Salman Khan, Katrina to rock Filmfare

Cliched yeah, but tonight is the mother of all nights. It’s the 55th Idea-Filmfare Awards nite and Bollywood is in a state of tizzy.

Can’t blame them, the line-up of performers who’ll take centre-stage is so impressive, that you can’t help but feel weak-kneed.

Show director Mohammad Morani says, “Shah Rukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan will be anchoring the Filmfare Awards tonight. This is their fourth year together and everyone knows that with each passing year, this super-power combination only gets wiser and wittier.’’

This year livewires SRK and Saif are expected to outdo their own record of Bollywood’s best Khan couple in town because not only are they going to take centrestage from the beginning to the end, they also have a dozen gags planned to keep the powerful rolling in the aisles.

Okay, and it doesn’t all stop there. Riteish Deshmukh will serenade his current favourite, Jacqueline Fernandes, on stage for the first time ever. And they aren’t the only star couple who are going to be getting the temperature to rise. Bollywood’s best-looking superstar, and the one with the most chiselled abs, Salman Khan is dancing to a medlee of songs that include his all time favourites from Maine Pyar Kiya to Wanted. Starting with Kabootar Jaa, Jaa, Jaa to Love Me, Love Me ... Salman is naturally going to be the most loved guy this evening. Katrina Kaif, hmmm ... yes, she’s going to there too. Not only does Kat have a Best Actress nomination for New York, she’s also got new-found vigour to shake her leg to a combination of Indian and Western hits.

Choreographer-director Ganesh Hegde says Kareena Kapoor will definitely get temperatures soaring as she matches steps to her repertoire of super-hit songs including Zoobi-Doobi from 3 Idiots. And, Deepika Padukone will also shake a leg to her chartbusters from Karthik Calling Karthik and 2009’s best music track of Love Aaj Kal. Shahid Kapoor, who’s been on a media overdrive because of a lot of reasons, is going on stage at the Filmfare Awards paying obeisance to Michael Jackson. “I’m dancing to This Is It,’’ says Shahid, and he admits that though he is nervous as hell about the whole act, it has also got his adrenaline flowing.

Yes, the entertainment quotient is going to be so heady that no one is going to leave the venue complaining. The Lady in Black will accompany a chosen few home but even for the rest — it’s going to be a night they’ll want to relive again and again. There’s something about Filmfare ... that makes it so special.

Soruce:TOI

Bollywood upcoming movie "Karthik calling Karthik" cast talk about their film

New Delhi, Feb 23 (ANI): The cast of upcoming Bollywood romantic thriller "Karthik calling Karthik" promoted their film here on Monday.

'Karthik calling Karthik', directed by Vijay Lalwani, is a romantic thriller that revolves around an introvert, Karthik.


The music of the film is composed by Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy. The lyrics have been penned by Javed Akhtar.

Shankar Mahadevan said that the movie had a lot of western music.

Deepika Padukone, who plays the lead character of Shonali in the film, shared her views about her new look.

"Well the new look is a part of Shonali's character, Shonali has a character, she is very outgoing, very confident, she is independent, she is like the girl of today, and I think the haircut really complements that. Today if I heard of a girl called Shonali and if I heard with these characteristics, I would definitely imagine her with short hair," she said.

Karthik, played by singer-actor Farhan Akhtar, is a very sad and frustrated individual who has lots of emotional issues. How his life changes when he starts getting calls from a person by the same name forms the premise of the film.

And during the course of the film, it will unfold what these calls are all about and what's the price Karthik has to pay for these calls.

The film also features Ram Kapoor and Shefali Shah.

The film is slated for a February 26 release. (ANI)

I'd like to make a film in India: Ben Kingsley

Oscar-winning British actor-filmmaker Ben Kingsley is all praise for Indian women directors Nandita Das and Leena Yadav. But he now wants to make his own film in India instead of doing more Bollywood movies.

"I'd like to make a film of my own in India, (but) you are not going to see me in a mainstream Bollywood film," Kingsley, 66, who stars as a mathematical genius in Yadav's "Teen Patti", told IANS over phone from London.

"I do intend to hopefully produce and star in my own film in India. We are having some progress on that. Rather than creating offers, I am creating my own work in India which to me is very satisfying," he added.

Drawing a similarity between director Yadav and Lord Attenborough whose film "Gandhi" was based in India and fetched Kingsley an Oscar, he said: "All good directors have one particular quality in common.

"Both Yadav and Attenborough have a deep respect and obsession for actors. This is where they are not different. They are remarkably similar. I think their manner on the set is excellent."

Kingsley has teamed up with Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in "Teen Patti" that tells the story of two genius mathematicians who apply the formula of probability on the card tables. However, he regrets he couldn't shoot in India.

"I was hoping that my scenes might be in India, but all my scenes were in the UK. (But) It did give me an opportunity to work with the best in Indian cinema and to see the rhythm of work... It was a kind of delightful experiment in perhaps re-entering the Indian subcontinent after being away for too long."

In real life, the Hollywood veteran is not so good at cards.

"I am always asking people to remind me of the rule. I always pick up a card in my hand and say, 'what does that mean?' So I completely give the game away.

"I do recall that as a child at school, learning my multiplication tables that I did the fastest in the class which got me prizes at school for being a little boy extremely quick at mathematics."

"Mathematical patterns in life and science do fascinate me, but I haven't kept company of mathematicians, but it is something that I find attractive."

He says he loves working with women directors.

"I find a female director does things in a way, which is an exception. Now you have another great Indian film director - Nandita Das. That's another female director. I like female directors. They have a different picture of life and they use the camera in a different way. They tell stories in a different way."

He worked with Spanish director Isabel Coixet in "Elegy" and Kari Skogland for "Fifty Dead Men Walking".

"I'm looking forward to working with more. I'd like to work with her (Nandita Das) as an actor and also as a director."

About Indian films, he said: "You have very distinct styles of cinema. You have your popular Bollywood movies which are loved by the massive Indian diaspora. When I was travelling recently in London, my driver was Indian. I asked him if he had seen 'Brick Lane', 'After The Rain', 'The Namesake', 'Slumdog Millionaire'. He said we don't watch these films when we sit down together and as a family? what we can watch together are the Bollywood films.

"So your filmmaking is perceived in different ways in the Western world. One is for the Indian diaspora, which we call mainstream Bollywood. Then there are other new films that are coming out of India. They have great popularity among Western audiences.

"Among the Western audience I would say 'Brick Lane' is popular and I would say 'The Namesake' by Mira Nair is popular. Mira Nair has an interesting following in the world," he said.

Source:http://movies.indiatimes.com

Bollywood tweets for Sachin, the great

Bollywood stars have heaped praises on Sachin Tendulkar for smashing first-ever double century in history of ODIs, describing him as the "god of cricket" who has made Indians proud.

The whole nation celebrated Tendulkar's double century at the ODI against South Africa in Gwalior, Bollywood took to Twitter and blogging to express their jubilation.

Screen icon Amitabh Bachchan wrote on his blog, "Sachin playing the one dayer with South Africa in Gwalior creates history by being the first human in the universe to have scored 200 runs in an odi...I send sachin a congratulatory sms and he responds back with his customary thanks and love, inquiring after the family."

Calling the cricketer as 'Sachin-The Great', superstar Shah Rukh Khan on his Twitter account wrote, "My daughter had written a poem for Sachin the great will put it up one day. He had loved it...And i love him too much."

Big B's son actor Abhishek, despite a football enthusiast, revered Tendulkar as the pride of the nation.

"Despite Chelsea's loss. Will sleep with a huge smile on my face, thinking about Sachin's double hundred. Sachin you give us Indians a great reason to be proud. And the reason is you!!! (sic)," Abhishek wrote on his Twitter account.

"I finally know what god really looks like!! he is about 5"5, maharashtrian and plays cricket!! tendulkar bapa morya...Sachin. Master, idol, legend!!! congratulations!!! what an innings," he added.

Priyanka Chopra, who in US to shoot for 'Anjaana Anjaani' missed Tendulkar's innings, but the actress still wrote, "Oh my god! Just read about Sachin's double century! Mannn! I slept thru it!! feel so proud to be born at a time when I can witness greatness!"

Shahid Kapoor also wrote on his Twitter account, "Sachin u r truelly Great... Humbling to c him ... Wat a player."

While filmmaker Karan Johar said, "His name is TENDULKAR and he is a LEGEND!!!", actress and IPL team owner Preity Zinta hailed the player as her hero and wrote, "Sachin! You are my hero! You make us so proud Team India rocks because Sachin shocks the opposition!"

Actor Vivek Oberoi wrote, "I've always said....if cricket is a religion....sachin is god!" "So much 2learn from the master...he has faced every taunt, every critic, every insult with tremendous dignity & always answered with his bat!," he added.

Actor Riteish Deshmukh, a regular on Twitter wrote, "HISTORY has been created by d Master . In future people will always remember where they were when SACHIN scored 200* runs. Atyanth abhimaan."

