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Alicia has my mother's complexion: Sushmita Sen
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 20 Dec 2009 | 7:21 am Stylists have designs on Bollywood - as directorsAce stylists like Sabysachi Mukherjee and Manish Malhotra are eyeing Bollywood with plans to direct movies on romance, art and more.Source: Entertainment News | 20 Dec 2009 | 5:23 am Kajol sports working woman look in 'My Name...': Manish MalhotraCelebrity designer Manish Malhotra has kept a subtle working woman look for Kajol in "My Name Is Khan" and says that it's close to her real life fashion statements.Source: Entertainment News | 20 Dec 2009 | 5:21 am Pyaar Impossible a good fun: Priyanka
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 20 Dec 2009 | 4:35 am Saif will soon marry Kareena: Sharmila - India Today
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 20 Dec 2009 | 3:07 am 'Pyaar Impossible' music has young, urban appealActor Uday Chopra turns producer with "Pyaar Impossible", and the film boasts of young contemporary music, perfect for college-goers.Source: Entertainment News | 20 Dec 2009 | 2:42 am 'Pyaar Impossible' not a classic like 'Mughal-e-Azam': Priyanka ChopraPriyanka Chopra says "Pyaar Impossible" is one of the sweetest and simplest films she's done.Source: Entertainment News | 20 Dec 2009 | 1:19 am Aditi keen on doing more reality shows - Hindustan Times
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 19 Dec 2009 | 11:33 pm 'Pyaar Impossible' not a classic: Priyanka - Times of India
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 19 Dec 2009 | 9:07 pm John replaces SRK in Joker! - Hindustan Times
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 19 Dec 2009 | 8:59 pm Kerala filmmaker's take on climate change a hit at CopenhagenKerala filmmaker Arun Bose's one-minute documentary 'My Paper Boat' about a boy who uses a string to drag a paper boat on a dry surface to drive home to the world the ill-effects of climate change was screened every day at the Copenhagen summit, the director said.Source: Entertainment News | 19 Dec 2009 | 10:53 am 'Vettaikaran' just another 'no-risk' masala movieVijay, touted to be the next Tamil superstar, continues to ride on worn-out masala films without any attempt at novelty.Source: Entertainment News | 19 Dec 2009 | 10:40 am Mahesh Manjrekar to direct City of Gold
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 19 Dec 2009 | 10:16 am Deleted scenes to be added in Paa
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 19 Dec 2009 | 10:14 am Aamir is the USP of 3 Idiots: Madhavan
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 19 Dec 2009 | 10:13 am Balki considers adding three deleted scenes in 'Paa'Director R.Source: Entertainment News | 19 Dec 2009 | 9:54 am Trinity College confers honorary fellowship on Rahman - IBNLive.com
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 19 Dec 2009 | 9:33 am Live Chat: Sharman Joshi on Dec 21 at 1600 Hrs IST
He's among the most talented actors in B-Town today. Suave and understated, he's displayed his impeccable comic timing in films like Golmaal and Style and restrained and matured performances in Rang De Basanti and Life... In a Metro.
The one to always have a surprise up his sleeve, Sharman Joshi is raring to go with his upcoming film 3 Idiots. The dude will be on Bollywood Hungama's Celebrity Chat on Dec 21 at 1600 Hrs IST.
Don't miss it!Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 19 Dec 2009 | 9:27 am Steven Spielberg takes on World War-I drama
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 19 Dec 2009 | 9:00 am Keira fails to impress with her debut
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 19 Dec 2009 | 8:54 am Looking forward to more reality shows: Aditi Govitrikar
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 19 Dec 2009 | 8:29 am Hugh Grant blames self for bachelorhood
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 19 Dec 2009 | 8:13 am Theron launches footwear range for charity
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 19 Dec 2009 | 8:09 am "It takes a year for people to compliment my music" - Shantanu Moitra
He is a great music lover, loves mountain climbing and follows astronomy religiously. He describes 3 Idiots as a wild film. Then goes on to say, "Music isn't something that I do full time." He is a music director who is worshipped by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and his team and has scored an extraordinary influence over the rest of the cast and crew of every film he has worked on. He has craft and technique, but for Shantanu, the moments of inspiration is what counts and makes a great composer. After chatting with him over the phone,
one finds out that he's a good collaborator too - which means he's cantankerous and opinionated. He likes to compose from a point of view, and that for him is the most important thing to have. In an exclusive chat with UK's Harrow Observer columnist and Bollywood Hungama's London correspondent, Shantanu Moitra bares it all on why he is only restricted to Vidhu Vinod Chopra's films, why song promos are vital for any film promotion, why are we as a nation inclined more towards film music, the importance of English tracks in Indian films and the mixed response he has been getting for 3 Idiots music.
