Bollywood Bites Plus

Chak De girl Shilpa Shukla steps into International Cinema!

After successfully portraying the role of headstrong and egocentric Bindia Nayak in the blockbuster 'Chak De', actress Shilpa Shukla is all set to work in an international film. New YorkThe actress will play the lead role of 'Charu' in an English film titled 'Extrospection' directed by producer, director and writer Manan Singh Kotohora. Katohora's controversial lesbian film 'When Kiran Met Karen' is ready for release and the director will begin work on the next project soon after that, according to an Asianet release.

The film's director says that Extrospection is a modern take on Satyajit Ray's 'Charulata.' "This is Satyajit Ray's Charulata in 2008. What would Charu do in today's day and age, living and working in the new urban chic corporate culture of  New York?" Manan questions.

The shooting of the film is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2008 in New York.India

Shilpa's first project was internationally acclaimed Pakistani film 'Khamosh Pani' with Kirron Kher. However, success and fame came to her only after the sensational hit of Yashraj Films 'Chak De', a story based on glorious win of women hockey team of India.

PS: Amreen is busy these days with her new baby girl (congratulations!!) and so I'm just filling in for her until she returns.

Syerah :)

Film Stars Spice Up India Fashion Week

The Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week recently took place this past month in Delhi.  The shows featured fashion for Autumn and Winter 2008, and included designs by 61 designers.  The designers were divided into three categories, Contemporary, Heritage and Creator - this one featuring content so original it could not be otherwise categorized.

The opening show of Fashion week was by veteran designer Vikram Phadnis, who falls under the "Contemporary" category.  His collection was entitled "Save the Earth" and his inspiration was nature. 

Bollywood stars held a large presence at this years shows. Like their Western counterparts, Indian stars are playing a larger role in the fashion world.  Here are some of Bollywood's brightest on this year's catwalk:

Katrina Kaif displays a creation by Ashish Soni.

Sameera Reddy struts her stuff in a concoction by Falguni and Shane Peacock on March 16th, 2008.

   

Soha Ali Khan and Zayed Khan present tangerine creations from Manav Gangwani's collection.

Tanisha (aka Kajol's baby sister) attends the shows on Day 2.

 

Bipasha Basu with designers Gauri (right) and Nainika (left).

 

Stunning in purple (left photo), Celina Jaitley models a design by Khushali Kumar's Autumn/Winter collection on March 15th, 2008. In Varun Bahl's show, Celina shows a different side (right) in this sparkly blue confection.

Smokin' up the ramp, Lara Dutta walks with ease in her chocolate creation by Rocky S, whose show was sponsored by Nokia's new phone, Prism.

Kangana Ranaut added a regal element to Fashion Week when she walked the ramp for designers, Prriya & Chintans.

Rozza added some Italian charm to Gayatri Khanna's collection.  Rumour has it that Saif's ex has just signed her first Hindi film.

   

To cap things off, here are Bollywood's current It Couples, Kareena/Saif and Bipasha/John, hanging out and looking glamorous at Fashion Week! 

Madhuri Dixit to appear on Nach Baliye this Saturday

This week's episode of Nach Baliye will feature Madhuri Dixit.  The NRI mother of two will dance her way onto television screens this Saturday, March 22nd at 9pm on Star Plus' top-rated show.  Madhuri will partner with celebrity judge choreographer Vaibhav Merchant to present a performance based on her film, Aaja Nachle.

 

The show, Nach Baliye, illustrates the journey of 10 celebrity couples from television and cinema through a highly competitive dance-off, where they compete to impress three A-list celebrity judges - the actress Isha Koppikar, director David Dhawan and choreographer Vaibhav Merchant. This year, the show also features special performances and appearances by Bollywood’s glitterati, such as this weekend’s appearance by Madhuri Dixit. 

The show will really put each celebrity couple to the test this season with the theme being "Yeh Nach Nahin Aasaan" (Dance is Far From Easy). With only four weeks left to the finale show, the remaining couples which include Raakhi Sawant (see below)and Kashmeera Shah with their partners, are battling it out for the grand prize.

Similar to American Idol, each week the couples have to perform according to specific themes, which test their dancing skills and their choreographer's imagination. The theme for this weekend’s show will see contestants perform their own renditions of some of Madhuri’s hit songs. 

