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Making film on India a little complicated: French director Remi BezanconFrench director Remi Bezancon enjoys watching Bollywood films but says he doesn't have any immediate plans to make India-based movie.Source: Entertainment News | 6 Dec 2009 | 8:05 am 'Anarkali' actress Bina Rai passes awayLegendary actress Bina Rai, who won the Filmfare award for her performance in "Ghunghat" (1960), died of cardiac arrest here today.Source: Entertainment News | 6 Dec 2009 | 7:55 am Bengali films top Bollywood flicksIn a list of the top 20 Indian movies of all time as chosen by close to 2 million voters.Source: | 6 Dec 2009 | 6:44 am Slow steadyThe sales graph shows a slow rise as Big B’s Paa gets off to an unimpressive start.Source: | 6 Dec 2009 | 6:21 am Smiling OnirFilmmaker Onir’s film I Am has now been selected for the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2009.Source: | 6 Dec 2009 | 6:18 am 'Vindu provides drama on 'Bigg Boss''
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 6 Dec 2009 | 5:11 am Gerard looking for a perfect woman
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 6 Dec 2009 | 5:00 am Aamir Khan to return as ambassador of tourismBollywood superstar Aamir Khan will once again reunite with Rang De Basanti director Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra to spread the message of Athithi Devo Bhava.Source: | 6 Dec 2009 | 4:55 am Preview: Rocket Singh
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 6 Dec 2009 | 3:05 am Indian film bags four awards at Singapore festDebutant director Sona Jain's feature film 'For Real' has won four awards at the Asian Festival of First Films in Singapore.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 6 Dec 2009 | 3:02 am 'Veer' is a not a classic period film, says Salman Khan - Spicezee
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 6 Dec 2009 | 3:02 am 'Anarkali' actress Bina Rai passes awayLegendary actress Bina Rai, who won the Filmfare award for her performance in 'Ghunghat' (1960), died of cardiac arrest here Sunday.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 6 Dec 2009 | 3:00 am Vindu provides drama, action on 'Bigg Boss': Raju SrivastavaComedian Raju Srivastava, the latest contestant to be evicted from reality TV show "Bigg Boss 3", says he would like Vindu Dara Singh to emerge the winner despite many controversies as he entertains the audience by providing action and drama.Source: Entertainment News | 6 Dec 2009 | 2:03 am Ranbir gets into salesman's shoes for 'Rocket Singh'After giving two back to back hits with "Wake Up Sid" and "Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani", Ranbir Kapoor is all set to woo audiences once again - and this time as a Sikh salesman in "Rocket Singh - Salesman of the Year" that releases on Friday.Source: Entertainment News | 6 Dec 2009 | 1:39 am Making people laugh is a blessing: Anees BazmeeAnees Bazmee, the maker of umpteen comedies, is just wrapping up another funny film "No Problem" and has two more films with Akshay Kumar lined up - "Hera Pheri Part 4" and "Thank You".Source: Entertainment News | 6 Dec 2009 | 1:33 am Vindu provides drama, action on 'Bigg Boss': Raju SrivastavaComedian Raju Srivastava, the latest contestant to be evicted from reality TV show "Bigg Boss 3", says he would like Vindu Dara Singh to emerge the winner despite many controversies as he entertains the audience by providing action and drama.Source: | 6 Dec 2009 | 12:06 am Ilayaraja and Big-B watch Paa - Sify
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 5 Dec 2009 | 11:32 pm Celebrity chef Gordon's culinary adventures in IndiaThis was reportedly self-confessed curry fan Ramsay's first visit to India, where he experienced diverse culinary traditions. Starting his culinary trip from north India, Ramsay travelled off the tourist track.Source: merinews: Entertainment News Articles | 5 Dec 2009 | 10:28 pm Vindu provides drama, action on 'Bigg Boss': Raju SrivastavaComedian Raju Srivastava, the latest contestant to be evicted from reality TV show 'Bigg Boss 3', says he would like Vindu Dara Singh to emerge the winner despite many controversies as he entertains the audience by providing action and drama.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 5 Dec 2009 | 9:01 pm Ranbir gets into salesman's shoes for 'Rocket Singh'After giving two back to back hits with 'Wake Up Sid' and 'Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani', Ranbir Kapoor is all set to woo audiences once again - and this time as a Sikh salesman in 'Rocket Singh - Salesman of the Year' that releases Friday.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 5 Dec 2009 | 9:00 pm Aamir Khan walks the ramp to promote '3 Idiots' - Indian Express
