Archive for the ‘bollywood’ Category

The first one was a straight lift, (The Dinner Game)and it turned out to be a surprise hit. Here’s the second one. Poster, official synopsis and the trailer.

Directed by Sagar Bellary, Produced by Mukul Deora, it stars Vinay Pathak, Minissha Lamba, Kay Kay Menon and Amole Gupte. Sharad Kataria and Bellary have written it. Here’s the official synopsis..

Good hearted but not worldly-wise, the rolly-polly tax inspector, Bharat Bhushan (Vinay Pathak) is back to fulfill his long cherished dream of becoming a singer. To further his media ambition he enters a game show hoping to win a cash prize with which he can make his own music album. Eventually Bhushan goes on to win the competition which also gifts him a free stay on a cruise ship. It is on this cruise that he meets Ajit Talwar (Kay Kay Menon), an acrid tongue sadistic business tycoon, who is taking sheath on the cruise to flee from the Income Tax department. Close on his heels is tax inspector M.T.Shekharan (Suresh Menon), who is trying to unearth the identity of a financial scamster who has been elusive since long.

On the cruise when Ajit Talwar learns about Bharat Bhushan’s profession, he alerts his subordinates to keep a watch on him and in due course, get rid of him. However, on being introduced to Ajit Talwar, Bhushan finds out of his media investments and is out to impress him. The cruise becomes a perfect rendezvous for Bharat with the presence of Ranjini (Minnisha Lamba), a sweet and straight- forward media executive who Bhushan met on the game show. Everything seems perfect in his life with her company and positive future prospects of developing contacts with Ajit Talwar and his clique. The presence of a disguised M.T.Shekharan further excites the plot and a string of oddball occurrences owing to a mistaken identity finally wind up Ajit Talwar and Bharat Bhushan stranded on a deserted island.

It is on the island that Ajit realises what a pain Bharat Bhushan is. His stupidity drives Ajit up the wall. And if that isn’t enough, Bhushan’s folly lands them hostage in the hands of an eccentric reclusive photographer (Amole Gupte). As fate would have it Bhushan’s colleague M.T.Shekharan comes and rescues them exposing the sly Ajit Talwar and making a shocked Bhushan realise that Ajit was trying to get rid of him all the while on the cruise.

The photographer Raghu Burman, M.T.Shekharan and Bharat Bhushan bond with each other with the thought of an idealist utopian state, free of crime and based on social justice. Their bonding is short-lived as they manage to blow off the very house they are in. In the wee hours of morning, a completely harrowed Ajit Talwar is rescued by his business associate Kapoor (Rahul Vohra) and his loyal lieutenant which puts an end to his nightmare.

The story comes a full cycle with Bharat Bhushan realizing what a great friend he has in M.T.Shekharan and a proud Ajit Talwar being punished for his arrogance and high-handedness.

Here it is…

It’s directed by Abhinay Deo, written by Akshat Verma and stars Imran Khan, Vir Das, Kunal Roy Kapoor and Shenaz Treasurywala. And here’s the official synopsis….

Tashi, Arun and Nitin – flat mates, buddies and partners in crime. Tashi is to get married in a month but still doesn’t know if his fiancee is THE ONE! Arun can’t make up his mind who he wants to kill first – his girlfriend (who has just dumped him) or his stupid, annoying boss (whose idea of creativity is sketching a smiling banana). And Nitin is about to discover that eating delicious Tandoori Chicken off a street vendor is going to give him the worst case of Delhi Belly he’s ever known! Three regular blokes, living the regular life except for one small detail – they are on the hit list of one of the world’s deadliest crime syndicates. Will they be able to get away before the shit hits the roof and it comes crashing down? Delhi Belly is the meanest comedy you’re ever likely to see.

We don’t like Olive branches. Fest films don’t make money in India. We are still not sure about how to say it – is it Cann, Kans or Cannes? French people are rude. There are enough excuses for not making it to the official Cannes list. Or as Balki put it here, “There are no Cannes films in India! Ask why? The day one of those films will be enjoyed by us, our films will be enjoyed by them.” I wish Balki had seen the ruckus during the screening of Biutiful at MAMI last year. And  the organisers were forced to have  two more shows of the film. “Our” number might be less but that’s no reason to be so dumb and dismissive about it. Not that we ever had any doubts about Balki’s take on cinema (Kill a kid, let the lovers unite – Cheeni Kum/Paa), but this reason puts him in a different league all together.

