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Tamil cinema's periodic move
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 21 Mar 2009 | 5:36 pm Ski helmet could have saved Richardson
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 21 Mar 2009 | 5:28 pm Paris Hilton wants to have a baby
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 21 Mar 2009 | 5:26 pm Live Chat: Anjana Sukhani on March 23 at 1600 hrs ISTAfter the stupendous success of 'Spelling Competition', the only other competition that held its audience as well as the contestants in frenzy was the world famous 'Connection Competition'. This year's deciding question was 'What's the one word/ name that connects the following terms: Hot, Beautiful, Grace, Poise, Down-to-earth, Elegant, Saccharine Sweet and Talented?' The contestant who got chosen as the unanimous winner was the one who answered 'Anjana Sukhani'. Anjana, for starters, is one of those rare intellectual Bolly beauties, who is armed with a gleaming degree in International Business. After having made her presence felt with her talent's essence in showbiz, Anjana went onto make a stunning impressive debut with Hum Dum, which were followed by array of blockbusters like Salaam-e-Ishq, Sunday and the recently released Jai Veeru... to name a few! You can chat away your blues with this ever-true-blue Anjana on Bollywood Hungama's Celebrity Chat on Monday, March 23, at 1600 hrs IST.Source: Indiafm.com News | 21 Mar 2009 | 5:17 pm Salman Khan's cameo in Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 21 Mar 2009 | 4:51 pm Director Raj Aditya commits suicide
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 21 Mar 2009 | 3:55 pm No place to bury dying Jade Goody
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 21 Mar 2009 | 3:51 pm Deepika Padukone walks the ramp for Tarun Tahiliani at Delhi Fashion WeekDeepika Padukone seems to be one girl who never gets tired of the spotlights and grease paints. After having won hearts as a model, supermodel and actress, Deeps was recently back to what she is best doing: 'Setting the ramp on fire'! If the reports are to be believed, then, it was Deepika aka 'Destiny's Showstopper', who came out as the apt choice to be the Showstopper at the 'Delhi Fashion Week 2009' for the designer Tarun Tahiliani. Even as 'Little Miss Deeps' was strutting the ramp, one just could not believe that it was actually Deepika who was Tarun's muse, as it's a known fact that Tarun has always been a Shilpa Shetty loyalist. All said and done, full marks to Deepika for her shimmering presence on the ramp. Her red and maroon gown simply set the ambience just right for the day. Full points to this stunner for maintaining her trademark saccharine smile throughout the show, despite the summer at its worst. Way to go, Deepika!Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 21 Mar 2009 | 3:26 pm Amisha Patel to contest from RajkotBollywood actress Amisha Patel will contest the Lok Sabha election from Rajkot in Gujarat on a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) ticket, a party official said today.Source: Entertainment News | 21 Mar 2009 | 2:38 pm Unperturbed Asin at the product launch - BehindWoods
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 12:49 pm I was signed in impulse: Ayesha Mohan
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 21 Mar 2009 | 12:41 pm Azhar gave us new lease of life, says motherThey would have never imagined in their wildest dreams that they would go on a foreign trip and be showered with frantic media attention.Source: Entertainment News | 21 Mar 2009 | 12:03 pm Bollywood stars to campaign for Sanjay Dutt for upcoming electionsWithout even asking, and without the certainty that Sanjay Dutt will be able to contest the Lok Sabha elections, several of his pals have come forward and volunteered to campaign for their Sanju Baba's victory in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. Among the leading Bollywood stars who have already put a sizeable chunk of their time aside to follow Dutt on his campaign trail in Lucknow are Anil Kapoor, Ajay Devgan, Arshad Warsi and director David Dhawan. Among the leading ladies, the one spunky and loyal volunteer is Ameesha. Yes, she will be campaigning for the star. Confirming the list, Dharam Oberoi, CEO of Sanjay Dutt Films, said "You've got the names right. The people you've mentioned are already on. We didn't even to ask them. We'll approach Mr. Dutt's other friends as soon as Mr. Dutt is cleared by the courts on March 30 to contest the elections. All throughout his life and career, Mr. Dutt has been there for the film industry. I'm sure that the industry would love to come forward for him now." About Ameesha, Oberoi says, "She and Mrs. Sanjay Dutt are very close friends. It's only natural that Ameesha is part of the core group that has come together to campaign for Mr. Dutt." However, when contacted, Ameesha expressed her inability to campaign for Dutt because of her tight schedules. A source very close to Sanjay Dutt says, "We feel Sanju will be the first Bollywood star in parliament who will work selflessly for the improvement of the film industry. The others have had divided interests or none at all." After March 30, when the courts pass their verdict on Sanjay's electoral plans, at least 3 dozen A-listers are expected to join the campaign group. In the meanwhile, Sanjay Dutt seems very happy and confident in Lucknow. "It's a hectic schedule. I've rallies and meetings from 8 am to 11 pm. But I'm enjoying myself. Yes, I'm learning to be comfortable addressing crowds." Suneil Shetty, on the other hand is game anytime. "Anytime Baba wants me, I'm there for him. He just has to tell me when wants to come to Lucknow." Suneil is also all set to campaign for Shatrughan