Counterview: It churns out bilge

M F Husain might be 94 but still remains provocative. Sample what he had to say about Bollywood: it is merely a machine that churns our entertainment. He believes that besides a handful of films, Bollywood usually turns out bilge. He's quite right. Let's accept Bollywood for what it is: an industry that is good at making formulaic films that usually appeal to the lowest common denominator. How many times have we seen the same themes being replayed over and over again? Girl falls in love with a boy whom the girl's father hates, twins get separated at birth and rags to riches stories. There may be nothing wrong with that so long as the audience is lapping it up. But we shouldn't try and credit Bollywood with producing great or even good films. There are some who would argue that Bollywood has turned a new leaf, and there are plenty of interesting movies being made over the past few years. Yes, that's true to some extent. There has been a spate of 'crossover' films that aspire to break the shackles of formula and appeal to a sensible audience. But let's not give them more credit than due. Many of these are lifted from Hollywood and world cinema, including the songs that are the defining characteristic of Bollywood films. It's just that we've been used so long to seeing trash that even a half-decent plot seems like manna from heaven. Ever since the first feature film in Hindi was made in 1913, Bollywood has grown by leaps and bounds. It now produces many more movies than any other film industry, including Hollywood. But what have we to show for it by way of awards? No Bollywood film has ever won an Oscar. In so many years, only three Indian films have made it to the best foreign film shortlist. That's why we had the pathetic spectacle of the country going gaga over the multiple Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire, as if it were an Indian film.

Jackson movie to get mass worldwide premiere

Sony plans simultaneous premieres in more than 15 cities * Movie to tap into Michael Jackson's global appeal By Alex Dobuzinskis LOS ANGELES, Sept 21 (Reuters) - The Michael Jackson movie "This Is It" -- based on footage from concert rehearsals before his death in June -- will have simultaneous premieres in more than 15 cities around the world next month, the studio behind the film said on Monday. "This Is It" opens to the general public on Oct. 28 for a limited two-week run. While Hollywood movies often have several premieres around the world, they rarely happen at the same time. But for "This Is It," more than 15 cities, including New York, Rio de Janeiro, London, Berlin and Seoul will host simultaneously premieres with a red carpet event in Los Angeles on Oct. 27, said Sony Pictures, which paid $60 million for rights to the rehearsal footage. Names of the other premiere-night cities were not released. The opening events will feature satellite transmissions of Hollywood stars arriving at the premiere in Los Angeles. London's premiere will happen after midnight local time on Oct. 28, while Seoul's event is scheduled for the morning of that day. In all, more than 25 cities worldwide will have premieres for the movie but not all will take place at the same time. In the days before he died of an overdose of prescription drugs on June 25, Jackson was rehearsing for a comeback with 50 sold-out shows in London. The $60 million movie deal was made between Jackson's estate and concert promoter AEG Live and Sony Pictures. Based on proceeds from the movie, business deals and album sales that have arisen since Jackson's death, administrators of his estate expect to generate more than $200 million in revenue before the end of the year. Sony Pictures is a division of Sony Co (6758.T). (Editing by Jill Serjeant and Bill Trott)

