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Masoom to Mausam: Shahid turns 29

He is someone, who has, in his own sweet and boyish ways, redefined the term acting. Despite the fact that he has the DNA and the genes of two of the all time superstars, he preferred to make a name for himself! Did he succeed? Well, he not just succeeded but also set unprecedented record for he is none other than birthday boy Shahid Kapoor.

Shahid Kapoor turns 29 today. His birthday resolution is to become a student of his father, veteran actor Pankaj Kapur, and learn acting from him.

Shahid has been roped in by his father to star in his most ambitious project titled Mausam. Pankaj has written the story of the movie and will direct it himself.

Shahid said, “This year I will learn a lot as an actor from my father. I am not the star of the film, my father is. To concentrate fully on my father’s project, I will not do any other movie for around 8-9 months once this movie goes on the floors. This is quite a big risk for me as an actor as I will go underground for a long time now but I am sure it will be worth it.”

Shahid Kapoor was in for a pleasant surprise when his parents and his friends got together to throw him a surprise birthday party.

With today's birthday, the irony is that he not grows a year old, but he grows ten years younger. Such is the greatness of this sabka laadla chokra called Shahid Kapoor.

Soundarya Rajnikanth engaged to Ashwin Kumar

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My Name Is Khan: Review

My Name is Khan is a film made with sincerity and sweat, ambition and conviction. It grapples with the most urgent and fraught issue facing humanity: religion. It features a striking performance by Shah Rukh Khan.

Plot

Khan is the story of Rizwan Khan, played by Shah Rukh, who has Asperger’s syndrome. This milder form of autism impairs Rizwan’s social communication skills and gives him some decidedly odd behavior patterns – he can’t stand loud sounds or the colour yellow.

He rotates stones obsessively and can barely bring himself to hug someone. Rizwan is far from crazy but he definitely moves to the beat of a different drummer. Despite this he finds love and a family with Mandira, played by Kajol.

But post 9/11, their happy home falls apart and Rizwan embarks on a grand odyssey across America so that he can tell the American president that his name is Khan but he is not a terrorist.

What Worked

The scenes of Rizwan’s childhood are some of the strongest in the film. Zarina Wahab returns after years to give a lovely, nuanced performance as Rizwan’s mother.

The film, like all Karan Johar products, is beautifully cinematographed (director of photography Ravi K Chandran).

Shahrukh's performance.

Shah Rukh and Kajol share a superb chemistry that highlights all their films, and is an important part of My Name Is Khan.

What Didn't

If there is one quibble, it would be the fact that Karan Johar could have made effective use of the talented bunch of actors who make cameo appearances.

Also the second half scrambles madly both literally and figuratively.

Performances

Shah Rukh’s performance has little subtlety about it but it is heartfelt, endearing and more controlled than anything he’s ever done before. Watch him in a lovely scene in which Kajol accepts his proposal or how he restrains his tears so that his eyes brim but never well over.

Kajol is, as usual, superb. Mandira's laughter, her determination, her joie de vivre, her grief, her anger -- Kajol brings it all to life. And, if I may say so, Kajol, no one runs up a hill dressed in a night suit, wearing floppy slippers, with no make-up on, as well as you do.

Overall, I recommend that you see Khan for SRK. The film itself is too uneven to give us the emotional high we were waiting for. But hey, this is a Karan Johar film and everyone likes a happy ending!

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Brangelina to sue Britain’s News of the World

They've put the rumors to rest. Now they're taking the rumormongers to court.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have filed suit against Britain's News of the World after the tabloid published an article last month that sparked the breakup rumor heard round the world.

The story, published Jan. 24 and since wisely removed from the newspaper's website, claimed the couple had met with a Los Angeles divorce lawyer to quietly divide their assets, hash out a custody deal and financially provide for their six children in advance of what the tab claimed was going to be a messy separation.

"The News of the World has failed to meet our clients' reasonable demands for a retraction of and apology for these false and intrusive allegations which have now been widely republished by mainstream news outlets," the couple's London-based lawyer, Keith Schilling, said in a statement.

"We have advised them to bring proceedings, which they have now done."

The story and the various incarnations of breakup rumors that followed gained more traction than the usual standard-issue Brangelina split reports.

As for the newspaper, in his statement today, Brangelina's lawyer not only discredited the story, but proved shockingly that they were less than honest about their sourcing.

If it's any consolation, the tabloid was clearly half right. Apparently, Brangelina did visit a lawyer recently just one that's gonna sue the pants off the News of the World.

Tanushree is south bound

Hemanth Hegde made headlines last year when his film Housefull caused a furor over the inclusion of a Charlie Chaplin statue in the film.


But the actor-director is not one to baulk at controversy. His next directorial venture, titled Rama Rama Shri Rama, could potentially cause a problem among certain parties. “The title is apt for the story. I’m not doing it to be in the news. One shouldn’t bother when it comes to creativity. It’s a total family-oriented film with clean comedy,” maintains Hemanth.

He also plans to bring Bollywood hottie Tanushree Dutta to Sandalwood for this film. “I wanted the film to have a pan-India image and the role demands some glamour. That’s why I chose her,” said Hemanth, who has finished his first round of talks with the heroine.

