Bollywood VIEWS!!!

Karan Johar has done it again. He has created a grand movie with a grand script and forced us to have grand expectations. However, time and time again, I am left grossly under-whelmed and slightly cringe each time I watch his movies. Let’s take MNIK for example.

Surely, this is a movie about racism against Muslims and the stereotypes they face in America post 9/11. So why is it that Johar has put in very stereotypical remarks against White and African Americans in the movie? The value systems preached in this movie are not given the same importance when coming from our side. 

Also, surely Johar and the SRK-Kajol team have gone to New York tons and tons of times. How then can they come up with illogical scenes such as how one steps out of their home in Queens, New York (40 minutes away from Manhattan) crosses the street and ends up in Grand Central Station (in Manhattan).

When movies such as Wake up Sid and Dev D are directed with all questions answered and perfectly logical in every sense, I refuse to give accolades to directors that compromise details for the sake of large scale productions.

Solution: Watch Khuda Kay Liye for a good description on post 9/11 life for Muslims and Forrest Gump for a man with a disability who travels the country and touches the hearts of people he meets.

Contributed by Prachi Jain

Aussie Beauty and Bollywood starlet Tania Zaetta has appealed for calm, patience, and cultural understanding, following the recent attacks on Indians in Melbourne.

Zaetta, left her career as a TV presenter in Australia to pursue her dreams into Bollyowood, and has starred in the films Bunty Aur Bubli and Salaam Namaste, and most recently in Mr White & Mr Black.

Zaetta told an Australian newspaper that it would be “both embarrassing and disappointing if these horrible attacks in Melbourne are purely racially motivated against Indian students”.

Having spent much of the last 3 years living in Mumbai, Zaetta has obviously found a soft spot for all things Indian, and has also done a lot to promote the Bollywood phenomenon in Australia. Now, she wants to use her influence to promote peace between the two nations.

Zaetta is of Italian descent, and a proud Australian. “This country was built on multi-culturalism” she says. “We should all be working together, and certainly tolerant of different lifestyles, ideas and beliefs.

Thanks Tanya, we’re with you!

Contributed by Jeremy Veitch

The numbers are in for the last three years and the list of top actors in Bollywood is out…

Here are the Top 12. Feel free to comment.

1. Aamir Khan: Occupies the top slot with just three films – Taare Zameen Par, Ghajini and 3 Idiots. Also called ‘God’ in industry circles today because of his overpowering star status and his penchant for good scripts and marketing wizardry. With a combined domestic nett collection (after tax) of Rs 377 crore and counting (3 Idiots is still making money), he ranks way ahead of Shah Rukh Khan, with a per film net collection average of Rs 125.83 crore.

2. Shah Rukh Khan: Falls way behind Aamir with a collection average of Rs 77.67 crore. The films under consideration? Chak De, Om Shanti Om and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi that collected around Rs 233 crore.

3. Hrithik Roshan’s three year haul of Rs 214 crore gets him close to Shah Rukh with a per film nett collection average of Rs 71.33 crore.

The others in the order of importance include: Akshay Kumar (average nett collection of Rs 43.82 crore), Saif Ali Khan (Rs 36.71 cr), Ranbir Kapoor (Rs 34.30 cr), Salman Khan (Rs 29.93 cr), Abhishek Bachchan (Rs 30.13 cr), John Abraham (Rs 26.30 cr), Shahid Kapoor (Rs 28.40 cr), Imran Khan (Rs 33 cr) and Ajay Devgan (Rs 25.63 cr).

3 Idiots is continuing its dream run. Realistic, funny and with an accent on thinking out of the box, the film deserves all the moolah it’s making. At last count, the Indian box office collections stood at Rs 185 crore after tax. A box office record, making it an all-time blockbuster, even beating the likes of Ghajini, Gadar and Hum Aapke Hain Kaun.

While it’s hard to pin point reasons for its monumental success, some of the reasons for its fantastic opening include:

1. Aamir Khan’s marketing wizardry: In industry circles, he is being called ‘god’ and a marketing maverick. With good reason. The way he disguised himself and played tricks on the ‘aam junta’ and celebrities alike made many heads turn and filled so many column spaces in newspapers and sound bytes on TV channels.

2. The script is king and with a director like Rajkumar Hirani of Munnabhai fame, the story could relate to just about anyone, class and caste no bar. It was as much a multiplex film as it was a single screen film. As much a success in urban and rural areas.

