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Susan Boyle gives guests sleepless nights with day night rehearsalsLondon, May 26 (ANI): Britain's Got Talent star Susan Boyle has been practicing her singing day and night, leaving other guests at a hotel sleep deprived.Source: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 26 Jun 2009 | 7:49 am Brit dads too busy to read bedtime stories to kidsLondon, May 26 (ANI): A large number of British kids are missing out on the tradition of bedtime stories, because dads are too busy to read to their children, a new survey has revealed.Source: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 26 Jun 2009 | 7:49 am Ex- fiance compares Heather Mills to a "tornado"London, May 26 (ANI): Heather Mills' ex fianc has revealed that the former glamour model's anger was no less than a thunderstorm.Source: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 26 Jun 2009 | 7:49 am Natalie Cole 'discharged from hospital'Washington, May 26 (ANI): Singer Natalie Cole has reportedly been released from the hospital after undergoing a kidney transplant and is said to be recuperating.Source: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 26 Jun 2009 | 7:49 am Myleene Klass flees Costa Rican hotel room after 'bug invasion'!London, May 26 (ANI): Myleene Klass left her hotel room in Costa Rica after she found bugs crawling all over her while sleeping.Source: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 26 Jun 2009 | 7:49 am Gap-toothed Demi Moore Tweets the 'missing' tooth!London, May 26 (ANI): Twitter addict Demi Moore has uploaded a picture of herself in sunglasses with a missing front tooth in all its glory on the site.Source: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 26 Jun 2009 | 7:09 am Winehouse turned to booze out of boredom, says mumLondon, May 26 (ANI): Amy Winehouse's mum has said that her troubled daughter turned to alcohol because of her boredom in St Lucia.Source: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 26 Jun 2009 | 7:09 am 'Pinky' Pammie hits Malibu beach in true sexy styleLondon, May 26 (ANI): She may be over 40, but Pamela Anderson has still got the body to die for.Source: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 26 Jun 2009 | 7:09 am Miley Cyrus' 'new man' says, "we are close"London, May 26 (ANI): British actor Gregg Sulkin, who has been linked to Miley Cyrus, has spoken for the first time about his relationship with the teen starlet.he Hanna Montana star is said to be smitten by Greg - who has been dubbed 'The British Zac Efron'Source: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 26 Jun 2009 | 7:09 am Horse coach pal, Jordan 'spend quality time at her pad'London, May 26 (ANI): While Australian singer Peter Andre is busy hastening divorce proceedings, his estranged wife Katie Price a.k.a. Jordan is busy spending 'quality' time with her horse riding coach.Source: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 26 Jun 2009 | 6:42 am Big B to promote vegetarianism at IIFA?
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 26 May 2009 | 5:29 pm Rekha says no to Lifetime Achievement award
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 26 May 2009 | 5:13 pm Varma sent Jana Gana Man Rann to MPs
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 26 May 2009 | 5:07 pm Vinay-Monalisa 'caught' kissing
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 26 May 2009 | 4:52 pm Imran, Katrina in '7 Days in Paris'
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 26 May 2009 | 4:51 pm BIG Cinemas to open 1000 seater multiplex in Chicago
BIG Cinemas, the film exhibition division of Adlabs Films Limited, is opening its first branded cinema property in the US with a five screen multiplex and one premium lounge.
Christened BIG Cinemas-Golf Glen the 1000-seater; 26,549 sq. feet multiplex in Niles, Chicago will be digitally connected to Adlabs India enabling films to be transported on fiber optic cable within 4-6 hours. The multiplex will play a mix of Hollywood, Indian, Polish and Korean films and will have stadium seating to enable live telecasts of cricket matches and other events.
Commenting on the development, Anil Arjun, CEO, Adlabs Films said, "The Chicago launch is in keeping with our vision to establish a strong foothold for BIG Cinemas worldwide in markets which have an appetite for Indian cinema. BIG Cinemas has a significant presence in the US with 170 screens and contributes 25% of the box office for Hindi films and over 65% for Tamil and Telugu films released in the US."
Over 1000 special guests are expected to attend the launch on May 29th. From time to time, this multiplex will also screen Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Marathi and Punjabi films.
Adlabs Films, a member of Reliance ADAG, has 430 screens spread across India, US and Malaysia. The company had recently announced the launch of its digital restoration and content processing services targeted at the international market.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 26 May 2009 | 4:06 pm Go home, Rourke told Freida Pinto
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 26 May 2009 | 3:53 pm Industry men react to Neetu Chandra's 'woman-on-woman' photo shoot
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Neetu Chandra's 'woman-on-woman' photo shoot has literally created a storm. Leave aside the protests (or the lack of them), the fact remains that the pictures have been noticed by one and all (though quite a few also deny having looked at them, but more on that later) and the Garam Masala girl who got 'lucky' with an unlucky number '13' quite recently has now moved up from a 'Traffic Signal' to Page 1 across National Dailies as well as prime slots on news channels.
Joginder Tuteja catches up with quite a few industry men and tries to gauge their reaction on Neetu's photo shoot. While doing so, we came across an interesting trend. While majority of top line actors (names withheld) either refrained from commenting at all or evaded the query by stating - 'I am yet to look at the pictures', quite a few Bollywood filmmakers were game to share their views around the photo shoot. This is what they had to say:
Ken Ghosh - "It's quite an interesting concept! Great going!"