“At first, Tanushree was reluctant about doing a Kannada film. In fact, when I narrated the story to her, she thought it was for a Hindi film. But then I told her that it’ll be made in Kannada. If the film clicks here, I’ll make it in Hindi,” explains the director. Hemanth is off to Mumbai on February 15 for the second round of talks with the Bong beauty. “I’ll be there to discuss her remuneration and am confident she’ll take up this project,” he added.

Hemanth has also confirmed Avatar Gill, Gulshan Grover and former Femina Miss India contestant Aishwarya Duggal for the film. As for the hero, Hemanth himself is set to take on the role. “I recently checked out some Kannada heroes’ remuneration and found it was too high. I thought it would be better if I put the same money into the film,” he concluded.

Shah Rukh Khan is a traitor: VHP

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Monday appeared to back the Shiv Sena by calling for a nationwide boycott of Shah Rukh Khan's My Name is Khan but took objection to the Sena's Mumbai-for-Marathis stand and said every inch of India belonged to all Indians.


"People of India must boycott My Name is Khan as Shah Rukh Khan is a traitor," VHP general secretary Pravin Togadia told journalists in Mumbai. My Name is Khan, starring Shah Rukh and Kajol, is set to be released Friday. But the star is mired in a blazing row over his recent comments advocating the cause of Pakistani cricket players who were not picked by any team for IPL. Togadia threatened that posters of the film would be torn down.

Interestingly, the radical VHP leader locked horns with the Shiv Sena that had also objected to Shah Rukh's comments by saying Mumbai could not be only for Marathis.

"The VHP's stand is very clear and we differ on the Shiv Sena's position. According to us, every inch of India belongs to all Indians and every Indian has the right to stay with dignity in any part of the country... Mumbai, Delhi, and even Kashmir is for all Indians," the VHP leader said. "If we try to stay that Mumbai is for Marathis and outsiders have to leave Mumbai, then I would say India would not survive."

Emma Watson the highest paid actress of 2009

Harry Potter star Emma Watson was the highest paid female star in Hollywood in 2009.


The Hollywood’s top 40 earners list compiled by Vanity Fair magazine has the beauty, who earned 20 million pounds, at the top among the women. According to the magazine, she was paid 10 million pounds each for the final two parts of series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

The 19-year-old is also the also the youngest actress on the list, reports the Telegraph. Meanwhile, Watson’s Harry Potter co-star Daniel Radcliffe was placed sixth in with an income of 25.6 million pounds.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen director Michael Bay earned the highest in Hollywood 125 million US.

Adnan Sami weds Roya in a secret ceremony

Though Adnan Sami’s scheduled wedding on January 31 to his German girlfriend Roya Faryabi in Munich fell through, it now comes to light that the couple had a secret nikaah ceremony at Adnan’s residence in Mumbai on Friday, January 30, a day before the wedding cards announced the wedding in Munich.


Only close family members of Adnan were present at this nikaah.

A source close to Adnan said, “The wedding in Munich had to be cancelled because the courts did not allow Adnan to leave the country. There are serious charges of domestic violence against him.”

Rather than cancel the wedding, Adnan decided to have a flash ceremony in Mumbai. All the arrangements were made by Adnan’s son Azaan.

At first Adnan was reluctant to confirm the development, but finally said, “Yes, we got married last Friday in a secret nikaah. And we’re loving it.”

Adnan now intends to host a wedding reception in Munich at Roya’s place and then another reception in Mumbai for all his friends. But as things stand now, Roya and Adnan are man and wife.

Speaking from Munich, Adnan’s third wife Roya Faryadi said, “Adnan is the perfect man for me. I love not just the man but also his mother and son. In fact, Adnan’s son Azaan and I get along like a house on fire. We often gang up together and tease the hell out of Adnan.”

Roya also made it clear that she is not the least perturbed by Adnan’s past record of broken marriages. “What happened in the past is the past. What I see is a man I’d like to spend my life with. Adnan is kind, caring and gentle. I hope we can make our marriage last forever. Like any good wife, I plan to shift to Mumbai to be with Adnan and his family. But I’ll keep visiting Germany. That’s where my parents stay.”

Jayaram’s house and office in Chennai attacked by enraged mob

Popular Malayalam-Tamil actor Jayaram's house and office in Valasaravakkam, Chennai, were attacked on Friday by a group of 25 activists of Naam Thamizhar Movement as a stiff reaction against the actor's comment against Tamil women during a talk show called "Ivide Husbands Happiyaanu" in a Malayalam TV channel. The talk show was aired as a promo to his new Malayalam film Happy Husbands.


According to sources, no one was injured in the attack as Jayaram and his family members were out of town. The activists damaged his car and windows in the house. Meanwhile, the police have arrested eight Naam Thamizhar activists associated with the attack.

The whole episode began when the TV anchor asked a funny question: "In most Jayaram movies, we can see only dusky-coloured housemaids appointed by his spouse(s), maybe because she is very cautious about her husband. Does it happen in real life as well?" The question was contextual as Jayaram plays a husband in the film who gets attracted to a bar dancer.

