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QSQT was magic which just happened: Juhi Chawla

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KOLKATA: Excited at the prospect of a reunion with fellow cast and crew members of the iconic Bollywood film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (QSQT), that completes 25 years this April, the film’s leading lady Juhi Chawla said the blockbuster was “magic which just happened”.

“It’s been 25 years…unbelievable. And it was on April 29 that the film was released. We are having a get-together with the entire cast and crew. We will be screening the film and will be watching it together after many years,” Chawla said.

Directed by Mansoor Khan and written by his father Nasir Hussain, QSQT saw the debut of Hussain’s nephew Aamir Khan and actor Juhi Chawla who went on to become superstars overnight.

Juhi Chawla 2

“We were basically nobodies at that time and I knew that while we were shooting the film. It was so different from the films that were happening at the time; the crew would snigger and say ‘what are they making?’,” Chawla said.

“Nobody really knew it…it was magic which just happened.”

Released on April 29, 1988, the love story broke through the norm of formula films that essayed violence.

QSQT’s music also stood out from the ‘80s predilection towards disco tracks.

“He [Mansoor Khan] is the one who called us all for it. I am so thrilled because everybody kind of fell out of touch and we will be coming together after a long time,” Chawla said.

QSQT made the debutant pair a hit with the masses. Following this film, Khan and Chawla were paired together in several movies such as Love Love Love, Tum Mere Ho, Daulat Ki Jung, Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke and Ishq.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 29th, 2013.                    

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TV Chat: Da Vinci’s Demons - Our 21st century Renaissance Man

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Meet Leonardo da Vinci, a sword-fighting superhero destined to invent fantastic machines and maybe even change the course of history. The Starz pilot episode of Da Vinci’s Demons promises a sweeping and ambitious untold look at the Renaissance Man whose artistic opium-driven mind is always a step or two ahead of everyone else’s.

As the main character, Tom Riley is perfectly credible as the wilful polymath and adventurer. Da Vinci wants to make flying machines and amazing weapons for Florence — the city run by Lorenzo de’ Medici, his patron — and he will break through all hurdles to reach his goal.

Da Vinci’s Demons, created by the American David S Goyer, is a European production filmed in Wales with British and Irish actors. Goyer’s credits include Batman Begins and the Blade films and his style is reflected in this show. The writer’s backgrounds may be why the characters and the plot of Da Vinci’s Demons is looser and more tongue-in-cheek than other costume dramas such as Game of Thrones, Spartacus and The Borgias.

Actor 01

A conspiracy is revealed in the beginning of the pilot by Al-Rahim, a Turkish mystic. Rahim, played by Alexander Siddig, tells da Vinci that “History is a lie that has been honed liked a weapon by people to suppress the truth”. He asks him to find the ‘Book of Leaves’, the mythical book of knowledge. As da Vinci begins his quest, he is haunted by demons from his past, flashbacks and painful visions of his faceless mother and a cave. If that weren’t enough, da Vinci is soon entangled in the rivalry between Florence and the Vatican — thus another narrative line unspools here.

The problem is however that Da Vinci’s Demons tries too hard to be an action-packed thriller with the intrigue of a Dan Brown novel and a penchant for geek humour. The show feels superficial and the fact that the plot is extremely confusing doesn’t really help either. The show will, however, appeal to history buffs who like a bit of swashbuckling adventure on the side.  Watch out for PG-rated flashes (nudity and violence) but it is mercifully not as graphic as Game of Thrones.

In the mood for more costume drama?

1.   The Borgias

borgias

If you liked The Tudors and The Sopranos, then you have to watch The Borgias. Based on Italy’s most powerful crime family, it tells the story of their ascent to power via the papacy and all the crimes committed in their name.

2.   Spartacus

Spartacus

What do you get when you combine 300, Caligula, Rome, Gladiator and bathtubs of blood? You get Spartacus. Created by Steven S DeKnight, the television show is based on the Thracian Gladiator Spartacus who led a slave uprising against the Roman Republic.

3. Game of Thrones

game

A Song of Ice and Fire, better recognised as Game of Thrones, was once a best-kept secret. Since its premiere, the series has garnered an international following unlike ever seen before. The series follows seven noble families who fight for control of the mythical land of Westeros.

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, April 28th, 2013.

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Tips from Bollywood divas

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MUMBAI: 

Take a peek into the beauty regimes of Bollywood beauty queens like Deepika Padukone and Nargis Fakhri. They’re not just skin deep,but also keep them healthy and beautiful.

Each one of them follows a different routine, but one thing is common in their must do list — water intake and use of moisturisers. Here are the health and beauty programmes that Padukone, Fakhri, Isha Koppikkar and Evelyn Sharma follow religiously:

Deepika Padukone

“My daily skincare regime includes moisturiser with SPF (sun protection factor) during the day. At night, I remove whatever little makeup I wear and then apply a hydrating cream,” shared Deepika Padukone. “Plenty of water, balanced meals, regular workouts and adequate sleep figure are also on my must-have list.”

Padukone also stated that her work involves a lot of travelling which exposes her skin to extreme climatic conditions and ends up affecting her hair. “I get tender coconut hair oil massages at least once a week,” said Padukone. “It helps me protect my hair from any form of damage.”

