Cinema/Showbiz
Punjabi singer apologizes for controversial song
Chandigarh, June 21 (IANS) Punjabi singer and actor Babbu Mann Monday tendered an apology for singing a song at a concert questioning the circumstances in which freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai died.
Mann in June performed at a concert in Britain where he sang the song which had lines saying that the freedom fighter did not die of wounds inflicted from a cane-charge on him by the British forces in Lahore city (now in Pakistan) in 1928, but due to a heart attack many months later.
"It was not my intention to hurt anyone's feelings. I just sang the lines that were given to me," Mann said in Mohali.
Rai, popularly known as 'Punjab Kesari' and 'Sher-e-Punjab' (the lion of Punjab), died November 1928, months after receiving injuries from the cane-charge when he and others protested the visit of the Simon Commission sent by the British government to discuss constitutional reforms for India without having any Indian member in it.
Monday, 21 June 2010
Katrina Kaif Rajneeti Movie gives Nepal Maoists a break from politics
Cinema/Showbiz/International
'Rajneeti' gives Nepal Maoists a break from politics
By Sudeshna Sarkar
Kathmandu, June 21 Fatigued and frustrated by their fruitless one-year war to topple the government, Nepal's opposition Maoist party took a break from politics to recharge their batteries - by watching the recent Bollywood blockbuster "Rajneeti".
Nearly a dozen top Maoist leaders, including former ministers and current MPs, trooped into the Kumari cinema here Sunday to watch Hindi film director Prakash Jha's new political thriller starring Ajay Devgn and Katrina Kaif.
They included former finance minister Baburam Bhattarai, who is also projected from time to time as an alternative to Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, his wife, former tourism minister Hisila Yami, former peace and reconstruction minister Janardan Sharma Prabhakar and Nanda Kishore Pun Pasang, one of the top commanders of the Maoist People's Liberation Army that waged a 10-year war against the state from 1996.
The group of comparatively young leaders are serious Bollywood watchers, known not to miss films on serious social and political issues.
A few months ago, some members of the same group had watched the Ram Gopal Varma offering, "Rann", about a media baron and found it "inspiring".
However, "Rajneeti", loosely based on the Hindu epic Mahabharat, left the Maoist leaders unmoved.
Manushi Bhattarai, young Maoist leader and daughter of Baburam Bhattarai, said she found the film related to happenings in India, not Nepal. Maoist journalist Manorishi Dhital said he found it negative.
"'Rajneeti' focused on the negative aspect of politics and conspiracies," Dhital said. "It ignored the positive impacts when you regard politics worldwide."
The breather came as the Maoists, now the biggest party in parliament after winning the elections in 2008, have themselves become entangled in "conspiracies".
Since the fall of the first Maoist government last year, the former rebels have been struggling to regain leadership of a new ruling alliance but have been stymied by the ruling Nepali Congress party and the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist.
Though the Maoists bailed out the government last month after a "gentlemen's agreement" that Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal would resign in exchange, the latter refused to quit once the crisis was over, making the rebels cry that they had been "betrayed".
While his comrades sought diversion in "Rajneeti", Maoist chief Prachanda did not attend the screening.
The former revolutionary instead chose to turn up at the wedding reception of Bollywood actor Manisha Koirala.
Though Manisha had opposed the Maoists and supported King Gyanendra's bid to seize power in a bloodless coup, and her father Prakash Koirala became a minister in the royal cabinet, Prachanda decided to bury the hatchet by attending the wedding bash at the Soaltee Crowne Plaza Hotel with his wife Sita, who is also a Maoist adviser, and granddaughter Smita.
However, the reconciliation did not extend to the deposed king, who too was invited.
While Prachanda went early and left early, the ousted king came late and stayed on for nearly two hours, the careful timing ensuing that the two arch-foes did not come face to face.
But even if they had, it was doubtful if anyone would have noticed.
