solidarity with fellow musicians take a backseat,” says Abhay Sharma, one of the co-founders of the Delhi-based jazz band The Revisit Project.
In an interview with Firstpost, Sahib Singh, the founder of the Carnatic band Jatayu, said that for long, the competition between artists over limited spots and venues made it easier for organisers to exploit musicians, thereby cutting costs. “It also festered animosity among artists which prevented them from coming together. But things are changing; artists are becoming increasingly supportive of each other,” he says.
The promising potential of collectivisation
The pandemic has encouraged artists across the world to record their experiences and hold governments and big corporations accountable for their actions. For instance, the UK-based Musicians’ Union conducted in-depth interviews of thousands of musicians all across the country in 2020 for the research titled The Working Musician, to provide sound evidentiary grounds for future policy-making and civil society activism. The study highlighted that despite working multiple jobs, one in three musicians earned between £10,000-£20,000, with their earnings remaining static over time. To place these figures in context, the starting salary of a public school teacher in the UK is £21,000. Additionally, the group successfully ran the campaign #InvestInMusicians last year, which helped extend the Self-Employment Income Support (SIESS) grant by several months, as well as increased the funds going into the Culture Recovery Fund in the UK.
In another show of solidarity, the US-based Union of Musicians and Allied Workers (UMAW) organised worldwide demonstrations outside Spotify offices on 15 March, as part of its Justice At Spotify campaign, with the demand that artists should be paid at least one cent per stream — effectively scrapping the current system of revenue distribution in which artists need around 250 streams to generate a dollar. In response, Spotify launched the website Loud and Clear to bring in increased transparency about their streaming royalties model. While the artists’ demands are yet to be met, they remain determined in their fight for fair royalty payments.
In India, musicians, lawyers and music journalists are also coming together to raise awareness among independent musicians about their rights and entitlements. Music journalist Amit Gurbaxani observed: “Last year, during the lockdown, many individuals within the field started to discuss the possibility of having some form of collective or union to address the issues of independent musicians and other workers in the field. These discussions, so far, have resulted in many resource-sharing portals.” Such resource-sharing endeavours are, however, plagued by a top-down approach adopted for information dissemination, which remains a concern — even among some of their creators.
Platforms like Indie Music Allies, ArtistikLicense and Songdewnetwork on Instagram and Lex Talk Music on Spotify are sharing knowledge on a range of topics, starting from copyright infringement and licensing, to tips on managing one's mental health in an attempt to fill several gaps in knowledge that frequently render musicians vulnerable to exploitation. While these platforms do not function as formal collectives or unions, they are all aiming towards generating greater solidarity among artists.
The activities of the Musician’s Union, UMAW or even the resource sharing platforms in India, show the promising potential of collectivisation for independent musicians. As complex and fraught with challenges the process may be, without collective action geared towards creating a just industry, the independent music scene in India will remain closed off to diverse voices, allowing only a select few to thrive.
from Firstpost Bollywood Latest News https://ift.tt/34Dar4p
Lausanne: Arsenal's Granit Xhaka and Liverpool's Xherdan Shaqiri headed up the final 26-man Euro 2020 squad announced by Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic on Monday.
But there was no place in the squad for Brighton striker Andi Zeqiri, the goalkeeper Gregor Kobel who joined Dortmund on Monday and Nice midfielder Dan Ndoye, the trio that had been included in an extended first squad.
Switzerland kick off their tournament against Wales in Baku on 12 June before taking on Italy four days later and rounding off pool play against Turkey on 20 June.
The Euro, postponed a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, runs from 11 June to 11 July.
Swiss Euro 2020 squad
Goalkeepers (3): Yvon Mvogo (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Jonas Omlin (Montpellier/FRA), Yann Sommer (Borussia Moenchengladbach/GER)
Narita: Australia's softball team on Tuesday became the first athletes to land in Japan for the Olympics, in a major milestone for the pandemic-postponed Games, which continue to face controversy.
The "Aussie Spirit" squad touched down in Narita airport outside Tokyo along with their support staff and were immediately ushered off for coronavirus testing.
Sporting facemasks and wearing their green and gold uniforms, they were met by greeters sporting hats decorated with Olympic and Paralympic mascots. They waved to cameras and snapped selfies as they filled out paperwork before testing.
