iWorld
Golden Globe nominee ‘The Curse’ starring Emma Stone makes its digital premiere in India exclusively on Lionsgate Play
Mumbai: In the satirical black comedy thriller television series The Curse, Nathan Fielder and Emma Stone star as Asher and Whitney, a newlywed couple trying to bring their eco-conscious housing vision to Española, New Mexico. However, their plans are complicated by a supposed curse and Dougie (Benny Safdie), a flawed reality TV producer who sees potential in their story. As the series progresses, the couple becomes entangled in a complex web of ethical dilemmas while also navigating the challenges of maintaining their relationship and trying to start a family.
The show has blown critics away, with Entertainment Weekly dubbing it “the weirdest, most unforgettable show of 2023”, and The Guardian describing it as “exquisitely cringe-worthy”. With an immersive storyline and sterling performances, this unique blend of comedy and thriller promises an unforgettable viewing experience for Lionsgate Play subscribers, who can start streaming the first 8 episodes of the series from 29th December.
In an interview with W Magazine, Emma Stone gushed about her experience working with comedian Nathan Fielder, “He is such a good actor—he really blew my mind. I remember watching a scene a couple days in that I wasn’t in. I was texting him up a storm, saying: ‘You’re one of the best actors I’ve ever seen.’ He’s so great and such a natural on Nathan for You and in The Rehearsal—but he’s playing himself. And still, he’s acting… At any given time, you do start to wonder if maybe there’s a prank happening. Like, someone’s filming you from a distance. That’s the only unsettling part of spending time with him.”
In an interview with Indiewire Nathan Fielder delves into the intriguing concept of uncertainty surrounding the reality of the curse, “It’s the core of the show in a lot of ways. [Asher and Whitney are] projecting things that may or may not exist onto everyone around them, and everyone is sort of doing that to each other. That idea of what’s actually real or what matters in a situation is a lot of what the show is exploring and reveling in. Because it’s easy to sort of go, ‘Oh, well this person’s good or bad,’ or ‘This is real or fake.’ But in a lot of these situations, it’s so much more complicated than that.”
‘The Curse’ exclusively streams Episode 1 to 8 on Lionsgate Play starting 29 December.
iWorld
Subedaar puts Indian original cinema on the global map with record-breaking Prime Video debut
MUMBAI: Prime Video has a runaway hit on its hands. Subedaar, the gritty action drama starring Anil Kapoor, has stormed to become the most-watched Indian original movie on the platform in its opening weekend, cracking the Top 10 across 31 countries and landing in 91 per cent of India’s pin codes within days of its March 5 premiere.
The film, a visceral, emotionally-charged story of a retired soldier, Subedaar Arjun Maurya, wrestling with civilian life amid crime and corruption, has struck a nerve. Directed by Suresh Triveni and co-starring Radhikka Madan, Mona Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Aditya Rawal, Faisal Malik, and Khushboo Sundar, the film is already being hailed as a showcase for what Indian original storytelling can achieve on the world stage.
“Subedaar’s success is a reflection of the growing scale and global resonance of Indian storytelling,” said Nikhil Madhok, director and head of originals at Prime Video India. “The film’s emotional narrative, its rooted portrayal of a soldier confronting his toughest battles beyond the battlefield, has struck a chord. Anil Kapoor delivers an acting masterclass, while Suresh Triveni’s solid direction and great performances from the ensemble cast have resulted in love and appreciation from customers across the world.”
Kapoor, 62, has been here before, but rarely at this altitude. Written by Triveni and Prajwal Chandrashekar, with dialogues by Triveni, Saurabh Dwivedi, and Chandrashekar, the film is a production by Opening Image Films in association with Anil Kapoor Film & Communication Network (AKFCN), produced by Vikram Malhotra, Kapoor, and Triveni.
Subedaar streams exclusively on Prime Video in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu across India, and in over 240 countries and territories worldwide.
For Prime Video, the numbers tell the real story: one weekend, one film, a global footprint, and a very loud signal that Indian original cinema is no longer just travelling well. It’s arriving.
