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dibakarLSD ? Yes, thats Love Sex Aur Dhokha. Dibakar Banerjee’s new film. In an industry where a filmmaker’s success is measured by the budget he can manage, Dibakar is in reverse gear. After Khosla Ka Ghosla and Oye Lucky Lucky Oye, Dibakar is going digital, low budget and Adult! Just 2 crore film. We caught up with Dibakar to know more. Read on. 

Peep show : The film is about voyeurism. This film is essentially about how we have become a generation of voyeurs and flashers simulatenously. This film is about keyhole. On one side of the keyhole is a guy who is peeping in and on other side, there is a person who is hoping that someone io peeping in, and then its us, who are seeing all this. And it is adding bizzare subtext to our society. On television, newspapers, other media, we are obsessed with the most meaningless trivia of what other people are doing about their life. Thats one part of the film.

voyeurismLoveology : The other part of the film is how we see love. I fall in love with a person. And I fall in love with a person in contempoprary India. Those two situations are completely different. Because today when I fall in love with somebody I have a history of 80 years of cinematic love to tell me what love should be, how a person in love behaves, what is the outcome of love, what happens when you are in love and how love conquers all. But when we try and take that route in real life, we realise that what the film shows and what life shows us are two differnt things. And am very excited about that difference.

Mera-Camera : These are the issues that this film is trying to deal with. And the reason to take completely new people is that voyeurism is specially effective when it is not constructed, when it is not fictional, when the camera is really candid. Even when I fake the camera into movement so that it looks like candid, but if you see someone like Abhay Deol or any other actor, you will know that its not really candid.

Kamre me Camera : This film cant be done if I dont go digital. If we shoot it in film ,this film wont be there. What we are trying to do with this film is actually totally new kind of filmmaking. We are trying to change the rules. We are making the film with real people. The people are given situations in which they are free to interpret and go forward with just a symbolic guideline from me. And people will be shooting the film themsleves often. And they will be shooting each other. And we will see a film which is not seen through my eyes, we will see a film which is seen through the eyes of people who are within that frame. That is essentially what voyeurism is all about. Thats what we are trying to do. The whole cast is made of people that we have not seen before. Trying to address the issue of reality show. I find this term very interesting – reality show. This is the oxymoron of oxymoron. This is the film all about. Its about reality, its about show, its about showing and peeping.

Imran-Abhay : The kind of subjects that I tackle and the kind of liberty that I want to take with my filmmaking, its fine with me to exist in the smaller bylanes of great big industry that bollywood is. I think huge biggie would kind of take it all away all  and subvert me from what I am trying to do. So the next one is definitely not a biggie, its middly or smalley compare to other people’s budget. We are trying to address a very hard hitting social and politicallly issue that we face in our country. We are trying to bring together two actors whom we have not seen in a film yett. Its not done, we are trying. If it happens, people will see actors in that kind of role which we have not seen before.

And if you missed it last time, here is Dibakar Banerjee on love, life and cinema. Published in Outlook. 

Kangna RanautNo, dont get us wrong. To be an actress in bollywood, you dont need great IQ. Actually what you need, nobody still knows. You can play any role you want. But…

…Read this news story in today’s Mumbai Mirror about Mani Shankar’s new film starring Sanjay Dutt and Irfan Khan. Kangna Ranaut have been signed to play the role of a tv journalist in a prominent tv channel. Her character is similar to Barkha Dutt ( read character = hair style). Remember Preity Zinta in Lakshaya ?

Now, everything is fine. But Kangna as a tv journalist in a top notch tv channel ? With a diction like hers, that make us love her for the way she shouts out “Baastaard” in almost every film, we wonder which tv journalist can be so bad on air!

After watching Anurag Basu’s Life in a Metro, filmmkaer Anurag Kashyap also could not control himself and gave some tips to the actress..

Kangana, work with Dubeyji ( Satyendra Dubey) to control your lisp, practice your dialogues while biting down on a pencil.. it helps.. she grew on me slowly.. first few scenes, that voice bothered me..

That lisp still continues! We are ROFL wondering how she will report/anchor news. Wish someone could honestly tell her about it. Otherwise, we think she is one gutsy actor who has great potential. The expressions are always right. The problem begins only when she opens her mouth!

 After the success of Dev D, Abhay Deol has finally moved on to his new film Aisha, co-starring Sonam Kapoor. Its directed by Rajshri Ojha and produced by Anil Kapoor. The film is based on Jane Austen’s novel Emma and the first shooting schedule is going on in Delhi. 