Shirish Kunder - "Awesome. In fact I thought it was a little restrained. They should have gone out a little more."
Rohit Jugraj - "I think it's very awesome and gutsy on Neetu's part to go ahead with such bold and sensuous pictures. Times are changing and we should pay heed. They say cinema is a reflection of the changing society and if the world can have a festival like Moondance (a gay and dance film festival), we can at least celebrate freedom of expression in cinema. I have always had a script about two women, a pack of cigarettes and a road trip in mind, though that script of mine is not about lesbian characters but does have an intimate moment between the girls. Photo shoots like Neetu's only prove to me that audience is ready, howsoever niche it may be. But the question is - 'Are we filmmakers ready to handle such themes deftly with maturity and sensitively?"
Jag Mundhra - "I just checked one such picture on the net. I think it is quite beautiful and provocative. Her body language is defiant; celebrating raw female sexuality. It says - 'As an artist I am ready to push the boundaries'. It defies the viewer to do the same. I think it is very symbolic than sexy, just like the PETA ads."
Randeep Hooda - "Neetu's pictures are very hot. It's in some form or the other every man's fantasy. It's about time we started opening up about it (smiles). It's a brave shoot so cheers to her!"
Rahul Dholakia - "I saw the shoot, and while I thought it was an interesting concept and a good marketing tool, I don't think we should give it any more importance than that. If this picture is generating any kind of controversy, I don't think it should. It's bold but not obscene; it's about two women, maybe lesbians. So what?"
Piyush Jha - "Everyday I get surprised at how much further and further we are pushing the envelope of morality in India. While I am not aesthetically riveted by the pictures, I am impressed by the challenge it throws at the so called 'norms' of our society."
Madhu Mantena - "I am in London and haven't seen the pictures yet. However, would like to meet them together!"
Navdeep Singh - "Girl-girl action is always very welcome. These pictures seemed tasteful enough. There is a need and space for some eroticism in our lives. And when it's girl-on-girl, it's even better!!!"
Vivek Agnihotri - "We are living in time of media clutter and to get mind share, media must titillate; so a shoot like this is nothing novel. Also competition is so tough in our industry that lots of people are willing to go to any extent to be noticed. What can be a better way than shock the audiences? The picture meets both these aspirations. Neetu is talented and I am sure she is capable of shocking more with her talent and soon she will realize it."
Suparn Verma - "More woman power! She looks fabulous and the pictures are aesthetically done. I think the moral police should take a nap!"
Robby Grewal - "Neetu has liked doing the shoot and I have liked looking at the pictures. So where does the question of protests or morality come into picture? At the end of the day when an artist and a consumer are comfortable with something, there should not be a problem with everyone else. And come on, it's not the first time that such pictures have come on print, so why are we making a hue and cry?"Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 26 May 2009 | 3:48 pm Baldwin banned from Philippines after sex remarks
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 26 May 2009 | 3:33 pm "Geeta is like Rakhi Sawant; she's muffat but kick-ass" - Anjori Alagh
The last time we interviewed her was during her second Bollywood outing, for Vikram Bhatt's 1920. She is also the second child in her family after her elder sister Savari Alagh. What's more, this babe has got a dual personality - the good and the bad in her. Good because she took us out for a lovely dinner last year at Indigo Deli and Mainland China where we munched on some paper thin pizzas and her favourite Apple slush. 'Rings a bell Anjori?' Bad because more than the bites on her Pizzas, she often bites her finger nails. To add further, this is the second 'Seeta Aur Geeta' offering. While one was made as a movie starring the beautiful Hema Malini, this one's being made as a 260 episode tele-series currently aired on NDTV Imagine. Yesterday, the 25th of May 2009 witnessed the debut of Anjori Alagh on to the small screen and how. A private party was thrown in by the producers, Abhinav Kashyap (Anurag Kashyap's brother) and the Bohra Brothers, to mark the launch of 'Seeta Aur Geeta' at the Country Club in Andheri. Anjori had given us the time - 7.15pm. We wait for her to arrive, and as soon as she does we congratulate her. A firm shake of hands, a warm hug and a little whisper in the ears saying, "Please be honest and tell me how you like my first episode" makes you want to sit more and enjoy the battle of the goodies and the baddies in the form of 'Seeta Aur Geeta'. So pristine is Alagh that we noticed she hasn't changed a bit. She looked half cute and half sexy. In fact, she looked double the thrill last night in her sleeveless sky blue tee and skirt. No gaudy make up, no fake smiles, no over the top saying 'I always wanted to venture into television' and all. We sometimes wonder, 'Was there any sense in us calling her Alagh?' Didn't we say she was pristine? Anyway, the double role fever had just started to sink in for us as the lights dim and our eyes are forced on to looking at the big screen for the small screen masti to unfold at a brisk pace. UK's Harrow Observer columnist and Bollywood Hungama's London correspondent Devansh Patel was a special guest last night to witness the first of its kind tele-series based on a full length feature film 'Seeta Aur Geeta'. So as soon as the curtains come down after the launch, the cute and sexy Seeta and Geeta walks towards us saying, "Please tell me how did you like it?". The answer was too obvious, "Wait till you read it tomorrow morning sweetheart." Though we didn't want to make Anjori Alagh waiting for more, we decided to give her something else in return. No review but an interview was waiting for her round the corner. With a diet cola drink in her hand she orders one for us too in case we started to sweat in the summer heat. So with two gulps down, we started talking about her two dream roles, twice the fun, too much hard work and her double act - from cinema to television.
