Saawariya opens in 85 theatres in North America

Saawariya, the first Bollywood film co-produced and distributed by a major Hollywood studio, has opened in 85 theatres in the US and Canada, with press reviews calling it a visually enchanting extravaganza.

The New York Times led its movie reviews section Friday with Saawariya, produced in collaboration between acclaimed director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Eye and ear candy for fans of Indian musical cinema, it is 2 hours 11 minutes - bracingly compact by Bollywood standards - of wide-screen close-ups, fanciful sets, colorful costumes, bellybuttons, almost-kisses and 10 pumped-up, achingly sweet songs," writes A.O. Scott, the Times' well-regarded film critic.

In conclusion, Scott finds the film, released here Friday and starring newcomers Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor "visually enchanting, cloyingly sweet, at once utterly chaste and insanely erotic, and finally exhausting".

Scott also notes that the film is rated PG (Parental guidance suggested) for "exposed bellybuttons and mild sexual innuendo".

The rating itself, however, shows Sony's professionalism, a lesson for Bollywood that rarely bothers to get an official rating in the US.

The Los Angeles Times headlines its review of Saawariya as "Bollywood grace--in a crazy way". Its reviewer finds the film "typically outsized extravaganza - sure to drop your jaw with its ravishment or trigger a seizure, depending on your design temperament".

The reviewer, however, concedes: "Bhansali's operatic style -- an ocean of close-ups, gliding camera moves and color saturation -- achieves its own kind of crazy grace."

LA Times is also scheduled to run a feature story on the film Sunday, according to the film's US publicist.

New York Post review titled "Bollywood flick, Hollywood folly", asks, "How can it be that a movie as beautiful to look at as 'Saawariya' is so ... boring?"

The reviewer blames Hollywood, "which has an annoying habit of sucking the life out of material".

The film, the review says, is yet another example of Hollywood trying to please everybody and, as a result, pleasing nobody.

Source : www.hindustantimes.com

Om Shanti Om has global premiere in London

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's latest movie Om Shanti Om had its gala world premiere in London on Thursday with the actor saying he hoped it would help bring Hindi films to the doorsteps of the West.

"It's a beginning. Every new film helps us to mount the steps," he said after a screening for the press at the downtown Empire Leicester cinema.

In London for the gala red-carpet premiere, besides Khan, is the film's debutante female lead Deepika Padukone, co-stars Arjun Rampal and Shreyas Talpade and distributor and Eros International chairman Kishore Lulla.

This was the first time an Indian film had premiered at the Empire at Leicester Square - home of all London movie premieres, Khan said.

He said London was the perfect launching pad for the film because of the history of "cultural cross-pollination" between India and Britain.

"I have always thought that we should be taking the first steps to bring out India's economy and culture to the world," he added.

Lulla said: "This is one of the most awaited films of the year and we are excited to be leveraging Eros's global distribution in promoting the film."

Source : http://www.sify.com/

Aamirs' ex-wife comes forward to defend him

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan's family and his former wife Reena have come out in his support, saying his brother Faisal Khan's allegations that he had been held captive by the actor are baseless.

Faisal claims he was held captive at Aamir's Bandra home between February 2005 to January 2006, and in a Bandra clinic where he was forced to consume medicines. Aamir's father Tahir Hussain has supported Faisal's version."We strongly condemn the comments and allegations made by Tahir Hussain and Faisal Khan against Aamir and our family. Faisal is unwell and is in need of urgent medical attention. Aamir's attempt to take custody of Faisal was so that he could help him and take care of him," said Aamir's family in a press statement.

"However, seeing that all Aamir's efforts have been met with such hostility, we think it's all for the best that Tahir Hussain has been given custody of Faisal Khan. He should now take complete responsibility of Faisal's care and actions," they added.

Aamir's mother Zeenat T. Hussain, ex-wife Reena Datta, sisters Nikhat Khan Hegde and Farhat Khan, cousin Mansoor and present wife Kiran Rao along with other family members have jointly issued the statement condemning Tahir Hussain and Faisal's "irresponsible behaviour".
The family maintains that Tahir and Faisal's "baseless allegations" forced them to break their silence and issue the statement.