Sonam plays the lead role Aisha Kapoor in the film, a typical south Delhi girl with a Modern School background and belonging to a rich family. And if the gossipmongers are to be believed, the only reason why Abhay Deol signed this film is because of the whopping Rs 2.5 crore fees that he was offereed!

Giselli MonteiroLove Aaj Kal had big names like Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, Rishi Kapoor and Imtiaz Ali. But the one who got all the eyeballs and got people talking was Giselli Monetiro (Harleen Kaur).  She quickly made her entry in Google’s top search that week also.

And here is a bit of info that we heard recently. The actress was paid only Rs 1 lakh for the film! Huh? Only One Lakh!!?? Even the character actors get paid better. Am guessing they must have convinced her saying its a big break with big stars and blah blah!

Those of who you who liked here, here is some good news. It seems the actress is soon going to sign her second film. She has been approched by Ravi Chopra for his next production Puraani Jeans. The film will also launch Chopra’s son Kapil Chopra alongwith Rati Agnihotri’s son Tanuj Virwani.

Unnaipol OruvanIts 50 years of Kamal Hassan, on screen! And these days he insists on playing atleast 50 roles in each film of his. They even say, to call him megalomaniac is an understatement! In an interview, when Naseerduddin Shah was asked about his reaction to Kamal Hasaan playing his part in the tamil remake of A Wednesday, he said – why my part ? He should play all the parts! 😉

Jokes apart, this one looks sane. The trailer of the tamil remake of A Wednesday is out. The film is titled Unnaipol Oruvan and stars Kamal Hassan ( In Naseeruddin Shah’s role) and Mohan Lal ( Anupam Kher’s role). We feel its looking better than the hindi one and hopefully they have cut out the dhoom-dhaam-dhadap camera, sound and edit pattern in this one.

BTW, Kamal’s daughters are also involved with the film. Shruti Hassan has composed the music for the film and Akshara has choreographed a promotional video. And Kamal has sung two songs in the film! 

Its a strange situation in Goa. International Film Festival Of India is held in Goa, it get tourists from across the world. But Konkoni language doesnt seem to grow beyond the borders of Goa. But slowly, it seems to be changing. And here’s some good news.

Dil Bole Hadippa, Whats Your Raashee and Road, Movie are going to be screened at Toronto International Film Festival this year. The new addition to the list is Konkani film The Man Beyond the Bridge (Paltadacho Munis), produced by NFDC. The film is directed by Laxmikant Shetgaonkar, a filmmaker from Goa.

The film will be screened under the ‘Discovery’ section at this year’s TIFF which kicks off on 10th September. This section offers a window on contemporary international cinema. The movie will have a total of 5 screenings during the festival.

The script prior to its production also went under fine tuning in the Script Lab organized by NFDC in ‘Film Bazaar 2007’.

Synopsis : The Man Beyond the Bridge is a story about Vinayak, a forest guard, who lives a lonely life, with just the memories of his dead wife in a Government house in the dense forests of Goa-Karnataka border. His repeatedly rejected pleas for a transfer by his superiors in the Department of Forests have left him bitter. One night, he comes across a filthy, unkempt mentally challenged woman lying in the compound outside his house. He drives her away but she keeps returning. From his initial irritation with her filthy appearance and irate behavior, he slowly gets used to her daily visits looking for food and sleeping in the courtyard. With time, he begins to derive comfort from her presence.

Vinayak’s growing relationship with the woman initially, attracts some comment but evokes a strong protest in the village only when she gets pregnant. The villagers question Vinayak’s right over mentally challenged and helpless woman. They maintain that his relationship is morally incorrect and should be ended. However, for Vinayak, the woman is his companion and the mother of his child and there is no dilemma in his mind over this. Thus begins a conflict between a society that refuses to take responsibility of such a woman and one man’s endeavour to integrate her in his life. 

ChintujiRemember those days of IN & AS! When the opening credits of the film would roll with the lead actor’s name and it would come with the title of the film.

When I heard about the film Chintuji (yes, thats the title), I thought the same. Rishi Kapoor IN & AS Chintuji! And yeah, it stars Rishi Kapoor. Am sure there are not many actors who have the luck to have a film by their name or nickname and then get to star in it too!

We love nicknames, or as well call ghar ka naam or kaccha naam. Some of us even have more then one ghar ka naam! Bollywood is no different and the names sound all weird and funny. Bebo, Chi Chi, Lolo, Guddu, Duggu, Chinki, Bonny, Faffy! But then, whats the point of a nickname if it doesnt sound funny and if you dont want to hide it from others! Ghaar ka naam bus ghar ke liye! 

