News Broadcasting
Star Movies lines up ‘Life is Beautiful’ for Christmas
Christmas seems as good a time as any to remind audiences that life is beautiful. Star Movies does just that. On December 25 at 9:30 PM, the channel will Life is Beautiful, a heartwarming tale calculated to make viewers laugh even in the face of tragedy.
Life is Beautiful is all about a father (director Roberto Benigni), who along with his young son, are sent to a concentration camp during the Nazi reign. To spare his son the traumatic experience, Benigni pretends that the whole saga is nothing more than a game that everyone, adult and child alike, can play. The film proves that if one uses one's imagination, one can make light shine in the darkest of places.
In one hilarious scene early in the film, officials mistake Bemigni for a Mussolini representative. He is expected to talk about the greatness of the Aryan Race in a school. He pretends that he is the perfect Aryan specimen and shows off his body to the most comical effect.
In the camp, he tells his son that one of the game's challenges is that all kinds of hardships will be presented to them like cramped quarters, but come what may they cannot voice any complaint. If they do, they will be sent packing home early. He says that the more silent they remain, the more points they get. If they are able to collect 1000 points, they will get the grand prize of a tank.
He dismisses stories of evil that his son tells him saying that is just a tactic on the part of the other 'competitors' to gain the upper hand. This way, the father is able to give his son the simple pleasures of life and the child's innocence is preserved.
The film bagged Oscars for the best evocative score, best foreign language film and best actor for Roberto Benigni. The real star, however, is Giorgio Cantarini as the five-year-old boy who shows wisdom far beyond his years.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
