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Katrina is a modern day marvel: Amitabh BachchanMegastar Amitabh Bachchan, who caught up with actors Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif on the sets of reality show "Bigg Boss 3" recently, is all praises for the latter and says she is a "modern day marvel".Source: Entertainment News | 7 Nov 2009 | 8:48 am ‘My films leave me suicidal’Hugh Grant has said most of his films leave him feeling ‘suicidal’.Source: | 7 Nov 2009 | 6:41 am Ajab Prem Ki... has edge over Jail on first dayRomantic comedy Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, which stars Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif, has sent the box office cash registers ringing, elbowing out Madhur Bhandarkar's Jail on the first day. But can tables turn? Find out...Source: | 7 Nov 2009 | 5:57 am Boyle surprised to hear about Freida-Dev affair
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 7 Nov 2009 | 5:10 am NASSCOM AGS '09: Business of selling Bollywood games on the mobile
Bollywood is a ubiquitous phenomenon in capturing mind and media space like nothing else in India. It's also on your mobile phones in the form of ringtones, caller back tones, wallpapers and the like. Yet the most engaging and probably relevant form of Bollywood on your handset is a mobile game.
Mobile games based on Bollywood films, of which there have been several in the recent past, provide the consumer a peek into the upcoming film's storyline and an easy gaming experience. And it means business for the game developers, mobile operators and the film producers alike.
However, film-based games only constitute a meager percentage of the total mobile games developed by a company, owing to profit sharing disputes with operators and film producers' demand of exorbitant minimum guarantees (MG). Most mobile game company executives will not go on record on the operator-developer dispute, but the fact remains that it has been a reality for years.
In an attempt to provide a platform to address these issues, the NASSCOM Animation & Gaming Summit, Hyderabad, held a panel discussion on 'Gaming: Publishing Indian content'. The panel included Indiagames' Samir Bangara, Gameshastra's Prakash Ahuja and Sony Computer's Shahid Ahmed.
Indiagames' Ghajini mobile game is cited as a success story when it comes to film based mobile applications. The company started work 15 months before the film's release, and had sittings with Aamir Khan and his gym instructor. By the time of the release it was ready with different games and even a gym application, all of which clocked half a million downloads.
Samir told Bollywood Hungama, said, ''A mobile game, which takes between one to six months to develop, extends the experience of a movie and teases the audience. After you see the movie, you might even appreciate the game a little bit more.'' He further agreed that mobile games, right now, have little to offer to the producer besides a pittance and some publicity. ''In value terms it does not make sense for the producer, and for the developers it's win some and lose some. We make positive ROI in most cases, 60% of the portfolio takes care of the rest of the duds.''
The company has recently released a game on Wake Up Sid, and is working on forthcoming films including Rann, Paan Singh Tomar and others.
''Bollywood is the bell weather of the Indian people, it reflects what people want. If game developers can borrow from that, there is a whole world out there...'' Seems like consumers can expect a lot more Bollywood gaming on their mobile phones in the days to come.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 7 Nov 2009 | 4:06 am Perfectionist turns ventriloquist!Aamir Khan, who is playing a ventriloquist in a new commercial, has learnt the art of throwing his voice from veteran puppeteer Ramdas Padhya.Source: | 7 Nov 2009 | 4:05 am Ajab Prem has edge over Jail on first day
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 7 Nov 2009 | 3:54 am Review: The Time Traveler’s WifeBased on the much-loved bestseller of the same name, The Time Traveler’s Wife revolves around a librarian (Bana) who suffers from a strange affliction that causes him to randomly slip back and forth in time, says Rashid Irani.Source: | 7 Nov 2009 | 3:35 am 'Ajab Prem...' one big goofy, comic joyride (IANS Film Review; Rating:***) - Sify
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 7 Nov 2009 | 3:18 am All's well with 3 Idiots - Screen Weekly
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 7 Nov 2009 | 3:05 am I know film industry's economics, says Madhur - Screen Weekly
