Bollywood 'bad man' to get BBC award
Gulshan Grover fancies himself as a movie actor along the style of Al Pacino
or Jack Nicholson. Now, with a BBC Asia Award for his contribution to
cinema, Grover is hoping to put Indian movies on the world map.
The actor, whose villainous roles have run the gamut from cruel smuggler to
narcotics trader, is due to receive the award from British Prime Minister
Tony Blair in Birmingham, England, on March 25.
"I feel excited that Asian talent is being recognised by a mainstream
channel," said the 45-year-old actor who every Indian movie fan loves to
hate.
"I like to be like Al Pacino, also Jack Nicholson... I admire them," he
said.
The award caps a successful 300-film career in which he has strutted around
nightclubs dressed in outlandish clothes or called the shots from palatial
homes surrounded by a bevy of scantily-clad women.
Although he has earned the sobriquet of the "bad guy" of Bollywood, Grover's
international roles including some French, Italian, German and Hollywood
films, have been varied.
He has played a rebel chief fighting for farmers in a Franco-German film
"Rose and Marguerite", a ruthless mafioso in the Hollywood production
"Monsoon" and Mowgli's wicked uncle, Buldeo, in "The Second Jungle Book",
adapted from Rudyard Kipling's book.
In his latest film, "Bhavander" (Sandstorm), based on the true story of a
lower-caste woman gang-raped by high-caste men, Grover takes up the cause of
lower caste women.
"With a major career going in Bollywood, I'm making constant efforts to work
in international cinema," says the commerce graduate.
As a commerce graduate, he said he was aware that he needed to carve a niche
for himself in the prolific Bollywood film industry.
"The negative character was consciously created," said the actor who has
flourished in the tumultuous world of Hindi cinema mainly dominated by
fresh-faced romantic heroes.
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Music review of "Daman"
Dr Bhupen Hazarika is a man of myriad talents. Dada Saheb Phalke Award
winner for the year 1993, he is a music composer, a poet, a singer, an
erstwhile actor and a filmmaker. This multi-faceted persona of his
reflects very much in the music that he composes.
His score for Kalpana Lazmi's Daman (starring Raveena Tandon and
Sayaji Shinde) is a refreshing break from the monotonous compositions
of Bollywood's music directors.
The album reflects commendable versatility that Dr Hazarika brings
about while blending the folk and the classical with contemporary
music and presenting it in a package that today's generation can
easily relate to.
On one hand he draws influences from the Assamese folk in Alka
Yagnik-sung 'Sun Sun Goriya', on the other he shows his deftness with
the western music in 'Bahar Hi Bahar' in which makes an adept use of
instruments like Harmonica, Saxophone and Electric Guitar.
Lyricist Maya Govind has come up with touching lyrics for 'Gum Sum'.
Kavita Krishnamoorthy has sung the song quite impressively,
particularly her voice inflection in the refrain, but it is Bhupen
Hazarika's version, which is the piece de resistance of the album. His
rich baritone, plus the unique touch of ventriloquism he brings about
in his intonation, and his voice quavering into a suppressed cadence
brings about the elements of extreme sadness and pain in the song.
After a long time we hear a religious song (and a good one too) which
Jaspinder Narula sings with feeling and devotion. Hema Sardesai
impresses with her zestful rendering in 'Sur Sur Hawa' that has a good
flute accompaniment. And then there is the soft and lilting 'Hu Hu
Pagal', another number that shows Dr Hazarika's command over western
style of music.
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What did Hrithik Roshan do on Holi?
Not much, apparently.
With wife Suzanne and a few friends in tow, Hrithik zipped off to Madh Island, Bombay, to celebrate a quiet festival of colours, away from fans and the film industry.
If Saturday was Holi, Sunday was Navratri for Hrithik.
He is shooting for Mohan Kumar's Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage, at a 17-day schedule at Mehboob Studios, part of which is a Navratri song.
Penned by Dev Kohli and composed by Rajesh Roshan, Ori gori chaloji chori chori, piya ke milan rut aayee re, is an item song, sung by Udit Narayan and Pamela.
The eight-minute song, picturised on Hrithik Roshan and Amisha Patel and choreographed by Raju Khan, involves several costume changes -- it is spread over the nine nights of dandiya raas. Hrithik's costumes are designed by Rocky S.
Producer Gautam Kumar is confident that the song will be a major highlight in the film. "The current schedule involves shooting a major portion of the first half of the film. The way things are going, we are sure we'll complete the film in time for a Diwali release this year."
This means that it will be Hrithik's second release this year, after Subhash Ghai's Yaadein, which will premiere on July 27.
