This was the grandest welcome Bollywood could have offered to any heroine on her comeback. The entire Bollywood fraternity turned up for Sridevi’s ‘English Vinglish’ premiere and she was basking in praises as the attendees ended up applauding after the screening of the film.
The premiere was attended by Madhuri Dixit, Bipasha Basu, Vidya Balan, Amitabh Bachchan, Sonakshi Sinha, Shilpa Shetty, Zarine Khan, Ayesha Takia, Yash Chopra, Jaya Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Konkona Sen Sharma, and many others from the TV and film industry.
Sridevi, who attended the premiere with hubby Boney Kapoor and family, R Balki and director Gauri Shinde, Sridevi interacted with the media and said: “I am not at all nervous; I am more than just exited! I feel like I am on top of the world! This is a special day for me, my husband and my children! And I would like to thank all those who have come here, and I really hope they like the film!”
Her 15-year-old daughter Jhanvi said: “I am so proud she is the coolest mom.”
Well! We could not agree more!!
Barfi deserves Oscar! Yes, there’s no reason to be dumbstruck. Barfi in the tradition of so many enthralling drama in the last few years that made Indian film grow bigger in stature in the world cinema, is just on its way to produce another success story for Indian film in the global space in respect of critical reception and artistic appraisal. The film is already in the 100 Crore club as one of the highest commercially successful Indian film in the last few years, but more than just being another commercially hit cinema it exhibited all dramatic and cinematic qualities for critical appraisal of highest order and that made it a contender for Oscar award for best foreign picture in 2012. Let’s have a look at various aspects that explains why Barfi deserves Oscar!
A great screenplay and characters that rock
Barfi tells the story of a deaf and dumb, simple hearted, passionate and most intensely and emotionally active young man and his relationship with two girls. Being born and brought up in picturesque hill station of Darjeeling Barfi or Murphy Johnson gets entangled in two-edged relationship subsequently with two girls that apart from the romantic drama that ensues also takes him to get involved in criminal abduction drama of one of these girls that ends up in mutual love. But in few years time after he came to Kolkata again as soon as his relationship with the second girl became rekindled he again got into the kidnapping drama that made Darjeeling Police go after him. The story surprisingly shows the becoming of three characters lives that ends in a hospital where two girls are in an encompassing sadness beside the death bed of Barfi.
The beauty of the screenplay is its interwoven drama that encompasses various enthralling situations that simultaneously relates the troubled, deaf and dumb and easy going personality of Barfi in the face of two edged love and worldly challenges. The character of Barfi and its diverse playfulness and dramatic as well as innocent endeavors fills us with a charm that no recent film in the world can be compared with. All reasons apart this intuitive depiction of characters in their most original human empathy alone explains why Barfi deserves Oscar.
Some never-before quality that wins Oscar
Typically for winning Oscar for best foreign language film as it has been observed that the film must have some qualities that make it appealing to world audience irrespective of numerous cultural and social differences. When a film with enrapturing drama and sturdy, enthralling visuals directly appeals to your reasoning and emotional content beyond linguistic and cultural differences it becomes a deserving contender for best foreign language film. Barfi has taken millions of Indian’s heart with its heart rendering cinematic tale of innocence, love and thrilling human perspective and the film is not too much culture specific that makes the possibility of the film to be appealing to world audience wide open. Most of the Indian films previously chosen or nominated for Oscar had been either too much drawn into mainstream or ethnic Indian culture and that in a way served as a cultural barrier for winning Oscar. Barfi deserves Oscar because it more than language or typical local cultural orientation depicts the story of love and relationship through the heart rendering comedy and innocence of a dumb man that overcomes linguistic and cultural differences.
GIMA Awards 2012 held at the YRF Studios, yesterday in Mumbai, was all glamour and glitter with Bollywood biggies making their presence felt at the event. The celebrities who were spotted at the award ceremony were SRK, Ajay Devgan, Saif Ali Khan, Vidya Balan, Parineeti Chopra, Sonakshi Sinha, Vivek Oberoi, Ayushmann Khurrana and Nargis Fakhri.
Shahrukh Khan wrote on Twitter: “Still at work…got a gima award for chamak challo…a compliment for challa…and a hug from mika singh..punjab da day type today.”
This was the third edition of the Global Indian Music Academy (GIMA) Awards and was hosted by Saif Ali Khan and Parineeti Chopra. The show witnessed some power packed performances by Parineeti Chopra, Ajay Devgan, Sonakshi Sinha and Mika Singh. several singers and musicians like A R Rahman, Sonu Nigam, Mika Singh, Anup Jalota, Bappi Lahiri, Hard Kaur, and Himesh Reshammiya graced the event.
