S-E-L replaces ARR in ‘LONDON DREAMS’
The first time we heard about LONDON DREAMS was way back in 2006, when the first shot of the film, featuring Salman Khan, was canned at Amritsar’s historic Golden Temple. At that time it was Rajkumar Santoshi who was the director of the movie and the cast comprised Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan, with Lara Dutta and Priyanka Chopra being discussed as the female leads. Without getting into the nitty-gritty of who did what and joining the blame game band, the result was that the project was put on the backburner.
However, there have been some positive developments on the LONDON DREAMS front and the latest on the subject being that the producer of the project P.J Singh has moved on with the script/story of the film to Vipul Amrutlal Shah. The cast too has undergone a sea change and LONDON DREAMS is now expected to feature Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif. But that will happen only and when all the legal issues relating to the film are sorted out.
For now let us talk about more pleasant and melodious things! Good news is that the project seems to be really happening. The super talented trio of Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendosa, better known as S-E-L, have been officially roped in to compose the rocking tracks for the movie (instead of A.R. Rahman), which is based on the life of two London based rock stars!
Mani Ratnam, Vikram comes together
This is the latest buzz in Kollywood. One of India’s premier filmmakers, Mani Ratnam, joining hands with the talented Vikram.
Reliable sources indicate that the duo will come together for a project that will be unique and special. Vikram is currently shooting for Kanthasamy which is directed by Mani Ratnam’s protege Susi Ganesan. He is expected to do Mani’s film after completing Kanthasamy. The fact that Vikram has postponed his film with Bhoopathy Pandian, which he was supposed to do after Kanthasamy, adds credibilty to the news.
Mani Ratnam, who struck gold in Bollywood with Guru last year, was supposed to do Lajjo with Aamir Khan. However, the project has fallen off the tracks as Aamir is busy with his Ghajini. Hence, the maker is planning to make a Tamil film with Vikram in the lead.
Meanwhile, there are also reports that Mani is planning to repeat the lead in his previous film, Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, in a breezy romantic film on the lines of his Alaipayuthey. The reports say that the film will be in Hindi but will be dubbed into Tamil.
The report also says the director met up with top actors to start the casting for his next film. He has already finalised Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan for the lead pair and is in talks with other actors for the supporting cast.
Well, we expect the director himself to put an end to such conflicting reports.
53rd Filmfare Awards 2008 – results
53rd Filmfare Award winners:
Best Actor: Shahrukh Khan for Chak De India.
Best Leading Actor (Female) Kareena Kapoor for Jab We Met.
Best Director Aamir Khan for Taare Zameen Par.
Critics Best Film Shimit Amin for Chak De India.
Critics Best Actor Darsheel Safari for Taare Zammen Par.
Critics Best Actress Tabu for Cheeni Kum.
Lifetime Achievement Award Rishi Kapoor.
Power Award Yash and Aditya Chopra.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role Irrfan Khan for Life In A Metro.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female) Konkana Sen Sharma for Life in a Metro.
Best Music A. R. Rahman for Guru.
Best Background Score A. R. Rahman for Guru.
Best Male Singer Shaan for ‘Jabse Tere Naina’ from Saawariya.
Best Lyrics Prasoon Joshi for ‘Ma’ from Taare Zameen Par.
Best Female Singer Shreya Ghoshal for Barso Re’ from Guru.
Best Story Amol Gupte for Taare Zameen Par.
Best Screenplay Anurag Basu for Life In A Metro.
Best Dialogue Imitiaz Ali for Jab We Met.
Best Male Debutant Ranbir Kapoor for Saawariya.
Best Female Debutant Deepika for Om Shanti Om.
Na-Real award Vidya Balan for Hey Baby.
Fresh Face of the Year Award Deepika Padukone for Om Shanti Om.
Best Editing Amitabh Shukla for Chak De India.
Best Action Rob Miller for Chak De India
Best Art Direction Samir Chanda for Guru
R. D. Burman Award Monty Sharma for Saawariya.
Best Sound Leslie Fernandes – Johnny Gaddaar
Best Special Effects Red Chillies Entertainment – Om Shanti Om
Best Costume Award Sujata Sharma for Gandhi My Father.
Best Cinemtography Award Sudip Chatterjee for Chak De India.
