Sequels and stories from India

TWO SEQUELS, two movies with Indian themes and a horrorthriller labelled as one of the spookiest in a long time, are among films new on circuit in Durban this weekend.

One of the two Indian-themed films new in cinemas is the latest offering from celebrated director Deepa Mehta.

Titled it features a screenplay co-penned by Mehta and Salman Rushdie, and has a cast headed by Satya Bhabha, Shahana Goswami and Rajat Kapoor.

The tale revolves around a pair of children, born within moments of India gaining independence from Britain, who grow up in the country that is nothing like their parent’s generation. The other Indian-themed film is

starring Shahid Kapoor and Ileana D’Cruz under the direction of Rajkumar Santoshi. It is a comedy centred on an aspiring actor who poses as a super-cop, leading to much hilarity.

The horror film opening this weekend is teaming PatrickWalker and Vera Farmiga under the direction of James Wan.

The story focuses on paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who work to help a family terrorised by a dark presence in their farmhouse.

As for the sequels hitting the big screen today, the best of the two is sure to be teaming Helen Mirren, Bruce Willis, John Malkovich and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Directed by Dean Parisot, it tells of retired CIA agent Frank Moses reuniting with his unlikely team of elite operatives for a global quest to track down a missing portable nuclear device.

Then there’s another adventure involving the cute blue creatures who first hit the big screen in 2011.

Directed by Raja Gosnell, the sequel has the Smurfs teaming up with their human friends to rescue Smurfette, who has been kidnapped by Gargamel because she knows a secret spell that can turn the evil sorcerer’ s newest creation – creatures called the Naughties –into real Smurfs.

Lending their voice talents to the movie are Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays, Katy Perry and Brendan Gleeson.