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 7 Nov 2009 | 2:56 am Pentagram down underAfter the success of its gig at the OMFM, the band’s been invited to tour Australia in January next year.Source: | 7 Nov 2009 | 2:34 am Britney's ex K-Fed becomes father again?Washington (ANI): Britney Spears' ex-husband Kevin Federline is set to become a father again, according to sources. It will be the rapper’s first child with girlfriend, Victoria Prince, whom he has been dating since last year. Prince is reportedly several weeksSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 7 Nov 2009 | 2:33 am Review: JailThe formula is quite simple. You take the protagonist through hell in a murky setting that is the film itself. Eventually the lead character passes a trial by fire. The wide-eyed, credulous audience sympathises, and believes they’ve learnt something about a world they knew nothing about before. The director moves on to the next subject. The story’s pattern remains the same, says Mayank Shekhar.Source: | 7 Nov 2009 | 2:33 am Usher, wife Tameka’s divorce finalisedWashington (ANI): Singer Usher has legally ended his two-year marriage with wife Tameka Foster Raymond. The Superior Court in Fulton County, Georgia, issued a final decree on Nov 4 in the Usher’s divorce case, reports People magazine.The Grammy winner had filedSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 7 Nov 2009 | 2:31 am Rihanna still loves Chris BrownLondon (ANI): Despite being violently attacked, singer Rihanna says she still loves ex-boyfriend Chris Brown. The 21-year-old star says they are 'obsessed' with each other, and despite being punched and bitten, she still doesn’t hate the singer.“I don’t hate him atSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 7 Nov 2009 | 2:29 am Britney Spears fans storm out of Oz showMelbourne (ANI): Fans of Britney Spears stormed out of her Australian debut of The Circus concert in Perth after being disappointed with her performance. Devotees, some of whom splashed up to 200 dollars to see the singer, purportedly began walking outSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 7 Nov 2009 | 2:28 am "I know film industry's economics & hence my success rate is so good" - Madhur
After making films for nearly a decade, Madhur Bhandarkar shows no sign of losing any of the raw intelligence, energy and vitality that have made him a continuing force in the Indian cinema. The director is all set with his next film Jail.
The realistic cinema director has always experimented with different subjects. On choosing the subject Jail this time, he says, "I started Jail because of the subject that it was and I thought it was a terrific act to make that kind of cinema after Fashion. I always make contrasting cinema like after Corporate I made Traffic Signal and then Fashion. I again didn't want to go for drama. This time I thought why not make a drastic film or a radical film. Jail was a subject I had since long a time, and that idea struck to me again and I thought of making it this time."
Making experimental films, doesn't he feel the risk on his shoulders? Replies Madhur, "I always see the parameters. I see the trade. I know my budgets. I am a person who made Chandni Bar in one and a half crore, Traffic Signal in 4 crores, Fashion in 18 crores and Jail in 13 crores. I do my research well. I know the budgets of my film well. They always say Madhur is producer's director. My films, my subject will dictate the budget to work on. My priority is always to recover the money. I never exceed the budget of my shoot. I know how the economics work in the industry and that is the reason my success rate is so good."
Jail released on November 6 and it stars Neil Nitin Mukesh and Mugdha Godse in lead.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 7 Nov 2009 | 2:27 am MJ’s dad seeks allowance from son's estateLondon (ANI): Michael Jackson’s father Joe is seeking an unspecified amount from his son's estate to help cover his monthly expenses. According to Michael’s will, money is only to be paid to his mother, Katherine, his three young children, and severalSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 7 Nov 2009 | 2:26 am NASSCOM AGS '09: Gaming will grow, consumer awareness is important
India is a nation where gaming is definitely catching up. Be it games on mobiles, PC or the emerging console culture; these are collectively getting the gen next hooked on to the gaming bandwagon. Yet there remain a few hitches which are working as barriers to the gaming industry's growth.
This and more was discussed at a session at the NASSCOM Animation & Gaming Summit, Hyderabad. The session was chaired by Dhruva Interactive's Rajesh Rao and included Microsoft's Ashim Das Mathur, Games2win's Alok Kejriwal, Indiagames Samir Bangara and Sony Computer's Atindriya Bose.
Taking the first strike, Rajesh said, ''In India all gaming verticals are growing at the same time and today's youth is consuming games and spending on them. Apart from it, we have also witnessed a growth in the number of studios; people are coming forward to open small and mid-sized studios and are developing games for different platform.''