Sinha. "For sure. All he has to do is ask. Sanju and Shatruji are the film industry's 3 am friends."Source: Indiafm.com News | 21 Mar 2009 | 11:57 am "I'm happy that people are liking Aftab and my chemistry" - Aamna ShariffShe is an extremely popular name and face on Indian television courtesy her portrayal of 'Kashish' in TV serial 'Kahin To Hoga'. Now the extremely pretty and talented Aamna Shariff is all set to make her big Bollywood debut with the romantic comedy Aloo Chaat. In an exclusive interview to Bollywood Hungama, Aamna speaks about her first film, her first co-star Aftab and her love for all kinds of Chaats. Aloo Chaat is your debut film in Bollywood. How do you feel? I feel great. Before I started doing T.V., I was modeling for a couple of years. I did a few ads and music videos and always wanted to start off with a film. But one fine day I was offered a T.V. show, 'Kahin To Hoga', the script of which was so good that I simply couldn't refuse it. Today I am proud that I started with television and finally here I am doing something which I always wanted to do. So it's a dream come true for me. How did you bag the film and what made you say yes? Post 'Kahin To Hoga', I took a break for a year and a half and heard a lot of scripts. I actually wanted to debut with an out and out romantic film but when I heard the script of Aloo Chaat it was such a wonderful script with clean humour that I didn't think twice. I am glad that I took it up as my first film I actually wanted to debut with an out and out romantic film The film seems like a romantic comedy. Can you elaborate? Yes Aloo Chaat is a light hearted romantic comedy. It's a very sweet film with some really chatpata characters. What's your role in the film? My character's name is Aamna in the film. She is a Muslim girl who is born and raised in the US. Though she has been in US, her values are very much Indian which is why when she first comes to India, she is seen mostly in Indian attire. She is a sweet, fun loving and family oriented girl. My character's name is Aamna in the film. She is a Muslim girl who is born and raised in the US. Though she has been in US, her values are very much Indian. How was it working with Aftab, your first co-star? It has been a wonderful experience. Aftab is not just a very good actor but a very good human being. Initially I was a bit nervous as Aftab is very good at comedy and I needed to match his timing but he really made me comfortable and we really hit off. We even share the same Sun-Sign. I am happy that people are liking our chemistry The film also has Linda Arsenio, so are you two girls vying for Aftab's attention? Is it a love triangle? I wouldn't like to say much about that. You need to watch it for yourself (laughs). As for Linda, all I can say is that she is a complete pleasure to work with. How was it working with director Robby Grewal? It was great. Robby is new age, young and is very clear with what he wants. He is the kind of director who gives you complete freedom as an actor. The first thing that comes to one's mind when we say Aloo Chaat is the yummy chaats so are you a chaat person? I am a complete chaat person. I love all kinds of chaats. In fact, my mom keeps telling me to go easy on chaats (laughs) but I enjoy them nevertheless and then work out a little more. My all time favorite chaat is Pani Puri. Coming back to your career, now that you have made your debut in Bollywood, is it good-bye to T.V.? I would never say goodbye to television. That is so harsh. Whatever I am today is because of T.V. so I would never make such a statement. All I would say is I like to concentrate on one thing at a time and right now I am focusing on doing films. How similar or different is it shooting for a T.V. serial and working in a Bollywood film? The big difference is that when you are doing T.V. show, you don't know where to take your character graph and which track the serial will be heading in. In films, you have the script ready with you and know where to take the character. Your good-friend Rajeev Khandelwal made a super debut last year with Aamir. Did you get to see the film? Of course I saw the film. It's a lovely film and Rajeev is brilliant. You need a lot of guts to take such a film for your debut and he really lived up to all expectations. What kind of roles are you looking at doing now? I don't want to have any particular mindset. I would like to do every role that is challenging rather than go with easy characters. At the same time, I would love to do a hard core romantic role and even do a role without make-up Any dream actors and directors you would wish to work with... I am just starting out. I would obviously like to work with all the great directors and actors. I have always admired the way Aamir Khan has worked so I would like to work with him. I have always admired the way Aamir Khan has worked so I would like to work with him What are your future projects? I have signed a film but can't talk much about it. Right now I am just waiting for the audience reactions to Aloo Chaat. Finally give us 3 good reasons to watch Aloo Chaat? It's a very well directed film, has some brilliant characters and is a really sweet, clean, funny film.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 21 Mar 2009 | 11:34 am Action director Peter Hein shoots from wheelchairAction director Peter Hein suffered as many as 18 fractures while doing a stunt around 20 days back, but he is now back to work on a wheelchair, shooting for the Rajnikanth-starrer 'Yenthiran' (Robot).Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 21 Mar 2009 | 11:31 am Telugu film director Raj Aditya Thambi commits suicide - Hindu
