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NCW to meet victim in Shiney rape caseCalling the incident "shocking", the National Commission for Women (NCW) is sending a three-member team to Mumbai Friday to meet the teenaged domestic help allegedly raped by Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja.Source: Entertainment News | 18 Jun 2009 | 4:02 pm Irrfan in Brokeback director's next film
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 18 Jun 2009 | 4:01 pm Arjun is difficult boy to make happy: MehrArjun Rampal's wife Mehr Jessia says it is not easy to please the actor when it comes to clothes.Source: Entertainment News | 18 Jun 2009 | 3:37 pm Brangelina donate $1mn to Pakistan
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 18 Jun 2009 | 3:17 pm Shiney in judicial custody till July 2Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja, facing a rape charge, will continue to stay behind bars till July 2 as a Mumbai court today remanded him to judicial custody.Source: Entertainment News | 18 Jun 2009 | 2:53 pm Shriya Saran says no to soft drink adsFollowing the footsteps of Tamil actor Ajit, southern actress Shriya Saran too has decided not to endorse any soft drink brands.Source: Entertainment News | 18 Jun 2009 | 2:47 pm Shriya Saran says no to soft drink ads
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 18 Jun 2009 | 2:23 pm I want to be a villain now: Shreyas
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 18 Jun 2009 | 2:17 pm "New York is about America's attitude before and after 9/11" - Irrfan Khan
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Irrfan has a mellow, soft-spoken presence and, true to past interrogations, not prone to self-examination about this whole acting lark. "I keep it simple. Just learn the lines and show up," is his modest assessment of his talent. His audience, well wishers and the media often refers him as a junkie. Why? We don't know. But he is one when it comes to his work. His performances pack in charm, determination, eccentricity and humour. His drooping eyes tell you that he isn't in deep slumber, but a submersive chameleon whose own subtle, taciturn personality allows him to vanish under the skin of the person he's playing. Meeting the actor in flesh is a rare privilege these days: he hardly ever does interviews and is known for his aversion to the Indian press, sometimes. That's what we hear from those who've been waiting for their turn since more than two hours at the J.W. Marriott. They say there are no second takes, but maybe when you're born in India, you can bend the rules. Hell, maybe when you're Irrfan Khan, the rules don't even exist. So when UK's Harrow Observer columnist and Bollywood Hungama's London correspondent met Khan, there were bound to be plenty of journalists left scratching their heads, but Irrfan is staunchly against explanations; he'll go just far enough to tell you he is late but he is there, so get started!
9/11: Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota and New York
"I won't claim that I know more about the 9/11 incident just because I am the only actor who has been a part of two of its franchise. New York isn't about 9/11. It's about America's attitude before that black day and their attitude post 9/11. I play a Muslim FBI Officer who is a part of the American system which gets things more complicated."
It's about America's attitude before that black day and their attitude post 9/11
Demeaning America and the Americans
"Kabir Khan can say that New York is not about demeaning America because he has to sell his film, he has to also bring in the audience which is American and may be he is in a process of pleasing them as well. But when you make a film on certain issues, you have to take a stand. If you don't take a stand, it's a failure."
American system
"The film is based on how America propagated and accelerated the psyche of hate because when the centre of the society is money and the system is based on selling things, then there is no morality and concern, whether it's fear or threat. And in doing that, you create your threat and enemies. Americans still haven't understood that consumerism will eat up democracy and I hope Obama throws some light on it."
Research
"If the story and your role does not give you any scope, you don't need to do research on it. I'm not saying that New York wasn't worth for a research. Kabir Khan had already got things into place. But a film like Pan Singh Tomar gives me a lot of scope for research as it is a true life story. New York is based on a true life incident. There is a lot of difference when it comes to both the films in terms of research."
Kabir Khan
"Making so many documentaries has given him a lot of experience. He is a person who wanted to make a film like New York for Yash Raj and that's pretty strange, if you see the track record of YRF. Kabir has handled so many subjects as a documentary filmmaker that he is now technically sound. To make a documentary is a challenge because you have to shoot in all sorts of conditions and thus the shoot of New York for Kabir was like making yet another documentary as a feature film."
The shoot of New York for Kabir was like making yet another documentary as a feature film
FBI officer
"I play an FBI officer who is trying to deal with the problem post 9/11 and not try and solve it. He is also giving a sense of hope for future. He doesn't want to dwell into what America has done. He thinks that Americans should be sorry for what they've done but at the same time questions - 'What is the American future? Do you want to keep killing each other?' Another interesting thing about the role I play is that he can objectively see the system he is working for and the Muslim community from where he comes from. He can view both these aspects objectively and may be that gives him that little more edge in trying to deal with a much bigger problem."