Some Pics fom 53rd Filmfare award ceremony:
Ghajini remake updates
With over 50 per cent of the film having been completed and three songs shot, the director can’t seem to hide his excitement about the manner in which the film is taking shape.
The director has, in a fairly short span, worked with top heroes in Tamil and Telugu such as Vijayakanth, Suriya, Chiranjeevi and now in Hindi with Aamir Khan. He is easily among the more accessible directors in the industry.
Music director A. R. Rahman’s music for the Hindi version of ‘Gajini’ has come out really well, he says.
“I am truly amazed at Aamir Khan’s dedication. His passion comes across evidently. You know he’s thoroughly enjoying himself while at work,” the director says.
Another news which is going around is that Aamir Khan may not be the only top star wooing the audience during the bountiful weekend. News is that Akshay ‘Khiladi’ Kumar, whose movies have become a constant feature during the ‘Eid’ period, is likely to give him company. The series of Akki films that released during the ‘Eid’ period goes something like this- AITRAAZ (2004), GARAM MASALA (2005), JAAN-E-MANN (2006) and BHOOL BHULAIYAA (2007). The current year is likely to see Akshay’s action extravaganza CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA (with hot new sensation Deepika Padukone), release during the festive occasion.
The film has already raised expectations of movie buffs due to several reasons. For Aamir Khan, this film follows his mega hit — the critically-acclaimed ‘Taare Zameen Par.’ Fans would also be more than eager to listen to Rahman’s music after listening to his compositions for ‘Jodhaa Akbar.’ For Murugadoss, too, this project follows Telugu film ‘Stalin’ starring Chiranjeevi.Some scenes are said to have been modified and visually enhanced in the remake, which is expected to hit the cinemas in October.
‘Robot’ starts rolling
Shankar’s next science fiction project ‘Robot’ started rolling amidst much fanfare yesterday. The film’s team started shooting the scenes in an air-conditioned room in AVM studio.
The Robot shoot was a hush –hush affair, as Rajinikanth arrived on dot of time in his Chevorlet Tavera, Shankar drove down in his new black BMW car with the trademark registration number 8 and producer Karunamoorthy of Ayngaran International came in his Honda-CRV.
Cameraman Venket Ram had set up his camera and other equipments early in the morning itself. Nearly a dozen wigs were flown in from US by hair dresser Bhanu to be tried out on the superstar who shot in various blazers. The look of Robot is one of the most important aspects of the film.
Shankar and his young team have also roped in an international consultant to give a new look to Rajinikanth as Robot. The final look will emerge after matching the photo shoot pictures with a computer generated look, which will take about a month.
Many fans of the superstar were very eager to know the start of shooting of ‘Robot’ and within minutes of the news reaching them many fans of Rajinikanth thronged at AVM Studio to get a glimpse of the superstar.
But since the rules of AVM studio restricts the entry for the public the fans had to leave the scene disappointed.
This big-budget (125 crore) film sees superstar Rajinikanth and the film is directed by one of the most flamboyant directors of the country, Shankar, and the music of A.R. Rahman will grace the film.
Now that Aishwarya Rai has denied the rumours of her exit from the film as rubbish, the rest of the casting of the film is going on. Three top characters from Tamil have confirmed that they are willing to shoot for the film as and when Shankar wants.
Meanwhile Nirav Shah has decided to quit the project, due to personal reasons. So now, noted cameraman Thiru has been roped into the project
Rajinikanth will soon be shooting for P. Vasu directed ‘Kuselan’ the tamil version of Malayalam super hit ‘Katha Parayumbhol’.
Sukhwinder makes it to Hollywood!
Bollywood actors making their way to Hollywood is a thing of the past now. The latest dope that is now catching the trend is the singers newly formed association with wild wild west. And the latest singer to have clinched a prestigious Hollywood offer is none other than our ‘Chhaiya Chhaiya’ man Sukhwinder Singh. Reportedly, the singer will be composing the soundtrack for a Steven Spielberg flick.
Apparently, after impressing the crowd with his mind-blowing vocals in Spike Lee’s Denzel Washington starrer ‘Inside Man’, Sukhwinder Singh has now been signed by Universal Pictures for yet another Denzel Washington starrer to be directed by Steven Spielberg.