Jayaram's reply was also quick enough to hold up the good spirit of the show. "I have a buffalo like Tamil lady in my house working as a housemaid. The real intention my wife selected her is to avoid my peeping in the kitchen area. It is a trick by all wives."

According to latest reports, Jayaram apologized for having to make this comment, describing his domestic help as a buffalo-like Tamil woman. He said in a statement: "It was a joke and not aimed at hurting the sentiments of anyone. I myself am a Tamil and how could I hurt the sentiments of Tamil people? I have been in the Tamil film industry for 23 years and never have I hurt the feelings of Tamils. If any of my comments hurt women in particular, my profuse apologies."

Striker: Review

Striker is the kind of film that fills you with regret. There is skilful direction here, some nicely etched moments and commendable performances and yet the film never gathers enough momentum to make an impact. Striker never becomes the film it could have been.

Plot

Set in a Mumbai ghetto in the mid 80s, Surya (Siddharth) grows up with few luxuries. Poor health keeps him away from school often and that is when his elder brother, Chandrakant (Anoop Soni), introduces him to carrom.

Hopes for a job in Dubai replaces the passion for carrom as Surya grows into a young man. Duped by a bogus overseas employment agency, Surya loses his hard-earned money he had saved for going to Dubai and he's forced to cross paths with Jaleel (Aditya Pancholi).

Reintroduced to carrom by his childhood friend Zaid (Ankur Vikal), Surya starts playing again. Being robbed of his cash by the same man who had caused misery for many families, Surya decides to take on Jaleel on his turf.

Performances

Siddharth whom we last saw in Rang De Basanti, is very good as the angst-ridden Surya who plays his life out on the board. Aditya Pancholi looks noxious and enacts his part just too wonderfully. Anupam Kher does an okay job, partly because his character is not well-defined. Padma Priya looks confident. Ankur Vikal does very well. Seema Biswas gets into the skin of the character. Vidya Malvade doesn't get much scope. Anoop Soni is perfect. Nicolette Bird is passable.

Eventually then, Striker just isn’t compelling enough for a trip to the theater. But there are many good things here. So I recommend that you wait for the DVD.

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Narain injured on the sets of Thambi Kottai

Here’s the latest that we have on Narain! The actor, we hear, has been injured on the sets of Thambi Kottai in Thanjavur and has been hospitalised.


When we probed further, this is what we got. Reportedly, a bridge (costing nearly a crore) had been put up by director Ammu Ramesh with the help of thousands of workers for the film.

The bridge is the pivot around which the story of the film revolves. When a crucial part of the climax scene was being shot, the bridge collapsed! Narain fell down due to that, sustaining injuries.

But, here’s the happy news. Sources close to the actor state that he’ll be up and running in the next three days. Thambi Kottai has Poonam Bajwa playing the female lead, while Prabhu plays a crucial role.

Angelina Jolie had an affair with Lady Gaga?

If rumours are to be believed, then Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie had an affair with singer Lady Gaga.


According to Ian Halperin, author of the recent bestseller 'Brangelina: The Untold Story of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie', the Tomb Raider star might have cheated on partner Brad Pitt with GaGa.

Jolie - who is openly bisexual - and GaGa - a rumoured hermaphrodite - had a secret rendezvous at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel that lasted all night, Halperin alleged.

Jolie is reportedly obsessed with Gaga, reported the China Daily. It's not the first time Jolie has been accused of cheating on Pitt.

Earlier this week, In Touch Weekly magazine spoke to a housekeeper who worked extensively with the family on their numerous visits to the Waldorf-Astoria in New York.

Anna Kowalski claimed that the actress had a series of steamy sex sessions with one of the dialect coaches she worked with on the set of her movie Salt.

Kites international trailer leaked on the internet

A special two-and-a-half-minute promo of Rakesh Roshan’s Kites will hit the theatres on February 12, with the release of My Name Is Khan.


The promo showcases the love story between Barbara Mori and Hrithik Roshan, and even has a kissing scene. However, instead of hoping that the promo makes the right impact, the producers are now scratching their heads over a totally unforeseen problem.

The promo has been leaked and already made its way to the internet. The promo was specially made and sent to the 20th century Fox office in USA, who will release My Name Is Khan internationally.

Our source said, “Rakesh Roshan, the unit at Filmkraft and director Anurag Basu had made this promo keeping the international market in mind. This was supposed to be released with My Name Is Khan as it has a grand overseas release.”

“The promo was made and sent to the US office of Fox Studios. However, now the office has learnt that the promo has been leaked on the net on Wednesday. Everyone was in shock and didn’t know how this happened. Rakesh Roshan and the entire unit of Reliance Big Pictures were in the process of removing the promos from YouTube as the novelty factor would have worn off by the time My Name Is Khan releases” he added.

Rakesh Roshan remained unavailable for comment. Reliance Big pictures also remained unavailable for comment.

Madonna and Jesus Luz: New entrants of splitsville

Pop queen Madonna and Brazilian model Jesus Luz have parted ways. The pair blamed the 28 years age difference between them and a lack of common interests for the split.


The busy work schedules of Madonna, 51, and Jesus, 23, were also said to be a factor. "It was not only totally amicable but it was Luz who initiated the split," a report claimed.