Here's a video from Youtube of Madhuri's December appearance on Nach Baliye.

NRI Filmmaker remakes Amar Akbar Anthony

For my generation i.e. those kids who grew up in the 70's and 80's watching blockbuster masala flicks, there are certain films that hold a legendary place in our hearts and minds.  Speaking for myself, and I'm sure for a larger group as well, one of those films is definitely Manmohan Desai's Amar Akbar Anthony.  With its power cast of Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna, Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh and Parveen Babi, AAA tells the story of three brothers, separated at birth, who are raised respectively as a Hindu, Muslim and a Christian. The film is a zany mélange of songs, good guys and bad guys, fight scenes and melodramatic reunions - your typical masala movie with all the details done to a  tee.

Here's Amitabh as the memorable Anthony Gonsalves:

With the current trend of remakes, it was inevitable that AAA would be remade for a contemporary audience.  Three years ago, there was a buzz that David Dhawan was going to remake the film with the Salman Khan, Arbaaz Khan and Sohail Khan.  Who know what's up with that, but there is news of another remake by NRI filmmaker, Manan Singh Katohora, whose most famous film so far has been When Kiran Met Karen, a serious film about cross-cultural lesbian romance.   He also worked on the satire film, Bollywood Blues. Similarly, this film will be a light-hearted spook set in Jackson Heights and will be entitled Amar Ash Anthony.  Akbar's character from the old has been replaced by a character named Aishwarya in the new.

Actors in the film include Vidur Kapur, Tushar Unadkat, Nimish Shah, Ammara Ali and Dan Nainan.

Here's on of the hit songs from AAA, Parda Hai Parda, featuring Rishi Kapoor:

I'd like to congratulate Mona Rateja, who's the winner of our Filmfare Awards Contest! Congratulations, Mona, on the most accurate prediction of Filmfare winners for 2008!  Mona will receive 2 complimentary passes for a Cineplex Odeon film along with coupons for drinks and snacks!

Filmfare Awards 2008: A Glamorous Night for Hindi Film

The Filmfare Awards took place last Sunday, the same day as Hollywood's Academy Awards. Sony TV should be broadcasting the show this weekend, and I'm looking forward to it. Till then, here's a list of the winners along with some photos.  I'm currently tabulating the results of our Filmfare contest and the winner will be announced in the next couple of days!

Winners of 53rd Annual Filmfare Awards

By Bollywood Hungama News Network, February 23, 2008 - 21:47 IST

Best Actor
Shahrukh Khan - Chak De India

Best Actress
Kareena Kapoor - Jab We Met

Best Film
Taare Zameen Par

Best Director
Aamir Khan - Taare Zameen Par

Critics' Award For Best Actor
Darsheel Safary - Taare Zameen Par

Critics' Award For Best Actress
Tabu - Cheeni Kum

Critics' Award For Best Film
Shimit Amin - Chak De India

Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male)
Irrfan Khan - Life in a... Metro

Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female)
Konkana Sen Sharma - Life in a... Metro

Best Lyrics
Prasoon Joshi - (Maa - Taare Zameen Par)

Best Playback Singer (Male)
Shaan - (Jab Se Tere Naina - Saawariya)

Best Playback Singer (Female)
Shreya Ghosal - (Barso Re - Guru)

Best Music
A. R. Rahman - Guru

Best Story
Amol Gupte - Taare Zameen Par

Best Screenplay
Anurag Basu - Life in a... Metro

Best Dialogue
Imtiaz Ali - Jab We Met

R. D. Burman Award
Monty Sharma (Saawariya)

Lifetime Achievement Award
Rishi Kapoor

Power Awards
Yash Chopra & Aditya Chopra

Best Debut (Male)
Ranbir Kapoor - Saawariya

Best Debut (Female)
Deepika Padukone - Om Shanti Om

Best Special Effects
Red Chillies Entertainment - Om Shanti Om

Sony Head N Shoulders Fresh Face of the Year Award
Deepika Padukone

Best Background Score
A. R. Rahman - Guru

Best Editing
Amitabh Shukla - Chak De India

Best Choreography
Saroj Khan (Barso Re Megha Re - Guru)