All is well Shantanu?
Oh yes, all is well (laughs)
It seems that not only actors, but even the music directors have formed a fixed group of directors with whom they'd like to work with.
Well, it's how the civilization works. If you look at the pattern of people, you'll observe that they like to work with like minded people from whom you'll get the support and motivation. In my case, I have so many other interests like mountain climbing, astronomy, etc that music is not something that I do full time. I do it when I feel like doing it.
Music is not something that I do full time. I do it when I feel like doing it.
How different can you be while working with people whom you know?
The human species is far too complex. They do things that are told to them, they do things that they feel like doing, etc. My whole objective is doing things that I want to do, create a piece of melody which I like, melody that goes with the film and the melody which the people like.
What sort of commitment and creativity do Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Aamir Khan bring in while the music is being worked on?
Aamir Khan was not even signed for the film while the music was being made. How Rajkumar Hirani work is different. He first writes the film and then immediately the song department kicks off. Raju works on the song to set up his mood to write better. That's how it is. More importantly, both Vidhuji and Aamir are tough task masters. But I'm sure about one thing, the recruitments from this college will be very good.
More than the dialogue promos, we Indians give a lot of significance to song promos. What's your take?
As a nation, we give a lot of significance to our culture, which includes weddings, etc. Music is a part of our culture and not films. Music is an instant catch on. Lage Raho Munnabhai had some great dialogues, so that was used to promote the film and not its music. Here in 3 Idiots, personally speaking, the song 'All Izz Well' has both dialogues and a song fused in one. That's the power of music. It can do wonders to the dialogue too.
Both Vidhuji and Aamir are tough task masters
Do you compose a track first or wait for the lyrics to be written?
In 'All Izz Well', I had composed the first five to six lines and Swanand was writing on it. Suddenly he came up with a line which was, 'Scholarship ki pi gaya daaru, Gham to phir bhi mitta nahin, agarbattiya raakh ho gayi, God toh phir bhi dikha nahin'. Now this wasn't fitting into the structure of my tune. At the same time, the lyrics were so damn impressive, that I decided to
incorporate this line somewhere. I did, and that is a beauty of knowing that you don't know what comes first. Like all great songs, it is a combination of both - its melody and writing that happens simultaneously.
Aamir asked me and Swanand if our parents would want to inaugurate the album
If we consider our music to be the world's best, why do we see ourselves restricted to films alone?
I generally feel that a general perception of an individual towards music cannot be cinema music. There has to be other forms of music too which needs to be promoted and needs to be flourished. I think the unique thing about it is that as a nation, we haven't been able to express our individuality through a lot of things. But in Bollywood and through Indian cinema, we've been able to say a lot of things. It's our own formula which works here and the world over.
Now that we are experimenting with our films and making cinema like Wake Up Sid, Rocket Singh, Kaminey, etc., do you think there is space to play around with a bit of English soundtrack in Hindi films too?
Absolutely yes. I write for the national and regional forum boards as a Bengali and also for the fact that Bengali films are too popular. You won't believe, the amount of English tracks I've heard is plentiful. People are composing them and singing them. It's just that, as the stakes go higher, the risk climbs too. English tracks will never be predominant in a Hindi film unless the film is bilingual in nature.
Raju Hirani himself doesn't know what a genius he is
People who've seen the film are coming out with mixed response about the music. What's the feedback you've been getting?
Yes, I am getting mixed responses about the music. Some are liking it and some aren't. The great part is that when I was doing Parineeta, I was told that it's not as good as Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, when I was doing Munnabhai, I was told it doesn't sound as good as Parineeta and when I was doing 3 Idiots, I am told that it isn't so good as Lage Raho Munnabhai. It takes a year for the people to compliment the work that I've done.
Any incident which has left a mark on you while working with Aamir Khan?
