Bollywood Instyle

Omkara just got released on July 28, 2006 across theaters in India. Viewers and critics alike are going gaga over this adaptation from William Shakespeare’s Othello. Vishal Bharadwaj’s Omkara took four months in the making and was picturized across diverse locales like Lucknow, Lonavala, Allahabad, Mumbai, and Wai.

A village set was constructed near a small town, Wai, in north Maharashtra. The location was carefully selected between a lake and mountains. The set was constructed facing east, so that sunlight was available since early morning for shooting purposes.  The set represents a small village in UP, which looks pretty authentic with details well looked into. The entire set is believed to cost two crores, which was constructed from scratch on a patch of vacant land. The shooting attracted many curious onlookers from neighboring villages, who appeared bemused over the architectural deviation from a typical Maharashtra village.

Outside Maharashtra, a lot of legwork saw some interesting locales in UP being picked for shooting. A lonely temple outside Allahabad was chosen and the actors were transported in helicopters. Shooting was a tough job with surging crowds barely being managed by the police force. Another tough shooting sequence was enacted at the Lucknow University. The University was covered with posters of Viveik Oberoi, a student leader in the movie. It created a ruckus of sorts with the students union objecting to the posters. Mercifully, the shooting concluded before things took a serious turn.

Shots after the interval are mostly night scenes, which required elaborate soft lighting techniques very ably handled to provide some stunning visuals. In fact, lighting has been used very intelligently to supplement and compliment the story. Costumes were also well thought out to suit the characters. Saif looks great in his short hair and beard, a look accentuated by soorma in the eyes, and blackened teeth. Each character in this Bollywood movie was adorned with costumes that gel well with the character.

Omkara is a well-made movie and is expected to do well at the box office. More about it later.

Reports have it that Sanju Baba is now the new owner of the famous Bandra pub Poison. The pub, a popular joint, got into trouble for serving liquor until the morning of August 15, which did not gel well with the concerned authorities. Not finding spirits flowing on Independence Day to be in the right spirit of the occasion, the authorities shut down the pub on August 15, last year. 

Many Bollywood celebrities and media personalities were reported to have joined in to celebrate actor Ashish Choudhury’s sangeet event well into the night, when cops playing spoilsports gate crashed, stopped the fun, and sealed the pub before leaving. The then owner did all he could to dissuade the police, but the police meant business.

The business savvy Sanjay Dutt stepped in and decided to take over the pub. What better place for earning the moolah and entertaining friends as well. Poison had been a popular joint before it was clamped down. Inside sources say that the pub will open to public shortly, and Sanjay Dutt may use it for hosting music releases and other Bollywood promotional events. Not a bad idea for someone who loves to play a good host to his gang and ilk.

Sanju Baba put in a lot of effort to get necessary permissions to make the pub functional again. He had the paperwork in place and within a year the pub is back in business with Sanju at the helm. How long can captain Sanju steer clear of official trouble is what some insiders are keenly watching, especially in the light of Sanju’s history of brushes with the authorities. Bollywood stars are making the best of Sanju’s hospitality and they have been seen partying well into the night. Attendance was great during the recently concluded Word Cup 2006. 

Here’s wishing Sanju Baba great success in his new venture.

The dhamaka that Krrish created has cine goers enthralled not only in India, but in the United States as well. There are a hazaar charche on Hrithik’s performance. The accolades continue to flow from all over. When Krrish and Superman Returns were released simultaneously, pundits were of the view that it was poor marketing strategy on Rakesh Roshan’s part. Superman was expected to run away with the honors. But, Superman’s cold performance has turned the tables literally, as the Americans are anticipating our very own Krrish to be the next big superhero.

Krrish is doing great business in the US with cash registers ringing and bringing in the moolah. Business worth US$6,43,000 during the first three days isn’t bad after all. American magazines, on the verge of writing off Superman, are counting on our own Krrish to deliver with theaters bursting at the seams not only with Asian population, but with non-Asian audience too. Hats off to Bollywood and Rakesh Roshan for creating quite a stir in the US.

