Vettayadu Vilayadu
Vettayadu Vilayadu' Watch it for Kamal Haasan
After hitting a host of hurdles, Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan’s Vettayadu Vilayadu has at last seen the light of the day. And if the initial response is a guide, Kamal has a winner on his hands.
That must come as a big relief for Kamal, whose last film Mumbai Xpress had bombed at the box office. The setback also saw Kamal slipping from his Number 2 position in Kollywood. In Vettayadu Vilayadu, director Gautham Menon is on sure ground. The director, who fashioned hits like ‘Minnale’ and ‘Kaaka Kaaka’, has again chosen a police investigation story, his forte.
Vettayadu Vilayadu is a crisply-edited film that bears the stamp of Gautam’s directorial dexterity. Stylistic, innovative, technically top-class, VV is all this and more. And as always, Kamal is in his elements as the investigative top cop, adding new dimension to his histrionic skills.
No minus points, you might ask. There are drawbacks, of course. The surfeit of violence, especially against women puts you off. Besides, the pace slackens a bit in the second half. And the denouement is, to say the least, a bit contrived.
DCP Raghavan (Kamal Haasan) is in Madurai to probe the brutal murder of Rani, daughter of the city Police Commissioner Arogyaraj (Prakash Raj), his mentor. Arogyaraj and his wife, traumatized by the tragedy that befell their beloved daughter, shift to New York, only to be killed.
The shocked Tamil Nadu police commandeers the services of DCP Raghavan to unearth the mystery behind the twin murders. Raghavan goes about his job with the help of New York Police and the FBI.
While in New York, Aradhana (Jyothika) comes into Raghavan’s life. The police officer saves Aradhana, who tries to end her life, fed up with a failed marriage. Bengali beauty, Kamalini Mukherjee plays Raghavan’s wife, who is bumped off by goondas.
A major highlight of Vettayadu Vilayadu is the outstanding camera work by Ravi Varman. Ravi has framed some brilliant aerial shots of New York by night.
Music director Harris Jayaraj has also come up trumps with a number of catchy tunes. You won’t forget “Manjal Veyil…” and “Partha Muthal Naal”. The song that introduces Kamal “Karka Karka” is peppy and its picturisation, excellent.
Prakash Raj does a competent job as usual. But the surprise in the package is Balaji as the serial killer. Jyothika is passable. But Kamalini takes the eye, for sure. You will see a lot more of this Bengali beauty, who steals over you, though her role is brief.
Watch it for Kamal Haasan’s brilliant delineation of the mind and methods of a top police officer.
source apunkachoice
Mallika Sherawat
Conversations about when Mallika Sherawat was born and where she came from aren’t exactly hotly debated as much as the depletion of ozone layer.
But Madame M has always been a better headliner for the voyeurs (that would be us). And so we have another juicy tidbit that we’d like you to chew on.
We laid our hands on a picture that may actually change the ‘number’ game for Miss Sherawat. This particular photograph (in possession of the mag OK! India) was shot in 1995 when Mallika was Reema Lamba and worked as a crew with Air India. She was all of 23 years old then (in a blue sari on the extreme right).
But our problem is this: reports in magazines and on the internet claim that Mallika was born on October 24, 1981. That would make her age 25 today.
But going by these pictures, the sexy lady would have been all of 14 years when it was shot! Now isn’t that a little too young for an airline to employ girls? Or is it that Miss Sherawat is trying to conceal her age, along with everything else?
source midday
Awards "Do they deserve"
Controversy could well be the second name of the Indian National Film Awards. The results may still be awaiting official declaration, but the bickering has started over who will win this year. HT Style looks at the character of the controversies surrounding the national awards and why they are still the nation’s most sought-after cinematic honour. Credibility of the jury Popular notion is that anyone who can pull the right strings with the I&B ministry can get a berth in the jury. However, former jury members say this is an exaggeration. “Many deserving people don’t want to be a part of the jury as you have to stay in New Delhi for a month and watch an average of five films every day. It’s a tedious job,” says filmmaker Ashok Pandit.
