Ghai introduces Student films at Cannes
At the press meet, Subhash Ghai expressed his confidence to media that though India has not had a strong presence at Cannes so far in terms of participation in the competition section, Cannes will soon see great films from India. The youth today are getting more educated about World Cinema and are preparing themselves for International competition by getting professional training for a long term career in schools like Whistling Woods International (WWI).
Mr. Jerome Paillard, Exec. Director of the Cannes festival expressed that Indian filmmakers will shine in the coming years. Christian Jeune, Director of Film Department and Deputy Director Delegate of the Cannes festival, welcomed the constant endeavors by Indian film makers and Assocham to bring Indian cinema to the rest of the world.
Nine short films made by the first graduating batch of Directors from WWI are being showcased at the Short Film Corner this year and some of the broadcasters have already shown their interest in acquiring few films out of these.
Abhishek wins 'Best Brand Ambassador of the Year' award
Abhishek Bachchan, was announced the winner of the 'Best Brand Ambassador of the Year' Award at the NDTV Techlife Awards 2009 held yesterday. Nominations were called from all brands across various categories like Mobile phone of the year, Gadget Eye candy award for the best style and design and Best Celebrity Endorsement - Brand Ambassador of the year, among others. The awards acknowledge lifestyle products, gadgets and best technologies that have made a difference in India today and change the world.
On winning the award, Abhishek Bachchan commented, ''It is a great honour to win the title of 'Best Brand Ambassador' for the IDEA and Motorola campaigns. The IDEA campaign carries a socially relevant message in today's commercial environment and the brilliant concept of encouraging two way communications between the government and people has connected with millions across India''.
He further added, ''I feel proud to be associated with the best brands in the gadgets and technology space''.
Bloggers are like my extended family: Amitabh Bachchan
He calls them his extended family, shares his day-to-day life with them and is now looking forward to see the faces of those who regularly visit his blog. Superstar Amitabh Bachchan, who completed a year of blogging April 17, doesn't want to tag his online friends who enrich his life as 'faceless'.
' 'Faceless' is a harsh term. I refer to them as my 'extended family'. They confide in me. They show affection and concern. They get upset at times and reprimand me... they miss me when I am not there on time. Are not all these wonderfully domesticated attributes?
'And now Big Adda (the website that hosts his blog) is developing software and my readers will be able to put up their photographs on the blog against their name. So they shall no longer be 'faceless',' the Big B told IANS in an interview.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q: Blogging seems to have become a leading interest in your life. When and how did you develop an interest in it?
A: It is not a leading interest, but I can safely say blogging seeks my involvement every day. I had heard of the concept but had no idea what it was and what it entailed. I heard of Aamir (Khan) having one and during a discussion with Big Adda (team), who were designing my website, I enquired about it. They happily put the whole concept together - within days trained me on some essentials ... and I made a soft beginning. It has been most enlightening since.
Q: Did it occur to you that you may not have the time to pursue blogging seriously?
A: No. That didn't bother me. What worried me was my absence from it, once having started it... To me, it is a wonderful medium to be able to connect with my fans and well-wishers.
Q: What is it about blogging that you like best?
A: The ability to convey individually and personally my feelings to the reader, secure in the thought that it shall reach them without any corruption.
Q: You are an extremely private person. And yet you seem happy sharing your day-to-day activities with your bloggers' community. How and why did that happen?
A: I think this is a completely erroneous notion in the minds of those that form opinions on me. Every day of my life for the last 40 years I have been going in front of the camera and exposing every possible emotion or attitude that I possess. Actors are indeed as transparent as they can possibly be when in front of the lens. You come to know how they speak, how they laugh, how they cry, how they dance and run and emote and.... What more would you want to know about them to declassify them from privacy?
Q: How close do you feel to these faceless friends who visit you regularly on the blog?
A: 'Faceless' is a harsh term. I refer to them as my 'extended family'. They confide in me. They show affection and concern. They get upset at times and reprimand me. They share their dreams and ambitions with me... they miss me when I am not there on time. Are not all these wonderfully domesticated attributes? And now Big Adda is developing software and my readers will be able to put up their photographs on the blog against their names. So they shall no longer be 'faceless'.
Q: You've certainly enriched their lives by your presence. How have your blogging buddies enriched your life?
A: Brilliant question! And one that I am so happy to answer. They enrich my life by their honesty and frankness. By pulling me out of my closet at times and showing me a mirror. By critically analysing events and moments. By educating me on my faults.
Q: How much time do you devote to blogging? Is it now a mandatory part of your daily life?
A: I blog whenever I get the time. Sometimes I convey rapidly, most of the time not. But I do convey every day...And may I have the strength to continue in this fashion.
Q: Do you feel liberated of the need to put your thoughts and voice across on the media?
A: Yes, I do. Liberated to give my expression as opposed to that which is perceived. Liberated to contradict a mischievous accusation. Liberated to be able to inform in the correctness of things... Liberated to share a private moment with those that understand and show sympathy... And finally, liberated to stand up to 'wretched' puerile kindergarten rhymed opinion makers and be able to exercise the constitutional right of every living Indian; the freedom of my expression.
