Aamir’s BIG Thank You for Ghajini team

With Aamir Khan one is always sure that he truely gives credit where it deserves. In a very emotional display of gratitude, Aamir has updated his blog thanking each and every crew member who made Ghajini what it is.

Aamir states, “At this time, irrespective of the fate of the film, I want to acknowledge and introduce to you the various people who have worked behind the scenes on this film. The presenter Arvind Garu, who has been a great support to the entire team and has had complete faith in Murgadoss and his abilities. Also a man of great wisdom and maturity. Both Tagore Madhu and Madhu Mantena who have worked tirelessly to bring the film onto screen in the best possible way. Each with their individual strengths have been the best producers that this film could have ever asked for or got. Ravi K Chandran who has taken the film to another level with his visual excellence. Rasul who has impressed me the most with his amazing sound design. He has been among the most committed technicians I have ever worked with. The kind of detail and layering I have seen him get into is truly heartwarming, and the pains he has taken to satisfy the director are inspiring for any film person. Anthony who has truly astounded me with his editing abilities and has been a learning experience to work with. Peter Hines who has shocked me with his mad energy and acute understanding of the character and situation when he is composing for action. Stunt Shiva, who stepped in when Peter was unable to be with us because of the change in schedule because of my injury, worked with an enthusiasm unseen in clash work. Sunil, who quietly and tirelessly went about his work in Production Design to give the film the unique look that it requires. Arjun and Avan who has never failed to satisfy me in my endeavor to look the character. Rahul Nanda, who has managed to capture the pain and romance of the film in one single image. Anup Dev, who has patiently and with a lot of care given the final touches to the film. Piyush Misra, who handled the tough job of adapting the dialogues into Hindi. Nabeel Abbas, whose advice into the promotions and marketing of the film as a consultant were extremely helpful. Shilpa and Prabhat, who are extremely insightful and acute with their expertise in promotion have taken the film to the heights that it deserves. Priti and Aman, whose marketing abilities have given the film the scale and depth that it deserves. And lastly and most importantly Murugadoss. To make a film is very difficult, to make a film which connects with the audience is even more difficult, and to REMAKE a film which has connected big time with an audience with the same enthusiasm is most rare. Working with fresh enthusiasm, crystal clear thinking and an almost childlike excitement Murugadoss has breathed like into the film. He is an absolute pleasure and privilege to work with. How much I have learnt from him.

At the risk of sounding very presumptuous and patronizing I humbly thank all of you for the great time you gave me.”

One can remember Shah Rukh Khan distributing big gifts to his entire Red Chillies Team that worked on his home production, Om Shanti Om and made it the biggest success of 2007. It remains to be see whether Aamir will do the same as Ghajini looks all set to leave OSO far behind in terms of both popularity and business!

Courtesy: realbollywood.com

Aamir builds eight pack abs for 'Ghajini'

AAMIR KHAN, undoubtedly is an excellent actor and has proved the same in his numerous movies. Besides being a fine actor, Aamir has also tried his hands in direction with Taare Zameen Par in the year 2007. For Taare Zameen Par, Aamir received critical acclaim world wide and the movie remained a commercial success as well.
Taare Zameen Par has been selected as India’s official entry for Oscars scheduled in February 2009. Aamir and his crew members are highly optimistic about winning the Academy Awards this time. In addition, the countrymen are also hopfull that Taare Zameen Par will fetch the first Oscar for the country.
However, the veteran actor cum director is recently in buzz for his new look for the upcoming movie Ghajini. Aamir shaved his head for the role in Ghajini and his hair style has already become popular among country’s youth. And now the new surprise for Aamir’s fans is that the actor would take off his shirt to reveal his eight-pack abs.
Famous as a ‘Mr Perfectionist’, Aamir worked hard to get into the character of Ghajini. Aamir’s role in the movie Ghajini, which is a remake of Tamil super hit movie, required a muscular body. He followed a rigid worked out schedule to get his eight-pack abs. Aamir had also performed lots of dangerous stunts in this action thriller film injuring himself twice during its shooting.
After months of sweating out and running down the treadmill, the actor finally got eight-pack abs. But he is not satisfied with his eight-pack abs and the muscular body he had built for the movie. In an interview with a private radio channel, the actor said that he could have done better. Due to promotional work for Taare Zameen Par, his exercise discontinued for one and half month and he could not achieve what he was actually expecting.
When asked whether he was looking for 10 or more abs, Aamir replied affirmatively, “I had continued my exercise, developing 10 or 12 abs was not impossible.


