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揗edia knows more about my love life,

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1:40 Ki Last Local postponed
Joginder Tuteja, IndiaGlitz [Thursday, January 25, 2007]  



Abhay v/s Abhay clash has been averted.

While his 'Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd' was confirmed for February 23 release, off late there were also indications that his sole lead film '1:40 Ki Last Local' would also arrive on the same day.

With none less than 6 films trying to find screen space on the last Friday of February, it would only have been a sane decision for some films to move out of the race and arrive later.

Director Sanjay Khanduri's debut vehicle '1:40 Ki Last Local' has taken a lead in that and has now been postponed by at least a couple of months. The film is aiming for an April release or even later.

A story that unfolds in one single night, the film stars Neha Dhupia opposite Abhay.

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Saif抯 son shifts loyalties
Faridoon Shahryar, IndiaGlitz [Thursday, January 25, 2007]  



Guess who is watching 慓host Bana Dost

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Which Sanjay Dutt film will release first?
Joginder Tuteja, IndiaGlitz [Thursday, January 25, 2007]  



While now it is confirmed that Sanjay Dutt would have his next release in the form of 'Eklavya - The Royal Guard', his loyal fans and supporters would still be awaiting for a film where he enacts the main lead.

Everyone is aware about the fact that Amitabh Bachchan has the central role in this Vidhu Vinod Chopra film while everyone else from Sanjay Dutt to Saif Ali Khan, Jackie Shroff and Jimmy Shergill rally around him. Hence films like 'Nehlle Pe Dehlla' and 'Sarhad Paar' are special since both star Sanju baba as the lead protagonist.

Both being the films long in the waiting to hit the marquee, they are now eyeing a common release date i.e. March 02. Though there have been umpteenth instances of these two films coming close to the release, it has now become quiet a lot of wait to see if March 02 indeed turns out to be a D-day for 'Nehlle Pe Dehlla' and 'Sarhad Paar'!

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Kunal Khemu - From an underdog to street-smart guy
Joginder Tuteja, IndiaGlitz [Thursday, January 25, 2007]  



When Kunal Khemu made his debut as a male lead in 'Kalyug', he came virtually as an underdog, both on and off the screens.

He wasn't made to sit high on the pedestal (rightly so!) by the Bhatts and his (very good) work spoke for him. Even in the film, his character was shown as an underdog before he joined hands with the character played by Emraan Hashmi and took on the entire system run by Amrita Singh.

In contrast he has quite a different personality and outlook in his next release 'Traffic Signal'. While his presence in the film is still being underplayed by the makers of 'Traffic Signal', what cannot be denied is that fact that he plays one of the most fabulous roles ever written for the lead characters in a mainstream film.

In 'Traffic Signal', an ensemble piece, he plays a 'Manager' whose responsibility involves managing their issues, space allocation, personal/professional queries apart from the usual job of collecting the routine 'hafta'!

Looking forward to this street-smart act by Kunal where he turns a volte-face when thrown against unforeseen circumstances!

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Box office analysis
Exclusive By Joginder Tuteja, IndiaGlitz [Thursday, January 25, 2007]  



First weekend performance of latest release

When 'Risk' and 'Mr. Hot Mr. Kool' released this Friday, it was quite evident the box office route the two films would take. While for latter there was not much debate about the fact that the film would go unnoticed, for 'Risk' there was an outside chance that the film may just about manage to create a few ripples if the subject is presented differently.

As mentioned in last week's column, good promotion, promise of some heavy duty masala and presence of Vinod Khanna were good enough reasons to hope that the film may just about break through. Sadly none of that helped in exciting the paying public as the 'Risk' opened to poor response all over. While there were not many expectations from the multiplex going audience, even the single screens gave the film a cold response which turned 'Risk' into a disappointing outing. Poor to average reviews didn't help the cause either and ultimately the only man who stands to gain from the film is Randeep Hooda who has been hailed for his solid performance. Standing tall in a losing cause, Hooda should now be getting noticed for some interesting action/thriller roles.