Microsoft's Xbox 360 has been in India for a while now and the company has tried to understand the behavior and needs of the consumer. Sharing his market experience, Ashim said, ''It has been close to three and a half years in the Indian market and we have invested a lot in the market in terms of branding, training and promotion. For us the high price of the console (due to custom and import duty) is a key factor and a major hindrance.''
Increased consumer awareness and an anti-gaming mentality also plague the potential of gaming. As a traditional state of mind, parents still think that gaming could spoil their kids and has no future as a career option, which is certainly wrong. Talking about Xbox Live, he said, ''Broadband penetration is increasing and Xbox Live is doing well. When gamers are on 'live' it becomes an entertainment console rather that just gaming console.''
Alok, who runs one of leading online gaming company in India, Games2win, said, ''We believe in producing a variety of the games and keep pushing them on the channel. So if there are more games, more consumers will come on the site. Advergames are only profitable when the cost of developing and publishing a game is less than the cost of advertisements you are getting.''
Discussing the challenges on the mobile front, Samir said, 'Consumer awareness is the key challenge for us in India. There is a huge subscriber base of mobile users here but only 40% of mobiles are capable of downloading a game. Only 25% of consumers are aware that they can download a game on their mobiles and of that only 5% people actually download games. When 3G comes in, people will be de facto mobile educated and consumer awareness will increase in the next couple of years.''
Atindriya Bose, who takes care of PSP, PS2 and PS3 for the Indian market, has a similar opinion about the pricing and consumer awareness. ''We are selling consoles in India at 30% more cost with 20% less features to 50% less-earning people as compared to the global industry. Also, piracy is a major challenge for us,'' he concluded.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 7 Nov 2009 | 2:24 am Review: Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab KahaniThe only ones who do a worthy job, as always, are the publicity designers. The publicity kit of this flick, innovative graphics et al, make it seem like the hilarious Andaz Apna Apna’s follow up of sorts, says Mayank Shekhar.Source: | 7 Nov 2009 | 2:24 am NASSCOM AGS '09: How strong is India as an outsourcing hub?
Though the Indian gaming market is still niche, Indian gaming companies receive huge revenues from outsourcing jobs. At the NASSCOM Animation & Gaming Summit, Hyderabad, a panel of some of the top gaming companies' executives discussed the challenges and the right model for a gaming startup. On the panel were Dhruva Interactive's Rajesh Rao, Trine's Sangam Gupta, Cha Yo Wo Games' Jugul Thachery and Kreeda Games' Robin Alter.
Said Jugul, ''When we started out with four people, we were creating flash games and licensing it to several gaming portals. With time, we saw many ups and downs and have now established ourselves as a strong game development team of 75, developing games for a variety of platforms. Not a single person in our team is from a gaming background; we have handpicked and trained them.''
Talking about the kind of work his company does, he said that when they had started, there was a lot of programming work coming to them as their team was not so strong in game concept art. ''Game art sensibility of Indian artists and western artists are completely different, which at times, doesn't fulfill the client's requirements,'' he said. So, how do you pitch to a client? ''You need to have a strong portfolio and a quality product that builds credibility,'' Jugul added.
Sangam set up shop in 2006 with a team of half-a-dozen people, has managed to make Trine one of the leading gaming studios in India with a team of 130. ''When we started, we didn't have any idea to compete with anyone but we were looking at a model which was untouched so far - the full game development model (rather than doing work in parts). In the first year, we spent most of our time in R&D. From the second year, we started pitching to publishers, and after several attempts, we got few projects and now some of them are ready to release. When approaching a client, if we pitch him to the sequel to one of his existing projects of IPs, we will definitely be considered as they can relate and trust what we are telling them.''
''When started, we had roped some guys from EA and the biggest challenge for them was to adjust to the work culture, which is completely different in the West. There are contractual limitations, separate HR policies and many more things,'' he added.
Robin, whose company Kreeda Games started with the help of venture funds, adopted the model of being online game publishers. ''We launched a multiplayer online PC game 'Dance Mela' which became quite popular among the gamers,'' he said.
