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www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know Entertainment News India Times (March 8, 2025 - March 14, 2025) March 14, 2025 26 Academy Museum Of Motion Pictures Features Colorful, Vibrant Indian Cinema S tarting March 8, 2025, the Acad- emy Museum of Motion Pictures is holding an exhibit and screenings that will bring the exuberant colors of Indian cinema to aWestern audience in the heart of Hollywood. It is part of the Academy Museum’s Screening Series which will go on till April 19 (acad- emymuseum.org) . “Starting tomorrow, discover the color- ful depth of Indian films in our newest screening series, Emotion in Color: A Kaleidoscope of Indian Cinema.,” the Museum says. “Spanning eras, regions, languages, and genres—from period epics to feminist rebellions, romances to political dramas— this series explores the many hues and emotions of Indian cinema,” the March 7 press release outlines. The exhibition is guest programed by Shivendra Singh Dungarpur of the Film Heritage Foundation. It showcases films that demonstrate the importance of color in India cinema. Dungarpur aptly sums it up with his description of the exhibit in his notes, say- ing, “This selection of films represents the many hues and emotions of Indian cin- ema across eras, regions, languages, and genres: from the grandeur of period epics to feminist rebellion in colonial times; from the churning of change and hope of a country newly born to political drama; from romance and escapism to serious contemplations of society in experimental and Parallel Cinema.” Among the many images it carries is one from the 2002 remake of Devdas, Jodhaa Akbar, the Malayalam new wave film Kummatty (The Bogeyman), Mirch Masala, Iruvar (The Duo), Maya Darpan, to mention just a few. Many of the films will be screened during the exhibition. Dungarpur says, “MostWestern audi- ences are not aware of the sheer breadth, depth, and diversity of Indian cinema,” noting that the film industry in India has six major geographically and linguistically different film industries making over 2,000 films in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Bengali every year, plus a multitude of films in different languages and dialects “made in virtually every cor- ner of the country.” Quoting film director and screenwriter Kumar Shahani who once said, “Color is the very fragrance of being,” Dungarpur points to how aptly that description fits Indian cinema. Shahani’s description, Dungarpur adds, “is so true of India where color is inte- gral to the richness and diversity of our culture.” But, Dungarpur points out, “…it took awhile for color to seep into the black- and-white world of Indian cinema.” According to Dungarpur, “India’s first completely color film, Kisan Kanya—re- leased in 1937 and now sadly lost—was shot using the Cine Color process. But it was almost two decades after its release that Indian cinema saw the explosion of color on the silver screen.” By a StaffWriter PHOTOS: India Film Heritage Foundation, courtesyAcademyMuseum of Motion Pictures PHOTO:AcademyMuseum of Motion Pictures Mar.17,MIRCH MASALA. March 30, JODHAA AKBAR. Banner photo included in the press release from Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, March 7, 2025. March 21, DEVDAS. A.R. Rahman Unveils The First Track From My Melbourne, Sung By Afghani Singer Aryana Sayeed A .R. Rahman has introduced the first track from the anthology, My Melbourne. The song titled Rukna nahin, is a celebration of empowerment and unity through music. The vocals have been given by Aryana Sayeed, an Afghani musician who is making her Hindi debut with the song. Known for her extensive work in activism for women’s rights in Afghanistan, Aryana is currently settled in London. Hailing from Kabul, the singer has been an icon in the culture and music space of Afghanistan early on. The song’s lyrics and music have been done by Anurag Sharma. My Melbourne, an anthology featuring four compel- ling stories directed by Kabir Khan, Imtiaz Ali, Onir and Rima Das, explores human connection, resilience and identity against the vibrant, multicultural backdrop of Melbourne. Inspired by true events, the film sheds light on themes of race, gender, sexuality and disability, offer- ing an authentic lens into the city’s diverse communities. Set for an India release on March 14, My Melbourne brings together the creative vision of four celebrated Indian filmmakers, each contributing a unique story that showcases the power of inclusivity and cultural identity. With A.R. Rahman’s blessings and Aryana’s soul-stir- ring voice, the song sets the tone for an anthology that promises to be a cinematic and musical celebration of cultural harmony. Aryana, incidentally, has the perfect diction that sev- eral Indian singers lack nowadays! This may be explained by a significant part of her early life being spent in Pesha- war in Pakistan. By RajivVijayakar PHOTO: Instagram / Aryana Sayeed Afghan singer Aryana sayeed has better diction than many current Indian singers.