Soruce:http://cricket.ndtv.com

Pa giving young actors run for their money – Abhishek

New Delhi, Abhishek Bachchan, who was eagerly looking forward to see his father Amitabh’s performance in “Teen Patti”, says the veteran actor just keeps getting better with every film even at the age of 68.

“‘Teen Patti’ releases today. Can’t wait to see what Big B has in store for us this time round. (I am) still getting over his performance in ‘Rann’. He’s just this force that has become unstoppable! Shocks you with every new performance…full power to you Pa,” Abhishek posted on Twitter.

“He’s a 68-year-old giving this current generation a run for their money. Highly doubt any of us will be able to do the same at his age,” he added.

Soruce:http://www.bollywoodworld.com

Madhavan does Coffee with an Idiot for NRI audience

Mumbai, It’s not just the Indian milieu that identified with the concept of “3 Idiots” but the blockbuster also touched a chord with the Non Resident Indians (NRIs) abroad, says actor R Madhavan, who hosted “Coffee with an Idiot” in the US.

“I was struck by the level of intellectual and mass connectivity the NRIs in the US had with ‘3 Idiots’. It’s opened up a whole new discussion on the education system and the role of Indian cinema in bridging the gap between oriental and western perceptions on the power of the youth,” Madhavan said.

“It was a very select gathering, intellectual and fun at the same time. The whole idea of Coffee with an Idiot was inspired by 3 Idiots. I wanted the film’s success to be the take-off point for cosy sit-in dinners with a selected audience in four American cities namely Dallas, San Jose, New Jersey and Chicago. The interaction in each city lasted for nearly two hours,” he said.

But all this happened by chance. During his recent visit to Canada with his wife and son, Madhavan was invited to the Sundance Film Festival by his “3 Idiots” co-star Aamir Khan.

However, Aamir’s father passed away in the meantime.

Says Madhavan: “I was supposed to join Aamir at the Sundance film festival and, in fact, all set to leave from Canada to the US when news came that Aamir had to rush back. Of course, I was disappointed. I was hoping to participate in the festival with Aamir and catch his film ‘Peepli Live’ which I have’t seen. But more than disappointment I was concerned for Aamir’s loss. We all were.”

With Sundance cancelled Madhavan decided to take a different route and ventured on “Coffee with an Idiot”.

“In many ways, I owe the concept and its success to Aamir. If ‘3 Idiots’ hadn’t happened, such a creative forum discussing education and the youth wouldn’t have opened up. On a more microscopic level, it was Aamir’s invitation to Sundance which actually made my ‘Coffee with an Idiot’ tour possible,” said Madhavan.

However, quite like the protagonist in “3 Idiots”, Madhavan seems confused about his future.

“I’ve a thriving career in Tamil and my career in Hindi cinema has just found its bearings. I can’t pretend that a ‘3 Idiots’ will happen again. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon. So when I am asked during the promotional tours of ‘Teen Patti’ if it will be as big a success as ‘3 Idiots’, I feel like throwing my hands up in the air and running the other way.”

Soruce:http://www.bollywoodworld.com

Mom and I have great emotional connect – Shahid Kapoor

Mumbai, Contrary to reports, Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor spent his 29th birthday with his family. He was especially delighted with the presence of his mother with whom he has “a great emotional connect”.

Referring to all the plans that had been reported for his birthday Thursday, Shahid says: “Everyone made plans that I didn’t know about. It was quite annoying. Even my guest list was prepared.

“But no, the truth was there were no plans beyond the family.”

About his mother’s presence on this birthday, he says: “Me and my mom used to live together. Now we live separately. But we have a great emotional connect. So ‘aal izz well’ on that front.

“My brother Ishaan stays with my mom and we’re always hanging out together. In fact, I was at his annual day hours before my birthday. I feel I’m terrible to my family and friends because I don’t give them enough time.”

During his 29 years, Shahid has only had a couple of birthday parties. “I had a party for my last birthday and it drove me nuts. If friends take over and have a party for me only then will I be part of it in future.”

His earliest memory of a birthday goes back to when he was four in Delhi. “It was in a two-bedroom apartment. As a child, I’d embarrass my mom at my birthdays by snatching the gift from the guest, opening it and expressing my pleasure or displeasure about the gift. They were very regular, typical middle-class birthdays.”

Regarding rumours of a link-up with actress Deepika Padukone, Shahid says: “I’ve met her a few times. I first met her at an awards function and then we bumped into one another at a couple of parties. She seems like a nice person.

“Of course, it’s very embarrassing, not so much for me as for the lady. When there’s someone in my life I’ll announce it properly. At the moment I’m scared to even meet a girl for fear of being linked up. But I won’t stop living my life the way I want to just because I fear being wrongly linked.”

Shahid’s closing thoughts on his birthday: “This is going to be a year of learning for me. In the last couple of years, I’ve been going on the sets and trying to behave as if I know my job.”

He is also excited about acting in his father Pankaj Kapoor’s film “Mausam”.

“Now this year I’m going to be a student to my father as he makes his film. I want to go on the set with an attitude of learning. I want to come out a better human being and an actor. And I know I will because there’s no better teacher than my father.”

‘Teen Patti’ partly dubbed for single screen: Producer

Mumbai, The English conversation between actors Amitabh Bachchan and Ben Kinsley in the forthcoming film “Teen Patti” has been dubbed in Hindi for the single screen audience, producer Ambika Hinduja of Serendipity films said.

The movie has been directed by Leena Yadav.

“In the movie Mr. Bachchan’s character Venkat is narrating his journey to Perci Trachtenberg (Ben Kingsley). Of course, Sir Ben doesn’t speak Hindi. Their conversation is in English. Those particular scenes, which come at a very important juncture in the movie, have been dubbed for the single screen audience,” Hinduja told IANS.

“Mr. Bachchan has dubbed for himself and Boman Irani has dubbed for Sir Ben,” she added.

Hinduja maintains that though the film is releasing worldwide, it has not been dubbed for the overseas non-traditional market but has been subtitled for some selected regions.

“Currently the worldwide release is Feb 26. We are starting with the traditional territories. We have got some non-traditional territories like Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and Syria that have shown keen interest in the film and we are releasing it there. For the Middle East, Gulf and these non-traditional territories we have subtitled the film in English and Arabic,” said Hinduja.

Around Rs.30 crore was spent on “Teen Patti.” It is going to have a big release with 900 prints for India and abroad along with 1700 UFOs (digital print). Serendipity films is still negotiating with some countries who have shown an interest in releasing the film.

“We have 900 prints for India and overseas along with 1,700 UFOs. Every single day we get calls to release the film in Europe and in some Southeast Asian countries, but you know the deal has to make sense for us so we are going to exploit it peacefully,” said the producer.

This is her second film after “Being Cyrus” (2005) which was directed by Homi Adajania and her first mainstream Hindi film.

Hinduja involved herself with every frame of “Teen Patti”.

“I am the creative producer and was involved in every aspect, stage and process of the film and the making of it. Because it is my second film and the first mainstream film, I wanted to give it my best and establish my company with “Teen Patti”,” said Hinduja.

Asked about the genre of the film, she said: “I can’t give a specific genre to “Teen Patti”. It is a thriller, a drama and it’s a film for the global audience. It deals with a universal theme like greed, deception, relationships and most importantly achievements and all of us across the globe can identify with these particular themes. ”

The movie was invited by 12 film festivals but Hinduja didn’t accept any of them because of a fear of piracy.

“We were invited by 12 film festivals, but piracy is a big threat. For example, the movie ‘What’s your Raashee’ was screened at the Toronto film festival five days before its release and it was out in the market before the release. For a movie like ‘Being Cyrus’ there was no competition in the market, there was no threat; it was first of its kind so we took it to various festivals. It was highly appreciated and after being written about, we released the film,” said Hinduja.

Soruce:http://www.bollywoodworld.com/

Amitabh Bachchan greatest talent of our time: Gordon Brown

Applauding the cinematic genius of Bollywood mega star Amitabh Bachchan, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown described the actor as one of the “greatest talents” of our time.

Brown spoke glowingly of the 67-year-old star as he presented him with the keys for a Mobile Diabetes Unit at a charity dinner here last night.

The bus, named ‘Amitabh’ in the honour of Big B, will help screen people in Mumbai for diabetes and has been donated by diabetes prevention charity organisation ‘Silver Star’, founded by Indian-origin Labour MP, Keith Vaz in 2007.

“It is a pleasure to be here with Amitabh Bachchan. I talked to him just as we arrived. I was saying that I had 4 million viewers in a TV interview. I asked how many people will watch his next film and he said 500 million people. That shows the greatness of this man,” Brown said.

“Some years ago, we met in India and now here. He is more prosperous now. He is one of the greatest talents of our generation,” the Prime Minister added.

Bachchan was joined by Bollywood actors Sanjay Dutt and Shilpa Shetty at the charity event.