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 11:30 am Subhash K. Jha speaks about StraightLet's get one thing...er, straight. Homosexuality is finally out of the closet in our films. Well, sort of. Last year's naughty blockbuster Dostana had two of our most popular leading men "pretending" to be gay. Now Straight has Vinay Pathak "believing" he is gay. There's a slender space dividing pretence from belief, especially when it comes to matters of human trait. Often what you pretend to be is what you eventually end up being in actuality. Fortunately for our serio-comic hero Pinu Patel (Pathak) stiffness in a certain part of the body at the morning hour doesn't imply he's sexually attracted to the new persistently charming new stand-comedian Kamlesh (Anuj Chaudhry) whom Pinu hires for his restaurant. The scenes showing Kamlesh insinuating himself into Pinu's life and place of work are done with a dash of devilish bravado. Within no time Pinu finds everyone eating not just off his tables, but also from Kamlesh's hands. A triangle of sort comes up in a queer way when Pinu can't figure out whom he's more jealous about when the new pretty accountant Renu (Gul Panag ) strikes up a camaraderie with Kamlesh. Confusion of sexuality is a theme yet in its infancy in our films. Director Parvati Balagopalan keeps the going light-hearted and most of the time, frothy and amiable. There's an endearing quality to the way these Gujju NRIs in London are seen not in the predictable roles of migrant misfits, but grappling with more personal problems without taking themselves too seriously. Seriously, being funny about sexual preferences doesn't come easily to our cinema. Straight just about manages it with dignity and charm. The triangular relationship among Pinu, Renu and Kamlesh is punctuated by bouts of laughter, directed more at the way the characters deceive than conduct themselves. The camaraderie that grows between the male characters is especially likable. Not just Pinu and Kamlesh, but Pinu and his London-born brother Rajat (Sid Makkar) who finally turns out to be what Pinu suspected himself of being. Through Rajat some groovy rock numbers (Sagar Desai) make their way into the plot to add to the fair casual-fun quotient. It's not always that we see a woman director comprehending male bonding without prejudice. Arranged marriages and unarranged alliances all come into satirical scrutiny under Parvati Balagopalan's vigilant and vivacious camera range. She gets the point out...straight most of the way, thanks to the performances. While Vinay Pathak brings a characteristic candour and confusion to his character's personality, Anuj Chaudhry as the endearing intruder Kamlesh plays a sincere honest character sincerely and honestly. Gul Panag is as usual, very camera-friendly. What really works for this film is the uncluttered clean and crisp narrative with London providing a subtly sensuous backdrop to characters that are anything but subtle or sensuous.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 21 Mar 2009 | 11:26 am Lights, Camera, Election!More stars than ever are set to shoot for success in the coming Lok Sabha polls. A sampling of the constellation from film industries across the country The Maharashtrian stage Hema Malini: One of the most successful actresses that the film industry has seen, Hema is a BJP member of the Rajya Sabha. She is likely to be pitted against NCP chief Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule in Baramati constituency. Smriti Irani-Malhotra: With a dedicated fan-base of soap opera addicts, she shot to fame with her role as a demure housewife Tulsi in the mega TV serial Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. An active member of the BJP, she may contest from Mumbai or against Supriya Sule in Baramati. There is also talk of her being fielded from Vadodara. Govinda: The Congress MP from Mumbai North has reportedly indicated that he is not averse to contesting the Lok Sabha polls. However, he is currently under the radar of the Election Commission for distributing money to fans. Naghma: The actress who has done both Hindi and South Indian films is likely to be fielded by the Congress. She may be nominated either from the Mumbai suburbs or even from Uttar Pradesh. UP's cinematic hotchpotch Everyone from Bollywood superstars to Bhojpuri bigwigs are giving it a go here. Manoj Tiwari: The SP candidate from Jaunpur started off his career in village Ramleelas before moving into Bhojpuri cinema and TV shows. He is also an accomplished singer and has released a few albums as well. Even though he would not be considered 'mainstream' by all, he does have a massive fan base and often travels abroad for live shows. At a recent awards ceremony in Goa, Shah Rukh Khan got seven minutes to speak whereas Manoj Tiwari was given 17 minutes. Incidentally, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha had offered a ticket to Manoj, which he has refused. Ravi Kissen: The Bhojpuri and Bigg Boss star is keen to win a Congress ticket. If this doesn't happen, he is also willing to campaign for the party. "I agree with the ideology of Congress which has a clean and transparent image," Ravi Kissen admits. He will be meeting the party high command soon. "I have seen success and fame. Now I want to do something for my people and therefore I am entering into politics," says Ravi Kissen who has worked with stars like Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan. Incidentally, the rumour mills had it that he was romantically involved with Naghma, who is also vying for a Congress ticket. Raj Babbar: A Samajwadi Party MP until last year, the actor who peaked in the '80s has now joined the Congress. He has been named the party's nominee from Fatehpur Sikri. Sanjay Dutt: The controversial Bollywood star, known for his drug problems and TADA arrest, is all set to contest the polls on a Samajwadi