Fashion based on tradition, not fantasy

It wasn't coincidence that Sampa Das, Shamlu Dudeja, Darshan Shah and Chitra Sirkar were all there at Ritu Kumar's show at KFW2. These fashion divas have, in their own way, breathed new life into Indian textile traditions by the magic touch of the wonder word, designer. Within days of the fashionista at ITC Sonar, Khadi and Village Industries Commission brought ramp stars and artisans together at Milon Mela to popularize handloom-based textiles. Long before that, all tradition-inspired apparel creators of Kolkata had put their best foot forward. Consequence? A noted industrialist's Puja gift to Tollywood's Who's Who is fashioned by these ladies. After all, the feast of colours and unstitched yarns that have outlived centuries are still to die for. Sialkuchi muga was going extinct when Sampa's boutique put the lustre back in insipid' Assam silk. Today, her vibrant saris, mekhlas, kurtas and gowns are things to feast your eyes on. And the exquisite dhol-beli or lokka payra? They bring to the discerning traditionalist jewellery that's a feat to own even in Guwahati. No easy task, this. Despite its long life and golden sheen, muga had to be given the protection granted to Geographical Indicators. And then, Sampa must frequent old families, museums and archives to retrieve ancient designs, sit with weavers and guide their palettes to rework lost beauties. Fashion should not be fantasy but based on tradition, she believes. "Ironically, these time-consuming art cannot be mass produced. Perforce they are exclusive." At Artisana, it was tough to take the eyes off Phulia taant! In the days of yore, Phulia came nowhere in the hierarchy that accorded pride of place to Dhakai Jamdani, Baluchari, Tangail and Santipuri: Dhanekhali trailed after them, Phulia wasn't around. After Partition, the Santipuri weavers were rehabilitated in the little hamlet of Bengal and today Phulia is giving textile capitals like Gadwal, Kalakshetra and Sambalpur a run for their money. "Their enterprise was remarkable," says Ruby Pal Chaudhuri of Crafts Council. They're using a range of technology, from Bhagalpuri twill to khes type of finish, creating double layers and grafting sequins, to give the six-yard wonder a sexy appeal that's drawing the younger generation. "Youngsters are returning to sari for its own sake, for they're realising it isn't just a dress, it's a culture," she adds. Not for nothing is Shamlu Dudeja dubbed a "kantha revivalist". She redesigned the stitches associated with old sarees and harnessed chiffons and silks besides her imagination and hundreds of needy hands to craft dresses, scarves, handbags, bedspreads and wall hangings that now have buyers in France, Italy, Sydney and Silicon Valley. With the arrival of Sravasti, poetry became fashionable in more ways than one. "Inspired by Jibanananda Das's Banalata Sen, Sravasti expressed my desire to weave poetry into everyday life," explains Keya Chaitali Dasgupta. Sarees, kurtas, Tees, for children, men and women she turns them into canvas to showcase everything from Tagore's doodles to Sukumar Ray's limericks. Warli painting, Madhubani motifs, Bankura horses, tie-n-dye, appliqu? all is grist for her creative mill. This "Padda Poshaker Pashra" found takers in UK and USA, but was lapped up more readily by those who don't know Subhash Mukherjee from Saratchandra: copycats are flooding Gariahat and Shyambazar. In a country where "copyright" mostly means right to copy, these women must contend with those who buy from Burrabazar and sell from butiks' without any creative intervention. "The role of the designer is extremely important," says Ritu Kumar. "For, unlike couture' in the West, fashion' and tradition' are interlinked in India." The line between art and craft have always been thin here, "but the catalyst fashion designer has to make it right for the age and carry on customizing", the fashion diva explains. Take note. For, no one will want craft if it stands still like uniform.

Chandan butt naked for Mahanagar@Kolkata!

While the adulation hasn’t stopped pouring in, Chandan Roy Sanyal has already okayed his next project. And that’s what is bringing him to Kolkata tonight.

Lest people assume that Chandan has agreed to work in Tollywood because of Suman Mukhopadhyay’s Mahanagar@Kolkata is in Bengali, the actor says, “It’s only because of the script that I wanted to do this film. Moreover, I also watched Lalda’s (Suman) Herbert. What a film! I had only heard about Herbert but when I watched it recently, I was completely bowled over by the movie. Shooting for my portions will begin on October 17 and continue till the 25th.” Chandan is playing an MBA who works in a multinational company.

A hyper sensitive guy, Chandan’s character is also suicide prone. Incidentally, Mahanagar@Kolkata will see Chandan going nude too. Ask Suman whether this is a first in Bengali cinema and he says, “There are some semi-nude scenes with Chandan at the end of the film. He hallucinates regarding his death and his marriage with Rituparna. Most of the scenes will have Chandan stripping down to his jocks. There is one nude shot of Chandan’s posterior too. I don’t know whether such a shot is a first of its kind in Bengali cinema or not but fact is that such a scene is required for my film. The nudity has been mentioned in the script that I sent across to Chandan.”
Meanwhile, Chandan is happy to be in Kolkata on the eve of the Pujas. “As a matter of fact, I have never been in Kolkata during any Durga Puja. It’s always been a Delhi Puja for me. I have purposely kept my Kolkata visit just on the eve of the Durga Pujas to get a flavour of how things are during Panchami.” Thoughts, of course, flood his mind now of the Pujas during his childhood when celebration meant having and serving khichudi bhog at the parar pandal, staging plays and also flirting with girls. “Pandal er pechhone giye modh khawar se ki odbhut ekta uttyejona. Du dhakna modh khelei ulte pore jetam,” he says, adding that things are bound to be very different now. “Neither will I have to steal a drink behind pandals nor would I want to indulge in that kind of a revelry. Ronida (Rajatava Dutta) has told me that he’d be going to inaugurate some Pujas. I might just go along with him. But all that only after I am through with my look test and meetings with Lalda.”

