All bollywood news and events are available here.......
Producer of Wanted, Boney Kapoor has hit out are rumors that Salman had cancelled his New York trip after SRK got detained at US airport this month.
Boney Kapoor says, “This is completely false. Not going to New York was a decision taken by the producers and Salman didn’t even know about it. He is unnecessarily being dragged into all this. We refused to go to the US because the proposal offered to us for the event there was not acceptable to us. That’s it.”
“News reports said that Salman was to be in New York Sep 3. That is also completely untrue.”
Salman is awaiting the release of his flick Wanted, which will hit the theatres on September 18th.
Akshay Kumar’s son Aarav is quite excited about his dad’s upcoming flick Blue, where Akki plays a champion swimmer who is always underwater hunting for treasure.
A source says, “Akshay knows Aarav will be kicked by the idea of his dad playing a champion swimmer and that too named Aarav after his son. In Aarav’s eyes, Akshay is the true hero. To watch his dad play a man of dubious morals and grey aspirations would be a new experience for Aarav.”
Director of Blue, Anthony talking about Akki’s screen name in Blue says, “It’s true, Akshay plays a man who thinks getting what he wants is more important than how you get there. I wrote the character for Akshay. He was to be called Akshay Malhotra. But then when I saw that Akshay had tattooed his son’s name on his back I decided to change the character’s name to Aarav.”
Akshay Kumar’s last negative role was in Khiladi 420.
While most B-wood actress flaunt their uber-cool phones, Kareena Kapoor prefers something simpler and private for herself.
Kareena says, “I don’t want everyone to ping me constantly.I love my friends, I love spending quality time with them.However there are times when I like to switch off completely. I don’t want to share every moment of mine.”
We saw Shahrukh Khan's Bollywood video tribute to Michael Jackson on Saturday. Michael Jackson was a major influence on Bollywood stars. Everyone sings "he was the sound of our music and our lives" in the tribute. While everyone is affected by the loss of MJ, I also think they are identifying with the pressures of the entertainment industry.
The pressures of the entertainment industry are never ending. So what do you do about it? Sonu Niigaam had some smart riffs on the music industry and its conventional dogmatism. I think Sonu has it right, go outside the industry to talk directly with fans through new media like Facebook. Sonu said he has hopes to build an independent music industry through new methods like the one he used to create his MJ tribute.
Bollywood stars face a lot of pressure and that's not going to change. But we're seeing stars take the lead on new methods and creating new expectations. I like this a lot better than some of the typical complaints we hear.
Even the pressure for women to be thin in Bollywood is changed. While of course Rani Mukherji had to be thin for her comeback, even dropping to 108 pounds, she did it through yoga instead of some diet frenzy. Of course, it could have included both, who knows. Still!
My point is, that Bollywood stars came together to reflect on one icon and his life within the industry. What they are also doing is changing their expectations of the industry! Instead of feeling the pressure, they're creating new ways to connect with their fans and hold their own amidst all the pressure. I like the new lead some of Bollywood is taking!
While Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif wait for their upcoming releases "Wake Up Sid" and "Blue," their first film together has already finished shooting and is set to be released in November. "Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani" is a romantic comedy directed by Rajkumar Santoshi. He is most famous for the action dramas "Khakee" and "Halla Bol," and now he's giving the romantic genre a try! Check out the movie posters below and tell us if this is likely to become a great love flick.
Just a couple of days ago, the city of Mumbai came to a standstill and it was all because of one actor, Fardeen Khan.
But it all turned out well because it was for a good cause! Some citizens who were there said that Fardeen was at the signal when he saw a feeble, old lady trying hard to cross the road with her walker to reach a temple.
Fardeen was kind enough to get out of his car to help the lady cross the street and walked her to the temple. What a noble deed! At least we can't blame the actor for stopping traffic anymore, can we? A big thumbs up for Fardeen doing a great job and keeping the city safe for its citizens.
Do you think Fardeen Khan was right in stopping traffic to help an old lady get to a temple? Drop off your comments.
Oh my, the fight between two of Bollywood’s biggest Khans is not likely to come to an end anytime soon!
During the shooting of a Bollywood show, Salman Khan stunned journalists by lashing out at his former friend Shahrukh Khan, calling him "insecure."
"What Shah Rukh does or says is not of the least interest to me but he is one of the most insecure actors. If he could get rid of that he would actually be a nice fellow," said the star of the 2007 blockbuster "Partner."
Well that comment is sure not going to improve the two Khans’ relationship that completely deteriorated at Katrina Kaif’s birthday party last year.
We smell trouble! What do you think SRK’s response to Salman Khan’s attack will be? Drop us a comment.
Is Shilpa Shetty getting hitched to Raj Kundra this autumn? Really? Well, not so fast!
The rumors started when Shilpa’s father, Surendra Shetty, applied to an Indian court to have his passport returned so that he would be able to travel abroad in the near future. Shilpa’s dad has not been able to leave India since his passport was taken away after charges he threatened a business associate regarding a deal with his famous daughter. According to the passport application, the wedding between the Bollywood beauty and the Britain based businessman would take place in the U.K. sometime between September and December this year.
DesiHits! Spoke to Shilpa on her last visit to New York City for the India Day Parade and here’s what she said:
"I'm very much taken! Marriage is on my mind, but not in the cards right now. When the day comes, I will write it in my official blog, that will be a huge announcement for me, it's definitely the next step." So we took to the blog and what did we find? A post entitled "Gettin Married!"
However, the answer wasn’t what you first might think! Here’s what Shilpa Shetty had to say:
"Like I’ve said before I will make an official announcement on this site like I always do, the day my parents decide on my marriage date and I promise the press will have at least a month to celebrate the announcement! So to set the record straight, NO I AM NOT GETTIN MARRIED THIS YEAR, yes I am looking at next year, but date not decided."
The soundtrack album to K Murali Mohan Rao’s new movie ''Daddy Cool'' doesn’t contain many tracks, which is surprising for a comedy! The tunes leave the listener bored and wanting more than just mediocre music.
