People & Places NEWS/FEATURES Indian Cinema Legend Dilip Kumar

ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13

People & Places

People

‘Immigration is passion’ For Miranda, art and philanthropy linked

NEW YORK, July 7, (AP): For “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, the inspirations for art and philanthropy are inextricably linked. On Wednesday, Miranda is announcing a series of donations to organizations that serve immigrants, whose experiences are central to the new fi lm version of his hit Broadway musical “In the Heights.” “For me,” Miranda told The Associated Press, “phi- lanthropy and artistic inspiration kind of come from the same place.” He is forever drawn to what he calls “the things that don’t leave you alone.” Immigration, he said, is both a passion and a foundational element of his work. “In the Heights,” he noted, centers on immigrants from the Caribbean and Latin America living in New York City. And “Hamilton,” he said, “is sort of the proto- immigrant story.” “I think I am in awe of peo- ple who can make an impos- sible leap to leave everything they know behind and start a new life here,” he said. “And I think it’s one of the great things about our country.” In honor of the Fourth of July, the Miranda Family Fund Miranda awarded a total of $225,000 in grants to immigrant rights groups and policy reform advocates throughout the country. The recipients are Arizona’s Pima County Justice for All, California’s Coalition for Human Rights Los Angeles, Colorado Immigration Rights Coalition, Michigan’s Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services, Texas’ Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, Utah Refugee Connec- tion, Asian Americans Advancing Justice in Washing- ton, and both Alianza for Progress and Orlando Center for Justice in Florida. Luis Miranda Jr., Lin-Manuel’s father and co- In this Sept. 2, 2008 fi le photo, veteran Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar, (right), receives a Lifetime Achievement award at the 54th National Film Award ceremony in founder of the MirRam Group, a political consulting New Delhi, India. Kumar, hailed as the ‘Tragedy King’ and one of Hindi cinema’s greatest actors, died Wednesday, July 7, 2021 in a Mumbai hospital after a pro- fi rm that has worked on campaigns for Democratic longed illness. He was 98. (AP) Sens. Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, said all the recipients were recommended by friends of the family in the fi eld of immigration. It was important to the Mirandas to make the grants Obituary unrestricted, so the money would go to “whatever the organization believes is important,” Luis said. “It’s going to make a difference.” Donations Bollywood’s great ‘Tragedy King’ “They know what they need,” Lin-Manuel added. Though the Miranda Family Fund has been active for years in donations to the arts community, especial- ly arts education, the donations announced Wednes- Indian cinema legend Dilip Kumar dies day mark a new direction. The fi ght for immigrants’ rights became a much NEW DELHI, July 7, (AP): Bol- His Pathan family hailed from Pe- of light-hearted roles he took at the larger part of the fi lm version of “In the Heights” lywood icon Dilip Kumar, hailed shawar, in what became Pakistan suggestion of his psychiatrist to shed than it was in the musical that opened on Broadway as the “Tragedy King” and one of after the Partition, and he visited his his “Tragedy King” image. in 2008. Lin-Manuel said the idea to make the char- Hindi cinema’s greatest actors, died ancestral home in the late 1980s. He starred in many social drama acter of Sonny a DREAMer, an undocumented immi- Wednesday in a Mumbai hospital af- Kumar was hugely popular among fi lms like “Footpath”, “Naya Daur” grant who has Deferred Action for Childhood Arriv- ter a prolonged illness. He was 98. cinema lovers in Pakistan as well. (“New Era”), “Musafi r” (“Travel- als (DACA) status, came from Quiara Alegria Hudes, The “Tragedy King” title came Pakistan Prime Minister Imran ler”) and “Paigham” (“Message”) in who wrote the screenplay. from Kumar’s numerous serious Khan said he was saddened to learn 1950s. “Immigration was on the front page in a totally dif- roles. In several, his character died of Kumar’s death. ``For my genera- His top female co-stars included ferent way in the past few years,” Lin-Manuel said. as a frustrated lover and a drunkard. tion, Dilip Kumar was the greatest Madhubala, Nargis, Nimmi, Meena “So in updating it, it sort of only made sense to make He also was known as Bollywood’s and most versatile actor,’’ he tweeted. Kumari, Kamini Kaushal and Vyjan- that a part of the conversation because that is part of Jodie Foster poses with her honorary Palme d’Or at the opening ceremony only Method actor for his expressive Khan also recalled Kumar’s gen- thimala. the conversation here uptown in our communities. performances identifying a charac- In 1966, Dilip Kumar mar- And so what’s so brilliant about Quiara’s choice to of the 74th international fi lm festival, erosity in helping to raise funds in Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, ter’s emotions. Pakistan and London for a trust to set ried Saira Banu, who was 22 years make Sonny struggle with his undocumented status is July 6. (AP) that he’s the most New Yorkian character. He’s the Kumar was hospitalized twice up cancer hospitals in his mother’s younger than him, and the couple one who said, ‘If I had $96,000, I would fi x my neigh- last month after he complained of memory. acted in “Gopi,” “Sagina Mahato” breathlessness, and his family tweet- and “Bairaag.” They had no chil- borhood.’ ” Career Luis added that they had that character in mind in ed “with a heavy heart and profound dren. choosing the organizations to help. grief” the announcement of his pass- He changed his name as he de- In 1961, he produced and starred “It’s to make sure that we continue to help those ing. buted in Bollywood, the Hindi- in “Ganga Jamuna” in which he and organizations that are helping people like Sonny - “Dilip Kumar will be remem- language fi lm industry centered in his brother Nasir Khan played the refugees, immigrants, people who are coming and are bered as a cinematic legend. He was Mumbai, with “Jwar Bhata,” or “Sea title roles. It was the only fi lm he trying to fi gure out how to make it here,” he said. blessed with unparalleled brilliance, Tides,” in 1944. produced. Indian media reports say Lin-Manuel said that highlighting the story of an due to which audiences across gen- His career spanned over six dec- he declined the role of Sherif Ali in undocumented immigrant was important to him. erations were enthralled. His passing ades with over 60 fi lms. His fi rst ma- David Lean’s “Lawrence of Arabia” “I think that’s one of the things art can do that head- away is a loss to our cultural world,” jor box-offi ce hits were “Jugnu,” or in 1962. The role went to Egyptian lines can’t always do,” he said. “Now, you feel like, Indian Prime Minister Narendra “Firefl y,” in 1947 in which he starred actor Omar Sharif. you know someone who’s going through this. You Modi said in a tweet that also offered alongside Noor Jehan, and the 1948 He took a break in the late ‘70s know Sonny, and it just it goes into your bloodstream Ingham Spears his condolences to Kumar’s family fi lm “Shaheed,” or ”Martyr.” but returned with a character role in in a different way.” and admirers. He played a variety of charac- the successful “Kranti,” or “Revolu- He said the donations are another way of demon- ters - a romantic hero in “Andaz,” a strating support. “An institution has gone,” Bolly- tion” in 1981. He continued playing “We’re at our best when we’re celebrating our Variety wood superstar Amitabh Bachchan swashbuckler in “Aan,” a dramatic key roles in fi lms such as “Shakti,” promise,” Lin-Manuel said. “So many people come tweeted. “Whenever the history of drunkard in “Devdas,” a comic role “Karma” and “Saudagar.” His last here from all over the world because of this promise Indian Cinema will be written, it in “Azaad,” a Muslim prince in the fi lm was “Qila” (“Fort”) in 1998. LOS ANGELES: Britney Spears’ court-ap- shall always be ‘before Dilip Kumar, historical epic “Mughal-e-Azam” In 1994, he was given the “Da- that we export - and that we so often fall short of. If pointed attorney on Tuesday fi led documents you work hard, there is a possibility of a better life. and after Dilip Kumar’ ...” and a robber in the social movie dasaheb Phalke” award, the highest to resign from her conservatorship, the latest “It’s the end of an era,” fi lmmaker “Ganga Jamuna.” honor for contributions to Indian We want to help the organizations that help to make of several such moves that have come in the that possible for folks who make that journey.” fallout from the pop singer’s comments in Madhur Bhandarkar said. Mehboob Khan’s blockbuster cinema. He also served in the upper He was born Muhammad Yusuf “Aan” in 1952 was his fi rst fi lm in house of Indian Parliament after be- Successes court decrying the legal arrangement that controls her money and affairs. Khan, a Muslim, on Dec. 11, 1922. Technicolor and was among a string ing nominated for a six-year term. Lin-Manuel said it’s vital to showcase both the suc- Samuel Ingham III fi led documents in cesses and the struggles of being an immigrant. Los Angeles Superior Court requesting that “The trick is not to look at it through rose-colored the court appoint Spears a new attorney, he expected she might do so soon. In her re- found the statue on his farm and gave it to century A.D., a time when Greece was part glasses, but through really clear eyeglasses,” he said. and saying his resignation would take ef- marks critical of Ingham, Spears said during the two men to sell. of the Roman Empire. “It’s always something that we can be working on, al- fect as soon as that happened. the hearing that she hadn’t known she could Police were made aware of the fi nding It depicts three similar fi gures of Hecate ways something we can do better.” During her June 23 speech in court, in fi le such a petition, and she still has not. (AP) and an undercover police offi cer posed as joined together and facing in different di- He holds his own work to that idea as well. The which she condemned the conservatorship ❑ ❑ ❑ a buyer and, after a month of negotiations, rections. This is because these statues were release of the movie version of “In the Heights” cre- and asked Judge Brenda Penny to end it, the two men were arrested in possession of used