Concluding the session Chairperson, Rajesh said, ''Making a successful game takes tremendous investment from both sides, including pre-production.'' Citing the example of 'Forza', a game majorly developed by his company Dhruva Interactive for the Xbox 360, he said, ''We have actively participated in the game art as well and that's exciting
for us.''
''We are a 12-year-old company and it has been a long and tough journey. We have invested a lot in recruiting smart talent with positive attitude.'' Well there it goes, the secret of India's premier gaming enterprises.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 7 Nov 2009 | 2:11 am Katrina Hodge steps in as new Miss EnglandRachel Christie withdrew from the title. Christie, who was the first black woman to be crowned Miss England, stepped down following her arrest over an alleged fight with Miss Manchester Sara Beverley Jones in a nightclub.Contest organisers announced her place wasSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 7 Nov 2009 | 2:10 am Dev Patel-Freida Pinto’s romance surprises Danny BoyleLondon (ANI): Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle was amazed to learn that his film’s co-stars Dev Patel and Freida Pinto are dating. The two actors met while filming the Oscar-winning picture, but kept denying rumours of a real-life romance before finallySource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 7 Nov 2009 | 2:06 am Jaya Bachchan has a role to play in Paa - Oneindia
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 7 Nov 2009 | 1:57 am Deepika Padukone replaces Asin in Gowarikar's filmBollywood actress Deepika Padukone will now be doing the role in Ashutosh Gowarikar’s Khelenge Hum Jee Jaan Se that Asin Thottumkul turned down. She is excited about working in a period film with Ashutosh Gowarikar and has started preparing for herSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 7 Nov 2009 | 1:54 am A Aa E Ee (Athadu, Aame, Inthalo Eeme) - ReviewThe Telugu audiences have seen many films with one hero and two heroines in many triangular love stories and also the hero facing problems with two women and other such gullible subjects. Right from the days of Sobhanbabu and till theSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 7 Nov 2009 | 1:53 am Aamir Khan’s emergencyBollywood actor Aamir Khan had an embarrassing situation yesterday. He needed to use a bathroom urgently and had to rush past journalists, who were waiting him at a press conference.Aamir was stuck in the traffic for two and a half hoursSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 7 Nov 2009 | 1:53 am Subhash K Jha speaks about Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani
If you've ever wondered what on earth is on-screen chemistry here's your one-stop all-purpose encyclopedia on celluloid magic
Fasten your 'see'-it belts, as veteran filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi sheds all his Lajja, and pulls out all stops to do a wacky goofy edgeless weightless comedy of characters who walk in and walk out of frames leaving behind fumes of old-fashioned funnies.
Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani is an airtight trapeze down that familiar romantic lane. The starting point seems to be Saawariya. A wacky loud, opened-up rimless and ritous interpretation of Ranbir Kapoor's character in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's opera on screen, Prem in Ajab Prem ...adores the fresh scrubbed girl next door Jenny. But she loves someone else. No it's not Salman Khan, though in a tongue-in-cheek homage to tabloid realism Katrina meets her idol Salman who drawls to the roadside Romeo Ranbir, ''You're behaving as if you're making my girlfriend your own.'' Touche.
As in Saawariya and his more recent films Bachna Ae Haseeno and Wake Up Sid, a major part of the narrative becomes a showcase for Ranbir's skills as an all-purpose actor who can pull out any emotional response to the most sterile dramatic stimuli. In sequence after sequence, written to spotlight the young actor's virtuosity Ranbir rises above the material given to him with glorious gusto.
Even while mouthing corny maudlin sappy dialogues about serving moong-dal ke pakode to his beloved or plucking stars from the sky for her, Ranbir makes the trite seem just right.
His phenomenal talent gets radiant support from Katrina Kaif who is getting better with every film. As the waif with a face so vulnerable and imploring you want to protect it from the harsh rays of evil sunlight, Katrina Kaif is at once wholesome and haughty, feisty and flirtatious. She's everyman's dream-come-true, so why not Prem's?