My only target now is Kollywood : Ajmal

And he will be back in Chennai in time to promote his latest flick, Thiru Thiru Thuru Thuru (T4) with newcomer Rupa Manjeri, directed by debutante Nandhini.

“I take a flight to Kerala whenever I can,” says Ajmal. “I love spending time with my family. Since it’s festival time here, it’s a lot of fun.”
So, what does he do when he is in his hometown? “It’s the usual meet-and-greet routine, but this time around, I was busy judging contestants at the Miss South India contest,” he grins, “I was modelling before I started my career as an actor. So, it is easy to judge these contests.”

Ajmal is all geared up to promote his first project as a solo hero. “It’s a different experience,” he reminisces, “In Anjaathey, I had to prove my potential despite sharing screen space with established actors like Narain and Prassanna. In TN 07 AL 4777, I had Pasupathi for company. In T4, I play the solo male lead. And this is a perfect opportunity to establish myself as a bankable actor.”
He says the entire unit of T4, right from Nandhini to Rupa to Mouli, including the crew members, was thoroughly supportive. “If I wanted a retake, Nandhini wouldn’t sigh and the crew didn’t create a fuss,” he says.

So, what’s T4 all about? “T4 is a romantic comedy. In this film, Rupa and I work in the same office. We are best buddies, but still, we can’t stand each other. After canning every scene, Nandhini would almost roll on the floor laughing! Do I need to say more?”
Ask him how he landed this role and Ajmal says, “Nandhini had seen my Malayalam movie, Pranayakalam and liked what she saw. Her conviction only became stronger after seeing Anjaathey.” The actor goes on to add that the onscreen chemistry between Rupa and him was perfect. “We became great friends on the first day itself. As a result, it was easier for us to do scenes together. I think sharing a superb off-screen relationship is important for a sparkling on-screen chemistry.”

The actor vehemently denies having done any homework for this role. “I always thought shooting for movies was serious business. But, I enjoyed myself thoroughly while doing this film. It’s probably because of the genre of the movie,” he says.
Ajmal’s next will be Kathirvel with Sunaina. “It’s an action film directed by Venkat, an associate of Saran. We still have to shoot a song and a sequence. The film might take another 20 days to wrap up.”

Satisfied and happy with Kollywood, the actor says that he is not looking to dabble in other languages. “Even though I’m getting offers from Mollywood and Tollywood, I haven’t signed any films there. My only target now is the Kollywood industry — I have my eyes set on it. And I want to see myself as a saleable actor in the Tamil industry,” he signs off on a positive note.

Baanam

Debutant director Chaitanya deserves kudos for dishing out an intense cop film to give Tollywood’s latest debutants a clear edge over the rest. Rohit Narra in a scene from Baanam Interestingly, the director equates the upright work of a police officer with an idealistic Naxal when it comes to cleansing society. Film: Baanam Cast: Rohit Narra, Vedika, Sayaji Shinde Director: Chaitanya Dantaloori Critic’s Rating: Debutant actor Rohit Narra is impressive in an understated performance. Tamil actress Vedika who makes a comeback in the film, plays the innocent village belle with an effortless ease. The film is about an aspiring cop who is forced to take on the might of a local goon before he dons the khakee. The director adds a new shade to his cop story by blending the angle of an idealistic Naxal (Sayaji Shinde) who surrenders to the cops so that he can be with his son (Rohit). However, the director’s unnecessarily promotes vigilantism which could have been avoided. Nevertheless, the filmmaker gives the audience a taste of meaningful cinema without so-called commercial ingredients. Rohit gives an intense performance. Sayaji Shinde and Ranadheer are commendable. Director Chaitanya sustains the intense mood with a taut screenplay. Anil Bhandari’s camera work is good. And Manisharma’s score melodious.

Allu Arjun's 'Akrandana'

In 'Aakrandana', director Sukumar and Allu Arjun join hands again to make a masala entertainer. The film is being produced by Dil Raju and Aditya Babu under the banner of Sri Venkataramana Creations. According to reports, the film is a murder mystery. But it will have all the elements of a typical Tollywood masala. Kajal Aggarwal is paired opposite Arjun while Navadeep and Shraddha Arya play important roles; Tamil hero Arya plays the villain. Gundu Hanumanta Rao, Jenny, Tilak, Vinod, Junior Relangi, M Shyamsundar and Annapurna are among the cast. Devi Sri Prasad scores the music.