He was highly excited about his new chiseled body and said the cine-goers will like it. In fact, the perfectionist always try to adorn a new look in every movie. Especially he does lots of experiment with his hair style. InGhajini, he flaunts a new hair style, tiny in length with cut mark.
Ghajini is scheduled to release in the month of December. Shahrukh Khan starrer Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi is also set to release on December 12. With eight pack abs, Aamir would certainly wish to surpass the sensation created by Shahrukh in Om Shanti Om with six pack abs. Shahrukh’s six pack abs in Om Shanti Om provided runaway success to the movie.
Let us see, how much the viewers will like Aamir in his new avatar. Aamir’s past record signals that in Ghajini too the eight pack abs will cast magical affect among the spectators. Besides, his unique hair style will provide more popularity to the movie.



Courtesy: merinews.com

Sneak peak on Mani Ratnam’s next….

India’s ace director Mani Ratnam is gearing up for his next project and the industry is abuzz with a variety of colorful speculations. It is being said that the project will be a bilingual to be made in Hindi and Tamil. Aishwarya Rai will be the screen partner for the heroes in both the languages. Prithviraj and Priya Mani also are reported to be in pivotal casts.

An interesting fact about this project is that Karthik who made everyone sit up and notice his performance, albeit a small one, in Mani Ratnam’s Mouna Ragam would be making a comeback as a villain. In fact Karthik’s role in Mouna Ragam is considered as a benchmark even now for guest appearances and the actor brought in a fresh lease of life in the short but intense role and made a memorable impact on the audience.
As regards off screen cast, cinematographer P C Sriram was to handle the camera for this project but due to prior commitments, he is said to have opted out of the project and in his place comes Manikandan who has worked in prestigious projects like Anniyan in Tamil and Om Shanthi Om and Main Hoon Na in Hindi. When a question was raised about the main plot of the film, it was understood that it would be based on the story of the epic Ramayana. Readers may recall that Mani Ratnam had earlier made Thalapathy drawing inspiration from Mahabharata.


Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Aamir Khan's 'Ghajini' on track for year end release

After having made a complete recovery from his hamstring injury, Aamir Khan has been busy filming for A.R. Murugadoss directed 'Ghajini', which is now on track for a year end release.

"The movie will release this year end as planned, and will not release along side Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi as reported in the media. The exact date will be announced soon," Sirish Allu of Geetha Arts told Sawf News.

Aditya Chopra directed Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, featuring Shah Rukh Khan and newcomer Anushka Sharma is slotted for release on December 12.

Asin. Photo Credit: Sawf News

"[Amir's] last day of shooting for the film is on the 27th of July. After that just two solo songs featuring Asin and Jiah Khan are to be shot," Sirish adds.

What that means for a lot of Aamir fans is that he will not be supporting his buzz cut for much longer now!

The eagerly awaited film is a remake of the similarly named Tamil film, also directed by Murugadoss. Aamir plays a distraught boyfriend suffering from short-term amnesia who is called upon to avenge his girlfriend's murder.

Jiah Khan. Photo Credit: IANS

Aamir is romantically paired in the film with south actress Asin and Jiah Khan plays his college going sister.

The film is reported to have already been sold for a whopping Rs 93 crore - Rs 53 crore for the domestic screening and Rs 40 crore for satellite, overseas and home video rights. In comparison Om Shanti Om had fetched a record Rs 73 crore.

Courtesy: sawf.org

Rahman named best music director at IIFA

A.R. Rahman was named the best music director for his score in "Guru" at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) 2008 awards here Sunday night, while the Shah Rukh Khan starrer "Om Shanti Om" swept a number of technical awards.

Shreya Ghoshal won the honours for the best playback singer (female) for "Barso re" from Mani Ratnam's "Guru", which film also bagged awards for the best background score (Rahman) and best song recording (H. Sridhar).