Another Superstar that is creating waves on foreign soil is our very own Shah Rukh Khan. At the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Bollywood weekend, SRK held center stage and had the press literally eating out of his hands. At the dinner hosted by steel magnate LN Mittal, SRK was in his elements and among his hundreds of admirers was no less than British actress Emma Thompson. So impressed was she by SRK that she even expressed a serious wish to work with him.

The movies that were screened at the BAFTA Bollywood weekend included Devdas, Veer Zaara, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Rang De Basanti, and Dil Chahta Hai. Karan Johar held a master class in direction, while interviews were held with SRK, Yash Chopra, Preity Zinta, and Amir Khan. It was quite a weekend for Bollywood cinema.

The Killer
Starring: Emraan Hashmi, Irrfan Khan, Nisha Kothari

Released today, The Killer is one Emraan Hashmi movie that, for a change, has deprived him his trademark smooches on the screen. That is about what can be written about the movie. In comparison to Bhatt’s Gangster, which was on the darker side, The Killer is lighter and more joyful. The movie seems to be an inspired version of the Tom Cruise – Jammie Fox starrer Collateral.

Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota
Starring: Konkona Sen Sharma, Jimmy Shergill, Irrfan Khan, Paresh Rawal, Ankur Khanna.

A happy day indeed for Irrfan Khan to have two releases on the same day. His other movie The Killer hits the movie theaters today. Tilottima Punj (Konkana), lucky girl, gets to marry Hemant (Jimmy) after finding him on the Internet. It is one of those net-surfers, chatting each other up, falling in love and ultimately tying the knot kind of stories. No point mentioning that they are on cloud nine until Hemant has to return to the US because of his job demands. Jobs in the US can be quite cruel at times. A sad end to a blissful honeymoon, but Tilottima has other things on her mind like taking on her mother-in-law, and fooling the immigration to make it to the US to be with Hubby dear.

As fate would have it Raju Bhai Patel (Paresh Rawal), who organizes foreign shows, Rahul Bhide (Ankur Khanna), a brilliant student with no financial resources, and Salim Rajabali (Irrfan Khan), a stockbroker much in love with an older Namrata (Suhasini Mulay) leave Indian shores as directed by the storyline. They get involved in one of the most horrendous incidents one can imagine. Now, you would be dying to know whether they all would manage to salvage the situation. Well, step out your homes and look for a theater in your city that has this Bollywood movie on show.

Hrithik Roshan has captured the imagination of the younger fans like no other super-hero has before him. Such has been the influence of Krissh on the young minds that reports about fans trying his onscreen death-defying stunts is disturbing the Bollywood star no end. 

Hrithik has made an appeal asking them not to emulate him in the movie. According to the superstar, those stunt scenes are fraught with danger, and were performed under expert guidance and close supervision after putting in place adequate safety measures. The superhero had undergone extensive training, both physical and mental, before shooting those scenes.

The result onscreen may look so natural, but there is a lot of technique and trickery involved behind the scenes. The performer is well secured with cables, as he appears onscreen to be swinging from one tree to another or a building to another. All the supporting equipment like cables and so on are later removed at the editing table with the help of computer software.

Hrithik expresses his thanks to the way his young fans have received the film. Krissh is a fantasy film meant to be enjoyed, not re-enacted. Hrithik burnt some of his hair during the circus fire sequence, which fortunately grew back before the next schedule. Similarly, Hrithik almost had a serious accident when the cable from which he was dangling midair snapped. Luckily, he landed on a soft canopy that was pulled out, since it was a rainy day. That broke his fall, and Hrithik survived what could have been a ghastly accident.

This happened in spite of all the precautions that were taken during the shooting. So, kids and young teens, it is best to leave these stunts to the experts. Just sit back and fantasize, if you so desire, but don’t put them to practice.

The year 2006 could not have been a better year for movie buffs. This year has seen some of the greatest hits being made, and there has been a general feeling of excitement in Bollywood. Producers, directors, actors, and all those associated with the Bollywood film industry are upbeat. Most successful movies have been big budget movies, and that has given the industry the much-needed confidence.