Everyone in the delegation have been vaccinated but they still faced testing before departure and on arrival, and will also be subject to stringent restrictions during their stay.
The arrival will be a boost for organisers who are battling persistent public opposition and doubts about whether the Games can, or should go ahead.
Much of Japan, including Tokyo, is under a virus state of emergency, and polls largely show a majority of Japanese want the Games further delayed or cancelled altogether.
But organisers say detailed virus rulebooks will keep participants and the public safe and note that around 80 percent of those in the Olympic Village will be vaccinated.
Australia's softball team said they were prepared for the rules and happy to be getting back to play after pandemic disruption. For some, Tokyo 2020 could be their last shot at Olympic glory, with softball not featuring at Paris 2024.
"We know it's going to be a bit of a long trip over, we know we're going to go through lots and lots of Covid testing," said player Jade Wall, as the squad prepared to leave Sydney.
"But look, we're all prepared for it, we want to do everything that we can to make sure that we're safe when we get there and we're safe while we're in Japan as well."
Vaccines for Japan athletes
The team will head from the airport straight to their training base in Ota city, around 100 kilometres (about 60 miles) north of Tokyo.
The rules will be strict. No family members are allowed, with just 10 staff members travelling with the squad.
And the entire delegation will be kept to a single hotel floor for sleeping, eating and working out at the gym.
"The only reason why (they) would be leaving the hotel is to go to the ballpark and back. They will be having less daily contact with the public than they would in Australia," Softball Australia CEO David Pryles said.
But the trip is still a "huge" moment for the team, who had their Olympic preparations interrupted by the pandemic and have not played together since February 2020, he told AFP.
The squad will be playing local teams and winnowing down athletes to a 15-woman side before moving into the Olympic Village on 17 July.
Their first fixture— against the hosts— will kick off Olympic competition on 21 July, two days before the opening ceremony.
Many cities around Japan have scrapped training camps for Olympic athletes over virus fears.
But Ota's Mayor Masayoshi Shimizu told reporters on Monday that the city was proud to "offer support to show our friendship" and maintain long-running ties with Australia.
In another sign of momentum towards the Games, vaccinations of Japanese Olympic athletes begin later on Tuesday.
They'll be jumping the queue as Japan's comparatively slow vaccine rollout so far only applies to medical workers and the elderly.
Just over seven percent of people in Japan have so far received a first dose, with around 2.5 percent fully vaccinated, though the pace has picked up in recent days.
from Firstpost Sports Latest News https://ift.tt/3p8gjvJ
Paris: The pan-European format has been derided, the tournament postponed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, host cities have been dropped and matches moved, but Euro 2020 finally gets underway next week when Italy face Turkey in Rome on Friday, 11 June.
Following the unprecedented decision to postpone the competition in March last year at the start of the pandemic, the health crisis is not over and COVID-19 will continue to cast a shadow over this European Championship.
However, five years after Portugal overcame an injury to Cristiano Ronaldo to defeat France and win Euro 2016 in Paris, and three years after the French won the World Cup in Russia, anticipation in Europe is now building towards another major tournament summer.
There is no shortage of candidates among the 24 nations, not least France as they look to repeat their feat of two decades ago, when they followed winning the 1998 World Cup with victory at Euro 2000.
That this Euro is taking place in 11 cities across 11 different countries is down to a Frenchman— it was the "zany" idea of Michel Platini during his time as president of UEFA.
Venue changes, crowd limits
There were initially 13 host cities before Brussels was sidelined and before the pandemic intervened. In April, Dublin and Bilbao were dropped too.
Neither the Irish government nor authorities in the Basque Country were able to assure UEFA that fans could attend. Seville replaced Bilbao while Dublin's games went to London and Saint-Petersburg.
The remaining venues— Amsterdam, Baku, Bucharest, Budapest, Copenhagen, Glasgow, London, Munich, Rome, Saint-Petersburg and Seville— have all confirmed fans will be allowed to fill between 25 and 100 percent of capacity, with the exception of Munich, which said it aims to host at least 14,500 fans at the Allianz Arena.
The UEFA have insisted on having spectators despite ongoing challenges for governments, the different health situation from one country to the next and the threat of more contagious variants.