The best playback singer (male) award was bagged by Shaan for "Jab se tere naina" from "Saawariya".

Veteran Javed Akhtar was named the best lyricist for "Om Shanti Om", which also garnered awards for best special effects (Red Chillies Entertainment), best art direction (Sabu Cyril), best costume design (Manish Malhotra, Karan Johar and Sanjeev Mulchandani) and best makeup.

The award for best screenplay was won jointly by Anurag Basu ("Life in a Metro") and Jaideep Sahni ("Chak De! India").

"Chak De! India" also took home the trophy for best cinematography.

Imtiyaz Ali was named the best dialogue writer for "Jab We Met".

Courtesy: indiainfo.com

'Ghajini' delay sets up Aamir Khan vs Shah Rukh Khan clash in December

Aamir Khan's hamstring injury, and a five week doctor mandated rest to allow it to heal, has led to the release date of Ghajini being pushed back to December 12, setting up a clash with Shah Rukh Khan's Rab Ne Banaa Di Jodi that looks too good to be coincidental!

It is hard to explain why 5 weeks of bed rest should result in 10 weeks of production delay for a film that has already been two years in the making! Unless you have been reading Aamir's blog and have his recent digs at Shah Rukh on your mind. In which case, you are likely to conclude that the prankster in the 43-year-old star is once dominating over the recluse.

Ghajini has already been sold for a whopping Rs 93 crore - Rs 53 crore for the domestic screening and Rs 40 crore for satellite, overseas and home video rights, so the delay is unlikely to have financial implications for Aamir the producer.

Incidentally, Shah Rukh's Om Shanti Om had fetched a record Rs 73 crore...there we go again comparing the two stars!

Ghajini, a Hindi remake of the similarly named Tamil film, has Aamir playing a distraught boyfriend who is called upon to avenge his girlfriend's murder, despite suffering from short-term amnesia.

Courtesy: sawf.org

GHAJINI, a perfectionist's play

The perfectionist Khan after completing yet another act of aptness in his directorial debut with ‘Taare Zameen Par’ again ready to offer complete entertainment with his next film Ghajini. Yes, Aamir Khan whose latest flick has leaped off.

As the shooting has resumed for the Hindi version of the Til film Ghajini the excitement is around Aamir’s fans awaiting the same result as the Tamil blockbuster.

Reportedly Aamir Khan will go bald for this movie as per the demand of some portion of the script.

Inspired by Christopher Nolan's critically acclaimed Memento and directed by A. R. Murugadoss, the film stars Aamir Khan as Sanjay Ramaswamy, Tamil actress Asin Thottumkal as Kalpana, and Nishbd fame Jiah Khan as Chitra.

As per the latest report the movie is going to make another mark in the history of Indian cinema after Shahrukh Khan’s Om Shanti Om as the rights of Ghajini has been sold at a whooping margin of over 70 crores for film and music distribution in domestic market.

No doubt the dynamic and perfection specialist actor Aamir Khan has chosen the right script to offer something different and bringing diversification into his acting talent like his earlier attempt with Lagan and TZP.

The production team is certainly eying for the next ‘Eid’ in the month of October for the action packed Ghajini’s release. It is also believed that this films may brought back memories of Aamir’s old days when he played characters like ‘Sidhu’ in Ghulam and ‘Pakia’ in Rangeela. No doubt with AR Rahman’s score the film is going to create yet another mind blowing film in this year.

Aamir deserves all the accolades to cater the need of the different breed of movie lovers who has got a taste of movie that is once in life time experience.

Courtesy: NewstrackIndia.com

Allu strikes gold!

Allu Aravind’s unreleased Hindi film with Amir Khan in the lead sets a new record in the Bollywood business books. It was well known to the film buffs that Hindi version of Ghajini is being made with Amir in Hindi. This film reportedly earned an estimated sum of Rs. 93 crore by selling its distribution rights. Shah Rukh Khan’s Om Shanti Om was the top grosser in distribution rights until now which made Rs. 73 crore pre release.

Now Amir, Allu Aravind’s Hindi Ghajini surpassed it by a huge margin of Rs. 20 crore. The film is surrounded by high expectations and the craze is evident with this record.