Mother-of-four Madonna has told friends she and Jesus are at different places in their lives. "The problem is as simple as it is obvious - it's the age difference. How long could it last? How it even lasted a year seems a miracle to a lot of people," said a source.

"They are in such different places in their lives. They both benefited, but it's pretty much over now. Or as Madonna told me, 'We've just run out of things to talk about. It's really pushing it for us to have common ground these days. We have Kabbalah, that's about it'," added the source.

The pair began dating after Madonna's marriage to director Guy Ritchie, 41, ended in divorce in October 2008.

Prakash Raj and Pony Verma to enter wedlock?

Is this rumour all set to turn into reality? Prakash Raj, who is said to be dating Bollywood choreographer Pony Verma, might be getting ready to marry her.


They both were going steady for the past two years.

Prakash’s divorce to wife Lalitha Kumari came through some time ago.

Though the two have gone blue denying any relationship, it’s being whispered the ‘alleged affair’ was the reason for Prakash’s marriage to go kaput.

But now that Prakash is divorced, he and Pony have a chance to set things straight and a marriage can be expected in the next few months.

While Prakash is an established actor, having won two National Awards, Pony is on the verge of joining the big league, having been roped in for projects with by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Priyadarshan.

Katrina ki Ajab Kiss Ki Ghazab Kahani

In all her films so far, Katrina Kaif has kissed only once, in Kabir Khan’s New York.


Katrina has now decided to make it official. She won’t do a kissing sequence, even if the producer-director uses the oldest trick to persuade her: the script demanded it.

A friend of the actress said, “Katrina has said no to kissing scenes in all her films barring New York. And believe me, the directors are very keen to see her kiss her co-stars. Katrina cleverly keeps dodging all the so-called must-kiss scenes. She is a very conservative girl at heart. In fact, when reports claimed that she was going to wear a bikini in Dostana 2, a la Priyanka Chopra in the first Dostana, Katrina protested violently and made it clear to producer Karan Johar and director Tarun Mansukhani: no exposure, no kissing.”

Katrina said, “I don’t deny I’ve done scenes in the past where I did things that I wasn’t comfortable with. But now I won’t. I just don’t feel comfortable doing kissing scenes, or for that matter, wearing a bikini on screen.”

In both, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani and Raajneeti, there was apparently a request for a kiss with Ranbir Kapoor. Katrina said a polite but firm no.

A source revealed, “All the intimate scenes in Raajneeti are between Ranbir and his American girlfriend played by Sarah Thompson. They have lingering lovemaking and kissing shots. In the Indian portion of Ranbir’s story, there’s no intimacy with Katrina. She convinced the director that the character of the dignified politician would not go down well with the audience doing intimate scenes.”

Katrina is quite firm as she said, “It’s true. I’m not at all comfortable doing kissing scenes. Call me a prude or conservative. I just don’t feel kissing scenes jell well with our audiences. So no kissing scenes for me.”

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Alicia Keys secretly engaged to Swizz Beatz?

If rumours are to be believed, pop singer Alicia Keys has secretly got engaged to rapper boyfriend Swizz Beatz.

The singer, who has just turned 29, is said to have received a seven-carat diamond ring from the hip-hop producer just before her birthday, reports revealed.

The duo was also spotted walking along a beach in Hawaii around the date of his supposed proposal.

While Alicia’s spokesperson denied the report, her friend said: “They are currently in Hawaii celebrating the engagement and her birthday. She feels blessed. She is thrilled. She is with the man who has inspired so much of her music and her new album.”

Junior NTR’s ‘junior’ wife

The grandson of former Andhra Pradesh CM, late N T Rama Rao – Junior NTR (one of Tollywood’s leading heroes), landed in a legal controversy following his family’s decision to get him married to a Std XII student.0


Singuluri Santhi Prasad, a lawyer from Vijayawada, filed a suit in the Krishna district legal services authority contending that the girl is only 17 and the families are violating the Child Marriage Restraint Act.

Junior NTR, 27, is to get engaged to N Lakshmi Pranathi, daughter of a real estate businessman Narne Srinivas Rao, in March and the couple are to be married in May. The bride’s mother is the niece of former CM and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu. Naidu is believed to have played a crucial role in fixing the alliance.

Prasad filed a suit after learning that the girl is only 17. The legal age for marriage is 18. He sought a direction that the marriage be performed only after the girl is 18.

Family sources revealed that Pranathi would be 18 by May. Besides his real estate business, her father is the chairman of a local news channel.

Jai Ho! AR Rahman

Indian composer A R Rahman scored a double triumph at the Grammy Awards here, scooping two early honours for his music from Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire.


Rahman won the first Grammy of the pre-show at the Staples Center in the best compilation soundtrack for a motion picture category before his Jai Ho won in the best motion picture song category moments later.

"This is insane, god is great again," Rahman said as he accepted his second award before a VIP audience.

Rahman's rivals in the soundtrack category included Steve Jordan for Cadillac Records, Quentin Tarantino for Inglourious Basterds, and the producers of Twilight and True Blood.