That is why Munich's mayor Dieter Reiter said in April there had been "no promises, of any kind, to guarantee spectators".
Despite it all, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has been bullish, insisting Euro 2020 will be safe.
"It will be the perfect opportunity to show the world that Europe is adapting. Europe is alive and celebrating life. Europe is back," he said recently.
However, no travel exemptions are necessarily being made for ticket-holders, meaning those entering countries from abroad could have to quarantine on arrival. They may simply not be allowed in at all. Fans who are able to get in will be assigned time slots to arrive at stadiums.
Croatia and the Czech Republic have abandoned plans to base themselves in Scotland because the Scottish government's coronavirus quarantine rules meant their entire squad risked having to isolate if one player tested positive.
Concerns over possible virus clusters led to UEFA allowing nations to name expanded squads of 26 players.
Fatigue after a long season may also impact on the quality of football, but competition for the title will be fierce.
The contenders
France have Karim Benzema back after a long international exile and they look a fearsome proposition as they target a tournament double.
"There are obviously big expectations after the success we have had and that is the aim of this squad, of this generation," coach Didier Deschamps told AFP recently.
An England side who have the carrot of knowing both semi-finals and the final will be played at home are a genuine threat, and then there are the usual contenders like Spain, Italy, Germany and Belgium, as well as a revitalised Netherlands.
There is also the holders. "For a long time now we have gone into tournaments not just to compete but to win," Portugal coach Fernando Santos told A Bola.
They won't be going into many more tournaments with Ronaldo, who is 36 now.
Portugal's group, also containing France and Germany as well as Hungary, will focus much attention in the first round, along with England's clash with Scotland at Wembley.
Scotland are just delighted to be at a major tournament for the first time in 23 years.
England, meanwhile, are yet again going into a summer dreaming of a first title since winning the 1966 World Cup at Wembley, where this year's final will take place on Sunday, 11 July.
from Firstpost Sports Latest News https://ift.tt/3i7FeOS
A new month amounts to the digital calendar brimming with new content, from horror and fantasy shows to psychological thrillers and action extravaganzas.
On Netflix, get ready to witness Dhanush as a nomadic gangster in Tamil-language action thriller Jagame Thandhiram, while on the other hand, Manoj Bajpayee's much loved show The Family Man in returning for the second season on Amazon Prime Video India.
We have dug deep into the abyss of OTT platforms to collate a comprehensive list of content that is available to stream on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, and MUBI among several others in June.
Netflix
Feel Good Season 2 - 2 June
The dramedy’s new season follows Mae (Mae Martin) as she attempts to salvage her relationship with her girlfriend and move on from her past after a relapse.
The official synopsis reads: "Mae and George's complicated love story continues as Mae struggles to come to terms with the ghosts from her past and George tries to reinvent her present. Can they grow together or will they grow apart?"
Also returning for the series are Lisa Kudrow, Philip Burgers, and Adrian Lukis, who will join new additions Jordan Stephens, John Ross Bowie, Eve, and Eleanor Matsuura.
Sweet Tooth -4 June
Netflix's comic book-inspired series, Sweet Tooth, is set in a post-apocalyptic world that sees babies born as half-human half-animal. The show follows Gus, a deer boy whose apocalyptic fairy tale takes him across the former US to meet the strange, wonderful, and not-so-wonderful remnants of society. The show is executive produced by Robert Downey Jr.
Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet - 4 June
Breaking Boundaries follows the scientific journey of world-renowned scientist Professor Johan Rockström. It tells the story of the most important scientific discovery of our time - that humanity has pushed Earth beyond the boundaries that have kept our planet stable for 10,000 years, since the dawn of civilisation. It is presented by David Attenborough.
Awake - 9 June
Starring Jane the Virgin actor Gina Rodriguez, this dystopian drama follows the aftermath of a global event that wipes out all electronics and takes away humankind’s ability to sleep, causing chaos to quickly consume the world. Only Jill, an ex-soldier with a troubled past, may hold the key to a cure in the form of her own daughter. The question is: can Jill safely deliver her daughter and save the world before she herself loses her mind?