Allu Aravind who has tasted bitter results for over a period of time with his Telugu films strikes gold with this film as he made almost Rs. 50 crore profits much before the release. His Telugu film Jalsa with Pawan Kalyan is also carrying positive reports and a hit for Allu Aravind in Tollywood is round the corner.
Courtesy: andhracafe.com

Aamir Khan’s Ghajini overtakes Om Shanti Om

Much before Aamir Khan’s Ghajini hits the theatres, it's creating waves. Perfectionist Aamir Khan does everything in style and always we find some sort of uniqueness in his storyline. His upcoming venture Ghajini overtakes Shahrukh’s already released film Om Shanti Om. While Om Shanti Om rights were sold at Rs 73 crore, the rights of Ghajini have been sold at whopping price more than 93 crore.

A source from the film fraternity remarked that “No other Bollywood film was sold with such a huge price in domestic theatres”. The film distribution rights of Rs 53 crore and music distribution of Rs 40 crore had sum up the circulation price to Rs 93 crore. Aamir always tries to make a critically acclaimed film with full perfection. Whether it is Lagaan or Taare Zameen Pe, his work is always considered to be a masterpiece.

Ghajini is a remake of a Tamil version. For many days, he has been looking for the right lady. Various names had been suggested but ultimately he settled down with Jiah Khan and Tamil actress Asin. It is the most awaited film of 2008 and its music is still not out of the cocoon. We can say that Ghajini will be another eye-catching and mind blowing offering from the intense and dynamic actor, Aamir Khan.

Courtesy: Bollywoodmantra.com

A.R.Murugadoss & Aamir Khan break Indian record

A.R.Murugadoss and Aamir Khan have managed to pull off a national level record for the highest distribution rights paid for a single movie yet! Yes, you heard it right: their Hindi Ghajini has garnered a whooping 90 crores in distribution price for its producers Madhu Verma and Allu Arivind.

The Indian Film Company (IFC) has paid 53 crores to the producers of the movie for the domestic distribution rights. IFC had earlier distributed Jab We Met and Welcome, both of which have been profitable ventures. Overseas, satellite, online and home video rights collected another 40 crores.

This is quite a remarkable achievement considering the fact that not a single official still has been released about the movie yet.

The movie is obviously heavy weight with Aamir fresh off his Taare Zameen Par success, A.R.Rahman as the music director (the inside story is that the director has composed some mind blowing music for the movie), Ravi K Chandran in charge of camera, and Murugadoss, one of the most commercially successful directors of the south at the helm. Asin plays the lead lady of Aamir, supported by Jiah Khan

Ghajini has managed to break the record set by Om Shanthi Om, which had collected 73 crores for its distribution rights.

Now for the really interesting side of all this: Aamir is not just looking to take away Shahrukh's record on the finance-side, but also on the physical side. He is gearing up to flaunt a six pack ala Shahrukh Khan. The actor is on a strict exercise regimen, building up muscles and pumping some iron.

Call it professional rivalry at its peak!

Courtesy: Behindwoods.com

Jodhaa Akbar could make even more money than OSO

Getting a royal welcome on both sides of the Atlantic, Ashutosh Gowariker's Jodhaa Akbar, grabbed an estimated $1.3 million in North America and $750,000 in the United Kingdom over the weekend.

Factoring in the Gulf countries, the Caribbean and Australia, the three day haul could reach an awesome $3 million.

The film may not have crossover appeal to the mainstream audiences but anyone who reads the opening of The New York Times review may be tempted to see it. 'They may not make'em like they used to in Hollywood,' critic Rachel Saltz wrote, 'but sometimes in India they still do. Jodhaa Akbar... is filmmaking on the grand scale of Cecil B De Mille (The Ten Commandments), with romance, stirring battles, and enough elephants and gold to sink the Titanic .'
The US box-office was especially impressive given the awful weather conditions in the Midwest.

"If the goodwill and enthusiasm for the film continues, and we at UTV feel it will, Jodhaa Akbar could make even more money than Om Shanti Om," said Lokesh Dhar for distributor UTV. "We are not looking at the success of this film in terms of another hit for UTV (which has distributed hits like Don). It could become the all-time highest grossing Bollywood film in North America."