''Daddy Cool'' has a well known cast that includes Sunil Shetty, Aftab Shivdasani, Aashish Chaudhary, Kim Sharma, Sophie Chaudhary, and Javed Jaffrey. The movie is a Bollywood remake of the British film ''Death at a Funeral'' and it tells the story of a patriarch’s funeral gone horribly wrong. With an adapted story, how does the music make it different from its counterpart?
What We Think:
The soundtrack only has three original tracks and two remixes. Musical whiz-kid Raghav Sachar who gave us hits like ''Kabul Express'' and ''Sunday'' has created a somewhat upbeat track with the title song ''Daddy Cool.''
The soundtrack also introduces new music duo Farhad-Sajid who composed the tunes ''Life Life'' and ''Nasha Nasha.'' Both fail to live up to the mark.
And to fill in the emptiness of the soundtrack, the producers have added two lively tracks, ''Dekho Ye Dekho'' and ''Miss India Mujhpe Marti Hai'' from their last successful release ''Dhamaal.''
But there is still a big void that makes ''Daddy Cool'' a half-baked album.
Best Track: ''Daddy Cool''
The album opens with the title track, an Indianized version of the 1976 hit song "Daddy Cool," interpreted by Raghav Sachar and Paroma P. Dasgupta. While the tune captures the listener's attention, it doesn’t last for long. The song has a flute rendition and sounds similar to Raghav's past track "One Two Three." ''Daddy Cool'' also has a remixed version that might find a place at some DJ’s consoles.
Katrina Kaif and Madhur Bhandarkar were both spotted seeking the blessings of Lord Ganesh last night!
But don’t worry, the two celebs aren’t in any trouble, they were simply participating in the religious festival known as Ganesha Chaturthi that celebrates the elephant headed god Ganesh each year for ten days around August and September.
Madhur Bhandarkar visited Lalbaug Cha Raja temple before joining his family for further festivities.
"I have been a firm believer of Lalbaugcha Raja (another name for Lord Ganesh) and have always had the privilege of holding the arti for the mighty god since the past 4-5 years," said the maker of "Chandni Bar."
Katrina Kaif went to the Girgaum temple, surrounded by hordes of people and fans who had gathered to revere Ganesha but who seemed to be equally drawn to the "Singh is Kinng" star.
What do you think the Bollywood beauty and the famous filmmaker asked the "remover of obstacles" for?
Oh-oh! Bollywood superstar Rani Mukherji is back and looking good!
The actress was once considered the "It" girl in B-town. With films like "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai," and "Black," Rani Mukherji took the industry by storm. Since 2007 however, Miss Mukherji has been in the background while new Bollywood starlets like Deepika Padukone and Asin have taken over the silver screen. Now Rani is ready to make her comeback! Starring in the upcoming movie "Dil Bole Hadippa!" the actress sure knows how to adapt to stay at the top of her game.
And if you want to be a leading lady in B-town in this day and age, you better have a six- pack to accompany your acting skills! So Rani had to say goodbye to her curves and hello to yoga in order to make a comeback with a splashing new hot body! When she began her workout on April 16th of last year, she weighed 123 lbs. Today she only weighs 108 lbs.
So what are the secrets behind this fitness magic?
Rani Mukherji linked up with yoga expert Payal Gidwani who came up with a routine including simple cardio exercises like walking up and down stairs and a series of yoga poses to help improve her breathing technique.
The results are amazing and Rani Mukherji is ready for her comeback
Mumbai, Aug 26 (IANS) Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra, who made a style statement with her hot pants and halter tops in "Dostana", wasn't allowed to wear a pair of jeans at home.
The 27-year-old actress, who was brought up in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, faced these restrictions at home after returning from the US, where she had gone to do her high school.
"I wasn't allowed to wear short skirts and then my jeans were also confiscated. And my mother got 12 salwar kameez sets made for me so that I wore only those because when I used to go to school, guys used to follow me," Priyanka revealed on Farah Khan's chat show "Tere Mere Beach Mein".
But that phase is over for Priyanka who is counted among the most glamorous actresses in Bollywood today.
One of Akshay's secret plans is to play a super-hero for his son. However, Hrithik Roshan and Shah Rukh Khan have already gotten to the super-hero roles in Krissh and (soon-to-be-shot) Ra.1, respectively. Even Vivek Oberoi is playing a super-hero in Prince, It's Showtime.
The idea is to play the role like never before. And Akshay is working on it. Mainly because Akshay's son Aarav loves him in noble and/or larger-than-life characters. Akshay Kumar's biggest fan is son Aarav who is already an expert swimmer has never been more excited about any of his dad's film as he is about Blue where Akshay spends most of his time underwater looking for a treasure.
His role in Blue has an extra punch…in more ways than one. Akshay plays an out-and-out negative character, greedy ruthless and ready to go to any lengths to get what he wants.
Says the Blue director Anthony D'Souza, "It's true, Akshay plays a man who thinks getting what he wants is more important than how you get there. I wrote the character for Akshay. He was to be called Akshay Malhotra. But then when I saw that Akshay had tattooed his son's name on his back I decided to change the character's name to Aarav
London, Aug 27 (IANS) Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, who became a household name here after her win on the reality show "Celebrity Big Brother" in 2007, is set to marry businessman Raj Kundra this autumn, her father has revealed in an application to an Indian court.
Shilpa and her London-based Indian beau formed a successful business partnership following her appearance on the reality television show. Their business empire includes a $16.2 million (10 million pounds) stake in the Rajasthan Royals Twenty20 cricket team and a recently acquired food company.
Shilpa's father Surendra Shetty revealed the couple's wedding plans in an application for his passport to be returned to allow him to attend the event. It was confiscated after he was charged with threatening a business associate he claimed owed money to his daughter, reported telegraph.co.uk.
In his application, Surendra Shetty told the court the wedding would take place between September and the end of December in Britain.
Toronto, Aug 27 (IANS) Bollywood is set to steal the limelight at the Toronto International Film Festival starting here Sep 10.