My all time favourite nicknames are Chenta and Penta. Chenta was a friend in school and his brother was called Penta. Poor souls, we used to harass them a lot. Though he tried his best and kept on denying that his name was Chenta. He said it was Chintoo and his brother was Pintoo. But who would listen ? And where is the fun in Chintoo-Pintoo ? The false one became a real name and Chenta-Penta had no choice but to accept it!

Nicknames dont have reason or logic. But it seems Chintuji’s nickname has a story behind it. When Rishi Kapoor was born, his brother Randhir Kapoor used to recite a riddle.

Chote se chintu miyaan, lambi si poonch,

jahan jaye chintoo miyaan, wahan jaye poonch! Bujho to jaano ?

Its a needle and thread. And because of this riddle, Rishi Kapoor was nicknamed Chintu. What a prick! Is that the reason why Rishi Kapoor can be so rude and can fire you for ringing him on his mobile – How can you call on my mobile ? Huh!

The film Chintuji is about Rishi Kapoor, an actor who loves Legs & Pegs and has political ambitions. Its directed by Ranjit Kapoor, writer of films like Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron (D), Kabhi Haan Kabhi Na (D), Bandit Queen (D), Mangal Pandey (D) and Halla Bol (D). ( D- Dialogues)

And here is the most interesting bit. If am not wrong, Ranjit Kapoor must be bollywood’s oldest debutant in recent times. We always joke about it, who will break the record! VBala, you listening ? The competition is getting tougher. First it was Pradeep Sarkar (Parineeta) at 52. Then Naseeruddin Shah’s directorial debut (Yun Hota To Kya Hota) at 56! And now its Ranjit Kapoor at 61!! Or may be as Dharam Paaji said, its not about age, its about mileage! 

Click the play button to check out the theatrical trailer of Chintuji. Produced by Bobby Bedi, it releases this friday.

Well, thats the rumour doing the rounds.Aamir-Khan

It seems Danny Boyle will present Anurag Kashyap’s next film titled Bombay Velvet (BV). Its a period flick set in the early 1940’s Mumbai. According to this report in Mid-day, Aamir Khan has already heard the narration of the film but still to give his nod to the project.

What we know is that Bombay Velvet is planned as a triology and will be produced by Studio18.

prateik-babbarThe other casting news is about Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next titled My Friend Pinto. The film will be produced by Bhansali and will star Prateik Babbar. It will be directed by debutant Raghav Dar who has assissted Mani Ratnam and Abbas Tyrewala.

You can read the full report here. And since this report is by Subhash K Jha, who is known to be close to Bhansali, you can trust this newsbit.

Fame Big CinemasIts all about the BIG idea! I understand. And business is all about BIG money. I do understand. But when you cheat me to run your business, I really dont understand. Blame it on BIG!

Sunday. 11 pm show. Quickgun Murugun. Fame Big Cinemas , Andheri (west). Earlier it was Fame Adlabs before Big Cinemas ( ADAG – Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group) took over Adlabs.

At around 9 pm, I logged in to their website to check ticket availability for the 11 pm show. Tickets priced at Rs 180 and Rs 220. For 180, only first two rows were available. Rest all sold out. For 220, lot of seats were available. I thought will easily manage two seats (me and my friend) for the Rs 220 category.

Reached the theatre by 10:50 pm. Not much crowd. Asked the guy at the counter for two tickets of Quickgun Murugun. To confirm it, I asked him the status of the Rs 180 category seats. He said the same – Only first two rows. Showed me the screen too. I asked for two silver category tickets (Rs 220). On the screen, he showed me its the last row, centre seats.

We entered the theatre and were waiting outside Screen – 4. Not much crowd. Wondered how is it almost housefull. I dont see much people around. Entered the theatre, moved to our seats. From the last row, its easy to get the full view of the theatre. Except few people in the first two rows, I didnt see anyone in the gold category seats ( Rs 180). And for the Rs 220 category seats (silver), people were still coming in.

For a moment I thought may be its some group or corporate booking. And so i waited. But these are BIG liars! Someone must be making money thinking about these out of box BIG ideas to make more money. So, what their website showed me was wrong, what the guy at the ticket counter told me was a lie and its a case of cheating. And its all planned. Its must be what they call STRATEGY! I and am sure, many like me, have been forced to buy the Rs 220 category tickets.