Peoples psyche
"Yes, Slumdog Millionaire is a hit around the world. But if you say that New York will work because I was a part of the Oscar winning film and it will attract the West, I don't think so. Actors cannot make it a hit, and if they did, then Benjamin Button would've been a bigger hit than Slumdog Millionaire. Benjamin Button is seen because there is Brad Pitt in it. Milk is seen because it has Sean Penn. I wouldn't have seen it if it was for any other actor. Slumdog Millionaire was seen because it was directed by Danny Boyle who was already a big name in the West. The tough part for the actors is to be a part of people's psyche and once they become a part of it, the audience buys the ticket. South Indian films don't work in Mumbai but Hollywood does. Now you know why."
Irrfan Khan - the detainee
"I didn't face any problem being a Muslim actor for New York but I was detained when I went for my Independent Spirit Award for Namesake. It demoralises you. You are not told anything. They ask you to come into the room, you are not allowed to talk on the phone and they don't even tell you how much time the interrogation procedure would take. Back then, I told the officer not to waste my time and his, just because I am a Muslim actor. He even went on to say, 'Are you threatening me?' Mira Nair, the director of Namesake told me not to get into that but I was angry and reacted to it. It is a truth that the Western officers get paranoid by seeing a Muslim name."
I was detained when I went for my Independent Spirit Award for Namesake. It demoralises you
Pan Singh Tomar
"My intention is not to look like Pan Singh Tomar because it's a real life story. That doesn't interest me. The idea was that he was a talented person and how the system misused that talent grips me more to do a film like Pan Singh Tomar. So when you know that this is the person who lived on this planet and he went through these circumstances, it really does something to you. When we did research on Pan Singh Tomar, we got hundreds of stories. We could've made a good commercial film out of it if we used all of them, but we cannot do that because then we are not doing justice to him as a person. I remember we were shooting in some house which the director chose as Pan Singh Tomar's house. But then we were told that Pan Singh did stay in the same house that we were shooting in. That struck us like lightning and you get even more inspired by this personality."
Hissss
"Such stories have been dealt in the past but the way Jennifer Lynch has given the treatment to Hissss is worth watching. I never told my PR to let Jennifer know that I've worked in The Mighty Heart or Namesake. It's my work which is doing the talking more than my personal PR. I am here in this field to please my ego. Jennifer was touched by Namesake and I am thrilled and happy that she did. Hissss is mysterious, dangerous, and sensuous and the young American audiences looking for blood, gore and violence will love Hisss. Luckily, Jennifer did not allow Mallika to bite me. For Sherawat, it's her lifetime role because she has to look sexy, dangerous and still not speak anything in the film."Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 18 Jun 2009 | 12:43 pm Claudia visits Hanuman temple for film's successGerman supermodel-turned-actress Claudia Ciesla, who was rumoured to be dating Bollywood star Salman Khan, recently visited the Hanuman temple here to pray for the success of her film "Karma: Crime, Passion, Reincarnation".Source: Entertainment News | 18 Jun 2009 | 12:42 pm UTV and Ken agree on pushing Kaminey ahead of Shahid-Genelia starrer
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UTV Motion Pictures and Ken Ghosh held on to releasing the first look and title of their Shahid Kapoor and Genelia D'Souza starrer at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards 2009. Reason? They mutually agreed that it would make more sense to showcase Kaminey, which is Shahid's next release, over the yet untitled venture starring the same actor.
Ken says, "I was contemplating releasing the first look of the film along with the title. We were even thinking of kick starting some mini promotion at IIFA for our film. However, it was agreed upon that promotion of Kaminey should hold centre stage. So we are keeping low for the Shahid and Genelia starrer. In any case the movie is some distance away from release."
Point to be noted is that both Kaminey as well as Ken Ghosh's films are UTV productions. Since both films feature Shahid Kapoor as the leading man, it would have been an in-house competition had focus shifted even slightly on the latter film.
"That's true", agrees Ken, "At the end of the day everyone out here is a mature individual and there was no reason why anyone would have stepped over another's product. Let Kaminey release and after that, we also have to wait for Yash Raj Films' Hadippa (tentative title) which again stars Shahid. Once these two movies come, we will become aggressive on promotion of our film."
Ken nevertheless did travel to Macau for IIFA. For Ken, this was a pleasure trip than a business outing. "I am close to Wizcraft people (who are producing and promoting the event) and they wanted me as a guest there", informs Ken, "However, let this not be looked as a way to promote our film. I was mainly looking at having a gala outing."
He is quite positive about Shahid's next release Kaminey though. "Shahid was telling me the other day that the film has turned out to be fantabulous. I have got similar feelers from other sources as well. I would be glad if Kaminey works (which actually I am sure about). If an actor's film does well, it only benefits your own film that arrives after that."