In the best song category Rahman's beaten rivals included Bruce Springsteen for his song The Wrestler, from the Oscar-nominated movie of the same name.

The Grammy success comes after Rahman earned two Oscars for his music in Slumdog Millionaire at last year's Academy Awards.

The talented music maestro picked up the best original score statuette before scooping the best song Oscar.

The Blind Side: Review

In 2006 Michael Lewis released a book entitled, The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game that told the tough story of professional football player Michael Oher and his journey to the NFL. The book was adapted into a feature, and centers on a young and homeless Oher (Quinton Aaron) who is taken in by the affluent Tuohy family in Memphis, Tennessee. He isn’t so much a delinquent as he is misguided, and the film highlights how they gave him the direction to reach his full potential in sports and in life.

Plot

The Blind Side is based on the humble beginnings of Michael Oher, an abandoned inner city kid who’s mother is a drug addict and father is no where to be found. A family friend finds a way to enter him into an upscale private school due to his size and athletic ability. While there he struggles with his grades, sleeps in the gym, and wears the same outfit on a daily basis. During a rainy walk from school, he’s discovered by the Tuohy family and slowly becomes a permanent staple in their lives. Throughout his stay, he’s given a tutor to help with his studies, a shot at college education, and a chance to play professional football in the NFL.

What Worked

Ray McKinnon: This Oscar winner (Best Short Film, The Accountant) stars as Coach Cotton, one of the driving forces behind Michael’s football success. McKinnon pulls off the right balance of sincerity and selfishness in his role. Initially, Cotton sees Oher as an amazing career opportunity, but he eventually sheds that desire to put the player’s future in front of his own.

Humor: This movie is a lot more lighthearted than one would expect. Going off the trailer, you get the impression that this will be a tear jerker along the lines of Rudy or even Friday Night Lights, but it’s not. There are a lot of comedic moments especially between the family that make this film refreshing but not depressing.

Closing Credit Sequence: This may seem like an odd thing to point out, but after the film comes to an end, the closing credit sequence is the cherry on top. It features photos of the real life Tuohy clan, along with Michael throughout the years. There’s even footage from Oher’s drafting ceremony into the NFL, which is beyond priceless.

What Didn't

The Screenplay: There’s nothing about this story that makes it stand out amongst other films that have similar premises. It follows a formula that we’ve seen time and time again in not only the sports genre, but drama, comedy and everywhere in between.

The Supporting Actors: For the most part, the main cast did decent work, but everyone around them appeared to be phoning in their performances. In particular, the group of “street thugs” from Oher’s old neighborhood were cast very badly. You could tell that these were professionally trained actors trying to do their best thug impressions. Their dialogue was stereotypical, and you could actually see the disbelief on their faces as they delivered each line.

Overall, The Blind Side is not your typical, sappy drama. It has plenty of lighthearted moments to keep you on the up and up, in an otherwise generic sports tale. The story isn’t terrible, but leaves much room for improvement. Don’t go into this movie thinking that you’ll see a lot of football action, because you won’t. This film concentrates more on Oher’s family and school life than the actual sport. This may be something that appeals to those who aren’t fans of the game, but may turn off those who are.

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Road To Sangam: Review

A simple yet a powerful docu-feature, Road to Sangam is a gentle and heartwarming journey that takes you through the forgotten Gandhian values and principles. Like the khadi that Gandhiji interlaced, Road to Sangam is simple and uncomplicated.

Plot

Road to Sangam is a story of a devout Muslim car mechanic, Hasmatullah (Paresh Rawal), who runs a workshop in one of the prominent Muslim localities of Allahabad. He is also the secretary of the local mosque committee but doesn’t share a cordial rapport with the president Nawab Kasuri (Om Puri).

Things start to take a turn when one day he is entrusted with the job of restoring an old V8 Ford Engine within a week’s time. Hasmatullah is elated to take on the vintage machine, completely oblivious to the fact that it was the same engine that carried the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi to be immersed at the Sangam. As Hasmat works on his new assignment, a powerful bomb explodes in his town leading to the arrest of innocent Muslim youths.

Kasuri along with Maulana Qureshi (Pawan Malhotra) calls for a strike and orders the businesses to be shut as means of protest against the government. Hasmat joins the boycott only to realize the importance of work at hand. The vehicle is now being repaired to immerse a part of Gandhiji's ashes forgotten in a bank vault. It is now the wish of Gandhiji's surviving successor Tushar Gandhi that the last of the great man's ashes be immersed in the Sangam of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati.

Hasmat is in a fix. Will he support the protest and abandon the repair of the engine or go against the wishes of his community. Thus begins the journey of a true Muslim with a real Gandhian spirit.

Performance

Paresh Rawal as Hasmatullah is very convincing. As an obstinate motor mechanic, with a gentle soul driven by clarity of purpose steams no hindrance from religious extremism. Paresh as Hasmatullah is simply outstanding.

Om Puri’s portrayal as Mohammed Ali Kasuri is well-defined. Pawan Malhotra as the Maulavi who keeps provoking the committee in the name of religion deserves a special mention.

Debutant director Amit Rai’s effort in making a thought provoking film that simply carts the message of equality and humanity without getting clichéd is laudable. The story is gripping but the at times the pace is slow that gives the film a docu-feature feel.