Another complaint is the jurors’ relationship with contenders. Character actor MacMohan was on the jury in 2001when his niece Raveena Tandon won for Daman). “It’s a question of integrity,” says two-time jury member Rauf Ahmed. There have also have been instances when Raza Murad and Anjan Srivastava walked out, and Amol Palekar withdrew from the chairmanship, when their films they were entered into the competition. Winning performance? Terming the questioning of the worth of winners a below-thebelt attack by sore losers, Ahmed says, “Why pull down the winner for the jury’s decision? It began when Rekha won the Best Actress award for Umrao Jaan in 1982. Popular opinion was that Jennifer Kapoor should have won for 36 Chowringhee Lane.
Ever since, awards have courted con troversy when a performance from mainstream cinema bags an honour (remember Amitabh Bachchan’s Agneepath win in 1991). Veteran Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee refused his Special Jury Award in 2001 for Dekha calling it an “insult vis-à-vis the choosing of unworthy actors for prestigious awards.” (Anil Kapoor had won for Pukar). Saif Ali Khan’s win (Hum Tum) last year was also termed ‘undeserving’. “Why are the integrity of the awards questioned when they are given to commercial cinema?” questions a national Film Award feted Bollywood director on condition of anonymity. Power of the lobby Every time a particular region sweeps the awards, allegations of lobbyism surface. When Ben gali and Malayalam cinema were at the forefront, insinua tions were made about a Leftist lobby. In the BJP era there were murmurs about a saffron/ Bolly wood lobby. It took a nasty turn in 2001, when three members walked out alleging a “saffroni sation of the awards” (courtesy the presence of Tarun Vijay, edi tor of Panchjanya, Nivedita Pradhan, a BJP MLA and Par vati Indusekhar, the then I&B minister Sushma Swaraj’s cam paign manager). Mishra sums up the appeal of the national awards stating, “They are an in stitution that need to be pre served in an era where TV programmes are masquerading as award shows.”
source hindustan times
Bipasha and Zayed to endorse apparels
Pantaloons Fresh Fashion, the fashion retail format of the Future Group, has signed on Bollywood stars, Bipasha Basu and Zayed Khan, as its brand ambassadors.
This is the first-ever instance of a retail brand signing on two big Bollywood stars simultaneously. Fashion icons, Bipasha Basu and Zayed Khan, with their distinctive style statement, will reiterate that Pantaloons represents 'Fresh Fashion'.
Bipasha Basu and Zayed Khan will endorse the entire range of Pantaloons apparels such as casual wear, formal wear, western wear, ethnic wear, party wear and sports wear. In lieu of the forthcoming festive season, the first advertising campaign will launch the Pantaloons festive collection.
Bipasha Basu said, "Pantaloons has a wide range of fashion wear for women and it’s this drive to continually provide 'Fresh fashion' that makes Pantaloons my store. It is a store that has fashion for all occasions." Zayed Khan said, "Pantaloons stands for 'Fresh Fashion' and it is this fashion edge that wants me to make Pantaloons my style statement."
source indiafm
Big B loved ‘Munnabhai’
A special screening of LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI was held for none other than the Big B a few days ago and it seems the superstar loved the film. He promptly send a text-message to Vidhu Vinod Chopra, heaping lavish praises and praising the crew for doing a wonderful job.
With LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI round the corner, a solid endorsement from none other than Big B only makes the film a must-see for one and all.
Incidentally, the makers of LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI have come out with a postcard-sized book, which mentions interesting facts and trivia about the film. Also, there are colorful postcards that can be preserved as souvenirs.
source indiafm
NFDC to invest Rs. 1 crore in feature films
CHENNAI: The National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) has announced that it would invest Rs.1 crore in co-production of feature films.
Filmmakers or film companies should invest at least 30 per cent of the project cost to be eligible for the NFDC funding.
