newslide
Adele fans who didn’t catch her on her huge world tour – which kicked off 14 months ago and has just four dates remaining – may be out of luck in the future.
The New Zealand Herald reports Adele told the audience during Sunday night’s show in Auckland that “touring isn’t something I’m good at” and she doesn’t know if she “will ever tour again.” The concert was Adele’s last one before she formally finishes the tour in her hometown of London with four sold-out dates at Wembley Stadium this summer.
Adele sang through heavy rain at the outdoor show in Auckland on Sunday (March 26). Photos show her in a drenched dress for part of the concert and also donning a plastic poncho. “Just spent two hours in hair and makeup for nothing,” she joked. – AP
newslide
Barry Jenkins to adapt The Underground Railroad
Moonlight director Barry Jenkins will follow up his Oscar-winning film with a drama series for Amazon based on Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad. Amazon announced that it will develop the TV series, with Jenkins writing and directing the adaptation of the 2016 National Book Award winner.
Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad is a part-historic, part-surrealistic novel about a slave who escapes on an actual railroad.
“Going back to The Intuitionist, Colson’s writing has always defied convention, and The Underground Railroad is no different,” said Jenkins in a statement. “It’s a groundbreaking work that pays respect to our nation’s history while using the form to explore it in a thoughtful and original way.”
Jenkins has already been at work on the series, though how many episodes are planned was not announced. Moonlight, which last month won best picture, was Jenkins’ second film following 2008’s well-regarded but little-seen Medicine for Melancholy. Made for just $1.5 million [Dh5.5 million], Moonlight has grossed more than $56 million [Dh205 million] worldwide. It also won Academy Awards for Jenkins’ screenplay, based on Tarell Alvin McCraney’s play, and for Mahershala Ali’s supporting performance.
The Underground Railroad will reunite much of the team behind Moonlight. Like that film, it will be produced by Adele Romanski and Brad Pitt’s Plan B. – AP
newslide
Hindi film industry accepted me with open arms, says Diljit Dosanjh
Actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh, a popular name from the Punjabi film industry, has penned an open letter after the success of his latest release Phillauri to thank the Hindi film industry for accepting him with open arms. Diljit ventured into Bollywood with 2016 film Udta Punjab.
“I do not have enough words to express my gratitude towards the Hindi film industry, which has given birth to innumerous superstars, an industry which has fulfilled innumerous dreams, an industry which has expressed Indian emotions, showcased beauty in diversity of our culture, tradition, language on a global platform,” Diljit wrote on Facebook on Sunday.
“The Hindi film industry, which accepted me with open arms, blessed me with love and made this journey possible.”
After his successful career as a singer, Diljit made his acting debut with 2011 Punjabi film The Lion of Punjab. He later went on to star in hit films like Jatt & Juliet, Punjab 1984 and Sardaarji. – IANS
newslide
Drake’s More Life breaks a new streaming record
Drake, who was the most streamed act on Spotify last year, has started 2017 strong with his new album More Life breaking the United States record for the number of online streams from a single album in one week.
The rapper’s 22-track album recorded 385 million streams across all platforms in its first week, beating the previous record holder – Drake. His 2016 album, Views, had owned the title with 245 million streams until More Life showed up on March 18, according to Nielsen Music. More Life is Drake’s seventh consecutive album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart. It had competition from new albums by Ed Sheeran, Rick Ross and the soundtrack for Beauty and the Beast. – AP
newslide
Irrfan Khan shoots in Georgia for Hindi Medium
Acclaimed actor Irrfan Khan is shooting in Georgia for his upcoming film Hindi Medium. “Hello from Georgia…’Hindi Medium’ song shoot,” Irrfan tweeted.
Also starring Pakistani star Saba Qamar, Hindi Medium narrates the love story in Delhi’s Chandni Chowk. The film is directed by Saket Chaudhary, and has been described as a light-hearted romantic film about a young couple who aspire to move into society’s upper crust.
Presented by T-Series and Maddock films, the movie has been produced by Dinesh Vijan and Bhushan Kumar. – IANS
