Ajay Devgn talks about Shivaay & more... Will he do a "Scarface" remake?

Click here to share on Facebook : http://bit.ly/ShivaayOfficialTrailer Shivaay is a Himalayan mountaineer who is an innocent everyman and yet is capable of TRANSFORMING into a mean DESTROYER when he needs to PROTECT his family. In Theatres on 28th October, 2016. Starring : Ajay Devgn, Sayyeshaa, Erika Kaar, Abigail Eames, Vir Das, Girish Karnad, Saurabh Shukla.

Ajay Devgn is not just a popular Indian actor, he's a STAR. With a career spanning over 25 years, in Indian film industry, also known as Bollywood; he has had a very successful run. As an actor, he's primarily famous as a big action star (he's son of famous Indian stunt choreographer Veeru Devgan), but he has known for his very successful dramatic roles and comedies as well. And besides being an actor, he is also a producer and director as well.

Shivaay is an upcoming Indian action thriller film directed and produced by  Ajay Devgn under his banner Ajay Devgn FFilms. It features Ajay Devgn, Sayyeshaa Saigal, and Erika Kaarin lead roles. Mithoon has composed the film's score and soundtrack. British band The Vampsand composer Jasleen Royal are also a part of the music.

We had a chance to catchup with him, in-person, during his promotional tour in NYC. Watch it here:

www.mynewyorkeye.com Indian Bollywood superstar Ajay Devgn, in NYC, talking to Brad Balfour & Art Shrian. Promoting his film "Shivaay" (releasing October 28, 2016), talks about being an actor, about balancing action-drama-comedy films, his marriage and other things. Follow @mynewyorkeye on FB and Twitter, and also follow @ArtShrian on Twitter & Instagram for more entertainment news & updates.

Shivaay is scheduled to release on 28 October 2016 on the Diwali weekend. Checkout your local theater listings.

Sebastian Stan aka Bucky aka Winter Soldier, iN "Doctor Strange"? In theaters & IMAX, Nov 4

Follow @myNEwYorkeye on FB & Twitter and @ArtShrian on Twitter & IG, for more! Sebastian Stan, at the special advance footage screening of Marvel's Doctor Strange; introducing his film... just kidding... introducing Benedict Cumberbatch... kidding again... talks about Benedict Cumberbatch, and watches the movie with his and Marvel fans.

It was an unexpected treat for all Marvel fans last night, when Sebastian Stan showed up at the special footage screening of Marvel's "Doctor Strange" in NYC. Although he did not clarify if he's in the movie or not, he did talk about one is favorite actor Benedict Cumberbatch, and how its "strange" that he's part of the Marvel universe now. Watch the video for more.

As for the footage itself, it was very impressive. Benedict Cumberbatch is probably the best man studios could have found to play Doctor Strange (except Art Shrian, maybe? lol). He embodies the character, and gives it a new dimension. All Doctor Strange fans, Marvel fans, Cumberbitches (Benedict Cumberbatch fans) and movie fans alike, will enjoy his performance. It does remind you of Robert Downey Jr's Tony Stark and Ironman, but in a good way. Benedict CUmberbacth is truly rocking in and as Doctor Strange!

As for rest of the cast, it's pretty good too. Chiwetel Ejiofor as Karl Mordo seems pretty good, but you don't see enough of him in footage to judge. he's good in action scenes, and ll we see. And the WiFi line, which is quite funny. Rachel McAdams as Christine Palmer seems perfect. She's a doctor, and love interest of Strange. But again, not a lot to see in the footage. Benedict Wong as Wong is definitely great. Funny, mean and awesome. It'll be a joy to see him as the hard-ass librarian. Mads Mikkelsen as Kaecilius is amazing. Now that's a villain, we all want. And Mads has all of that menacing, crazy villain thing. As for Tilda Swinton as the Ancient One, there's bene controversy on her role. She does suit the role, but probably they could have cast more appropriately (racially correct?). But hey, she does a great job as an actor. So, no big deal?

As from the footage, the movie looks visually amazing. The crazy mind bending sequences of Strange's fall and travel through dimensions and universes etc, to Inceptionesque visuals of bending cities etc. It's all very cool. Action looks hot, and the IMAX makes it even more fun.

"You wonder what I see in your future? Possibility." Watch this featurette and learn about the characters in Doctor Strange starring Benedict Cumberbatch! In theaters November 4.

Marvel’s “Doctor Strange” in theaters November 4th!

QUEEN OF KATWE: Mira's love Letter to Africa

“Queen Of Katwe is my love letter to Africa. This film is very much, left & center, is the UrbanWorld, except set in Africa, my other home in Kampala, Uganda. So welcome to Queen of Katwe” - Mira Nair, at the 20th Urban World Film Festival 2016, in NYC.

“Queen of Katwe,” was the opening night film at the Urbanworld Film Festival 2016 in NYC. The film is directed by Mira Nair and based on Tim Crothers’s book. Produced by Disney and ESPN the fact that the game of chess is a sport is part of what makes this film exciting to watch. All of the elements to make a “classic” stitch the film together include the unlikely coach who helps bring victory — bring those big lumps to throats which always produce tears to eyes. “Queen of Katwe” is a double hankie film.

