The controversial concept of B teams may be back on the agenda as football tries to navigate a way through Covid-19, Brighton technical director Dan Ashworth says.

Ateet
On: Zee5
Director: Tanuj Bhramar
Cast: Rajeev Khandelwal, Priyamani, Sanjay Suri
Rating:  

This is how the premise of the new film on Zee5, Ateet, has been described- 'When Captain Ateet Rana goes missing and is declared dead by the army, his colleague Vishwa Karma steps forward to marry Ateet's wife and take care of his daughter. Things take an unexpected turn when Ateet returns after a decade to reclaim his family.' A majority of the filmmakers would opt to make a sloppy and screechy melodrama out of this, but writer Harsshil R Patel and director Tanuj Bhramar add a supernatural and spooky element to it, making it or intending to make it a chilling watch. It's anything but!

Three talented actors- Rajeev Khandelwal, Priyamani, and Sanjay Suri, struggle with one-note characters. The South Indian actress surprisingly delivers such a cold and charmless performance that not even once you feel any sort of empathy for the lady. A scene that involves all three of them, she angrily states that it doesn't matter whom she chooses between them, but that she can leave both of them for her daughter. It wasn't supposed to be funny, but I was left amused. That's what Ateet is basically, unintentional comedy. In another scene, when she declares she saw her daughter talking to someone unlike a human, Vipin Sharma, who plays an army doctor, quips- "You're talking nonsense." Again, the scene wasn't supposed to be funny, but I cracked a smile this time too!

But it isn't entirely unwatchable, there are moments of shock and surprise, and you may jump on your bed or your sofa or wherever you watch this drama-cum-horror. The scares aren't the kind you normally witness in a Bollywood horror film, yes, there is some display of tacky prosthetic but the director keeps the worst for the last. The execution and editing towards the early portions give the film an eery feel and so does the pace of the narrative. But all hopes go for a toss once the plot has opened all its cards.

Watch the trailer right here:

To worsen what was already beginning to get mediocre and mundane, characters take their own time to communicate and draw long pauses between one dialogue and another to show how intense this drama is supposed to be. It's also upsetting to see an actor like Khandelwal, who made a gripping debut in Aamir, stuck in the same hero-in-horrified mode. He plays an army officer but his heroism is displayed in barely one war scene that's embarrassingly choreographed and ends even more appallingly.

The scene comes when we are close to knowing the truth of these clandestine characters hiding some demonic truths, so who cares about the action set-piece that preceded it? Ateet messes up a delicious plot and makes its central characters appear lost and limp, and this time, I'm not laughing.

Catch up on all the latest entertainment news and gossip here. Also, download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps.

Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news

Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal teammates have donated half of their bonus for qualifying for the Euro 2020 finals to help amateur football in the country that has been hit by the coronavirus shutdown. The Portuguese football federation said on Monday the money would go towards a fund that it hopes will reach 4.7 million euros ($5.1 million) to help amateur clubs survive the crisis.

The federation last week decided to end the already-suspended amateur season with immediate effect, declaring the season null and void without champions, promotion or relegation. No decision has been taken on resuming professional football but the president of the Portuguese league said in late March he was determined the season should be completed.

"It is fundamental that the championships end because it would allow some sort of normality to be restored and we could prepare for next season knowing who has qualified for international competitions, who the champions are and who is relegated," Pedro Proenca said. Portugal shocked host nation France to win Euro 2016 but Ronaldo and his teammates will have to wait another year to defend their title as Euro 2020 has been postponed by 12 months because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.

Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has accused Premier League clubs of being "frightened to death" to publicly back the plan to restart the season.

Premier League stakeholders met on Friday to debate how to finish the current campaign, with reports that some clubs want to abandon the season due to the pandemic and others are keen to play all remaining 92 fixtures.

Teams avoiding blame
Neville believes clubs do not want to be held liable should a player become ill with the Coronavirus if the English season resumes. The French and Dutch seasons have been called off because of the health crisis and while the Premier League have apparently ear-marked a June return, that date is far from set in stone.

Claiming there needs to be more public comment from clubs, Neville wrote on Twitter: "The PL are having a CV nightmare. They keep shouting health first but then brief constantly 'We have to Re-Start'. I'd respect them more if they said, 'We accept the increase in health risk but it's one we are willing to take'. They won't as they are frightened to death!"

When Neville was asked by a Twitter user what would happen if someone died as a result of the restart, he said: "That's why we haven't heard one single prominent CEO/Chairman/Owner or Executive open his mouth to back the re-start! Brief/Brief/Brief! Scared to death of the liability and blame."

No virus talk
Before making an exception for Brighton as the "only club willing to take a stand", Neville added: "It would be good for them to speak at least once. Any of them! Clubs included. They are bottling this virus on comms. Very Happy to tell us when they are delivering food parcels though." Brighton's chief executive Paul Barber voiced opposition to the idea of finishing the season at neutral venues.

Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.

Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

Italy offered Serie A clubs a glimmer of hope on Sunday after it said footballers could take part in individual training sessions as the strictest coronavirus lockdown measures begin to ease. The interior ministry's go-ahead for players to attend their club's training facilities offered fans in the football mad country the first sign that the 2019-20 season might yet be saved. Matches were abandoned on March 9 in the face of a health crisis that has now officially claimed nearly 29,000 lives in Italy and 245,000 worldwide. Some of the bigger clubs with title aspirations from the less affected regions have been talking about going back to training for weeks.

But Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte only allowed teams to resume organised activities on May 18 -- a date that might push back this season's completion into the start of the next. Several regions that have avoided the worst of the pandemic have taken matters into their own hands and allowed clubs to open their facilities for players to train on their own. Teams such as Napoli and Parma have followed the lead of Lazio -- trailing leaders Juventus by just a point -- and gave the nod for players to return. They insisted that they were not breaking the rules because Conte has allowed all Italians to start exercising in open public places starting Monday. The interior ministry bowed to the seemingly inevitable on Sunday and agreed that teams can open their facilities to players for training. "Athletes, professional or otherwise, of non-individual sports are allowed -- just as every citizen -- to exercise in public or private areas," the interior ministry said. But players must "respect social distancing rules of at least two metres and the ban on public gatherings."

'All together'
Italian media read the statement as an encouraging sign for football. "Serie A clubs (and not only) can return to training," the La Repubblica daily wrote. Yet Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora has noted that the path for football to return was getting "increasingly narrow". And league president Paolo Dal Pino said Serie A "will comply" should Conte decide that it was simply too dangerous to complete the campaign. The teams themselves seem hopelessly divided about what they should do. Those that play in northern regions that were hardest hit by the virus have voiced the gravest concern. Brescia president Massimo Cellino -- whose team is based at the very heart of the outbreak -- said in March that he would rather forfeit games than play in a "plague". The 63-year-old revealed that he had tested positive for the virus a few weeks later. "It would be unfortunate if some teams can start again and others cannot," Fiorentina coach Beppe Iachini said on Saturday. "I think teams like Atalanta, Milan, Inter, Juve and Turino have had more problems than the others," he said of the main northern clubs. "If we do start, we have to do it all together."

Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.

Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

Besides their acting skills, a few Bollywood actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Shilpa Shetty and Suniel Shetty have smart business skills as well.

Mismanagement and corruption leave some of nation’s biggest teams on brink of collapse

The recruitment process in the industry is slowly starting to turn more professional

Scottish Rugby Union chiefs have set aside £500,000 to help clubs struggling in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak after suspending the domestic season until at least March 29.

Celebrities such as Emma Watson, Reese Witherspoon and Florence Welch have set up online reading groups on Instagram with thousands of followers reading a book with them every month.

The measures imposed Saturday by Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon came after the national government urged venues around the nation to close or otherwise enforce anti-virus measures,

EXCLUSIVE BY MATT HUIGHES: Sportsmail has learned that pursuing the sale, brought to the table by chief executive Robert Elstone, was approved at a board meeting last week.

Super League clubs are threatening legal action against Catalan Dragons if there is a significant financial loss at their clubs following the signing of Isreal Folau. 

Super League clubs are set to confront Catalans Dragons officials at a board meeting this morning amid talk of a revolt over the French club's controversial signing of Israel Folau.

Super League clubs have voted to tighten up the rules to prevent further controversial additions to the competition following the Catalans Dragons' signing of Israel Folau.

Rugby league clubs have been bizarrely prevented from defending their commitment to diversity, following instructions by Super League not to discuss the controversial signing of Israel Folau.

Super League clubs have been warned they must make a seismic U-turn and reunite with the Rugby Football League if they are to survive the coronavirus crisis.

EXCLUSIVE BY MIKE KEEGAN: The Rugby Football League (RFL) is set to ask the government for funding to ensure clubs do not go out of business after the season was suspended.

The measures imposed Saturday by Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon came after the national government urged venues around the nation to close or otherwise enforce anti-virus measures,

EXCLUSIVE BY MATT HUGHES: Some players from South Africa, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa will lose their right to work as the 2003 EU Association Agreement will not apply from December 31.

A growing number of Premier League clubs fear that even the postponement of Euro 2020 will not be sufficient to save this season in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

Bolton, one of the founding members of the Football League, are in a desperate fight to survive with the club hurtling towards liquidation if a deal to buy it cannot be revived.

EXCLUSIVE BY MATT HUGHES: Sportsmail has learned that a proposal to bring in fixed sporting sanctions for missed games will be tabled as part of a wider discussion.

Achraf Hakimi has developed into one of the most coveted full-backs in Europe after spending the last two seasons on loan at Borussia Dortmund from the Santiago Bernabeu side.

The Frenchman has fallen down the pecking order this season under Hansi Flick, having started just seven games under the new manager at the Allianz Arena.

The Moroccan international has developed into one of the most coveted full-backs in Europe after an impressive two-year loan stint at Borussia Dortmund from Real Madrid.

KIT HOLDEN IN GERMANY: On Monday morning, the Bundesliga waited with bated breath for news out of Cologne. When it came, German football breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Edinson Cavani has been linked with South American clubs such as Boca Juniors recently, but his mother Berta Gomez insists that he still wants to play club football in Europe.

EXCLUSIVE: Premier League clubs are worried about receiving instalments of transfer fees worth over £100m due from European clubs due to the collapse of TV deals on the continent.

Amid unhappiness amongst relegation-threatened clubs on home advantage being lost, the Premier League made it clear last Friday that all 20 grounds could be used next season.

Premier League clubs will hold urgent talks with their players this week amid major concerns from footballers over proposals to restart the season. 

Sportsmail revealed on Sunday the Premier League want all 20 clubs to commit to doing everything they can to resume in order to prevent financial collapse.

EFL chairman Rick Parry has pleaded for a rescue package from the Premier League with clubs financially crippled by the coronavirus crisis. He also branded parachute payments 'evil'.

Premier League clubs could be hit with a financial crisis similar to those faced by airlines across the world if football doesn't return by August, Crystal Palace chief Steve Parish has claimed.