Farah Khan's OSO starring Shah Rukh Khan , who also produced it, grossed about $3.8 million in North America and holds the record.

"Despite the fact that Jodhaa Akbar is three-and-a-half hours long," Dhar continued, "and theatres are having less number of shows, we are doing extraordinary business."

The film, which got decent reviews from many mainstream publications including The New York Times and a few pans like the one in the San Francisco Chronicle, had a record 135 prints released in North America. In the United Kingdom it has some 70 prints.

The full week's gross outside India could exceed $4.5 million. Even if the film's takings were to fall by 50 percent in subsequent weeks as it traditionally happens for Bollywood movies, it could still end up with some $8 million.

Unlike in India where the entertainment tax takes away nearly 50 percent of the box office collection, Bollywood producers get about 65 percent of the overseas take.

Bollywood insiders believe that even if Jodhaa Akbar does not do spectacular business in India, the overseas moolah will help it recuperate its reported $10 million budget.

Another reason why the film may not suffer a steep decline in the second week is that there are no big movies challenging Jodhaa Akbar for several weeks, till the action thriller Race, which is also distributed by UTV.

"We strongly feel that Jodhaa Akbar is not going to be a one week phenomenon," Dhar said. "Many people are telling us that they are seeing the film two or three times, taking friends and family members who may not usually see films in theatres. The word has gone out that this is one film you ought to see on the big screen first."

Indian Americans are also spreading the word that Jodhaa Akbar is not like the typical Bollywood production, and some of them are quoting reviews like the one in The New York Times.

'These royals are played by Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan,' Saltz continued, 'two rather astonishing specimens of human beauty. Neither is a great actor, but both know what's required of a star and seem to the palace born.'

She did not forget the music and Kiiran Deohans for his cinematography. 'The film bounces along to a memorable score by A R Rahman. (I am still humming the songs),' Saltz wrote.

Giving the film four stars out of five, the BBC's Tajpal Rathore wrote: 'One is perhaps starting to expect too much from director Ashutosh Gowarikar after such masterpieces like Lagaan and Swades . But he seems to raise the bar with his historic magnum opus, Jodhaa Akbar.'

'Extensive though it is, Jodhaa Akbar cannot be discussed using small talk,' Rathore wrote. 'Everything in the film is big and grand: the palaces, the armies and most importantly, the love story. It hits at the heartstrings and somehow has enough energy to sustain itself through the bloated script that perhaps should've been chopped. Ravishing Rai is convincing enough but it's Roshan's majestic performance as the love-struck warrior that packs the punch; it's his film from start to finish.'

Gowariker knows how to tell a story, declared Sandip Ray in the San Francisco Chronicle, referring specially to Lagaan. But in the new film, the review said, he seems overwhelmed by the sheer weight of history.

'The never-ending opening sequence, a CliffsNotes version of Indian history in superstar Amitabh Bachchan's sonorous baritone, doesn't help either,' Roy added.' Or perhaps the film just topples over under the sheer weight of all that gold jewelry.'

The problem with Jodha and Akbar is that they are both too noble, the reviewer continued.

'Epic stories need epic tragedies or at least forbidden love,' he added.' In the 1960 classic Mughal-E-Azam, the rebellious prince (actually the son of Akbar) falls in love with the beautiful courtesan, and her defiant songs became the anthem of star-crossed lovers. (You still hear South Asians singing it at gay pride parades.)'

But there are moments when the film manages to break free of its limitations, the review said. 'Jodha and Akbar duel in an empty palace courtyard, their swordplay turning into foreplay,' it explained. 'A crowd of Sufis whirl, their white outfits glowing against the brick red earth, and the emperor leaves his seat to dance ecstatically with them. These are the real human moments in the film. One just wishes there were a few more.'

Many viewers in New York and New Jersey cinemas said they were not deterred by the film's length. "We have watched on DVD some films which are just about two hours long and we have found them boring," said a 50-year-old man who had driven 40 miles from Connecticut to see the film in a New York theatre with his wife and grown children "But if a film is well made, who worries about the time? And this kind of a film one must first see in a theatre, never mind what good home entertainment system we have at home."


