what we are reading – EightandHalf
We are feeling lazy today. Blame it on the monsoons. So, instead of writing posts we are just uploading pics. Here is an exclusive pic of Hrithik Roshan and Barbara Mori with Michael Jackson. They met Jackson during the shoot of Anurag Basu’s Kites in LA.
We got two new pics from the set of Karan Johar’s new film My Name Is Khan. It stars Shah Rukh Khan & Kajol in the lead. The film is being shot at San Francisco these days.
BTW, we read the script of My Name Is Khan recently. Will put a post on it soon. Think it got blockbuster written all over it in big bold black letters. And believe it or not, K Jo might end up delivering the heaviest political line ever said on desi screen. My Name Is Khan & I Am Not Terrorist!
For more on location pics of My Name Is Khan, click here.
Its because of Aditya Chopra. The new mentor of Katrina Kaif.
It seems Katrina Kaif called up Aditya Chopra to get his feedback on the script of her new film 7 Days In Paris. As Salman Khan can’t do that one thing. He can surely call up his freinds and ask them to sign her. But he can’t make her quit a film unless she is doing a film opposite Shah Rukh Khan.
She had already signed the film and given a green signal to Sanjay Doom Gadhvi. Aditya Chopra read the script and realised that its a wrong film for Katrina. Because the first half of the film is all about walk the talk & talk the walk. Loaded with heavy dialogues. And so it will be much difficult for Katrina to carry such a role. The first half is much like Before Sunrise & Before Sunset.
Aditya Chopra told her to leave it or she might get really exposed. She is and should remain as Barbie Doll. The dialogue bit should happen haule haule…haule haule like love happened in Suriji’s life in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. Katrina understood the situation and backed out of the film just a few days before the shoot.
Sanjay Gadhvi immediately tried his luck with Priyanka Chopra, who asked for Rs 5 cr. It was a straight NO. Kareena Kapoor and Asin were also approached but they said a polite no. Now it seems Genelia D’Souza has been signed to play the lead oppposite Imran Khan. The Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na pair is back again!
Click here to read our other post on 7 Days In Paris and why we think Imran Khan should be worried about this film.
We never thought that we will suffer from K-mania but blame it on Vishal Bhardwaj. And with every small discovery we feel the same – Kaminey is Killer! The movie of the year. A regular reader of our blog mailed us a new poster of Kaminey. Have a look. It stars Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra.
For more posters of Kaminey, click here and here. For plot/story/synopsis click here.
Strange are the ways of this world. And stranger are the ways of the Censor Board in India.
According to this DNA report, there are nine censor cuts in Akshay Kumar-Kareena Kapoor starrer Kambakht Ishq. And one cut is because of the crotch. In one of the songs, there is a shot of a dancer who looks at his own crotch. Censor Board doesn’t like it, even though one can’t see what he sees. One has to guess it seems. Now who doesn’t know what lies beneath! But according to the Censor Board its not for public viewing and so snip! View your crotch only in private.
WTF! Jacko can grab his crotch in full public view and dance all around the world. And here in India, an extra can’t even look down. Forget about grabbing it. Govinda, Prabhu deva & Chiranjeevi could only place their hands at the right place (or was it little above ? at the waistline ? ) and move it. Nobody dared to grab it like Jacko did and made it world famous too!
We are not joking. Those of you who follow us regularly, know it. But why would Universal Music go for Monica Bedi and make her sing punjabi prayers and do chanting? Of all the people, Monica Bedi ? What an idea sirjee!! Its a punjabi prayer album called Ek Onkaar.
We can understand Monica Bedi’s reasons for doing it. Desperate times call for desperate measures. And an overweight purse is always good. It seems she went to a local gurudwara to train herself.
But from one extreme to other! We understand or atleast pretend to understand that she is also a human being and may be trying her best to forget her past. But we are not Ghajini’s Aamir Khan! Our memory is too sharp. We take time to forget things and more so if its all about skimpy clothes. We are just bastards (okay, we prefer Inglorious Bastards). Do let us know which Monica you prefer, old or the new ?
to find out that circumcision comes from two latin words circum (meaning around) and caedere (meaning to cut). And New York is just “around” a triangle love story that has been “cut” to give some thrill. Story is by Aditya Chopra. Need we say more.
So let the right ones in. Kabir Khan. In. Irfan Khan. In. Katrina Kaif. In. Nawazuddin. In. John Abraham & Neil Nitin Mukesh ? They are cute. Get them in.
As a friend said what else do you expect from Yashraj Films ? They will romanticise terrorism too. And thats too little and too late. When the world is done with it and have moved ahead, we suddenly have woken up. In Kabir Khan’s New York, 9/11 seems just one more coincidence as there are such big holes in the film through which the twin towers can easily pass through. Too filmy, too convenient and too many unanswered questions. Here goes few which we could not digest. (Spoiler Alert)
FBI – at one point it detains anyone it wants. At other, it waits & waits & waits. For evidence. It negotiates with a terrorist. Oops, make that terrorist’s wife. Ganga gaye to gangadas, yamuna gaye to yamunadas.
John Abraham – even after nine months in jail, the hulk still has the bulk. Otherwise whats the point of shooting him nude, right ? The eye candy should score some ticket sales atleast.