Q: Finally, has blogging freed you of the inhibitions regarding your privacy? Are you now more inclined to write an autobiography?
A: I'm incapable of writing an autobiography.
Is Dhoni ignoring Big B?
In between casting his vote and his regular hospital visits for check-ups, superstar Amitabh Bachchan
makes sure that he doesn't miss out on the IPL matches.
In his recent blog he writes, "The IPL was interesting. Some predictable results, others not so. It is warming up in South Africa for the semi final positionings and the coming days shall see heart stopping action and play."
But there is something about cricket that is troubling him these days and it's not the Mumbai Indians' loss to Rajasthan Royals. In fact, Big B seemed upset with the Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
He writes, "I complained to John about Mahi (MS Dhoni) not responding to the message of greeting I had sent him on his decoration of the Padma Shri. He said he shall connect me immediately to Dhoni. I stopped him and asked him to look up at the TV - Chennai was playing Royal Rajasthan and Dhoni was very much on the field - IN SOUTH AFRICA."
"I had wished Harbhajan too on his Padma Shri and we had spoken to each other about my message to Mahi. He had even graciously passed on my greetings to him. But still no response. Must have been busy. John has given me his mobile number now and said he shall have a word with him on this. No sweat. So long as Dhoni keeps whacking the hell out of the opposition, I am fine," he added.
Amitabh Bachchan turns Stylist!
Amitabh Bachchan has always been a trend-setter, but this time he goes a step further by adding a personal touch to his character.
While planning a shoot for a special number for his forthcoming film ALADIN, directed by Sujoy Ghosh, Mr. Bachchan suggested doing his own styling for the song's picturisation.
Apparently Mr. Bachchan was extremely excited about the groovy track picturised on himself and Riteish Deshmukh and while planning the shoot for the peppy number, expressed his desire to contribute to the song in his very own way: by choosing his own outfit for it!
Of course, the director willingly agreed and Mr. Bachchan went on to chose a deep red velvet jacket which added that extra touch of grandeur to his already larger-than-life persona in the film.
Now that's what we call flaunting your style with panache!
About ALADIN
Produced by Eros International and Boundscript, ALADIN is a contemporary look at the classic fairy tale. Packed with fun, music, masti, action and adventure ALADIN boasts of a visual scale never seen before on Indian screen and arrives in theatres on 24th July.
The film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Riteish Deshmukh and introduces Jacqueline Fernandez.
It's ALADIN, not ALLADIN or ALADDIN
There is not a single soul out there who hasn't heard of the Arab folktale of Aladdin and the magic lamp. And while the character is indeed known as 'Aladdin' worldwide, Sujoy Ghosh's take on it is a little different. He is calling his central protagonist as 'Aladin' (with one 'd' less) and this is something that reflects in the title of his namesake film as well.
Says a source close to Sujoy, ''Earlier there were different titles for the film which were making the rounds. They went like ALLADIN and even ALADIN AND THE MYSTERY OF THE LAMP. However, now it is plain and simple ALADIN.''
Sujoy Ghosh too confirms, ''Yes, now it is ALADIN for sure. Period.''
Hopefully this should put a full stop to all speculations and misgivings about the title of this multi-crore film which is all set to arrive late summer provided producers v/s multiplexes stand off is resolved soon. The film has been in news for long since it has taken a four year long journey ever since first steps were taken for the pre-production of the film. Ever since then a fortune has been spent on this film which has required a year being spent on scripting, a year and a half into pre-production, 149 days of shoot and then a year on post-production.
Starring Amitabh Bachchan as Genius - The Genie, Ritiesh Deshmukh as Aladin and Sanjay Dutt as a cool villain, ALADIN also marks the debut of Sri Lankan beauty Jacqueline Fernandes who is paired opposite Ritiesh. With music by Vishal and Shekhar, ALADIN is produced by Eros International in association with Sujoy Ghosh's production company Boundscript.
“Wonder Why He’s Doing It…Ben Kingsley Has A Small Cameo”
Why is Sir Ben Kingsley who not so long ago swept the world, critics and the Oscars by playing Gandhi, ready and willing to do a 5-day cameo in an out-and-out Amitabh Bachchan film?
The announcement that Ben Kingsley would be working with the Big B in Leena Yadav’s Teen Patti comes as a shock. According to insiders the film was complete many months ago…but for five days of work with a Caucasian actor .
Says a leading member of the unit, “It was a bit tricky and complicated. Getting a white-skinned actor at the last stage of the film wasn’t easy. Everyone knew the film was almost complete. So approaching a big name appeared absurd. Websites and newspapers weren’t making it easier for us by telling the world that we've cast Pierce Brosnon or Richard Gere in the role. Where did they come in? We didn’t even start casting until our producer returned from her honeymoon a few months ago.”
Ben Kingsley it seems was keen for a long time to be part of an Indian project. While shooting in Tunisia with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan for The Last Legion he had offered to do Taj Mahal with her featuring them as Shah Jehan and Mumtaz Mahal.
But recession killed that project. And Kingsley’s keenness to be associated with a completely Indian project remained unfulfilled.