Nargis Fakhri

“I need a beauty regime that guarantees results,” said Nargis Fakhri who spends 20 minutes deep conditioning her hair with hot coconut-based hair oil. “This really works for me as it locks in the moisture and keeps my hair soft and smooth.”

“I make sure that I drink two litres of water a day to flush out toxins. I also have coconut water daily and make sure I eat something every two hours. My snacking is limited to health foods like walnuts, almonds and dryfruits,” said Fakhri, who also shared that at night she tries to eat a light meal, but sometimes she doesn’t succeed. “I absolutely love desserts and I cheat very often. I think the key is not to be hard on yourself but use moderation. One should eat everything in the required quantity. You must know what suits your body the best.”

Isha Koppikar

“I am very particular about cleansing, toning and moisturising my skin,” said Isha who only moisturises her body with products made from natural ingredients. “I also love products with mint as they are cooling and refreshing.”

Isha feels that when the hair is exposed to summer heat, it is imperative to keep it free from dirt and stickiness.

“My diet includes more liquids, especially in summer and a lot of fruits and vegetables are an integral part,” said Isha. “I cut down on non-vegetarian food in summer. Lemon and mint juice refreshes and helps me beat the summer heat. Curd and buttermilk are my favourite, especially during the summer. For breakfast, egg whites and multigrain toast is the best. For lunch, jawar ki roti and sabzi and for dinner, fish and salad are my safest bet. In between meals, if hungry, I have fruits or curd or buttermilk.”

Evelyn Sharma

“Moisturising should be a basic bodycare regime to replenish moisture loss due to harsh weather conditions,” said Evelyn Sharma who also uses coconut-based moisturisers. “They work wonders for the skin as they lock in moisture from escaping the skin’s surface. The result is naturally soft skin throughout the day.”

Evelyn believes one has to make sure that diet includes fibre as it has necessary vitamins and minerals. “Balance your diet with rich portions of fruits, vegetables, nuts and liquids,” said Sharma. “It is important to keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of water. I have coconut water through the day and it is a vital aspect of my diet.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2013.

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Khubsoorat remake ready to roll in August

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MUMBAI: The camera will start rolling for Khubsoorat during monsoon and its lead actor Sonam Kapoor says the story has been completely altered while retaining the spirit of the characters.

“I will start shooting this August,” said Sonam.

Directed by Hrishikesh Mukerjee, the 1980 family drama film of the same title won the Filmfare Award for the best film. The film was about a young fun loving girl who falls in love with a doctor played by Rakesh Roshan. As the story goes on, she wins the hearts of everyone in her beau’s family which revolves around his mother’s strict regimen.

If Rekha had wowed everyone with her happy-go-lucky performance, Deena Pathak as a strict family head added the right contrast to the story.

“The whole point of the film is to capture the spirit of the character. The story is completely changed but I want to capture that spirit,” said Sonam. “Rekha did it so beautifully — even if I can do 10% of that, it will be great.”

Making her character more contemporary, is what Sonam aims at.

“I am scared before getting into any character. I hope to make it more current and how young girls are right now — more vibrant,” she said. Sonam is convinced that girls will appreciate the new version of Khubsoorat and added: “It will be very Mills and Boon-ish. I make movies for girls. It is a chic flick.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 1st, 2013.                       

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Mahesh Bhatt did not invite me to see Aashiqui 2: Rahul Roy

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MUMBAI: 

Actor Rahul Roy, who made his debut with 1990’s blockbuster Aashiqui as its leading man 23 years back, wonders why he was not invited to see Aashiqui 2 by film’s producer Mahesh Bhatt. “I have not seen the film; maybe it’s because I am no longer that close to Mahesh Bhatt sahib,” he said.

Roy once enjoyed good ties with the film-maker, but feels that he doesn’t have the same closeness with him anymore. “During the last 12 to 13, years we just drifted apart. If I had seen Aashiqui 2, I would be in a better position to comment on it,” he said. “As things stand, when I’m asked about it I can only guess. As far as I can see, there is very little connection between my Aashiqui and the remake, except that the shot of the lovers’ faces hidden in the coat. But the impact of that moment is so great that people immediately connected the two films. However, in my opinion nostalgia is impossible to beat. And like it or not, Aashiqui is in the region of nostalgia.”

Aashiqui 2, which released on April 26, stars Kunal Roy Kapur and Shraddha Kapoor.

Roy believes the magic of his Aashiqui with actor Anu Agarwal can’t be recreated. “It’s bizarre; Aashiqui’s magic can’t be recreated. The music of Aashiqui by Nadeem-Shravan was unbeatable. However, I like the songs in Aashiqui 2.”

Talking about Bhatt, Roy said: “I’ve always treated him [Bhatt] like a father-figure. But I am no longer the 24-year-old boy I was during the making of Aashiqui. Fifteen years ago, I was deeply attached to Mahesh Bhatt and his banner Vishesh Films. I did five films with them; they were like my home turf. Every time I had a career low, I could go back to them. My dependence on Vishesh Films is gone. But that doesn’t mean my love and respect for them has also diminished.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2013.

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Kapoors’ contribution to films immense, says Aditya Raj

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MUMBAI: 

Bollywood’s famed Kapoor family has made a lot of contribution to the film industry, says late superstar Shammi Kapoor’s actor son Aditya Raj Kapoor. Currently, Aditya is awaiting the release of his project Parents.

