Contra
Contra is a Latin preposition (also used in English as a prefix) meaning "against". It may also refer to:
- Iran–Contra affair, the Reagan administration selling weapons to Iran to fund the Contras
Finance
Media
Music
Video games
Contras
The contras (some references use the capitalized form, "Contras") is a label given to the various U.S.-backed and funded rebel groups that were active from 1979 through to the early 1990s in opposition to the left-wing, socialist Sandinista Junta of National Reconstruction government in Nicaragua. Among the separate contra groups, the Nicaraguan Democratic Force (FDN) emerged as the largest by far. In 1987, virtually all contra organizations were united, at least nominally, into the Nicaraguan Resistance.
From an early stage, the rebels received financial and military support from the United States government, and their military significance decisively depended on it. After US support was banned by Congress, the Reagan administration covertly continued it. These covert activities culminated in the Iran–Contra affair.
The term "contra" comes from the Spanish contra, which means against but in this case is short for la contrarrevolución, in English "the counter-revolution". Some rebels disliked being called contras, feeling that it defined their cause only in negative terms, or implied a desire to restore the old order. Rebel fighters usually referred to themselves as comandos ("commandos"); peasant sympathizers also called the rebels los primos ("the cousins"). From the mid-1980s, as the Reagan administration and the rebels sought to portray the movement as the "democratic resistance," members started describing themselves as la resistencia.
Contra (video game series)
Contra (Japanese: 魂斗羅, Hepburn: Kontora) is a video game series produced by Konami composed primarily of run and gun-style shoot-'em-ups. The series debuted in 1987 as a coin-operated arcade game simply titled Contra, which was followed by the release of Super Contra in 1988 and several sequels produced for various home platforms.
The in-universe use of the term "Contra" is first explained within the Japanese instruction card of the arcade version of Contra, and reiterated in most games (including Contra: Shattered Soldier), as "a title awarded to a superior soldier possessing almost super human drive and ability, while excelling in guerrilla tactics".
In Japanese, the title is spelled with the kanji characters 魂斗羅 or Kontora. This is a form of ateji, in which the characters are used for their phonetic pronunciations rather than any inherent meaning they may have.
The arcade version of Contra was released on February 1987, a few months after the Iran–Contra affair was made public. While it is unclear whether the game was deliberately named after the Nicaraguan Contra rebels, the ending theme of the original game was titled "Sandinista" (サンディニスタ, Sandinisuta), after the adversaries of the real-life Contras.
Indian
Indian or Indians may refer to:
People
South Asia
The Americas
- First Nations, the various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis
- Native Americans in the United States, the indigenous people in the United States
- Native Mexicans, indigenous people of Mexico
- Indigenous peoples in South America, peoples living in South America in the pre-Columbian era and their descendents
Indians (musician)
Indians is the moniker and alter ego of Danish singer-songwriter and musician Søren Løkke Juul signed to 4AD record label. In concerts, he is accompanied by some musicians also collectively known as Indians. Village Voice has dubbed Søren Løkke Juul / Indians as "Denmark's Bon Iver"
Performing his first solo show with the moniker Indians in February 2012, he self-released his debut single on 7" a few months later. He also extensively toured Europe and North America with the likes of Other Lives, Beirut, Perfume Genius, Phosphorescent and Daughter. He was eventually signed to British well-known indie record label 4AD with his debut album Somewhere Else released in Europe on 28 January 2013 and in North America the following day. The album charted in his home country in February 2013. He also had a song "Oblivion" featured on the The Fault in Our Stars (soundtrack).
Discography
Albums
Singles
References
External links
Indian (1996 film)
Indian is a 1996 Indian Tamil vigilante film directed by Shankar and produced by A. M. Rathnam. The film stars Kamal Haasan in dual roles with Manisha Koirala, Urmila Matondkar, Sukanya and Goundamani appearing in other pivotal roles. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by A. R. Rahman, while cinematography was handled by Jeeva.
The film focuses on an ex-freedom fighter turned vigilante bent on rooting out corruption and his son, who is at the other end of the spectrum by facilitating corrupt practices leading to unfortunate events.
The film opened to positive reviews from critics on the way to becoming a commercial blockbuster in the Tamil film industry. Indian was selected by India as its entry for the Best Foreign Language Film for the Academy Awards in 1996, but was not nominated. The film also went on to win three National Film Awards including that of Best Actor for Kamal Haasan's portrayal, while his performance also saw him win at the Filmfare Awards and the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards. The film was dubbed and released in Hindi as Hindustani with a few scenes reshot and also in Telugu as Bharatheeyudu. It was also the highest grossing Tamil film upon its release, until surpassed by Padayappa, three years later.
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