Party ticket from Lucknow. Jaya Prada: Since she started her acting career in 1979, she has acted in more than 300 films in eight languages. Ironically, even though the Telugu actress could barely speak Hindi as a young star, she became an MP in the Hindi heartland. She started her political career with the TDP but left after to join the Samajwadi Party after a feud with Laxmi Parvati, the widow of late Andhra chief minister NT Rama Rao. After joining the SP, she contested the Parliament in 2004 from Rampur constituency in UP and registered a record victory. She is again in the fray in Rampur on an SP ticket. Telugu star warriors Chiranjeevi: He is likely to contest from two Assembly constituencies. The film star and president of the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP), has already zeroed in on Tirupathi, where he launched his party last year. Campaigning has been a family affair. Chiranjeevi's youngest brother, film star Pavan Kalyan, is the star campaigner, while Nagendra Babu is quietly going about doing the groundwork in promising constituencies. Chiranjeevi is into the fourth leg of a gruelling campaign tour, which includes road shows and public meetings. Nandamuri Balakrishna: The son of legendary actor N T Rama Rao, swashbuckling and bewhiskered Balakrishna has a fan following that rivals Chiranjeevi's. He has been Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu's link with the NTR clan, with whom Naidu fell out after his coup against his father-in-law N T Rama Rao. By placating Balakrishna, Naidu has managed to reestablish relations with the NTR family and has managed to rope in all the family's film stars for campaigning, including NTR Junior and Taraka Ratna. It is widely believed that he will contest the Lok Sabha elections. Jayasudha: Extremely popular in the '70s and '80s, Jayasudha joined the Congress last year. Besides adding glamour to the Congress campaign, Jayasudha is also hoping to get an Assembly ticket this time. Though a novice to politics, she has taken on PRP's Pavan Kalyan after he started shooting off his mouth, using unparliamentary language and making personal allegations against Congress and TDP leaders. Vijayashanti: After several electrifying performances - including the blockbuster Karthavyam in which she plays a tough cop modelled on Kiran Bedi - Vijayashanti, who joined the BJP in 1997 is with the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) now. She was appointed the general-secretary of the party after she merged her fledgling Talli Telangana party with the TRS. She is expected to contest the Lok Sabha elections. Roja Selvamani: She sizzles on the screen as well as off it. The president of the TDP's women's wing Roja is courting one controversy after another these days with her comments on leaders and film stars of other parties. While she lost to the Congress from Nagri Assembly constituency in 2004, she is hoping to contest again. Tamil thespians For the coming general election, some of the screen names that are making the rounds in the state are that of Sarathkumar or his wife Radhika, Napoleon and J K Rithesh: Sarathkumar: He has acted in over 100 films and his latest flick 1977 has just been released. His political career is also dramatic. He made his debut in 1998 with the DMK, but that didn't work out. Shortly before the 2006 Assembly election, Sarath left the party along with his wife Radhika, a leading actress and TV soap producer, and joined the AIADMK. Soon after the 2006 election that led AIADMK to the Opposition benches, Radhika was expelled for keeping ties with the ruling party. Sarath followed her soon, floating the AISMK, which faced - and lost - elections for the first time during the January bye-election to Thirumangalam Assembly constituency. There are rumours that Radhika or Sarathkumar may contest from a Nadar-dominated seat in alliance with a larger outfit. Napoleon: He has acted in almost 100 films and is also a well-known businessman, having founded the Jeeven Group. He won the 2001 Assembly election under the DMK banner and contested unsuccessfully against another veteran from the film and theatre, S Ve Shekar in 2006. While he has not been very active in politics since, his name is doing the rounds as a possible candidate now. J K Rithesh: This newcomer has only two released movies to his credit so far. But what could work in his favour are his family connections: his grandfather Suba Thangavelan is the present Minister for Housing. He is also an overt supporter of MK Azhagiri, Karunanidhi's elder son who is in control in the Madurai region, another 'advantage'. Tollywood and Trinamool Mamata Banerjee has often banked on the popularity of several Bengali film stars such as Madhabi Mukherjee and Nayana Das to woo voters. For the Lok Sabha polls, she has roped in two top thespians (along with artistes from other disciplines). Aparna Sen reportedly turned her down. Tapas Paul: He's been a popular star in the state for almost three decades. He has been nominated for the Krishnanagar seat. He is currently an MLA from Alipore Assembly constituency in Kolkata, winning the seat twice. "I am very keen to contest the polls and win the Krishnanagar LS seat that Mamata didi has given me to fight," says Paul. Shatabdi Roy: The critically-acclaimed actress has been active in the film industry since the late 80s and is still going strong. The Trinamool Congress has announced that she will contest the elections from Birbhum. "I have been in touch with didi for years and follow her ideals. She is trying to bring a change in the lives of the people. When she contacted me and asked me to contest the Lok Sabha polls, I could not refuse," says Roy. Screen IndiaSource: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 21 Mar 2009 | 11:15 am Family hold wake for Richardson - BBC News