Would Ajab Prem... have worked as such a swimmingly sleek show-reel for the besotted-boy-meets-the-absentminded-waif's tale without the same lead actors? The answer, frighteningly enough, is an emphatic no.
The noticeably over-done comic situations include a cartel of goofy goons who pop up towards the end to join the party. In one laboured sequence of comicality, Ranbir must wear Katrina's bodice and pretend he wears such clothes comfortably to avoid exposing Katrina's concealment in his home.
The above scene defines the sense of inner-wear weariness that Ranbir and Katrina effectually avoid and alchemize into a watchable potpourri of parodic passion. This is a rare film that surmounts and jumps over all the hurdles of cliched plotting and corny dialogues on the sheer strength of its protagonists' charm and grace. The film wears a bright bouncy sunny look. The location is an obviously papier-mache town filled with a benign bonhomie which doesn't go beyond the rituals of surface-level romanticism.
And yet, several individual sequences come alive to convey a sparkling potency. Check out those sequences where Ranbir and Katrina stammer under emotional stress both individually and separately. The couple in Kaminey seems suspiciously rehearsed in comparison. Indeeed, though the material provided to the lead reeks of second-hand emotions Ranbir and Katrina embrace those emotions and make them scrubbed.
Is there a better star-pair than Ranbir and Katrina in recent times? Maybe there is. But who cares. This one just makes you want to cuddle them.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 7 Nov 2009 | 1:52 am Kamal Hassan turns 55, celebrates with family - Press Trust of India
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 7 Nov 2009 | 1:48 am Ajay Devgn, Kajol throw huge party to celebrate success of All The Best
Abhishek Bachchan walked in with Amar Singh, instead of his Paa or his wife, at Ajay Devgn's first-ever bash for his friends in the industry on Thursday evening. Bashful and cynical about glam-gatherings, Ajay Devgn has always shunned attending parties and has never before thrown one.
But the new power-packed Devgn newly energized by the success of All The Best has resolved to let the world know he's ready to conquer showbiz.
Devgn's buddies Sanjay Dutt and Maanyata were the first to arrive and also among the first to leave, since Sanjay had an early-morning flight to catch to South Africa. And then there was Fardeen and his wife Natasha. After his successful back surgery in New York, Fardeen Khan was back in Mumbai for his first public appearance to celebrate his first successful film in ages at Ajay Devgn's first-ever party for his colleagues held at the Sahara Star hotel on Thursday night, a day after Devgn wrapped up Prakash Jha's Rajneeti in Bhopal.
All the arrangements were taken care of by Ajay Devgn and his wife Kajol who were very prominently a part of the celebrations. The party went on till late. John Abraham and Bipasha showed up much later.
But as one of the guests later said, "This party was a show of strength for Ajay Devgn. For too long he has smirked and silently watched the Khans rule as the glamourous elements in Bollywood. With wife Kajol at his side, Ajay wants to build Brand Devgn in a par with Saif-Kareena and Abhishek-Aishwarya. The party on Thursday night was the first step in that direction."Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 7 Nov 2009 | 1:17 am Sari over jeans, belt over sari - new fashion fads in IndiaIndia's traditional six-yard wonder is igniting imaginations anew. The sari, say fashion designers, can be worn over a pair of jeans or jazzed up with a sexy slim belt for a trendy look.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 7 Nov 2009 | 1:01 am Asin says No to Abhishek, Deepika Padukone says Yes - SantaBanta.com
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 7 Nov 2009 | 12:24 am It won't look good if I got married before Saif and Kareena - SantaBanta.com
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 7 Nov 2009 | 12:24 am Preity to be a Captain! - IndiaGlitz
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 6 Nov 2009 | 11:59 pm Review: Jail - Sify