I remember one such incident. It is more personal though. When the music of 3 Idiots was suppose to release, Aamir asked me and Swanand if our parents would want to inaugurate the album. My parents were in Delhi then and my mother has just met with a small accident. I thought that the whole act of getting them to Mumbai and all would be a tough task. But Aamir then told me, 'We get very few situations in life where we can include our parents in our professional joy. This is one such moment
where you can.' For my parents, it was the proudest moment, standing next to Aamir Khan. I could see the joy on their faces.
Describe Raj Kumar Hirani please
You see, he himself doesn't know what a genius he is. That's a revelation.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 19 Dec 2009 | 8:04 am Cine Music Association pledges to solve the 'multiple music director problem'
In what could be seen as a radical step ahead for music composers plagued by the presence of outside composers in their albums, the Cine Music Association on Thursday evening agreed to take steps to stop producers from bringing in outside composers in a soundtrack.
While in the past such intervention was unheard-of in recent times the presence of two and three composers in one film soundtrack has become prevalent.
Pritam Chakraborty who attended the meeting said, "I've been both the aggrieved and aggrieving party. I've found composers being brought into my album without my consent. At the same time, I've also been unconsciously composing extra songs for movies without knowing I'm impinging on a colleague's territory. This has to stop. All of us music directors have to stop accepting songs for soundtracks when another composer has been officially signed to do the while album."
The historic meeting on Thursday afternoon was attended by composers Pritam, Anu Malik, Vishal Bhardwaj and Sulaiman.
Wondered Pritam, "Where were the other music directors? The problem is we never have unity within the music ranks. That's why we can never fight problems like piracy and multiple composers in a soundtrack," says Pritam.
Elaborating on the menace of several music directors doing one soundtrack Pritam said, "Earlier can you imagine a producer bringing Laxmikant-Pyarelal to do one track in an R D Burman score? Or Naushad Saab allowing Madan Mohan Saab to do a few songs? It's because we music directors are looking for quick success that such things happen."Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 19 Dec 2009 | 7:13 am "3 Idiots is based on '5 Point Someone' but don't expect to see what you read in the book" - ...
There is no doubt that Sharman
Joshi is among the most talented actors of our industry. Be it his impeccable comic timing in films like Golmaal and Style or his restrained and matured
performance in multi-starrers like Rang De Basanti and Life... In a Metro, Sharman has proved it each and every time. Now Sharman is all set with his big
Christmas release - 3 Idiots where he once again re-unites with his RDB co-stars Aamir
Khan and R. Madhavan. In this free-wheeling chat, Sharman talks about his experience of working on 3 Idiots, his forthcoming projects and of course that
unforgettable meeting with Rajkumar Hirani in the toilet of a suburban multiplex.
You return to the big screen after more than a year with 3 Idiots. Are you going the Aamir Khan way of doing only one film a year?
(laughs) No... not really. I've finished work on a couple of films- Toh Baat Pakki and Allah Ke
Banday. These films were supposed to release few months earlier than 3 Idiots but the multiplex strike kind of rescheduled the release dates and hence by
default 3 Idiots is my only release this year.
How does it feel being a part of the most anticipated film of the year?
It's an honour to be part of this film. I feel lucky and completely blessed. It's a special film that comes your way once in a while. Being a part of a film made under Vidhu
Vinod Chopra's banner, directed by Raju Hirani and starring Aamir Khan is a dream come true for any actor and I am fortunate that I could fulfill this dream.
Being a part of a film made under Vidhu Vinod Chopra's banner, directed by Raju Hirani and starring Aamir Khan is a
dream come true for any actor and I am fortunate that I could fulfill this dream.
First things first, how did you bag the film?
It's a very interesting story how I bagged the film. I was watching a film at a multiplex when I bumped into Raju Hirani in the toilet. He was there to check the first promo of
Munnabhai Chale America. Surprisingly, he knew me and we exchanged pleasantries. He said he had something in mind for me and that was that. He got busy
scripting the film and I didn't hear from him for quite a while. After many days, I again bumped into him again in the toilet of the same multiplex and both of us realized that
this does seem like some karmic connection. He told me he was still busy writing the script and would get back to me when done. Many days later, he called me for a
narration and the rest as they say is history.
Could you elaborate on what 3 Idiots is all about?
3 Idiots is a comic drama. It's a story of these 3 friends who
meet at an engineering college. It does talk about the education system but it also talks about following your heart, chasing excellence and a lot of such things. It throws
light on the choices we all make in the course of personal and professional career. Working on this film has enriched me as a person. It has re-affirmed my beliefs in myself.