Courtesy: Rediff.com

Aamir's Ghajini sells for a record Rs 90 cr

Bollywood is on a roll. And the Khans are climbing over each other to make it to the top slot. 2007 clearly belonged to Shah Rukh Khan. Between Chak De India , for which he won accolades and which went on to become a huge box-office hit, and his home production Om Shanti Om that was sold for Rs 73 crore (all inclusive) SRK plundered, emerging the largest-grossing Khan last year.

2008 is barely into its second month. And another Khan, Aamir has just this minute made history. The remake of Ghajini , a thriller that has Aamir, Jiah Khan and Asin in the lead has, according to market sources, been picked up for a record Rs 90 crore (all inclusive).

Says a Bollywood trade analyst, " Ghajini has fetched more than Rs 90 crore in the sale of its distribution rights. Reportedly, Indian Film Company, one of the major film distribution houses, has picked up the domestic theatrical rights for more than Rs 50 crore. The film has garnered an additional Rs 40 crore in the sales of overseas, satellite, home video and music." Bollywood is ecstatic that the sale of the worldwide rights of films has seen a jump of nearly Rs 17 crore in just three months. Om Shanti Om was released on November 9, 2007. And Ghajini is likely to come after Diwali of 2008.

Confirming the news about the biggest-ever Bollywood film deal, producer Allu Arvind says, "We had been getting offers from various distribution houses for the film. Yes, the cumulative figure of the rights’ sale is above anything that a film has received so far. But we have selected our distribution partners not just for the price they have offered, but also for the value they bring as distributors and marketers."

And Sandeep Bhargava of Indian Film Company adds, "We have acquired the domestic distribution rights of the remake of Ghajini."

Bhargava refuses to talk money but he says, "Its one of the biggest films of the year and we are proud to be associated with it. The acquisitions of Welcome and Jab We Met have paid up for us and this year we have the Ghajini remake along with Singh is King . The revenue structure in the business is undergoing a change and the ability to maximise the returns is proving to be vital. We hope to add to our revenues through these anticipated films."

Even as film corporations make movie acquisitions at unheard of prices, there is a conservative section of Bollywood producers who warn the exorbitant price structures may just upset the apple cart.

"It has become impossible for an independent producer to make movies," says the source.

"Post Welcome , someone like Nana Patekar is demanding Rs 7 crore and Sanjay Dutt has signed a couple of deals for Rs 18 crore per film. If a star charges these prices, naturally world wide rights of cinema will soon cross the Rs 100 crore mark."

Courtesy: Indiatimes.com

Deepika will pair with Rajnikant in Robot

Rajnikant will be coming in Director Shankar’s new sci-fci thriller mega budget film ‘Robot’. A.R Rahman will be composing music for ‘Robot’. The trio Rajnikanth, Shankar, and A. R. Rahman, after success of ‘Sivaji’ will be once again together to create the same magic.

Ayngaran International and Eros Multimedia have formally announced the film. Ayngaran International and Eros International will jointly be producing this film.

Rs 120 crore is the initial budget allocated for the film, Robot. Investment will exceed the money ever spent on any big-budget film from Kollywood, Tollywood or Bollywood. Money should not be a constraint for the grandest film in India.

The film will be produced in three Indian languages Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. It is talked in media that Deeepika Padukone who made a superb debut with Shahrukh Khan in film Om Shanti Om may now be pairing with Rajnikant in Robot.

Shankar is also reported to have roped in science writer Sujatha to write the dialogue for Robot. Sujatha is, in fact, a 70-plus-year-old male, who has become a celebrity in his own right in Tamil Nadu through his youthful style of science fiction writing. The ex-employee of Bharat Electronics takes the credit for using the short story format for familiarising lay magazine readers of Tamil Nadu with cutting edge technology. Way back in the 1960s and 1970s, when other Indians were not aware of Telex and Fax, Sujatha’s fictional characters employed Instant Messenger and Internet for communication! The science fictionist cum engineer happens to be a classmate of ABJ Abdul Kalam.

