Ruskin Bond pens a story for Vishal Bhardwaj

thanks to Jimmy Cliff..
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Ruskin Bond started writing when he was 17 years old and at 75, he’s still going strong. Over 300 short stories, five novellas, 30 children’s books, numerous essays, an autobiography in two volumes, travel writings, and poetry later, the prolific writer has penned his first story for a film.

“I have written a story for Vishal Bhardwaj, which he will start shooting in February,” Bond told Metro during a chat with steaming mugs of tea and nankhatai to munch.

My favorite Hindi songs in 2009..

Even though the year isn’t technically up it’s fair to say we’ve heard the soundtrack of every significant film likely to release in the remainder. I am listing songs here in chronological order more or less. The selections or from films that released this year irrespective of whenever the soundtracks did. At the risk of repeating this ad nauseam I generally don’t consider anyone comparable with Rahman (of course I can’t list every song from an album of his so I just tend to choose what I prefer over others). I am excluding Slumdog Millionaire because even though it released this year in India I saw it earlier at my end. So here goes..

1)Delhi 6

(one of the great videos in Hindi film history to my mind.. truthfully I could have included most of this album here!)

Rekha on Filmfare (Dec 10-23, ‘70)

Ranbir turns down Dhawan’s Chashme Badoor remake, Dhawan doing the Telugu Kick with Salman

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David Dhawan was very keen to work with Ranbir Kapoor like many filmmakers in B-Town but it looks it will be a long wait. David is in talks with Studio 18 to remake Sai Paranjape’s cult comedy Chashme Buddoor (1981). And he wanted the Kapoor kid to play the character Farooque Shaikh’s character from the original. David felt he would match the character’s sensibilities and innocence.

The Symptomatic Mirror (Rahul Bose in Outlook)

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“What is easier said than done is to get all of you at one time in one room for two hours. My entirely personal belief is that the biggest challenge in front of us is not to get the politicians to see sense and do what we recommend. The biggest challenge is: Can we stay united? If so, for how long? And if that, can we then keep the intensity of our indignation at a consistently persuasive pitch for, let’s say, the 12 months to come?”

Bachchan to release Om Puri’s biography

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Veteran Bollywood actor Om Puri’s biography, written by his journalist wife Nandita, will be released by Amitabh Bachchan on November 23. The biography Unlikely Hero: Om Puri was at the centre of a controversy with reports suggesting that Puri was upset with his wife for making public his relationship with various women in the book but the actor later blamed the media for sensationalising the issue.

Latest Abhishek Idea Ad and older ones

Jackie Shroff’s Charminar ad

Aamir Khan — his songs.. my favorites..

in chronological order…I have only selected videos in which Aamir actually appears..
1)Qayamat se Qayamat Tak

Blood, gore and what a bore! Sandy’s review of Kurbaan

Starring: Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Vivek Oberoi, Om Puri, Kirron Kher
Director: Renzil D’silva
Stars: *1/2

The tag line of the film’s title reads,  ’Some love stories have blood on them’ but where is the love story?  It has a lot of blood of course,  but is wasted on a terror drama that is both predictable and vacuous.  Kurbaan borrows elements from New York and the initial parts, shot in Delhi,  is reminiscent of Fanaa.  But this Karan Johar produced film neither has the prim liveliness of a Fanna nor does it engage you like New York.   There is an utter sense of deja vu and ennui to the story.   And what makes it unbearable is that debutant director Rensil D’silva approaches the script with high seriousness, inserting arty-looking visuals and creating a forced sense of drama  (the last scene where Kareena cries out looks like a farce )  when the film has clearly nothing new to say.

De Dana Dan trailers (updated)

Bachchan — 579

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“As 26/11 looms ahead media prepares to commemorate those horrid moments with programmes aimed at rebuilding episodes in memory of the unfortunate that lost their lives and the brave that fought for the lives of others. The grave and chilling visuals haunt us even today and we watch and relive those anxious hours of survival and battle as a vulnerable city geares itself up to the shock of terror.”

Kareena’s ‘mermaid’ look!

Karan Johar interview

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When you look at films that you wouldn’t be comfortable doing, is that out of choice or ability? Like when you say you couldn’t make a Wake Up Sid…

Oh, there are a lot of films I can’t do. And I look at them sometimes happy I can’t do them and sometimes really sad I can’t do them. For the lack of a better word, maybe I’m not talented enough to execute a certain kind of a film.

Shahid Azam’s Review of KURBAAN

Kurbaan was what Fanaa could/should have been. While Fanaa was basically a love story with the terrorism angle serving as a backdrop on the surface level, Kurbaan is a well paced thriller with the love story woven in the narrative to compliment it. It makes comments on Islam, US and terrorism without taking sides or being melodramatic and preachy.

Read the rest from HERE

Jeetendra on Filmfare (Jan 25-Feb3, ‘77)

Amitabh Bachchan sings for Ilaiyaraja

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It was meant to be a recording by proxy. Amitabh Bachchan had recorded the title song of Paa in the incredibly- juvenile voice of his character Auro. And he did it at Aadesh Shrivastava’s studio two weeks ago, rendering the track sent by Ilaiyaraja to perfect in a 12-year old’s voice.

Rocket Singh Salesman trailers (updated)

thanks to Munna for the longer trailer..

A filmmakers’ debate involving Rathnam

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When Mani Ratnam began a career in films, there was one line he constantly heard: Content is God!. He later realised why they said it. “It’s because we’re not sure if it’s there or not.” The ace film maker did not elaborate on his search for this elusive “God”. But the script — or the lack of it — was the star at a session on Succesful Film Content for the Future: A Debate between leading Indian Film Personalities.

My Review of JAIL (Hindi, 2009)

I’d always maintained it would only be a matter of time before director Madhur Bhandarkar’s formula runs dry. Granted films like CHANDNI BAR, SATTA. and PAGE 3 were sound films and deserving hits, Bhandarkar unfortunately fell prey to the “formula” and his “style” of film-making in many ways killed his creativity.

Read the rest from HERE

Paa trailers (updated)