College – Like in all hindi films, for two years, they all just sang “Hai junoon”. Much much later you get to know that John was studying architecture. And so he uses his architecture gyaan for cleaning windows!
Mom-dad – If I am not wrong, I did hear about John & Katrina’s parents. Katrina gave quite a long lecture on that. But even as they go through so much shit in life, their parents seem to be busy holidaying in Timbucktoo. More Casting ? Cut it.
Buck Fush – Except few people with placards in one shot, it doesnt feel like a story set in New York. You don’t even get to know the city & its politics. Its only there till college romance where foreign extras have been hired in good numbers.
Nawazuddin – The actor who packs more punches & definitely more emotions in one confession statement than the entire star cast & the complete film put togther. But the way he suddenly pops in & pops out, I am wondering why suddenly this dose of realism. His short story felt much more genuine than others.
Kabir Khan’s debut film Kabul Express was also on the similar lines. Tackling a world issue in a commercial format. But this one is purely commercial trying to be seriously concerned. And this is just the beginning. More circumcision will soon follow. Rensil D’Silva with Qurbaan starring Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor & Viek Oberoi. And finally Karan Johar’s My Name is Khan starring Shah Rukh Khan & Kajol. Will they cut more or less or just around it ?
Dvd recco – Watch Khuda Ke Liye. The Pakistani film was shoddily made but had its heart at the right place. Naseerduddin Shah’s debut film Yun Hota To Kya Hota was a collage of few stories that smoothly flowed in. From Hollywood, United 93 & Michael Moore’s brillant documenatry Fahrenheit 9/11 are must watch.
PS – Mayank Shekhar, what were you smoking ? 3.5 for this one ? We used to think Nikhat Kazmi & Taran Adarsh are the twin towers of film criticism. When did you join the gang ?
Scroll down and take a look at the 16 pics. Does any of them look retard, psycho, mentally deranged, desperately horny, completely blind, fool, poor or without brains ? If not, why do they want to marry Rakhi Sawant ? What can be the real reason ? Is someone pointing a gun at their head or are they going to get fat cheques ? Or may be they are all ET, from some other planet and so have no clue about Rakhi Sawant. Or is this some kind of game ? We are quite baffled!
Scroll down the pics, more details posted. The 16 finalists for Rakhi Sawant’s Swayamvar. What next ? Rakhi Sawant ka honeymoon and then divorce ? Or the next seasons will depend on this season’s TRPs. Bring it on! We are not crazy enough yet!
Put the cursor on the pics for the names. For their age, location & profession, scroll down.
More details about Rakhi Sawant’s 16 prospective grooms. In clockwise order, from top. Age, location & profession.
1. Ali Bana – 30. Mumbai. Choreographer.
2. Aman Talwar – 21 . Haryana. Father’s poultry business (21years ?? dude, control )
3. Ather Parwez – 33. Srinagar. J&K Police Crime Branch.
4. Ashwin Chaudhuri – 28. Nagpur. Runs marriage bureau.
5. Atirek Sharma – 24. From Kanpur, In Mumbai. Wants to get into cting.
6. Chitiz Jain – 26. Delhi. Garment export business.
7. Deepak Raghav – 25. Raipur. Fitness Trainer.
8. Elesh Parujanwala – 30. Gujarti NRI from Toronto. Family business. Wants to get into media.
9. Kapil Mathur – 28. Jaipur. In retail management.
10. Kripal Singh – 27. Mumbai. Stuntman.
11. Luv Khanna – 26. Delhi. Wants to get into glamour industry.
12. Manas Katyal – 22. Delhi. Media Professional.
13. Manmohan Tiwari – 25. Rishikesh. Lawyer. (wants to get into acting)
14. Pranav Damle – 26. Mumbai. Mechanical Engineer.
15. Raman Handa – 26. Saharanpur ( UP). Astrologer & Vastu consultant.
16. Rishi Dwivedi – 22. Kanpur. BSc Graduate ( Loves dancing & is a trained one)
Are these 16 best jokes or best jokers of the world ? Not bad at all. But we can’t figure it out. Interestingly more than half of them wants to get into media, acting or similar field. So is Rakhi Sawant their Ticket to Bollywood ? Hmmm…conspiracy theory again!
The show Rakhi Ka Swayamvar goes on air on NDTV Imagine from Monday, June 29th 2009.
The dry days are finally over. The first big release of the season is New York, directed by Kabir Khan and stars John Abraham, Katrina Kaif, Neil Nitin Mukesh & Irfan Khan. The film’s reviews are out and they are as extreme as they can be. Did they all see the same film ? Doesn’t look like. Hav a look. For full reviews, click on the links.
Rediff (Raja Sen ) – New York is a sham – 1 / 5
Indiafm (Taran Adarsh) – Go for it now! – 4/5
CNN IBN (Rajeev Masand) – Not convincing – 2/5
Mumbai Mirror (Minty Tejpal) – Worth the price – 3/5
India Today (Kaveree Bamzai ) – Politics score, not the plot – 2/5
Hindustan Times (Mayank Shekhar) – For sure, NY see! – 3.5/5
So what do you guys think ? We are yet to watch it.
F.i.g.h.t C.l.u.b 