Everything about this film is shrouded in smoke – Dhuaan was a very apt early rumored title that has now been changed to Talaash. Written by Reema Kagti (director of Excel Entertainment’s Honeymoon Travels) and Zoya Akhtar (writer and director of Luck by Chance and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara), the film boasts of an interesting cast with Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor (last seen in 3 Idiots) but also includes Rani Mukherjee. Rani and Aamir were last seen together in Mangal Pandey years ago! Continue reading →
Amitabh Bachchan acted in Ajooba in 1991 (almost 22 years after his debut) and that, along with other misfires, marked the end of his thriving career as a superstar. Continue reading →
Suffering from kidney failure, in and out of dialysis, Shammi Kapoor retained a joy for life and living till the very end. The joy he brought to each and every tole on camera was what made him an unforgettable hero. He danced, he romanced and gave a face to the smooth and silky voice of Rafi Saab. His dance moves were never choreographed, but an upswelling from within of how he felt the music. The light of fun and joy is gone, but not forgotten. While I can watch any Shammi movie anytime, some of the songs I love the most are so good they are worthy of repeat watches. Here are my top favorite ways to remember Shammi ji:
In O Haseena Zulfon wali watch Shammi Kapoor watch up to the siren Helen:
Next up is Aasman se Aaya Farishta, Shammi Kapoor in a bathrobe makes sure Sharmila in a daring (for the time) swimsuit goes practically unnoticed!
Finally in Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyaar ke Charche Shammi matches the sexy Mumtaz step for step:
Some more recent interviews of the legend, and his memories of his films, can be found HERE.
It is most fitting to end this with an ultimate tribute to Shammi Ji from Naseeruddin Shah in the film Sitam (via Pavan Jha!):
Also from the same source is the following story:
“p1j (Pavan Jha):
This one is special.Shammi Kapoor married GeetaBali & was doing a film with Kidar Sharma Rangeen Raaten. Geeta Bali wanted to be with him.. Geeta Bali requested Kidar to have her as heroine but Mala Sinha as Shammi’s heroine was already signed for the film. Geeta had no female op. So Geeta Bali played role of a man (not in disguise) but a total male char in the film Rangeen Raaten of Shammi ji”
Keep rocking ShammiJi – you will be missed but not forgotten!
He died 31 years ago but his songs are immortal and give me joy even today! For all the fans of Rafi – here is a film made on his life, it contains great commentary, and wonderful video footage! Enjoy!
Born Vasanth Kumar Shivashankar Padukone in Bangalore in 1925, he was renamed Guru Dutt after an early childhood accident. It is also rumored that he was supposed to have dropped the latter part of his name because of his love for all things Bengali. Continue reading →
Vidya is playing Silk Smitha in the upcoming film Dirty Picture. Silk Smitha burned the screen in her bold and daring roles in many a film. Continue reading →
There’s more than that meets the eye as far as Peepli [Live]’s exclusion from the National Awards is concerned.
When the awards were announced, it seemed like the country’s official entry to the Oscars was specifically ignored. Digging around, we found the film wasn’t even entered for the nominations!
Aamir Khan and Anusha Rizvi on the sets of Peepli [Live]
Could it have been an oversight (highly unlikely, considering how particular Aamir Khan is) or did he decide to ban the National Awards (like he does other popular awards)?
The film’s director Anusha Rizvi says she is clueless why the film was not entered. “I heard it, too. And I have absolutely no idea why the film wasn’t entered.
I want to clarify that the directorate and the jury members of the National Awards have been unfairly targetted.”
But wasn’t Anusha the one who did not want to be involved in promoting Peepli for the Oscars race not long ago? Continue reading →
Sensationally beautiful in a most Indian way, trained in classic Indian dance, and their on screen presence full of abhinaya that only a trained dancer can have, Waheeda and Madhuri are two of a kind. Continue reading →
It could have been the drugs I was on, but this was simply the worst award show I ever saw on TV. The hosts lacked talent in extemporaneous acting, and were too young and unestablished to really be in your face or iconoclastic. So she took to costume changes at the drop of a hat (reportedly advice from Shirley McLaine) while he probably took tranquilizers (no other way to explain that bit in the dress). Continue reading →
I decided to make this list before the revelry of the 31st made me lose my judgment. After a few margaritas and some loud music one tends to make all kinds of resolutions that seem foolish the next morning. And then the guilt sets in. So this year I am starting early. In 2011 I resolve to:
1. Spend less time Twittering (I know I know – it is Tweeting) and more time reading. My stack of books is growing at an alarming rate and has been ignored for too long. Continue reading →
The year is racing to a finish, and it is time to look back at what went by, or rather whizzed by. I wish I could have read more, seen more films, traveled more places – and eaten less 😀
Films: There were some really good ones and there were some really bad ones, and then there was mostly a lot of stuff in between. After a hiatus from Bollywood I went back to watching a lot of BW films (mostly what released in theaters here), while picking my HW films with care and caution! Here is a HW list:
1. Inception – loved the film, the mind-bender that kept us thinking and discussing for days on end. Leo DiCaprio did not disappoint and Marion Cotillard was luminous. Continue reading →
First there was Sholay, then there was Ram Gopal Varma ki Aag, and now we have :drumroll: Basanti Ke Badle ki Jwaala! This one is an all female version of the cult classic and we have begun a community project to generate the screenplay. Of course the protagonist is not Basanti, the bindaas tangewaali, or her widowed friend Radha. The leading figures are the intrepid pocketmaar duo of Jaya and Veera. Brought into the game by Thakurain, the mother-in-law of Radha, their goal is to end the tyranny of the madam called Jhabbariya – she runs the local brothel with an iron fist, tyrannizing the inmates, stealing young girls from the local village. She must be dealt with – and this is where Thakurain comes in :tantara:….
So now for the cast, and to fill in the story details I turn to you readers – help me!
If you look closely a pattern emerges. I am not alleging anything, simply pointing out what seems so obvious.
Aishwarya does Jodhaa Akbar with Ashutosh Gowarikar. Abhshek is cast in Gowarikar’s next – Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey!
Aishwarya does Guzaarish with Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Abhishek is now to act in the next Bhansali film!
Aishwarya does Action Replayy with Vipul Shah. Abhishek is set to act in Vipul Shah’s next!
Coincidence? You be the judge, I am simply presenting facts!
In fact the buzz Mani and Amitabh struck a deal through which Abhishek got Yuva. Further people say that the promise of Amitabh doing a special appearance n Delhi 6 got Abhishek that role. Originally, a new hero was to lead in the film, but he was dumped after the deal. This is just what I hear – have seen no writeups to back this up.
Ranbir Kapoor and Imraan Khan appeared on Koffee With Karan and Ranbir acted like quite the player. He was quite open about how he uses camouflage to hide the names of his “female” callers on his cell phone – I believe the code word was “Battery Low”!
Stranger in a strange land 