Meanwhile, he is relieved that the shooting for his film has wrapped up completely. "It's time to head for post production now. We are in no hurry and would bring our film only around 2009 end or early 2010", signs off Ken.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 18 Jun 2009 | 12:31 pm CG Overdrive: The art of visual storytelling explained
We all want to tell our stories by making films. But do we have the aesthetic and technical wherewithal to do that? Making a film is much more than zipping out a hand held and shooting to our hearts' content.
Pixar Animation Studio's Alexander Woo conducted a masterclass on the art and craft of visual storytelling in Asia's largest computer graphics convention, CG Overdrive, Singapore. Excerpts...
Origins of visual storytelling
"Visual imagery comes from art. A painting can depict many things like chaos, abstractions and even have a lot of energy to it. But the important question is... does it have a story? Does it necessarily tell a story? Not really. There is no narrative in a painting. It is a still image.
Then how do we define visual storytelling? A story has to give me the dynamic; it has to give me the insights into the characters' lives and the setting of the story.
Like in Bill Waterson's Calvin & Hobbes, storyboards may have started from comic strips. They are narrative filled images. At least, we at Pixar get our ideas for story boards like this; we come up with a single image drawing that tries to encapsulate the story idea as a whole. It can be later used in the story as a gag or a joke.
It can be anything, gossips to jokes or gags, but it has to be a sequential storytelling and only then you come to the storyboards. This is the right progression in visual storytelling."
Cinematic grammar
"As grammar is important to language, different shots and angles are important to Cinematography. Wide angle shots, medium, close ups, low angle, top angles, etc, are all ways of punctuating cinematography. So basically, the way you are trying to say things in a film drastically affects what you are saying. Similarly in cinema, you can use all these shots to say what is happening on the screen in a very different way."
Types of shots
"If a director uses a dolly track shot in a film sequence, he might be trying to say that this scene contains a lot of information, so pay close attention. For example, a film where a small man is the villain is shot through a normal lens, it wouldn't be effective. Instead, using a low angle shot can enhance the impact of the character.
Any kind of shot being used with a music score should finally reinforce the story."
Tools of composition
"Composition is how you create something within a frame. There are various elements of composition too, like the subject size, point of focus, contrast, silhouettes, horizontals, verticals and diagonals. For example, to focus on the game of chess, a vertical or horizontal angle can be used."
The power of silhouettes
"Film and language are art forms and they are constantly evolving and evoking emotion. Silhouettes are very powerful when juxtaposing dark versus dark and white versus white. Some directors make use of dual focus lenses, deliberately. Again, by using different lenses, the director is trying to reinforce the story through cinematography."Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 18 Jun 2009 | 12:24 pm CG Overdrive: Motion Capture simplifying the complicated frames
Motion capture - technology which allows electronic sensors to track and record movement - is evolving by leaps and bounds. Mocap, short for motion capture, is not just limited to animation movies (as in upcoming Rajnikanth-starrer Sultan), but is also used extensively in games, live action movies and television.
Bollywood Hungama met up with international gaming studio Codemasters' Senior Games Animator/Group lead, Adam Harvey Batham, at CG Overdrive 2009 to discuss the art and science of motion capture. Excerpts...
Why mocap
You have to know what the motion capture is for and not just do a mocap shoot and say, 'Oh! That looks cool. That's what my character's going to do.' You need to have an understanding first before you do the motion capture.
In live action films, mocap helps enhance the visual by populating the environments, giving the audience a feel that they are actually in the crowd. Besides, it also enables stunts, which are not possible in real life by using animation keyframing to push the action further. At Codemasters, we have utilized mocap almost as a reference for post race animations like celebrations.
Mocap: a substitute to keyframe animation?
Motion capture not a substitute for keyframe animation. We get to hear that a lot, especially form traditional animators who are of the opinion that mocap is cheating. But if you see motion capture for games that's been done by someone who doesn't have the traditional knowledge of true keyframe animation, then the mocap dictates what the animation would be rather than the other way around. It's a combination of both the worlds.
Mocap for games vs. television
Motion capture for games is different from that for film or TV because for games you have to specifically find small loops within the performance. You need to know exactly what is required within the game, how many animations are required, what sort of animation is required, the number props involved, etc.
While doing mocap for games you have to look for strong silhouettes and poses within a character because they have to make an impact on a much smaller frame range in the game. Simply, normal animation has a singular action, say a guy getting up to cheer, whereas mocap for a game will have various actions all triggered within the game.
Actors first
In mocap, the acting talent is very important you got to keep the actors focused and happy. Make sure they progress through similar moves so you are not jumping around the studio wasting time. Moreover, always stick to your plan as the technology is really expensive.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 18 Jun 2009 | 12:20 pm Fifth Indiana Jones movie in the offing
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 18 Jun 2009 | 11:50 am I believe in love again: Bruce Willis
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 18 Jun 2009 | 11:39 am Shiney Ahuja to undergo DNA test: Cops!Shiney is all set to undergo a DNA test which is expected to provide further lead in the case.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 18 Jun 2009 | 11:37 am DiCaprio to star in poker film
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 18 Jun 2009 | 11:35 am John Abraham bats for MS Dhoni
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 18 Jun 2009 | 11:33 am Will PNC's Accident be delayed due to Shiney's arrest?
