Hollywood
Sony Classical to release OST of ‘The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’
MUMBAI: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is the second installment of the star-studded British comedy that follows a group of British retirees who decide to spice up their lives in India. In theaters on 6 March, 2015, the sequel is once again directed by John Madden, best known for his acclaimed movies Shakespeare In Love (Academy Award winner for Best Picture, 1998), Proof (based on the eponymous Pulitzer Prize winning play, 2005) and The Debt. The first film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel proved to be an international success, grossing over $136 million worldwide.
The cast has reunited for the film including stars Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Dev Patel, Celia Imrie, Penelope Wilton, Ronald Pickup, Tina Desai, Diana Hardcastle and Lillete Dubey. Additional cast making their debut include Tamsin Greig, with David Strathairn and Richard Gere.
The soundtrack for The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel will be made available on 24 February, 2015 via Sony Classical. Thomas Newman, one of the most respected composers in the movie industry, has once again composed the original score. With a career spanning over 30 years, Newman has scored more than 70 feature films. Newman has thus far been nominated for 12 Academy Awards and has won an Emmy Award, two BAFTA Awards and six Grammy Awards.
Newman has composed the scores for films like American Beauty, Skyfall, Erin Brockovich, The Good German, Finding Nemo and Wall-E for Pixar as well as The Horse Whisperer, The Help and The Iron Lady.
Newman’s vibrant and inspirational score for The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, masterfully evokes the Indian musical textures and ensures an elegant and delightful musical journey.
“Tom’s ability to penetrate the soul of a film is unmatched; In the two Marigold films, Tom’s group of collaborators expanded to include some extraordinary Indian players and vocal soloists, creating a musical and cultural synthesis that has produced two ravishing and interlocking scores: atmospheric, surprising, thrilling, funny, haunting and entirely sui generis,” says director John Madden.
Hollywood
Paramount seeks FCC nod for foreign-backed $110 billion WBD deal
Gulf funds back merger as foreign stake nears 50 per cent, control stays with Ellison
NEW YORK: Paramount Global has approached the Federal Communications Commission seeking approval for foreign investments tied to its proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, marking another key step in one of the biggest media deals in recent years.
According to regulatory filings made public this week, the investment backing the deal includes major Gulf sovereign funds such as the Public Investment Fund, the Qatar Investment Authority and L’imad Holding Company. Together, foreign investors are expected to hold just under 50 per cent of Paramount’s equity once the transaction is complete.
Despite the sizeable international backing, Paramount has made it clear that voting control will remain with the family of chief executive David Ellison, ensuring the company stays firmly under US control as required by broadcasting rules.
A company spokesperson described the FCC filing as routine for transactions involving foreign capital and stressed that it does not impact the closing of the deal. Under US law, any significant foreign ownership in broadcast licence holders must undergo regulatory review.
The merger itself has already cleared a major hurdle, with Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders approving the deal on 23 April. The transaction values the company at $31 per share, a 147 per cent premium to its earlier trading price, reflecting strong strategic intent behind the tie-up.
If completed, the combined entity will bring together a vast portfolio including Warner Bros. film studios, HBO Max, and networks such as CNN, TNT and Discovery Channel. The deal is currently expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.
However, scrutiny is intensifying. The US Department of Justice has issued subpoenas seeking details on the merger’s potential impact on cinema competition, streaming services and content licensing. Reviews are also anticipated in international markets, including the United Kingdom.
There is also a financial safety net built into the agreement. If regulators ultimately block the deal, Paramount would face a $7 billion break-up fee. Additionally, the company has taken on $2.8 billion in obligations previously owed by Warner Bros. Discovery to Netflix following an earlier terminated arrangement.
Paramount maintains that easing foreign ownership barriers will unlock fresh capital and strengthen its ability to compete in a rapidly evolving media landscape. For now, the spotlight remains on regulators, whose decision will determine whether this global media consolidation moves from script to screen.