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 5 Dec 2009 | 7:08 pm Making people laugh is a blessing: Anees BazmeeAnees Bazmee, the maker of umpteen comedies, is just wrapping up another funny film 'No Problem' and has two more films with Akshay Kumar lined up - 'Hera Pheri Part 4' and 'Thank You'. And the director says the ability to make people laugh is 'a blessing'.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 5 Dec 2009 | 7:00 pm Ranbir Kapoor Voted 'Sexiest Man Alive' by People MagazRanbir Kapoor, the new heartthrob of Bollywood, has been voted the 'Sexiest Man Alive' by People Magazine. Ranbir will be seen on the cover of the magazine shirtless on a beach. He showed up at the event looking hot in a two-day beard.Source: merinews: Entertainment News Articles | 5 Dec 2009 | 2:46 pm UAE Also Helps Figure Who 'The Stepfather' Really IsMovie addicts now have a chance to search for clues and debunk the identity of 'The Stepfather' in a game, at this movies official Middle East site.Source: merinews: Entertainment News Articles | 5 Dec 2009 | 2:29 pm Jamie Jungers is Tiger Woods 4th mistressJamie Jungers is 26-year old woman and lives in Las Vegas and uses social networking sites such as MySpace. Jungers is represented by trashygirls.com, an entertainment brand that works with nightclubs in Las Vegas, television shows.Source: merinews: Entertainment News Articles | 5 Dec 2009 | 2:28 pm Priyanka awardedActress Priyanka Chopra has won the best actress award for Madhur Bhandarkar’s Fashion at the Apsara Film and Television Producers Guild Awards.Source: | 5 Dec 2009 | 11:00 am Censor trouble for Rahul Bose's horror film promosPromos of Bollywood actor Rahul Bose's upcoming horror film "Fired" have run into trouble with the censor board and have been deemed inappropriate to be aired on Indian television.Source: Entertainment News | 5 Dec 2009 | 10:48 am Taylor Swift Tickets Gillette Stadium available todayKraft entertainment has recently announced that the newly crowned CMA entertainer of the Year 2009, Taylor Swift will headline the Gillette Stadium next spring. The tickets for the June 5, 2010 fearless Tour dates go on sale from today December 5.Source: merinews: Entertainment News Articles | 5 Dec 2009 | 10:44 am Catch Channel Five TV shows on YoutubeYouTube users, who have not had a look at the Australian content of Channel Five would have a chance to do so, apart from getting its British content. They would finally able to catch Home and Away and Neighbours apart from the British Gadget Show.Source: merinews: Entertainment News Articles | 5 Dec 2009 | 10:37 am Lawsuit filed against 'Paa' in Patna court
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 5 Dec 2009 | 9:58 am Ranbir Kapoor offered Rs 12 crore for a film
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 5 Dec 2009 | 9:50 am Lawsuit filed against 'Paa' in Patna courtA lawsuit has been filed in a court here charging Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan with violating the diabilities act through his latest film "Paa" in which he plays a 13-year-old boy suffering from progeria, which accelerates the ageing process.Source: Entertainment News | 5 Dec 2009 | 9:48 am Review: Raavana
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 5 Dec 2009 | 9:29 am Acampo wins I m a celebrity, crowned King of the JungleGino D'Acampo, was jubliant after the three weeks he spent in Australia as part of the show. He said,'This is amazing. I really enjoyed every single bit of the experience. Being King of the Jungle is definitely the cherry on the cake.'Source: merinews: Entertainment News Articles | 5 Dec 2009 | 9:18 am Halle Berry slams abusive father
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 5 Dec 2009 | 9:15 am Julia Roberts is the new face of Lancome
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 5 Dec 2009 | 9:13 am "Paa has fetched me the best response since Parineeta" - Vidya Balan
Vidya Balan is extremely happy with an all around positive response that she has got for her role of an unwed mother in Paa. While keeping her emotions in check and not allowing all the appreciation to make her go overtly gaga, Vidya does admit though that such huge response has come to her four long years after her debut effort Parineeta.