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 11:14 am Aloo Chaat - Sify
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 11:02 am Barah Aana is worth the dime! - Sify
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 11:02 am I got 'Gulaal' role totally by default: Ayesha MohanAnurag Kashyap's "Gulaal" has got rave reviews and Ayesha Mohan, the hitherto unknown leading lady of the film, has also come in for much praise.Source: Entertainment News | 21 Mar 2009 | 10:40 am Goody wants her mum to fix teeth for her funeral - Oneindia
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 9:57 am Subhash K Jha speaks about Barah AanaA mellow, mirthful at times moving tale of three North Indian migrants, this tale of tantalizing possibilities may not be Mr. Raj Thackeray's idea of an evening out. Dammit , it may not be ANYONE's idea of an entertainer. But for a discerning audience, Barah Aana brings in a sense of un-visited surprise. There are three main characters, a quiet driver Shukla (Naseeruddin Shah), a watchman Yadav (Vijay Raaz) and a waiter Aman (Arjun Mathur) all driven to the doors of despair but stopped in time by a self-directed sense of humour that saves them from self-destruction. The 3-way interactive story gathers momentum when the trio hits on an age-old formula for survival: crime. Superbly scripted by Raj Kumar Gupta who recently directed the riveting Aamir, Barah Aana derives its strength from the frailties and vulnerabilities of the three migrant characters who seem to be drawn into the dark side of life without knowing where they're heading. Debutant director Raja Menon seems to view the people in his plot with a reasonable degree of detachment. There's a sense of riveting finesse in the way these unsophisticated characters chart their course without self pity. Of course the film would've never worked without the cast. What does one say about Naseeruddin Shah without sounding completely like a fan? He's seen in two totally different avatars this week. Naseer's bullied embittered silently-seething driver's part in this film is as distant from his disoriented classical maestro's role in Firaaq as only Naseer can make them .Vijay Raaz, always in top form when given to play a man who has seen life without rose-tinted glasses , gives a sly snarling spin to his role. His performance has both bark and bite. Watch Vijay play the watchman. The youngest and most inexperienced member of the trio Arjun Mathur seen in sensitive parts in Farhan Akhtar's AIDS film Positive and Zoya Akhtar's Luck By Chance has a tough time holding his own against Naseer and Vijay Raaz and also holding his Bihari accent in place. But Mathur leaves a positive impression. Another riveting performance comes from Tannishtha Chatterjee as the flamboyant Rani who shocks you after her quiet performance in Brick Lane. She should be seen more often. With the message on migrant's plight Barah Aana would hardly appeal to multiplex audiences. Films on lives of migrants whether it's Muzaffar Ali's Daman or Sudhir Mishra's Dharavi score high as cinematic works but low on mass appeal. See Barah Aana for its terrific cast, first-rate production values (Preeti Sethi's camera goes through Mumbai's lanes with the least fuss) and the director's firm grip on the grammar of grass-root politics.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 21 Mar 2009 | 9:49 am Sanjay Dutt's Bollywood friends offer campaign helpSanjay Dutt is yet to get the green signal from the Supreme Court to contest the Lok Sabha elections, but many of his friends in Bollywood have already volunteered to campaign for him.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 21 Mar 2009 | 9:30 am Film director Raj Aditya hangs self in hotelFilm director Raj Aditya was Saturday found dead in a city hotel, sending shock waves in the Telugu film industry. The police said it appeared to be a case of suicide.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 21 Mar 2009 | 9:30 am Billa finally releasing on April 3 - Oneindia
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 9:14 am 'Veera Madakari' could have been more innovativeFilm: 'Veera Madakari'; Director: Sudeep; Cast: Sudeep, Raagini, Gopinath, Doddanna, Soori, Dharma and Tennis Krishna; Music: Keervani; Rating: **Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 21 Mar 2009 | 9:00 am Timberlake and Biel spitting?Washington (ANI): Justin Timberlake and lover Jessica Biel have sparked rumours suggesting that their relationship is in trouble. The split reports were flashed after the duo failed to show up at a casino opening.The couple, dating since 2007, has recently beenSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 8:56 am New music directors in Bollywood are ready to experimentThe new music directors in movie-town are young, ready to experiment and break into the big league When director Anurag Kashyap wanted the rawness of a brass band in a song in Dev D, 29-year-old composer Amit Trivedi got one straight into the studio and the result was the cult track, Emosanal atyachar. "The band had no idea about recordings or studios. We started at 6 pm and left at 3-4 am the next day. I had to try different ways of getting my point across to them - writing notes, humming the tune and jamming with them just so they would feel the vibe. It was not the usual session," he says. Suffice to say, Trivedi's also not your usual musician. If youngsters pocketed Emosanal atyachar as their pop anthem and bonded over it on Facebook, the 17 other songs in the film showed a masterful command over a range of musical genres and announced the arrival of a rare talent. Kashyap calls the edgy, powerful soundtrack the "Bachchan" of his film; we are happy to second that. We're