The shocking turn of events in Shiney Ahuja's life puts a question mark on the actor's future projects. One of them, Pritish Nandy's Accident, has two days of Shiney's work to be completed.
Otherwise the film is complete. If Shiney is unable to shoot for those pending two days, the producers would've no choice but to fudge the remaining scenes rather than wait indefinitely.
Luckily that is the only film Shiney has on the floors. However, an impending rapprochement between Shiney and his mentor Sudhir Mishra now lies in a state of uncertainty.
For those who thought the end of Devdas meant the end of Sudhir Mishra's collaboration with Shiney Ahuja, here's news. The two were ready to get together for a film called Hitman about a ruthless assassin.
The actor was upset with his mentor for not casting him in his recent films. A day before his troubles erupted Shiney said, "Sudhir and I are friends for life. We're constantly in touch. That doesn't mean Sudhir has to do all his films with me. We have a film called Hitman coming up together. The profile of Devdas changed and I was no longer his protagonist. So then we decided to do another film. It's a fantastic subject."
So what happens to Hitman now? "I guess it will have to wait," says Sudhir sorrowfully.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 18 Jun 2009 | 11:14 am Shiney Ahuja gets judicial custody till July 2 - Sify
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 18 Jun 2009 | 11:04 am Actress Sridevi marries RahulSuperstar Rajinikanth and his wife Latha attended the marriage of actor Vijayakumar's younger daughter and actress Sridevi today at Srivaru Kalyana Mandapam, Chennai.Rahul, son of Narasima Rao and Uma from Nizamabad married Sridevi in the morning. Superstar Rajini came for theSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 18 Jun 2009 | 10:56 am Rupert’s awkward slang mix-up with MichelleWashington (ANI): In what could be called as a ‘slang tangle’, Rupert Friend was embarrassed when his ‘Cheri’ co-star Michelle Pfeiffer unwittingly invited him to feel her up. The British actor, who stars as Pfeiffer's toyboy lover in the period drama,Source: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 18 Jun 2009 | 10:53 am Designer doesn't recognise Angelina JolieNew York, (ANI): Tomb Raider star Angelina Jolie had her calls to a designer cut twice because he could not believe that it was really her calling. Malcolm Harris, who is the Mal Sirrah designer, had thought it was a crankSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 18 Jun 2009 | 10:50 am Pooja Bhatt wants more Goans to participate in film festivals - Hindu
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 18 Jun 2009 | 10:49 am Rape accused Shiney's judicial custody extendedBollywood actor Shiney Ahuja, who is charged with rape case, has to stay behind the bars for some more days. A Mumbai court has extended his judicial custody to July 2. He was produced in court yesterday, June 17.Shiney is allegedSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 18 Jun 2009 | 10:49 am Amitabh blasts Sujoy over IIFA performanceThere is a lot of buzz going around in industry circles regarding Amitabh Bachchan’s non-performance on the Aladdin song at the recently concluded IIFA awards 2009. Riteish Deshmukh along with newcomer Jacqueline Fernandes was to perform with the Big B. ButSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 18 Jun 2009 | 10:41 am Cher stands by daughter's 'man' decisionWashington (ANI): Legendary singer Cher has vowed to support daughter Chastity in her decision to become a man. Chastity, Cher's daughter with late husband Sonny Bono, came out in the open about being a lesbian in 1995. Now the 40-year-old, nowSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 18 Jun 2009 | 10:39 am Kareena bids goodbye to 'size zero' figureKareena Kapoor has finally bid goodbye to her 'size zero' figure. The Jab We Met actress who had one point of time become obsessed with her weight now looks healthier and fitter. Recently the actress was spotted eating her heart outSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 18 Jun 2009 | 10:37 am Mariah Carey to star in West End play?London (ANI): If rumours are to be believed, singer Mariah Carey is set to star on London’s West End. According to sources, the singer has been in the British capital for a series of meetings with a top theatre producer whoSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 18 Jun 2009 | 10:32 am Brangelina donate $1M to aid refugees in PakistanWashington (ANI): Hollywood couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have donated 1 million dollars to help displaced people in Pakistan. Jolie, a goodwill ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency for eight-years, has visited the country thrice, reports People magazine.The headSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 18 Jun 2009 | 10:29 am Kandhasamy to strike on July 10Kalaipuli Thanu is all set to release his magnum opus Kandhasamy with Vikram before July 16. The probable dates for the release of the film are July 10 or 17, as Thanu said this to a correspondent. Directed by Susi Ganesan,Source: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 18 Jun 2009 | 10:26 am Shiney's judicial custody extended till July 2