"I guess the wait has been worth it", says Vidya who plays the mother of a 12 year old kid (played by Amitabh Bachchan) suffering from Progeria in Paa, "I was doing films and by God's grace most of them were successful as well. However, the kind of respect that is coming the way of everyone associated with Paa is overwhelming, heart warming and above all humbling."
It is this respect factor that has been the biggest moment for Vidya. When the film's trial was held a few days back, she was convinced that the film would certainly be remembered for its sincerity, honesty and truthfulness. Though box office factor wasn't to be ignored, she along with director Balki knew that at the least film would see good respectability coming its way.
"One can't say much about box office in any case because sometimes even the most quintessential commercial flicks don't really click with the audiences. However, you instinctively know whether your film has turned out to be a quality outing or not. I remember the days of Lage Raho Munnabhai when we came out of the first screening. Along with Raj Kumar Hirani, I knew that we had made a good film. Same was the case with Paa", details Vidya.
Now she is eagerly awaiting the box office response for Paa. Given the fact that it is coming a week after De Dana Dan and a week before Rocket Singh - Salesman Of The Year, Paa has to score and do that really fast.
"I have been told though that the film has been accepted well by the audience and along with critical appreciation, it is also showing good word of mouth from those who have seen it", she says with that characteristic smile of hers.
What she says does hold good ground. Though the opening wasn't exceptional (as expected due to its theme), the film has shown a constant increase in crowd inflow with every passing show. Says a trade insider, "The occupancy for Paa on Saturday is almost double than that of Friday. Everyone thought that the film was mainly targeting the class audiences in big cities but it is doing well even in interiors like Nagpur and other cities and towns."
Meanwhile, Vidya's phone hasn't stopped ringing. "Such appreciation is always welcome. Ever since the film's premiere, there have been congratulatory calls, which is heart warming. I have been literally glued to my cell-phone for last 3 days at stretch and I am certainly not complaining."
Given the fact that her last film Kismat Konnection (2008) was a success and so was Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007), she would be used to such adulation, isn't it?
"Honestly speaking, there have been good words but such volume of calls is a first", she confesses, "I remember getting quite a few messages during Bhool Bhulaiyaa or Kismat Konnection. However, so many people actually making an effort and giving me a call reminds me of Parineeta days. Paa has fetched me the best response since my debut film."
With her much in news Ishqiya round the corner that has an author backed role reserved for her, one waits to see if Vidya gets a further one up over Paa and Parineeta in weeks to come. Starring Naseruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi as the male protagonists, Abhishek Chaubey directed Ishqiya is produced by Vishal Bhardwaj & Raman Maroo and sees a 15th January release.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 5 Dec 2009 | 8:56 am Aamir Khan walks the ramp to promote 3 IdiotsBollywood Actor Aamir Khan designed doodles, launched merchandise and walked the ramp along with fellow actors Sharman Joshi and R Madhavan recently to promote his forthcoming flick 3 Idiots.Source: | 5 Dec 2009 | 8:43 am Radio is only for fans of froth! - Sify
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 5 Dec 2009 | 8:27 am Morgan Freeman gifts himself private plane
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 5 Dec 2009 | 8:08 am Cindy Crawford wants to be a Milf!
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 5 Dec 2009 | 8:05 am Marrakech Festival opens with a feel-good filmIn brief but beautiful ceremony the 9 th Marrakech International Film Festival began late last evening with drummers from Korea and Morocco in a great piece of “jugalbandhi”. Gautaman Bhaskaran reports from ground zero.Source: | 5 Dec 2009 | 7:36 am Celina 'shocked' on getting Best Actor award
Celina Jaitly was in for a shock when her name was announced as a Best Female Actor for her English film Love Has No Language in the recently held Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF). While she was busy clapping for other actors and film makers who were being called on stage to be conferred awards, she was clueless that she had been nominated as a Best Actor as well.
"I was invited for the event as a guest of honour. Since I am also an Egyptian tourism ambassador, it was double the reason for me to be present in the event. I knew that my film Love Has No Language had been a New Zealand entry for the film festival which saw entries from across the globe. However, I was in for a shock when I was called to come on stage. I was frozen on my seat for a while and didn't know how to react", says Celina who has since returned to India over the weekend. Some of the other prominent Bollywood personalities who came back home with awards were Madhur Bhandarkar, Irrfan Khan and Boney Kapoor.