I hope people feel the same way when they watch the film.
When 3 Idiots was initially announced, it was talked about as a film based on Chetan Bhagat's 'Five Point Someone'. However now the makers seem to be
saying that it's completely different from the book. Could you please clarify if it's based on the book.
Yes... 3 Idiots is based on Chetan Bhagat's novel 'Five Point Someone'. In fact he has been credited for that in the film. The book inspired Raju to make the film. But
Chetan Bhagat was not involved with the screenplay of the film. The screenplay has been written entirely by Raju Hirani and Abhijat Joshi and they have changed it quite a
lot from the book. So people shouldn't expect to see the same things that they have read in 'Five Point Someone' else they'll be disappointed.
3 Idiots is based on Chetan Bhagat's novel 5 Point Someone. In fact he has been credited for that in the film.
Aamir's character Rancho is already been talked about a lot. Could you tell us a little about your character?
My character's name is Raju Rastogi. He comes from a very simple, ordinary family but is a brilliant kid academically. His father is a postman. Since his family is not really
well-to-do they have a lot of expectations from him to relieve them of their poverty by getting a good degree and a good job. This kind of family pressure prevents my
character from living life to the fullest.
3 Idiots gave you a chance to re-unite with your RDB co-stars Aamir and Maddy. So how was the experience this time around?
Truly special... it's been a complete riot. We've just continued the party further from the sets of RDB to the sets of 3 Idiots. Since we shared such a special
bond during RDB there was no question of getting to know each other this time around. We boys had a blast together playing games, chatting about life, films, taking late
night walks, partying till late.
We boys had a blast together playing games, chatting about life, films, taking late night walks, partying till late.
Describe some idiotic things that you guys did on the sets / during the filming.
The one idiotic moment I can remember is when we were shooting the ragging sequence. Both Maddy and I had to take off our pants and were only in our underwear.
Unfortunately for us, our set was put up right next to the girl's hostel. While we thought the girls wouldn't come near the shooting area, we were shocked to see them
enjoying looking at us in our bare minimum. It was really quite an embarrassing yet idiotic moment.
The film has been shot amongst other places at the prestigious IIM-B campus. Talk us through your experience of shooting there.
It was a completely different experience shooting at IIM-B campus. The campus is a beautiful quiet place that is located far away from the city. It's a different world out there.
It was so peaceful out there, a truly rejuvenating experience. After many years I finally slept for 12 hours at a stretch one day. The campus had many facilities such as a
badminton court, tennis court, basketball court, And since all of us are pretty much into sports we had a blast playing all these sports with the students. We got a chance to
completely live it up. Moreover, hanging out with the students and listening to their experiences in campus made us feel a lot younger which helped us in getting into the
skin of the character.
It was a completely different experience shooting at IIM-B campus. The campus is a beautiful quiet place that is located
far away from the city. It's a different world out there.
How has been the experience working with Rajkumar Hirani, one of the most respected filmmakers of our country?
Raju Hirani is a special person. What can I say about him that has already not been said? The whole world has seen his talent as a director. In spite of achieving so much
success, he is still incredibly humble and down to earth as a person. He has a completely democratic way of operating on the sets. He is always open for suggestions from
anybody connected with the film and gives a patient hearing if you have a valid point. That is a quality which very few filmmakers possess.
The music of the film is slowly picking up. What do you feel about the music of the film and which is your favorite track?
The songs of the film are such that they will grow on you more after you have watched the film. I like 'Aal Izz Well', 'Give Me Some Sunshine' and 'Jaane
Nahin Denge Tujhe'
You have even sung a few lines in a song 'Give Me Some Sunshine'...how did that happen?
Mr.Vinod Chopra is someone who is very actively involved even with the music of his film. He called me one day and told me that he wanted me to say a few lines in one of
the songs. I was more than happy to do whatever I could for the betterment of the film so I went to the recording studio and said those lines.
All 3 of you have been given distinct looks... you seem to be seen mostly in kurtas... could you tell us a bit about your look and styling in the film?
Generally one associates a kurta with someone who is from a humble background and since my character is not so well to do in the film, the stylists thought it would be
best to dress me in a kurta. The credit for the look goes to both the director and the stylist who have done a fabulous job.
