It has often been said that the hot starlet Kareena Kapoor was up for glamorous and performance roles but not for stunts. However, it is heard that she has gone ahead and done some remarkable stunts. This happened at the shooting of the film Agent Vinod starring and directed by Nawab Saif Ali Khan. This is slated to be a spy thriller and Saif would be seen in the role of a Desi agent. This should be interesting.
Jan
27
Vidya’s item song comes into discussion
Just recently it was announced that the sensuous Brahmin beauty Vidya Balan is all set to do an item song in the film Ferrari Ki Sawari. Now, it is heard that the makers are ensuring that the song is shot in the most aesthetic and sensuous manner without any raunchy flavour. It has been titled as Lavani and with the likes of Chikni Chameli becoming a major hit, the makers want to come up with a different type of item song.
Jan
27
Want to move out of ‘Kolaveri’ shadow: 21-year-old composer
He is all of 21 and can boast of over 38 million YouTube hits for his song. But Anirudh Ravichander, composer of the phenomenally popular Tamil-English number “Kolaveri di”, is already trying to move out of its shadow.
” ‘Kolaveri di’ is in the past now; I am trying to move on to new projects,” Ravichander told IANS in an e-mail interview.
“Although I’m enjoying the success, I realised it was very important to move out of the ‘Kolaveri di’ shadow to concentrate on future projects. I’m still young and raring to make good music,” he added.
The newcomer, who composed the entire music album for Tamil film “3″, completed his undergraduation recently. He is pursuing music full time now.
A trained musician, Ravichander wants to bring something unique to the platter of Indian music with his talent.
“I want to be different. Every song in ’3′ is so completely different from the other. There are a lot of music styles and genres in the world, which are really interesting, and are yet to reach India. I plan to imbibe these styles into my music for forthcoming projects,” he said.
If grapevine is to be believed, his new projects might also include a Bollywood film or two. Is that true?
“I would love to test the waters in Bollywood and Tollywood. I am really excited about composing music in other film industries. But I haven’t signed anything as yet. I have been speaking to people but nothing interesting yet,” he clarified.
Ravichander began learning the piano at a young age, and what started off as a hobby, turned into a profession.
He asserts that formal training always helps, and said: “It is very important for every musician to undergo some basic training to turn professional. But at the end of the day, it’s the passion and hard work that brings out the best in you.”
For starters, Ravichander found a golden platform in the social networking media, through which “Kolaveri di”, written and sung by southern actor Dhanush, became popular. Ever since the song’s video was posted on YouTube, it has received over 38 million hits on the website.
“Facebook, YouTube and Twitter are platforms for people to share their work, and for other people to know and sample others’ work. It also reaches a wider audience. Social networking is very helpful and it’s only going to get better,” he said.
The youth believes it is important for music to come to one naturally.
“Whether one is drinking coffee or watching a movie or even while sitting in a bus, the music we hear is always inspired from our surroundings and also depends on the mood and situation one is in,” he added.
Jan
27
Chitrangda out, Prachi in!!!
The stunningly beautiful Chitrangda Singh is currently busy with her film assignments but now it is heard that she lost out on an endorsement deal. News is that Chitrangda had earlier worked with Nawab Saif for the Taj Mahal brand tea. Now, it is heard that the makers have not renewed the contract and have chosen the domestic beauty Prachi Desai instead. It is heard that the shooting for the ad took place few days back and came out very well.
Jan
27
Not competing with first ‘Dabangg’, says Arbaaz Khan
Actor-producer Arbaaz Khan, who is donning the hat of a director for the sequel of Salman Khan starring blockbuster ‘Dabangg’, says he is not looking to compete with the original movie.
“When I did the first one (‘Dabangg’) my intention was to tell or make a story that I believed in and I was excited about. This is exactly what I am going to take forward..to get excited about the story that I am going to tell and not worry what happened in the past,” he says. “If that kind of sincerity, honesty and dedication is there to this film, then everything else will be taken care of by itself.