At the mahurat of Parents, Aditya was asked about his views on his family’s role in the Indian cinema’s 100 years. “I just saw Raj Kapoor’s Chori Chori and that film is still young. Shammiji’s Kashmir Ki Kali is still young and Shashiji’s Sharmilee also,” said Aditya. “So these people have contributed a lot to the film industry.”

Parents is co-produced by Kishore Jangid and Deepak Jangid, is being directed by Hanif Chhipa. The movie’s music is composed by Shravan Rathod of former Nadeem-Shravan duo. The film goes on floors May 19.

Aditya went on to describe how his father Shammi Kapoor, as well as uncles Raj Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor, worked their magic.

“Raj sahib said a lot even without saying anything. Shammiji just moved a bit and a song got over. Shashiji’s style made a lot of women’s hearts flutter. There is a lot of what these three people have contributed,” he said.

“All three of them have come from a man named Prithviraj Kapoor. Watch my grandfather’s early films like Sikander; he was a handsome man,” added Aditya.

From the current generation, he is particularly happy for his cousin Rishi Kapoor’s son Ranbir, who is one of the most popular commercial actors of Bollywood today.

“Ranbir is very special. He is making big efforts and he has moved out of his family tradition and done some tough roles. He is making a lot of effort and at such an [early] age. He has everything and doesn’t need to, but still he is doing a lot of work,” said Aditya. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2013.

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Correction: An earlier version of the article incorrectly stated that Ranbir was Aditya’s cousin. The error is regretted.


Why sacrifice Shahrukh to promote Shaan?

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KARACHI: 

For the Pakistani cinema, the days have been dark for far too long. Fortunately, this fragile industry with tremendous potential is finally gearing up to deliver. Bolts have been tightened and hinges oiled, with the industry finally bracing itself for the release of four Pakistani films after a two-year hiatus: Waar, Main Hoon Shahid Afridi, Ishq Khuda and Josh are all set for release this Eid.

For this reason, distributors and exhibitors in Pakistan have decided to abandon Shahrukh Khan-starrer Chennai Express and Akshay Kumar-starrer Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai 2 -— films which are slated to release worldwide around Eid. The reason cited by the exhibitors is that Pakistani film-makers want all four local films to get more visibility.

Now here’s the problem: by applying a protectionist cultural policy, are we not robbing the Pakistani market of healthy competition? Even if the ban lasts a couple of weeks, we are temporarily relieving ourselves of a much better competition that is going to give us a tough time in the long run. The situation reminds us of the pigeon that closed its eyes to block out the cat that was coming to eat it.

Producers understandably feel that none of our films can compete with the production of value of films like Chennai Express. But what stakeholders tend to overlook is the Pakistani audience’s loyalty to local content. In the past, we saw Shoaib Mansoor’s Khuda Kay Liye gave a tough time to Emraan Hashmi-starrer Awarapan; while Mansoor’s second flick Bol, outclassed every other film at the local box office on its release.

Such examples render the insecurity of local film-makers misplaced and selfish. If the release of Bollywood films carries on as per schedule, it will help the audience and stakeholders gauge the value and quality of Pakistani films. If a Pakistani film manages to beat a mainstream Bollywood film at the box office, it will be a huge achievement for our film industry, without hurting the Indian film industry at all.

Another point to note is the release dates of Waar, Main Hoon Shahid Afridi, Ishq Khuda and Josh, which have been postponed in the past. If due to further delays in the production or editing, these films are not released on Eid, exhibitors will have to face major losses since the Indian films will not be available.

A similar incident occurred in 2010, when a Syed Noor-led delegation got Indian films banned on Eid by the cultural ministry and promised the release of three Pakistani films. But Eid came and went, and no Pakistani film was released. As a result of this, a mainstream film like Dabangg made it to Pakistani cinemas three days later than its worldwide release — after cable operators had run pirated versions of throughout the holidays. This was one of the worst post-Ramazan box office failures, which could be repeated if there are more delays at our end.

In a debate like this, the decision of actor-turned-film-maker Reema Khan to release her first production venture Love Mein Ghum alongside Salman Khan-starrer Bodyguard should be lauded. Despite being a box office flop, Love Mein Ghum’s release spoke volumes for the effort Reema made to put her film at par with an Indian flick.

The practice of airing Turkish soaps during primetime and screening Indian films on Eid shows how having a healthy competition ups the quality of content produced. Banning or prohibiting foreign content temporarily might be profitable for some, but is essentially unhealthy in the long run.

Shahrukh and Kumar should not be eliminated from the competition this Eid, but instead should be available along with Shaan Shahid and Humayun Saeed. Let’s show some confidence in our entertainers and allow our audience to show its loyalty towards local faces versus Bollywood ones.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2013.

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Good story, director’s vision make film successful: Bhatt

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MUMBAI: Film-maker Mahesh Bhatt says a film works at the box office only if a director is able to translate a writer’s vision onto the screen. He feels stars can add to that.

“We confuse ourselves by thinking that stars have the power to deliver blockbusters,” said Bhatt. “If the story doesn’t work, if the director does not translate the vision that is embedded in the story with the adornments that the film needs, there are no chances of it coming anywhere close to success.”