Brown described Shetty as an “acting phenomenon and a committed humanitarian“.

“Your campaign for AIDS awareness is an inspiration. We all know the stigma attached to HIV and AIDS but no injustice should be allowed to last for ever, you are tackling one of the difficult issues,” he said.

Brown also said that the modern Britain will not be same without its strong bond with India.

“Let us be absolutely clear, modern Britain will not be the same without our strong bond with India and the enormous part played by the Anglo-Indian community here. With our strategic partnership with India, we can celebrate in everything we do,” the Prime Minister said.

“There is no doubt India is a modern global success story about which all of us should be proud of,” he added.

Bachchan thanked Brown for lending his support and encouragement to the cause and congratulated Vaz.

“Timely detection of this severe ailment can go a long way in its management to the noble cause,” Bachchan said.

Noting that Silver Star has plans to launch similar units in Kerala and Delhi, Bachchan said he looked forward to seeing “all of you in India, in the not too distant future.”

‘Amitabh’ is the second Silver Star Mobile Diabetes Unit in India. Last year Bachchan launch the first mobile unit in Goa, which has so far tested 2075 people.

”Seven million people in the UK have diabetes and have not been diagnosed, and over 50 million people in India are diabetic,” Vaz said.

PTI

Gujarat tourism gets boost from Big B

AHMEDABAD: Tourism is expected to be the "major beneficiary" of Hindi film icon and Gujarat brand ambassador Amitabh Bachchan's promotion of the
state, Tourism Secretary Vipul Mitra said.

He said discussions were held with Amitabh who accepted the Gujarat government's offer to be the new brand ambassador Feb 1.

"Preliminary discussions have already been held with Amitabh Bachchan who expressed his willingness to be the brand ambassador for Gujarat," Mitra said late Sunday after launching cambaytours.com, a tour and travel portal of the Neesa group here.

"Mr. Bachchan has already indicated the names of the people he would be comfortable working with, in making TV spots and promotional media campaigns. We have held talks with Mr. Piyush Pandey in this regard as well.

"Expectedly tourism will be among the major beneficiaries of Mr. Bachchan's promotion of Gujarat."

Amitabh, who volunteered to act as the brand ambassador during his visit to Gandhinagar Jan 6 for a special screening of his film "Paa", said he was impressed by the development of the state and would like to "lend his voice and face" if the government planned any documentary to showcase the state's case for development in tourism and other sectors.

Chief Minister Narendra Modi followed this up by sending Amitabh an offer to act as the state's brand ambassador which was promptly accepted by the film icon.

ET

Konkona Sen not promoting Konkona Sen not promoting Atithi Tum Kab Jaaoge?

When every actor on planet Bollywood is playing their cards right while promoting their film, one actor who has kept herself busy with other prospects of acting is Konkona Sen Sharma.

The release of her forthcoming venture - Atithi Tum Kab Jaaoge is round the corner but she seems to be in no mood to promote it. Instead she is busy with the rehearsals and promotion of her play ‘The Blue Mug’. “I am going to act in a play titled ‘The Blue Mug’ this weekend at Rang Sharda. And hopefully Mumbaities will come and watch my play,” says the actress who seems to be in a comfy zone here.


Ajay Devgn too seems to have taken a back seat when it comes to promotions. Seems makers of Atithi Tum Kab Jaaoge are too confident to market it.

Soruce:http://entertainment.oneindia.in

Mohanlal, Surya, Amitabh Bachchan in a film!

The headline is a shocking one but all wish it is true. One can't resist from seeing all the three superstars from Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi in the same film. The trio are seen together in the upcoming movie by director Major Ravi titled Kandahar. Surya and Amitabh will play important roles with Mohanlal.

Major Ravi has been very much applauded for his war based fuilms like Kurukshetra and Keerthichakra. Both had Mohanlal as the hero. This two films even gave Mohanlal the Leut Colonel title. Kandahar movie is all about Kandahar Indian Airlines flight hijack incident which rattled the nation in 1999. The movie is said to be a bilingual one in Tamil and Malayalam and will be shot in Kerala, Delhi and Nepal. So get ready to meet the trio.

http://entertainment.oneindia.in

Toh Baat Pakki – Movie Review

Film: “Toh Baat Pakki”
Cast: Tabu, Ayub Khan, Vatsal Seth, Sharman Joshi
Director: Kedar Shindre

It’s “Click” that’s meant to be this week’s horror flick. But “Toh Baat Pakki” is a bigger horror than anything in any recent weeks. And to think that the divine Tabu stars in it makes the blood boil.

On paper, the idea of playing the busybody housewife Rajeshwari, who seems to have only one mission in life, namely to see her sister (newcomer Yuvika) married off, must have sounded like an exciting new character to explore for the brilliant actress. Alas, Tabu had not bargained for the mundane situations and the pedestrian dialogues that her character has been put into.

“Toh Baat Pakki” is one of those tragic comedies that don’t elicit a hint of humour. The plot is intrinsically bereft of ingenuity and the direction is strained most of the way.

Among the many problems that plague the plot is the lack of inherent drama in Tabu’s character. Her character has no inner life, no motivating emotions except hatching silly match-making schemes for her giddy-headed sister. She first invites Sharman into her home as a tenant…And then Vatsal.

Tabu plays the annoying, part-schemer, part-dreamer housewife. Unlike the shrew that Sridevi played with full-blooded passion in “Judaai”, Tabu’s Rajeshwari is a woman caught in annoying confusions of self-assertion. And she’s not to blame.

The lingering condition of a hangover mixed with yesterday’s leftovers stays with the film right till the bustling conclusion when all of Rajeshwari’s match-making manipulation come to fatuous fruition.

“Toh Baat Pakki” tries hard to be charming and quaint. But it lacks that lightness of weight that would have made the characters appear larger than life in an unstrained atmosphere.

A pity, since the ethereal Tabu is hardly seen in any film. She tries bravely to get out of her dramatic space to deliver a broad satirical performance that screams for behind-the-scenes fine-tuning.

She gets no support from her co-stars except maybe Ayub Khan who, as her supportive husband, plays a thankless part with warmth. Sharman Joshi as Tabu’s sister’s first suitor has done the goofy act lately in “3 Idiots”. Here he has nothing new or appealing to add to his uninspired character.

Vatsal Seth, as suitor No.2, gives his clean-cut, good-boy role a genial treatment. The second half, where Sharman pretends to be the bride-to-be’s well-wisher and tries to influence Vatsal against the marital alliance, is suspiciously similar to Yash Chopra’s “Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai”.

While the older film had some derivative energy to sustain its silly romantic movement, “Toh Baat Pakki” is as inert at its centre as a clock that stopped ticking while you were sleeping.

Avoid the film even if you are a diehard Tabu fan. In fact, please avoid it if you are a Tabu fan.

Click – Movie Review

Film: “Click”
Cast: Shreyas Talpade, Sadaa Sayed, Sneha Ullal
Director: Sangeeth Sivan

If you can accept Shreyas Talpade as a womanizing glamorous photographer who clicks with the ladies, so to speak, and Sneha Ullal, then the underlining theme of love-on-the-prowl in afterlife is chilling in spurts.

Director Sangeeth Sivan, who had earlier carved a comic slant for himself with “Kyaa Kool Hain Hum”, displays a penchant for projecting a mood of ominous foreboding into the finely lit frames.

The camera (T. Ramji) is impeccably mood-oriented. The idyllic Goa outdoors and the neat spacious artistically designed interiors are used intelligently to create a sense of horrific disorder under the commodious elegant surfaces.

Sandeep Chowta’s reined-in background score is another asset to the mood of underlying foreboding, though the songs, done as annoying set pieces with autopilot choreography, are like molar surgery in the middle of a trying day.

The sound design mercifully precludes startling noises and creaking doors. Like Ram Gopal Varma’s “Bhoot”, “Click” focuses on finding the centre of the terror in ordinary circumstances.

If only portions of the plot was not so hard to digest. Moving on an age-old premise for horror cinema where the protagonist’s past trespasses catch up with him in chilling infinity, “Click” creates a melange of intended terror and unintended humour.

Talpade (somewhat miscast) is the not-so-fashionable fashion photographer whose camera begins to capture spirits.

The feeling of something-out-there is well-developed. But the gruesome pre-denouement gang rape and murder are not just out of place but done with unpardonable half-heartedness.

Some of the hero’s trysts with the spook, such as the sequence where he climbs down a fire escape with the spirit in hot pursuit, are spine-chilling. The dying moments where Avi’s past guilt literally rides on his shoulder and apparently for the rest of his life, are a terrifying representation of guilt, though the rest of the film is too flighty to carry the existential burden.

While Shreyas is effective in the traumatized moments, his two co-stars are listless. Blessedly this shiver giver seems original.

And we can’t fault the film for cracking the horror genre with a basic amount of finesse.