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 18 Jun 2009 | 10:12 am Gowariker picks new composer over RahmanAfter working with Oscar-winning music maestro A.Source: Entertainment News | 18 Jun 2009 | 9:57 am Mallika, Vijender Join Salman On Dus Ka Dum - TopNews
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 18 Jun 2009 | 9:51 am John studied Quran for New York
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 18 Jun 2009 | 9:45 am Arjun is difficult boy to make happy: Mehr JessiaArjun Rampal's wife Mehr Jessia says it is not easy to please the actor when it comes to clothes.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 18 Jun 2009 | 9:33 am Sharmila designs her clothes for 'Morning Walk'Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore, who is known to be a perfectionist, has designed her own wardrobe for the upcoming film 'Morning Walk'.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 18 Jun 2009 | 9:33 am Shahid Kapoor's Punjab connectionBollywood's boy-next-door Shahid Kapoor, who shot in the fields of Punjab for his hit film 'Jab We Met', returned to the state for his upcoming movie with Yash Raj Films.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 18 Jun 2009 | 9:33 am NCW to meet victim in Shiney Ahuja rape caseCalling the incident 'shocking', the National Commission for Women (NCW) is sending a three-member team to Mumbai Friday to meet the teenaged domestic help allegedly raped by Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 18 Jun 2009 | 9:32 am Shiney Ahuja gets judicial custody till July 2In a relief of sorts for Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja who is facing a rape charge, a Mumbai court Thursday did not extend his police custody and sent him to judicial custody till July 2.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 18 Jun 2009 | 9:31 am John Abraham studied Quran for 'New York' roleNot knowing a single word of the Quran, Bollywood hero John Abraham, a Parsi, studied the holy book in a translation to prepare himself to play an NRI Muslim in Kabir Khan's "New York".Source: Entertainment News | 18 Jun 2009 | 9:16 am Promotion of Love Aaj Kal on halt! - Times of India
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 18 Jun 2009 | 8:52 am Is Katrina a cartoon addict? - Times of India
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 18 Jun 2009 | 8:51 am Live Chat: Jackky Bhagnani on June 19 at 1400 hrs IST
He has the power to see the future though only a couple of minutes ahead, he is Jackky Bhagnani. Son of prolific Bollywood producer Vashu Bhagnani, Jackky made his debut with the recently released film Kal Kissne Dekha along side another new comer Vaishali Desai.
After completing his graduation from HR College in Commerce Jackky also acted as the Associate Producer for Out of Control, Shaadi No. 1 and Silsilay and now in fact just last Friday he hit the screens as a star. Bollywood Hungama gives its users an opportunity to engage Jackky in a tete-a tete conversation about whatever topic you may want on Bollywood Hungama's Celeb Chat with Jackky Bhagnani on Friday June 19 at 1400 Hrs IST.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 18 Jun 2009 | 8:48 am Shriya Saran says no to soft drink adsFollowing the footsteps of Tamil actor Ajit, southern actress Shriya Saran too has decided not to endorse any soft drink brands.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 18 Jun 2009 | 8:32 am Shiney Ahuja in judicial custody till July 2Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja, facing a rape charge, will continue to stay behind bars till July 2 as a Mumbai court Thursday remanded him to judicial custody.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 18 Jun 2009 | 8:32 am Abhay Deol returns to India for 'Ayesha'He has been missing from the scene ever since his revisionist interpretation of "Devdas" in "Dev D" had his fans in a thrall.Source: Entertainment News | 18 Jun 2009 | 7:57 am SRK to fight Big B - GlamSham
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 18 Jun 2009 | 7:37 am Reasons why this year's IIFA Awards at Macau were a roaring success
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It's the mother of all events and this year's IIFA at Macau, China lived up to its reputation of being the best in the business.
Come to think of it, handling so many stars and celebrities [and their elephantine egos] is next to impossible. But I'd salute Andre Timmins, Sabbas Joseph and Viraf Sarkari along with the Wizcraft team for pulling off a spectacular event without a glitch.
Let me begin with what made IIFA 2009 a success. The showcasing of three films [JAIL, DO KNOT DISTURB and SHORTKUT] gave one ample opportunity to learn about these films. The star attendance was excellent, with the names associated with the movies being present on the dais for a tete-a-tete.
The fashion show was equally spectacular, but long drawn. The designers who stole the limelight were Manav Gangwani and Anamika Khanna, with their dazzling creations.
The ZAIA show was a visual treat. For a change, the Bollywood brigade didn't talk about themselves [most of them have this I-me-myself habit], but the aerial acrobats. This once-in-a-lifetime experience is sure to stay in your memory for a long, long time.
But the big night - the awards event - was truly the jewel in the crown. At first, the goings-in seemed predictable. But it gathered momentum gradually.