Last week's movies



Those [read sadists!] who were expecting 'Guru' to fail were in for a shock as the film registered some very good first week numbers. First things first, Mani Ratnam needs to be applauded for the fact that he narrated a tale that was complex on the paper but quite an easy going sight on the screen. He kept the 'masala' angle intact even as his narration style had a classy treatment to it. Result? The film has seen a good box office outcome and netted as much as 18 crores, which is quite good considering the film's subject.

Let's face it, it would have been actually foolhardy to even compare its first week outcome with last year's biggies like 'Fanaa' or a 'Krrish' or a 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna'! While each of the films were so-called family entertainers, the strength of 'Guru' lied in its subject that made selective audience venture into he theatres initially, only to spread an all around word of mouth that made others sit up and take notice.

With Mumbai contributing most with 4.5 crores, Delhi coming close to 1.75 crores and NCR bringing home another 1.5 crore with Ahmedabad and Pune too crossing the 1 crore mark, it is quite crystal clear that the film has seen good success all over.

On the other hand 'Anwar' has been a total washout and failed miserably with collections failing to touch even 10 lakhs mark. Honestly, this response is way-way belong expectations since the least that was expected was songs pulling through the film to some distance at the least. Though there were not many doubts that the film would fail to make any mark from the box office perspective, one could just not see such a disastrous response on the way! Expect the film's DVDs/VCDs to be out in a week or two!



There was another film that came virtually unnoticed in the same week as 'Guru' and 'Anwar' - Priyadarshan's 'Friendship'. A dubbed version of a film that Priyan made years back in South, it ended up getting 40 lakhs in its kitty which was quite a surprise considering zero publicity, selective release and lack of major names [The film stars Jyothika and Sharbani Mukherjee along with Tabu with no male stars].

In the end, it was Priyan's name that managed to get some audience and though there are not many hopes in the second week or the film, one waits to see if the producers and distributors decide to release the film in more territories too!

From the past

It was not a week when film lovers made a beeline to watch films at theatres. Apart from 'Guru', the only film that saw a decent chunk of audience trickling in was 'Bhagam Bhag' which was second best at 2 crores. Taking another ~60% fall but crossing 40 crore in the process, the film has been a good profit making venture for everyone involved and marks a HIT signal to Govinda's comeback. A success in the form of 'Salaam E Ishq' would only consolidate his status further while Akshay Kumar looks forward to 'Namastey London' which arrives in March.

It is now time for the DVDs and VCDs of 'Kabul Express' to hit the stands as the 5th week collections read around 30 lakhs. The film saw as much as 65% fall this week which means that the film is now in its last leg of theatrical run. With 'Guru' going full steam, 'Salaam-e-Ishq' carrying good reports and flurry of releases entire February, the film should finally end up just below the 12.5 crore mark.



Meanwhile 'Baabul' continues to stretch itself hard to reach the 17.5 crore mark. Currently at 17.4 crores, the film is in its 7th week and is registering minor collections from the limited centers it is currently playing.

After 'Guru' and 'Bhagam Bhag', the other two films with respectable collections to show were 'Dhoom 2' and 'Vivah', both of which stood at 1 crore. At 84.5 crores and 27 crores respectively, the films have been blockbusters in their own sense considering the disparity in their budgets!

In the future

This week sees the release of two films that are jut chalk and cheese in terms of overall scale, subjects and treatment. While 'Salaam E Ishq' is a mega film with expectations of a bumper opening, 'Parzania' is for the crowds who wish to watch festival films.

While there are not many hopes for the box office performance of 'Parzania', 'Salaam E Ishq' should be off to a flier and register the highest opening week collections for the year so far. The only hindrance is its 3.5 hours length which would curtail its collections to some extent since there would be lesser shows at the multiplexes. But impressive star cast, some very good songs and great hype would ensure that all those who have invested in the film come out smiling in a fortnight's time!

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From Kuch Kuch Hota Hai to Parzania


A still from Parzania

January 25, 2007 15:10 IST

We first saw Parzaan Dastur in a commercial about Dhara oil, where he wanted to leave home because his family did not love him.

But we fell in love with him when he played the silent Sikh boy in Karan Johar's Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

Today, Parzaan looks very different from his KKHH days, when he was seven years old. Now aged 15, Parzaan will be seen in this Friday's release, Parzania.