The amount of effort gone into playing Seeta and Geeta has surpassed all my previous film efforts
Do you still think you're a part of a film because the serial is based on one?
Yes, I think so because it's been shot so differently. It's not shot like a regular television show. It'll feel like a T.V show once we start churning our episodes. But the amount of effort gone into playing Seeta and Geeta has surpassed all my previous film efforts too, and I'm being honest here.
Are you honest because here you've got more screen space than your films?
No. There are no expectations from the past in playing something which Hema Malini has already played because it's going to be very difficult. A lot of work went into playing the role of Geeta.
How was the workshop you've done in 'Seeta aur Geeta' different from the film workshops you've done in the past? Guess what, I've never been a part of a film workshop. Normally it's the other way around. We did less grooming for the role of Seeta because it was easy to play the character that had less dialogues. We carried out different scenes from the script. Rehearsed on Seeta's and Geeta's body language, how she walked and talked. The kind of language they speak, etc. Abhinav Kashyap and my director Maqbool Khan sat for two weeks at a stretch for the workshop to brush up on my double act.
There will surely be a love-hate relationship here. I mean, the viewers are going to love or hate either of the two characters. I think both might be liked. Most of our Indian men love the docile, sweet, gharelu ladki. And then the women will like Geeta more because she fights back. She is more kick-ass and muffat.
Did you get some feedback on the show from Hema Malini?
No. I didn't get to interact with her much. I wanted to but till then the Press came and took over. But she was really supportive and I didn't want her to be upset. She did say, "Don't get worried about your characters Anjori. Play 'Seeta Aur Geeta' the way you would like to play them". And that's exactly what I'm doing on screen.
Women will like Geeta more because she fights back
But there will be comparisons we're sure.
Yes there will be. But a lot of things that Seeta and Geeta were back then, people don't identify with today. The style is the very late seventies and eighties but the situations are very much in sync with today.
What are your expectations? I am not expecting drastic changes to happen overnight. The TRP's and all. It's going to have a bit of a snowball effect because even when I watch a show sometime and I like what I see, I'll start watching it again even though I started seeing it from the third or the fourth episode. That's why there are repeat shows in television which is an added advantage.
And what about your return back to Bollywood?
I will return back to Bollywood in 2010. I've got stuff in hand that I want to work on which I will after I finish the entire shoot of 'Seeta Aur Geeta'. The only reason I chose to be a part of this was because it was based on a film. I've sent text messages to a lot of my Bollywood celeb friends who will be also be giving me their honest feedback. 'Seeta Aur Geeta' is going to be a one off serial I'll ever do in my life.
What about your brother-in-law, Sameer Nair, the head of NDTV Imagine. The media says that you got this opportunity because of him.
What rubbish! A channel cannot be run on relationships. I went and auditioned and Sam, as I call him, didn't even know till Sunil Bohra called him and informed him about me being chosen for the serial. This credit is not going to Sameer Nair. It's all mine.
Will 'Seeta Aur Geeta' give a lot back to you in return when you again jump back to films next year? Yes. It's a great grooming process I'll take back. I've done two films in my career and I've had many flaws in it. I need to work a lot on it and this is a golden opportunity I can ever get. I am shooting every single day till the end of the year and I'm sure it's going to help in the long run. There are no breaks in serials like in films.
So are you prepared for your best and the worst feedback?
Yes I am. I have already started getting the feedback. It's not like everyone is patting my back and saying that I've done a wonderful job. No. There is feedback I get from NDTV Imagine, there's feedback which my producer and director gives me. It's a constant learning process on what to do and what not to.
It's not like everyone is patting my back and saying that I've done a wonderful job
Any surprise celebrity guest we'll be seeing on the 50th episode?
Unlike other tele-series which does that quite often, we don't wait for the 50th episode. We do that even sooner.