For the first time, the world's premier film event will premiere two Bollywood films - "What's Your Raashee?" and "Dil Bole Hadippa".
"You know, last year our audiences launched 'Slumdog Millionaire' that went on to win everything (at the Oscars). And this year, we are thrilled to have two Bollywood movies under big banners making their world premiere," Cameron Bailey, Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) co-director, told IANS in an exclusive interview.
He said: "It is the first time that two Bollywood films are making their world premiere here. We had major Bollywood films in the past, but not for world premiere. We had their special presentation and galas with the stars. Those films had opened just before the Toronto festival and we had their presentation."
An avid fan of Rani, Bailey said: "Rani is terrific. She can go the whole range - from serious dramatic roles to light comedy. Here (in 'Dil Bole Hadippa') she is in the role of a woman who loves cricket but cannot get on the team because she is a woman. It has that Shakespearean conceit when she dresses as a man to get on the team."
Rating Priyanka one of the most versatile actors today, he said: "Priyanka is incredible. In this film ('What's Your Raashee?'), she does 12 roles transforming herself into 12 completely different women. Now that is incredible."
Bollywood Gossip : Ayesha Shroff wife of Jackie Shroff introduced Katrina to the world of Bollywood and now she is revealing startling secrets about the actress.
According to Ayesha Shroff, Katrina had an English surname which was not so easy to pronounce. Her original name is Katrina Turquotte. Katrina had to change her surname so that it could be accepted by the Indian audience. Firstly it was planned that she would be named as Katrina Kazi, but then it was found that Kazi would have religious note along with it. So it was finally Kaif..
Bollywood News : Bollywood Actor Hrithik Roshan appeared recently at an event in a completely different avatar. The actor has grown long hair and beard for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Guzaarish. He plays a paraplegic in …
Gisele gets into a bikini for Vogue
Indian designers Tarun Tahiliani, Suneet Varma, Anamika Khanna and Sabyasachi Mukherjee style the supermodel for the Vogue India issue. (Related News)
Many Americans probably hadn’t heard of Shahrukh Khan until little over a week ago, when the star was detained for two hours at Newark Liberty International Airport.
SRK came to the U.S. to take part in India's Independence Day celebrations. Ironically, he had been in the States several times before to shoot his new movie "My Name is Khan," which is about racial profiling of Muslims after 9/11.
The incident caused quite a stir both in the U.S. and in India. So after a week of controversial comments, celebrity remarks, countless interviews, accusations, and denials, where are we now?
Well, now we are at funny; the issue has become food for comedian Jon Stewart in the popular American "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central. Check out the humorous segment from Wednesday’s show below, in which correspondent Aasif Mandvi, who is an Indian from Tampa, Florida, educates the host, Jon Stewart, on SRK's superstar status in Bollywood.
Do you guys think that Shahrukh Khan's incident is funny? Do you also agree with Jon Stewart that all of this may just be a publicity stunt for his film "My Name is Khan?"
Oh my, is there some healthy competition between Bollywood's royal couple Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya? While we can't confirm that there is, it seems like the public won't stop pitting the two against each other. Although it seems like people can't get enough of what many would call the picture perfect couple, we can't help but notice how easy it is for fans to buzz about who is better at their game. Abhishek and Ash just share too many similarities for the public not to compare! Both of them are renowned in Bollywood, not necessarily for their acting abilities, but for specific factors. Aishwarya is famous for her extraordinary beauty and Abhishek for being the son of the legendary actor, Amitabh Bachchan. They both have starred in hit films and are known for being extremely family oriented.
Although these similarities seem to bring them together, they unfortunately can't stop the public from buzzing about which actor does what better. And now it looks like Ash has given fans more to talk about. Yesterday the actress showed up to the Longines showroom in Mumbai to promote the watch brand. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan elegantly smiled at the camera as paparazzi snapped away at the actress who was donning a Longines watch. While Ash was being admired for her beauty, the crowd was comparing her to her hubby. Why you might ask? Well, Abhishek Bachchan is a well known OMEGA ambassador. From billboard to print adds you see Abhishek all smiles as he sports an OMEGA watch. So of course the question is; who is the better watch ambassador, Abhishek or Aishwarya?
Sonu Niigaam fans that came to see and hear the star in concert on August 18th in Los Angeles were in for a surprise! Michael Jackson's brother, Jermaine Jackson, joined Sonu on stage to thank fans for all their love and support!
"I wanted to tell you, this song has been especially dedicated today to some very special people over here, "started Sonu. But before he could continue the dedication, screaming fans interrupted him with love declarations. The star who recently turned 36 responded: "I love you too, thank you."
"And a very, very big hand to the most momentous person sitting over here that deserves a very big round of applause, from the big legendary family of the Jacksons, Mr. Jermaine Jackson is sitting over here!"
The audience applauded as the late Michael Jackson's older brother stood up and greeted the fans. But then the event took a whole new turn as Sonu asked Jermaine to join him on stage!
"I want you to come up on the stage," said Sonu."I think people would want you to come up on the stage," he added as fans encouraged the star.
Jermaine Jackson finally joined Sonu Niigaam on stage to the tunes of "Billy Jean." The two artists hugged before Jermaine addressed the ecstatic fans.
"Hello everybody. I just wanted to say thank you for supporting my family, especially my brother. I have been a big fan of Asian and Indian music for many, many years. I just wanted to say thank you for all the love and support. I always say that it's because of you that the videos first started because I love the energy and the dancing in the music, thank you very much. Bye bye," Jermaine said smiling while taking Sonu's hand.
The two hugged again before Jermaine left the stage. What a night!
For Sonu, it was truly an amazing night. "The LA show was path breaking... Jermaine sat on first row.... I met him on stage for the first time. Later I learned that he knew all my songs thanks to Halima, his wife. It was such a pleasant surprise," he told us.
A funny funeral is the unusual yet hilarious premise of director K Murali Mohan Rao's new movie "Daddy Cool" set to open in theaters on August 28.