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 6 Nov 2009 | 10:40 pm Everyone has a bit of Scrooge in him: Jim CarreyCharles Dickens' classic character Ebenezer Scrooge, the mean ill-tempered and miserly protagonist of 'A Christmas Carol', is being reprised on screen by Hollywood funnyman Jim Carrey in his latest outing. Carrey says he wanted to bring to surface the 'bitterness that a loveless life brings' for the role in 'A Christmas Carol'.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 6 Nov 2009 | 7:00 pm The wall that fellIt’s been 20 years that East Germany pulled down the Berlin wall, that had divided not just people and lives, but thoughts and ways of thinking, reports Jasodhara Banerjee.Source: | 6 Nov 2009 | 4:12 pm Arctic meltdownI did suspect something awry the moment I noticed that Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner isn’t singing with his trademark hoodie gear on any more, writes Indrajit Hazra.Source: | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:59 pm Bobby come latelyLike the moment when Archimedes leapt out of his tub crying “Eureka!”, the instant when a 16-year-old Dimple Kapadia leapt into water wearing a red, two-piece bikini was transformational, writes HT Correspondent.Source: | 6 Nov 2009 | 1:53 pm People have tried to pull me down: Emraan Hashmi
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 6 Nov 2009 | 11:14 am 'Ajab Prem Ki...' has edge over 'Jail' on first dayRomantic comedy 'Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani', which stars Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif, has sent the box office cash registers ringing, elbowing out Madhur Bhandarkar's 'Jail' on the first day Friday.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 6 Nov 2009 | 11:02 am Aamir Khan plays ventriloquist in Tata Sky's latest ad
The way one would associate the term 'brightness' with sunlight, 'genius' to Isaac Newton and likes, the same way, one would blindfoldedly associate the term 'Perfectionist' with none other than Aamir Khan, the man who showed Bollywood. This has been the policy that has always echoed in the lifestyle and the career graph of Aamir Khan.
No wonder then, Tata Sky, which, in the past had got him moulded into various characters like Sardar, a lady etc, have now made him a ventriloquist to promote their latest services. And look at the ad is anything to go by, then, Aamir surely deserves an award for his performance in this commercial!
The ad has Bunty (played by Aamir 'Perfectionist' Khan) as the ventriloquist and his puppet named TV. "Hello main hoon Bunty aur yeh hai mera TV"⦠starts off the TVC. The facial expressions and the emotions with which Aamir carries the show (quite literally) is something to write about in golden words. We are sure that after this ad, will be counted as one of his best commercials. All in all, after having a sneak-peak at the latest Tata Sky ad, all that we can say is that "Aamir Khan ko Brand Ambassador bana daala, tho Tata Sky ki jhingalaala!"Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 6 Nov 2009 | 10:16 am Raj Kundra to ride on chariot to marry Shilpa
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 6 Nov 2009 | 10:05 am Sunil Shetty bags Best Actor award at South Asian International Film Festival
Sunil Shetty is a happy man these days. For his performance in the upcoming Red Alert, he has bagged the Best Actor award at the South Asian International Film Festival (SAIFF), New York.
An ecstatic Sunil says, "It is a fabulous feeling. In all the reviews of my films till date, a majority have called me 'wooden' or said 'gives a routine performance'. To win an award at a recognized film festival like the SAIFF in New York is a big high as an actor and makes me want to work harder and better."
Sunil goes on to add, "The film is on a Naxal setting and right now, is the right time for the film to come out."
His performance was appreciated by the Jury and the audiences' too. The theme of the movie has a universal appeal. As everybody on planet earth is affected by Terrorism, External or Internal...
The film's director Ananth Mahadevan says, "I am happy especially for Sunil because his performance is being appreciated at a global level. When I took this film to him, he had told me in his humble way, not to make the film with him in a solo lead. But I was sure he could pull off the character of Narasimha and he did."