Parzaan got his first ad because of an aunt, who knew some people in the advertising field. She recommended his name and that's how he bagged his first ad for Dhara. Then aged four, he started his 'career' of appearing in movies and lending his voice in ads.

KKHH was his first film, but there was no need to audition for the boy. He was dressed up like a Sikh and was asked to interact with his parents while his pictures were being clicked. Next, he landed the role in the Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol starrer.

Ask him about working with SRK and Parzaan says, "It was a wonderful experience. He was very kind. Kajol was very friendly. They would play with us between shots. I did not have any scenes with Salman Khan, so I did not get a chance to interact with him. But I clicked pictures with him."



Shah Rukh, incidentally, happens to be Parzaan's favourite star.

"We shot for about 20 days," Parzaan adds. "We were in a cordoned area and there were many indoor and outdoor games for children. We could roam around and play whenever we were not shooting. This was done for the children, as we were all far away from home, in Ooty."

Parzaan worked with Parzania director Rahul Dholakia for the first time in Kehtaa Hai Dil Baar Baar. So the comfort level for Parzania was established because the two knew each other very well.

"Even when I made mistakes, he would correct me nicely," he says.

So was it coincidence that Parzaan's name matched the film title so well? "I was very happy to know that the movie is based on my real name!" He exclaims. "I was really excited, as the story is also very different from what I have done before. It is based on a real life incident."

Talking about the film, he says, "Even though Parzania is serious, I don't have many serious scenes. Most of the seriousness comes after my role is over. I play a 10-year-old boy, who is very happy. Suddenly when the riots break, my parents (Naseeruddin Shah and Sarika) lose me. Then, they begin their search for me."



"There are some riot scenes in which I am involved. But those scenes were not traumatising," Parzaan continues. "I was running between violence, fire and riots, but I could cope with the scenes."

"Working with great actors like Naseeruddin and Sarika was excellent. You can learn a lot from them. They inspire you to do better. They treated me like their son off camera as well."

Naseer would also help him when he made mistakes. He would guide him on how to do a scene.

The riot scenes were the most difficult for him, as he had to run barefoot through fires. "When I was told I had to run across fire, I thought they were kidding. Then, I realised that I actually had to do it, and I got scared. I was just 12 years old then. But it went well. Only, I injured my toe very badly during a stampede scene."

While actors are usually nervous about their Friday releases, Parzaan feels nervousness of a different kind. "My board exams are coming up, and I am very tensed. But I want this film to do well as everyone has put in a lot of effort," he says.

So will he become an actor when he grows up? "I am learning to play the piano now. I have given some exams from Trinity College. Someday, I will become a music composer," he signs off.

source : Rediff News
http://www.rediff.com/movies/2007/jan/25parzaan.htm

[ Last edited by  ldg at 26-1-2007 02:40 AM ]

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揑抳e always been a Sunny Deol fan,

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Eros acquires global distribution rights for 'Salaam-E-Ishq'
Faridoon Shahryar, IndiaGlitz [Saturday, January 27, 2007]  



Eros International announced that it has acquired the global distribution rights of Nikhil Advani's film, Salaam-E-Ishq (A Tribute To Love), which released worldwide release on 25th January 2007.

慡alaam-E-Ishq

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Shree Ashtavinayak Cinevision抯 Hat Trick at the Box Office!
Faridoon Shahryar, IndiaGlitz [Saturday, January 27, 2007]  



Producers Shree Ashtavinayak Cinevision is in the hot seat now that they have scored a producer's dream over the Box Office: a Hat trick of successful films starring the biggest of stars, all in a row!

First up came 慚aine Pyar Kyun Kiya

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Abhay Deol & Minissha Lamba learn the TANGO!
Joginder Tuteja, IndiaGlitz [Saturday, January 27, 2007]  



Not many are aware that Abhay Deol & Minissha Lamba went through special tango training for "Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd."

The two, who play Aspi and Zara in the film, have done an intense tango in the track, "Pyaar Ki Ek Kahani Suno", composed by Vishal-Shekhar. Even though the song was shot in Mumbai, we are told that choreographers Danny, Savio and Kunjan were specially flown down to Goa to make Abhay and Minissha rehearse every day after their grueling shooting schedule. After much fighting and heartburn, the song got done finally, and the results are for all to see!

"Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd." is a Farhan Akhtar-Ritesh Sidhwani production and releases on 23rd February. Studio 18 is marketing and distributing it internationally.

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Rabbi revives 'Tere Bin' used for 'Delhii Heights'
Joginder Tuteja, IndiaGlitz [Saturday, January 27, 2007]  



You have heard Mithoon and Atif Aslam collaborating for superhit 'Tere Bin' in 'Bas Ek Pal'. Now hear one more song that has a similar title 'Tere Bin' in the forthcoming film 'Delhii Heights'.

A romantic track based on some excellent melody, the song is composed, written and sung by Rabbi Shergill who had made quite a splash with his hit number 'Bulla Ki Jaana' in his namesake album 'Rabbi'. The album also comprised of the song 'Tere Bin' that has now been revived for 'Delhii Heights'.

A special music video of the song has been created which is made of an array of scenes and shots from the film with Rabbi making an appearance in front of the camera. Based in Delhi, the film stars Jimmy Shergill, Neha Dhupia, Rohit Roy, Simone Singh, Om Puri and Kamini Khanna in principal roles and is directed by Anand Kumar.

The film is slated for a March 02 release.

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Anil Kapoor shaves his moustache after 8 years
Joginder Tuteja, IndiaGlitz [Saturday, January 27, 2007]  



It was in December 1998 that Anil Kapoor was last seen without a moustache in some of the scenes of Hrishikesh Mukjerjee's 'Jhoot Bole Kauwa Kaate'.

Now after 8 years, director Nikhil Advani has been able to convince AK to repeat the act by appearing sans a moustache in 'Salaam E Ishq'. While for majority of his portion in the film, he is seen in not just a moustache but even a French beard, towards the second half of his screen time, he shaves it off.

Reason? To project himself as one cool dude who can woo young Anjana Sukhani the same way as other boys of her age group. In fact when he dons this appearance in the film, he even makes a surprise entry in a pub while attired in some cool clothes and gets into an impromptu jig!

Before 'Jhoot Bole Kauwa Kaate', AK had also shaved off his moustache in the initial reels of Yash Chopra's 'Lamhe'.

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Big Brother: Jo out, Shilpa stays
January 27, 2007 09:48 IST

Former pop singer Jo O'Meara has denied being racist after she and actress Cleo Rocos were evicted from Channel 4's Celebrity Big Brother by the public, leaving Indian cine star Shilpa Shetty as one of the favourites to win.

Former S Club 7 singer Jo, who was involved in a reported race row, which saw Jade Goody and her mother bullying Shilpa Shetty, received almost 48 per cent of the vote, while 28 per cent viewers wanted Rocos to go. Now 31-year-old Shilpa Shetty, former A-Team actor Dirk Benedict and ex-Steps singer Ian "H" Watkins are up for eviction.

Shilpa is now odds-on favourite to win when the show ends. Pop Star Jermaine Jackson, model Danielle Lloyd and Goody's boyfriend Jack Tweed are also still in the reality TV house.

In an interview with Big Brother presenter Davina McCall after she was evicted, Jo denied she was racist. When showed footage of the moments that caused the international row, she said, "Looking at it, it looks absolutely terrible, but inside it didn't feel terrible." But she told host McCall that the edited version of events distorted what really went on.

Of the comments she made about Shilpa while in the house, she said, "I never meant it in that way. I'm not a racist. I know that I'm not. I'm not going to deny that Shilpa did aggravate me a lot -- you can't click with everybody, you meet. "It's not because I'm racist. I think she's a very beautiful, very elegant woman."

Jo was shown mimicking Shetty's voice but she responded, "We were doing that with her and she was finding that really funny." The singer admitted that while she was in the house she had felt that something was not quite right. On being shown the footage of the race row making headline news across the world, Jo exclaimed: "Oh my God!" She said, "It does look very bad" but insisted, "I'm not a racist person at all. My cousin is married to an Indian, and my cousins are half-Indians."

Asked by Davina about mocking Shilpa's cultural background, Jo said, "I didn't even know I was doing it." She said she did not think that she had encouraged Jade in any way, adding, "I didn't mean to, if I did."

Jo said she did not dislike Shilpa, but she was not as close to her as other housemates Danielle and Cleo. She said she had not trusted her for a long time, and she had had her guard up.