Katwe is a poor township outside of Kampala, the Ugandan capital, and it is where we meet our chess playing heroine, Phiona Mutesi, an unlikely chess prodigy played to perfection by newcomer Madina Nalwanga. Nothing about Phiona’s life is easy. She is one of three siblings under the watchful, loving but exhausted mother, Nakku Harriet (Lupita Nyong’o), who has tragically lost her husband. On the brink of disaster, day by day, the family barely scratches by, selling food on the streets. There is simply never enough of money, the drive in Uganda, here, shows the countries stark inequalities. The class division is plainly evident in who has the basics such as shelter, education, transportation and medical treatment.

Mira Nair & David Oyelowo introduce Queen of Katwe at UrbanWorld Film Festival 2016, in NYC

Is it no wonder Nakku rarely smiles? Her eldest daughter, Night (Taryn Kyaze), is a rare beauty and if she was strolling in the streets of Italy, would no doubt, end up on the fashion runways of the world. In Katwe the quickest offer for upward mobility for the young teenager is in the form of a motorcycle riding rat of a man. It’s left to the middle children, Phiona and her younger brother, Brian (Martin Kabanza), to try to bring money to the family. It’s a hard life then chess enters the children’s world delivered by the kind and sly-as- a-fox

Robert Katende (David Oyelowo), who teaches the game to Katwe’s children as part of a youth ministry. Robert understands the lives of the children around him, his own youth scarred by poverty and war. Despite the odds he earned an engineering degree but lacks the necessary connections to obtain a job. No matter he smiles and keeps the children motivated. When Mr. Oyelowo tells you that you can do something great, well you believe it which makes his coaching skills such a joy to watch. He is a fast-talker and uses that skill to enter his rag-tag students into a chess tournament held at a very snooty private school. All cliches aside these young middle class opponents are reluctant to shake the hands of the kids from Katwe.

Standing next to the nourished and well-dressed schoolboys — the look on their faces when they are beaten by a girl — a poor girl — has the same impact of the iconic character, Rocky, running up the stairs of the Philadelphia museum.

"Queen of Katwe" panel discussion with Mira Nair & David Oyelowo at UrbanWorld Film Festival 2016 in NYC

Director Nair shows more than her skill — which is impressive — but it’s the love for the country and Phiona’s story that sets the film apart. Visually it’s rich. Story structure is solid with a few twists that separates it from other, superficially similar movies.

Nair knows where she is going and understands the particulars of the culture and the place. It’s one of the many reasons she is one of the greats, as evident in past films like “Mississippi Masala” and “Monsoon Wedding.”

This however is based on a real young woman, Phiona, whose circumstances are brutal, and the film never minimizes the harrowing choices and painful limitations placed on women like Harriet and Night.

Built on realism, Nair’s film does not suggest that winning chess matches is an instant, Disney- magical solution to the world’s injustice. To quote coach Robert, “Hope is not a tactic,” and for him he did not allow despair to move his around the chess board of life without a firm strategy to“check mate.”

“Queen of Katwe” is a strong family film with a global appeal that many stories lack. The performance of newcomer Ms. Nalwanga is breathtaking. Nair makes the basic parts of life exciting and watching Phiona use chess to rise out of the ashes is as exciting as any soccer game or boxing match.

Queen of Katwe is in theaters September 30! Queen of Katwe is the colorful true story of a young girl selling corn on the streets of rural Uganda whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess, and, as a result of the support she receives from her family and community, is instilled with the confidence and determination she needs to pursue her dream of becoming an international chess champion.

“Queen of Katwe” is rated PG (Parental guidance suggested).

Opening Friday, September 30

Director Mira Nair. Stars Madina Nalwanga, David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong'o, Martin Kabanza, Taryn Kyaze

Kino Lorber Opens 1000 Rupee Note, Directed by Shrihari Sathe

Winner of over 30 awards from film festivals around the world, the critically acclaimed 1000 Rupee Note opens theatrically on September 23 in New York, at New York's Village East cinemas.  

Directed by Shrihari Sathe, the Maharashtra-set film about a widow who comes across a small fortune won both the Special Jury Award (Silver Peacock) and Centenary Award for Best Film at the International Film Festival of India. It also swept the Maharashtra State Film Awards winning Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress (Special Mention), and Best Supporting Actor.  

The film is set to expand in other markets during the fall, before a home media and digital release in 2017. 

Shrihari Sathe director of 1000 Rupee Note, talks about films, filmmaking, diversity, New York etc

Synopsis:
Budhi, a widow who lives in a small village in Maharashtra, India, is the hero of1000 Rupee Note.

When her only son (a young farmer) commits suicide, she avoids depression by becoming close to her neighbor Sudama, a young man whom she shares the small pleasures of life. But when a local politician hears of Budhi's tragic story and uses her for a photo op, he accidentally gives her a few 1000 rupee notes, which is equal to almost half of her annual income.

Excited with her newfound fortune, Budhi takes Sudama shopping with her at a nearby market, but quickly discovers that even sudden fortune comes with strings attached.

Shrihari Sathe director of 1000 Rupee Note, talks to Art Shrian about his film

1000 RUPEE NOTE
Release Date: September 23, limited
Director: Shrihari Sathe
Cast: Usha Naik, Sandeep Pathak, Shrikant Yadav, Ganesh Yadav, Pooja Najak
Distributor: Kino Lorber
Runtime: 89 minutes
Language: Marathi with English subtitles