happier still to find that Trivedi is not the only young musician belting out a different sound in movie-town. Listen to the rambunctious tracks of Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! and you'll know how 25-year-old Sneha Khanwalkar gives folk music a contemporary, rakish energy in her soundtrack. Atif Aslam fans tripping on Doorie could get themselves acquainted with 27-year-old Sachin Gupta, who created the "Pakistani sound" for the album and also went on to make music for the popular Dil Kabaddi. The industry is sitting up and taking note. "Bollywood is looking for new sounds that will break the clutter and all these young musicians are doing just that," says producer Mukesh Bhatt. Music director Shankar Mahadevan agrees, "They are an extremely talented lot and have come up with completely different sounds that are being loved by everybody." What works for the newbies is that they work without a blueprint. It helps that they have directors who give them the creative freedom to be different. For example, when director Dibakar Banerjee asked Khanwalkar for a rustic sound for his film about a Delhi thief, she packed her bags and went straight to the villages of Punjab and Haryana. "The film required an out-and-out Punjabi sound. Given that I'm a Maharashtrian, doing a Punjabi soundtrack certainly required a lot of homework. I had to figure out their humour, how they live, how they talk and how they sing," she says. Her search took her to all-night Ragini sessions, a form of Haryanvi folk music contests held in villages, which are attended mainly by men. Khanwalkar finally ended up recording 75-year-old Des Raj from Lachkani, a village in Punjab who sang the track Jugni and an 11-year-old boy Rajbir, from a district near Kharak in Haryana, for the haunting Tu raja ki raj dulari. The big breaks for both Trivedi and Khanwalkar have come after a fair degree of struggle. Khanwalkar came to Mumbai eight years ago from Indore, trained in Hindustani classical music in the Gwalior gharana but without a toehold in the industry. Her entry point, as with many other musicians, was advertising. She got her first break pretty fast in Ram Gopal Varma's Go. But the film was in the works for five years and released last year only to sank without a trace. With Oye Lucky!..., Khanwalkar arrived into the largely male world of Bollywood music. She agrees that it wasn't an easy job. "People wouldn't take a girl in capris and T-shirts seriously," she says with a laugh. "Many people are not used to having women as music directors and this makes a lot of musicians and technicians uncomfortable initially," Khanwalkar says. She recalls an instance when a musician was so uncomfortable taking directions from her that he didn't look at her directly. Banerjee feels otherwise. "We didn't even realise she was a girl until you just asked me that question. When working on a film, we are all creative technicians putting different aspects together. Gender doesn't change anything," he says. Trivedi, too, has been a musician for over ten years, though he was never trained as a singer. The Mumbai boy was in college in Bandra when he discovered his passion for music. He was part of a fusion band called Om for three years and even released an album, which went unnoticed. From playing the keyboard to strumming the guitar and even singing once in a while, he started a professional career in music with a stint in advertising, which lasted for five years. It was then that he bagged a contract with Sony-BMG and was asked to make music for Abhijeet Sawant's Junoon and Prashant Tamang's Dhanyawaad. "My journey has involved a lot of struggle, days without food and sleep just like most newcomers in Bollywood. Progressing from playing in an orchestra on dandiya nights to making jingles and albums has had its ups and downs," he says. Trivedi's Bollywood debut was with Aamir, a soundtrack full of little gems like the mellow Ek lau and Ha raham that told music-watchers he was a talent to look out for. His biggest break came when he was introduced to Kashyap by friend and singer Shilpa Rao, who knew the director was looking out for a new talent for Dev D. The rest is musical legend. Like Trivedi, Sachin Gupta was part of a band called Mrigya. A self-taught musician from Delhi, Gupta got lucky when Tips vice-president Rajiv Sogani heard him at a concert in London and put him in touch with Atif Aslam. "Doorie brought a so-called Pakistani sound to India at a time when (Himesh) Reshammiya's music was getting too much to handle," says Gupta. In 2007, he composed for a staggering 17 pop albums which featured singers like by Alisha Chinai and Apache Indian, as well as Pakistani singers like Ahmed Jehanzeb and Adeel. In his debut film Dil Kabaddi, he wove Sufi with rock for the number Zindagi yeh -a first for singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. "That was quite an experience. Rahatji is an exceptional singer and he is used to getting into studios and wrapping up sessions pretty fast. But the rock version took a lot of work. Eventually, he ended up admitting that he had had reservations about his singing range and style," he says. Gupta has also done the music for Jugaad and has his hands full with the forthcoming Prince Of Thieves starring Vivek Oberoi. "I am young and this does not mean that success has come without hard work. The last 10 years I have eaten, slept and lived music," he says. Having proved that it pays to break a few rules along the way, the composers continue to look for fresh voices. "Most of the singers in Dev D are friends with whom I had already done some songs. Like Paayaliya by Shruti Pathak, Dhol yaara dhol with Shilpa Rao, Dil mein jaagi by Anusha Mani. I have never consciously made an effort to work with established