3. The casting was apt. Everyone did their job well. From eccentric professor Boman Irani to the room boy to Sharman Joshi and R Madhavan to even Kareena Kapoor. Very few films have the best cast and crew. Sample this one. It had No 1 director Hirani; No 1 actor Aamir; No 1 actress Kareena and No 1 producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra.

4. Ladyluck is on Aamir’s side for the last two years. Sample Taare Zameen Par, Ghajini and now 3 Idiots. Everything he touches turns to gold. Midas touch!

Katrina Kaif is suffering from low haemoglobin count, vitamin deficiency, and is to now undergo a minor surgery.

Sources say it’s over work. But then, no one died of work, you ask? Well, that’s true. But people do suffer like she is undergoing right now…

I remember meeting her after a fashion show in Bangalore. Needed a few sound bytes from her. There she was sitting on the portico towards the rear door. I sidled up to her, only to find her crestfallen face. She cited fever and I asked her to take care of herself and left her alone. That was even before she had set foot in Bollywood.

And that was also the last time I spoke to her. She was as hard working as she is now… No wonder, luck follows her everywhere. Atta gal!

Posted by Wordmobi

The Chetan Bhagat controversy shows up two facts. That writers are getting a raw deal, even if it happens to be a famous author.

Two, the greed of filmmakers like Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who doesn’t want to part with the moolah… he has paid a piddling Rs 11 lakh and made over Rs 140 crore and counting.

Please send flowers to Chopra and ask him to get well soon.

Posted by Wordmobi

3 Idiots is breaking as many records as it is making new. And now, its second weekend nett earnings odd Rs 34.5 crore is more than the first weekend gross of all the major movies.And word is out in industry circles that Aamir is god at the Indian box office.Kudos, Aamir. Kudos, Rajkumar Hirani. You do the industry proud.

If there is a film with a deeply moveable message and entertaining at the same time, it has to be 3 Idiots in 2009. The film rocks. While many say the second half is not as good as the first half, it’s rubbish. The film doesn’t fail to entertain you and keep you glued to the screen.

The film’s USP lies in its heart-touching dialogues and the ‘munnabhai’ moments that instantly connect with you. Ten minutes through the film, and you know it’s more than the ticket’s worth.

Aamir is at his ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ best while Madhavan, Sharman and Kareena lend their supporting touch to anchor the film. But the two people to watch out for are Aamir and Boman Irani. Agreed, he is repeating his Munnabhai act, but his clashes with Aamir are to watch out for. Not to mention, the ‘balatkar’ speech by ’silencer’, Aamir’s mugpot classmate.

With this film, Aamir has beaten his Ghajini’s box office performance, and in some circuits doubled it. So far, the film has raked in Rs 80 crore in India alone. Add another Rs 40 crore from overseas, and the total goes up to a staggering Rs 120 crore worldwide. Making 3I an all-time blockbuster! The film deserves this and more as the ensuing weeks will show…

Take a bow, director Rajkumar Hirani. Aal Iss Well with your film!

Wonder what’s working for Aamir Khan… Last Christmas, Ghajini shattered all box office records.

And this Xmas, 3 Idiots has shattered Ghajini’s record too.

The film grossed Rs 93 crore worldwide on its first weekend and did better on Monday than Saturday.

This is unheard of, unimaginable and unforeseen.

Kudos, Aamir! Congrats, Rajkumar Hirani!

Progeria derives from a Greek word meaning premature ageing.

It is the subject of a film to be released on December 4th, starring 67 year old actor Amitabh Bachchan who plays a thirteen year old son of Abhishek Bachchan called Amol and concentrates on their loving relationship. It was a cosmetic exercise, more difficult than many others, particularly for such a well known actor and a brave decision to accept the part.

There have only been 100 cases registered, worldwide.

An interesting comparison with a recent (American ) film in 2008 can be made about both cultures considering the same subject almost simultaneously; film makers are always searching for new off-beat subjects.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a story in reverse where the son is born old, and suffering from Progeria, grows older in years but progressively younger in appearance until he  sheds his former self, falls in love. Of course, it helps that Brad Pitt  grows into the beautiful young man!

The producers have to sell it! Button won Oscars, now lets see what Paa can do.

Contributed by Barbara Turner