Confirming the news of his glorious project, Sukhwinder Singh said, “It is true that I have been signed by Universal Pictures for the film. The ‘Chhaiya Chhaiya’ number became immensely popular with Hollywood filmmakers in a big way and they want to recreate the magic. But unlike ‘Chhaiya Chhaiya’ that was lifted directly from ‘Dil Se’, there will be an original composition for this film. The song will be a traditional folk Kutchi song. It is going to be an important part of the Spielberg film.”
Making Jodhaa-Akbar dance
To get the dance moves in his period epic Jodhaa Akbar right, director Ashutosh Gowarikar roped in as many as four choreographers — Raju Khan, Ash Kumar, Chinni Prakash and Rekha Prakash.
Chinni Prakash has been a part of the film industry for years. He also trained his niece Vaibhavi Merchant, who gave us the moves in Kajra Re, among many other filmi songs.
Chinni Prakash has worked in films like Saajan, Khuda Gawah, Thakshak and Tere Naam. Over to him as he takes us behind the scenes of Jodhaa Akbar.
Chinnu said “I have choreographed the song, Azeem-O-Shaan Shahenshah.I knew Ashu (Gowarikar) was doing a period drama because I had met him a year before the shooting started to wish him luck. We did not talk about the film’s choreography then. About three or four months after that meeting, he asked me to come down to Karjat (about 100 km from Mumbai), where the shooting was on.”
Republic Day Special
This Republic Day Bollywood chooses favourite patriotic song, film & national figure.
Malaika Arora: “Sare jahan se achcha….I don’t know what happens to me when I hear that song. It fills with pride for being Indian. My favourite national figure: all the freedom fighters who brought us where we are today. No doubt they’re the true heroes.
J.P Dutta: “My favourite patriotic song is Hum laayen hain toofan se kashti nikalke iss desh ko rakhna mere bachcho sambhal ke from the film Jagriti. My favourite patriotic film will have to be my own Border. And I’d say the true national figure is the The Soldier of the armed forces. He represents the true spirit of India.
Shabana Azmi: “Favourite song has to be Kar chale hum fida from Haqeeqat…Jiyo Kaifi Azmi. Jiyo Madan Mohan. Jiyo Mohd Rafi! Favourite national figure? Undoubtedly Mahatma Gandhi, though Nehruji was also a remarkable visionary.
Hema Malini: “My favourite patriotic songs are the antional anthem and Lataji’s Ae mere watan ke logon. And Bapuji is my favourite national figure.”
Himesh Reshammiya: “Favourite patriotic film Upkar and song Ae mere wanr ke logon. National figure? Gandhiji of course
Manoj Bajpai: “Song is Kar chale hum fida jaan-o-tan saathiyon from Haqeeqat and my favourite patriotic film is my own 1971 directed by Amrit Sagar. National figure? Bhagat Singh!
Rahul Khanna: “I thought Chak De India was incredibly patriotic. My favourite song is predictably our national anthem. It’s a truly beautiful piece of music and verse. My favourite national figure is the Indian soldier who toils selflessly at the border to protect our country.
Amrita Arora: “Favourite patriotic film Mother India, favourite patriotic song Mere desh ki dharti from Upkar. And favourite national figure? That’s easy. Mahatma Gandhi.
Diya Mirza: “My favourite song is Hemant Kumar’s Insaaf ki dagar pe from Ganga Jumna because it addresses itself to children and tells them their responsibility as Indian citizens.
I also love Vande mataram. Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi is my favourite patriotic film. I watched it when I was very young.
I realized for the first time what love for the country Bhavna Talwar: My favourite song is Ae mere pyare watan from Kabuliwala. Though many great patriotic films have been made I’d choose my own Dharm for its message of national integration at a time when rappers are singing about hatred. My favourite national figure is APJ Abdul Kalam.
Dino Morea: “Favourite patriotic film and song is Border and A R Rahman’s Ma tujhe salaam. Favourite national figure? Ummmm. Subhas Chandra Bose.Don’t ask me why.The national figure who evokes a deep sense of patriotism in me is Mahatma Gandhi.