Best Action
Rob Miller - Chak De India

Best Art Direction
Samir Chanda - Guru

Best Sound
Leslie Fernandes - Johnny Gaddaar

Best Cinematography
Sudhip Chatterjee

Best Costumes
Sujata Sharma - Gandhi My Father

Deepika Padukone

Karishma Kapoor with husband, Sanjay, and Gauri Khan

Kareena Kapoor performing at the ceremony

SRK and Saif Ali Khan host the event

Saif and SRK chat with Vidya Balan

Rekha with two friends

My pic for most gorgeous couple of the evening - Saif and Kareena

Filmfare Awards - Enter our contest to win!

It's that season again:  red carpets, plunging necklines and emotional thank-you speeches.  I'm a big fan of the big awards ceremonies and can't wait for the Filmfare Awards and the Academy Awards, both of which are coming up this February 24th (what would I do without my PVR??!).

The Filmfare Awards, started by Filmfare Magazine in 1954, is the Hindi film industry's most prominent opportunity to dress up and strut their stuff.  It's always so much fun to see who's wearing what (even more exciting now as India's fashion industry has reached a whole new level with countless designers creating cutting edge fashion), who's sitting with whom, and even more interesting - who's avoiding whom (Amitabh and Rekha perhaps, or Kareena and Shahid?).

The Filmfare Awards have maintained a highly-respected reputation in an industry often fraught with scandal and intrigue.  Past awards have celebrated impressive efforts by directors, actors, playback singers and script-writers.  Past winners include stalwarts like Bimal Roy (for Do Bigha Zameen), Dilip Kumar (for Daag), Meena Kumari (for Baiju Bawra) and Naushad (for Baiju Bawra) as well as newcomers like Rakesh Omprakash Mehra (for Rang De Basanti, my favourite from last year) and Kunal Kohli (for Hum Tum).

There are number of highly talented performers nominated this year as well:  Darsheel Sarfary, the enigmatic little boy from Taare Zameen Par who played a dyslexic child with incredible believablity, has acquired a  milestone nomination for Best Actor.  This is the first time a child has been nominated in this category.  Competing for the award is Shah Rukh Khan for his performance as a determined hockey coach to a flailing womens' team in Chak De! India.  Aamir Khan is nominated for Best Director and Best Supporting Actor for TZP. 

This year, Mybindi.com is offering a prize to the reader who can most accurately predict this year's winners.  The person who gets the most right answers will win 2 movie passes to a Cineplex Odeon cinema along with vouchers for drinks and snacks!  The following is a list of nominees. Choose your favourites and email them to me at amreenomar@hotmail.com.  Can't wait to receive your responses!

Filmfare Best Film

Chak De! India

Guru

Jab We Met

Om Shanti Om

Taare Zameen Par

Filmfare Best Director

Aamir Khan (Taare Zameen Par)

Anurag Basu (Life… In A Metro)

Farah Khan (Om Shanti Om)

Imtiaz Ali (Jab We Met)

Mani Ratnam (Guru)

Shimit Amin (Chak De! India)

Filmfare Best actor in a leading role

Abhishek Bachchan (Guru)

Akshay Kumar (Namastey London)

Darsheel Safary (Taare Zameen Par)

Shahrukh Khan (Chak De India)

Shahrukh Khan (Om Shanti Om)

Shahid Kapoor (Jab We Met)

Filmfare Best Actress in a leading role

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (Guru)

Deepika Padukone (Om Shanti Om)

Kareena Kapoor (Jab We Met)

Madhuri Dixit (Aaja Nachle)

Rani Mukerji (Laaga Chunari Mein Daag)

Vidya Balan (Bhool Bhulaiyaa)

Filmfare Best actor in a Supporting Role

Aamir Khan (Taare Zameen Par)

Anil Kapoor (Welcome)

Irrfan Khan (Life in a… Metro)

Mithun Chakraborty (Guru)

Shreyas Talpade (Om Shanti Om)

Filmfare Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Konkona Sen Sharma (Life in a… Metro)

Konkona Sen Sharma (Laaga Chunari Mein Daag)

Rani Mukerji (Saawariya)

Shilpa Shukla (Chak De! India)