The NFDC is a central agency that was established to promote the Indian film industry.According to NFDC's regional manager in Chennai D. Ramakrishnan, the Corporation has invited scripts (in English). The scripts, duly registered with the Writers Association and copyrighted, should be accompanied by a letter of commitment for an assured minimum investment of 30 per cent of the project cost. All completed proposals would be sent to a committee of eminent personalities, which would select up to five scripts. The filmmakers would get an opportunity at IFFI 2006 in Goa to interact with potential investors, Indian and foreign, to raise the required funds. Once the required investment is finalised, an agreement will be drawn.
Scripts (in English) along with the form duly filled in and with requisite enclosures should be submitted by September 30.
For further details, contact: 022-24923027 Email: coproductions@nfdcindia.com
source the hindu
Angie's in the cockpitt
ANGELINA JOLIE is celebrating getting her pilot’s licence — by forking out £1.5million for her own plane.
The actress was desperate to gain her wings so she could whizz off on her own.
Boyfriend BRAD PITT is also learning to fly in a bid to join her in the cockpit.
A source said: “The plane Angelina bought is the largest single-engine propeller plane you can get.”
Brad and Angelina were snapped earlier this week arriving at a birthday party for Brad’s Ocean’s Eleven co-star SCOTT CAAN in Hollywood.
Angelina refused to go inside until her estranged father and fellow guest JON VOIGHT had left.
source thesun
Catch a "Chance......"
A YOUNG LIVE IN COUPLE…..
GIRL WHO WANTS TO GET MARRIED…..
MAN IS NOT IN THE SITUATION…..
A RELATIONSHIP GONE SOUR….
A GAME…..
A SURPRISE CLIMAX…..
A CHANCE…..
Chance ….tells the story of a live in couple in Mumbai. As the society is changing a new kind of relationship is growing among young men and women. But still they are bound to traditions as they seek security in the society. But when the relationship goes sour what happens……
WATCH FOR THE SURPRISE…..
Shown on NDTV Profit Indie film club. (Satellite channel )
A marvelous response from the public.
TO GET A COPY OF THE FILM CONTACT HERE…...ON COMMENTS….
For overseas satellite rights and distributors contact here.
Single screen theatres opt for digital format
After the multiplex boom, many premier single-screen theatres in the city are turning digital to survive.
A-class centers such as Liberty (Marine Lines), Central Plaza (Charni Road), Roxy (Opera House), Diamond (Borivli) and Ashish (Chembur) in Mumbai have already opted for digital prints.
"Earlier, a movie used to be screened for three shows, seven days a week, but to acquire and use a print for a single show is difficult," says Errol Lobo, Manager, Liberty.
The increasing numbers of releases and subsequent flops too have worsened the situation. During 1980-90, Hindi film releases averaged 133 each year, with flop rates being 64 per cent.
In 2001-05, when the average release was 244 films each year, the flop rates increased drastically to 90 per cent. In such scenario, multiplexes can hedge their losses with multiple screens.
Single screen cinemas also lose out to multiplexes in the vital opening week collections. "With the number of prints limited to 400 per film, getting good movies is tough," said a source.
"Losses used to be abound as opening weekend overflows were pocketed by black marketers instead of distributors or exhibitors. It is now possible to release a film simultaneously in all theatres digitally and save Rs 40,000. A print costs Rs 50-55000 on an average. With digital print, the cost for 28 shows is Rs 4,900 at Rs 175 per show," said Rupen Amlani, exhibition director, Ashtavinayak Cine Vision.
Digital prints require no investment apart from the initial security deposit of Rs 1- 1.5 lakh. The equipment is installed by the digital player. After, receiving the go-ahead from the distributor, the digitized film is transferred via satellite to the hard-disk in the theatre, which can store up to 10-12 films at a time.
In the last five years 1,555 single-screen theatres have downed shutters all over the country and 49 in Bombay city and suburbs itself.
"Single screen cinemas are on a downside and with prints becoming costlier, most single screen cinemas will opt for digital cinema which offers near print quality viewing," concludes Lobo.