at crossroads, Michalis Tiverios, ated controversy because there were no dark-skinned, Spears was critical of Ingham, and said she THESSALONIKI, Greece: Greek police the statue as they went to meet the purport- emeritus professor of classical archaeology Afro-Latino characters in the fi lm’s lead roles. Lin- wished the court would allow her to hire a said they have arrested two 56-year-old men ed buyer, police said in a statement, adding at Thessaloniki’s Aristotle University, told Manuel issued an apology and promised “to do better lawyer of her choice. for trying to sell a rare Roman-era statue of that such statues are “extremely rare.” The Associated Press. in my future projects.” Last week, Bessemer Trust, the estate- Hecate for 40,000 euros (about $48,000). The marble statue, 33 centimeters The statues, a few of which have been “Every time you make a frame, you hear from the management company that Spears had Police in Thessaloniki said they also (13 inches) high and 16 centimeters (six found, were placed on pedestals, where the requested replace her father as conservator arrested a 35-year-old farmer from nearby inches) wide and weighing 10 kilograms directions were inscribed, Tiverios added. folks who say, ‘Hey, I’m not in the frame’,” he said. Hecate statues also marked boundaries. (AP) “I take that learning with me to the next project. But I of her fi nances, fi led its own documents Pella, who allegedly admitted that he had (22 pounds) , is from the second or third withdrawing from the case. The fi ling ❑ ❑ ❑ also know, because I live here, how proud this neigh- said that circumstances had changed after borhood is of this movie. Afro-Latinos and Latinos of Spears’ comments in court on June 23. BERLIN: A man in Austria was bitten by every shade and how seen they feel and I can under- At a hearing in November, Penny a 1.6-meter (5 1/4-foot) python during an stand what I can do better next time. I’m holding space denied Spears’ request to have her father early-morning visit to the toilet at his home for all of it. I think that’s the only way to grow as an replaced entirely, but said James Spears on Monday, police said. artist. ‘Hamilton’ got criticism. Everything I do gets and Bessemer Trust could work together as The reptile, which apparently escaped criticism. And I can take it and I can grow from it.” co-conservators of her fi nances. from a neighbor’s apartment and may have slithered through the drains, was cleaned “You have to understand I started writing ‘In the And on Monday, in a letter obtained by Heights’ because I didn’t feel seen,” he continued. “So and handed back to its owner. entertainment industry publication Dead- The 65-year-old victim “felt a ‘nip’ I am also hoping that someone is going to see ‘In the line, Britney Spears’ longtime manager shortly after sitting on the toilet at home in Heights’ and say, ‘That wasn’t my story’ and write Larry Rudolph also resigned, saying she Graz just after 6 am, according to a state- their own. I would be thrilled by that.” had no intention of resuming her career ment from police in Styria province. He One thing that is not on Lin-Manuel’s mind, though, after a 2 1/2 year hiatus that has left him then looked into the toilet and discovered is returning to “Hamilton,” which is set to reopen on with no work to do for her. the albino reticulated python. Broadway on Sept. 14. Theorists were noticing Lin- A veteran probate attorney, Ingham was The snake apparently had escaped un- Manuel’s longish hair recently and wondered whether for years a largely silent fi gure in the con- noticed from the apartment of the man’s he was planning a return to the Tony award-winning servatorship, at least publicly, but became 24-year-old neighbor. It wasn’t immediate- smash. a more vocal advocate for Britney Spears ly possible to fi gure out how it escaped and He’s not. And he cut off his hair to prove it, which starting last year. His statements in court how it got into the toilet, but police said it Luis happily tweeted out. that she feared her father and would not may have made its way through the drains. “I have three more movies coming out this year, resume her career so long as he had power A reptile expert was called to retrieve over it were an early crack in the presumed right?” said Lin-Manuel, referring to the animated the snake, which was returned to his owner. consensus among the fi gures involved in Police said the younger man kept 11 non- “Vivo” out this summer, Disney’s “Encanto” this the conservatorship. Jury members Tahar Rahim, (from back left), Jessica Hausner, Kleber Mendon- fall and his directorial debut “Tick, Tick... Boom.” “I venomous constrictor snakes and a gecko At the June 23 hearing, Ingham said that ca Filho, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mylene Farmer, Spike Lee, (from front left), Mela- in his apartment, in terrariums and drawers. don’t have the bandwidth to jump back in the show.” Britney Spears had not asked him to fi le a nie Laurent, Kang-Ho Song, Mati Diop appear at the opening ceremony of the He faces an investigation on suspicion of petition to end the conservatorship, but said 74th international fi lm festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, July 6. (AP) causing bodily harm by negligence. (AP)