The makers couldn’t have asked for a better time to release the film than a day before Gandhiji's death anniversary. If your platter is some meaningful cinema and not just sheer entertainment then, Road to Sangam is highly recommendable.

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Ishqiya: Review

After Classic Westerns and Curry Westerns, the likes of Vishal Bharadwaj seem to have designed a desi sub-genre where the bucolic Bihar backdrops are credibly carried off by the rural realms of Maharashtra’s Wai village. Call it ‘Wai-stern’ or whatever, but from Omkara to Ishqiya this rough-and-tough sub-genre has often been an antidote to candyfloss cinema, while still having a heart and in the right place.

Plot

Two petty thieves, uncle Khalujan, played by Naseeruddin Shan and his nephew Babban, played by Arshad Warsi, are on the run after double-crossing their boss. When all other avenues for shelter dry up, they land up at the house of a friend only to be told that he is dead. His widow Krishna, played by Vidya Balan, takes them in. What follows is an incredibly tangled tale of love and longing, guns and deceit.

Both uncle and nephew fall inexorably in love with her. Khalujan conducts an old-world romance, listening to her sing and in a lovely scene, even peeling garlic in her kitchen. Babban is aggressively sexual but the poetry of their love is underlined with danger. You are always aware that nothing is quite what it seems.

What Worked

Abhishek Chaubey keeps the pacing brisk and the humor, crisp. He skillfully shifts notes going from suspense to laughter in a blink. And the dialogue, by Vishal, is pitch perfect.

Ishqiya would have faltered if the performances had not matched the writing but all three leads are absolutely terrific.

What Didn't

In the second half, there are stretches in which the plot starts to blur and the end-twist is less than convincing.

Performances

Vidya Balan’s smoldering looks scorch the screen even as her eyes hint at tragedy. She proves that she is miles ahead of the cookie cutter Barbie dolls that clutter Bollywood and that sensuality has very little to do with showing skin.

Arshad Warsi is feral as Babban and Naseeruddin Shah, heart-achingly vulnerable as an old man giddy with love. Watch his smiling eyes in Bharadwaj’s lilting composition Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji. Salman Shahid (last seen in Kabul Express) is an interesting character and Adil Hussain makes for a strong negative lead.

If you have the patience and the willingness to savor an edgier, less populist popular Hindi cinema, you will be amply rewarded. Highly recommended.

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Avatar steals Titanic’s thunder

Epic action adventure Avatar sunk the global box office record set in 1997 by Titanic to become the highest grossing film of all time.
On Monday, January 25th, Avatar touched USD 1.859 billion, officially passing Titanic (USD 1.843 billion) to become the Industry's Biggest Film in history at the Worldwide Box Office.
The milestone cements the place of Cameron, who produced, directed and wrote both Titanic and Avatar as the most successful moviemaker of all time.
With the movie still going strong in cinemas worldwide, industry observers say it is likely to touch USD 2 billion.
In India, the film has done a business of Rs 105 crores so far, making it the biggest ever Hollywood film in India and 2nd biggest film in India after 3 Idiots for 2009. The film has earned record collections at Imax, 3D and single screens across the country.
The theatrical run of Avatar continues in 122 countries around the world on over 16,000 screens with a whopping 72 percent of WW GBO or USD 1.35B coming from 3D screens thus far.

Rani Mukerji walks out of Deepa Mehta’s next

Rani Mukerji has walked out of Deepa Mehta’s film, an adaptation of Salman Rushdie’s masterpiece novel Midnight’s Children, because she apparently didn’t want to play the mother of a 14-year-old. That she happily played a mother of two kids in Yash Raj Films’ Ta Ra Rum Pum almost three years ago is another matter.
A source said, “She asked Mehta that how she can play the mother of a 14-year old when she herself is just 30? She preferred to leave the film instead.”
Initially, Rani was quite excited about the idea of working with Mehta as it would have been the first time in her 13-year career that she would have worked with a female director. Reportedly, she had even met Rushdie and Mehta in Toronto for the same.
Equally Deepa Mehta was also excited at the prospect of working with Rani. Mehta confirmed that Rani is no longer in her film. She also said that Rani had informed her about the same. “Rani was required to play a mother in a section of the film, but there is no kid in the film who is 14 years old,” said the filmmaker.
However, Mehta dismissed the buzz that Rani turned her down because she didn’t want to play a teenager’s mother. She said, “Rani had some personal reasons for not doing the film. I cannot disclose the reasons because there are some things, which are confidential between a director and an actor. I have great regard for Rani and total respect for why she is not working with me in this film.”
Mehta’s film was planned for a September 2010 release but with this unexpected roadblock it seems that Mehta is now racing against time.

Rambha engaged to Indran

High spirits and revelry filled the air as celebrities glittered at one of the most anticipated engagement ceremonies of K’town.
Yes, it was glam girl Rambha’s engagement to businessman Indran Padmanathan. The actress looked like a million bucks in her off-white jewel-encrusted designer wear and was all smiles.
The grand ceremony was held at the Park Sheraton Hotel, Chennai.
While the couple coyly posed for shutterbugs, Rambha’s brother Vasu played perfect host to the occasion by making sure that the guests enjoyed the evening to the hilt. The ceremony had it all — good food, stars, glitz and glamour.
Indran has also presented a brand new BMW car to Rambha as an engagement gift.
If reports are to be believed then the marriage of Rambha will be held on March 27, 2010 in Tirupathi.