In real life, we are today witnessing a lot of your crew members pulling your leg. Show some of your Geeta traits here. (Laughs) They all do. Yes, speak to my ADs, my director, my producers and even my cameraman. They like pulling my leg because I can take a joke and laugh at myself.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 26 May 2009 | 3:29 pm PETA requests IIFA, Bachchan to promote vegetarian foodAnimal welfare organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has urged members of the India International Film Academy (IIFA) and its brand ambassador, Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan, to avoid non-vegetarian meals at the forthcoming event to be held in Macau, China next month.Source: Entertainment News | 26 May 2009 | 3:17 pm Mel Gibson confirms girlfriend's pregnancy
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 26 May 2009 | 3:06 pm All-women Bhangra team steals Punjabi show in USWest embraced East here as thousands mingled, ate and danced at the annual Punjabi American Heritage Festival.Source: Entertainment News | 26 May 2009 | 2:24 pm Go home, Mickey Rourke told Freida Pinto"Slumdog Millionaire" star Freida Pinto says that at the Oscars Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke had told her to go home because he thought she was too young to be there.Source: Entertainment News | 26 May 2009 | 12:17 pm Supreme Court frowns upon 'Jana Gana Mana Rann'The Supreme Court on Monday disapproved of the controversial song "Jana Gana Mana Rann" in director Ram Gopal Varma's new film "Rann", saying nobody has the right to tinker with the national anthem.Source: Entertainment News | 26 May 2009 | 12:16 pm Varma sent 'Jana gana mana Rann' song to 500 MPsRam Gopal Varma and his co-producers Madhu Mantena and Sheetal Talwar had prepared CDs of the controversial "Jana gana mana Rann" song from "Rann" and sent them off to 500 MPs before the case came up for hearing in the Supreme Court.Source: Entertainment News | 26 May 2009 | 12:12 pm Monica Bellucci's home burgled
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 26 May 2009 | 11:49 am Shilpa Shetty licked by a giraffe - Hindustan Times
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 26 May 2009 | 11:47 am “Freida was too young to be at Oscars” Rourke - Oneindia
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 26 May 2009 | 11:44 am Kal Kissne Dekha changes release date - Oneindia
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 26 May 2009 | 11:35 am Lindsay Lohan in Katie Holmes shoes
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 26 May 2009 | 11:19 am Post-IPL, channels vie to get back viewersWith the Indian Premier League (IPL) frenzy over, Hindi entertainment channels are seeking to woo back audiences with a variety of new programmes - game shows, stand-up comedies and women-oriented serials.Source: Entertainment News | 26 May 2009 | 11:09 am PETA requests IIFA, Bachchan to promote vegetarian foodAnimal welfare organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has urged members of the India International Film Academy (IIFA) and its brand ambassador, Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan, to avoid non-vegetarian meals at the forthcoming event to be held in Macau, China next month.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 26 May 2009 | 10:31 am I won't be kind to poor performers: Kirron KherAfter playing mother to Bollywood superstars like Aamir Khan in "Rang De Basanti", Shah Rukh Khan in "Om Shanti Om" and Abhishek Bachchan in "Dostana", Kirron Kher is set to play a judge on the new reality show "India's Got Talent".Source: Entertainment News | 26 May 2009 | 9:53 am Cannes 2009: Where's The Money, Honey?
Click above for more event stills
In his four years on the Cote d'Azur, industry expert Tanuj Garg gives us an exclusive account of why the recently concluded Cannes Film Market chose wine over champagne
Cannes 2009 could not have been more predictable - the prevailing economic gloom has obviously had a ferocious impact on the key film markets that have taken place in the year gone by, and no one was expecting the Marche du Cannes to be a gold mine. Being the biggest in the world gave it a serious disadvantage - it was the most severely hit, notwithstanding the swine flu scare.
For the thousand-odd critics, celebrity hounds, the enormous paparazzi and the locals, the festival offered a brilliant concentration of star quality. The competition line up was the most astounding in all the years that I have been visiting the sea-side town - 20 films from directors, who, between them, have competed for the Palme d'Or on 48 previous occasions. But for the majority of producers and distributors focused on doing serious business at the Marche, the massive oomph quotient means little.
Being a Cannes regular who is used to the manic hustle-bustle during the festival, I had sniffed, just a day before the opening that that wasn't going to be the case this year.
The Croisette, the beach-front street that serves as the main artery of the festival was sparsely populated, hotel and yacht bookings were down, stand decors were sober and strictly business, and the number of terrace and beach-side party invites in my bag weren't half as many as those in recent years. The sobering statistic provided in the daily local media was a 20%-25% dip in buyer attendance. Ironically, there was a drop in the number of exhibiting sellers as well, which was evident in the vast untaken floor space in the basement of The Palais (where much of the business gets transacted.)
The barren sponsorship panels above the red carpet on both sides of The Palais, and the numerous naked pillars and advertising spots on and around The Croisette once adorned by extensive corporate and product branding, indicated that no one had spare cash to show off.
The small buyers I met were far and few. They were interested but cautious about making significant procurements given their lower acquisition budgets. I met many who arrived in the second week when hotel rates come down marginally. The big buyers were interested primarily in tent pole titles at shoe-string prices. Small-budget movies that are incredibly distinct in their genre had relatively easier takers making the generalist movies the worst affected in a market that is clearly over-stocked. There was news that Russian buyers were going to boycott European and American sellers given the latter's refusal to re-negotiate erstwhile deal terms.
Life wasn't cosy for the sales agents who had to work harder for their money as well - the established ones were successful in shifting select product to their loyal network of mainstream buyers while the lesser ones struggled. From my conversations with head honchos of a number of sales houses, I gathered that an increasing number were looking to move from traditional art-house sales to raising external finance for co-producing films, consequently giving them greater control on the content and therefore on its global exploitation.
It had to be the slowest market that the global film industry has seen - the sunshine in Cannes was glorious through the fortnight, but the clouds in the marketplace will take some time to get by.