Besides the bride who looked ethereal in richly embroidered blue, the cynosure of all eyes - and the media - was Bollywood star Jackie Shroff.
While Prachanda and Gyanendra wore formal western suits and melted away in the crowd, Shroff, Manisha's co-actor from her debut Hindi film "Saudagar" in 1991, stole the show in his traditional Nepali suit, the daura-suruwal, topped by a black waistcoat and the quintessential Nepali cap.
'Rajneeti' gives Nepal Maoists a break from politics
By Sudeshna Sarkar
Kathmandu, June 21 Fatigued and frustrated by their fruitless one-year war to topple the government, Nepal's opposition Maoist party took a break from politics to recharge their batteries - by watching the recent Bollywood blockbuster "Rajneeti".
Nearly a dozen top Maoist leaders, including former ministers and current MPs, trooped into the Kumari cinema here Sunday to watch Hindi film director Prakash Jha's new political thriller starring Ajay Devgn and Katrina Kaif.
They included former finance minister Baburam Bhattarai, who is also projected from time to time as an alternative to Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, his wife, former tourism minister Hisila Yami, former peace and reconstruction minister Janardan Sharma Prabhakar and Nanda Kishore Pun Pasang, one of the top commanders of the Maoist People's Liberation Army that waged a 10-year war against the state from 1996.
The group of comparatively young leaders are serious Bollywood watchers, known not to miss films on serious social and political issues.
A few months ago, some members of the same group had watched the Ram Gopal Varma offering, "Rann", about a media baron and found it "inspiring".
However, "Rajneeti", loosely based on the Hindu epic Mahabharat, left the Maoist leaders unmoved.
Manushi Bhattarai, young Maoist leader and daughter of Baburam Bhattarai, said she found the film related to happenings in India, not Nepal. Maoist journalist Manorishi Dhital said he found it negative.
"'Rajneeti' focused on the negative aspect of politics and conspiracies," Dhital said. "It ignored the positive impacts when you regard politics worldwide."
The breather came as the Maoists, now the biggest party in parliament after winning the elections in 2008, have themselves become entangled in "conspiracies".
Since the fall of the first Maoist government last year, the former rebels have been struggling to regain leadership of a new ruling alliance but have been stymied by the ruling Nepali Congress party and the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist.
Though the Maoists bailed out the government last month after a "gentlemen's agreement" that Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal would resign in exchange, the latter refused to quit once the crisis was over, making the rebels cry that they had been "betrayed".
While his comrades sought diversion in "Rajneeti", Maoist chief Prachanda did not attend the screening.
The former revolutionary instead chose to turn up at the wedding reception of Bollywood actor Manisha Koirala.
Though Manisha had opposed the Maoists and supported King Gyanendra's bid to seize power in a bloodless coup, and her father Prakash Koirala became a minister in the royal cabinet, Prachanda decided to bury the hatchet by attending the wedding bash at the Soaltee Crowne Plaza Hotel with his wife Sita, who is also a Maoist adviser, and granddaughter Smita.
However, the reconciliation did not extend to the deposed king, who too was invited.
While Prachanda went early and left early, the ousted king came late and stayed on for nearly two hours, the careful timing ensuing that the two arch-foes did not come face to face.
But even if they had, it was doubtful if anyone would have noticed.
Besides the bride who looked ethereal in richly embroidered blue, the cynosure of all eyes - and the media - was Bollywood star Jackie Shroff.
While Prachanda and Gyanendra wore formal western suits and melted away in the crowd, Shroff, Manisha's co-actor from her debut Hindi film "Saudagar" in 1991, stole the show in his traditional Nepali suit, the daura-suruwal, topped by a black waistcoat and the quintessential Nepali cap.
Sonu Niigaam, Rahat Fateh Ali to judge 'Chhote Ustad'
Cinema/Showbiz
Sonu Niigaam, Rahat Fateh Ali to judge 'Chhote Ustad'
New Delhi, June 21 Popular singers Sonu Niigaam and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan will judge the second season of Star Plus' children music reality show "Voice of India Chhote Ustad".
