Pradeep Sarkar

Renowned filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar, best known for films like Parineeta, Mardaani, etc., passed away at the age of 67 on Friday morning in Mumbai.  Sharing the news, director Hansal Mehta wrote, “Pradeep Sarkar. Dada. RIP.” Sarkar had been unwell for a while and was undergoing dialysis. His potassium levels had dropped drastically so had to be rushed to a hospital at 3 am on Friday.

Actor Ajay Devgn, on his Twitter, wrote, “The news of Pradeep Sarkar’s demise, ‘Dada’ to some of us is still hard to digest. My deepest condolences. My prayers are with the departed and his family. RIP Dada.”

Actor Manoj Bajpayee retweeted Hansal Mehta’s tweet and he wrote, “Ohh! That’s so shocking! Rest in peace Dada.” Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit, in his tribute, wrote, “Sad to know that well known brilliant filmmaker of our country Pradeep Sarkar ji passes away. A great loss to the film industry. Heartfelt condolences to his family and near ones.”

Sarkar, who first worked as an editor on Munna Bhai MBBS, had directed several evergreen music videos that went on to define excellence in visual appeal and storytelling in the 90’s including Euphoria’s ‘Dhoom Pichak Dhoom,’ ‘Maaeri’ and Sultan Khan’s ‘Piya Basanti’ and Bhupen Hazarika’s ‘Ganga.’ 

Sarkar’s funeral will take place at 4 pm at Santacruz Hindu Crematorium in Mumbai. “It is with a heavy heart that we inform you that Pradeep Sarkar has departed for his heavenly abode. Please join us at 4pm for his funeral at Santacruz Hindu Crematorium to say goodbye to him,” read an official statement.

Also read: 900 accidents, 31 deaths in 100 days: Samruddhi Mahamarg still a road to prosperity?

Oscars is giving out gift bags worth ₹1.3 crore to nominees who don’t go home with the Oscar award this year. Such is the value of the gift bag that brands pay an exorbitant fee just to be included in the hope that celebrities will promote them.

According to a report by Marketing Brew, brands pay a $4,000 (approximately ₹3.28 lakh) to have their product/service in the bag.

What is in the gift bag this time?

• Luxurious skincare products
• Bath ritual sets
• Celebrity-founded tequila
• Luxury vacations to Italy and Canada
• Art Lipo body sculpting
• High-tech meditation orb
• Flip flops
• Various luxury food items such as honey, biscuits and more
• One-square metre plot of land in Queensland, Australia 
• Cosmetic surgery vouchers
• Inside are skincare products from Miage
• Silk pillowcase from Blush Silks
• Travel pillow from PETA

Premium products from…

• Ariadne Athens Skin Wellness
• All Better Co., 
• Bored Rebel, 
• Daily Energy Cards, 
• Effecti-cal, 
• Kind Reason Co., 
• KnowingLabs, 
• Maison Construction, 
• NaturGeeks, 
• Rareté Studios, 
• ReFa, 
• Proflexa, 
• Oxygenetix,
• Millions-Billions-Trillions Brand, among others

Featuring over 60 items, the gift bag this year has several premium beauty and lifestyle gifts, luxury vacations including a $40,000  (over ₹32 lakhs) getaway to a Canadian estate called The Lifestyle, a stay for eight people in a restored Italian lighthouse and ‘a symbolic souvenir’ of a piece of land in Queensland in Australia!

Those wanting to renovate their homes can use the $25,000 (over ₹20 lakhs) worth project management fees for home restoration from Maison Construction apart from lipo-arm sculpting, hair restoration services and a facelift.

While over 50% of the products reportedly come from companies that are women and minority-owned, the gifts will be delivered in Havaianas suitcases this year. The least expensive gifts include a pack of Clif Thins priced at $13.56, and an $18 loaf of Japanese milk bread from Ginza Nishikawa.

Who receives this coveted gift?

The Oscar gift bags are given to the hosts and the nominees for Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress. Howevr, the recipients also have the right to refuse to accept gifts. Last year, actor Denzel Washington reportedly declined his gift and actor JK Simmons donated it to a charity auction, as did George Clooney in 2006. Moreover, the products and services in the bag are a gift, the recipient does need to pay taxes on it, as it is considered an income.

Also read: Oscars 2023: ‘Naatu Naatu’ from ‘RRR’ wins Best Original Song

A still from ‘Natu Natu’

‘Natu Natu’ song from SS Rajamouli’s magnum opus movie RRR created history be becoming first Indian film ever to win an Oscar for the Best Original Song at Oscars 2023 on Sunday at Los Angeles. 

Keeravaani, music composer of the song, accepted the award in a musical fashion, describing the song as ‘the pride of India’ and greeting Oscar audiences with a ‘namaste.’ RRR is the first Indian film in over two decades to be nominated for the Academy Awards while ‘Naatu Naatu‘ was the first Indian song to be nominated at the Oscars.

In the category, the Telugu song was nominated alongside ‘Applause’ from from “Tell It Like a Woman”, ‘Hold My Hand’ from “Top Gun: Maverick,” ‘Lift Me Up’ from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and ‘This Is a Life’ from “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

The RRR at the #OSCARS!!! #Oscars95 #NaatuNaatu #RRRMovie pic.twitter.com/QT1LGcRFtU

— RRR Movie (@RRRMovie) March 12, 2023

Last week, legendary music composer AR Rahman had told ANI, “I want Natu Natu to win awards, I want them to win the Grammy also because any award for any of us will lift India up and the concentration of our culture will become higher.”

'Naatu Naatu' from 'RRR' wins the Oscar for Best Original Song! #Oscars #Oscars95 pic.twitter.com/tLDCh6zwmn

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 13, 2023

He added, “I thought it (India getting a nomination) would start ten years back. It’s 12 years late. This should happen every year from India because we are a country of 1.3 billion people and there are amazing geniuses in every aspect of filmmaking. Most of the movies don’t enter the competition. At least they (makers of RRR) had the thing to put it out there. If nobody knows your movie, who is going to vote for it? I wish them the very best and I want them to win.”

As of 2022, apart from Mother India, only two Indian films have been nominated for the Oscars are Salaam Bombay! (1988) and Lagaan (2001). however, both the movies couldn’t bag the prestigious award.

In 2008, AR Rahman won two awards at the Oscars for his work on the Hollywood production Slumdog Millionaire, set in India, with an all-Indian cast however it was not India’s entry.