At Goan Douglas Lazarus' funeral, nothing goes as planned. First of all, the wrong body is delivered to the ceremony! Then Lazarus' son Steven holds an awkward speech, and to finish, Lazarus' younger son refuses to take care of his widowed mother for the sake of his pet dogs!
The stars of the movie, Aftab Shivdasani, Tulip Joshi, Sunil Shetty and Aarti Chhabria all stepped out for Big Music's launch party held at Cinemax-Versova in Mumbai.
Tulip Joshi 's character, Maria, is the dead man's daughter who always fought with her father, Aftab Shivdasani plays Maria's fiancé Michael who takes a drug by mistake and starts acting emotional and delusional, Sunil Shetty personifies the oldest son Steven who after his embarrassing speech tries to negotiate peace between his wife and mother, and Aarti Chhabria plays Steven's wife who cannot wait to escape the family house now that the father-in-law is dead!
Singers: Mika Singh, K.K, Sunidhi Chauhan, Rana Mazumder, Shreya Ghoshal, Sonu Niigaam, Alisha Chinai, Hard Kaur, Joshilay, (Master) Saleem Shehzada
Audio On: YRF Music Number of Songs: 7
Album Released on: 11 August 2009
The forthcoming Dil Bole Hadippa! is an acid test for many people. For starters there is Rani Mukherjee. She was the Queen of Bollywood till a poor run (Ta Ra Rum Pum) and a couple of flops later (Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, Saawariya, Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic) she was taken off her 'throne'. Elsewhere it's debutant director Anurag Singh's big entry into directorship, what with Yash Raj Films backing him. Aditya Chopra is also included in this list of jittery people for whom "this is the big thing", as he needs to prove that Yash Raj Films is yet again a production house in the reckoning with one more consecutive hit after New York's success. Musically though, Pritam needs to prove his metal after one moderate musical success inNew York and of course the chartbuster Love Aaj Kal. So does he fulfill the huge expectations generated for the film (credit must be given to YRF for timely marketing of the movie) and it’s music? Read on to find out...
We've heard it in the trailers. We've seen it in the promos. Now it's time to rock to the beat- the album has a fine opening with the most publicized track of the movie, “Hadippa”, which starts off with a diverse set of arrangements to give us that special Punjabi-Bhangra feel! It is this very feel that draws us towards the song and makes it ‘click’ in just a single listen. Mika Singh is amazing in his rendition and suits the song perfectly. His voice gives us a welcome break from another of Pritam’s favorite’s, Neeraj Shridhar. Lyrics are by Jaideep Sahni. Whatever way it is, this song clicks as the contemporary Bhangra tune of 2009, giving us another hit after their (Pritam and Mika) collaboration in “Mauja Hi Mauja (Remix)” from Jab We Met.
If you thought the original was good, hold your breath as “Hadippa Remix” (coming later in the soundtrack) by Sandeep Shirodkar provides a great twist to proceedings! Whilst the tempo remains the same, the pitch is raised slightly and adding another singer - Sunidhi Chauhan - to this track, makes the remix a song that can hold on its own. The duo of Mika and Sunidhi provide us with a track that we can groove to. One “helluva” remix!
The Punjabi feel continues with “Discowale Khisko”, another Bhangra number with twisted and somewhat unusual (at times tacky) lyrics by Jaideep Sahni. Strangely enough, you might still enjoy this one as well though it may take more time to grow on you than “Hadippa”. The pairing of Krishna Kumar Menon (K.K.) and Sunidhi Chauhan along with Rana Mazumder's backing vocals makes this another winner from a singing angle. Overall, this has potential to rise the charts as fast as “Hadippa”, provided it is well promoted on air and online.
“Disco Khisko Remix” is another fine remix, which will immediately hog the clubs being the DJ's favorite. Sensational Punjabi singer Saleem Shehzada (of Dostana's “Maa Da Laadla” and Heyy Babyy's “Mast Kalandar” fame) replaces the trio of K.K, Sunidhi and Rana in the original to give a more pumped-up, high on Bhangra-fusion remix that succeeds and catches the listener's attention instantly. Credits to the remix producer Abhijit Vaghani (whose remixes were last heard in another Shahid movie Kaminey) for giving this one a mass appeal whilst not changing the original's punch in any way. Another foot-tapping, body-shaking number!
With listeners expecting another foot-tapping number Pritam unexpectedly changes the tune of the soundtrack and dishes out a pleasant and upbeat romantic track called “Ishq Hi Rab Hai” Though as in previous tracks it has an evident Punjabi stamp (common feel for all the tracks here), it also has a lot of Western influences providing a refreshing change from the energy bustling tracks elsewhere. However, considering the golden pairing of Shreya Ghoshal and Sonu Niigaam (with the extra 'i' and 'a'), one expected something better than the final product we get. The punjabi lyrics by Jaideep are sweet enough though. If nothing else this track provides some much needed variety to the soundtrack.
The energy returns in full force with a track that's uncannily titled “Bhangra Bistar”. Unlike other Bhangra tracks here, “Bhangra Bistar” is an all-female affair, with the eclectic vocals of Alisha Chinai, Sunidhi Chauhan and Hard Kaur giving their all. Jaideep’s lyrics describe the situation well. This one keeps alive the mood and spirit of the album. In that respect you can conclude that Pritam delivers another winner that the listeners can enjoy but it's definitely not for everyone.
The last track is “Gym Shim”. Amusingly enough, this turns out to be the most situational track of the lot. But the zany lyrics and the high-octane energy given away by Joshilay (who also turns out to have composed and written the song) interests you and who knows it might even 'click' with some of you out there! Whilst it’s an interesting listen, it still pales in comparison to the other tracks on the album.
In conclusion, the tracks from Dil Bole Hadippa! give an all-out energy vibe to the whole soundtrack that will no doubt explode on screen as well! After more than a month since the release of Kambakkht Ishq which was the last OST with such high-octane energy we finally get another one to make us dance to the beat throughout the album. It's just a slight shame the last few tracks dip after such a good start. Nevertheless this one's going to hog the shelves for the next few weeks and if nothing else, Pritam’s name will sell it for sure! After enjoying the soundtrack all we can do is wait for the movie and see if the likes of Rani pass the acid test. Pritam has done just that and duly given us another potential chartbuster for 2009, just turn up the volume and enjoy!