singers. I am open to new voices and since this album was so musically raw, I was keener on getting fresh voices on board," says Trivedi. Khanwalkar, who is busy doing the homework for her second project, a period film, says that she is open to auditioning online to get the right voice. "The newness of the sound depends on the voice that is being used. It is about how interesting the vocals are, which take the song to the next level." The young composers also stand out from the crowd because they are clear about doing their own thing - they are working on having their own bands apart from recording forfilms. Though it's been long since Trivedi left his college band, he now plans to start a band for his tours. Khanwalkar too is working on an album wherein she plans to do collaborations with other singers. But Gupta's ambitions seem to be falling into place. He has introduced a band called Ni9NE in his second film Jugaad and will be introducing another one, Rooh, with his next release, Prince Of Thieves. "The good thing is that the thin line between the pop scene and movies is dissolving," avers Khanwalkar. "The industry is a nicer place to be in now. There's such great experimentation which is so inspiring for all the new composers," she adds. All he wants to do, says Trivedi, undoubtedly the most talented of the lot, is to be in his zone. "Which is to compose what the script demands. In my next project, a UTV production directed by Rajkumar Gupta, I'm not plunging into the masala movie music. The sound is going to be on the lines of heavy metal-meets-Sufi." Screen IndiaSource: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 21 Mar 2009 | 8:53 am Natasha serenaded before death by her momNew York (ANI): British actress Vanessa Redgrave sang to her late daughter actress Natasha Richardson moments before she passed away.Redgrave, 72, stroked Richardson’s face and sang a sweet lullaby from ‘The Sound of Music’ for her daughter, as she stood besideSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 8:52 am Aniston's plan to have a child causes splitMelbourne (ANI): Jennifer Aniston’s desire to start a family is said to be the catalyst behind her and John Mayer’s split. The Friends actress and the Gravity singer reportedly ended their relationship over the singer's unwillingness to father her child.“She wasSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 8:49 am A helmet could have saved Natasha's lifeLondon (ANI): Natasha Richardson, who died in a skiing accident in Canada, had reportedly refused to wear a 6-pound rented helmet, which could have averted the tragedy. The Oscar-winning actress had met with an accident and suffered a head injury duringSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 8:46 am Goody wants her mum to fix teeth for her funeralLondon (ANI): Cancer-stricken Jade Goody has told her mum to get her teeth fixed so that she looks her best at her daughter’s funeral, according to sources.The 27-year-old was said to have ordered dentist-fearing Jackiey Budden, who had apparently cancelled threeSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 8:42 am Grammy winner Kitaro to serenade Delhi with fusion musicThe capital will be treated to a fusion of traditional Japanese music, pop-inflected Western idioms and electronic wizardry as Grammy and Golden Globe winner Kitaro brings his Love and Peace World Tour 2009 to India.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 21 Mar 2009 | 8:31 am Billa finally releasing on April 3Billa, the much awaited film of Prabhas, is finally hitting the screens on April 3. It is a remake of a Tamil film by the same title. Actresses Anushka and Namitha are playing the female lead roles in the film.Krishnm RajuSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 8:04 am Amisha Patel to contest from RajkotBollywood actress Amisha Patel will contest the Lok Sabha election from Rajkot in Gujarat on a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) ticket, a party official said Saturday.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 21 Mar 2009 | 8:01 am Ekta avoids Dilip Kumar's characterEkta Kapoor's Once Upon A Time In Mumbai, which is based on the life of the late don Haji Mastan, has already run into controversial waters with his family filing a case against her production house. Now, Ekta wants to avoidSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 7:48 am Bobby Deol jumps off from 13th floorBobby Deol leapt from the 13th floor of an under-construction building for Sangeeth Sivan's Ek The Power Of One.Bobby recalls, "I was on cables, but when you have to jump so many floors, your heart is in your mouth!"During one ofSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 7:40 am Fantasy jungle comes alive at India fashion week - Reuters India
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 7:14 am Jayam Ravi advances his wedding dateIt looks like Jayam Ravi can’t wait to get married to his sweetheart Aarthi! The family, which originally planned for a June 7 wedding, has now advanced it to June 4 citing astrological reasons.In a letter to the media, Ravi's fatherSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 7:09 am Sri Lankan top model in Sa Bu ThreeAksha Subari, a top Sri Lankan model is going to launch her career through a Tamil film titled Sa Bu Three. Others in the cast are Pinki, Mithuna, Sara and TV host of Sangeetham Mahayudham, the playback singer Ujjayinee.The film isSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 7:05 am 'Barah Aana' superbly highlights vulnerabilities of migrantsFilm: 'Barah Aana'; Director: Raja Menon; Cast: Neseeruddin Shah, Vijay Raaz, Arjun Mathur, Tannishtha Chatterjee; Rating: ***Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 21 Mar 2009 | 7:01 am Asin: Mollywood Star at Bollywood - Kerala Online
