2018 - All Eyes, All Ears
Rajinikanth will
be back in 2018, on the big screen at least if not in the political arena, with
his film 2.0. So will Ocean’s Eight, taking off from the highly successful
Ocean’s trilogy of heist films except this one will have an all-woman gang, led
by Sandra Bullock. The year will also see a slew of politicians bringing out
books, from autobiographies to political analyses, at least some of which are
likely to be hotly debated. Literary fiction, too, will see some exciting
releases, whether it’s Pakistani writer Mohammed Hanif’s next novel or a
translation of Marathi writer Baburao Bagul’s short stories, Why I Hid My
Caste. ET Magazine takes you through the books, films and music you should keep
an eye — and ear — out for in the new year:
BOOKS
Citizen Delhi: My Life, My Times
Sheila Dikshit | Bloomsbury
In her autobiography, Sheila Dikshit gives the reader
a glimpse of her journey from a girl who loved cycling on the tree-lined roads
of Delhi to becoming the chief minister for 15 years, from 1998 to 2013. This
book details her political career spanning over three decades, from the time
she started assisting her father-in-law Uma Shankar Dikshit.
My Kashmir
Omar Abdullah | Aleph
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar
Abdullah’s first book is part memoir, part history and part analysis of the
problems that have beset his state in the decades since Independence. He tries
to offer the reader clarity about the situation in Kashmir today, and gives an
insider’s view of the Abdullah family, which has played a huge part in the
politics of the land.
Sanjay Dutt
Yasser Usman | Juggernaut
In this no-holds-barred book about Sanjay Dutt,
Yasser Usman tells the story of the actor’s life. From his drug addiction and
the tragic death of his mother Nargis, to his affairs with Bollywood actors and
his flirtation with the underworld, it is the uncensored story of Sanjay Dutt’s
life, which might sound stranger than any Bollywood film.
Trillion Dollar Coach:
Leadership Lessons from the Man
Who Helped Build Silicon Valley
Eric Schmidt & Jonathan
Rosenberg | Hachette
A new book from the former CEO of Google about the
coaching secrets of Bill Campbell, the legendary mentor and executive coach to
many of Silicon Valley’s luminaries, including Schmidt, Apple cofounder Steve
Jobs, Google cofounders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.
When I Hid My Caste
Baburao Bagul
Translated from Marathi by Jerry
Pinto | Juggernaut
Baburao Bagul’s debut collection of short stories,
Jevha Mi Jaat Chorli Hoti (1963), revolutionised not only Marathi but Indian
literature, bringing to it raw energy and a radical realism. Through the lives
of street vendors, thieves, sex workers and slum-dwellers, he exposed the pain,
horror and rage of the Dalit experience. This landmark book has been translated
into English by author Jerry Pinto.
Why I Am A Hindu
Shashi Tharoor | Aleph
Congress MP and former Union minister Shashi Tharoor
examines one of the world’s oldest religions, starting with a close examination
of his own belief in Hinduism. He analyses Hindutva, explains its rise and
dwells at length on the philosophy of Deendayal Upadhyaya, its most significant
ideologue. While Tharoor is unsparing in his criticism of extremist bhakts, he
also makes the point that it is because Hindus form the majority that India has
survived as a plural, secular democracy.
All The Lives We Never Lived
Anuradha Roy | Hachette
A saga about people trying to make sense of their
lives, this is the story of Myshkin and his mother Gayatri, a rebellious,
alluring artist, who is driven to abandon home and marriage and follow her
instinct for freedom. This will be the fourth novel of Anuradha Roy, whose
Sleeping on Jupiter was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2015.
Red Birds
Mohammed Hanif | Bloomsbury
From the prize-winning author of A Case of Exploding
Mangoes, comes a new novel about war, family and the things love makes us do.
In Red Birds, Hanif explores war, refugee camps and the tensions between
America and the Muslim world.
MOVIES
Mukkabaaz
Director: Anurag Kashyap
Starring: Vineet Kumar Singh, Zoya Hussain
Releasing on January 12, Anurag Kashyap’s latest film
is about a boxer who takes on a boxing association that wants to destroy his
career and falls in love with his antagonist’s daughter. It stars Vineet Kumar
Singh in the lead role, Kashyap has termed the film a “socio-political story
about a sportsman in contemporary India”. The film also stars Jimmy Shergill
and Zoya Hussain
2.0
Director: Shankar
Starring: Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar
Superstar Rajinikanth might not have officially
announced his political debut yet, but his next magnum opus, the sequel to the
2010 film Robot, will be releasing early next year. With a budget of ₹400 crore, it is reported to be
the most expensive film made in India yet. It will also see Bollywood star
Akshay Kumar in a lead role.
Thugs of Hindostan
Director: Vijay Krishna Acharya
Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif
It will be the first film where Aamir Khan and
Amitabh Bachchan will share screen space. Scheduled to be released in Diwali
2018, this Yash Raj Films production is based on an 1839 novel, Confessions of
a Thug, about a group of thugs who posed a challenge to the British in India.
The film also stars Katrina Kaif and Fatima Sana Shaikh, last seen in Dangal.
The Accidental Prime Minister
Director: Vijay Gutte
Starring: Anupam Kher
This is a biopic of former prime minister Manmohan
Singh, based on the book by his one-time media advisor Sanjaya Baru. Actor
Anupam Kher, whose wife Kirron is a BJP MP, will be playing the Congress PM.
The script of the film, which is set to be released in late 2018, has been
written by Hansal Mehta.
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Director: Ron Howard,
Starring: Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke
The Last Jedi has just released (to mixed reviews)
but 2018, again, will see a Star Wars film, although a spinoff. While it is set
in the fictional Star Wars world, it does not centre around the Skywalker
family.
Instead, this space Western film will recount the
adventures of the smuggler Han Solo and Chewbacca before they joined “the
Rebellion”.
Ocean’s 8
Director: Gary Ross
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Anne Hathaway, Rihanna,
Katie Holmes
The Oceans Trilogy about ambitious robberies starring
George Clooney turned out to be a huge success. The upcoming spinoff, while
different, holds out a lot of promise. For starters, the gang of slick thieves
this time will be an all-woman star cast, led by Sandra Bullock. The venue of
the latest heist is the legendary Met Gala in New York.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of
Grindelwald
Director: David Yates
Starring: Eddie Redmayne Jude Law, Johnny Depp,
Katherine Waterston
Harry Potter fans have another film to look forward
to. The second instalment, after Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, in
the five-film series, this has already seen some controversy with fans
criticising JK Rowling for continuing to support the casting of Johnny Depp,
who has been accused of assaulting his ex-wife.
MUSIC
Joe Satriani
Legendary guitarist Joe Satriani will be releasing
his 16th solo album in 2018, titled What Happens Next. The new album will see
him collaborating with Red Hot Chilli Peppers drummer Chad Smith and Deep
Purple bassist Glenn Hughes. The year will also see Satriani on tour, where he
will be joined by Dream Theater’s John Petrucci and Def Leppard’s Phil Collen.
Arctic Monkeys
The boys from Sheffield, who released their fifth
album in 2014, are scheduled to bring out their next in 2018, according to
interviews. The English rock band shot to fame with their debut album Whatever
People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not topping the charts.
Nicki Minaj
“This album is everything in my life coming full
circle and me being truly, genuinely happy,” hiphop artist Nicki Minaj told the
New York Times, about her upcoming release.” The yet-to-betitled album will be
her fourth.
Indulekha Aravind
ETM31DEC17
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