Album Released on: August 2009With the award-winning trio; Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa (SEL) teaming up with old associates Karan Johar and Dharma Productions to compose for Wake Up Sid , one expects a lot from this album after the musical super-success of Rock On!! and the (musical) hit Luck By Chance.
SEL get a little experimental with the soft-rock genre in this soundtrack consisting of five original songs (four of which are composed by them, the one guest composition is by Amit Trivedi), and a remix. But the best part of it is that it turns out to be a breath of fresh air after the overdose of commercialized Bhangra-Hip Hop amalgamations that Pritam and co. has dished out in the past few months (a la Dil Bole Hadippa and Love Aaj Kal etc). That’s not to say that Pritam’s compositions are not worth listening to, but once in a while, albums like Wake Up Sid provide a welcome change from the repeated feeling of déjà vu we have experienced for some time (except for the odd soundtracks like Kaminey and Ruslaan, which have also provided a welcome breaks from the monotonous ‘Bhangra’).
The album takes a breezy start with it’s title track, Wake Up Sid, which is pleasant on the ears and immediately gets you into the soft-rock groove. The strings, pads and beats are easy on the ears, and the heavy guitar in the chorus really brings you alive! This one’s a pure winner, and the masses will start loving the track from the word go. Another highlight is Shankar Mahadevan’s crooning to the upbeat lyrics (by Javed Akhtar) that reflect upon the life of Siddharth ‘Sid’ Mehra and where he should be heading. Loy Mendonsa backs Shankar effectively. The last few seconds of the track increases the pitch, giving it a new high and for us, a newfound addiction.
The track even has a ‘Club Mix’ (later on the CD), which isn’t exactly your typical DJ mix, but a rock mix that should work as well as the original itself. Whilst that was successful in making listeners (lazily) hum and sway their heads from side to side, with the help of the added tempo and energy,this one makes you shake your head semi-vigorously and tap your feet!
Kya Karoon? is another track in the alternative / soft rock mode that surely brings a smile to your face (somehow it oddly makes me reminisce “Strawberry Swing” by Coldplay in their recent album Viva la Vida). The lyrics make you connect with the main protagonist, ‘Sid’ and his life, the way he lives it, carefree and jobless etc. Clinton Cerejo’s vocals (coupled with effective backing by Dominique and Loy) make the listening experience a soothing one. If you give this a chance to grow on you it will definitely reward you.
Aaj Kal Zindagi continues with the feel of the whole album, though this one is high on the emotional quotient, and tends to stir your heartstrings particularly when Shankar Mahadevan starts crooning Javed Akhtar’s lyrics:
Tere liye nayee hai zameen naya aasman,(Likh de hawaa mein koi nayee daastaan…
The song turns out to be the most beautiful of the enterprise so far – it really makes you feel like doing something big, achieving something in life. Emotion is the domineering force in the composition and the highlight is the singing by Shankar Mahadevan, who returns after the title track, only this time he registers the additional emotional impact. A must listen!
If you thought Aaj Kal Zindagi was emotional, then here comes another contender titled Iktara and one that is surely going to have you either moist-eyed or emotionally stirred by the end of the song. The singers (especially Kavita Seth) give their all, and combined with the composition by guest composer Amit Trivedi (Dev.D fame), this song turns out to be the most soul-stirring of the lot. Lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya (who also doubles up as a fabulous backing vocalist to this one) register an impact. Another fabulous listen!
The album ends on the same light-hearted note with which it started in the form of Life is Crazy, which is brimming with vibrancy and energy and as a result, turns out to be an addictive hear. In fact, you might become so fond of it that you will want to have it on repeat-mode until your thirst for the song is quenched! What also works in the track are the zany vocals by Uday Benegal and Shankar Mahadevan (with effective backing by Loy and Alyssa Mendonsa). SEL have another potential hit on their hands and whilst it isn’t as impacting as the previous two it’s still as addictive and provides a fitting end.
After the soundtrack ends, I find myself smiling – rather grinning – broadly (and widely) and a feeling of upbeat happiness fills inside me at listening to such refreshing music. Since the emergence of commercial soft-rock which was received in such spectacular fashion with Pritam’s Life in a… METRO , we had another great (rock) soundtrack Rock On!! and now it’s back to rule our hearts with Wake Up Sid. Whilst not the best out of the stables of Shankar, Ehsaan & Loy (they have composed far better songs) the soundtrack still turns out to be a must-buy for music lovers, lovers of soft-rock, and probably fans who want a real change from the commercial soundtracks that have come up in the form of Wanted, Dil Bole Hadippa! and the like.
Releasing on: 18 September 2009By: Special PB CorrespondentDIL BOLE HADIPPA is a celebration of the never say die spirit of India. Here, for the first time, the dynamic duo of Shahid Kapoor & Rani Mukherjee, take you on a hide and seek game of romance, passion and dreams.
Veera (Rani Mukherjee) is a fire-cracker of a girl who lives in a small village but dreams in 70mm. She works in a local theatre group but dreams of playing cricket in the big league. Yes, believe it or not, she wants to play with Tendulkar and Dhoni for India.
While Veera dreams on in India, Rohan (Shahid Kapoor) is an accomplished captain of a county cricket team in England. Rohan returns to India to captain his father’s cricket team which has been losing consecutively for the last 8 years.
In a village where girls don’t play cricket, Veera has to put on a turban and beard and become a man to fulfill her dreams. Her brilliance on the field earns her a place in Rohan’s team and Veera Kaur becomes Veer Pratap Singh.
And then begins a roller-coaster journey of Veera, Rohan and Veer filled with music, romance and comedy through Punjab and beyond.
The Punjabi /Bhangra music for Dil Bole Hadippa! is now released. It has been composed by Pritam and is already catching fire in the charts. Note Planet Bollywood's official music review can be found under the music review section.