Hardly had the excitement about Rang De Basanti died down that Fanaah created quite a stir in both the movie halls and out of it - in Gujarat. Amir Khan and Kajol were simply mesmerizing. Then came along Phir Hera Pheri to tickle the viewers enough to clutch their tummies and roll off their seats. While these movies were going great guns at the box office, the first Bollywood Super Hero was on his way to create history. Rakesh Roshan’s Krrish was being awaited eagerly. Super Hero Hrithik Roshan did not disappoint, looking sleek and dashing as ever. His performance has been super enough to win him a new female fan following, while retaining and consolidating the older one. He has always been the favorite of kid moviegoers, and what better than having a bursting at the seams fan club.

Golmaal is another funny movie that has the viewer going crazy with laughter. Released recently, it is pulling in the crowds. Corporate too has made a good beginning. The movies that are being expectantly awaited are Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, Omkara, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Dhoom 2 and Don.  These movies are anticipated to be great hits. Well, time will only tell what is in store for the moviegoer. 

Whatever, it appears that the Bollywood movie fan is destined to have a terrific year. 2006 is turning out to be a special year for the Bollywood film industry and the fans alike.

The Movie
You cannot imagine a bigger star cast than KANK. Top contemporary stars Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Abhishekh Bachchan, and Amitabh Bachchan in one movie is any movie buff’s dream come true. And, you’ve got to thank Karan Johar to have made this dream possible for the crazy Bollywood movie fans.

The story is based on a bold and mature theme, and depicts the dilemma of married couples. SRK is married to Preity Z, and Abhishekh and Rani M portray the other not-so-happy married couple. Situations get tense when the married SRK falls in love with the married Rani.

Interesting Fact
Rumors have it that SRK’s daughter Suhana is making her film debut as a child artist, playing the role of a boy. SRK’s son Aryan made his debut earlier in another Karan Johar movie Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham.

Songs
What else can you expect of a Karan Johar movie – great songs! The songs from Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna have already made a big splash and are proving to be a hit with the teen brigade. Exquisitely composed, the seven songs from the album are an assortment of sad, slow, lilting, and some fabulously catchy songs.

Sung on screen by today’s top Bollywood stars, these songs are expected to have a mesmerizing effect on the viewer. Karan Johar is a master at touching the emotional chords of the masses. Renditions have been made by Alka Yagnik, Sonu Nigam, and Shafqat Amanat Ali (of the famous Pakistani band – Fuzon). The title song, “Kabhie Alvida Naa Kehna”, sung by Alka and Sonu, is slow and sad, and sets the tone of the movie.

The movie, like most Karan Johar movies, is rich in emotional content, melodrama, and larger-than-life portrayal of characters. It is a movie most movie buffs are waiting with baited breath to release, sometime in August.

Big B is a self-confessed fan of Kajol – the triple B (brilliant Bengali babe!) He found her to be an exceptional talent. Amitabh Bachan was amazed at Kajol’s energy levels during the shooting of the song sequence “Rock n Roll Soniye”. All her fans will agree no less that Kajol is an exceptional artiste and a great Bollywood actress. We all missed her when she was busy raising her family. But, nothing could be more soothing to the eye than the presence of the ever-effervescent queen on the silver screen.

Fanaa has gone on to consolidate her position further as top Bollywood star and actor. It may have lost some viewer base to mega hits like “Krrish” and “Phir Hera Pheri”, but Kajol continues to enchant all her offshore fans. Rishab Patel from London says, “I could never have imagined anyone other than Kajol to enact that role. She is simply amazing!” We all do agree that Kajol’s magic simply takes our breath away. The viewer is left breathless and panting for more. Most directors she worked with agree that Kajol is effortless. She just doesn’t seem to act. Actors act, but she just flows through the film. Her memorable roles in “Kuchh Kuchh Hota Hai”, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge”, “Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham” still continue to pull crowds in.

It was tough on her to shoot in Poland without her baby. Hubby, Ajay Devgun was more than a support in lending a hand to look after their child, while mama was away.  She is known to have given her piece of mind to Fanna director Kunal Kohli for extending the shooting schedule in Poland by a mere one day. That meant living one extra day without her baby. Her total commitment to her family and career is what makes Kajol that she is – the darling of the family and the masses.

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