Ravi Kissan: “My favourite song is Mera rang de basanti chola from Shaheed. And my favourite national personalities are Anna Hazare and Sunil Dutt.
Suneel Darshan: “I’m a big Manoj Kumar fan and my favourite film is Upkar, favourite song is Hai preet jahan ki reet sadaa main geet wahan ke gata hoon from Purab Aur Pachchim.
Mahesh Bhatt: “Favourite patriotic song would have to be Kar chalehum fida by Kaifi Azmi. And favourite film is Chetan Anand’s Haqeeqat. My favourite national figure? Rabindranath Tagore
Satish Kaushik: “Manoj Kumar’s Upkar….and favourite patriotic song is Kar chale hum fida. National figure is Shah Rukh Khan in Chak De India.
Anant Mahadevan: “Kar chale hum fida from the film Haqeeqat which is also my favourite patriotic film on the Indo-China war. Very relevant to today’s politics.Will China pull the rug on us again?
Favourite national figures are Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, our first president who was a true statesman and understood the spirit of India,And C V Raman whose Raman Effect was a pathbreaking find.
Aftab Shivdasani; “My favourite patriotic song is Ae mere pyare watan. Film is Chak De India. And Shah Rukh Khan is my choice for the national figure.”
Anubhav Sinha: “Chetan Anand’s Haqeeqat. And the personality would have to be Mahatma Gandhi
Apoorva Lakhia: “Favourite patriotic film is Border and song Mera rang de basanti chola. My favourite patriotic character is Ben Kingsley as Gandhi fighting against all odds and sacrificing himself for the greater cause that is the country.”
Priyanka Chopra: “My favourite patriotic song will have to be Mile sur ter
a hamara.Ever time I’d see all the stalwarts of the country from Lataji to Pandit Ravi Shankar to Shabana Azmi come together on television to sing that song, I’d get goose bumps.
In fact I get that goosebumpy feeling even now I speak to you about that song. My favourite national figure is Rajiv Gandhi. He was a lovely man and a truly remarkable visionary. He dreamt of taking India into the new millennium but couldn’t live to see that dream come true.
Believe me, we haven’t even realized ten percent of our full potential as yet.”
Raveena Tandon: “I love Bharat (Manoj Kumar) in Purab Aur Pachchim and that song in the film Hai pree jahan ki reet, specially the line Jab zero diya mere bharat ne.
Imtiaz Ali: “Favourite patriotic film Rang De Basanti, favourite song Rahman’s Vande mataram. And national figure? Dhoni.
Boman Irani: “Without doubt my favourite patriotic song is Ae mere pyare watan by Manna Dey. I sing it all the time. It just makes me cry.It’s a song dedicated to the country. To HOME.”
Divya Dutta: “Favourite song Kar chale hum fida. Favourite film is Haqeeqat. My national hero would be Manoj Kumar for acting in and making films that represent the true spirit of India.
Alka Yagnik: Lataji’s Ae mere watan ke logon is my all-time favourite song.
Aamir Khan lines up 3 productions for 2008
Still reveling in the success of his directorial debut Taare Zameen Par, actor – producer Aamir Khan is all set to begin shooting for the Hindi remake of Tamil film Ghajini. According to Khan, the collections of Taare Zameen Par have surpassed those of Rang De Basanti, which was released in 2006.
Apart from this, the actor’s production house is also buzzing with work. As many as three films are being worked upon this year at Aamir Khan Productions. The shooting for the next film under his banner – Jaane Tu… is now complete. The film, which is being directed by Abbas Tyrewala, will see the debut of Khan’s nephew Imran Khan. Telugu actress Genelia has been cast opposite Imran.
Khan is also in the process of supervising the preparations on his other home production called Delhi Belly, which will be an action comedy. The shooting for the same starts in March.
What’s more, Khan has also signed up on yet another film that he will be producing later this year. The film is not yet titled.
As for the Ghajini remake, the title for the Hindi version is not yet decided. The film also stars Asin, Mohit Alawat and Jiah Khan and is directed by A.R. Murugadoss, who recently directed the Tamil version.
The movie is being produced by Allu Arvind and Madhu Varma. The film’s music is by AR Rahman and lyrics are by Prasoon Joshi. Cinematography is by Ravi Chandran and choreography by Ahmed Khan.
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