People I trusted in Bollywood misguided me: Sneha Ullal

Mumbai, Sneha Ullal was known as the Aishwarya Rai-lookalike when she entered the film world but the actress is now keen to carve a niche for herself. After featuring in spooky thriller “Click”, she feels it’s time she proved her calibre to people who misguided her when she first came to Bollywood.

“See ‘Click’ is not my comeback in Bollywood because the film doesn’t revolve around me. I need a film like ‘Lucky’ (her debut vehicle) to make a comeback; then I can show what I can do,” Sneha told IANS.

“Now it’s time I prove myself because there are a lot of people who misguided me in Bollywood – whom I trusted. I never knew Bollywood is like that, you know,” she said.

The young actress has already signed two Hindi movies, including one opposite Akshay Kumar.

“I am doing a film with Ashok Tyagi where Akshay Kapoor is my co-star and there is another film with Shubir Mukherjee. The film is being launched by Joy Mukherjee’s son Sujoy. One of them is a thriller, the other is a love story and both are expected to release later this year,” said Sneha.

Sneha made her debut in 2005 opposite Salman Khan and her second release was “Aryan: Unbreakable” (2006) with Sohail Khan. After that she moved down south and featured in Telugu films like “Nenu Meeku Telusa…?” and “Ullasanga Utsahanga” .

“I have done three films in the south and the fourth is releasing in April. In the south, people are very genuine. They will tell you the right things. I had rejected one film because I was not comfortable kissing on screen.

“Two months later, I got another film and I called the same director, whose film I had rejected, for some guidelines and he guided me properly. It’s unlike Bollywood. Here people will misguide you and take you in the wrong direction. That’s what happened with me,” said Sneha.

The 22-year-old feels she owes a lot to southern cinema. “I won’t stop doing films in the south ever. It teaches you how to be an actor…how to be a lady. I don’t know about Bollywood as I haven’t done much work here.”

But at the same time she is keen to leave her mark in Bollywood as well and says she will be less choosy about roles than earlier.

“I am going to do any role now that takes me to another level. If my role is good, I don’t mind even if it’s a D-grade film,” said Sneha.

“I was choosy, but it didn’t work for me. I need to learn because that’s what an actor is all about. She needs to play different kinds of characters…You can’t stick to one genre.”

Asked if she has any regrets about her initial years in Bollywood, Sneha said: “I don’t regret but if I am to re-do, I will re-do now. I don’t regret because ‘Lucky’ gave me name; people know me today because of ‘Lucky’.”

I don’t know why co-passengers stared at me, says Hema

Mumbai, Actress-politician Hema Malini had to travel from Goa to Patna for a dance recital and says she hadn’t bargained for being put in economy class in the flight and 300 pairs of eyes gazing at her.

“There was no business class in the flight to Patna. I had to sit in economy. I didn’t mind at all. But the people around me seemed to be very distracted. I was concerned for them,” Hema, who went to Patna Saturday, told IANS.

“I don’t know why they needed to stare. You say because I’m beautiful? No. I never believed I was. My mother always taught me to stay grounded. I never started believing I was someone special,” she added.

It’s been a hectic time for Hema – she is producing “Tell Me Oh Khuda” for daughter Esha under impossible weather conditions and back-breaking schedules in different parts of the world. Last week she had to rush with her cast and crew to Goa to shoot the carnival there.

“The Goa was not supposed to happen now. It came later. But we needed to shoot the carnival which was held from February 13-16. So we preponed the schedule that was to happen later in the year and rushed to Goa last week. Now we’ll have to go back to Goa later,” she said.

Source:http://www.bollywoodworld.com/

Bobby Deol to star in two Sangeeth Sivan films

Mumbai, After horror film “Click”, director Sangeeth Sivan has two projects in hand and Bobby Deol will be playing the lead roles in both.

“I am going to start my next projects. I am making two films. My next film ‘Cheers’ is a drama where you will see Dharam-ji (Dharmendra) and Bobby Deol together,” Sivan told IANS.

“It’s a father and son story. The story is about a road trip…a journey where a father and son re-discover each other. It’s a story very close to my heart,” he added.

The other film the director is working on is a comedy, coming long after “Kya Kool Hain Hum” (2005) and “Apna Sapna Money Money” (2006).

“See everyone who comes to me, comes for a comedy film. I was resisting the temptation. I wanted to tell the people ’see what else I can do’. Now a point has come where you can choose…you have done action, horror, comedy and a romantic comedy. Now it’s quite exciting for me to make people laugh again. I am also doing a full-time comedy film “Jab Jab Fools Mile” with Sanjay Dutt, Bobby Deol and one more actor (yet to be confirmed),” said Sivan.

Bobby played the lead role in his last film “Ek: The Power of One” too.

So what made him choose Bobby for both his films?

“Bobby is there in both the films because he actually fits into the parts,” said Sivan.

Saif Ali Khan looks forward to spy thriller, ‘Race 2′

Mumbai, With a Padma Shri and quite a few hits tucked under his belt, Saif Ali Khan is set to launch his second production venture and spy thriller “Agent Vinod” and says the delayed project is very much on.

“A lot has been said about ‘Agent Vinod’, but we are very much on track. Final touches are being given to the script and at the end of March we should have the film on the floors,” Saif, 39, told IANS in an interview.

After “Love Aaj Kal”, this will be his second production, “Agent Vinod”. It will be directed by Sriram Raghavan.

“Meanwhile, I definitely want to work on ‘Race 2′. To do a romantic comedy is also something that stands high up in my list, but then I am just waiting for a great script to come my way.”

Taking a trip down memory lane, he said it was superhit “Hum Tum” that bailed him out during trying times.

“I would think that ‘Hum Tum’ was a definite milestone film in my career. Yes, there was ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ which was a good success as well, but then I was a second lead there. ‘Hum Tum’ was a solo hit and had the momentum going for me,” Saif told IANS.

“Soon followed ‘Salaam Namaste’, which further set the pace in my career. In the earlier years, ‘Yeh Dillagi’ was definitely a landmark movie. Then came ‘Main Khiladi Tu Anari’, which again worked quite well for me,” added Saif who is one of the top actors today and a successful producer also.

Success came to him after a lean patch where nothing seemed to be working for him. With many of his films belonging to diverse genres failing at the box office, Saif was pretty much looking at the bottom of the barrel.

If one goes into flashback mode and takes a journey back in time, it wasn’t too far back when he was dancing to the tune of “Main hoon aashiq awara” (“Aashiq Awara”) and “Ole, Ole” (“Yeh Dillagi”). Today, with Saif named for a Padma Sri, he has come a long way.

“Yeah, it was a disastrous patch and this is where ‘Hum Saath Saath Hai’ came in handy. There were also ‘Kachche Dhaage’ and ‘Kya Kehna’ which were decent successes and then of course ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ which was another landmark film,” said Saif.

Is there any other film that he believes brought a complete turnaround in the way he was looked at as an actor?

“Other than the aforementioned films like ‘Hum Tum’, ‘Salaam Namaste’ and ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’, diverse films like ‘Parineeta’ and ‘Ek Haseena Thi’ brought in further recognition.

” ‘Being Cyrus’ was nice and offbeat too and then considering the kind of perception that people had for me, ‘Omkara’ turned out to be huge as it showed quite some range. And now as we stand, I have a production like ‘Love Aaj Kal’. So, yeah, it’s not that bad after all.”

Source:http://www.bollywoodworld.com/

Dharmendra more father than actor, Bobby like son: Sunny

New Delhi, Sunny Deol might be gearing up to rub shoulders again with father Dharmendra and younger brother Bobby in laugh-riot “Yamla Pagla Deewana” after “Apne”, but the actor-turned-director says they are more family than professionals on sets.

“He is more of a father to us than an actor (on sets). We in fact don’t think whether who is father, actor, son or anything while we are working. We just work and if someone is not comfortable with something than we come in and make it comfortable. When we are acting, we’re just doing our roles basically,” Sunny told IANS.

“Bobby and I have got a good rapport between us. He is like a younger son to me. It’s always been like that,” he added.

Source:http://www.bollywoodworld.com/

111 films competing for 55th Filmfare Awards

MUMBAI, Feb 18: A total of 111 films are competing in 37 categories at the 55th Filmfare Awards 2009 to be held here Feb 27, an organiser said here on Wednesday night.

“It’s been a fantastic journey for the past 55 years. So much has changed in the film industry and so much has changed with the awards function too. Fifty-five years ago, we started with three categories and a handful of films and today we have got 37 categories and 111 films participating,” Tarun Rai, CEO of Worldwide Media Pvt Ltd, told IANS.

“So it’s a completely different scale and it’s also fascinating in terms of kind of movies that are actually there for nomination this time,” he said.

The nomination for each category is absolutely based on reader’s poll.