Source Buisness Standard
By Suresh
Website on Satyajit Ray soon
A website on the icon of Indian cinema, Satyajit Ray, will be inaugurated by Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee here on Saturday. Created by the Society of Satyajit Ray Films, it comprises over 200 web pages to provide a comprehensive idea of the multifariousness of the great director. The website - www.Worldofray.Com - features hundreds of photographs, including some rare ones by Ray himself, as well as write-ups by him and on him. The date of it's inauguration coincides with the 51st anniversary of the commercial release of Ray's 'Pather Panchali' (Saga of the Road) in the city, the work on celluloid that changed notions about Indian cinema. A special section is devoted to Ray's storyboard on Pandit Ravi Shankar, the eminent sitar maestro. Ray's own tale of 'The Alien', forms another special section in the website which also features innumerable video clips from Ray's films and music. The Society, an official release said, is working since 1994 to restore and preserve the works of Ray. The restoration of his papers has been done at Ray's residence in conjunction with the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Archives, based in Los Angeles. The Society has so far restored 16 Ray classics and more are in the pipeline.
source : PTI
Suresh
www.cinemadream.blogspot.com
Wow it's a miracle
Wow is it a miracle!!!!!!!! How can he do this ?
NO MIRACLE THIS: A hawker walks towards Haji Ali dargah, Mumbai. Even as the road to the shrine is submerged due to high tide By Suresh
Source:www.timesofindia.com
I love being a blogger, i love the opportunity to share my thoughts, to be in coversation with people and to make connections with folks from around the world. i thank each and every one of you who has read my blog for your part in creating that experience with me.
Hi
I'm an independent film maker trying to make my first feature film. A film buff who wants to make the kind of films i love to watch. Presently in Mumbai, the hub of Indian cinema. It has been a long 6 years I have been assisting, writing and making short films.
Till now I have made three short films.
My first was in 2003 on 16mm and a silent film with 7.5minutes duration. The experience was really great as I started the film with really "0" money. It was my continuous round of Kodak and Movilabs that enabled me to start my project. My friend and cameraman Ashu Solanki,an FTII passout who was with me from the first visit to Kodak and really supported me whole through the making of the film. Later on all my friends,actors and technicians,family helped me with the project.
As i had planned the film to be silent,and the visuals to tell the story.Since it was a disturbing story of a young street girl who becomes a mother and she doesn't know the changes in her life .I don't know how much I had succeded with the film. But it's an experience of my life that will be always in my memory.
I was planning another one in 2004 after my bad experiences of working as an assistant director. I had taken the rights for a short story from a famous writer in hindi. But as much as I planned about the practicalities and funds, I was losing the courage to make the film as already I had experienced there is no income in short films and only expenditures. But my urge to make another short was really growing and finally I couldn't do it, but I worked on another story of mine,which was more feasible. And I wanted to show the industry folks even I can be in the reckoning of making a 'technically good film'. So I tried to take a "Chance.....", that is the name of my second short film. An 18minute short film on DV, with 2characters and one location,and 2 passing characters. The film was about a live in couple and how their relationship goes berserk one day. I don't know wether I was succesful to please the intellectuals and entertainment people. One thing I understood you can't satisfy everyone with a certain film. Some like,it some not!
By the time my second film finished I was ready with my feature script and I felt making feature is far easier than a short as I had to do take favours from people for making a short.
Then the whole 'struggle' ( a common term used in film industry who are not getting a break) convincing others about your vision and a small change from their point of view could lose you a film. A whole lot of experience and trying to do things their way, but then the demand increases as it starts to grow into a vision of different people ensembled to make a film. So finally I give up, but is there any other way. There are only two ways, either be rich and make your own things waiting for funds from organisations or stick to the rules and work with someone for a certain period.
But I couldn't do that, so I am trying to make my own ways.
I planned to do a personnel documentry, which will keep my creative urges restricted. I went to my home town in Kerala and tried to make a documentry on my grandmother's village and life, where I had grown up. Meanwhile a question was running in my mind for a long time as I didn't beleived in certain customs related to caste,community, creed or social conditions; Which turned out to be a short film "who am i?...". A 7minute film with a poem and visuals shot in Kerala. So finally I end up doing the third one.
Now back to square one, I want to make a feature film. I am ready with my second script and a third screenplay.....
Vettayadu Vilayadu' Watch it for Kamal Haasan