On the D-day, Celina did make quite a few heads turn though. She got an outfit exclusively created for the event and wore a Neeta Lulla creation - a multi-hued Indo-Egyptian gown.
Meanwhile this is not the last that Celina has seen of Cairo International Film Festival. From next year on, she would also be a member of honorary jury. "This is definitely thrilling and a great honour", comments Celina.
Talking about Love Has No Language, the film is directed by Kahn Khan and stars New Zealand actor Ben Mitchell along with Rati Agnihotri and Kiran Kumar. The film has already been released in New Zealand. However, it won't arrive in India.
"No, it won't see a theatrical release here," sighs Celina, "However, it would be available on DVD soon."
Nonetheless, Celina is happy with one of the first major awards coming her way. What has also been the icing on the cake is the fact that the journey for her has begun on an international platform.
"I am glad to be a part of films like Love Has No Language. It means a lot to me and appreciation like this is just timely because it further instills confidence in you as an actor", says Celina who would soon be seen in an author backed role of a central protagonist in Accident on Hill Road which releases on 18th December.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 5 Dec 2009 | 7:04 am Gwyneth Paltrow and nourishing inner aspectTo nourish the inner aspect, Oscar winner Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow (Shakespeare in Love) suggests buying self-designed pair of converse shoes for a friend in the latest newsletter of her blog 'GOOP?nourish the inner aspect'Source: merinews: Entertainment News Articles | 5 Dec 2009 | 7:04 am Censor trouble for Rahul Bose's horror film promosPromos of Bollywood actor Rahul Bose's upcoming horror film 'Fired' have run into trouble with the censor board and have been deemed inappropriate to be aired on Indian television.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 5 Dec 2009 | 7:00 am Ranbir wants Deepika back! - Times of India
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 5 Dec 2009 | 6:58 am Famed musician AR Rahman opens online shopIn the section soundtracks and scores, on AR Rahman's website, the store has music from Slumdog Millionaire, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Bombay Dreams and the London production of Lord Of The Rings.Source: merinews: Entertainment News Articles | 5 Dec 2009 | 6:40 am King of gossipHe’s had top Bollywood stars running for cover. Nari Hira reveals why he’s the undisputed high-priest of tabloids.Source: | 5 Dec 2009 | 6:28 am Winners of 4th Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild AwardsBest Actor in a Leading Role Hrithik Roshan - Jodhaa Akbar Best Actress in a Leading Role Priyanka Chopra - Fashion Best Movie Aamir Khan - Taare Zameen Par Best Director Aamir Khan - Taare Zameen Par Best Actor in a Supporting Role Jimmy Shergill - A Wednesday Best Actress in a Supporting Role Kangna Ranaut - Fashion Best Actor in a Comic Role Anil Kapoor - Welcome Best Actor in a Negative Role Akshaye Khanna - Race Best Debut (Male) Imran Khan - Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na Best Debut (Female) Mugdha Godse - Fashion Best Choreography Chinni Prakash, Rekha Prakash - Jodhaa Akbar Best Lyrics Prasoon Joshi - Taare Zameen Par - Maa Best Female Playback Singer Shreya Ghoshal - Singh is King - Teri Ore Best Male Playback Singer Shankar Mahadaven - Taare Zameen Par - Maa Best Music A.R. Rahman - Jodhaa Akbar Best Screenplay Amole Gupte, Neeraj Pandey - Taare Zameen Par, A Wednesday Best Dialogue Neeraj Pandey - A Wednesday Best Story Amole Gupte - Taare Zameen Par Best Cinematography Kiran Deohans - Jodhaa Akbar Best Costume Design Neeta Lulla - Jodhaa Akbar Best Editing Shree Narayan Singh - A Wednesday Best Special Effects Vaibhav Kumaresh, Dhimant Vyas - Taare Zameen Par Best Sound Recording Baylon Fonseca - Rock On!! Best Re-Recording Hitendra Ghosh - Jodhaa Akbar Best Art Director Nitin Chandrakant Desai - Jodhaa AkbarSource: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 5 Dec 2009 | 5:58 am Now wear Aamir's doodles and Kareena's jewellery
After animation and superhero films, it's now the turn of Aamir Khan starrer 3 Idiots to come out with retail merchandise including branded T-shirts and even converse shoes! The collection was showcased at a gala event in Mumbai, with Aamir Khan walking the ramp.