“It wasn’t difficult to nominate films or film personalities in any category because it was done through reader’s poll. A huge number of people read our magazines around the country and we also have filmfare.com and it’s been visited by millions of people not just in India but also across the world. For us it was easy. It will be difficult for the jury to choose one among the five in each category,” Rai said.

'Endhiran' gearing for monsoon release

Superstar Rajnikant, who has teamed up with Bollywood diva Aishwarya Rai in Tamil film "Endhiran", says it is expected to hit the screens in July or August.

Rajnikant was speaking on one of the costliest films to be made in India -- with a budget of over Rs.125 crore -- after he had visited Chief Minister K. Karunanidhi Thursday to thank him for attending the engagement ceremony of Rajnikant's second daughter Soundarya with industrialist Ashwin Ramkumar.

"Endhiran" is directed by Shankar and according to the him more than 90 percent of the movie is complete. A.R. Rahman has composed the music for the film.

Source:http://movies.indiatimes.com

Toh Baat Pakki stars attended its premiere

New Delhi, (ANI): Bollywood's latest Hindi movie 'Toh Baat Pakki (So It's Settled) was premiered in New Delhi on Thursday (February 18). Bollywood actors Tabu, Sharman Joshi, Director Kedar Shinde and other crewmembers were presented during the premiere that took place at a plush Cineplex.

Directed by Marathi filmmaker Kedar Shinde, the film is a homely family drama that depicts typical culture and values of Indian middle-class families. The film is about a middle-class woman, who is obsessed with getting her younger sister Nisha married to a well-settled boy within their clan. The film features Bollywood actors Tabu and Sarman Joshi in the lead role.


Bollywood actress Tabu, the lead star of the film, is making her comeback in Hindi films after three-years. The National Award-winning actress was last seen in 2007. Tabu termed the film as light-hearted family drama."This film is an entertaining, light-heated and fun-filled film about a marriage, about middle class values, about sisters, families and about romance and all of that," she said.

The film also features Bollywood actor Sharman Joshi in the lead male role. Joshi, whose last film 3-Idiots was a blockbuster of the year 2009, looked confident of the success of the film. "The story is very enduring and exciting. As far as my character is concerned I am playing the role of Rahul Saxena, a final year engineering student who is simple and shy guy, who doesn't stand for his rights and if he stretched beyond limits he will stand for his rights," said Sharman Joshi.

Kedar Shinde, for whom this is debut directorial effort, said that bollywood directors Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Chatterjee inspired him. "I am very fond of films by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Basu Chatterjee and films by Rajshri Productions that depicts our culture and values...I always want to produce a light-hearted comedy and it is a light-hearted comedy," said Kedar Shinde. The film also features actors Yuvika Chaudary, Vatsal Seth and Ayub Khan. Produced by Ramesh S. Taurani and Kumar S. Taurani, ''Toh Baat Pakki'' released on Friday (February 19).

Salman and I deserve special awards

The 55th Idea Filmfare Awards 2009 is all set to happen at Yash Raj studios in Mumbai on 27th Feb 2010 and who better than the gorgeous Katrina Kaif to announce the grant event!

Looking supremely sexy in a body hugging knee length purple dress, Katrina Kaif proved to be rather witty in her replies to the press.

Unlike other Bollywood actresses who choose to be diplomatic, Katrina even openly confessed how Priyanka Chopra and Vidya Balan deserve the Filmfare Best Actress award for Kaminey and Pa respectively, inspite of them being Kats competitors in the same category. Katrina has won a Best Actress nomination for her performance in New York.

Katrina even light-heartedly apologized to a member of the press for not able to speak in fluent Hindi said, “Mujhe Maaf Kijiye, main koshish kar rahi hoon”. Speaking on awards, Katrina said, “I always get nominated but never win! Its great that the audience likes my work and that is my reward but I’d also like to win awards. They make you feel proud of your work, your film.”

In spite of being in the Hindi film industry for over 20 years, Salman too hasn’t won a Filmfare award. “Filmfare should start a special category for people who have not won a Filmfare like Salman and me” laughed Katrina.

The actress will also be performing at the 55th Idea Filmfare awards 2009, an act which will be choreographed by Ganesh Hegde.

The hosts of the show have been kept under wraps.

Speaking on the occasion, Tarun Rai, CEO, Worldwide Media Private Limited, said, "I am really amazed that we have been doing this for 55 long years. Earlier, we had three categories and handful of films. Today, we have 111 films vying for 37 categories.

Soruce:http://movies.indiatimes.com

Not used to winning, nomination is enough – Katrina Kaif

Mumbai, Katrina Kaif, who has bagged a nomination at the upcoming 55th Filmfare Awards in best actor category for her role in “New York”, says she is happy with the nomination and won’t mind if someone else wins the trophy.

“Everyone wants to win, everyone wants to be successful. When you make a movie, you want it to be a hit and successful. When you are nominated of course you want to win. But honestly I am so used to not winning that just the nomination is enough,” she said.

“I cannot complain as my awards have been so great from the audiences. I am happy just to be nominated. I would have a great time performing at the show,” the actress told reporters at a press conference of 55th Filmfare Awards here Wednesday.

“At the end of the day the jury gives these awards. Everyone’s opinion is going to be different. You know more than the performances, for example, the best actress category, I always want the film to win… a film that I am in,” she added.

Katrina will perform at the the award function to be held Feb 27 at the Yash Raj Studios and she has teamed up with her favourite choreographer Ganesh Hegde to prepare for her performance.

“We haven’t confirmed on which songs I am going to perform. We have only confirmed the choreographer and he is Ganesh Hegde. He is one of my favourites so I think it’s going to be a phenomenal act this time. I am really excited and we are going to start practice this Thursday,” said Katrina.

Soruce:http://www.bollywoodworld.com/

Vidya Balan moves into new home, plans series of sit-in dinners

Mumbai, Vidya Balan, who recently moved into her new four-bedroom place in Khar here, says instead of throwing a housewarming party she will invite her friends in different groups for dinners so that they can enjoy themselves thoroughly.

“I think it’s imprudent to invite all your friends all at once for one party. This makes the gathering unmanageable – guests who don’t know one another get uncomfortable,” Vidya told IANS.

“So I’m having a series of sit-in dinners in my new house where groups of friends who know one another can come together for cosy comfortable conversations and food,” added the actress who won accolades for her unconventional roles in “Paa” and “Ishqiya”.

Before that Vidya wants every little detail in her new house to be perfect.

“I’m fastidious about cleanliness to the point of being obsessive about my home. If I feel a drawer is messy, I will clean it up at 3 in the morning after a hard day’s shooting. So before my house-warming parties start, I need to make sure everything is in place,” said the actress.

Vidya admits the home is now her proudest possession.

“It’s virtually been built brick by brick by me in the middle of my busy schedules. I wasn’t able to give the house time at a stretch. That’s why it took time to be put together.

“Shifting into it after the release of ‘Ishqiya’ is a conscious move. I think after ‘Paa’ and ‘Ishqiya’, I’ve earned myself a place of my own,” she said.

Vidya earlier stayed in a much smaller place in Chembur. The new place has been done up by a friend of her father.

“Not familiar to the film fraternity… He had done up our earlier place as well.”

Source:http://www.bollywoodworld.com

Sanjay Dutt to star in political thriller?

Mumbai, Vivek Agnihotri, who is all set to direct political thriller “Freedom” based on the events of the last three decades, says Sanjay Dutt may play an important role in it.

“Yes, it (the cast) is more or less finalised. While R. Madhavan is already on board, talks with Sanjay Dutt are in the final stages as well,” Agnihotri told IANS.

The film would begin from the 1975-77 Emergency and the sterilisation campaign by Sanjay Gandhi during that period. Some of the other major episodes which would be brought alive on screen are the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the Bofors scam, and other prominent scams in the last three decades.

Given the fact that the director is exploring more than half a dozen ugly episodes from the history of modern India, doesn’t he fear protests and confrontation from political parties as well as others?

“What can one do, the truth can’t be erased, right?” Agnihtri asked. “And then courtesy the kind of politicians that we have been having in the country, both in the past as well as the current times, you can’t deny the relevance and topicality of the issues.

“Perhaps people have changed but not the thought process. ‘Freedom’ will be told in the format of a political thriller and I can promise to be truly honest and unbiased in my job.”

Would the story be told in a chronological manner or would there be overlaps and going back and forth, as seen last in “Love Aaj Kal”?

“No, ‘Freedom’ will have a linear narrative”, said Agnihotri, who had earlier attempted a non-linear narrative in his debut effort “Chocolate”. “The beauty of the subject is that it stays as topical as ever as it starts in the 70s and takes us to the current times. Even if I had to make ‘Freedom’ in 2020, it will still retain its charm.”

Agnihotri’s wish list includes Malayalam superstar Mohan Lal while the hunt for the leading lady is still on.

“Freedom” is all set to go on floors in April.