The jury from film music included Jatin Pandit, Javed Akhtar, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Kunal Kohli, Prasoon Joshi, Rajiv Kenkre, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Ramesh Sippy, Resul Pookutty, Shaan, Udit Narayan & Vijay Lazarus. Along with them, the non-film music jury consisted of Anup Jalota, Dr. L. Subramaniam, Ehsaan Noorani, Hariharan, Ila Arun, Leslie Lewis, Loy Mendonsa, Pankaj Udhas, Pt. Shivkumar Sharma, Raju Singh, Ram Sampath, Roop Kumar Rathod, Salim Merchant, Shankar Mahadevan, Shantanu Moitra, Shashi Vyas, Suresh Wadkar, Swanand Kirkire, Taufiq Qureshi & Ustad Rashid Khan.
Along with an insight to the awards, various musicians paid a tribute to the musical veterans who passed away recently – namely, Jagjit Singh, Bhupen Hazarika & Mehdi Hassan.
The who’s who of Bollywood turned up to wish Ranbir Kapoor, as he turned 30 this Thursday. Ranbir Kapoor’s ex-flames Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif were in no mood to miss the bash. While Deepika looked hot in wearing her distressed denims and tank with a Zara checked shirt, Katrina looked sweet and sexy in a short pink dress. Also present was Anushka Sharma in a well fitted orange dress. RAnbir has often been linked to Anushka as well.
Others who were there to wish the birthday boy included rival Arjun Kapoor and filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and wife. Actress Kalki Koechlin came along with Imtiaz Ali, while Karan Johar also made a late entry. Other guests who were spotted at the bash include ‘Barfi!’ director Anurag Basu, Aditya Roy Kapoor,Sidharth Roy Kapoor and music composer Pritam.
Not present at the party were two other rumoured ex-girlfriends – Ranbir’s Rockstar heroine Nargis Fakhri and Kingfisher model Angela Jonsson.
There could not have been a more valuable click for the shutterbugs when the two yesteryear rivals and perhaps the two best actress-dancers of Bollywood, Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi, shook a leg together on stage at the grand finale of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5, at Filmistan Studios in Mumbai. It was a visual treat to the audience when they performed a dance jugalbandi and danced to each other’s songs. Sridevi was all spirits when she danced to Dhak Dhak Karne Laga and Madhuri was no less on Mere Haathon Main Nau Nau.
Sridevi was on the show to promote her upcoming film English Vinglish! She wrote on Twitter: “Had a lovely time shooting for Jhalak Dikhla Jaa, don’t miss the grand finale on Sunday, 30th September.”
Co-judge Karan Johar also tweeted a picture of himself with Sri and Madhuri and sure enough, he got an instant reaction from Dabangg girl Sonakshi Sinha who wrote: @kjohar25 oh that’s a classic shot!!”
The first trailer of Shahrukh Khan and Katrina Kaif starrer YRF’s next ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’ has been released and the trailer for sure displays a sizzling chemistry between the two. This is for the first time that King Khan and Katrina Kaif have been paired together and as far as the trailer shows, they rock as a Jodi.
The trailer has no dialogues. Instead, a soul touching poem plays in the background that has been recited by SRK himself. The trailer depicts the epitome of romance with passion, love, cosiness and warmth oozing in every glance and every move.
The film’s promo also shows Shahrukh Khan romancing Anushka Sharma as well. However, this stands nowhere close to the sizzling chemistry that SRK shares with Katrina Kaif.
This film marks the comeback of Yash Chopra in direction. His last film was ‘Veer Zaara’ which happened eight years back. Filmmaker Karan Johar says that it might be his last film.
“Yashji (Yash Chopra) is like my father. His birthday this year is very special because he is probably making his last film. All of our films are releasing this year but that film will be the most special experience of 2012,” said Karan adding, “This year is special not just for him but for the whole industry because Yashji`s last film is releasing this year.”
Bollywood celebrated Ganapati Utsav with zeal, enthusiasm and style with various Bollywood celebrities being clicked at the celebrations.
Actress Shilpa Shetty was captured with hubby Raj Kundra and sister Shamita Shetty at her Ganpati Visarjan at Juhu Chowpatty. Shilpa got grooving during the visarjan.
Raj Kundra wrote on Twitter: “Had the most peaceful and blessed two days in a while! Done our Ganpati Visarjan was amazing. Went into the sea to c him off. 
back 2 work”
Shilpa Shetty had also posted an image on Twitter when she brought Ganesha home and wrote: “Our Ganeshji:)Kundra cha Raja;)”
Hrithik and Suzanne were clicked with kids Hrehaan, Hridhaan at the Ganpati visarjan. Hrithik’s father Rakesh Roshan, mother Pinky, and sister Sunaina were also seen present.
Other Bollywood stars who celebrated Ganapati Utsav on a grand scale include ‘Heroine’ Kareena Kapoor with Madhur Bhandarkar, Preity Zinta, Malaika Arora Khan and Govinda among other.
Catch a glimpse of your favourite stars at Ganpati celebration…..
Actress Esha Gupta is still a new comer in Bollywood with only one release uptil now in ‘Jannat 2’. She is busy these days with the promotions of ‘Raaz 3’ and has next Prakash Jha’s ‘Chakravyuh’ in her kitty.