This tale of turbans, twists and tricks will make your heart go – Hadippa! Be sure to catch it in cinema on the 18th September 2009.
Starring: John Abraham, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Katrina Kaif, Irrfan Khan
Music: Pritam, Pankaj Awasthi
Lyrics: Sandeep Shrivastava, Junaid Wasi
Genre: Thriller
Recommended Audience: Parental Guidance
Film Released on: 26 June 2009Probably one of the most horrific tragedies that I have ever witnessed was the terrorist attack on New York on September 11, 2001. I still remember my thoughts at the time, as I could only observe the second World Trade Center Tower come crashing down. If that wasn’t horrible enough to witness with one’s own eyes, the rampant paranoia in the days following the event were even more difficult to experience.
In the short time after 9/11, having brown skin immediately brought with it the stigma of suspicion and fear. This suspicion and fear not only came from some private citizens, but also from the people in authority. There were stories of Sikhs being beaten up by groups of civilians, and if that were not disturbing enough, there were the whispered tales of innocent Indians, Pakistanis and Middle Eastern individuals being detained.
The whispers continued, telling of the harsh treatment of these detained people, even though they were innocent. For sure the days during and right after are dark times for everyone around the world.
We’ve seen Hollywood deal with the tragedy in several films, but now it’s Bollywood’s turn with the aptly titled “New York” which deals more on the aftermath of the tragedy and the out of control paranoid fear that eventually harmed even more innocent people.
Now some reviewers have claimed that ‘New York’ is not about 9/11, and that is false. You cannot say that, because without the tragedy of 9/11 you could not have a movie like ‘New York’. If the basic plotline of an innocent man being wrongly accused, accosted, and tortured by authorities who think he might be a terrorist sounds familiar to the basic plot of excellent Pakistani film, “Khuda Kay Liye”, then you are right. It’s the way that the screenplay of ‘New York’ unfolds the drama, the director’s vision, and the stellar cast that make the Bollywood film different than its Pakistani counterpart.
Director Kabir Khan may not be a household name, but he has proven to be quite a good filmmaker with his past release “Kabul Express” and the documentary, “The Forgotten Army”. It’s not often that a very good documentary maker can jump genres to become a very good filmmaker, but lucky for us that he was able to do so, and seems to be getting better with each film. His direction truly sets “New York” miles ahead of most other Bollywood releases, resulting in a film that should be universally accepted by not only the masala crowd, but also by the serious minded as well. The movie would be much less in the hands of a less capable director.
The story revolves around the tried and trusted formula of three friends Sam (John Abraham), Omar (Neil Nitin Mukesh) and Maya (Katrina Kaif). They meet, they bond, they begin to build the foundations of a friendship that should last a lifetime, until that friendship is torn under post 9/11. All films need an antagonist, and this time around it’s Agent Roshan (Irrfan Khan) whose actions provide the catalyst for all the twists and turns of the plot.
Yash Raj Films has produced one of their best as “New York” is entertaining from first frame to last. The three lead actors each act with sincerity. This is, without doubt John Abraham’s best film, as the normally wooden actor shows a remarkable emotional depth this time out. Neil Nitin Mukesh captivates the audience in every frame he is in and disappears into the character of Omar. Katrina Kaif, who is normally relegated to playing female caricatures, finally shows that she can portray a realistic character, and is truly a fine actor. She holds her own against the guys and audiences will remember her performance. Irrfan Khan is solid as ever.
The music by Pritam is catchy and familiar enough to be pleasant. Luckily for us, Kabir Khan makes sure that songs are not just dropped into the narrative in a disruptive way, which would have spelled doom for a movie like this. Instead we get an organic progression from narrative to song and back again.
The rest of the production team, from cinematography, background score, and set design have all done a very commendable job. An A class effort, “New York” is that rare thought provoking, yet entertaining film wherein director, actors, and screenplay all deliver their best resulting in a movie that stays with you even after it is finished.
Kambakkht Ishq is a case of bling over substance, in this first directorial effort from Sabbir Khan who also developed the screenplay for this vacuous romance. Filmed largely in Los Angeles and featuring Universal Studios, Rodeo Drive and Hollywood Boulevard - it’s more about Bollywood’s love affair with Hollywood than any thing involving the yawn-inducing protagonists.
Viraj Shergill (Akshay Kumar) is a stuntman who succeeds in Hollywood. Bowing down to touch the feet of his guru - Sylvester Stallone, he accepts a stuntman of the year trophy at a gala function attended by the Hollywood now set. This moment is strategically placed not only to woo the feisty Simrita (Kareena Kapoor) but to offer viewers latent insight into Viraj’s otherwise nasty, chauvinistic character. Hey he can’t be all that bad; he has this ‘healthy’ respect for Sylvester Stallone and he clearly loves his mother because he mentioned her in his acceptance speech. This is as deep as it gets folks.
His sparring partner - supermodel - Simrita Rai - is almost equally superficial. She’s supposed to be a strong female character of the type Yash Raj has been showcasing lately, but surprise - she’s putty under the stony façade. There’s a bit of a back story about how she’s all messed up because of her parents’ broken marriage but nothing that gives her character heart or soul.
Lighten up - you might say - this is a comedy. Only if you think it’s funny. I smiled on two occasions: firstly - when Viraj was in hospital saying funny things (which sounded improvised) under the influence of an anesthetic and secondly (a smile of relief) when the end credits rolled.
The problem rests with the screenplay which sets up too many inane situations at the expense of proper character development. For example Simrita influences her simple friend Kamini (Amrita Arora) to abstain from having sex with her husband - supposedly to test whether he loves her or not… (How silly is that?) Or how about - “Give me just 7 days and I’ll make her fall for me” from Viraj as lead in to another “test”. Where it counts though, attitudes change in a blink with no real build up or explanation. Why do Simi and Viraj fall in love? There doesn’t seem to be any connection beyond the physical?