(Tanuj Garg has exhaustive experience in film production, marketing and distribution. Based out of London, he heads International Syndication & Media Sales for Studio 18.)Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 26 May 2009 | 9:47 am RGV sends out 'Jana Gana Mana Rann' music video copies to 500 MPs
A few days before the matter of Ram Gopal Varma's revisionist version of the national anthem goes to the Supreme Court, Ram Gopal Varma and his co-producers Madhu Mantena and Sheetal Talwar have prepared CD's of the their 'Jana Gana Mana Rann' music-video and sent them off to all the members of parliament in the country.
Explains Mantena, "We did this so that the people who lead the country would have a clear idea of what we've done. See, it's easy to believe hearsay, and fall for malicious attempts to prove that we've played around with the National Anthem. Protest in our country is always based on ignorance. We wanted to change that."
This week 500 CDs of the Rann anthem were sent off to the MPs. "This is not meant to influence the judiciary, only to ensure that no one gets the wrong picture," says Mantena.
The Rann publicity machinery claims the film will be released on October 2, Gandhi Jayanti. But the inside information is otherwise.
Says a source, "The October 2 release date was Ram Gopal Varma's attempt to be as defiant and politically incorrect as possible. We've not fixed a release date for Rann."Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 26 May 2009 | 9:23 am Scriptwriting classes for Bollywood nowAfter Jaideep Sahni and Abbas Tyrewala captivated audiences by penning super-successful scripts for hits like "Chak De! India" and "Munnabhai M.Source: Entertainment News | 26 May 2009 | 8:31 am SRK turns bad man again! - Hindustan Times
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 26 May 2009 | 7:54 am RGV sends his 'Jana Gana Mana' to 500 MPs - Times of India
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 26 May 2009 | 7:37 am Imran Khan and Katrina Kaif in '7 Days In Paris'
Sanjay Gadhvi is all set to start his new film. This one will be produced by Studio 18 and star Imran Khan and Katrina Kaif, who've been teamed for the very first time. It's a romantic/comedy and is aptly titled 7 DAYS IN PARIS, since Paris happens to be one of the most romantic cities in the world.
Sanjay plans to begin filming in June-end/July, "because I want to capture the summer in Europe," he reveals, "It's a uniquely structured script, but I can't reveal much at this stage." Sanjay plans to wrap almost 85% of the film in Paris, while the remaining portions will be filmed in London and Mumbai.
"The only film to be shot so extensively in Paris was AN EVENING IN PARIS. Of late, JHOOM BARABAR JHOOM, DON and LONDON DREAMS were filmed in Paris as well, but not extensively," Sanjay adds. Watch this space for further updates!Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 26 May 2009 | 7:30 am Rekha gains acquittal from Life sentence - Times of India
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 26 May 2009 | 7:22 am The Mallika - Irrfan starrer 'Hissss' is hot!
Click above for more movie stills
Mallika Sherawat has reasons to rejoice. Her new film HISSSS has been picked by Endeavour, the same company that brokered the SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE deal with Fox. Right now, HISSSS is in the post-production stages in Los Angeles and the producers have decided to premiere the film at the Toronto Film Festival in September this year.
Meanwhile, the makers as also Endeavour have inked a deal with Storm Lion, the media conglomerate that's associated with several Hollywood studios, to take the film further -- new-age digital media. "A comic book series is in the offing, besides mobile content and games," producer Vikram Singh reveals.
HISSSS has been made in two languages - Hindi and English. Venus Records & Tapes present the film.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 26 May 2009 | 7:12 am Saif, Deepika shoot Love Aaj Kal promotional song - Oneindia
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 26 May 2009 | 7:03 am Varma sent 'Jana gana mana Rann' song to 500 MPsRam Gopal Varma and his co-producers Madhu Mantena and Sheetal Talwar had prepared CDs of the controversial 'Jana gana mana Rann' song from 'Rann' and sent them off to 500 MPs before the case came up for hearing in the Supreme Court.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 26 May 2009 | 7:01 am Versace denies any friction between Donatella and RisioItalian fashion house Versace has denied news reports about any friction between its design head Donatella Versace and chief executive Giancarlo Di Risio.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 26 May 2009 | 7:01 am I won't be kind to poor performers: Kirron KherAfter playing mother to Bollywood superstars like Aamir Khan in 'Rang De Basanti', Shah Rukh Khan in 'Om Shanti Om' and Abhishek Bachchan in 'Dostana', Kirron Kher is set to play a judge on the new reality show 'India's Got Talent'. The actress says she won't be kind to poor performers.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 26 May 2009 | 4:30 am Post-IPL, channels vie to get back viewersWith the Indian Premier League (IPL) frenzy over, Hindi entertainment channels are seeking to woo back audiences with a variety of new programmes - game shows, stand-up comedies and women-oriented serials.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 26 May 2009 | 4:00 am Now follow Mallika on twitter! - Hindustan Times
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 26 May 2009 | 3:32 am Scriptwriting classes for Bollywood nowAfter Jaideep Sahni and Abbas Tyrewala captivated audiences by penning super-successful scripts for hits like 'Chak De! India' and 'Munnabhai M.B.B.S.', the art of scriptwriting has come into the spotlight with film schools and experts organising workshops to train wannabe writers.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 26 May 2009 | 3:00 am Salim-Sulaiman nominated for Emmy AwardsIndia's music composer duo Salim-Sulaiman have been nominated for the prestigious television production awards Emmy for their composition in popular American show "Wonder Pets".Source: Entertainment News | 25 May 2009 | 6:55 pm Special premiere of Anupam's debut movie - Times of India
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 25 May 2009 | 5:57 pm Karisma Kapoor and David Dhawan to judge a reality show
The IPL is over and the television viewers seem to be getting back to their soaps. No wonder then that new TV shows are being launched on such a big scale currently. One of the latest shows featuring Bollywood celebrities is 'Hans Baliye'. This is a reality show which features Karisma Kapoor and director David Dhawan as judges.