And she told Davina she had laughed during the argument between Jade and Shilpa because she was "uncomfortable" and her reaction to nerves was to giggle. The double eviction was a surprise twist for the housemates.

The evicted pair emerged from the Big Brother house to a mixture of boos and cheers after the result of the public vote was announced. The eviction comes after Big Brother bosses were forced to apologise when they had to scrap eviction votes following a technical fault. Fans were offered refunds after the fiasco, which could have led to Shilpa being evicted by mistake. Words alongside her number wrongly stated viewers should ring it to save her, instead of boot her out.

Celebrity Big Brother organisers later said Jo would not be taking part in a press conference with Cleo for similar reasons to Jade. Jade had faced career meltdown over her treatment of Shilpa.

She claimed her home has come under attack as a result of the race row and plans to tour India in an attempt to restore her public image. Meanwhile, Hertfordshire Police have contacted Goody and her mother Jackiey Budden who was also on the show, with a view to interviewing the pair.

Before Saturday's show, a police spokeswoman said, "An investigation into allegations of racist behaviour inside the Celebrity Big Brother house is continuing.

"Hertfordshire Constabulary can confirm police will be making approaches to speak to housemates if and when appropriate once they have left the house. "We are also making contact with two of the housemates who have already been evicted but at this stage no interviews have taken place."

Goody has denied being racist but told the News of the World she admitted making racist comments.

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Salaam-E-Ishq: Stars shine in mediocre film
January 26, 2007 01:35 IST



More is merry. Excess is fun. But the key to it all is balance. Alas, director Nikhil Advani is no juggler. He manages to throw half a dozen balls in the air. But by the end of it, most of them find their way to the floor.


That's too bad, considering Salaam-E-Ishq could have really stood out. Not to say that the star-studded movie doesn't entertain. It does, but only in parts.  


There are six storylines (scripted by Advani and Saurabh Shukla), parallel -- not interwoven. Eventually some of them become loosely connected to each other. Every story, however, has its own motive and mood. The switch from one track to another is simultaneous. This jump of sequences from Agra to Delhi to London to Mumbai is at times stylish, at others bumpy.


The movie opens with the most romantic pair of the ensemble -- John Abraham and Vidya Balan. They play Ashutosh and Tehzeeb --a happily married Hindu-Muslim couple working in the same news channel. They share an incredible chemistry and enormous love for each other. But a tragedy proves to be a dent on their blissful existence.


Then there's Raju (Govinda), the quintessential Bollywood cabbie -- eloquent, lyrical, golden-hearted dreamer. His lifelong fantasy involves a gori mem (white woman) walking into his taxi and them living happily ever after. One such fair female (Shannon Esra as Stephanie) does land in Delhi, but only in search of her pampered Indian boyfriend.


Meanwhile, London suburbanite Vinay Malhotra (Anil Kapoor) finds himself lusting after a pretty young thing (Anjana Sukhani), who conducts Bollywood dance classes. Obviously, dutiful wife Seema (Juhi Chawla) is not too glad about her hubby's naughty-at-forty ways.


Neither are we. Imagine AK, sans his moustache, in camouflage jackets and cargo pants, breakdancing in a nightclub.


High society young 'uns Shiven (Akshaye Khanna) and Gia (Ayesha Takia) are just engaged. Already their wedding seems in jeopardy thanks to Shiven's acute commitment-phobia. He tries every trick in the book, to hilarious effect, to push Gia towards a break-up. He succeeds, but is that what he really wants?


We all know the answer to that one.


What we don't know is why Rahul or Raoul (as Salman Khan pronounces his name in the movie) beats around the bush so much. He courts ambitious item girl Kamini (Priyanka Chopra) for her popularity. After she falls for him, he asks her to choose between him and a Karan Johar (making a telephonic guest appearance) film. As if!

Also, there's some lame mystery angle to his character's past which doesn't really make any difference to the plot. Except making Salaam-E-Ishq three-and-half hours long.   


In this lengthy scheme of things, Advani incorporates a track featuring Sohail Khan and Isha Koppikar (at their over-the-top best), playing a newlywed perpetually in the mood couple from Haryana. The consistent mishaps foiling their attempts to be alone together are supposed to evoke laughs. But they leave you cringing. Humour at its worst.