T.P. Agarwal, Chairman of Producers Association IMPPA and Owner of Star Entertainment Pvt Ltd was present at the SAIFF function to receive the award and addressed to the media, "I am overwhelmed with the response I have received for the film and Sunil's performance. Finally we have received an international platform to bring light to the burning issue of increasing intrastate conflicts."Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 6 Nov 2009 | 8:14 am Indian Animation industry to grow to USD 1 billion by 2012: NASSCOMIn possible good news for a faltering animation industry in India, NASSCOM has forecasted that the industry will grow to USD 1 billion by 2012 from an estimated USD 494 million in 2008. The report, released at the NASSCOM Animation & Gaming Summit 2009 in Hyderabad, outlines the key challenges for the animation and vfx markets. Noteworthy among them are: 'the limited demand for animation due to limited promotional budgets and restricted theatrical distribution, scarcity of long-term financing for animated films, competition from foreign animation and restricted use of vfx in Bollywood.' Interestingly, the animation entertainment segment (which includes feature films, direct-to-DVD, advertising and TV) accounted only 22% of the total market in 2008; while vfx accounted for a mere 13% of the pie. As of today several animation films are in the pipeline for release next year. Biren Ghose, Chairman of NAGFO, who recently joined Paprikaas as General Manager, said, "Not many of the 15 or so animation films that have been announced will release next year." On a positive note, he said, "Visual effects (vfx) is an emerging market. About 8-12% of a movie's budget is spent on vfx. Despite questions raised about the failure of vfx-heavy movies, it has to be noted that Aladin's vfx budget was only 16% (10-20 crores) of the total cost. In other countries, box-office revenues are small chunk of total profit made by a feature, but in India box-office collection plays a major part in the revenues." He also added that animation industry should adapt to Bollywood's example of having restructured to a higher profitability model, post recession. As per the report, the gaming industry in India would grow at a CAGR of 49% to reach USD 830 million.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 6 Nov 2009 | 8:10 am 20 films in IFFI's international competition sectionTwenty movies have been chosen for the international competition section while eight films will be screened in the Indian premieres category at the 40th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) that kicks off here this month.Source: Entertainment News | 6 Nov 2009 | 7:40 am Santosh Sivan to act as Raja Ravi VarmaAcclaimed film personality Santosh Sivan will make his first appearance as an actor when he plays the role of Raja Ravi Varma, the famous painter, in Lenin Rajendran's Malayalam film titled "Makara Manju".Source: Entertainment News | 6 Nov 2009 | 7:06 am Festivals show cinema as art not commodity: Greek director AngelopoulosGreek director Theo Angelopoulos, who received the lifetime achievement award at the 11th Mumbai Film Festival (MFF), says festivals show cinema as an art and not a commodity.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 6 Nov 2009 | 7:05 am Bride-to-be Shilpa going through 'mixed feelings' - Sify
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 6 Nov 2009 | 7:00 am Santosh Sivan to act as Raja Ravi Varma
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 6 Nov 2009 | 6:42 am Amitabh Bachchan felicitated at MAMI
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 6 Nov 2009 | 6:40 am Singer Atif Aslam to take on Bollywood
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 6 Nov 2009 | 5:52 am Bride-to-be Shilpa going through 'mixed feelings'Shilpa Shetty, who is marrying London-based Raj Kundra Nov 22, is facing pre-nuptial blues. She admits she is experiencing 'mixed feelings' as the D-day draws near.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 6 Nov 2009 | 5:04 am 'Jail' a gritty reality showFilm: 'Jail'; Director: Madhur Bhandarkar; Cast: Neil Nitin Mukesh, Manoj Bajpai, Mugdha Godse, Arya Babbar, Rahul Singh, Chetan Pandit; Rating: ***1/2Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 6 Nov 2009 | 5:03 am Bollywood celebs raise voice against child traffickingAmitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Preity Zinta, Shabana Azmi, Katrina Kaif and Suneil Shetty are among the Bollywood celebrities who have pledged support to a movement, Against Child Trafficking (A.C.T.).Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 6 Nov 2009 | 5:02 am Michelle Obama to star in reality show
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 6 Nov 2009 | 4:56 am The inside story about Shilpa Shetty's wedding plans
Instead of the traditional ghoda bringing the dulha to Shilpa Shetty's doorsteps, Raj Kundra has decided to ride into his beghum's baraat on an elaborate chariot.
That just about sets the tone for the elaborate yet exclusive Shilpa-Raj Kundra marriage on November 22 where, according to Shilpa's close buddy, "Tarun Tahiliani has designed a wedding outfit that no bride in Bollywood or outside has ever worn before."
The guest list for the November 22 wedding is restricted to Shilpa and Raj's family only. Raj's parents and sister are expected any moment from London. His relatives from Ludhiana and Amritsar are expected to arrive closer to the wedding.
The wedding will be conducted fully in the Bunt tradition, according the Mangalorean community that the Shettys belong to.