David Dhawan said that he opted in to be a judge on the show as it promised uniqueness and of course the comic aspect. He also added that comedy is something he personally enjoys and watching couples showcasing their humorous side will surely be a treat to watch. The show promises to be interesting and engaging.
While Karisma Kapoor said that the unique and amazing concept to search for India's best real life comedy couples attracted her towards the show. 'Hans Baliye' gives a platform to real life couples to showcase their talent to a wider audience.
'Hans Baliye' will go on air from May 30 on Star One.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 25 May 2009 | 5:02 pm Subhash Ghai impressed by music composer Wajid's work on Paying Guest
Sajid and Wajid have given quite a few chartbusters for number of Salman Khan starrers in the capacity of composers. However, when Wajid decided to lift the pen for the track 'Jack & Jill' in Paying Guest, he managed to impress none other than Subhash Ghai, the producer of the film.
"I wasn't meant to do lyrics for Paying Guests. In fact officially I have never been in charge of the lyrics department, though on and off I do come up with suggestions. However, it was by default that I ended up writing a song for Paying Guests", informs Wajid.
The song had traveled quite a few hands before it reached Wajid. The basic requirement was to come up with a song that revolved around the nursery rhyme 'Jack & Jill' and would appeal to both children and youth. When none of the other lyricists succeeded in delivering the required results, Wajid took up the challenge on himself.
"I asked Paritossh Painter, the film's director, for a couple of days and assured him that I would revert with the appropriate lyrics for 'Jack & Jill'. When I returned to him with the song, he liked what he saw but the biggest reaction came from Subhash Ghai himself", says Wajid in an excited tone.
And what exactly was the reaction?
"He was very impressed with the song and complimented me in as many words. Coming from a man like him who has been known for his great taste of music for decades, it was nothing but an honour", says Wajid.
This was not all as Subhash Ghai now wanted him to sing for Paying Guests as well. On his insistence, Wajid went on to sing the title song Paying Guests where he has gone solo. "He loved the base rhythm of the song that I hummed to him", says Wajid, "He then and there insisted that I sing the song as well and wasn't even willing try any other singer."
Incidentally, Ghai hadn't heard any of his songs from other films earlier and heard him for the first time only during the recording of Paying Guests.
"Thankfully, the song was completed in almost a single take and I was relieved because Ghai saab was there in the studio and seeing it all. It was a very good experience to be working under the mentorship of the Showman himself", gushes Wajid.
In fact, Wajid is wearing an all rounder cap today by not just composing the music but also frequently coming behind the mike for rendering a song or two. Most recently he flexed his vocal chords for films like Kal Kissne Dekha, Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge and Hello as well besides composing the music along with Sajid.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 25 May 2009 | 4:53 pm "2D animation is evergreen" - Ram Mohan
CGTexpo, Mumbai: Is evergreen style of classical two dimensional (2D) animation being over-shadowed by the emergence of the modern three dimensional (3D)
image? "No doubt 3D technology is coming up but classical is yet not obsolete. Most of the landmark movies made in the history of animation were in 2D and if
not, they had certain principles of animation which are applicable to all the mediums of animation," says Ram Mohan, father of Indian animation and Chairman
of Graphiti School of Animation.
With decades of experience behind him, Ram Mohan believes that the classical form of animation is still alive and will remain relevant in the years to come.
No matter what the technology, 2D will complement it and aid the creative process. "Today's young generation considers that every thing can be done through
the digital medium. The digital medium is just a tool but rest relies on one's own creativity," says the animation stalwart.
Showcasing clips from some of the best national and international animation films, Ram Mohan traced the development of animation and explained how it was
intertwined with the technology used, making landmarks in the process. Using a clip from The Simpsons movie, Ram Mohan demonstrated how one can
create a character which is simple, but at the same time appealing. "One of the most necessary components is 'great characters' - the most unforgettable ones
you ever met," he said referring to the Simpsons.
The other important details that made a movie a landmark, he said, were a narrative that hooks the viewer within the first 10 seconds, compelling and
evocative designs that bring about a total suspension of disbelief, technical excellence which blends the real and the virtual seamlessly, the knack of
picking the right tools for the right job, an awareness of the history of cinema and of animation - in terms of period, genre and style.