The antakshari by the stars was a brilliant idea. Shabana Azmi rendered 'Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan', Sonam sang 'Na Na Karte Pyaar Tumhi Se Kar Baithe', Hrithik Roshan crooned 'Tere Jaisa Yaar Kahan', Zayed Khan hummed the title track of MAIN HOON NA, Bipasha Basu sang 'Thande Thande Paani Se Nahana Chahiye' and last but not the least, Big B rendered a line of 'Mere Paas Aao Mere Dosto Ek Kissa Suno' and also a couplet from KABHI KABHIE. This antakshari deserved brownie points.
Among star acts, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's act was superb, but the one who stole the show was Abhishek Bachchan, who danced on a medley of hits. He danced like never before and had the crowd screaming for more. 10 on 10, Abhishek.
Boman's take off on Anil Kapoor and Boman and Ritesh's spoof on the Best Films of the Year brought the house down. It had everyone in splits.
As someone who has attended almost all IIFA events, I'd say that this year's event was amongst the best the decade has witnessed. In terms of hospitality, The Venetian was spectacular, while the arrangements and co-ordination were impeccable.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 18 Jun 2009 | 7:26 am What happens to Shiney Ahuja's 'Hitman'?The turn of events in Shiney Ahuja's life has put a question mark over the actor's future projects - one of them is his mentor Sudhir Mishra's 'Hitman' and other is Pritish Nandy's 'Accident'.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 18 Jun 2009 | 7:00 am German model visits Hanuman temple for film's successGerman supermodel-turned-actress Claudia Ciesla, who was rumoured to be dating Bollywood star Salman Khan, recently visited the Hanuman temple here to pray for the success of her film 'Karma: Crime, Passion, Reincarnation'.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 18 Jun 2009 | 7:00 am Box-Office Report: Kal Kissne Dekha - a thing of the past - Times of India
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 18 Jun 2009 | 6:58 am Kareena unhappy with nude talks - IndiaGlitz
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 18 Jun 2009 | 6:04 am Arshad Akshaye not friends - IndiaGlitz
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 18 Jun 2009 | 6:04 am Gowariker picks new composer over Rahman for ...Rashee? - Sify
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 18 Jun 2009 | 5:25 am Phuket, Paris...fashion fraternity's holiday hot spotsThai beaches, Swiss mountains, Paris shopping arcades -- those are the magical destinations the fashion fraternity here is dreaming of as the temperatures soar in the Indian plains.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 18 Jun 2009 | 5:01 am Shiney Ahuja has been framed: WifeBollywood actor Shiney Ahuja's wife Anupam today said he was being framed in the rape case involving his domestic help and added she had no qualms in saying she is "Mrs.Source: Entertainment News | 17 Jun 2009 | 8:01 pm Shiney Ahuja's wife says actor is innocentMUMBAI (Reuters) - The wife of Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja, charged with raping his teenaged maid, on Wednesday said her husband was being punished for a crime he did not commit.Source: Reuters: Bollywood News | 17 Jun 2009 | 5:13 pm Let the law judge Shiney's guilt, say his colleaguesJustice should take its course but Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja, in police custody on charges of raping his teenaged housemaid, shouldn't be condemned until proven guilty, say directors and actors who have worked with him.Source: Entertainment News | 17 Jun 2009 | 1:31 pm "All detainees were stripped naked & their body shaved to humiliate them" - Kabir Khan
Kabir Khan quotes, "The world has changed since 9/11." So instead of stories that reflect how 9/11 changed us, we have stories that help us flatter ourselves into believing that it did. Fahrenheit 9/11, World Trade Center and United 93 cherry-picked the few triumphant stories of 9/11. Bollywood's very own Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota too managed its own. They let us see it as a day when Americans tapped their strength, transformed and sacrificed - whether you and I, munching our cashew nuts in the audience, did or not. For the people of America and the entire world, a memorial can never replace what those of you mourning a loved one have lost. Freedom was no more free. So when truth met fiction, the world looked even more dangerous through the eyes of Kabir Khan, the director of Yash Raj Films New York which has 9/11 as its backdrop and three friends whose beautiful lives are turned upside down by larger than life events beyond their control in a city that was termed as adolescent, a cacophonous and multicoloured place, where work and play entwine; a hyperactive, aphrodisiac and a real-life marriage of heaven and hell. UK's Harrow Observer columnist and Bollywood Hungama's London correspondent met Kabir Khan and figured out that New York wasn't just a place the world had seen in the movies, it acted out a film of its own.
9/11 - A new world
"I'd answer your question in two parts. The largest film industry in the world has only managed to produce two films based on 9/11. Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota and New York. But more importantly, we can all say that 9/11 happened in America. But I disagree. I think 9/11 has changed the whole world and if we Indians think that it did not affect us, we are being a bit naïve and insular. We are still facing its consequences. History will always repeat itself if you forget it. The partition of India happened 61 years ago but we can't help and not talk about it. It has changed the psyche of Indians and Pakistanis forever. Today, everything to do with Pakistan is relevant because of the partition. When we play a cricket match with them, it's our partition which also comes into play. New York has 9/11 as its backdrop but the backdrop is not pushed as an issue in the film. The film begins in 2001 and goes on till 2008."