His third release this year will be Karan Johar's Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gam, slated for a December 14 opening.
Incidentally, Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage is the only film which pairs the Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai stars together again.
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Yash Chopra baffled by under-valuation of "Mohabbatein"
"Mohabbatein," from Yash Chopra's flourishing banner, has crossed the records of their earlier films in several parts of India and overseas. Trade figures indicate the film to be the second biggest success of the year 2000.
"And it's still going very strong," says producer Yash Chopra happily about the film directed by son Aditya. That's why he's baffled by the widespread under-valuation of "Mohabbatein."
"There were two successful films in the year 2000. 'Kaho Na...Pyar Hai' and 'Mohabbatein.' But the trade papers and film publications from Mumbai insist on calling it an average film. I don't want to name other films that haven't done so well and have still been praised to the skies. Some of them have been distributed by me and were made by my friends," he says.
"But let me compare the performance of my son's 'Mohabbatein' with my own 'Dil To Pagal Hai.' In 16 weeks 'Mohabbatein' crossed the profits that 'Dil To Pagal Hai' earned in three years," he says.
Says Chopra, "If they're comparing the performance of Aditya's 'Mohabbatein' with his earlier film 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge,' then that isn't right. 'Diwale Dulhaniya...' was god's blessing to Aditya. A film like that cannot happen twice over. Aditya is my son and we're both directors. I feel 'Mohabbatein' has more than lived up to our expectations."
"Because of its length 'Mohabbatein' was shown only in three instead of the usual four shows at theatres per day. Can you imagine what kind of business 'Mohabbatein' would have done if it had been shown in four shows? And mind you, my son stood by his creative convictions. He refused to delete even one frame from his film even though it was considered by the trade to be dangerously over-long," he says.
The music sales of "Mohabbatein" have crossed six million units. By April it's expected to cross 7.5 million. The film has already earned Rs.70 million at the box-office. Yash Chopra is fully pleased with the film's performance.
"From every distribution territory I'm receiving overflows. So what does the media mean by saying it's an average success? I don't mind the media saying 'Mohabbatein' hasn't done as well as 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge.' That's a fact. 'Dilwale Dulhaniya...' is the biggest success ever from my banner. But after 'Dilwale...' 'Mohabbatein' is our biggest success. Why don't people accept the truth? Name me one recent film that's as well directed as 'Mohabbatein,'" he says.
"Aditya has made a film which is over nearly 220-minutes long. He has made the film with six newcomers and six new playback singers and Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan," he says.
"I must say Amitabh Bachchan spoke very generously about 'Mohabbatein' at the Filmfare awards function when he won an award for the film. To admit in front of millions of viewers across the country that he asked me for the role in 'Mohabbatein' requires tremendous courage of conviction. I've worked with him for 25 years. When we were casting for 'Mohabbatein' Amitabh Bachchan's stocks were low. We were discouraged from signing him. But we had full faith in his talent. We knew nobody could achieve even 10 percent of what he has done in 'Mohabbatein,' and we were right. We would love to do more films with him." Chopra says.
"Now after my son, it's my turn to direct a film. Because of dealing with the business side of 'Mohabbatein' and Aditya's marriage, my next directorial venture has been delayed. I'll finalize my next film as soon as Aditya returns from his honeymoon in April," he says.
If all goes well, Bachchan would be doing another film for Yash Chopra's banner. Nothing has been finalized yet though. Says Bachchan, the mega-star whose role in 'Mohabbatein' has been tremendously appreciated, "The film came at a time when I desperately needed work. I decided I needed to work with Yashji again after 'Deewaar,' 'Trishul,' 'Kala Patthar' and 'Silsila.' I feel indebted to him and Aditya Chopra for giving me 'Mohabbatein.'"
He vehemently defends the box-office performance of "Mohabbatein." "Because it hasn't been appreciated by some critics on aesthetic grounds it's assumed that the film's box-office performance is also sub-standard. I'm not saying 'Mohabbatein' is as huge at the box-office as 'Kaho Na...Pyar Hai.' But just because a cricket player doesn't score two centuries, you cannot disregard his century. "Mohabbatein" has several achievements to its credit."
"On Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC, the TV game show Bachchan hosts) I'm invariably asked to recite dialogues from 'Mohabbatein.' I'm also asked to wear my clothes from 'Mohabbatein' on KBC. I'd like to think 'Mohabbatein' has made a huge impact on the audience's minds," asserts Bachchan.
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On the sets of shararat
Abhishek Bachchan's search for that elusive BO blockbuster continues with Shararat. The fourth film of his career, it is also his second with a debut director.