Until now…. And never mind if in the words of a crew member, “It’s a role that any actor can do.”
If the mighty Sylvester Stallone can be seen lending support to Akshay Kumar, why not Ben Kingsley in a cameo for an Amitabh Bachchan starrer?
Abhi-Ash go 'Crooked'
Real-life couple Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, who are busy wrapping up Mani Ratnam's 'Raavan', have now also teamed up for slick espionage film 'Crooked'. Text courtesy: IANS
They are carrying on with the trend set by them and another real-life pair, Saif Ali khan and Kareena Kapoor, who are playing spies in Sriram Raghavan's 'Agent Vinod'.
'Our slick espionage thriller will be in the same genre as 'The Bourne Identity'. It will be shot in Greece, Istanbul, Thailand and India,' said Ritesh Sidhwani, the producer of 'Crooked'.
Gul Panag and Jimmy Shergil along with Boman Irani, who has just wrapped up Shyam Benegal's latest, will also be playing key roles in the film.
'The English-language title will most probably change,' says Sidhwani, who's working with the entire cast, barring Boman, for the first time.
The film will be directed by Abhinay Deo who is currently in the process of wrapping up Aamir Khan Productions' 'Delhi Belly' with Imran Khan and Shernaz Treasuryvala in the cast.
What If....!
Wednesday Apr 8 10:30 AM
Enkayaar, Bollywood Trade News Network
In LUCK BY CHANCE after the character of Farhan Akhtar becomes successful, and a party is thrown to welcome the new star in the industry, Karan Johar had delivered a very succinct dialogue that was symptomatic of the state of afairs of the industry. He had pointed out to Hrithik Roshan that it is in the situations where the established stars refuse to work outside there images that an opportunity is created for a new face to be launched in the industry, and this indeed is a real moment of disruption for the industry.
As a matter of fact these moments of disruption that has created new stars in the industry that have launched themselves into the dizzying heights of new success. It also needs to be underlined that till the time the movies where made in the black and white era, there were various kind of opportunities presented to the new faces, but it was reduced into a trickle subsequently.
Had not Dev Anand refused to give dates to Prakash Mehra for ZANZEER an Amitabh Bachchan would not have been launched, and it is really difficult to conceptualize the existence of Hindi film industry without an Amitabh Bachchan. In the same manner when Ramesh Sippy was doing the casting for SHOLAY he wanted Danny to play the part of Gabbar Singh, but on his refusals it went to Amjad Khan, and he still is one of the most dreaded faces that have ever been launched on the silver screen.
It is also one of the underlining features that the personalities which were instrumental in creating these moments of disruption could not do the encore. A Prakash Mehra could not create an Amitabh Bachchan once again when he had fallen out with AB in between, though he tried it with Shatrughan Sinha in JWALAMUKHI. In the similar manner a Ramesh Sippy could not create another Amjad Khan though he tried the same with Kulbhushan Kharbanda in SHAAN.
The film industry also would not have been blessed with a director Rakesh Roshan had somebody else decided to direct KHUDGARZ, which ultimately Rakesh Roshan decided to direct and he is one of the hotshot directors in the film industry. It is also interesting to note that of all the people Piyush Mishra was offered the role of Salman Khan in MAINE PYAAR KIYA, but he refused the same, and a Salman Khan was created. Imagine Hindi cinema without Salman Khan, had Piyush Mishra accepted the offer of Sooraj Barjatya.
There are scores of What If... moments present in the industry, and they go on to underline the fact that talent may take some time to find expression, but the window is opened to it in the form of LUCK BY CHANCE, and this is what still entices scores to come in droves to Mumbai. Mumbai still is on a slope, where people with aspirations glide and land, may be in most of the case they land on their head, but when they stand on their feet, the world is their oyster.
"Aishwarya makes us proud" - Amithabh
Last year it was dhak dhak girl Madhuri Dixit-Nene who received the prestigious award Padma Shri from the President of India and now this time around it's the world's most beautiful lady Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who has been honoured with this award.
Amitabh Bachchan who feels extremely proud of his bahu Aishwarya said, "I would rush to be in time for the President's Award Ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where Aishwarya will be honoured with the Padma Shri. It's a moment of great pride for all of us."
Further the legendry actor adds, "She will become the 5th Padma Award recipient in our family. First my father was awarded with the Padma Bhushan, then the Padma Shri for me, followed again by the Padma Bhushan to me some years later, Jaya's Padma Shri and now Aishwarya's. This must be a record for the country. 5 Padma Awards in one family. God has been very kind to us. The people of this land have been very kind to us. We are humbled and with bended knee and bowed heads acknowledge your affection and care and love."
Further the legendry actor adds, "she will become the 5th Padma Award recipient in our family. First my father was awarded with the Padma Bhushan, then the Padma Shri for me, followed again by the Padma Bhushan to me some years later, Jaya's Padma Shri and now Aishwarya's. This must be a record for the country. 5 Padma Awards in one family. God has been very kind to us. The people of this land have been very kind to us. We are humbled and with bended knee and bowed heads acknowledge your affection and care and love."