Strange, considering Advani's debut flick Kal Ho Naa Ho was pretty amusing and chilled out in that sense.


This one makes silly gay jokes and contradicts itself by showing the television press as sensitive romantics and merciless hounds at the same time. Not to forget the relentless advertising of a jewellery brand, a movie magazine, a news channel and Karan Johar.   


That's the problem with Salaam-E-Ishq. It's like a patchily stitched quilt; elegant in few places and tattered in others. It starts off slowly, picks up post-interval and then goes ballistic in the climax.


Even if Advani's execution is a letdown, most of the cast its job really well. Akshaye, John and Vidya emerge as the clear winners in this star-studded fare. Akshaye is mind-blowing. He plays a boyish, confused brat with a Calvin-esque (of Hobbes fame) flavour that is both endearing and entertaining. With Akshaye around, there isn't much scope for reel sweetheart Ayesha Takia. Yet the cute-faced actress infuses perky enthusiasm to an otherwise run-of-the-mill part.


John Abraham's body language is amazingly thoughtful and sensitive. He makes a wonderful romantic and bowls you with his uninhibited charm and compassionate aura. Also, he gets to say the best lines-- his chapter having shades of Fifty First Dates. Vidya Balan romances him back with equal fervour. Her transformation from a self-assured working woman to a helpless, vulnerable person is superb. They look lovely together and ought to team up more frequently.


With not too much to rely on in terms of characterisation, Anil Kapoor and Juhi Chawla rely on their own sensibilities and experience as actors to deliver touching performances. Their subtle gestures render layers to otherwise one-dimensional roles.


Priyanka Chopra showcases her flair for comedy, especially when she does take-offs on legendary tragedy queens -- Meena Kumari, Nargis and Madhubala. Plus, Priyanka looks like a million bucks in her chic designer wear and shiny make up. There's an interesting pub scene between her and Anil Kapoor towards the end -- quite confidently tackled by the young actress, holding her own against the veteran.


Her co-star Salman Khan's services are surprisingly underused. He plays the kind of lover-boy that made stars out of Biswajeet and Joy Mukherjee. Besides pronouncing his name with a funny twang and parading in fancy blazers, Sallu doesn't get to do anything substantial. Though he does a terrific job in an equally terrific song, Tainu leke (Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy), strutting the streets of London with his trademark swagger and orange sherwani.

Govinda gets a good deal of footage and does an adequate job. Except his Raju is super-corny and gets overbearing after a while. His co-star Shannon Esra has an attractive screen presence, but cannot act.   


Technically, Salaam-E-Ishq boasts of impressive camera angles (Piyush Shah) replete with Advani's penchant for the multiple-screen effect. On the flipside, Priya Raghunath's art design seems shoddy, discordant and Aarti Bajaj's editing could really do with a lot of help.


Did I mention the film is too long? Trust me, it is.


Finally, while it borrows the theme, format and even three plots (the ones featuring Alan Rickman, Colin Firth and Martin Freeman) from Richard Curtis's Love Actually, Salaam-E-Ishq never really celebrates the madness or magnitude of love. It merely skims the surface of the vagaries of its characters.


As a result, you feel neither involved nor sympathetic.


If only Salaam-E-Ishq had got its priority right. It is an ode to mediocrity, not love or cinema.

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Source: Rediff News

'I hope Water wins the Oscar'


Shabana Azmi in Water
January 25, 2007

Deepa Mehta's Water has put India back on the Oscar map.

Officially Canada's entry to the 79th Annual Academy Awards, Water stars John Abraham and Lisa Ray. Of course, this was not the original cast. Deepa Mehta had first started making this film with Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das. The film, however, never got complete as it aroused strong protests during its Varanasi shoot.

As we celebrate Water's Oscar nomination, Shabana spoke to Priyanka Jain about the furore the film had caused then, and her disappointments.

Water, which you were a part of earlier, has made it to the Oscars. How do you feel?

Absolutely delighted because it has vindicated my faith in the film. But it is a personal disappointment for Nandita and me that we could not be part of the film. It was more important for me that the film should be made so that the forces that try to curb the freedom of expression cannot claim victory.