Soruce:http://www.bollywoodworld.com/

Film Actor Nirmal Pandey dies at 46

Mumbai: Breaking News! Film Actor Nirmal Pandey passed away at just 46 this afternoon. According to reports, he suffered a heart attack. Nirmal Pandey shot into fame with his role as Vikram Mallah in 'Bandit Queen' and later acted in many Hindi films as a villain.

Nirmal Pandey did his schooling from Nainital, Uttarakhand. He was a graduate from the National School of Drama (NSD). He acted in several art movies such as 'Bandit Queen', 'Iss Raat Ki Subaj Nahin', 'God Mother', and 'Daayraa'.


He also acted in commercial movies, including ' Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya', Hadd Kar Do Aapne', 'Hum Tum Pe Marte Hai', 'Train To Pakistan', 'Deewangee' and 'Aaja Nachle'.

Nirmal was also a versatile singer and had released an album called Jazba. He had won a 'Best Actress Valenti' award in France for his transvestite role in Daayraa (1996).


Nirmal Pandey started a theatre group, 'Sanvedna' in 1994. He was also running an acting institute 'Fresh Talent Academy' in Ghaziabad.

Sourxce:http://www.breakingnewsonline.net

New mantra: Comedy movies in Bollywood

Comedy is tough to do. Every year Bollywood makes hundreds of movies. Some aim directly for our funny bones. Some like Welcome to Sajjanpur and Rocket Singh are bang on the money. Some miss the mark (Life Partner, Do Knot Disturb).

Then there are some movies that fail on all aspects. Either the film-maker is trying too hard or he is not trying at all. These are the movies you want to watch over and over again. They are not meant to be comedies. They just are so insane and completely senseless, you marvel at them.
“That’s the law of inverse goodness,” says Suresh Venkat, executive producer at Network 18. “They are movies so bad that they are good. It’s like light travelling in a black hole. Usually light travels in a straight line but the power of gravity in a black hole is so strong that it curves on itself. The movies can’t be moderately bad. Any film Fardeen Khan acts in, it’s bad. They have to be really bad. These are the Rajnikant movies like Sivaji,” adds Venkat.

You don’t tell anyone you watch these movies unless, of course, your friends enjoy these guilty pleasures as well. You wouldn’t go out and buy the DVD but if it plays on television, you’ll watch it. Again and again. You laugh out loud and it gets contagious. Soon, you can recite the dialogue along with the actors. It’s illogical, preposterous and improbable. Pretty soon you have your whole family watching with you.

“Look at Partner. Now Govinda and Salman Khan have a great sense of comic timing,” says Neha Sareen, TV show host and film critic. “The characters are completely cuckoo. As long as the film is ridiculous for its entire duration you can navigate through the movie. Salman Khan teaches Govinda how to dance. It can’t get more illogical than that.”

Actually it can. There was a film called Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahaani that was written, produced and directed by Rajkumar Kohli. Made in 2002, he used the film to re-launch his son Armaan Kohli. The movie had a star cast a mile long: Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Sunny Deol, Arshad Warsi, Raj Babbar, Sonu Nigam, Rambha, Manisha Koirala and of course Kohli Jr. The movie lived up to its name. It was so anokhi that the actors could not understand what the hell was going on. One minute Akshay Kumar is in the hospital after a bad car accident, the next minute he’s piloting a boat on the high seas behind Armaan Kohli who, believe it or not, is running on water. Continuity, logic, even science or common sense be damned.

One superstar who has his kitsch library full is Shah Rukh Khan. Khan has more than his fair share of howlers: Ram Jaane, Trimurti, Duplicate, the list goes on. But my favourite SRK so-bad-it’s-good film is Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam. He shares screen space with Madhuri Dixit and Salman Khan, with Aishwarya Rai in a special appearance as Salman’s blind girlfriend. The movie made me retch the first time I saw it in the theatre in 2002. But it grew on me as Zee Cinema and Sony kept telecasting the movie. The scene that boggled my mind is the one in which newlyweds SRK and Dixit are in bed at night but she’s on the phone with Salman directing him on where to find stuff at his house. Why would a newlywed do that? Four of the biggest stars in India are in a film and the director didn’t know what to do with them. We will probably never get a chance to see them together again.

“Actors often act in these movies as a favour to someone,” says trade analyst Atul Mohan. “Take Jaani Dushman. Rajkumar Kohli was a great film-maker in his day. But film-makers have to evolve with the times and some haven’t,” he says.

All the biggest stars in India today cut their teeth on rubbish films. Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla were together in Daulat Ki Jung, where an ensemble cast goes treasure hunting. Kader Khan plays an inspector who travels in a coffin drawn by a horse. Then you have Akshay Kumar’s International Khiladi, most notable for his hot shower scene with Rekha and his fight with WWE superstar Undertaker.

But the biggest star in these movies is our own Mithun-da. Any movie he’s starred in is so bad it’s good. And the most important fact about his movies is that you get to learn something from every film. Examples: A monkey can teach you how to fight ancient Indian martial arts. An army officer is so strong that he bores holes in walls with his index finger. If you fire a bullet straight into a brain tumour, the tumour dies but you live.

It doesn’t matter if you only watch films in multiplexes or single screen halls or have your own private screenings; I have yet to meet someone who doesn’t like Mithun movies.

So why spend a bomb going out to see movies in 3D? Just chill at home and enjoy these blockbusters

Soruce:http://www.moneycontrol.com

Bollywood takes on IPL to bat for tv channels

Entertainment channels see a 10 to 30 per cent drop in viewership during prime time because of the cricket mania,

With the third season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) slated from March, a big chunk of the television audience is expected to tune in to the matches that would take up most of March and April.

Prime time (8pm-11pm) viewership of all TV entertainment channels, in fact, drops by 10 to 30 per cent, depending on popularity of shows. So, general entertainment channels (GECs) are not taking any chances this year. They are busy chalking out strategies to combat the drop by introducing new shows and beefing up their content. They have lined up close to 12 new shows for launch by March 2010.

For instance, Star India — which witnessed a 10 per cent drop in viewership during IPL 2009 — thinks the best way to combat IPL is Bollywood. On six Saturdays during the IPL season, Star will air Bollywood blockbusters like Paa, Rann, Wanted, and Alaadin.

“Since Bollywood and cricket attract maximum Indian viewers, we decided to combat cricket frenzy with Bollywood. We would host six events on six Sundays that would see the who’s who of Bollywood. Aamir Khan, who has not performed for the last 10 years, would be seen on stage along with the other Khans and leading Bollywood actresses,” says Kevin Vaz, executive vice-president of advertising and sales, Star India.

For weekday prime time shows, Star India will build on high points which they expect would hold viewer’s interest and curiosity till the next episode. It is also introducing at least three new soaps before the IPL season begins this year to build viewership in advance. Star India network reaches 130 million households while the Hindi GEC reaches 90 million.

Danish Khan, marketing head of Sony Entertainment Television (SET) India, concurs: “We saw 15-20 per cent drop in viewership during IPL matches last season. So, this year we have decided to have more repeat telecasts of our prime time shows, to be aired before IPL matches start in the evening.”

Khan also believes that TV channels see consumers of different profiles tuning in during IPL every year. “New viewers who do not watch regular soaps on television tune in and surf channels during commercials. Some of them can later on become regulars, so this is also an opportunity for us,” adds Khan.

But IPL would also be telecasted in multiplexes this year which means that a lot of consumers would be out of home for longer. “SET India reaches 50 million homes and compared to that multiplex-going crowd is much less. So it does not worry us,” claims Khan.

NDTV Imagine, too, is announcing two new shows in March, a week before IPL starts. Nikhil Madhok, vice-presidennt of marketing, NDTV Imagine, says “women-centric soaps find more viewers than an all-family entertainment drama”.

NDTV Imagine was launched in 2008 and because its base is small it did not see a dip in viewership during the last two IPL seasons. This year, however, it is looking to prop up offerings, to avoid any drop in viewership.

Meanwhile, though children’s entertainment channels do not see a big drop in viewership during IPL, these channels are not taking any chances. Nick India, for instance, will launch “watch-and-win” shows in March.

Nina Elavia Jaipuria, vice-president and general manager, Nick India, says: “In March we will introduce watch-and-win shows so that children tune in to our channel to win goodies. Also, by April, summer vacation will start when viewership on our channel goes up by 10-20 per cent to touch 200 minutes of viewership per individual per week.” Nick India reaches 27 million homes.

Krishna Desai, director-programming (South Asia), Turner International India, says “Kids’ channels’ shares actually saw a growth during IPL season in 2008 (7 per cent) and 2009 (4 per cent). But the English movie genre during IPL season 2009 took a dip of 16 per cent.”

This year, beginning 15 March, Turner will launch “WB 20TWENTY”, and the franchise will offer four weeks of entertainment and action featuring 20 titles such as Ocean’s 11, Devil’s Advocate, The Perfect storm, Syriana, Cellular, among others, on weeknights at 11 pm, right after the cricket match.