If Abhishek is perturbed about the dry run in his career, he doesn't show it. He is perfectly at ease chatting up journalists and replying to the toughest of questions with a disarming smile.
Shararat is the story of how this young spoilt brat undergoes a sea change when circumstances force him to spend 30 days in a home for the aged. Once there, he is privy to a facet of life he has never seen -- parents who have been abandoned by their children.
"The film raises the issue of old age and how one discards one's parents in their waning years. My film discusses how far this is right. The question that the film asks is whether homes for the aged should exist in a civilized society. Parents raise their children with a lot of love and affection and strive at getting them the best they can afford.
But the same children, when they grow up, turn their backs on their parents, and that too, at a time when the parents desperately need to be taken care of. I agree, a lot of children do support their parents in their old age, but, quite often, it is only because they have to do it. The parents raise their children with love, but the children never -- no matter what they say -- look after them in the same way."
The point Bhalla is perhaps trying to make is that even while staying within the commercial format, it is possible to create a film of substance. The rationale behind this seems to be, "If I churn out yet another ordinary commercial film for my first venture, I will be lost among the growing breed of newcomer producers and directors." Bhalla hopes that Shararat would immediately put him in a separate league altogether.
The film was initially an ABCL project. A couple of years ago, Jaya Bachchan had commissioned Bhalla to make the film with Abhishek in the lead. The deal, however, failed to materialise.
Meanwhile, Bhalla's association with ABCL continued. He and Abhishek continued to bump into each other. Then, one day, Bhalla told him that he believed in the subject so much that he was going to produce it as well.
As always, getting the required funds posed a problem. Says Bhalla, "Fortunately and by the grace of God, I found a man, Jayantilal Gada of Popular Entertainment Network (PEN), who believed in me more than my script."
He admits, candidly, "No other newcomer would have got an opportunity in his first film like me. Not only did Gada invest in the film, but has also been co-operative and non-intrusive all along in the its making."
Incidentally, Gurudev Bhalla's launch vehicl
The audiocassettes and CDs of the film will be released by Tips Cassettes in March. The film will hit the screens in the second week of May.
At the moment though, Gurudev Bhalla is totally consumed in completing his first baby. The film has had a lasting and profound impact on him.
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"Chori Chori Chupke Chupke" was released across the country amidst tight
New Delhi : Sporadic violence marked the release of controversial
Hindi movie "Chori Chori Chupke Chupke" across the country, with
pitched battles between Sangh Parivar activists and the police leaving
12 injured and over 200 protesters arrested. In Varanasi, protests
over the screening of the controversial film "Chori Chori Chupke
Chupke" by Shiv Sena activists took an unexpected turn today when two
activists consumed poisonous pills in a cinema in this city. Nearly 12
people, including a policeman, were injured in clashes between the
police and Shiv Sainiks at a local cinema hall. Over 200 activists of
Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bharatiya Yuva Morcha
were rounded up in parts of Madhya Pradesh and Mumbai after they held
demonstrations outside theatres against screening of the film "Chori
Chori Chupke Chupke".
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Urmila plays ‘Aankh micholi’ with Nana Patekar!
Varma Corporation, the production house of filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, has several films in the pipeline. One of the recent launches is ‘Aankh micholi’ to be directed by his former assistant Taufiq who is now turning director with this film.
The film is a remake of one of Ramu’s south films. The director was playing ‘aankh micholi’ with us on the issue of casting but now it is in the open that the old time favourite of Varma Corporation, Urmila Matondkar is starring in the film. So, who is playing the lead opposite her, you may ask? Well, it’s Nana Patekar. Besides Nana and Urmila, Saif Ali Khan is also part of the cast.
With Dimple in ‘Krantiveer’, Manisha in ‘Yugpurush’ and Raveena in ‘Gulam-e-Mustafa’, Nana seems to have a penchant for young stunners. And with his next screen pairing with the oomph girl herself, Patekar seems all set to sizzle on screen. Manoj Bajpai, please take cue from Nana ji.
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Govinda signs up with Padmalaya
Govinda has been signed to play the lead role in Padmalaya's next film, to be directed by K Raghavendra Rao. The film was earlier supposed to be directed by Manoj Agarwal, whose last film, Hadh Kar Di Aapne, also starred Govinda.
K Raghavendra Rao gave the Hyderabad-based Padmalaya its first Hindi blockbuster, Himmatwala, starring Jeetendra and Sridevi, way back in 1983.
The Govinda film is Padmalaya's second ongoing project. Kya Dil Ne Kaha, starring Jeetendra's son Tusshar, and Hema Malini's daughter Esha Deol, is already on the floors. It is written and directed by Sanjay Chhel.
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