Rann: Review

After the politician, if one were to pick a profession that was as scorned, it would have to be that of the TV journalist. It is distressing that we no longer have any expectation from the news. We no longer expect (though we continue hoping) it to be entirely truthful, accurate or justice-oriented. We are happy when the media takes up for Jessica Lal and such cases and we give our full support; but by and large, we know we are helpless when we watch empty stories being paraded as news.

Then there’s the issue of making up news, as one character puts it, 'like a film'. Now, this concept has been interestingly depicted in Hollywood films like Wag the Dog, where an entire news of America going to war is fabricated and shot by a hired film producer. Heck, even Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani said pretty much the same thing as Rann, but in a tragicomic manner. Here the tone is self-serious and dark, and the message lost in all the intensity.

Plot

Vijay Harshvardhan Malik (Amitabh Bachchan) is the founder of a private news channel, India 24/7. A hardcore upholder of journalistic ethics, his channel is battling for survival. Jay (Sudeep), his son, looks at his father's news channel purely as a business enterprise that must make profits to justify its existence. He hates that his competition (Mohnish Behl) is doing better than him.

The story takes a turn when a corrupt politician, Mohan Pandey (Paresh Rawal), decides to use the channel to his advantage by using Vijay's son-in-law Navin (Rajat Kapoor). Pandey aspires to be the Prime Minister and indulges in a vicious campaign against his political opponent.

Navin is the most insecure man on earth and won't rest till he becomes the number one industrialist in the country. He, in turn, involves his brother-in-law Jay in Pandey's game plan.

What Worked

The film does have its moments. The time when a sensational interview line is repeated thrice for effect; the self-deprecating joke of a filmmaker announcing a film on the recent blasts; and the one where a journalist asks intelligent questions to a politician going to be elected PM, only to be replaced with a conventional interviewer who asks aapko kaisa mehsoos ho raha hai (How are you feeling?).

Amit Roy's cinematography is eye-catching. Dialogues are power-packed. The background score plays a crucial role. It heightens the impact of various scenes.

What Didn't

The problem with Rann is that, save that one sequence and some interesting moments leading up to it, the film is a drag. At interval point, in fact, you aren't even sure where the film's going. In the second half, when you find out where the film is going, you realise that it isn't really going anywhere at all.

Ok, the film tells you how news on television is manipulated to suit the needs of politicians and about the abuse of the media's power to mislead the aam janta. Point noted.

But the one-sidedness of the script makes you question if the film is supposed to be a realistic depiction or merely a punching bag for the electronic media, which has faced enough flak in the past already.

Was it necessary to present each character like they come from another world? Malik's rival Ambrish Kakkad - who is also the head of the channel with the highest TRPs in India - mouths dialogues like "News ko masala banake becho". Politician Mohan Pandey walks around with gulaal applied on his forehead and shouts into the microphone every time he gives an interview.

Businessman Navin Shankalya smirks at the littlest of things, and Malik's son Jay, grunts and smokes and yells.

These unidimensional, repetitive and irritating 'caricatures' get on your nerves, even as the script moves from one scene to another in the most hurried fashion. It's not like they aren't long drawn enough to induce yawns, but the story in itself seems to move at a snail's pace.

You never watch a Ram Gopal Varma film to see a great story. You watch his films to see what he has done with those stories - what you call a 'treatment' director.

Over the years, Varma has used, and abused, the same treatment in his films to such an extent that it has lost its novelty and fun factor now. Extreme close-ups, dark environs, a garish back ground score.

If he insists on continuing with his style of filmmaking, the least he can do is ensure that there's a great script to back it up. This one, though, seems to be a rush job.

Performances

Performances are earnest. Bachchan, despite being present in only a few scenes, is powerful. Riteish Deshmukh does well in an intense role, while Sudeep goes overboard at most times. Gul Panag shrieks through most of the film. The troika of Paresh Rawal, Rajat Kapoor and Mohnish Behl remind you of Subhash Ghai villains - plotting and planning and grinning pointlessly.

The most poignant of all scenes, the finale monologue, has earned the film its stars. Translated in English, Malik says– 'News was meant to be the aim, and money its means. Now money is the aim, and news is the means of getting it’. And then Malik questions this with a powerful kyon (why?). Now that’s the part we were hoping the film would give us a perspective on.

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Gul Panag Wallpapers

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Brad Pitt splurges $ 1.1 million on a bachelor pad

Actor Brad Pitt has reportedly spent over $ 1.1 million on a bachelor pad in the Hollywood Hills to help him sort out his split from partner Angelina Jolie revealed a report.

Built in 1920 and originally on sale, the property has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a bar area and a cave built into the foundations, reports revealed.

"The house oozes character. Brad has had his eye on it for some time but he decided now was the right time to buy because he wanted a place to call his own," said a source. "He needs somewhere quiet that doesn't have memories of Angie and where he can be alone and think about what he does next," added the source.