Lupin Season 2 - 11 June
Netflix heist drama Lupin, based on Maurice Leblanc's Arsene Lupin; Gentleman Burglar novels, has been a major hit.
In the second part, Assane (played by Omar Sy) takes revenge to the next level. At the end of part one, Raoul (played by Etan Simon) was kidnapped by Leonard (played by Adama Niane). The new instalment picks right from there where he is ready to go to any extent to rescue his kid from the kidnappers.
The official synopsis given by Netflix says, “Assane's quest for revenge against Hubert Pellegrini has torn his family to pieces. With his back to the wall, he now has to think of a new plan, even if it means putting himself in danger”.
Wish Dragon - 4 June
Longing to reconnect with his childhood best friend, resourceful teen Din meets a charming wish-granting dragon who shows him the magic of possibilities. Constance Wu and Jimmy Wong have lent voices to the Sony Pictures animated film.
Trese - 4 June
In this anime show set in a Manila where mythical creatures of Philippine folklore hide amongst humans, Alexandra Trese goes head-to-head with a criminal underworld.
Skater Girl - 11 June
A teen in rural India of Rajasthan must fight against all odds to follow her dreams of becoming a skater and competing in the national championship. The Hindi film is directed by Manjari Makinjay, daughter of veteran actor Mac Mohan.
Jagame Thandhiram - 18 June
The one and only Dhanush stars in JAGAME THANDHIRAM, a gripping drama directed by Karthik Subbaraj.
The film, an epic story about a nomadic gangster who must choose between good and evil in a war for what one can truly call home, makes its worldwide debut on Netflix on June 18! pic.twitter.com/jwKXMaWLmP
The Tamil-language action thriller, directed by Karthik Subbaraj, revolves around Suruli (Dhanush), a nomadic gangster who has to choose between good and evil in a war for what one can truly call home. The film also features Aishwarya Lekshmi, Kalaiyarasan, and Joju George. It also marks the debut of actor James Cosmo, the Jeor Mormont of Game of Thrones. The film is produced by YNot Studios and Reliance Entertainment. Fatherhood - 18 June Kevin Hart sheds off his comedic chops to tap into the emotional, serious side of his acting. The film is based on the 2011 memoir Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss & Love by Matthew Logelin. It follows the story of Hart's character, a widowed new dad as he copes with doubts, fears, heartache, and dirty diapers when he sets out to raise his daughter on his own. Directed by Paul Weitz, the cast also includes Lil Rel Howery, DeWanda Wise, Anthony Carrigan, and Paul Reiser. Ray - 25 June Netflix's upcoming anthology will be based on Satyajit Ray’s short stories that centre on themes of "love, lust, betrayal and truth", Ray will explore "vulnerabilities and multiple shades of each character," said a press release. Manoj Bajpayee, Gajraj Rao, Ali Fazal, Shweta Basu Prasad, Anindita Bose, Kay Kay Menon, Bidita Bag, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Harshvarrdhan Kapoor, Radhika Madan, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Akansha Ranjan Kapoor will feature in Ray. Abhishek Chaubey, Srijit Mukherji and Vasan Bala are the directors onboard. Niren Bhatt and Siraj Ahmed have adapted the stories for the screen with Sayantan Mukherjee as showrunner. America: The Motion Picture - 30 June
Channing Tatum is George Washington! Olivia Munn is Thomas Edison! Other actors are other characters! Time to officially reveal the cast of AMERICA: THE MOTION PICTURE, crossing rivers to deliver you to a prosperous new horizon on June 30. pic.twitter.com/PWy1Yo62ms — NetflixFilm (@NetflixFilm) April 27, 2021
America: The Motion Picture, an animated feature comedy includes a star-studded cast like Channing Tatum, Jason Mantzoukas, Olivia Munn, Bobby Moynihan, Judy Greer, Will Forte, Raoul Max Trujillo, Killer Mike, Simon Pegg, and Andy Samberg.
The film sees George Washington assemble a team of famed agitators, including founding father Sam Adams, scientist Thomas Edison, horseman Paul Revere, in order to defeat Benedict Arnold and King James in the American Revolution. The film’s official synopsis describes it as a "wildly tongue-in-cheek animated revisionist history."