Bhatt is widely known for directing films like Arth, Saaransh, Zakhm and Naam, which were high on content.

He is also famous for launching new talent under his banner Vishesh Films, and has this time roped in relative newcomers, Aditya Roy Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor, for Aashiqui 2.

Directed by Mohit Suri, the INR120 million romantic-musical saga grossed over INR200 million during its opening weekend.

The film-maker, who was speaking at the success party of Aashiqui 2 on Tuesday, gives credit to writer Shagufta Rafique and the entire team for the success.

“What made the film work was the magic that came out from Rafique’s heart,” said the 65-year-old film-maker. “Shagufta has a very unusual background. She is the salt of the earth and pulled the narrative from her heart.”

Bhatt continued praising the writer and the rest of the team for Aashiqui 2’s success. “The way she narrated the story to us, we knew it had the throb and love of life,” added Bhatt who has also produced films like Gangster,  A Love Story, Murder and Woh Lamhe.

“First it [narrative] was pulled out of the heart, then Mohit came and added a dimension to it, gave it a soul with the music and the singers, and actors gave life to it,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3rd, 2013.                      

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Madhuri and Juhi — new BFFs in the making?

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MUMBAI: Juhi Chawla and Madhuri Dixit have come a long way in their careers and also in their relationship. The Bollywood actors have been archrivals for the longest time, but now, with the release of their new film Gulaab Gang, they seem to be getting along just fine. In fact, we might just be looking at new BFFs!

This will be the first time ever that two will be sharing screen space. Juhi calls the Dhak Dhak girl “one of the best co-stars” she has had till date.

The movie is loosely based on the fierce Gulabi Gang — a group of Indian women vigilantes based in Uttar Pradesh who work for the welfare and rights of women; they help protect those who are abused and beaten up by their husbands.

Gulaab Gang features Madhuri in the lead role while Juhi is seen in a negative role. “This was the first time we shot scenes together,” Juhi said. “I think she [Madhuri] has been one of the best co-stars I have had so far.”

Juhi made her acting debut in 1986 with Sultanat, while Madhuri started acting with 1984 film Abodh. But both the actors had their first commercial hits in 1988 — Juhi made it big with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, while Madhuri rocked the nation with her Ek Do Teen number in Tezaab.

From then onwards, their success curves only went upwards. Juhi had films such as Darr, Yes Boss, Deewana Mastana, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, Bol Radha Bol and Ishq to her name while Madhuri gave blockbusters such as Dil, Saajan, Beta, Ram Lakhan, Dil To Pagal Hai and Devdas.

“There was a time when we were archrivals and that rivalry remained for many years,” Juhi continued. “We used to talk a little but whenever we met at any function or on the sets of any film, we would just say ‘hello’ to each other and move ahead.”

But now, Juhi is ready to put that rivalry aside and is anxiously looking forward to working with Madhuri. “After so many years, we now had an opportunity to work together in a film. The script is very strong also — Madhuri is the hero and I am the villain,” she added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3rd, 2013.                      

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Where, oh, where have the good old days of television gone?

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ISLAMABAD: TV dramas have lost their glory and viewership after the advent of private TV channels in the country. This can be blamed on today’s producers who focus on a play’s commercial success as compared to its content and story line.

During a session titled Popular TV Dramay Mein Hum Kya Dekhtay Hain at the Islamabad Literary Festival, renowned drama writers, directors and actors of Pakistan’s television industry recalled the golden era of television when a team would spend days and months to produce one quality drama.  In those days, roads would be deserted and people would come home earlier to watch dramas like Waris, Khuda Ki Basti, Tanhaiyaan and Dhoop Kinarey among others.

“Private TV channels have done the same with dramas as Kerry Packer did with cricket,” said Amjad Islam Amjad, a well-known poet, drama writer and lyricist at the session.

He said private channels operate like fast food outlets, in that they produce dramas within a few minutes and serve it to the viewers without giving any consideration to quality content.

“Now people acknowledge a director who shoots maximum number of scenes in one day,” he said. “The poor content of programmes forces viewers to continuously change channels.”

“These days our dramas do not truly represent the culture and people of this country as they did earlier,” said Amjad. “We mostly see saas-bahu conflicts in which the characters fight, slap each other and argue.”

Amjad feels the content disheartens viewers. “Our society is not as bad as it is shown in dramas nowadays,” said Amjad.

There was a time when the roads would be deserted and people would come home earlier to watch quality dramas. PHOTOS: MYRA IQBAL

TV One and News One CEO Seema Tahir Khan was also present at the session, where she said that a major reason behind poor content is the absence of a code of conduct.

“Television channels should have a strategy through which they come up with content to help change the mindset of viewers,” she said. “At the same time, they should motivate and inspire the audience to bring a positive change,” said Khan.

During the session, renowned TV director, writer and producer Agha Nasir expressed his concern over foreign content which has flooded private channels.

In response to this, Amjad said that Turkish dramas have brought a breath of fresh air to the Pakistani drama audience which is getting bored of the same old stories. However, actor Laila Zuberi disagreed. She feels foreign content is a threat to the Pakistani drama industry.

“Though Pakistani TV industry has the capacity and ability to compete with the foreign content, the problem is that our channels are not giving preference to our dramas,” said Zuberi. “Presently, the major challenge for us to get a platform to broadcast our dramas.”