Recently, the starlet was spotted on the sets of ‘Laugh India Laugh’ for the promotions of ‘Raaz 3’. Here she confessed to be a huge fan of comedy films.
“I like comedies. My favourite film till date is `Andaz Apna Apna` and I remember each dialogue of the film,” the 27-year-old said on the sets of comedy show “Laugh India Laugh”.
Meanwhile, ‘Raaz 3’ will not be released in UAE as the Censor Board of the group of seven emirates has banned the film from being released there because of some sexually explicit scenes and the portrayal of the spiritual world.
Vijay Singh, CEO of Fox Star, producer and distributors of the film confirms the news and states, “The board has an issue with the film over its adult content. But we are in talks with them right now.”
Rani Mukherjee recently unveiled the first trailer of her comeback flick ‘Aiyya; and must say she looked pretty at the event. At the launch, Rani Mukherjee interacted with the media and revealed: “When Anurag came to me, I told him I can’t do the kind of movies he makes; I don’t want to work in dark films. I told Anurag I want to do a happy film.”
Talking about her character in the movie, Rani said: “My character Meenakshi Deshmukh is very filmy. She is huge fan of Sridevi, Juhi Chawla and Madhuri Dixit. She dreams about them and goes in fantasy world all the time”
The event saw Rani draped in a Maharashtrian saree and director Sachin Kundalkar revealed his motive behind the Marathi backdrop for the movie. “I like Bollywood films but I am saturated with the Punjabi culture. I feel every regional sensibility has to be represented and in that respect Mani Ratnam is my idol. He brought in the South sensibilities and since I am a Maharashtrian, I am bringing in mine,” says Kundalkar.
The movie which will be screened at BFI has Rani Mukherji playing a Marathi girl who lives with her eccentric family next to a smelly rubbish dump, lost in her dream-like Bollywood fantasy world. She gets a job at an art college where she meets a soul-mate, a buck-toothed Lady GaGa lookalike, and together they go man-hunting. Then enters her dream man to whom Rani is drawn because he smells good. Meanwhile, her parents search a groom for her and as her dream hunk mysteriously disappears, our heroine is torn as to which path to choose?
Salman Khan is known for being there for his friends always. So, when actress and friend Preity Zinta asked Salman for a cameo in her debut production ‘Ishkq in Paris’, Salman was all too eager to oblige. The actor will be seen in a peppy number composed by duo Sajid-Wajid. The song is titled ‘Kudiya di Kurti’ and Salman will play himself in the number which will also feature Zinta. The song is part of a wedding sequence where Salman Khan, the star, is invited for his celebrity presence.
Preity Zinta is all thanks to the actor and says, “I love Salman for being part of my first film as a producer. First experiences are always the most memorable and special and he has rocked the movie for me by looking so handsome and super hot.”
Bhushan Kumar, chairman and managing director, T-Series, said: “‘Kudiye di kurti’ is an up-tempo song and no one could do it better than Salman Khan… He is a complete rockstar in the number.”
The third year of Shabana Azmi’s NGO, Mijwan Welfare Society, hosted a fashion show, Mijwan Sonnets in Fabric 2012 on 3rd September at the Grand Hyatt, Mumbai. Leading Bollywood stars walked the ramp showcasing Manish Malhotra’s designs. The 2012 edition of the show showcased embroidery done entirely by the girls of Mijwan. Manish has translated work done by Mijwan girls into contemporary modern designs.
“In the last three years Manish recognized the talent in Mizwan and has brought it to the forefront with the world now seeing the finest work on his creations. He has broken the tradition and made the girls translate chikankari on net to upgrade their skills and help them earn more money. This has increased their negotiating power with men in their households,” says Shabana Azmi.
The show even had boxer Mary Kom onto the ramp: “She was shocked by the unexpected offer, but coming from a small village and humble beginnings, she’s a role model for our girls, who now believe their seemingly-impossible dreams are achievable, ” says Shabana, admitting that she was thrilled to hear that Mary’s favourite film is Masoom (1983) and song — ‘Tujhse naraaz nahin..’. “This show is not just about beauty and glamour but substance and empowerment too.”
Check out the stars dazzling on ramp for Mizwan Fashion Show 2012……..
Both Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor are Yash Raj banner’s darlings. Ranveer has done ‘Band Baaja Baraat’ and ‘Ladies v/s Ricky Bahl’ with them and Arjun has done ‘Ishaqzaade’ and is doing ‘Aurangzeb’ with them. YRF Films brings them together with ‘Gunday’ where the two actors play the roles of Bikram and Bela who begin as small time wagon breakers and coal thieves to end up as the biggest and most powerful black marketing mafia-men.
The movie is set in 1970s and 1980s and takes the lanes of Kolkata as its backdrop. The movie has been directed by Ali Abbas Zafar (of Mere Brother Ki Dulhan) and the leading lady of the movie is yet to be decided. The movie goes on floors in December.
Check out the first look of Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor in ‘Gunday’