Vinod Chopra Films and fashion retailer Pantaloons have collaborated to launch the 3 Idiots apparel and accessories collection which includes 10 hand drawn Doodle T shirts, designed by Aamir Khan during the making of the film. Aamir was in an 'Aal Izz Well' mood and dressed in one of the Doodle T-shirts for the ramp walk. He was very jubilant about his creation and said, ''I hope people like my doodles.''
''It is very exciting for Pantaloons to associate with a movie like 3 Idiots and an actor of the calibre of Aamir Khan. Such a unique film required a new approach to replicate its irrepressible spirit.'' said Mr. Sanjeev Agrawal, CEO, Pantaloons.
Apart from the Aamir Khan Doodles tees, the collection also includes replicas of t-shirts worn by Aamir Khan in the film, tees inspired by the film, garments worn by Madhavan and Sharman Joshi in the film, as well as replicas of garments and jewellery worn by Kareena Kapoor in the film.
Shoppers will also be able to add the Converse 3 Idiots range shoes to their collection, which will be retailed out of all Planet Sports (a part of Future Group) stores in the country. The designs based on the moods and characteristics of the movie consists of three basic ranges-worn by Aamir Khan in the movie and seven specially designed doodle collection range-sketched and designed by Aamir Khan.
3 Idiots is directed by Rajkumar Hirani and stars Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, R Madhavan, Sharman Joshi and Boman Irani.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 5 Dec 2009 | 5:56 am Preity Zinta goes gaga over KajolSeeing some of the My Name Is Khan's footages Priety is ready to bet on the fact that no body could have done the role better than Kajol. Find out more.Source: | 5 Dec 2009 | 5:08 am 'Raavana' - another remake fails to impressFilm: 'Raavana'; Director: Yogish Hunasuru; Cast: Yogi, Sanchitha Padukone, Santhosh, Dwarakish, Sreenivasa Murthy and Neenasam Aswath; Music: Abhiman Roy; Rating: **1/2Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 5 Dec 2009 | 5:02 am 'Male Bille' is predictable, boringFilm: 'Male Bille'; Director: Mahesh Sukhadhare; Cast: Diganth, Pragna and Akshay; Music: Manikanth Kadri; Rating: **Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 5 Dec 2009 | 5:01 am Lawsuit filed against 'Paa' in Patna courtA lawsuit has been filed in a court here charging Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan with violating the disabilities act through his latest film 'Paa' in which he plays a 13-year-old boy suffering from progeria, which accelerates the ageing process.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 5 Dec 2009 | 5:00 am Ranbir Kapoor offered Rs 12 crore for a film - NDTV.com
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 5 Dec 2009 | 4:48 am Times Music album for Grammy - Times of India
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 5 Dec 2009 | 4:36 am A.R. Rahman bags two Grammy nominations
A.R.Rahman has done it again. After bagging two Oscars for his stupendous musical score in Slumdog Millionaire earlier this year, Rahman is now all set to bring home the Grammy. In case you are wondering what we are talking about, it's the big news that A.R. Rahman has been nominated in two categories at the 2010 Grammy awards.
Rahman's chartbuster 'Jai Ho' from Slumdog Millionaire has been nominated for 'Best Song written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media' while the second nomination for the music maestro is under the category 'Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.'
This is the first time that the Musical Genius has been nominated for the prestigious Grammys. The Grammy awards will be presented on January 31st 2010 at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles. We hope and pray that Rahman emerges victorious once again and brings home the Grammy.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 5 Dec 2009 | 4:13 am Just A Minute With: Abhishek BachchanPANAJI (Reuters) - The pressures of being Amitabh Bachchan's son must be immense but in the ten years that Abhishek Bachchan has been a part of the Hindi film industry, he has never complained.Source: Reuters: Bollywood News | 5 Dec 2009 | 4:04 am "Tag of superstar...don't take all that seriously" - Ranbir Kapoor
"Where the tag of superstar or the next-big-thing is concerned I really don't take all that seriously. You can only become a superstar when you have a lot of work behind you, when you've repeatedly given blockbusters and have a big fan base. Right now, I've just started off," says Ranbir Kapoor in a Bollywood Hungama Exclusive video interview along with Shimit Amin and Jaideep Sahni, the director-writer duo of the next film Rocket Singh-Salesman Of The Year.