Mr.Vinod Chopra called me one day and told me that he wanted me to say a few lines in one of the songs. I was more
than happy to do it
Coming to your career, the general perception is that Sharman is a bundle of talent but is among the most underrated actors today. Some even feel that you are very
laidback and have not capitalized on the success of films like RDB or Golmaal... what do you have to say about that?
No... that is not true. I am not at all laidback. In fact I am a bundle of nerves. I have been constantly reading scripts but unless there is something very exciting I don't feel
like taking it up. I am extremely keen to do every good work, am willing to go that extra mile to achieve what I want to in my career. As far as not capitalizing on the success
of Golmaal and RDB is concerned, I feel it was too early in my career to go tom-tomming about the fact that I was a part of those films. It was just the
beginning of my career. I would rather let my work do all the talking.
Finally, could you tell us what's next after 3 Idiots?
After 3 Idiots, there is Toh Baat Pakki produced by Ramesh Taurani and directed by debutant Kedar Shinde. The film stars Tabu, Vatsal Sheth and Uvika. It's
a complete entertainer and should be out early next year. There is Allah Ke Banday after that, again directed by a first time director Farooque Kabir. It's a redemption
drama about boys from the slums and stars Naseeruddin Shah, Atul Kulkarni and Anjana Sukhani.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 19 Dec 2009 | 6:35 am Marketing of 3 Idiots in final lap - Indiantelevision.com
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 19 Dec 2009 | 6:17 am MNIK: SRK-Kajol's best love story till date! - GlamSham
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 19 Dec 2009 | 6:13 am Top 10 Hollywood movies India fell forSome of the Hollywood offerings that set the cash registers ringing at the box office in India were "Slumdog Millionaire", "2012" and "Terminator Salvation".Source: Entertainment News | 19 Dec 2009 | 6:07 am `Avatar` simply leaves you spellbound! !James Cameron`s `Avatar` is a must watch for sci-fi lovers.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 19 Dec 2009 | 5:27 am Sushmita Sen adopts another girl
The grape vine was rife with speculation that Sushmita Sen had or rather would be adopting her second child. However, with no confirmation from any front, these pieces of drift news faded into oblivion.
However, last night at the press conference held for her upcoming film Dulha Mil Gaya, Sush confirmed that she has adopted another baby girl on November 19 this year, which also happens to be the actress' birthday. The doting mother has since christened the 3-month-old girl as Alisha.
With this, Sushmita has definitely put to rest all those prying questions and the rumour mills.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 19 Dec 2009 | 2:58 am French maestro tells 'West Side Story' - hiphop wayFrench dance maestro Mourad Merzouki is in India to tell a story about urban blues in his new choreography "Wasteland" - with a fusion of flamenco, circus acrobatics and free style hiphop, the street dance of America.Source: Entertainment News | 19 Dec 2009 | 2:47 am Ram Gopal Varma's Rann moved ahead for Salman's Veer
This Republic Day audiences were all set to be treated to two big-budget films featuring the mega-stars Amitabh Bachchan and Salman Khan, respectively. Ram Gopal Varma's Rann and Anil Sharma's Veer were scheduled for release on 22 January.
But now comes the news that Ram Gopal Varma's Rann has dropped out of the race.
Apparently, Anil Sharma called up the Rann co-producer Sheetal Talwar explaining why and how a clash between the two films must be averted.
Says Talwar, "I saw reason in what Anil Sharma said. There's no sense in creating a no-win situation for two films. See, when Gadar and Lagaan came together, things were different. But now audiences are in no mood to buy tickets for two big films in the same week."
It was supposed to be a clash of patriotic passion somewhat like Anil Sharma's Gadar and Ashutosh Gowariker's Lagaan which were released on June 15, 2001. Both proved to be historic blockbusters.
Both in their own ways were highly patriotic films.
Veer, like Anil Sharma's Gadar, is set in Colonial India. Sharma with considerable creative assistance from his leading man Salman Khan has created what he thinks is patriotic period film.
Varma's Rann set in the modern world of media manipulation was perceived by its makers as a comment on our times and hence patriotic.
The people behind both films were adamant on a Jan 22 release. But now Talwar says, "There's no point in creating an ego issue by insisting we release Rann on the same day as Veer. One or the other film is bound to suffer at the box-office. Why not release a week later when we get a relatively free Friday?"Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 19 Dec 2009 | 2:21 am
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