He finally asked aspiring filmmakers and students to make a personal statement in which every single frame is work of art and warned against techno jingoism.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 25 May 2009 | 3:58 pm Shah Rukh Khan's Dulha Mil Gaya is ready for release - World News
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 25 May 2009 | 2:41 pm Down the memory lane with Kimmy Katkar
Once sex symbol, now glam-mom. In her first interview in years, Kimmy Katkar opens up on her gritty fight for her son's life and life after Bollywood
For starters, she was never Kimi. "It's Kimmy Katkar. Someone spelt it wrong and it stuck. I hated it," says Katkar. She of the arched eyebrows and long legs, desi Jane to an eminently forgettable Tarzan, Jumma to a lusting Amitabh Bachchan in Hum, has just welcomed me to her home with a cool glass of iced tea. Google her and the search throws up a collection of Tarzan and Hum tidbits and a few video clips on YouTube. There is a fan asking: 'Where is Kimi Katkar?' Where indeed? "But were people looking for that answer? I don't think so!" Katkar says candidly, as she sits across me, clad in blue jeans and a white shirt at her apartment in Pune, the city that has been home for the past three years.
The sex bomb of the Eighties is now 47 and mother to a 16-year-old. She has put on a few kilos and remains a striking woman. But she seems to have happily shed the starry life. So, she shows me the exquisite embroidery she does, chats about the pastas she makes for her son's dabba or the bonsais she's trying hard to nurture and, most of all, takes me through the pages of her life through the exhaustive scrapbook she has put together of her family. It takes prodding to get her talking of her film career. "I think I left at the right time. What more could I have done after acting opposite Amit (Amitabh) in Hum? I had been modelling since I was 17. After 10-11 years of continuous work. I knew I needed to settle down," she says.
Katkar made her debut in Tarzan in 1985. While the film flopped, it got her recognition. A cache of minor and major films followed ("I have worked with every hero of my time'') till beau Shantanu Sheorey popped the question and Katkar waltzed out of Bollywood, without so much as a backward glance. "Everyone was aghast. After Hum, I had been inundated with offers of films with Amit. But I had closed the chapter when I said yes to Shantanu. In fact I had to return a whole lot of signing amounts," she says.
If Katkar oozes calm, not oomph, it's an assurance that comes of having gone through the churning of time. Katkar, you could say, has been put through the wringer. It's a story that she has been cajoled to share for the first time in all these years. Eight years ago, she packed her bags and moved from Mumbai to Melbourne. Her son Siddhanth, then nine, was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness (she requests us not to go into details because she doesn't want Siddhanth, now a strapping teenager, to be labelled by the past). When their doctor in Mumbai advised them to take him out of India to give him a better chance at life, they left for Australia, where Shantanu's brother is a doctor. "Even today when I think of that phase of my life, I shudder," she says. "You always think that these things happen only to other people and not to you," she says.
Katkar flew out of the country with just two pairs of jeans, expecting to be back in a few weeks. From an initial estimate of two months, the stay extended to five years. It was also the period that Katkar says changed her forever. "Shantanu was there but he had to shuttle between Mumbai and Melbourne. For long stretches it was just Siddhanth and I. Siddhanth started school there, along with his treatment, and we embarked on a whole new phase of life," she says.
Five years on, though the couple started to feel that it's time to move back. "Though Melbourne was beautiful, I felt I was losing my mind. Sid was also getting older and I felt he needed Shantanu to be around more," says Katkar. She was certain, though, that she did not want to be in Mumbai. She felt they needed to go to a quieter, smaller city to re-establish themselves as a family. "I came back and immediately my friends rallied around us and helped us settle in beautifully," says Katkar, who finally found the peace of mind that had been rudely snatched from her.
Does she never really miss the glamour? "I miss the money I think. But that's about it. And perhaps the designer clothes and facilities today's girls have. We would look at a dress in a magazine and ask the tailor to make it," she says. Katkar though believes actors in her time had a more distinctive look. "All the girls today tend to look the same. We may have had very limited choices for make-up, but I think we all had our individual looks," says Katkar.
The full-time mother is not in touch with anyone from the industry-though old colleagues like Jackie Shroff and Poonam Dhillon remember her as the actor who was surprisingly "just a normal girl" on sets. She doesn't even watch any of her movies. "I think that phase is over and done with. I have a movie lying around, Khoon ka Karz, that the maids have been asking me to put on but I would much rather not. Once in a while, a channel airs a movie of mine and going to the market becomes a problem-that's about it."
So no comeback plans? "Unless there is a great role. But who is going to give me that? Then again, nowadays people are more into realistic cinema where the likes of us can fit in. I would love to work opposite Boman Irani. I think he's hugely talented. And I think the Amitabh of Cheeni Kum and Nishabd is so much better than the one in my time. Had he been like this, I wouldn't have left the industry!" she says with a laugh.
Despite her distance, she remains a Bollywood fan. "It's a fantastic place. I think for those who run it down it's a just a case of sour grapes," she says. And what about her sex symbol image? "I loved it. It just meant I was so hot," she says. While in the industry, Katkar had her share of gossip and link-ups. "As long as I was not hurting anyone, not breaking anyone's home, I couldn't care less what people said or talked. I was only answerable to my mother and she always knew what was happening in my life. Of course I had relationships but I never lived two lives," she says.