Tisca Chopra (Taare Zameen Par)

Best Music

A R Rahman (Guru)

Monty Sharma (Saawariya)

Pritam (Jab We Met)

Pritam (Life in a… Metro)

Vishal-Shekhar (Om Shanti Om)

Best Lyrics

Gulzar (Tere Nina - Guru)

Javed Akhtar (Main Agar Kahoon - Om Shanti Om)

Prasoon Joshi (Maa - Taare Zameen Par)

Sameer (Jab Se Tere Naina - Saawariya)

Vishal Dadlani (Aankhon Mein Teri - Om Shanti Om)

Best Male Playback Singer

A R Rahman (Tere Bina - Guru)

K K (Aankhon Mein Teri - Om Shanti Om)

Shaan (Jab Se Tere Naina - Saawariya)

Sonu Nigam (Main Agar Kahoon - Om Shanti Om)

Sukhawinder Singh - (Chak De - Chak De India)

Best Female Playback Singer

Alisha Chinai (It’s Rocking - Kay Love Story Hai)

Shreya Ghosal (Barso Re - Guru)

Shreya Ghosal (Yeh Ishq Hai - Jab We Met)

Sunidhi Chauhan (Sajanaji Vari Vari - Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd.)

Sunidhi Chauhan (Aaja Nachle - Aaja Nachle)

Jodhaa-Akbar: The Lowdown

I don't know about you, but I'm in the mood for a Bollywood blockbuster.  Nothing warms up a chilly February like some over-the-top sets, lavish period costumes and some epic battle scenes.  It's perfect timing for the release of Ashutosh Gowariker's (Lagaan) Jodhaa-Akbar, starring Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan and Hrithik Roshan.  The NY Times did a detailed profile on the film and its stars.  The film also features the debut of newcomer Abir Abrar.  The movie is set for release on February 15th and features the music of A.R. Rahman.

Here's a picture of the music launch of the film in January:

The film tells the story of the 16th century political marriage that gave rise to true love between the Mughal Emperor Akbar and a Rajput princess, Jodhaa.  Akbar is a legendary hero of Indian history, whose empire at one time spanned from Afghanistan to the Bay of Bengal, and from the Himalayas to the Godavari River.  In marrying Jodhaa, the daughter of King  Bharmal of Ajmer, Akbar secured the allegiance of the Rajputs.

As would be expected with film about Hindu-Muslim romance, the release of JA has been surrounded in controversy.  The latest manifestation of this has been the protests of the film conducted by a group called the Sri Rajput Karni Sena.  Their leader, Lokendra Singh Kalvi claims that Gowariker has "distorted history."

According to him, none of Akbar's 34 wives were named Jodhabai, and that Jodhabai was in fact Akbar's daughter-in-law.  He claims that he has five historians on his side and will go to the Supreme Court if necessary. 

Controversy or not, the film looks stunning in its previews and I'm looking forward to it. Here's a preview:

Check out interviews with JA's director and stars in this segment of Asian Variety Show:

Vogue goes to India

Don't call me biased, but I think the world's most beautiful women can be found on the subcontinent.  Seems like the international fashion scene is finally catching up with Condé Nast launching Vogue India this past September. 

Priya Tanna, editor of Vogue India comments that "Vogue's launch in India symbolizes India's arrival onto the global fashion scene.  India is ready for a magazine that is intelligent, sophisticated, and understands the stylish, modern woman.  Every issue will celebrate the somen who define and influence the new Indian modernity with grace, style and achievement."

The first-ever cover of the glossy monthly featured a gorgeous array of supermodels and Bollywood actresses including Bipasha Basu, Gemma Ward (an international Vogue staple), Priyanka Chopra, Moni Kangana, Preity Zinta and Laxmi Menon.  The issue was styled by British Vogue's Lucinda Chambers and shot by Patrick Demarchelier. 

Here's the cover of the first issue:

Here's the full pull-out version of the cover:

The first issue paid tribute to Bollywood:  Pulitzer Prize-winning author Suketu Mehta explores its impact; director Karan Johar and designer Rajesh Pratap Singh debate over whether film dictates fashion or vice versa; Bipasha, Priyanka and Preity reveal their style secrets and much more. 