While she believes that viewers have lost interest in watching dramas that every channel is flooded with, Zuberi also expresses her concern over the content of the dramas.

“People do not want to see a crying woman in the drama,” said Zuberi. “They want to see something that would give them a reason to smile.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3rd, 2013.                      

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Bollywood should be all about the East, says the nawab Khan

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NEW DEHLI: Actor and producer Saif Ali Khan, also known as the nawab Khan, strongly believes that Bollywood has its own unique identity and feels the industry should rival Hollywood as its Eastern equivalent. “We shouldn’t try to cross over,” he said.

“Our Eastern identity is fundamentally different from theirs,” he said. “We should aim at taking our movies to the Middle East or to places like Egypt and Spain where the audience is more suited to our film content.”

“We should rival Hollywood as an Eastern equivalent, if  ‘Western’ is what they call themselves,” he added.

With over two decades in films and with veteran actor Sharmila Tagore as his mother, Saif does have a fair idea of how and what kind of cinema clicks; he admits he enjoys watching a lot of international cinema, too.

The 42-year-old actor, who completed his studies in England, believes Iran and Iraq make some “great cinema”.

“But I’m not too sure if they have the kind of budgets we have. We just need to pay more thought and attention to detail in what we do and build on our individual identity,” he continued. “We’re doing pretty well, and we are getting there slowly.”

The Indian viewer isn’t pleased too easily, he added. “We don’t really have a like-minded audience here [in India]. It’s difficult and despite being so populous, we have very few writers and directors. But I see a lot of young people getting into it and I hope it [the change] will happen. It has to happen! We will get there. I am sure,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2013.                      

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Heer Ranjha: Same old story, now in Chinese

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LAHORE: 

While the Pakistani television industry feels threatened by international content seeping through to our TV screens, it seems that some creative minds, like Yousuf Salahuddin, are actually working to take Pakistani content across borders.

Cultural and social icon Salahuddin, popularly known as Mian Salli, is proud to announce that his big budget production Heer Ranjha will be the second Pakistani drama to be dubbed in Chinese, after Waris which was written by Amjad Islam Amjad. Mian Salli feels that the project is an opportunity to promote Pakistani heritage.

“The beauty of Heer Ranjha is that it takes you back in time,” says Salli, about the folklore which has been immensely popular locally and internationally, both.

Giving details about his musical play, Salli says that Heer Ranjha is made for the wider masses and aims to bring Pakistanis back to owning their culture.

“I want to reach out to my people,” says Salli. “I am not here to make money — I have not made any money in all of this.” He also points out that PTV is a government institution and works in the same manner.

While the play was penned down by Aqueel Ruby, Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah was responsible for the narration. Pakistani TV actor Ahsan Khan and model-actor Zaria Butt are in the lead roles of Heer Ranjha, and other cast members include Shafqat Cheema and Rambo. The project started in February last year, and was wrapped up about two weeks ago.

“The whole technique is purely Pakistani,” explains Salli. “The main thing is that the project is close to reality. I used furniture which is 200 years old and tapestries which are over a 100 years old — all of the locations are a 100% real.”

Salli shares that the recently launched original soundtrack is now available in most markets across Pakistan. The music features Rahat Fateh Ali Khan alongside Sahir Ali Bagga, who is also the producer of the album. Salli has written the lyrics for majority of the songs and the soundtrack also includes the voices of Hina Nasrullah, Fariha Parvez, Humera Channa, Sanam Marvi and Malaika Ali.

The success of his drama venture has opened doors for his next large-scale project which is on the life of Emperor Jahangir. This will also be a musical and may have up to 20 episodes. His inspiration for the new musical came from the style in which BBC dramas such as Tudors have been shot. The play’s script is being written now and Salli may start to shoot it by September.

“We may not have that much of a budget but what we do have, are the most amazing places to shoot,” says Salli. “We have the entire fort, Shalimar Bagh and all the other Mughal monuments. I will not go for sets.”

Promoting Culture

Yousuf Salahuddin is one of the biggest cultural advocates of basant (spring season). He says that the banning of basant has played a negative role for the cultural activities in Lahore.

“There were a few meetings that were held [regarding basant], but nothing came out of it,” explains Salahuddin. “I think it’s sad that basant is celebrated all over Punjab but not in Lahore. To take basant out of Lahore is killing the city and its whole culture — these things lead the young generation to look towards India or the West.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2013.                      

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‘Pakistan has been misrepresented to the world as an unsafe place’

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LAHORE: 

Liev Schreiber is a straightforward actor — if he likes the script, he will do it but if the story doesn’t lure him in, he will not be a part of it.

He is currently in India promoting his project, The Reluctant Fundamentalist — a tale of a young Pakistani chasing corporate success on Wall Street — a film he describes as a thriller. It will tickle the viewers’ minds and give them something to think about, he says. The movie is slated for release in Pakistan, finally, on May 24.

“I don’t want to minimise the impact of 9/11; 99% of the reactions to the tragedy seemed reasonable, but there was a level of prejudice,” says Schreiber, giving some background to the issue the movie is based on. “Witnessing some of the decisions that were taken, I think if anything, this film will shed a different light [on this event] and encourage conversation.”