It was reported that Pitt's mother Jane has stepped in to try to save his relationship with Jolie. The 70-year-old has apparently become close to the actress after working with her while setting up a cancer centre.

Pitt and Jolie are already believed to have enlisted lawyers to negotiate the division of their over $330 million (205 million pounds) fortune and custody of their children.

But a family source said: "Brad is desperately trying to cling on to the wreckage of the relationship as he is still very much in love with Angelina and believes they can make it work.”

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Chiranjeevi Sarja and Aindrita Ray in a drunken fight

Ever since Chiranjeevi Sarja and Aindrita Ray teamed up for the former’s launch pad Vayuputra, there have been rumours of them being an item.

The recent gossip floating about in Sandalwood about the duo is their alleged fight in a star hotel on the old airport road.

Though not substantiated, rumour mongers are claiming to be eyewitness to a fight between the two actors which took place when they were dining together in the hotel. The reason is said both their ‘high spirits’. Interestingly, the rumour has a twist in the end. Aindrita had to apparently clear the bill as Chiranjeevi was there without his wallet. For the last few days, this story has taken various shapes in Sandalwood.

But Chiranjeevi said that he has been having a hearty laugh at these stories. “I have not been to that hotel in six months, let alone last week. I have been preparing for my new film Gandedhe and the shooting started on Jan 22. I hardly have time to go out during my shooting,” he said. Being on the rumour circuit just into his second film may not be a bad sign after all.

Shah Rukh ko Dulhan Mil Gaya

Shah Rukh Khan went down on his knees and proposed to a girl dressed up as a bride at an event at Ahmedabad yesterday.

Shah Rukh Khan got married again yesterday at a five-star hotel in Ahmedabad to 20-year-old Tillana Desai. Wait, don’t jump to conclusions, it was a mock wedding that SRK impulsively thought up to pacify the girl who is in love with him. SRK was promoting his film My Name is Khan and didn’t think he’d run into a girl, dressed up as a bride, who also wanted her name to be Khan!

Our source said, “At his film’s event, SRK had to meet people with unusual love stories. Among the crowd, was 20-year-old Tillana Desai, who had come dressed in full bridal finery. When SRK asked her about her love story, she said she had been in love with a guy since she was seven but can’t marry him as he is already married.”

“When SRK asked her who the guy was, he was surprised to know that he was the man in question. She also said that she only uses the products that he endorses and refuses to buy anything else. The girl insisted that SRK should marry her. SRK used his million-dollar charm to overcome the awkwardness. The girl had even brought a ring with her. He went down on his knees and slipped the ring on her finger, saying that this is their rehearsal for the wedding” added the source.

The lucky girl was on cloud nine. We spoke to Tillana Desai, who gushed, “SRK was really cute. Usne mujhe yeh wedding ring pehnai. I told him that I’ve been crazy about him for years. Unfortunately, he is married. I guess he thought that my love story was very unusual and that’s why he said that we should get married and gave me this ring.

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Veer Review

Veer is basically Salman’s blockbuster Wanted set in a historical twilight zone.

When you walk into a costume drama written by Salman Khan and directed by Anil Sharma, historical accuracy, consistency and plausibility are not high on the priority list. What you’re looking for is an old-fashioned Hindi film brimming with tough men, beautiful women, chest-thumping dialogue and no-holds-barred melodrama.

Veer, a Manmohan Desai-meets-Gladiator epic, provides this but doesn’t weave it together with enough imagination or panache. This mega-scale love story has patches of power but mostly veers between being ridiculous and plain boring. There are moments of comedy that will have you laughing till your sides ache – it’s unintentional of course.

Plot

Heavily inspired by the 1962 Tony Curtis film Taras Bulba, Veer is set in colonial India and concerns a Rajputana tribe known as the Pindharis. These are unique warrior alcoholics. They are good at killing and drinking and have a dress sense that combines Gujarat emporium outfits with fur and seriously unkempt hair.

When the king of Madhavgarh, played by Jackie Shroff, cheats the Pindharis to please the British, the tribals swear revenge. The head Prithvi Singh, played by Mithun Chakraborty, even sends his sons Veer and Punya, played by Salman and Sohail Khan, to London for an education so they can figure out how the British mind works. Matters become complicated when Veer falls in love with the princess of Madhavgarh, played by debutant actress Zarine Khan, whom the Mumbai tabloids have uncharitably dubbed 'F'atrina because she looks like Katrina after too many pastries.

Veer valiantly battles the wicked king and the British and even manages to kick-start the Indian independence movement.

Performances

Veer rides on Salman's star power, but even his hardcore fans will be disappointed by this movie. Zarine Khan resembles Katrina Kaif, but wears one expression all through. Mithun is okay, while Jackie does his bit well. Sohail Khan irritates, meanwhile Puru Raaj Kumar and Aryan Vaid get no scope. Neena Gupta is as usual. The English actors are stereotypical.

If like me, you can find delight in the sheer delirium of a bad Bollywood film, then see Veer, otherwise do catch it on DVD. In a few years, this sensibility and swagger will be extinct.

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