So I am not competing with the first ‘Dabangg’, I am trying to create another ‘Dabangg’,” he adds. The 2010 action film, directed by debutant Abhinav Kashyap and produced by Arbaaz, became the highest grossing film of the year. The Salman-Sonakshi Sinha starrer went on bag several awards at different award ceremonies, including the National award. Arbaaz will not only produce the sequel and but also take over as director from first-timer Abhinav Kashyap, who has opted out of the second instalment, that will see story being shifted to a larger city.
Though the original lead cast of Salman and Sonakshi Sinha has been retained, actor Sonu Sood, who played the baddie in the first part, has been replaced by Prakash Raj to play the villain. “I have not finalised the location yet. There are a couple of locations that I am looking forward to.
I had recce Bhopal, I might even look at Lucknow and Kanpur for some work there. I will finalise the location in sometime,” says Arbaaz. The sequel will go on floors in March and will be release in Christmas this year.
Jan
27
Not competing with first ‘Dabangg’, says Arbaaz Khan
Actor-producer Arbaaz Khan, who is donning the hat of a director for the sequel of Salman Khan starring blockbuster ‘Dabangg’, says he is not looking to compete with the original movie.
“When I did the first one (‘Dabangg’) my intention was to tell or make a story that I believed in and I was excited about. This is exactly what I am going to take forward..to get excited about the story that I am going to tell and not worry what happened in the past,” he says. “If that kind of sincerity, honesty and dedication is there to this film, then everything else will be taken care of by itself.
So I am not competing with the first ‘Dabangg’, I am trying to create another ‘Dabangg’,” he adds. The 2010 action film, directed by debutant Abhinav Kashyap and produced by Arbaaz, became the highest grossing film of the year. The Salman-Sonakshi Sinha starrer went on bag several awards at different award ceremonies, including the National award. Arbaaz will not only produce the sequel and but also take over as director from first-timer Abhinav Kashyap, who has opted out of the second instalment, that will see story being shifted to a larger city.
Though the original lead cast of Salman and Sonakshi Sinha has been retained, actor Sonu Sood, who played the baddie in the first part, has been replaced by Prakash Raj to play the villain. “I have not finalised the location yet. There are a couple of locations that I am looking forward to.
I had recce Bhopal, I might even look at Lucknow and Kanpur for some work there. I will finalise the location in sometime,” says Arbaaz. The sequel will go on floors in March and will be release in Christmas this year.
Jan
27
‘Agneepath’ strikes right chords with B-Town
Karan Johar’s ‘Agneepath’ remake has received a thumbs up from Bollywood celebrities, who attended a special screening of the much-awaited movie here
The Monday night screening saw attendance from celebrities like Arbaaz Khan and Arjun Rampal and they are all impressed with the remake of the 1990 film. The Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Dutt and Priyanka Chopra-starrer, directed by debutant Karan Malhotra, is set for release Thursday, and here’s what B-Town had to say about it:
Arjun Rampal: It was mind blowing. It’s a superb film. Go and watch ‘Agneepath.’ You guys are going to be blown away.
Zayed Khan: All the performances are fabulous. Finally, superb kind of movies are back. It’s amazing. Hrithik, Sanjay, Priyanka, everybody was outstanding.
Arbaaz Khan: I think the director has done a fantastic job and it’s a very good remake of the earlier ‘Agneepath’. Sanjay’s performance is fantastic, Hrithik is looking very good and he has acted very well as well. I think the star of the film is the director.
Dino Morea: I think the remake that they have made is amazing. Hrithik and Sanjay have done a fabulous job. It was fantastic.
Jan
27
Farah finds acting funny!
Mumbai, Jan 27 : Choreographer-turned-filmmaker Farah Khan finds it funny that she is now also dabbling in acting.
Farah has moved from behind the camera to being in front of it with the film “Shirin Farhad ki Nikal Padi”, and has been cast opposite Boman Irani.
She admits she is amused whenever she says she is acting, but her co-star Boman helps her get along with it.
“I find it very funny when I say that I am acting in a film. Now that I am acting, Boman is my acting coach and he literally holds my hands and tells me what to do and how to do it,” the 47-year-old said here while unveiling the Zoroastrian calendar “Zyng”, along with Boman.