"As a family, we have always believed in maintaining our silence and dignity, choosing not to react to the many absurd allegations that are frequently hurled at our loved one, Aamir. But this time we feel the need to express our utter shock, disgust and contempt at the public statements of Tahir Hussain and Faisal Khan."

Faisal, 41, suffers from periodic lapses into schizo-affective psychosis, according to the psychiatry department of the J.J. Hospital. He was produced before the court following a missing-person complaint lodged by his mother Zeenat, sister Nikhat and brother Aamir with the Khar police station on Oct 15.

The next day they filed an application contending that Faisal was mentally unstable and needed to be admitted to hospital for treatment.

However, Faisal, who recorded his statement under the Mental Health Act, contended that he did not suffer from any mental problems. All he wanted was to live alone and start working to make himself financially independent. He had even rented a flat in Chambur, a north-eastern suburb, he said.

Faisal made it clear that there was no property dispute in the family and if he must live with a relative, he preferred to live with his father and not with Aamir or his mother or sister.

A Mumbai court ordered Faisal, who has refused to live with his brother, to remain in the temporary custody of his father, for one month after a medical report said his mental condition was not stable.

"It is deeply distressing and saddening to see the depths to which Aamir's father and brother have sunk, with the express intention of causing Aamir hurt. Their offensive allegations, malicious lies and pathetic behaviour are truly shameful.

"Their behaviour is all the more appalling given that Aamir has supported both his father and brother in every way possible for the last 15 years, and has on numerous occasions bailed them out of their various crises. Unfortunately Aamir's goodness has only earned him their envy and hatred," they added.

The family says Aamir is the pillar of strength for them.

"He is a person of extraordinary gifts, of the highest moral integrity and honesty, and someone who has always put his family before himself. He has our deepest respect and all our love, and we support him and stand by him in whatever he does. We are proud of him for his courage and his dignity, which he continues to maintain despite all of this."

Source : http://www.sify.com/

Bollywood sees more misses than hits this year

Diwali is round the corner but the box office is yet to see any fireworks. Bollywood churned out a mixed bouquet this year but the majority flopped with Shah Rukh Khan starrer Chak De! Indiabeing the only super hit so far. Special: Diwali dhamaka from Sify Movies
Around 90 films - experimental films, movies with high budgets, comedies and love stories et al - have released in the last 10 months.

The year started with the disastrous Kudiyon Ka Hai Zamana, which promoted Rekha as its high point. This was followed by Mani Ratnam's Guru, loosely based on the life of late business tycoon Dhirubhai Ambani. The Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai starrer brought temporary respite and plunging movie ticket sales went up.

But it was not enough to compensate the losses.
Then came an array of flops, though offbeat offerings like Anurag Kashyap's Black Friday, Rahul Dholakia's Parzania and Madhur Bhandarkar's Traffic Signal pepped up the box office.
It was Reema Kagti's feel-good film Honeymoon Travel's Pvt. Ltd that actually broke the jinx. Made on a medium budget, Kagti's directorial debut was about different perceptions of what a honeymoon should be, portrayed through six couples. The film was termed the first big hit of the year.

"Films are not doing well because we are not concentrating on the script. There is a dearth of scriptwriters in Bollywood. We need good writers," said Bhavna Talwar of "Dharm" fame.
After that came a string of dismal comedies and dreary love stories.

The box office looked up with Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif's romantic-comedy Namastey London. Mira Nair's The Namesake also released at around the same time, but was meant mainly for the multiplex audience.

After a brief lull, a surprise hit came in the form of Bheja Fry. Debutant director Sagar Bellary's satirical comedy did really well. Shot on a shoestring budget of Rs.6 million, the film earned about Rs.120 million!

There were two hits in May - multi-starrer actioner Shootout At Lokhandwala and Anurag Basu's Life In A...Metro were appreciated by critics and viewers alike. "Metro" was successful in the overseas market too. It garnered $144,169 in the US and 148,208 pounds in Britain.
Thrillers like Manorama Six Feet Under and Johnny Gaddar were liked by a certain section of people but weren't considered big hits.