What’s on the Cannes menu this year?

Well, Aishwarya Rai, Sonam Kapoor and Freida Pinto will walk the red carpet, not for any film but for L’Oreal Paris. This is the perfect combo – an almost has been actor who never earned any points for her acting skills, a daddy’s girl who was last seen in Anees Bazmee’s atrocious Thank You, and the third one whose middle name should be ladyluck. Apart from the brand that they are endorsing, there is only one common factor that all three share – lack of any acting talent. Imagine someone talking to Sonam Kapoor at the fest – So, what was your last release? That’s True Grit.

Blame it on the Fest too? They are all about stars, about sponsors, about big money, but they are also about cinema. About finding that independent and unique voice and putting it on the world cinema map. Even with all the goss and the glamour, you can’t deny that credit.

What else?

Mallika Sherawat has also been thereatening to make her presence felt like she did last year and the year before that. Peek a boo-b with some Hisss and you will always get some pics clicked. BTW, have you noticed her twitter handle – it’s MallikaLA. Conspiracy theorists believe that she is trying hard to belong “there” and detach from here. She even got a pic clicked with Barack Obama (Ssshhh..she has new film coming up called Politics Of Love. But it might go direct to dvd. Oops) Or is that just good ol’ photoshop? So MallikaLA, how about changing the handle to MallikaCannes?

Films in competition?

Someone please help me here. When was the last time a desi film made it to the competition section of Cannes? Ok, let’s make the base wider. Competition section of any of the top six (Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Sundance, Toronto, Locarno) film fests?

Vikramaditya Motwane’s Udaan was in Cannes Un Certain regard section last year. Bit of googling and you will know that all those countries which are so small that they are difficult to locate on a world map and with names which are difficult to pronounce, even they are  making that Cannes cut.  Why and how? Blame it all on our bollywood musical and melodrama? Or go back to Balki’s bolly-gyaan.

Bollywood – The Greatest Love Story Ever Told?

And this isn’t helping much. If we can’t qualify, let’s make a film for them. According to official release….

Bollywood – The Greatest Love Story Ever Told, is the title of a feature film produced by Shekhar Kapoor exclusively for the Festival de Cannes. It will be screened out of competition during the 64th Festival that runs from the 11th to the 22nd of May.

 It all began with a conversation with ShekharKapoor, a member of the Cannes Jury in 2010. Why not make a film that brings together the most beautiful moments in the history of Indian musical films, with all their moving pageantry and dance? A few months later, there was Bollywood, The Greatest Love Story Ever Told. It is a swirling and poignant montage in which Shekhar Kapoor, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
 and
 Jeff Zimbalist pay tribute to this cinema genre that has contributed to establishing India’s identity in the eyes of the world and to making Mumbaione of the world capitals of film history.

 “We love it. We hate it. We see it as regressive. We see it as modern. We need to breathe it to feel alive. Some say it is the only culture that holds India together. Some say it gives identity and individuality to 25 million Indians that have left her shores and who’s third generations that are still addicted to it. That’s Bollywood!”

Direction Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
 et 
Jeff Zimbalist. Production : Shekhar Kapoor &
UTV Motion Pictures with Ronnie Screwvala and Trishya Screwvala. India, 2011, 81mn)

That’s Bollywood! Well, that’s the baggage too. At a time when filmmakers are trying to find their voice, trying new ideas, this montage/documentary/film will reinforce every cliche attached to the cinema of Bollylalaland.

Shekhar Kapoor has written a post about it on his blog – How it started, why and where. And i still can’t sense anything substantial in it except for some razzmatazz on the beats of dola re dola. The intention must be honest, but how about championing a film next time at the Cannes?

( PS – Dear Shekhar, have you seen Aaranya Kaandam?)

Chillar Party is produced by UTV SpotBoy and directed by debutants Vikas Bahl and Nitesh Tiwari. Vikas used to head SpotBoy earlier. The film has a bunch of kids in the star cast and has music by Amit Trivedi.

And here’s the official synopsis …

Chillar Party is a fillam about a gang of innocent bachcha log who lead a carefree and fun filled life in Chandan Nagar Colony. Soon Fatka and Bheedu come into their lives and they become an inseparable part of Chillar Party.

The lives of these Bachcha log get difficult when Bheedu’s life is endangered, thanks to a mean politician.  Saath me they fight the big bad world of politics and show that even chhote bachche can move mountains.