The largest film industry in the world has only managed to produce two films based on 9/11
Balanced perspective
"Not at all. The film does have a political backdrop and when you're shooting a film like this, you have to share the script with the authorities out there, which we did. New York is opening on a debate and prejudices don't only flow in one direction. Unfortunately after 9/11, all of us have prejudices against the other person. It's not that the Americans are not prejudiced in their view about Muslims in the world. Now it's the other way round too. The film has managed to handle that and therefore got a balanced perspective. The American crew felt very strongly about our film."
Bush administration v/s Obama administration
"9/11 is a self acknowledged dark chapter in America's contemporary history. They recognize that the Bush administration was their darkest phase and the first thing which Obama did was to try, stop and control some of the negative legacies of the Bush administration. The film thus becomes topical in nature too. The film tries and tells us that let's not forget 9/11 but let's move on now. Let's look at the future too. How long are we suppose to live in the shadows of 9/11? What's ironical is that our last day of the shoot coincides with the last day of George Bush presidency. We finished our shoot and the next day Obama was elected the president of the Untied States of America. Our wrap up party changed into the celebration of Obama's presidency. We along with the New Yorkers were out on the streets celebrating."
What's ironical is that our last day of the shoot coincides with the last day of George Bush presidency
Music of New York
"In keeping with the more dramatic and an emotional level of story telling that I've used in New York, I realized that the songs were a must in the film. The media often writes that because I'm a documentary filmmaker, I am against the use of any songs in the film. I love song and dance. I am a trained dancer and was a choreographer in my college days. I feel very strongly about songs being a part of the narrative versus songs being placed for the fun of it. I've seen brilliant films getting destroyed by a misplaced song. Bearing in mind the realistic narrative, I cannot have any of my characters singing unless the role of the actor is that of a singer or a performer. So I've used all of New York's songs in the backdrop. The only misgiving I have about my short time for publicity is that I'm not being able to project the songs enough."
A good bit of research
"Because of my background as a documentary filmmaker, I will never touch a subject unless I've exhausted all research on it. It took me eleven months to put together the script of New York only because of the research. I've had a word with people of all nationalities. New York is a global story. Even if you remove the three Indian protagonists of the film and replace them by three Jordanians, it'll work. I've spoken to the people from the FBI, done a lot of reading in terms of books and articles published back then, etc. When it comes to our audience and if the film was set in a la-la land, they'll be very forgiving. They will let all loop holes pass by. But the moment you make a real film based on real events, the same audience becomes very discerning, which I think is very good because they bring in different kind of sensibilities. For my discerning audiences, I've tried to be bang on with my facts and figures."
New York is a global story. Even if you remove the three Indian protagonists of the film and replace them by three Jordanians, it'll work
More to New York than just the title
"We went through many other titles. New York was the first title. In fact, the working title of the script was New York. One of the reasons the title was born because we were shooting in New York but more than that, New York doesn't lend itself to any language because New York is New York, whether its in Hindi, Swahili, Arabic, etc. As I've said before; you can enjoy the film at face value as a story of three friends and not go into the layers below. But there are many layers to New York than just a city that never sleeps. It is a symbol of what's happening in the world today. New York is where it all started from. When you mention Kargil, you don't think of it as a hilly terrain. You think of other things. That's the way I've used New York."
Visa problems
"Tell me about it! I did not get a visa for two months because of my name. We're talking of prejudices about the Bush administration; here we have life imitating art. I've shot in the United States of America six times before I started shooting for New York. The FBI had listed twenty nine South Asian names and somewhere there was a mention of Kabir Khan. My name then went through the FBI check. My chief assistant director whose name happens to be Ali was stopped for three months too. In fact, there is another Yash Raj team flying to New York soon for their next film and not a single Muslim was stopped. Already we are seeing the transition from the Bush administration to the Obama administration, I guess."
John's nude scene and the real life trauma of the illegal detainees
"John's nude scene was totally based on facts and from the actual personal account of people who went through that. George Bush had once said that the water boarding instrument cannot be termed as torture. But in the entire process of interrogation, the torture and trying to break them down was done with a very scientifically planned programme. People have also told me that there are certain scenes similar to that shown in Khuda Ke Liye. Yes, there was a chapter in that film which dealt with illegal detention but even the director of Khuda Ke Liye must've done his research well. All the illegal detainees were stripped naked and their entire body shaved only to humiliate them. So, John's scene was as real as it can get."