Says Shilpa's close friend, "Shilpa's mom consulted the astrological documents and found that the next auspicious date was not before April 2010. Shilpa's first response was, 'Not without my sister.' But now that Shamita is well on the way out of 'Bigg Boss', Shilpa doesn't mind the rush, though she would be shooting until the very last moment for the Indo-Chinese production Desire in Hyderabad," says a very close friend of the Shettys.
The last thing Shilpa wants to do at the moment is to work. "But a commitment is a commitment," says Shilpa's friend.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:05 am 20 films in IFFI's international competition sectionTwenty movies have been chosen for the international competition section while eight films will be screened in the Indian premieres category at the 40th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) that kicks off here this month.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:04 am Raj Kundra plans to ride on chariot to marry ShilpaInstead of the traditional horse bringing the groom to Shilpa Shetty's doorsteps, Raj Kundra has decided to ride an elaborate chariot.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am 11th Mumbai Film Festival comes to a close
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The curtain closed on the 11th edition of Mumbai Film Festival organized by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) at Mumbai amidst the who's who of the of Indian and World cinema gracing the closure of the event with their presence. A glittering closing ceremony herald the closure of the 7 day Festival that laid out some real sumptuous fare for film-buffs in Mumbai. MFF is a Reliance Big Entertainment initiative and has the distinction of being the only international film festival in India to be organized by an independent body of practicing film professionals.
MAMI committee led by Chairman Mr. Shyam Benegal and trustees Mr. Yash Chopra, Mrs. Jaya Bachchan, Mr. Amit Khanna, Mr. Amol Palekar along with the festival jury Members including: renowned Hollywood screenwriter and director Mr. Paul Schrader, Sri Lankan filmmaker Mr. Vimukthi Jayasundara, Philippine filmmaker Mr. Brillante Mendoza, Indian filmmaker Mr. Shaji N. Karun and former Director of Locarno Film Festival Ms. Irene Bignardi graced the occasion. Also present were Mr. Anil and Tina Ambani, Mr Amitabh Bachchan, Mr & Mrs Theo Angelopoulos. The evening was hosted by Kunal Kohli & Shefali Shah adding colour to the exciting evening were performances by singers Anushka Manchanda Kunal Ganjawala.
"This Festival brought together some of the best cinematic talent from across the globe," says Mr. Shyam Benegal, chairperson of MAMI. "We watched some very well-crafted films covering a range of thematics and issues."
Mr. Amitabh Bachchan was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award for completing 40 years in the film industry. His oeuvre comprises from rib-tickling comedies to tear-jerkers to subtle, nuanced performances in art-house films. It can be said without doubt that there is nothing in acting that Mr. Bachchan hasn't tried his hand at and succeeded. Mr. Theo Angelopoulos, the maestro from Greece received the International Lifetime Achievement award for giving us thought-provoking and visually appealing cinema. His distinctive style and work has influenced a number of your filmmakers. Mr. Dev Anand's production house Navketan Films was facilitated for completing 60 golden years in the film industry.
As a modest first step towards setting up a full-fledged "Film Market," MFF introduced the Film Business Centre to provide a networking platform for Indian distributors, producers, television channels, foreign sales agents, and festival directors to enhance the international sales of Indian films. The festival was buzzing with International buyers/ sales agent, international film festival delegates from across the globe attended the festival as part of the Film Business Centre during the 11th Mumbai Film Festival. Sales agents from companies such as UniFrance, UK Film Council, Pioniwa Film Co. - Japan, Channel Asia - Japan, Hanway Films - France amongst many others were also present. International film festival delegates include Rada Sesic, Rotterdam Film Festival, TOM LUDDY & Gary Meyer, Co-Director Telluride FF, Marit Capla, director Goteborg International Film Festival. Film institute's includes the UniFrance, UK Film Council & Danish Film Institute.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:43 am I have acting offers from Bollywood: Pakistani singerPakistani singer Atif Aslam, who crooned his way into the hearts of Indians with Bollywood songs, has revealed he has acting offers from the industry and is open to them.Source: Entertainment News | 6 Nov 2009 | 1:52 am
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