In a world where reason outweighs emotions, Chillar Party teaches everyone to feel rather than think. They prove that what seems to be right is not always right.

Kuch Luv Jaisa marks the directorial debut of Barnali Ray Shukla, who also happens to be actor/writer/director Sourabh Shukla’s wife. The film stars Rahul Bose, Shefali Shah and Sumeet Raghavan, and is produced by Vipul Shah. Check out the trailer.

And for a change, it’s an official remake. Soundtrack is directed by debutant Neerav Ghosh and stars Rajeev Khandelwal, Soha Ali Khan and Mrinalini Sharma. Saregama India Ltd., who delivered a dud of EPIC size last year with Jhootha Hi Sahi, is producing it. May be it’s better to go with something that you have already seen. Better than trusting the most original writer of Bollywood. Or better if you are not sure about the deliverables even when you are willing to spend crores.

Can someone please connect the dots between the title “Soundtrack” and the punchline “What The F!” That’s like a real WTF!

According to IMDB, here’s the synopsis of IAGPT…

Former musician Frankie Wilde is a legend within the Ibiza club scene for being the most inspired DJ around. On top of that, he has a beautiful model wife named Sonja Slowinski, although many within his social circle don’t see her as being a good influence on him.

But Frankie has disappeared from the Ibiza club scene now for a year, with most only speculating that his life has degenerated into squalor based on his excessive lifestyle in Ibiza. In reality, Frankie’s current disappearance and his ultimate fate is due in part to his excessive substance abuse, especially of cocaine, but also partly due to exposure to continual loud music and a physical disorder: he went completely deaf, with no possibility of getting his hearing back. As he went from partial hearing to total deafness, Frankie believed he could still eke out a living as a DJ without telling many of his descent into total deafness. As Frankie went through a self-imposed isolation to deal with his deafness in his own unique way, it wasn’t until he killed the giant badger that haunted him that he could reinvent himself and his life. He did this with the help of a young woman named Penelope Garcia. After his reinvention, Frankie first tried to capture his old glory but his current disappearance ends up being really for his and Penelope’s sake.

And here’s the trailer…

Tip – Ssshhhh….

UPDATE – 21/04/2011

The original trailer of Shaitan is finally out. And it looks gorgeous! Check out.

The first trailer of Anurag Kashyap’s production Shaitan is out. Though Anurag  claims that this is not the final one, it’s been leaked out and even the font is different in the final trailer.

The film is directed by debutant Bijoy Nambiar and stars Rajeev Khandelwal and Kalki Koechlin in the lead.

Tip – Mihir Fadnavis

UPDATE

The official synopsis and the first poster of the film is also out. To quote…

The story is about Amy – Amrita Mathur. She is a 17 year old and has all the teenage angst and rebel attitude that go with that age. Amy makes some new friends in Bombay- the ultra rich KC and gang. One night of living on the edge ends up with them brushing against the law. A cop blackmails them to cover up the case. In order to pay up Amy stages her own kidnap with help from KC and gang. A simple plan which goes completely haywire forms the rest of the story. Intertwined with this we have a story of a cop – Tavde; who is put on the case to track Amy and the others. The cop is forced to deal with a personal crisis while he is on the case. How he manages to resolve it and simultaneously crack the case carries the story forward.

Paanch REDUX?

The trailer of Sanjey Leela Bhansali’s production My Friend Pinto is finally out. It’s directed by debutant Raaghav Dar, and stars Prateik, Kalki Koechlin, Arjun Mathur, Divya Dutta, Raj Zutshi and Shruti Seth. Raaghav and Arun Sukumar have written the story and screenplay, it has music by Ajay and Atul and Amitabh Bhattacharya is the lyricist.

Also, this is the first Bhansali production which is not directed by him. Instead of melancholic blue, Bhansali going for complete madness. Have a look.

You don’t need too much talent to put three guys on the poster. You surely don’t need talent to decide who should be shirtless if it’s a competition between Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and Abhay Deol. And may be, you need bit of talent to decide that their faces should not be entirely visible. Just cut at the right point. Have you seen the poster of Zoya Akhtar’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara? Do check out.

And strangely this poster looks quite similar to the poster of Lords Of Dogtown. And the similarity is more than just the three guys on the poster. Do check it out.

What do you think? Do comment.

Tip – Gobbledyspook