"I will judge 'Chhote Ustad' on Star Plus. Rahat is my co-judge. So we will have some fun with stars of tomorrow," Niigaam posted on his micro-blogging site Twitter.
A source from the channel confirmed the news.
In the past, Niigaam has judged shows like "Indian Idol" and "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li'l Champs International", while Rahat, nephew of late acclaimed Sufi singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, was seen as a mentor on Imagine TV's "Junoon Kuch Kar Dikhaane Ka".
The launch date of the show is yet to be confirmed.
The last season of "Chhote Ustad" was aired in 2007. It was judged by Pritam Chakraborty, Shreya Ghoshal and Kunal Ganjawala and Ahmedabad's Aishwarya Majumdar won the show.
Sonu Niigaam, Rahat Fateh Ali to judge 'Chhote Ustad'
New Delhi, June 21 Popular singers Sonu Niigaam and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan will judge the second season of Star Plus' children music reality show "Voice of India Chhote Ustad".
"I will judge 'Chhote Ustad' on Star Plus. Rahat is my co-judge. So we will have some fun with stars of tomorrow," Niigaam posted on his micro-blogging site Twitter.
A source from the channel confirmed the news.
In the past, Niigaam has judged shows like "Indian Idol" and "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li'l Champs International", while Rahat, nephew of late acclaimed Sufi singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, was seen as a mentor on Imagine TV's "Junoon Kuch Kar Dikhaane Ka".
The launch date of the show is yet to be confirmed.
The last season of "Chhote Ustad" was aired in 2007. It was judged by Pritam Chakraborty, Shreya Ghoshal and Kunal Ganjawala and Ahmedabad's Aishwarya Majumdar won the show.
Infidelity, bold scenes in 'Mr. Singh Mrs. Mehta'
Cinema/Showbiz
'Mr. Singh Mrs. Mehta' about infidelity, bold scenes
New Delhi, June 21 First-time director Pravesh Bhardwaj is entering the world of Hindi films with "Mr. Singh Mrs. Mehta", a new story on marital infidelity. Releasing Friday, the movie will show how circumstances force married people into relationships outside wedlock.
Based in London, the film stars Prashant Narayanan and British-Indian actress Aruna Shields in lead roles along with Lucy Hassan and Naved Aslam. Grammy-nominated sitarist Ustad Shujaat Hussain Khan has composed music for this extramarital saga by UTV Motion Pictures.
The story revolves around two people - Ashwin (Prashant) and Neera (Aruna) who come to know that their respective spouses are cheating on them. Drawn together by shame and anger, they find comfort in their friendship. Though they try not to have any relationship with each other, they end up becoming lovers.
As the movie is about cheating spouses, it has a lot of bold scenes including 34 kissing scenes. Thanks to the many smooches, the film has created a lot of buzz. The censor board raised eyebrows over a scene where Aruna sheds her clothes for a painting. However, the movie was later cleared but with an A-certificate.
Bhardwaj's wife Shruti Nagar, who works with Rajshri Productions, is not happy with the overdose of nudity in the film. She has objected to the way the intimate scenes have been picturised.
But Bhardwaj insists the low budget film has a lot more to offer than bold scenes.
"The film is not only about kissing and nude scenes as thought of by many. It has got a lot more to offer like a different story, an unique treatment of the script, performances by the stars and music by Shujaat Husain Khan," Bhardwaj told IANS.
He is confident the audiences will accept his movie.
"I have tried to portray on reel what happens in real life. I think audiences are mature enough to understand it. This is not the first time when an actress has bared all for a movie. People have accepted it earlier and I am hopeful they will accept it in my film too," Bhardwaj said.
"Mr. Singh Mrs. Mehta" is not the first film of lead actors Prashant and Aruna.