"The whole definition of hit and flop is wrong - movies like Manorama Six Feet Under and Johnny Gaddar are meant for a small section of society. If there is a total of 100 moviegoers, these films cater only 10 people. So if only 10 people go and watch these films, it is declared a flop. It is unfair," Vivek Agnihotri, whose Goal is releasing Nov 23, told IANS.

"Though there weren't too may hits, I must say that this year we had many experimental films in different genres. And it is a good sign. A new lot of directors is joining the industry with new ideas," he added.

Surprisingly, well-packaged and much-hyped movies like Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Ta Ra Rum Pum, Shakalaka Boom Boom, Eklavya - The Royal Guard, Salaam-e-Ishq, Nishabd and Cheeni Kum just wilted away.

The major break came with Shimit Amin's Chak De! India, starring Shah Rukh.

People didn't expect a film of the sports genre to do well, but it turned out to be a rage amongst audiences across the country. Made at a budget of Rs.200 million, the movie was about a disgraced hockey player trying to redeem his pledge by enabling the women's team to lift the world cup. It earned Rs.640 million and the cash registers of the producers are still ringing.
After Chak De! India, the flop story continued with Marigold: An Adventure Love Story, Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag, Dhol, Laaga Chunari Mein Daag and Bhool Bhulaiyaa.

Though Bollywood has had a disappointing year so far, it is poised for two big releases - Om Shanti Om and Saawariya. And the industry hopes these much-awaited flicks can change the economics of the box office business and end the year on a happy note.

Other projects that one can look forward to are Madhuri Dixit's comeback film Aaja Nachle, Agnihotri's Goal and Aamir Khan's directorial debut Taare Zameen Par.
Source : www.sify.com

Face jobs for Bollywood stars?

TOI finds out if it’s a key ingredient to survival in the industry.

SO what if Shilpa Shetty had a nose job, Sushmita Sen had silicone implants and Rakhi Sawant went a step further and took hers out? Women in Bollywood going under the knife is old news. But the now the guys seem to be following suit with face jobs. Think Shah Rukh Khan, Govinda, Shekhar Suman and Kumar Gaurav. But while it might do something for their vanity, does it help them as actors?

Cory Walia, make-up artist, says, “It’s about making use of the technology available. Today, the perception is when we have facilities, then why not use them?”

At the same time, Cory says things should not be overdone. “We know that stars like Shah Rukh are exposed to high work pressure and need work more often, but he takes it slow and makes it subtle. But somebody like Shekhar Suman makes the changes quite obvious. He shouldn’t have done so many things at the same time. Small doses of plastic surgery are okay,” he explains.

On the other hand, dermatologist Anil Abraham says the culprit is people’s mindsets. “When an actor does something to his face, he’s doing it either because he’s feeling jaded or wants to reintroduce himself,” he says.

“In India, actors are considered role models and that’s why this trend is rapidly picking up. But it’s not healthy. Natural remedies like a good diet and workouts are always better options for long-term results. These quick-fix methods will kill the actual acting skills as the actor won’t be able to give dramatic facial expressions.”

Agrees actor Anuuj Sawhney, “I believe in healthy eating, diet and exercise. No matter how good, face jobs give you an artificial look. I don’t mind minor corrections, but a whole face job is a no-no for me.”
Similarly, television actor Ram Kapoor says he will never go under the knife. “I won’t say it’s wrong, but I’m against having it done to me. I believe in taking things as they come,” he says. However, actor Ashmit Patel says he may consider a face job later. “In any case, I look younger than my age. But I won’t lie — I might get botox job done a few years later,” he says.

Looking good for the camera is a must, believes director Ravi Chopra. “As a director I’d obviously prefer a face that looks good in the frame,” he says. And the audience wants to see a handsome-looking 40-year-old man, says actor Manasi Joshi Roy, “It’s necessary for any actor to work on himself because it’s the audience that criticises actors for looking fat or having wrinkles on their face,” she adds.

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com