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 6:12 am Abhi changes his look for one day - Bollywood Mantra
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 6:10 am Tamil cinema turning to period films againThe success of 'Subramaniapuram' has enthused producer Kalpathi Aghoram to make another period film in Tamil titled 'Irumbukkottai, Murattu Singam' (Steel fort, untamed lion) - set in the 17th century.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 21 Mar 2009 | 3:30 am Nandita Das sees `no reason` to screen `Firaaq` for Modi!Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has apparently expressed keenness to see Nandita Das` directorial debut "Firaaq".Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 1:06 am Review: `Confessions of a Shopaholic` for girls who shop till they drop!A good film that could have been better, `Confessions…` is a typical Hollywood potboiler that looks into world of a compulsive shopper.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 1:06 am When Kylie went shopping in Mumbai and got conned !Kylie Minogue, who was in India to shoot a song for her first Bollywood venture "Blue", went on a shopping spree in Mumbai.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 1:06 am Review: `Aloo Chaat` does not suit the audience`s palate!`Aloo Chaat`, is not as appetizing and delectable as the title sounds.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 1:06 am Jacko asks news channel to apologise for comedians` mockery!Pop star Michael Jackson, who is gearing up to make a phenomenal comeback, is angry with the BBC after two comedians mocked him by comparing his comeback act to IRA.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 1:06 am Katrina distributes Rs 5 lakh hard cash among crew members!Salman, who is known to go all out for friends and family, has had a huge influence on his ladylove Katrina Kaif.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 1:06 am Stunner Angelina Jolie named `Yummiest Mummy`!Angelina Jolie is Hollywood`s sexiest mother, according to a new online poll.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 1:06 am Rihanna and Brown reported to have a steamy home sex video !Pop sensation Rihanna`s ill-fate just doesn`t seem to end.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 1:06 am Mr Amitabh Bachchan is best-dressed person, says Designer Abhi!Since launching their label `Abhirahul` back in December 2006, Delhi based designer duo Abhi and Rahul have come a long way.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 1:06 am `Straight` is about confused sexual inclinations: Vinay Pathak!All set to woo us through his film `Straight - Pinu Patel Ki Tedhi Medhi Love Story`, Vinay Pathak speakes to Spicezee.com on varied matters.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 21 Mar 2009 | 1:06 am Ghajini reincarnatedMadhu Mantena, the producer of the blockbuster ‘Ghajini’ is gearing up for another release in AprilSource: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 21 Mar 2009 | 12:00 am ‘Videsh’ gets an A certificateDirector Deepa Mehta has decided to release her film ‘Videsh’ with an “A” Certificate.Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 21 Mar 2009 | 12:00 am Anil’s second foreign projectAnil Kapoor must thank his son for persuading him to go and meet Danny Boyle.Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 21 Mar 2009 | 12:00 am Minissha’s special rapport with BomanSharing time and acting as father and daughter during the shooting of the movie ‘Abba Ka Kaun’, Boman Irani and Minissha Lamba have developed a unique bond.Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 21 Mar 2009 | 12:00 am Asin Endorses Fairever Fruit [Gallery]Asin looked simply gorgeous in a red attire as she attended the launch of Fairever Fruit Fairness Cream. From now on the south beauty will be the brand ambassador of the beauty product. The event was held at the Trident Hotel, Mumbai yesterday afternoon. Check out the snaps.Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 21 Mar 2009 | 12:00 am 8 * 10 Tasveer Press Meet [Gallery]The hero of the forthcoming thriller flick ‘8x10 Tasveer’ –Akshay Kumar along with the director Nagesh Kukunoor and the producer Shailendra Singh spoke to the press regarding the movie. Take a look at the photos. Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 21 Mar 2009 | 12:00 am Doctors praise fighter Jade Goody's strong heart
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 20 Mar 2009 | 6:49 pm Slumdog kid's mom angry with filmmakers
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 20 Mar 2009 | 5:58 pm Biography: Rani Mukherjee
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 20 Mar 2009 | 5:54 pm Kannada artists, writers rally for Chaplin statueOver 100 theatre and film personalities held a demonstration here Friday to support Kannada filmmaker Hemanth Hegde's plans to erect a 62-foot statue of Charlie Chaplin for a movie - a move opposed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 20 Mar 2009 | 5:33 pm Criticised for reopening wounds, 'Firaaq' is accurate: NaseeruddinVeteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, who plays a pivotal role in Nandita Das's directorial debut 'Firaaq', admits the film's team was often criticised of 'raking up old wounds', but maintains that it is a 'hard-hitting picture' of what happened in the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 20 Mar 2009 | 5:31 pm Just A Minute With: actress Bipasha BasuMUMBAI (Reuters) - One of Bollywood's most glamorous heroines, model-turned-actress Bipasha Basu made her debut in films with "Ajnabee" in 2001.Source: Reuters: Bollywood News | 20 Mar 2009 | 5:10 pm
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