Prashant, seen on the small screen, was critically acclaimed for his performance in "Waisa Bhi hota Hai Part 2" and also did a role in Ketan Mehta's controversial period drama "Rang Rasiya". He says working in "Mr. Singh Mrs. Mehta" was challenging.
"I wanted to do the film as I found the script challenging. Filming for the movie was difficult because it had different requirements. It was not easy to stand in front of a nude woman who I barely knew. It was even uncomfortable for her (Aruna) but at the end we managed to give our best shots," Narayanan told IANS.
Aruna made her Bollywood debut with Vivek Oberoi-starrer "Prince" in April this year.
'Mr. Singh Mrs. Mehta' about infidelity, bold scenes
New Delhi, June 21 First-time director Pravesh Bhardwaj is entering the world of Hindi films with "Mr. Singh Mrs. Mehta", a new story on marital infidelity. Releasing Friday, the movie will show how circumstances force married people into relationships outside wedlock.
Based in London, the film stars Prashant Narayanan and British-Indian actress Aruna Shields in lead roles along with Lucy Hassan and Naved Aslam. Grammy-nominated sitarist Ustad Shujaat Hussain Khan has composed music for this extramarital saga by UTV Motion Pictures.
The story revolves around two people - Ashwin (Prashant) and Neera (Aruna) who come to know that their respective spouses are cheating on them. Drawn together by shame and anger, they find comfort in their friendship. Though they try not to have any relationship with each other, they end up becoming lovers.
As the movie is about cheating spouses, it has a lot of bold scenes including 34 kissing scenes. Thanks to the many smooches, the film has created a lot of buzz. The censor board raised eyebrows over a scene where Aruna sheds her clothes for a painting. However, the movie was later cleared but with an A-certificate.
Bhardwaj's wife Shruti Nagar, who works with Rajshri Productions, is not happy with the overdose of nudity in the film. She has objected to the way the intimate scenes have been picturised.
But Bhardwaj insists the low budget film has a lot more to offer than bold scenes.
"The film is not only about kissing and nude scenes as thought of by many. It has got a lot more to offer like a different story, an unique treatment of the script, performances by the stars and music by Shujaat Husain Khan," Bhardwaj told IANS.
He is confident the audiences will accept his movie.
"I have tried to portray on reel what happens in real life. I think audiences are mature enough to understand it. This is not the first time when an actress has bared all for a movie. People have accepted it earlier and I am hopeful they will accept it in my film too," Bhardwaj said.
"Mr. Singh Mrs. Mehta" is not the first film of lead actors Prashant and Aruna.
Prashant, seen on the small screen, was critically acclaimed for his performance in "Waisa Bhi hota Hai Part 2" and also did a role in Ketan Mehta's controversial period drama "Rang Rasiya". He says working in "Mr. Singh Mrs. Mehta" was challenging.
"I wanted to do the film as I found the script challenging. Filming for the movie was difficult because it had different requirements. It was not easy to stand in front of a nude woman who I barely knew. It was even uncomfortable for her (Aruna) but at the end we managed to give our best shots," Narayanan told IANS.
Aruna made her Bollywood debut with Vivek Oberoi-starrer "Prince" in April this year.
Telugu actor Kota Srinivas Rao's son dies in accident
Cinema/Showbiz
Telugu actor Kota Srinivas Rao's son dies in accident
Hyderabad, June 20 Veteran Telugu film actor Kota Srinivas Rao's son Kota Prasad died in a road accident here Sunday. He was 39.
Kota Prasad is survived by wife and two children. He also acted in one Telugu film "Siddham" released last year and had signed a couple of other films.
Police said Prasad met with the accident at Narsangi near Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University while he was on his way to the airport.
His two-wheeler was hit by a truck. He was rushed to a private hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The body was shifted to Osmania Hospital, where an autopsy was performed. The body was later brought to his house, where eminent film personalities and politicians paid their last respects.
Srinivas Rao, a former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator, was inconsolable.
Actor-politician Chiranjeevi and Brahmanandam were among film personalities who consoled him.