Amazon Prime Video
The Family Man Season 2
The new season of The Family Man sees the return of Manoj Bajpayee's character Srikant Tiwari, who continues to jostle between the duality of being a middle-class family man and a world-class spy trying to save the nation from an imminent attack. However, this season, Srikant will be pitted against a new, powerful, and brutal adversary named Raaji (Samantha Akkineni). Created and Produced by Raj and DK, the new season of The Family Man also stars Priyamani, Sharib Hashmi, Shreya Dhanwanthary, and Sunny Hinduja among others.
Newton director Amit Masukar’s Sherni will see Vidya Balan in the role of an upright Forest Officer who strives for balance in a world of man-animal conflict while she also seeks her true calling in a hostile environment.
Produced by T-Series & Abundantia Entertainment, Sherni also stars Sharad Saxena, Mukul Chaddha, Vijay Raaz, Ila Arun, Brijendra Kala, and Neeraj Kabi.
Mary Jane Blige documentary
An upcoming documentary on Grammy-winner Mary J Blige will release on Amazon Prime Video. The singer has won nine Grammy Awards, four American Music Awards, twelve Billboard Music Awards and has also received three Golden Globe Award nominations. Furthermore, she also received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Song, becoming the first person nominated for acting and songwriting in the same year.
Apple TV+
Lisey's Story - 4 June
Based on the best-selling novel by Stephen King, and adapted by the author himself, Lisey's Story is a thriller that follows Lisey Landon (Academy Award winner Julianne Moore) two years after the death of her husband, famous novelist Scott Landon (Academy Award nominee Clive Owen). A series of unsettling events causes Lisey to face memories of her marriage to Scott that she has deliberately blocked out of her mind.
An Apple Original limited series, Lisey's Story is directed by Pablo Larraín, and hails from JJ Abrams' Bad Robot Productions and Warner Bros Television. King, Moore, and Larraín executive produce alongside Abrams, Ben Stephenson, and Juan de Dios Larraín.
Home Before Dark Season 2 - 11 June
In the sophomore season of Home Before Dark, Brooklyn Prince returns as a young, investigative journalist Hilde Lisko, who is now set to tackle a powerful corporation. Jim Sturgess stars opposite Prince in the series, playing the young girl’s father. It is directed and executive produced by Jon M Chu.
Physical - 18 June
Set in the idyllic but fragile beach paradise of sunny 1980s San Diego, Physical is a half-hour dark comedy series following Sheila Rubin (played by Rose Byrne), a quietly tortured, seemingly dutiful housewife supporting her smart but controversial husband's bid for state assembly. But behind closed doors, Sheila has her own darkly funny take on life she rarely lets the world see.
In addition to Byrne, Physical also stars Rory Scovel, Dierdre Friel, Della Saba, Lou Taylor Pucci, Paul Sparks, and Ashley Liao.
The first three episodes of Physical will premiere on 18 June.
Disney+ Hotstar Premium
Loki
Tom Hiddleston returns to portray the God of Mischief alongside Owen Wilson, who plays Mobius M Mobius. The series takes place after the events of the film Avengers: Endgame (2019), where Loki escapes with the Tesseract but is caught by the TVA (Time Variance Authority).
Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sophia Di Martino, Wunmi Mosaku, and Richard E Grant also star in the series directed by Kate Herron and written by Michael Waldron.
Loki releases will be available in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.
Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted
In the National Geographic series Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, chef Gordon Ramsay journeys to some of the most incredible and remote locations on Earth in search of culinary inspiration, epic adventures, and cultural experiences he will never forget.
Luca - 18 June
Disney Pixar's Luca follows two boys — titular character Luca (Jacob Tremblay) and Alberto (Jack Dylan Glazer) — emerging from the sea and then turning into humans. Subsequently, they enjoy a memorable ‘human’ summer in a fictional quaint town called Portorosso on the Italian Riviera. It is directed by Enrico Casarosa.
MUBI
Shiva Baby - 11 June
Shiva Baby is an absurd Jewish comedy about a college student who runs into both her sugar daddy and her ex-girlfriend at a family funeral. The feature directorial debut of writer/director Emma Seligman, Shiva Baby premiered at the 2020 SXSW Film Festival.