Shimit Amin, the director of Shahrukh Khan propelled Chak De India (undoubtedly one of the best films of this decade) is a shy reticent man blessed with a brilliant art of wondrous story telling. So, where did the idea of Rocket Singh germinate from? "It was an idea that Jaideep and Adi had. Jaideep had to work the hardest. The script was very difficult to write because we were trying to break lots and lots of norms of drama, comedy, the characters," says Shimit.
Jaideep Sahni, a writer par excellence strongly believes in cinema being one of the best examples of "collaborative art". He has a penchant for the earthy, the quirky and very funny. The promotional video 'Pocket Mein Rocket' carries a noteworthy phrase-hook that stays with you. â'Pocket Mein Rocket' represented a salesman's art. You might think that he's just going to sell you something and is knocking on the door. He's got something up his sleeve. And that's his Art. We interpreted that as 'Pocket Mein Rocket'," Jaideep explains.
Ranbir's fans are eager to find out about his much discussed relationship status with Deepika Padukone. And this is what the Kapoor scion has to say, "If I am an actor, my work should speak more than my personal life. The audience is interested in knowing your personal life because you're showing it to them. If you don't show it to them, if you stick to what the purpose of my existence is, which is movies, I don't think I'd find a necessity to talk about it. That's the stand I want to take."
What, according to Shimit is the best quality about Ranbir as an actor? "He's hungry and I think he'll always be."
So, what is Ranbir's take on, being called a youth icon, Rocket dance being a craze and the link-up stories with Shazahn Padamsee being true or false...well...if you want to find out all this and lots more, stay tuned to check out the video very soon on Bollywood Hungama Broadband.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 5 Dec 2009 | 3:29 am Wishing Shekar Kapoor a very happy Birthday
He is a man who hasn't defined perfection, but has given it a whole new definition, in his own sweet ways. He is someone, with whom the term 'Innocent' fits to a 'T'. We are indeed talking about Shekar Kapoor, the man with the 'Midas Touch'.
Shekar is also the man who is our 'Birthday Baby' for the day! Having started his career working with a multi-national oil company, Shekar moved to Great Britain in 1970, and worked as an Accountant and Management Consultant. After that, was what one would call as 'Bollywood Calling'. After having acted in many serials and films, he gave Bollywood its first ever taste of 'Innocence' through his first film Masoom, a film that, till today, stands as one of the highlights of the magical tinsel town. Add to that India's evergreen answer to the fantasy genre Mr. India, a film that set unprecedented records. Enter the year 1998; and this man was all over the globe, courtesy his direction of the Academy Award-winning period film Elizabeth. Since then, there has been no looking back for this man, who was recently seen as one of the most poignant judges in a reality show.
Join Bollywood Hungama as we wish this man a very Happy Birthday, simply by posting your wishes below:Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 5 Dec 2009 | 3:08 am 'Radio' - Himesh clicks, film doesn'tFilm: 'Radio'; Cast: Himesh Reshammiya, Shenaz Treasuryvala, Sonal Sehgal; Director: Ishaan Trivedi; Rating: **Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 5 Dec 2009 | 3:02 am Onir's 'I Am' heads to Rotterdam film fest before releaseFilmmaker Onir is making sure that his "I Am" gets ample visibility before its theatrical release by taking it to global film fests.Source: Entertainment News | 5 Dec 2009 | 1:59 am Subhash K Jha speaks about Paa
Somewhere in this enchanting, enrapturing, heart-warming journey into the heart of a specially-gifted child, our 11-going-on-80 hero, the child born out of wedlock, Auro says to his 34-year old father, ''I'm the last to last to last mistake that you made.''
It's not that Paa doesn't make mistakes. There're some flaws in the narration. Minor, as they turn out to be, when you see the larger, supremely harmonious, picture .But you blissfully overlook the blemishes, to focus on a magical universe that the writer-director creates from the raw material of that hurtful thing called life.
Before we can say 'Ouch', Balakrishnan opens a new window to the clear-blue sky much beyond the clouds that hover on our day-to-day existence, each time life begins to suck.