Disney, too, is looking at introducing new shows and build interactivity through its website during the IPL season which also coincides with the summer vacation in schools. A spokesperson for Disney says the April to June season is big for the channel. Dinsey believes that prime time for children during vacation shifts to morning and afternoons and not only evenings when IPL matches are held. As a result, it may not see drop in viewership.

BS

Bollywood actors walk the ramp for charity in Mumbai

Mumbai: Actors Mugdha Godse and Aryan Vaid walked the ramp in outfits designed by fashion designer Archana Kochar during a fashion show, the proceeds of which will go to a charity working for the deaf.

"For Deeds charity show I try and do, wherever I get a chance I go and do my contribution. I think you guys also should go and contribute," said Godse.

Deeds works with the deaf with an aim to enrich and improve their quality of life and make them financially self-reliant and integrate them in the mainstream.

The organisation has sought the support of Bollywood celebrities from time to time to raise funds for their various activities.

ANI

“MNIK is an unusual Bollywood film”- Karan Johar

This was the scene in my newsroom yesterday: A letter saying, My Name Is Khan is all about loving Karan Johar.' Then another letter read - 'We want to read interviews of Karan Johar, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol.' A few similar letters for interview request started to pour in. My editor gets panicky. He sends across an email for me to interview Karan, SRK and Kajol because he needs to give an answer to our readers.

Like Karan Johar states in this exclusive interview post the release of MNIK, "Our audiences like to leave the cinema hall with a little bit of hope in their heart rather than a question in their mind." So we decided to give the same hope to our readers. A few text messages and I get a call from Karan Johar. The rest is very much readable below. What's not however, is the overseas box office collections, especially in the UK, which are phenomenal. Getting tickets has become a major worry in London's Vue cinemas and some of the privately owned cinema houses in Harrow and Southall. But the moment you get your hope in form of a ticket, you start to question -


What's there in MNIK that other films lack? Will MNIK beat K3G, Karan's highest grossing film in the UK? Is MNIK working because of SRK and Kajol? Answers to which only one man can give - Karan Johar himself. We spoke to the director who changed the way Indian cinema was perceived in the West with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, who changed the figures (for the best) at the box office in the West with Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, who changed the way people looked at relationships with Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna and who is changing all the above with his just released My Name Is Khan. Here he talks exclusively on the stupendous success of MNIK in London, why Kurbaan failed and MNIK didn't, the sudden awakening amongst the Indians all over the globe after the political issue surrounding the film, his take on why MNIK isn't about demographics and answers the question which the whole wide world is waiting for - Was MNIK the best marketing stunt ever in the history of Indian cinema?

Has My Name is Khan changed the way people look at cinema right now?
I think it is a big departure in terms of its tonality and its verbal texture. MNIK is an unusual Bollywood film, if at all, and doesn't have that quintessential pre-requisite elements that any Bollywood film has. It's telling a story with a strong message, professing humanity and goodness and putting it out on a big cinematic scale. So all put together it is definitely a different experience for main stream India. Has it changed the way people look at cinema, it's going to be presumptuous of me to say. But all I can say is that MNIK is going to open windows and doors to many people who have stories to tell and are shy to put their story on the celluloid.

It is really amazing to see the power of cinema with two sort-of-similar genres coming out of the same banner with two big stars of Bollywood, with Kurbaan not working and MNIK creating tidal waves across the globe.

You're right. I'd say that Kurbaan didn't have 'hope', whereas MNIK had 'hope'. Kurbaan was more darker, grittier and a grey look at a situation, whereas MNIK is a hopeful, far more positive and a lot more positivity in its finishing reels with a triumph to the human spirit. Having said that, Kurbaan was very cinematic and interesting in its approach but it didn't offer a solution. Rather it just tells the problem. MNIK offers you that solution. But we have to give it to both the films as both films were applauded for their own reasons. I liked Kurbaan and was very happy to produce it. At the end of the day, our audiences like to leave the cinema hall with a little bit of hope in their heart rather than a question in their mind.

Do you think people have woken up to a certain extent after what the Shiv Sena tried to do and did pre-release?
Yes, definitely. With what happened pre-release, and of course the content of the film, there is a certain synergy. MNIK is definitely talking about coming together. It is speaking about unity and humanity, and I think those are the forgotten forces in our life. When you are pushed against the wall and you emerge from it is also what the film addresses. It speaks about racial differences, generalisation, etc. to all the things that we go through daily in our life. The film is very identifiable to many, especially to the people in the United Kingdom and The United States of America. And with what's going around in Australia today, you know that the racial problems are becoming a global threat. Subjugation is really something that happens on a day to day level with people. So I think that in some way or the other, people have connected to the film. Rizwan Khan brings about a lot of hope and positivity to the film to which people have woken up to, I feel.

Hats off to you to really understand the overseas market. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham is your highest grossing film in the UK. And with a whirlpool effect, people are getting sucked in to watch MNIK. The K3G days might just be over I guess.
MNIK is my sensibility. This is the kind of film Karan Johar makes. I did not want to target any particular audience here. My audiences have been people living anywhere in the world. I don't make a difference to an Indian living in London or an Indian living in Bihar or New Delhi. It's just the geography which sets them apart but the feelings are all the same. So whether there are extreme reactions within my country, that always happens because any film comes with extreme reactions. But I have this strong feeling that even in India, MNIK is giving that respect what we are seeing today in the overseas. Our second week might just get stronger. In the West, its growth is phenomenal. Humanity cannot have any kind of demographics. These extreme reactions to MNIK are brought about by slightly vintage and old thinking trade pundits who actually have no clue about today's audiences. I think they are still stuck in time. They think that a great cinema is all about a few laugh-a-minute jokes and a few item numbers. Today, we've come such a long way, thanks to our audiences. We give them a lot less credit than they actually deserve.

So what's today's cinema all about? Undying passion of making films and telling different stories or mere box office collections and openings?
I really think that it's a combination of everything. To get a thumbs up from the audiences for films like Taare Zameen Par and Chak De India, it definitely had to be commercially successful to resonate louder. I think that perception comes not necessarily from the box office because the most thinking audiences of our country definitely gives a perception, and I feel that's what leads to longevity. Some films need not be getting main stream and commercial recognition but leave a strong mark for decades to come. And I think Indian cinema has finally reached a point where you can have a buffet of entertainment - you can have the mainstream entertainer that makes you money, you can have the thinking cinema that builds a repute and you can have a small niche film that can create its own little space.

There have been two drastic reactions on the networking sites - Facebook and Twitter, firstly that MNIK worked because of the coming together of the lead pair, and that's it.
I don't think any lead actors can save a bad film. Eventually, the film has to emerge for the lead star cast to emerge. Having said that, Shah Rukh's character really gave the reason why this film is connecting to the audiences. I don't think that a hit pair coming together is the only reason for it to kind of work commercially.

Secondly, many assume: What a lovely marketing stunt it was to promote MNIK.
That's an absolutely brain dead, cynical and an ignorant statement to make. I don't think, neither Shah Rukh nor me would ever have wanted something like this to happen. It was something that happened and I don't want to comment on. We've kind of moved ahead in time with it but to call MNIK a publicity gimmick is careless, insensitive and ignorant. Forget me; it is disrespectful to an icon like SRK who does not need to resort to a publicity stunt to get an opening weekend. Twenty years of working in the industry has earned SRK the fact that he doesn't need any marketing gimmick to get a great opening.

Soruce:http://entertainment.oneindia.in

'Puthiya Mukham' in Bollywood

Malayalam movies are currently hot with Bollywood when it comes to remakes and the latest to join this bandwagon is Ajay Devgn. The actor- producer has bought the rights of Mollywood action film Puthiya Mukham for an undisclosed amount, to remake it in Hindi.

Puthiya Mukham starred Prithviraj, Priyamani and Meera Nandan, was one of the biggest hits of last year. The Hindi remake will be produced by Ajay Devgn and directed by Rohit Shetty, marking the return of Ajay as well as Rohit to action films after a spate of successful comedy flicks.


Rohit Shetty says, “I have seen Puthiya Mukham three times. Ajay and I wanted to do a hardcore action film for the last three years. At last, we are doing it!” Rohit’s last action film was Zameen which was a big hit. The talented director is the son of Mr Shetty; famous stunt master of the 80’s and has also worked under Ajay Devgn’s father, Veeru Devgan.

The film is scheduled to go on floors by year end or early next year, as Ajay already has his hands full with a diverse set of films releasing this year including like Ashwni Dhir’s ‘Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge?’, Prakash Jha’s Raajneeti, Kireet Khurana’s Koonpur Ka Superhero, Priyadarshan’s Garam Hawa, Bunty Lutharia’s Once Upon a Time and Rohit Shetty’s Golmaal 3; that begins shooting this April.