I did not get a visa for two months because of my name
Big names down West
"Yes. Let's hope the film works for more reasons than just one. Irrfan Khan is a huge name in the U.S and after the success of Slumdog Millionaire; he has become Bollywood's hottest property in Hollywood. Then you've got John who has Canada going ga-ga over him, thanks to Water. He has the largest fan following in Canada and the U.K. With a strong story, good cast and an honest approach, let's hope New York transforms itself into a good film at the box office."Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 17 Jun 2009 | 12:40 pm CG Overdrive: "Story is the king" - Pixar's Alex Woo
What is a story, a tale well told or the elements in it? To tackle this conundrum, CG Overdrive 2009, Singapore, held a session on the craft of storyboarding by Pixar Animation Studio's story artist, Alexander Woo.
In an hour-long session, Woo, whose company has produced endearing animation flicks like Cars, Ratatouille and Wall-E, discussed the idea of the story as the king in a film. A quick overview from the master storyteller himself:
What is a story?
"We all have a story to tell. And because of that it is really difficult term to define. One might say a story is a sequence of events in a chronological timeline. More precisely, a story is a sequence of events structured in a way that gives you some sort of meaning and coherence."
Figuring the elements of the story
"The first element of a story should be the setting, then the characters, followed by the conflict, the foils and the change... all of which are equally important.
The characters are protagonists, antagonists or sometimes the mentor characters. A situation too can be the antagonist. But what makes a story unique is the perspective.
Foils are characters which make unconventional decisions and how these decisions affect their lives is rest of the story. But without a conflict, the story would get really boring, just a bunch of facts put together. Therefore, there has to be some kind of internal or external conflict.
Next is the change. Either the character/s or the setting of the story undergoes a change. For example, in the film, Forrest Gump, Tom Hanks is a simple guy and he remains the same throughout the film. But as the film progresses, the world around him changes because of his simplicity."
Structuring a story
"A basic story has a three-part structure. The first act is the set up of the story. The second is the progression, where all the conflicts are brought out and decisions are made. Finally, the third act is the resolution.
A story can be narrated in a few minutes or hours, but in real life it may span over a couple hours or days. So, the best way to structure a story would be to strategically place the events together in the way they happened."
Story is the king
"The story is like a king in the game of chess and like in chess, decisions need to be centered around the king because saving the king is your priority. But this necessarily doesn't guarantee the success of a film. What makes a good story is highly debatable."
Elements of a movie
"Acting, performance, sound, music score, editing, special effects, etc, are the key elements of a film. A story needs to be at the center of these elements and needs to be the one informing all the other elements.
If it is not so and if you put art direction in the center, you might get a beautiful, but a very boring film. Similarly if you put special effects at the center, you will get a Matrix 2. But if you give the story its due importance, supported by special effects, you will get The Matrix. Ergo, all these elements have to reinforce the story and not vice versa."Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 17 Jun 2009 | 12:21 pm John Abraham studied The Holy Quran very closely for New York
Click above for more movie stills
For Saif Ali Khan getting conversant with the holy Quran to play the jehadi in Rensil D'Silva's film was relatively easier. But John Abraham belonging to an entirely different religion and culture, learning the tenets of the Quran from the scratch to play the NRI Muslim in Kabir Khan's New York was not easy.
Not knowing a syllable of the Quran, John had to study the holy book in translation. Says a close friend, "John researched rigorously on Islam and its various aspects. His character in New York is detained wrongly for terrorism. John based his character on three such real life Muslims taken into custody in the US for wrongs they hadn't committed. John and his director Kabir Khan amalgamated the case of three such unfortunate people to create John's character. He actually lived breathed slept and wept like someone who had been wrongly ostracized."
So traumatized was he by the experience that John went into a complete shell in Philadelphia where New York was shot.
Says the friend, "He wouldn't talk to people. He was completely in his own shell. It was life-changing experience. Today, John knows what it feels to be a Muslim and a target of ceaseless suspicion and hostility in the US. He also empathizes closely with the issue of Indian students being racially abused in Australia after playing an Indian abused in New York. He understands the isolation of the minority."
John studied the Quran closely. Says John's friend, "He went very deep in the film's theme of Islamic isolation. His familiarity with Islamic terrorism started when he shot Kabul Express with Kabir Khan in Afghanistan. John spoke to people in Taliban and began to understand the concept of jehad. He understood how dangerous it is to fight for a cause without knowing the history of that cause. He went on the net, found legitimate and proper translations of the Quran. He learnt the proper pronunciations of words in the Quran."
When asked about the process of acclimatizing himself with the Quran, John says, "It's part of my larger determination to prepare myself completely for a part. Whether it was New York or now Abbas Tyrewala's film, I'm taking time off to prepare for the film and character. The audience today understands an honest film. That's what I want to give. I only want to do roles that take me out of my comfort zone. Through my characters and performances, I want to make people comfortable with what makes me uncomfortable as a human being and an Indian."Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 17 Jun 2009 | 11:07 am
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