ZEE5
Sunflower - 11 June
Actors Sunil Grover, Ranvir Shorey, Ashish Vidyarthi, Mukul Chadda and Girish Kulkarni have teamed up for ZEE5 Original web series Sunflower. Directed by Vikas Bahl, the series is a whodunit revolving around a housing society by the same name, and its interesting residents.
BookMyShow Stream
Those Who Wish Me Dead -10 June
Helmed by Taylor Sheridan, Those Who Wish Me Dead follows Hannah (Angelina Jolie), a smoke jumper fighting off the wildfires in the northern wilderness of Montana. Along the line, she encounters a terrified boy named Connor, who is followed by a pair of killers. The film also stars Nicholas Hoult, Aidan Gillen, Jon Bernthal, Tyler Perry, Jake Weber, James Jordan and Tory Kittles.
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Akshay Kumar’s much-awaited periodical saga Prithviraj is back in the news as the youth wing of Karni Sena has threatened the film.
In a letter, written by filmmaker Surjeet Singh Rathore, president of the Youth Wing of the Karni Sena, the makers have been asked to change the movie’s title. Also, if their conditions are not met, the film will receive the same fate as Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat, the letter said.
The film is a biopic on Emperor Prithiviraj Chauhan and is being helmed by Chandraparaksh Dwivedi while Yash Raj Film’s Aditya Chopra is producing it.
The letter, shared on Instagram, states that Sena respects Kumar for playing the great king but it is Chopra’s duty to respect the feelings and emotions of the Rajput community. In that regard, the name of the film should be changed to ‘Veer Yodha Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan’. Also, there should be screening before the release of the film so that they can see whether due respect has been given to the Rajput characters or not.
The film should be shown to Rajput historians who can check the historical accuracy. In the post, Rathore has warned that in case of any agitation, YRF will be responsible for all the losses.
Earlier, in a statement, Kumar had commented that it is an honour to play the role of one of the most fearless and courageous kings of India, Prithviraj Chauhan.
“As a nation, we should always celebrate our heroes and immortalize what they did to propagate the values that Indians lived by. Prithviraj is our attempt to bring to light his valour and daredevilry”.
The film was announced on Chauhan’s birth anniversary in 2019. However, the film’s shooting got stalled due to COVID-19. It is now expected to hit the theatres on 5 November.
Miss Universe Manushi Chillar, who is making her Bollywood debut with the movie, will be seen opposite Kumar. It also stars Sonu Sood, Sanjay Dutt, Ashutosh Rana, Sakshi Tanwar, Manav Vij, and Lalit Tiwari in pivotal roles.
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Mumbai: In the form of a heartfelt note, India's star batter Jemimah Rodrigues has thanked the previous generation of women cricketers who laid the foundation for the team that it has become today.
Jemimah wrote the note after the unveiling of the team's white jersey for India's upcoming tour of England, where Mithali Raj and Co are playing a Test match after seven years.
The jerseys were handed out to the team in Mumbai, where the players are currently in quarantine.
The 20-year-old Jemimah said during the event head coach Ramesh Powar showed the squad the legacy of the Indian women's cricket team.
"So today (coach) Ramesh (Powar) sir called us for a team meeting and showed us the history we have of women's cricket in India -- from where it first started to where it has reached today... The one's who were before us that made it possible for us to be a part of what we are today," Jemimah said in an Instagram post.
"The one's who did it without the recognition they deserved, the one's who brought women's cricket in India."
The jovial player also said veteran cricketers Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj shared their experiences of being part of the squad for a long time.
"Then the two legends of Indian women's cricket Mithu di and Jhulu di came up and shared with the entire team what cricket has meant to them and what it's like being a part of this Legacy."
Jemimah hoped that they are able to leave the team in a better place for the future generation of players.
"The meeting ended off with this beautiful quote. Our greatest responsibility is to honour those who have been before us and those who will come after, to 'leave the JERSEY in a better place'.
"This series (tour of England) and the series here forth, we are playing for a far bigger cause than what we realise, we are playing for every single girl who desires to play this sport," she concluded.
After the one-off Test, India and England will lock horns in three ODIs beginning June 27 with the matches slated to be played at Bristol, Taunton and Worcester.
India and England will then square off in three T20Is, beginning 9 July, in Northampton, Hove, and Chelmsford.
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