Her last brush with fame came some years ago-when she was mentioned in Gregory David Roberts' Shantaram. Katkar was in Australia then, far away from her past. A friend in Australia, who knew Katkar was an actress-"but secretly doubted it", says the actor- read the book and called her up. "She demanded to know why I hadn't told her that I knew him. It seems Roberts had dropped in on the sets in Mumbai and while my co-star Chunky Pandey was as usual strutting about like a star, I was chatting up everyone on the sets. Shataram noticed that and wrote about me later on in the book. Just goes to show one should be good to everyone in life-never know who will remember it kindly one day!" she says. That they do, Kimmy. That they still do.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 25 May 2009 | 2:30 pm New pen tablet 'Wacom Intuos4' launched
Wacom has unveiled Intuos 4, a new professional pen tablet that delivers new features and unparalleled performance to photographers, designers and artists seeking optimal control and improved productivity. Inspired by members of Wacom's professional community, the next generation Intuos is anchored by the Intuos4's new pen performance, capable of capturing the slightest nuance of pen pressure against the tablet surface, as well as offering 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity.
Other innovative product modifications include a refined and intelligent industrial design that provides real advancements in looks, comfort and control. Specific workflow and productivity tools to savor include the shortcut and modifier keys with multiple customisable and application-specific profiles as well as the OLED (organic light emitting diode) displays beside the keys for quick reference.
The Intuos4 Grip Pen features Wacom's new proprietary Tip Sensor technology, offering users near-zero (one gram) starting pressure for the most natural feeling experience of any digital pen to date. "The lightest touch will activate the pen, emulating the same feel, response and results derived from working with traditional art tools," said Glenn Tsunekawa, Asia Pacific Marketing Manager at Wacom Co., Ltd.
"In addition, our latest pen technology should encourage Wacom's software partners to continue to expand pen-related features and functionality." he added. The Intuos4 Grip Pen also features a pressure-sensitive eraser and two customizable side switches (pen buttons) for setting commands such as double-click and right-click on the pen. For those who prefer a pen with a thicker barrel, a wide-body Intuos4 replacement grip is included with all Intuos4 pen tablets.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 25 May 2009 | 1:50 pm Now stand off between Kannada film industry and multiplexesThe long standoff between multiplex owners and Bollywood filmmakers has affected the Kannada film industry too, with two big budget Kannada films 'Dubai Babu' and 'Taakat' failing to reach the multiscreen cinemas here because of the row over revenue sharing.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 25 May 2009 | 1:30 pm "Game development is not a piece of cake" - Ninad Chhaya
CGTexpo, Mumbai: "There is much to gaming beyond game testing," says Ninad Chhaya, Executive Vice President of Jump Games, Reliance ADAG's mobile and online
gaming arm. He was addressing an eager audience of wannabe game developers at the first NASSCOM Game Development seminar held in conjunction with the CGTexpo
on 23 -24 May.
In today's age, almost every day-to-day entertainment device is gaming enabled. From the good old personal computer to third generation gaming consoles,
mobiles, PDAs, hand-held gizmos and TV set top boxes - they all come retrofitted with gaming intelligence. And the insatiable gamer demands even more cutting
edge games, making way for a multi-billion dollar gaming industry.
Pegged as the next gaming destination, India is currently taking baby steps in the game development sector with a few well established studios and startups
doing major jobs for their western counterparts. However, making a game is a slow, multi-stage and expensive process as Ninad indicates. "A good PC game
takes anywhere between 36-48 months to make," he said, "And before that it has to go through the three stages of pre-production, production and
post-production, each involving multiple processes in themselves." Ergo making games is serious business.
Ninad further elaborated with the example of pre-production, where an idea has to pass through the stages of conceptualization, game design document,
storyboarding, art guide, prototyping before it can be pitched to the sales team. "Game development is a collaborative process between the art, programming
and sales team. At the end of the day the game needs to meet market conditions and ship out on time."
There are several times when the game is taken back to the drawing board. "Quality assurance (QA) is one of the most important aspects. Right from debugging
to game balancing, the quality of the game play has to be maintained," Ninad said. Here the game testers come in playing the game ad nauseam and looking for
loopholes in the game play and graphics. Once the game is finalized and the 'gold master' is ready; the rest is left to the promotions team. Speaking from
his decade long experience in the gaming industry, Ninad exclaimed, "Gaming is not easy or simple. But if you have the passion, you will enjoy it like I
have."Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 25 May 2009 | 1:17 pm Supreme Court frowns upon 'Jana Gana Mana Rann'The Supreme Court Monday disapproved of the controversial song 'Jana Gana Mana Rann' in director Ram Gopal Varma's new film 'Rann', saying nobody has the right to tinker with the national anthem.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 25 May 2009 | 1:01 pm Salim-Sulaiman nominated for Emmy AwardsIndia's music composer duo Salim-Sulaiman have been nominated for the prestigious television production awards Emmy for their composition in popular American show 'Wonder Pets'.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 25 May 2009 | 1:00 pm Anupam Kher signs Woody Allen movieAnupam Kher, who celebrated 25 years in films with a premiere of his film "Saaransh", couldn't have received a better silver-jubilee gift than a role in Hollywood's ace filmmaker Woody Allen's project.Source: Entertainment News | 25 May 2009 | 12:36 pm
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