I am thrilled for Deepa Mehta, and everyone involved in the film. I haven't seen it but I am looking forward to doing so.

Why were you not approached for Water when it was being filmed the second time?

Nandita and I were approached. Deepa told us that the distributors are not willing to touch the film -- that wherever it would be made again, it would spell trouble. With broken hearts we had to agree (to a different cast) because the film was more important than our personal disappointments.

Did you know when the shooting started and where it was happening?

They kept it very quiet the next time round. But I knew the shoot was to take place in Sri Lanka.

I believe that Seema Biswas must have done a splendid job. She is a very fine actress.

After it was announced that the film was nominated by the Oscars, did you call up Deepa to congratulate her?

I haven't been in touch with Deepa at all.

Do you think Water will bring home the Oscar?

I hope that it will win. I would pray for it. But even if it did not, the honour of it being nominated is huge because the rest of the films are -- according to Deepa herself -- really good films.

What really happened when Water was being filmed in India?

I was outraged when we were thrown out of Varanasi after the film's shooting was stalled. The film was being judged even before anybody had seen the script. You cannot do that to products of art.

I remember the day we went to shoot. I was told that there are 10,000 people on the streets who are demonstrating against the film, so it wasn't safe for me to go to the location.

I was a member of Parliament then and I said I want to see the orders in writing from the district magistrate. They kept me hanging there for an hour and then said that the magistrate isn't in town. So, I went ahead.

They threatened that they would have to take precautions if something happened. When I asked them if they would arrest me, they said they might have to.

I went ahead anyway, and told them that they need to protect my right to go to work. When we went on the street, there was not a single soul there -- leave alone 10,000 people as they claimed!

We went there with 400 Rapid Action Force jawans. And only 12 people came outside and shouted slogans against Deepa and Water. But In spite of the 400 soldiers, they could not control those 12 people!

So what did you do?

The administration and the people there said in no uncertain terms that you have to pack up and leave the city. We raised loud protests, went to the district magistrate, demonstrated -- did all kinds of things. But ultimately, when you have the entire administration against you, what can you do? I was told later by the senior superintendent of police of that area that he was glad we left because the 'biggies' were hell bent on not allowing us to progress.

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B4U MOVIES acquires latest Bachchan films
Joginder Tuteja, IndiaGlitz [Saturday, January 27, 2007]  



2007 has begun with a bang at B4U as the network has bought the global exclusive screening rights to three blockbusters- GURU, UMRAO JAAN and the yet to be released NISHABD.

The acquiring of rights for movies such as GURU and UMRAO JAAN has even more significance as the leading pair in both movies

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Why 慓udgudee

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Writer Kamleshwar is no more
IndiaGlitz [Sunday, January 28, 2007]  



Prominent Hindi writer of the 20th century, Kamleshwar, is no more.

He died in Faridabad on Saturday, 27th January, after suffering a heart attack at around 8:30 in the evening. He was 75.

Born in the Mainpuri district of UP, Kamleshwar became famous for his short stories, and some other works, which depicted the contemporary life in a vivid style of presentation.

He also held important positions including Additional Director of Doordarshan, India抯 national television channel. He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2005 and Sahitya Akademi Award in 2003.

In the course of a glorious career as a writer, he wrote ten collections of short stories, ten novels and over thirty books in genres as diverse as literary criticism, travelogue and memoir.

As a journalist he was associated with the Dainik Jagaran (1990

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Source: Rediff News

Rahul Roy wins Bigg Boss

January 27, 2007 23:15 IST
Last Updated: January 27, 2007 23:29 IST

Rahul Roy on Saturday emerged as the winner in Sony Entertainment television's reality show Bigg Boss, beating the other finalists Carol Gracias and Ravi Kissen.

Rahul Roy takes home a prize money of Rs 50 lakh.

The rest of the Bigg Boss participants -- Anupama Varma, Aryan Vaid, Baba Sehgal, Kashmira Shah, Rakhi Sawant, Amit Sadh, Ragini, Deepak Tijori, Deepak Parashar, Bobby Darling and Roopali Ganguli -- who had been evicted earlier, made an appearance in the show.

Baba Sehgal and Rakhi Sawant performed at the show.