The launch was celebrated in due style with an extravagant gala at Umaid Bhavan Palace in Jodhpur (this location may sound familiar as it was the site of Liz Hurley's super-hyped wedding to Arun Nayar), Rajasthan where a photo exhibit was debuted entitled Vogue:  A Love Affair with India.

The December issue of Vogue India features the Gauri Khan, the low-key wife of Shah Rukh Khan.  The issue places Gauri, usually in the background, in the spotlight.  I've always been intrigued by Mrs. Khan, in that she never seems as stylish or coiffed as she could be.  I kind of liked that about her.  What I love about this cover is that it doesn't seem contrived at all - she looks confident, regal and incredibly toned in this spectacular red dress:

Performances to Remember in 2007

It’s that season of lists and there are tons floating around about Indian’s top films of 2007. Personally, I like Rediff’s list of best performances, as it showcases some of those less-profiled stars who really shined this past year.  The ones we’ve all read about are Kareena Kapoor (Jab We Met), Vinay Pathak (Bheja Fry), and Darsheel Safary (Taare Zameen Par).

Here are the highlights from Rediff’s list on some those you may not have heard about – I definitely haven’t and am going to try and track some of these largely indie films down.

Abhay Deol in Manorama Six Feet Under 

Ashwini Khalsekar in Johnny Gaddaar 

Irrfan Khan in Life... In A Metro

What’s not to love about Irrfan Khan – in my eyes, he can do no wrong.

Jameel Khan in Loins Of

Punjab

Presents

Mithun Chakraborty in Guru

Yay – a movie that I’ve seen! He’s no longer just our favourite Disco Dancer, but a powerful character actor to boot.  Loved him in this movie and thought he outshone the rest of the cast.  Speaking of Disco Dancer (and how can one not when discussing Mithun), have you heard MIA’s remix of DD’s Jimmy Aaja – it’s my kids’ new favourite song.

Pankaj Kapur in Blue Umbrella

Vishal Bhardwaj and Kapur are a great team. Kapur’s performance as an aging mafia don in Bhardwaj’s Maqbool is still one of my all-time favourites. I can’t wait to check this one out.

Pawan Malhotra in Black Friday

Here, Malhotra plays Mushtak Abdul Razak Memon, more popularly known as Tiger -- the main accused in the Mumbai Blasts of 1993. For those of us who still remember that December vividly, I’m sure this is on your must-see list.

Sarika in Parzania 

Sonia Jehan in Khoya Khoya Chand

Zakir Hussain in Johnny Gaddaar

Looks like Taare Zameen Par is the holiday winner

Happy New Year!  I just got back from the holidays, and it looks like I've missed out:  Taare Zameen Par, starring Aamir Khan (love the haircut!)and Darsheel Sarfary, is getting amazing reviews and is a critical success.  Rediff.com reports that while it had a slow start at the box office, it's now picking up in popularity.  Being distributed by UTV Motion Pictures in the overseas market,  TZP has collected more than 1.45 million  US dollars in the US and West Asia alone at the end of the second  weekend, making it a bigger opener than 'Chak De India' in the US  market.

No big surprise as Aamir Khan can usually be counted on for a great performance, and he chooses his films so carefully to boot.  Kudos to Khan for bringing attention to the increasingly common problem of dyslexia; I'm sure this film will raise awareness and understanding of the disorder.

Here's an excerpt from Lakshmy Ramanathan's review of the film in DNA India, and I'll be sure to share my thoughts when I see the film:

"Taare Zameen Par (TZP) is a story of an eight-year-old Ishaan Awasthi whose dyslexic mind refuses to conform to the rush hour pace of the world that his family, friends and teachers have made their own. It's the tale of a kid who has steam engines and fire-breathing dragons swimming around his head when his vexed mother readies him for school helped on by a bugged conductor who tosses him into the school bus every time he runs late.

Aamir Khan's directorial debut, Taare Zameen Par, is a winner through and through. Apart from handling the subject with an exact dash of sensitivity, the film strikes the right note by stripping parents of their obsessions with 'readying' their children for what they think life is all about."

Be sure to check out Savia's review of the film's music.  Here are some pics of the film:

okay, this one is a little creepy...