Kareena Kapoor pouts and struts while Akshay Kumar swaggers and blusters. They call each other ‘dog’ and ‘bitch’ a bit too often as the storyline atrophies. Somewhere, on the periphery Javed Jaffrey appears ineffectually as a sleaze interested in making a quick buck. Boman Irani plays a deaf psychiatrist so we get the benefit of some sexually oriented double-entendres. Cream pies are thrown, Akshay does a few stunts …lots of skin and a fair bit of kissing.
The only interest lies in the use of the mantra - Om Mangalam which issues from a musical charm bracelet given to Simi by her Aunt Dolly (Kiron Kher). The journey undertaken by the charm is more interesting than the life-journeys of all the characters put together. To explain in greater detail is to give too much away.
I read somewhere that the aim was to make a dubbed English version of the same film minus the songs. For me the musical interludes (Anu Malik) and choreography (Vaibhavi Merchant) served to strengthen an otherwise, hollow creation. It is regrettable that the acting talents of Kapoor, Kumar and Shivdasani have not found a worthier vehicle.
Composer duo Sajid-Wajid are known for giving music that is high on beats. They have stuck to their signature style in the album of "Wanted" too, but the music is not impressive enough as it lacks freshness.
Directed by southern dancing star Prabhu Deva and produced by Boney Kapoor, the film's album has seven originals and five remixes.
"Dil leke" has two very talented and successful singers behind the mike - Shaan and Shreya Ghoshal. Popular for their love ballads, the two have sung a pleasing romantic number. The song doesn't entail too many electronic beats and the lyrics are average, but the track does have some potential.
The song also has a remixed version, but the original is much better.
Next comes "Ishq Vishq", which has western beats in abundance. Kamaal Khan, Sunidhi Chauhan and Suzanne D'Mello croon the number. It is a so-so track, the lyrics being mediocre.
This song too has a remix version.
Up next is "Jalwa", which has a long prelude with the 'dhol' taking precedence. The number raises expectations in the beginning but falls flat soon after. The quality of music and lyrics are disappointing. Even though there are touches of hip-hop, it is not fresh enough. The number is sung by composer Wajid along with Earl.
A remix version is thrown in for this track as well.
"Le le mazaa le" has an Arabic feel and brings back memories of the hit song "Mayya mayya" from the film "Guru", but it might not go on to become a chartbuster. "Le le mazaa" is sung by Suzanne D'Mello, Soumya Raoh, Hrishikesh Kamerkar and Nikita Nigam.
Wajid gets behind the mike yet again along with Amrita Kak for "Love me, love me". With monotonous lyrics and no innovation in music, the track isn't likely to hold the listener's interest for too long.
The remix version of the track is no good either.
Next is the film's title track "Most Wanted", which is sung by Salman Khan. More than a song, this is a narration and a collection of several dialogues from the film.
Finally there is "Tose pyaar karte hain", a Bhojpuri styled fast-paced number. Wajid and Sunidhi Chauhan have given their vocals for the song. Like others, this number has nothing extraordinary to boast about.
On the whole, the album disappoints. One expected more from the otherwise talented Sajid-Wajid.
Our money is the source of all emotions. It is also the source of our guilt. What if a killer wakes up one day with his memory erased? Would his crime cease to exist? What if an innocent guy wakes up one day with his memory wiped out and perceives himself to be a criminal? Would that perception change his reality? Faltering memory continually alters the constancy of truth. Short term memory loss denies you of an identity throwing you into an abyss of excruciating agony.
'Acid Factory' is about a group of characters whose sense of past has vanished in a haze.
They have woken up from a coma like sleep only to discover that reality might just be a figment of their imagination. Their sense of right and wrong is convoluted by their state of complete distrust of the other and their sense of self righteousness. Wouldn't your survival instinct make you renounce your evil self so that you can survive? Acid Factory'
plays out as a thriller; a morality game within and a cat and mouse chase on the outside. This purports to be a mother of a thriller which will have you on the edge of your seat and, most probably, rooting for the wrong guy.
Mumbai, Aug.24 (NR): Here are the spectacular pictures from the Umang college fest fashion show at NM College. Sameera Reddy was the judge at the event.
Mumbai, Aug.24 (NR): Rani Mukherji & Shahid Kapoor promoted their forthcoming film Dil bole Hadippa on India's got Talent at finale Filmcity, Mumbai. Do remember that in this film Rani is playing a character of a Sikh Boy.
Directors behind The Killer and The Train are back with Jashnn starring Adhyayan Suman, Sahana Goswami and Anjana Sukhani.
Jashnn is a musical drama that revolves around a young man (Adhyayan Suman), whose dream is to become a rockstar. In his quest for name, fame, money and success, he is supported by his three friends cum band members, his sister (Sahana Goswami) and girlfriend (Anjana Sukhani) all who share his vision as well as his tribulation.
Although the basic concept of Jashnn bares certain similarities to Rock On, it ain't a patch on the Farhan Akhtar film. Of the 6 characters in Jashn, the script revolves around 3 characters, one of which (the romantic angle with Anjana Sukhani) doesn't work.
The first half is quiet strong, high on emotions and reasonably paced. The problem though, is with the second half and the love story which stretches the second half so much that the impact of the first half is lost. The climax is half baked.
Music by Toshi-Sharib is fantastic. Dialogues are good. Coming to the performances, Jashnn belongs to Shahana Goswami and Humayun Saeed. They are absolutely brilliant. Adhyayan does well, not quiet upto the mark with his dialogue delivery and goes slightly over the top in the climax, but a much improved performance from Raaz. Both Anjana Sukhani's character and her performance fall flat.
To sum up, Jashnn works in parts, but doesn't in its entirety. Length and the confused screenplay are its biggest flaws.
Midway into the second half of "Love Aaj Kal", Rahul Khanna screams at Deepika Padukone and asks her to make it clear what she actually wants in life. That's one of the very few moments in the film audiences can really empathise with.
After all, this is what you as a viewer also feel throughout the love story of Saif Ali Khan and Deepika - what do they really want?
They break off, but haven't quite drifted apart. "After all it's an era of communication," says Saif. So much so that even when the 'once in love and perhaps still in love' couple decide to take care of their lives separately rather than getting into an ugly long distance relationship, they continue to meet and greet and paint the city of Dilli red.