No business like weekend business! 40 rupees ? Yes, its not a big amount but I do value it and I HATE to be treated like this. Because its NOT right. And why would you dare to cheat me when am going to see the truth in just a few minutes! Some guts!

Am sure this cant be just for one show and one screening. If its working, they must be doing the same for other screens. Since it was late night show, by the time the movie got over, the box office counter was closed. Otherwise I would have informed the guy at the ticket counter. Atleast he should know that I know about it. Am sure he will pass the info to his boss. And next time am going to do it. And make much more noise about it. Document it all, record it and take pictures. 

Since I dont have enough money to put half page ads on the front page of the newspapers (what a gas!) and ask people to voice their concern about what is right and what is wrong,  have put my thoughts here. Do spread the word, check the facts and make sure you dont get cheated. De-FAME!

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What Pratim has suggested in the comment, that might also be true. Only the first two rows’ tickets were priced at Rs 180. The ticket prices are different for almost all the shows and more so during weekends. Also it depends on movies too. Like recently, when Kaminey opened in Mumbai on monday, the multiplexes smartly charged the tickets at weekend prices. Because they knew that people are going to watch it anyway. Not sure if there are any guidelines about it. Though I remember that the website was showing it as housefull for the Rs 180 category tickets.  Have also seen other films in other rows for the same price. But then it doesnt gurantee anything. So, if thats the case then this post is invalid. If they can charge whatever they want, why would it they fake it ? This reason also makes sense. In this case, am wrong and my apologies. But if not, then it stays. Am going to be more careful next time and will check it properly.

 

Still havent managed to catch Shashank Ghosh’s madness called Quick Gun Murugun. A friend Vasan Bala saw it and recommends it strongly. Read on.

quickgun murugan2A man is supervising the MENU for the day being listed on the black board.

“Bullet Chicken……B..U…L…L…I….T”

The man writing on the board with a chalk auto-corrects.

“B…U…..L…L….E…T”

The man who was dictating gets angry. Puts a gun to the other man’s head and growls at him, How dare he ask for a correction?

Even I agree with BULLIT CHICKEN. What’s an urban cowboy movie without an ode to the greatest URBAN COWBOY ever “Steve McQueen”

Shashanka Gosh and team have brought back that crazy brainwave from back in 1994 to it’s 2009 full blow AVTAAR (can’t escape Avtaar, it has become the last name in film-making, so I hear)

And this time around he means business and is bloody serious. There is no goofing around.

The moment we get into the Coconut Climbing Training School scene we know we are in for a serious treat. Not an half heartedly made or backed crazy idea. Such treatment to such films are so so so so rare in Indian Cinema.

Usually a great wacky idea is good enough for either the small screen (MTV, Channel V, Nick) or maybe a 30 second slot as a TVC not a full blown FEATURE. Shashanka Gosh and hopefully the success of this venture paves the way for many many more wacky minds. Take a Bow TEAM QGM.

Being a TamBram and that to born and brought up in Matunga there could not have been a more personal experience.

“You made my day, Machchan”

The plot is quit ideological and spiritual. The age old debate on FOOD, whether it has to be plants and herbs or the ones that move, crawl, jump or fly.

Murugun believes in eating grass, Rice Plate Reddy believes in the latter. He wants beef to be stuffed in all Dosas around the world.

He loves to alter his own destiny and cuts his hands for better palmistry. He dictates resignation letter and kills people to the tune of HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you.

The lone cowboy on the dusty roads is bumped off pretty soon in his crusade only to be sent back with a special VISA granted by Chitragupt himself. He is teleported back to earth, specifically to Mumbai.

The rest of the journey is a simple tale of bloody revenge by a vegetarian cowboy with questionable choice in color and material of clothing.

He loves his Lover locked in his Locket but can’t resist the nice girl who works in not so nice places, Mango Dolly.

Her massive cleavage is no give away to the heart of gold she carries, but Murugun is not ‘just another cowboy’, he immediately, looks deep, and just about in a flash realizes, MANGO DOLLY IS A GOOD GIRL.

Together they team up, he guns down the bad guys she ties up his wounds with every ounce of clothing that’s left on her body. A love striptease for a bloody gun-slinging lover. Ah!

QGM has been a ride. What a ride. Just one month and I have seen 2 films being worthy of permanent COLLECTIONS.

Kaminey and QGM.

Have still not got over the carnatic spiced GOOD, BAD and UGLY signature tune.

KALAKITAI  MACCHI  KALAKITAI!!!!!