Soruce:http://entertainment.oneindia.in

Successful play 'Adhantar' adapted into film as 'City of Gold'

DAR Motion Picture (DAR), the filmed entertainment division of DAR Media Private Limited, today, unveiled the first look of its maiden production in Mumbai. The film has been shot simultaneously in Hindi and Marathi languages, with the Hindi version titled ‘City of Gold – Mumbai 1982: Ek Ankahi Kahani’.

‘City of Gold’ is the first in a series of three movies that DAR is working on with Mahesh Manjrekar, and also marks the return of the director to Hindi cinema after a gap of four years. The second film is a Bengali-language venture, with Mithun Chakraborthy in the lead, which is expected to start filming at the end of the month. DAR’s third project is a yet to be titled A-list starrer, currently in pre-production, with principal photography scheduled to commence in March, 2010.

Arun Rangachari said, “DAR Motion Pictures aims to indigenously conceive and develop bench-mark creative concepts, utilize the best available technical and artistic expertise, deploy comprehensive marketing best-practices and utilize a host of innovative and focused content delivery channels, to reach out to audiences not only in India but globally. This is well reflected in our choice of really good content-driven subjects such as ‘City of Gold’ and our association with highly competent and well-respected directors such as Mahesh.

“City of Gold is a collaborative effort in the true sense of the word and all of us at DAR are extremely happy with the way this movie has shaped up. This definitely is by and far one of the best films that Mahesh has made and all of us are looking forward to its release in April.

“Furthermore, we have taken a long term view of our association with the Indian film industry and have in fact commenced working on our next two projects with Mahesh even before the release of City of Gold. Both of these films will be on the floors by the month of March, with the Bengali film scheduled for a summer-2010 release,” he concluded.

DAR has developed a production slate of at least 11 film projects, several of them in multiple languages through 2012. In addition DAR plans to launch a film-fund in the second half of 2010 that will focus on both Hindi and regional cinema.

The unveiled look of ‘City Of Gold’ reveals a crisp, stylized and hard hitting film based on the mill strike of 1982, and the struggle, trials and tribulations faced by the mill-workers’ and their families who were affected. The film portrays the story of these long-forgotten masses – not only explores the apathy of these mill workers narrated through the story of one such family, the politico-socio environment existing during the early eighties and realistically depicts the birth of the true underbelly of organized crime in Mumbai.

Commenting on his vision for the movie, Mahesh Manjrekar said: “Creativity doesn’t have a timeline. I’ve been toying with the idea of making ‘City of Gold’ for over three years now. The movie has been written by noted journalist and playwright Jayant Pawar, and is based on a critically acclaimed and very successful play – Adhantar – that he had written in 1990s.

“Growing up in Wadala - the Land of Mills, I have since childhood closely observed the entire mill universe and the lives of ‘the common mill worker’ within it. Filming City of Gold was not only just physically but emotionally draining experience as it’s in many ways the true untold story of many families that I’ve grown up with. The entire film was wrapped up from start to finish in a matter of less than three months, and today I am extremely satisfied with how it has shaped up. It definitely has been one of the most challenging and exciting projects I have ever worked o and I personally feel that this is one of the best projects I have executed,” added an elated Mahesh Manjrekar.

The City of Gold website also boasts of an interactive and innovative interface aiming at providing exclusive information along with an interactive blog to channelize some meaningful discussions.

Principal photography of ‘City of Gold’, which is the first of a three-movie deal signed between DAR and Mahesh, has already been completed and the movie currently is in post production. Slated to release latest by April 2010, other credit in the movie include screenplay Jayant Pawar & Mahesh Manjrekar, Director of Photography by Ajit Reddy, Edited by Sarvesh Parab, Music direction by Ajit Parab and Lyricist Shriranga Godbole.

Soruce:http://movies.indiatimes.com/

My Name Is Khan a boost for Star-Fox

Star-Fox, the American co-producers of Karan Johar's My Name Is Khan are mighty pleased with the outcome of their first international collaboration. The film features Shahrukh Khan and Kajol in the lead roles. Interestingly, the music in MNIK is not being seen as a hindrance for the international market. Says Vijay Singh, CEO Star-Fox, "The songs are not lip-sync and they do not hamper the flow of the narrative. The myth that the songs must be lip-sync has been broken. The idea is to push the boundaries and see how far we can take Bollywood. MNIK has raised the bar for Indian cinema. Abroad, my colleagues in LA are surprised by the kind of numbers we're getting in the US. Khan has performed 2 ½ times better overseas than any other Indian film. It's a great moment for Bollywood. Nobody knew what the upper limit for profits was for Bollywood internationally. People leave the theatre with a message in their heart. We all went through some difficult times initially. But that's all behind us now."


Singh says the Star-Fox headquarter in LA were watching the progression of MNIK very carefully. "We always believed in the film. Right from Day 1, they were looking at Khan not as a film on issues but an epic love story. That's what attracted us to the project in the first place. We've put the film in different countries keeping in mind the different audiences. In the UK we've given it the highest number of prints possible. We worked very closely with Karan Johar and then marketed the film according the cultural requirements of the specific countries. Our colleagues all over the world were taken into confidence. We don't see the international market as a spill over of the Indian market. We spent money in every market to set up the film keeping in mind the specifics."

Says Vijay, "Audiences for Indian cinema are changing all over the world. MNIK had the biggest and the best talent in Hindi cinema."

And now Star-Fox will produce another Hindi film. "This time more of an entertainer on a far less lavish budget but with an underlying message," promises Vijay Singh.

Soruce:http://entertainment.oneindia.in

Dharmendra, Bobby to play conmen in ‘Yamla Pagla Deewana’

Mumbai, Samir Karnik’s “Yamla Pagla Deewana” will see Dharmendra and Bobby Deol as a conmen duo. The directors says preparations for the film have brought the father and son closer.

Earlier Bobby used to be intimidated by his father in real life, Karnik said.

“Not so any longer. Thanks to the preparation for my film, both Bobby and Sunny have loosened up with their dad,” Karnik, who will shoot in Varanasi in April, told IANS.

The film also stars Sunny as an upright man married to a Canadian living in Canada. He gets to know after two decades that he has a father and brother in Varanasi. The film is about Sunny’s journey into his past and into a culture that he had left behind.

While Bobby is paired with television actress Kulraj Randhawa, the Canadian leading lady for Sunny is yet to be finalised.

The film went on floors this week.

“We release ‘Yamala Pagla Deewana’ on December 24, Aamir Khan’s slot. This year he won’t have any release in the last week of December. So we’ve decided to release our film in that slot,” said Karnik.

Incidentally Karnik’s lucky mascot, little Dwij Yadav of “Nanhe Jaisalmer” fame, won’t be part of “Yamla Pagla Deewana”.

“Let him grow up off camera now. He’s my insurance for the future, just like Rakesh Roshan has Hrithik,” said the director emotionally.

The film’s title is obviously inspired by the chartbuster song “Main jat yamla pagla deewana” from Dharmendra’s 1975 blockbuster “Pratiggya”.

Karnik, who intends to record a remix version of the Mohammad Rafi hit, has introduced a new composing duo Nouman Javed (from Pakistan) and Rahul Seth.

“I heard Nouman’s music on the Internet and asked him to send me his songs on the MP3 format. Then I took another new composer Rahul Seth to Dubai and we recorded the songs.”

While doing a re-mix of the old hit may be considered a stroke of clever marketing, bringing the father and his two sons together hardly qualifies as a novel strategy.

“I know Dharamji, Sunny and Bobby have been brought together earlier in ‘Apne’. But that was a very emotional drama. ‘Yamala Pagla Deewana’ is an out-and-out comedy,” said Karnik.

Soruce:http://www.bollywoodworld.com/

111 films competing for 55th Filmfare Awards

Mumbai, Feb 17 (IANS) A total of 111 films are competing in 37 categories at the 55th Filmfare Awards 2009 to be held here Feb 27, an organiser said here Wednesday night.

'It's been a fantastic journey for the past 55 years. So much has changed in the film industry and so much has changed with the awards function too. Fifty-five years ago, we started with three categories and a handful of films and today we have got 37 categories and 111 films participating,' Tarun Rai, CEO of Worldwide Media Pvt Ltd, told IANS.

'So it's a completely different scale and it's also fascinating in terms of kind of movies that are actually there for nomination this time,' he said.

The nomination for each category is absolutely based on reader's poll.

'It wasn't difficult to nominate films or film personalities in any category because it was done through reader's poll. A huge number of people read our magazines around the country and we also have filmfare.com and it's been visited by millions of people not just in India but also across the world. For us it was easy. It will be difficult for the jury to choose one among the five in each category,' Rai said.

Packed with entertainment, the award night would be attended by almost 500 people from the industry, including all the leading stars, he said.

'There are almost 500 people from the industry who would be present that night including the leading stars and the evening would be packed with glamour, great performances, suspense and excitement...it's going to be a riot,' said Rai.

Top stars are going to perform this year on stage, he added.

Worldwide Media Pvt Ltd continues its association this year with the mobile operator Idea Cellular.