Interestingly Deepika who is 22 years old had paired with Shahrukh of 40 plus and will now be with the Rajnikant who is of 57 years! But for superstar Rajinikanth who has acted earlier opposite to Shreya in ‘Sivaji the Boss’ who was almost Deepika’s age.

As of now Deepika is filming for Yash Raj Film''s Chandni Chowk to China, which is expected to hit the floors in February. Robot’s budget may exceed 100 crore probably may be the most expensive in Indian film history.

It will be worth a wait and watch for Deepika if she finalizes the deal and off course for Robot.

Courtesy: Mynews.in

Taare, Rahman shine @ Star Screen

The awards season of the year kicked off with the Nokia Fourteenth Annual Star Screen Awards at Mumbai last evening. The evening was all glitz and glam with every famous personality in Bollywood attending the gala event. Contrary to previous years, there was tough competition in all the categories.

But the strongest of the contenders for almost all the awards were just two films – Aamir Khan’s Taare Zameen Par and Yash Raj’s Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Chak De. The awards finally ended up as a give-and-take affair with Chak De walking away with the Best Film; Shah Rukh being adjudged the Best Actor, and the ensemble of girls bagging the Best Supporting actress awards. TZP, on the other hand, bagged the best supporting actor award for Aamir Khan. Awards for Best Story, Best Child Actor and Best Lyricist went to Amol Gupte, Darsheel and Prasoon Joshi, respectively. Shimit Amin shared the Best Director Award for Chak De with Aamir for TZP. The Bachchans had to eat the humble pie with most of the awards remaining elusive to them. Even Abhishek’s Guru only ended up bagging the Best Music Director Award for A.R Rahman. Kareena Kapoor was the only unanimous choice for the Best Actress Award for her scintillating performance in Jab We Met. The Lifetime Achievement award went to veteran actor Manoj Kumar. The evening had its share of song and dance performances by leading stars with Shah Rukh grooving to the Dard-e Disco number from his Om Shanti Om. Sadly, this much talked about film could only garner the Best Choreographer Award for its director Farah Khan and Best Newcomer (Female) for Deepika Padukone.

Courtesy: Behindwoods.com

Maverick Productions to distribute dubbed Hollywood movie

Director Moustapha Akkad's Hollywood classic Al-Risalah presents Islam in its true spirit. This blockbuster that received rave reviews both in the Arab world and the largely Islam-phobic West (it opened in 3000 theatres across the USA) has now reached India. Dubbed in Urdu with music and a song by A. R. Rahman, the film will soon hit theatres across the country on 28 December 2007.


The dubbed Hindi version has been produced by Oasis Enterprises, which is owned by partners Yamshi Ahmed and Saad Ahmed. Oasis Enterprises has acquired the rights for the film. Al-Risalah is being distributed by Anuj Saxena's Maverick Productions who has distributed Om Shanti Om in Rajasthan and Cash in Mysore.

Maverick Production CEO Anuj Saxena says, "It is an interesting different film with a unique subject, so when the offer of distribution came we found it to be a good praposition. The song sung by A. R. Rehman is also outstanding. Maverick is considering a couple of more mainstream films for distribution in 2008."

"We always wanted to bring this film to Indian audiences because perhaps no other film presents a more balanced, more nuanced image of Islam," said Yamshi Ahmed, co-producer of Al-Risalah (dubbed version).

"No doubt, watching this Oscar nominated film will surely be a unique and enriching experience for the audience for a better understanding of Islam and the times of Prophet Mohammad," says Saad Ahmed, co-producer (dubbed version) of the film.

Al-Risalah is the story of Islam from its birth and evolution to its triumph, with the best Hollywood production values full of grandeur and emotion. The film has been approved by Al Azhar University, Egypt, the ulemas of the sub-continent and Mufakkir –e –Islam, Maulana Dr Syed Kalbe Sadiq Sahab Qibla who is the vice prsident of All India Muslim Personal Law Board.

The producers held a private screening at an Andheri theatre recently where many eminent Muslims, including some ulemas, watched it. "We deliberately invited the ulemas because it deals with a sensitive issue," informed Urdu poet and columnist Hasan Kamal who dubbed the movie in Urdu.

The film releases first in Mumbai on 28 December.

Courtesy: Indiantelevision.com