It's just that continuous talks around 'how we are happier today when compared to yesterday' become monotonous after a while. It seems good though in the initial reels of the film. In fact, the first 20 minutes of the film are excellent when the director wraps up the beginning and the end of the Saif-Deepika love story.
While watching this portion of the film, you do feel that "Love Aaj Kal" is indeed treading a very original path. In fact, the entire 'break up party' introduction is an ace in the hands of Imtiaz Ali and he plays his cards brilliantly.
So far, so excellent but this is the point from which the film starts taking a dip. Rishi Kapoor's emergence in the story gets a good kickstart. But the entire flashback angle with Rishi narrating his own story, something which sounds quite exciting on paper, doesn't really carry the same punch as the Saif-Deepika story.
In fact, whenever the film goes into past mode, it dips and only Deepika's re-emergence on the scene lights up things. Watch out for the scene where she finally decides to move on and brings on a fake smile in front of the mirror.
The interim love story of Saif and his Swiss girlfriend brings the pace down again, hence making for an uneven ride till interval.
Post interval portions don't quite help things much as the 'Dilli bhraman' of Saif and Deepika looks fake.
Just when it seemed that the film had come to an abrupt end, there is this twist in the story that makes one wonder if "Love Aaj Kal" is the same movie that started so impressively and ended in such an ordinary manner!
If not for the performances and the music, the film would have dipped even further.
Deepika is excellent as she brings in a certain casual feel to the entire 'getting in love and then breaking up' part. Watch out for Saif in those excellent monologues once every 30 minutes or in the brilliantly narrated sequence that goes along with 'main kya hoon'.
Rishi hardly gets scope but is nice in his earlier scenes; one wonders though what made Rahul sign a film that doesn't fetch him a single decent scene!
Yes, one understands where Ali was coming from when he decided to convey that the emotion of love was just the same across different generations. In the end, however, "Love Aaj Kal" turns out to be just another love story
Some of the writing invested into this not-bad comic look at the roller-coaster called marriage is surprisingly sharp.
For example, there's this Gujarati family lorded over by a tycoon (Darshan Jariwala) in Cape Town who remains rigidly rooted to conventions that ended 50 years ago. Back home in Gujarat a modern business family run by a liberal patriarch (Vikram Gokhale) ends up giving his daughter (Prachi Desai) to the NRI tycoon's mousy son (Tusshar Kapoor). The conflict that ensues is likeable and in a fully filmy way, believable.
Elsewhere this spoilt rich girl (Genelia) with a father (Anupam Kher), who never bothered to discipline her, gets herself a domesticated husband who does all the work while she attends to various disastrous hobbies.
Genelia as the destructive daughter gets to sink her teeth into a meaty part.
Witty and sometimes genuinely funny, "Life Partner" is a light bubbly take on the pitfalls of various kinds of marriages, arranged or otherwise, and how to avoid perils of getting into a marital alliance where the partners know nothing about the future.
While Genelia is happily over-the-top, Prachi in the rounded sensible part of a Gujarati girl standing up to her autocratic father-in-law does well for herself. Of the two young leading men, Tusshar as the timid believer in virginity as a gift to his bride suits his part and does at least one sequence when he bursts into tears after Prachi accepts his proposal with tonal correctness.
But it is Govinda as the frazzled divorce lawyer who brings the house down. Govinda gives the kind of tongue-in-cheek performance that once made him the number one choice for roles that required comic interpretations of social problems. He works well in combination with every actor in this film, wooden or hammy.
Rumi Jaffrey's direction is most of the time even in tone. But the last half hour with its screeching sermonizing gets on to slippery ground. Nonetheless "Life Partner" is a decent inoffensive marital comedy mostly free of double-meanings.
The Jackson tribute will reportedly include messages from Shahrukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Shahid Kapoor, Katrina Kaif and Priyanka Chopra among others.
MUMBAI: Top Bollywood stars are to pay tribute to the late US singer Michael Jackson with a music video to be aired on what would have been his 51st birthday, a report said Thursday.
Leading film composer Vishal Dadlani was quoted by the Mumbai Mirror newspaper as saying that the video was called ‘We Lived In His World.’ It would be aired on television on August 29, the daily tabloid added.
Jackson, whose sudden death in June shocked his millions of fans around the world, was due to be buried on the same day, his family said this week.
‘The King of Pop’ played a sell-out gig in India’s entertainment capital Mumbai in 1996. Bollywood stars, film directors, choreographers and musicians have cited him as a major influence on their work.
Quoting an unnamed source, the Mumbai Mirror said the ‘We Lived In His World’ video had been spearheaded by actor Shahrukh Khan and his production company Red Chillies.
Dadlani is one half of the music directing duo Vishal-Shekhar responsible for the film scores on some of Bollywood’s biggest films, including ‘Om Shanti Om’ and ‘Salaam Namaste.’
The Jackson tribute would reportedly include messages from Khan and fellow actors Hrithik Roshan, Shahid Kapoor, Katrina Kaif and Priyanka Chopra among others. No one had asked for payment for the tribute, the newspaper said.
The Mumbai Mirror said this week that A.R. Rahman, who won two Oscars this year for his music on the hit film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ was making a tribute album to Jackson.
Rahman has previously described the singer as an inspiration.
Finally the most awaited results are came out. Its the result of Miss Kerala 2009. Miss Kerala 2009 winers are Archana Nair, Geethu Christie and Bonny Mary respectively. Archana Nair is the winner of Miss Kerala 2009. Geethu Christie is the first runner up of Miss Kerala 2009 and Bonny Mary Mathew is Second Runner up in Miss Kerala 2009. The other subtitles selected in Miss Kerala 2009 are Miss Beautiful Hair, Miss Beautiful Skin, Miss Beautiful Eyes, Miss Beautiful Smile, Miss Perfect Ten, Miss Photogenic, Miss Congeniality and Miss Talented. Archana Nair is an NRI girl.