A happy film on a child suffering from a rare genetic disorder which tends to age him four times faster than normal? You've got to be kidding! How does Balakrishnan manage it? It could have something to do with his deep but never burdensome understanding of the single-most critical mystery of existence... That you make of life what you want it to be.
Take the spirited Vidya(Balan). After her ambitious lover-boy Amol Atre(Abhishek Bachchan) refuses to accept their love-child she decides to move to Lucknow with her supremely supportive mother(Arundhati Nag) so she can go ahead and have her child.
But hang on! Unwed motherhood is not all that fate has in store for Vidya. The child is born with Progeria. And there begins the narrative's nubile waltz of life and death, performed with a sumptuous elan that is at once spontaneous and manipulative.
Portions of the film, like Auro's introductory sequence at a school function where the upright politician who happens to be Auro's secret father, gives the special boy a trophy, or the finale where Auro's parents take the saat-pheras around his death bed, smack of filmy connivance.
Balakrishnan smoothly and splendidly gets away with the contrivances. They fit rather aptly into the picture of a brief life lived in the glow of radiant happiness.
In many ways Auro reminded me of Anand. In Hrishikesh Mukherje's Anand, Rajesh Khanna enters into people's mildly troubled lives, fills them with joie de vivre and vanishes into the oblivion of mortality.
Auro is a far more complicated act. Amitabh Bachchan has to transform into a rapidly-aging child, throw the manipulative (oops, that word again!) tantrums of an adolescent and yet keeping from appearing caricatural or grotesque. The actor manages all of this, and more, with a fluency that makes you want to grope for new superlatives. Mr Bachchan's Auro act qualifies as one of the finest most nuanced and sharp performances ever in the history of the motion-picture.
It's hard to define in words the warm knowledge of the inner workings of a 12-year old child who knows he's dying, that Mr Bachchan brings into this film.
Paa could be bereft if not orphaned without the Bachchan's counter-domineering presence where he simply vanishes into Auro's wrinkled body. From that credibly modulated voice to the sagging walk, he makes the child's inner beauty mock his ugly exterior in almost a spiritual synthesis of soul and body.
Many of the scenes featuring Auro with his school friends have been written with a tongue-in-cheek comprehension of the way the world of the school-going children works. The kids, supporting the ailing but never failing Auro's presence, are bright and sympathetic without making a song and dance of the special presence in their midst.
What comes in the way of the narrative's smooth progression from Auro's life to heartbreaking death, is the politics of the plot. That, Auro's dad happens to be a politician, is a misfortune which the screenplay tries to transcend by making Amol Atre that contradiction in (the 5-year) term. An upright politician, Abhishek plays him sensitively, oh yes. But his uprightness when placed against Auro's spontaneous mischief and wicked disdain for the sacred cows of life and living, appears hugely inadequate.
Besides fighting corrupt political forces Anmol also has to indulge in some heavy-duty media-bashing, aired live on Doordrshan if you please. You impatiently wait for the narrative to return to Auro's world of mom, grandmom and those little joys of being a privileged child.
While Mr Bachchan's Auro is the film's backbone, Vidya Balan as his mother brings a rare and precious understanding to her tearless but troubled, single-mother's part. The women in Balakrishnan's films are always enchanting in their eccentricity. In Paa, whether it's the little girl, who chases Auro in the school or his bohemian grandmother at home, these women won't take no for an answer from life.
The asymmetry of the world that Balakrishnan's characters inhabit is richly complemented by the technical virtuosity and packaging of P.C Sreeram's cinematography, that captures the greenery of the outdoors and the cosy comforts of the interiors with seamless visual correctness. Ilaiyaaraja's melodies weave themselves into Auro's tale tenderly.
Paa is a film that could have easily been weighed down by the supreme strength of its central, once-in-an-eternity performance. Balakrishnan doesn't let Auro's tale become subservient to the incredibly skilled performance behind it.
And that's the miracle which we all must witness in Paa.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 5 Dec 2009 | 1:52 am Single screens must for showbiz, but few takersSalman Khan starrer "Wanted" has proved that single screen theatres can spell good business for Bollywood.Source: Entertainment News | 5 Dec 2009 | 1:51 am
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