BJP leaders also visited Srinivas Rao's home. Chief Minister K. Rosaiah also expressed his shock over the death of Kota Prasad.
This is the second time a leading Telugu actor has lost his son in a road accident in Hyderabad.
In 2003, Pavan Kumar, son of actor and then state labour minister Babu Mohan had died when his two-wheeler hit a road divider in the Jubliee Hills area.
Telugu actor Kota Srinivas Rao's son dies in accident
Hyderabad, June 20 Veteran Telugu film actor Kota Srinivas Rao's son Kota Prasad died in a road accident here Sunday. He was 39.
Kota Prasad is survived by wife and two children. He also acted in one Telugu film "Siddham" released last year and had signed a couple of other films.
Police said Prasad met with the accident at Narsangi near Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University while he was on his way to the airport.
His two-wheeler was hit by a truck. He was rushed to a private hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The body was shifted to Osmania Hospital, where an autopsy was performed. The body was later brought to his house, where eminent film personalities and politicians paid their last respects.
Srinivas Rao, a former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator, was inconsolable.
Actor-politician Chiranjeevi and Brahmanandam were among film personalities who consoled him.
BJP leaders also visited Srinivas Rao's home. Chief Minister K. Rosaiah also expressed his shock over the death of Kota Prasad.
This is the second time a leading Telugu actor has lost his son in a road accident in Hyderabad.
In 2003, Pavan Kumar, son of actor and then state labour minister Babu Mohan had died when his two-wheeler hit a road divider in the Jubliee Hills area.
Sunday, 20 June 2010
Kangana My character in new film mix of Madhubala, Haji Mastan's wife
Cinema/Showbiz
My character in new film mix of Madhubala, Haji Mastan's wife: Kangana
By Shilpa Raina
Kangana Ranaut is set for a brush with the underworld on screen once again after "Gangster". She reveals that her character in "Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai" is a cross between don Haji Mastan's wife Sona and yesteryears beauty Madhubala. "In real life Haji was a big fan of Madhubala-ji and he fell in love with Sona who looked like her. So my character is a cross between the two," Kangana told IANS in a telephonic interview from Mumbai.
"The character I am playing has some similarities with Madhubala-ji...like the way she was a superstar and had problems in life...," she added.
Talking about her character Rehana in the film, Kangana said: "Rehana is a very big star...she is the woman who evokes desire in everyone and then she falls in love with this gangster and discovers a new world. My character transforms from a star to a woman." Her character might be similar to that of Madhubala but Kangana was inspired by other yesteryears heroines too for the role.
"I observed 70's actresses like Zeenat Aman and Parveen Babi... they were the rebels who wore bikinis and were style icons. My character is somehow like them," said Kangana.
Set primarily in the 1970s Mumbai, the film by Milan Luthria will trace the changing face of the underworld through the eyes of a police officer. The story follows the rise of Sultan (Ajay Devgn), and his eventual fall when his protege Shoaib (Emraan Hashmi) challenges his supremacy and usurps power to rule the underworld in the city.
The film that releases July 30 also features Prachi Desai. On her personal life, Kangana is candid and says she doesn't care what people think of her. And being a Bollywood diva is not really her cup of tea.
"I really don't care what people think of me and how they perceive me. That is okay with me because I don't make an extra effort to be friendly to people. I do things I like doing," Kangana told IANS.
"I'm a very moody person. There are times when I want to talk about my life whereas there are days I just want to be left alone," she said.
Kangana is unlike other Bollywood stars who are interacting with fans on micro-blogging site Twitter but maintains she shares a "personal relationship" with her well-wishers.
"I don't put myself on Twitter to see how many people are crazy about me. I don't like to blow kisses at my fans to show that I am a diva. This whole idea of diva doesn't turn me on," said Kangana.
I share a very personal relationship with my fans and my close ones. Even when I meet people who appreciate my work, I talk to them as I talk to everyone else. That is the way I have always been," she added.
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