Talking about the film, produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Boman said: “The film is a romantic love story of people who are in their mid-40s.”
Farah also chipped in with her typical tongue-in-cheek style and said: “It is a romantic-comedy as our love story automatically becomes a comedy.”
Meanwhile, Farah’s next production “Joker”, starring Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha”, is expected to release Aug 30.
And Boman has a line-up of releases like “Ek Main aur Ekk Tu”, “Tezz”, “Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai” and “Housefull 2″ this year.
© IANS
Jan
27
SRK in catch-22 situation over remake of Tamil films
Shah Rukh Khan is apparently in a dilemma, as he is unable to choose between the remake of two Tamil films – Menon’s Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu and Murugadoss’s Ramanna.
Rumour has it, that both the films are looking equally tempting to King Khan, as they would be providing him with the opportunity to essay the kind of characters which he hasn’t portrayed as yet in his career.
Shah Rukh Khan
“While Murugadoss’s film casts SRK as a social crusader, Menon’s film casts him as a cop, a role he has played just once in Shashilal Nair’s One 2 Ka 4. SRK has never got a chance to get into a khaki uniform.
This, Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu will let him do,” a source said.
Jan
27
Interview : India losing music genres due to Bollywood: Shubha Mudgal
New Delhi, Jan 27 : Shubha Mudgal has nothing against Bollywood, but the veteran singer with deep roots in Hindustani classical says if everyone keeps running after creating masala songs for the industry, it may prove to be a threat to other genres of music specific to Indian culture.
“Today we see Bollywood music being played in every household, mostly because they are easily accessible. I have nothing against Bollywood music as I really enjoy it. But in the process we are losing out on the other genres. It would be very tragic if we lost them, as a lot of it will never come back,” Mudgal told IANS in an interview.
The 53-year-old is trying to do her bit in popularising and preserving the wide variety of musical styles and genres through her festival “Baajaa Gaajaa” for the past three years.
She is now gearing up for the fourth edition, to be held in Pune Feb 10-12.
The festival will see as many as 100 artists from all genres of music like rock, blues, jazz, Hindustani vocal and instrumental music, Carnatic vocal and instrumental music, as well as folk music from different parts of the country, performing on stage.
“There’s a huge variety in Indian music, whether old or adapted ones that highlight the diversity. We see a majority of Bollywood music played, but that doesn’t represent the entire Indian music. There is so much to be shared. The whole idea behind the festival is to promote and propagate Indian music,” she said.
The magical voice behind chartbusters like “Ali mora angana”, “Ab ke saawan” and “Mann ke manjeere” is Mudgal’s. But her presence in Bollywood has remained limited so far because she doesn’t consider herself competent enough to keep up with contemporary songs.
“I’ve sung for Bollywood occasionally. But whatever I sing, it has to be something that I do justice to. I don’t see myself singing the kind of songs that are being composed nowadays,” she said.
“If I try something like this, I would fall flat on my face. I don’t fit into the current crop,” she said.
Mudgal has done playback in films like “Laaga Chunari Mein Daag”, “Lajja” and “1920″.
A lover of music genres such as khayal, thumri and dadra, Mudgal explored Indian pop music in the 1990s. Her albums “Ali More Angana”, “Ab ke Sawan”, “Pyaar Ke Geet” and “Mann Ki Manjeere” went on to become hugely popular.
While pop albums have seen a downfall in the Indian music industry lately, Mudgal said: “I don’t agree that pop albums have lost their charm. Just like we have parallel cinema along with commercial cinema, there is alternative music industry that is producing, executing material of all kinds and has a vibrant collection of music.
“There are many people who are coming up with albums with their original songs and compositions,” she added.
Honoured in 2000 with the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honours, the singer says the music industry is poised for growth thanks to technology.
“Technology has powered the way artists distribute online. Although technology has provided a larger distribution channel, the independent avenues of publishing and distributing the product have marginalised and become more expensive,” she added.
By Priyanka Sharma
© IANS