The actor feels Pakistan has been misrepresented to the world — it’s been shown as a dangerous place that shares a border with a terrorist hub like Afghanistan. “I would have liked to visit Lahore because it was the place we represented in the movie,” he says, adding that he is no expert on the country’s political situation and has never visited the land.

“I grew up in Canada, which has a huge Pakistani population and my hometown itself, was about 90% Pakistani,” he admits. “There are thousands of Pakistanis I knew growing up and with whom I went to school with.” He strongly believes that “people are people” and this is why he chose to do this film. “We have to take time out and understand each other; build better friendships and relationships,” he adds.

The film’s director Mira Nair has brought together actors from different ethnicities onto one screen and that is what makes the project special for Schreiber. “When we were shooting in Delhi, the idea that we as actors have an understanding even though we don’t speak the same language, was somehow reinforced in my mind,” he continues. “We do exactly the same things, as far as our work goes.”

“What I found unbelievably comforting is that for actors, there is a common thread regarding culture and about how we go about our work — it excludes political ideals,” adds the actor.

In his shoes

Schreiber doesn’t really need any introduction — he started off his career as an indie actor but went on to be a part of numerous acclaimed movies such as Hamlet, Twilight and the X-Men Origins: Wolverine, to name a few.

He feels that if you want to make a film that will spark a conversation amidst a group of people on that specific topic, then you need to be able to connect with those people on the same level.  After that, “the internet can take care of it,” he laughs. “And if no one makes them [these kind of movies], then no one will see them.”

“The global nature and direction that this business is going in, the seamlessness in which films can be shown in the US, then in Pakistan and India at the same time, is fantastic,” he says. “For us, it’s an unbelievably exciting journey. Growing up, I remember we would always hear about the amount of films that were coming out of Pakistan and India and that the industry had doubled the output North America was producing.” He admits it seemed “exotic and wondered what they might be doing different.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5th, 2013.

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Did you know: Marvel Studios plans for female superhero film?

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Marvel Studios, known for creating and promoting superhero characters like Spider-Man, Captain America and more, is now planning to make a film with a female superhero. The studio is hoping to release a comic book movie featuring a female protagonist, said its president Kevin Feige, reports contactmusic.com.

“We have a number of candidates from the comics and from the movies we’ve already made. It’s just a matter of finding the right storyline, the right film-maker and the right time,” Feige said at the Entertainment Weekly’s CapeTown Film Fest.

When someone from the crowd suggested for a she-Hulk movie, Feige said: “She-Hulk would be pretty great.”

So far, only actor Scarlett Johansson has essayed a crime-fighting woman in Marvel Studios’ films Iron Man 2 and The Avengers. She will also be seen in 2014 release Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5th, 2013.

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Alia Bhatt in high spirits for two upcoming films

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MUMBAI: 

Actor Alia Bhatt, who debuted with Karan Johar’s Student of the Year, has wrapped up one schedule of 2 States and is set to start the next schedule of film-maker Imtiaz Ali’s Highway with co-actor Randeep Hooda.

Highway is releasing on December 13 and 2 States will release next year in April. But I am having the best time shooting [for the films],” said the 20-year-old said on Thursday at the launch of Maybelline babylips kiss song. “I have just wrapped up the schedule of 2 states and came back last night. I had the greatest time and I am going to shoot Highway now. I can’t wait for you all to see them,” she added.

Bhatt, the brand ambassador of Maybelline, also endorses Coca-Cola along with her Student of the Year co-stars Varun Dhawan and Siddharth Malhotra, and an eyewear brand. “Endorsement is fun because you appear in an ad for 20-30 seconds and try and sell the product.”

“Every day, when a shoot ends, I just want more. I want to shoot for another day or two. So every day when they say ‘pack up’, I exclaim, ‘No I want more’,” said Bhatt. “I will start shooting for Highway in about five days and enjoy the experience again.”

Highway is a Sajid Nadiadwala production and the shoot began in March this year. It is the story of two completely different individuals who take a road trip in a truck, whereas, 2 States, based on Chetan Bagat’s novel 2 States: The Story of My Marriage, is about a Punjabi boy who falls in love with a Tamil girl, and the ensuing cultural clashes between them and their families.

Bhatt is paired with Arjun Kapoor in 2 States, which is being directed by  Abhishek Verman and co-produced by Johar and Nadiadwala.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5th, 2013.

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India plans to relax Bollywood censorship

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NEW DELHI: India’s all-powerful censor board is planning a lighter approach to Bollywood after decades chopping tens of thousands of film scenes, from onscreen kisses to violent endings.

Set up by British rulers in the 1920s to block US movies with anti-colonial sentiment, the board went on to cut Indian films as much for their supposedly racy content as for their political overtones.

But as the country rapidly modernises, the government must walk the tightrope of catering to a more liberal, youthful India without angering still deeply conservative strands of society.

“The rules are old. We have to write them with a modern and honest outlook. The Indian value system has changed hence censor rules must change,” admitted R Singh, joint secretary of the film department in New Delhi.

The government attempted to show its more open-minded approach at the recent “Cut-Uncut” festival in the capital, which screened originally censored film clips for the first time as part of Indian cinema’s centenary celebrations.

Directors such as Ramesh Sippy, who made the Hindi action blockbuster Sholay in 1975, also had the chance to vent their anger at censorship culture.

Sippy said he was forced to change his film’s plotline at the insistence of the censors, who decided it was too violent.

“The board said: ‘We will tell you how to end the movie’, and I was forced to shoot the ending again. I realised that if I keep fighting, my film’s release will not be allowed.”

K Hariharan, a critically-acclaimed filmmaker from south India, said he felt like “an anxious student waiting for his performance card” whenever censors watched his film.

He thinks it is time to disband the board, which he sees as a colonial remnant that restricts freedom of expression – an idea that the government may slowly be agreeing with.

“This whole business of brutally chopping scenes or forcing the filmmakers to alter the climax will have to end,” said Singh, who oversees the task of issuing certificates to all Indian movies.

A more relaxed approach is already allowing filmmakers to experiment.

Aamir Khan tested the limits in 2011 with comedy Delhi Belly, a film that outraged conservative critics for its toilet humour and dialogue strewn with profanities, which surprisingly passed the censors uncut.

Despite protests at cinemas and even a court case on charges of obscenity and insulting religion, the movie ran to full houses and became a cult hit for its reflection of young people in modern, urban India.

Censors admit that regulating content is becoming an unwieldy job in a country of 1.2 billion, which has witnessed an explosion in its television and media industry along with growing Internet access.

In the last two decades, the country went from having two just state-run channels to nearly 400 private ones, and filmmakers are increasingly keen to get their work on the small screen to generate more revenue.

But as censor board chief Pankaja Thakur points out, they run a greater risk of being chopped on television.

In April last year The Dirty Picture, a popular film about the life of a 1980s Indian soft-porn star, was stopped hours before its television premiere after two court petitions objected to its content.

It took 60 cuts before it was allowed on to the screen.

“Television is a much more mass medium than the movie halls, so we have to ensure that content on TV is suitable,” Thakur said.

The censors’ dilemma reflects a larger debate about freedom of expression in India, which is proud of its status as the world’s largest democracy but can also be quick to enact bans for fear of provoking agitation.

In 2011, northern states banned Aarakshan, which tackled the thorny issue of caste quotas in government jobs and education, because they said it “could incite civil disorder and violence”.

Southern Tamil Nadu state in January forced spy thriller Vishwaroopam out of cinemas after Muslim groups complained that they were portrayed negatively, until the director finally agreed to make alterations.

Objections to sex or nudity have mainly come from conservative Hindu groups who see themselves as champions of traditional Indian values – and censors too still see their role partly as one of “moral guardianship”.

They recently decided to take a more stringent approach to the “item number” – a sexually-charged song-and-dance sequence that has come under growing fire as India debates its treatment of women after a spate of shocking sex crimes.

Others say it is up to the filmmakers and audiences to bring about a change.

“Ours is a really difficult job,” said Thakur.

“We want to have a liberal approach and respect artistic endeavour, but at the same time we have to address the smallest possible objection.”


Exorcist director Friedkin to get lifetime award in Venice

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LOS ANGELES: William Friedkin, the US film director who scared up a fright with The Exorcist and set pulses racing with thriller The French Connection in the ’70s, will get a lifetime achievement award at the Venice Film Festival, organisers said on Thursday.

Friedkin, 77, will also present a restored version of his initially poorly-received but now acclaimed 1977 film Sorcerer at the August 28 — September 7 festival in the Italian city.

Venice film festival director Alberto Barbera said that Friedkin had made major contributions to US cinema “the revolutionary impact of which has not always been recognised.”

“Friedkin exploded the rules of documentary film-making in several works for television that were seminal for their dry, harsh and unpredictable point of view and later revolutionised the popular genres of the crime film and the horror film, basically inventing the modern blockbuster with The French Connection,” Barbera said in a statement.

The French Connection, a drug smuggling drama starring Gene Hackman, won five Oscars in 1972 including Best Picture and Best Director.

Friedkin has gone onto make more than 30 films, documentaries and TV series, moving between smaller independent films and big studio movies. His most recent movie Killer Joe screened in competition at the Venice festival in 2011.

“Venice, especially during the Film Festival, is a spiritual home to me,” Friedkin said in a statement. “The Golden Lion [for Lifetime Achievement] is something I never expected but am proud to accept with gratitude and love.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6th, 2013.                      

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Onir feels indie films are not getting due attention

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NEW DEHLI: National-award winning film-maker Onir says Indian TV channel Doordarshan’s (DD) decision to screen independent movies in the late night slot will not help indie films in getting the attention they need.

The film-maker, who participated in the Save Indie Cinema campaign along with several other film-makers, also pointed out that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) adds to their woes by giving A-certificates to their films.

“Films with an A-certificate get the 11pm slot on DD, when people usually go to sleep after a long day at work. Viewership reduces as they miss many good films,” said 44-year-old.

“Moreover, showing scripts to the censor board for the certification is like presenting proposals. We literally try hard to convince them to give U-certificates.”

Onir said another major reason for independent films not getting screens and audiences, is due to the highly priced tickets at multiplexes.

“Since docu-dramas come under the category of non-commercial films, multiplexes give us morning slots when only a few people come … just because it doesn’t have Bollywood biggies! Also, who would like to shell out Rs300 for a docu-drama or so called non-commercial film,” said Onir.

On the occasion of the centenary celebrations of Indian cinema, contemporary film-makers should be promoted alongside the work of luminaries of the filmdom, he said.

“Now that the Indian cinema has completed its 100 years, we are celebrating or showcasing the work done in the past by legendary film-makers; we should also highlight the works by contemporary film-makers,” he said. “The government needs to do something about [indie] films. We are creative people; they can’t restrict or control us. We need support,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6th, 2013.                      

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Movie review: Space survivors battle oblivion

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Oblivion is an ode to classic Sci-fi. It has the aliens, a devastated planet, an anti-hero, the satisfying click of a neat ending that resolves the mystery. And much like the brilliant Looper, you are kept guessing until the end about the permutations and combinations of possibilities linking the characters.

Co-written, produced and directed by Tron: Legacy’s Joseph Kosinski, Oblivion is based on an unpublished graphic novel of the same name. In the film, Jack Harper (Tom Cruise) is one of the last remaining drone repairmen stationed on an evacuated Earth, which was nearly destroyed 60 years ago due to an alien invasion. Helping Jack is Victoria (Andrea Riseborough) who mans the operations post at their sky-high condominium. Their mission control commander is Sally (Melissa Leo), who guides them from the Tet, a tetrahedral space station that was humanity’s escape vessel after the war.

Jack and Victoria’s mission is almost complete and they are scheduled to leave the planet for the lunar colony on Titan in two weeks. Jack cannot, however, shake the feeling that all is not as it appears. He cannot seem to understand why the humans had to abandon the Earth when they had won the war.

The beauty of this film is keeping the suspense till the end. And as it takes its time to reveal the plot it floods your senses with breathtaking visuals of a desolated Earth as Jack struggles to complete his mission. Sci-fi lovers will also be taken in by the smashing gadgetry, tech accoutrements, surgical white drones and Tom Cruise’s transformer-esque motorcycle.

Along with the plot, director Kosinski also focuses on building atmosphere — so important in this genre. In the beginning you’ll feel sadness, loneliness and uncertainty but just as quickly you’ll feel fear and hopelessness.

If you’re going in to the cinema thinking Oblivion is going to be adrenaline-pumping action flick, I would advise you to watch something else. It’s an expertly drawn out psychological thriller. Don’t forget to stick around for the credits that are set to M83’s brilliant title song, Oblivion featuring Susanne Sundfør.

Upcoming Sci-Fi Movies

Pacific Rim

Described by director Guillermo Del Toro as “a beautiful poem to giant monsters”, this is one movie I am most excited about. Why? It’s Gundam+Godzilla, that’s why! Set in a world where giant monsters have risen from the ocean, humans retaliate by building large mechanised suits to combat the threat.

Elysium

If you loved District 9, then it’s impossible not to be excited about Neill Blomkamp’s follow-up to the movie, Elysium. Set in a time when the wealthy live on a man-made space station while the rest of the population resides on a ruined Earth, a man takes on a mission that could bring equality to the polarised worlds.

Ender’s Game

Remember Orson Scott Card’s 1985 sci-fi novel, Ender’s Game? Well, they’re making a movie about it. Andrew ‘Ender’ Wiggin (Asa Butterfield), an unusually gifted child is sent to an advanced military school in space to prepare for a future alien invasion. The cast includes Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley and Aramis Knight.

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, May 5th, 2013.

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Iron Man 3 soars with huge $175.3 million in US, Canada debut

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LOS ANGELES: Superhero sequel Iron Man 3 rocketed to the top of US and Canadian box office charts, kicking off Hollywood’s summer movie season with $175.3 million in weekend ticket sales for the second-biggest film opening of all time.

Combined with international sales, the movie from Walt Disney Co’s Marvel studio brought its global haul to an estimated $680.1 million, Disney said on Sunday.

The film stars Robert Downey Jr as billionaire businessman Tony Stark, whose superhero alter-ego spars with an evil extremist.

Iron Man 3 fed off the success of the first two installments plus last year’s The Avengers, a superhero mash-up that united Iron Man, The Hulk and other Marvel characters. Avengers opened on the same weekend last year with $207.4 million over its first three days, a record for the United States and Canada.

Iron Man 3 finished second on the all-time list behind Avengers and ahead of the July 2011 release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2, which opened with $169.2 million, according to the box office division of Hollywood.com.

“It is an extraordinary start,” said Dave Hollis, Disney’s executive vice president of distribution. “The start on the US side is something that we are exceptionally proud of.”

The $200-million production is another hit for Disney, which is focusing its movie studio on franchise films like Iron Man that can spawn movie sequels, toy sales and theme-park rides.

The two previous Iron Man movies earned a combined $1.2 billion around the world, according to the Box Office Mojo website.

The big domestic numbers for Iron Man 3 boosted the overall box office, which is dragging behind 2012 after a sluggish winter and spring.

The Iron Man mania trounced all other movies over the weekend.

Last week’s winner, dark action comedy Pain & Gain, dropped to second place with $7.6 million. Baseball drama 42 took the third slot with $6.2 million.

Rounding out the top five, Tom Cruise’s post-apocalyptic thriller Oblivion grossed $5.79 million, and the animated film , rang up $4.2 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7th, 2013.                      

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