Category: Movies

  • Shreyas Talpade turns producer with Chemistry

    MUMBAI: Turning to Hindi film production, actor Shreyas Talpade has named his production house as Affluence Movies.


    The first film under the banner is a romantic comedy titled Chemistry. Directed by Sahi Kabir, the film, besides him, features Soha Ali Khan and Tanishta Mukherjee. Earlier Talpade had produced a Marathi film titled Sanai Choughade along with Mukta Arts.


    According to Talpade, producing the film was a spontaneous decision as he liked the script. “I am dedicating most of my time and energy to this film,” he says.


    Mirch, Talpade‘s film with Vinay Shukla, features four short stories and has him in one of the stories in which he plays a corporate guy with a loving wife and a wonderful career. Life is good but he screws up everything because of doubts that stem from his possessiveness.
     

  • Tere Bin Laden 2 in offing

    MUMBAI: Buoyed by the success of Tere Bin Laden, producers Pooja Shetty Deora and Aarti Shetty, are contemplating a sequel to it.


    It is understood that director of the first movie, Abhishek Sharma, will also direct the sequel. Said Sharma, “Yes, we have been talking about the sequel. But till we don‘t hit upon the right idea, there‘s no point going ahead with it.”


    Tere Bin Laden, a low cost film starring talented names like Ali Zafar and Pradhuman Singh, ranks amongst the successful films of this year.

  • Phas Gaye Re Obama to be made in Telugu

    MUMBAI: With a prominent southern producer requesting the remake rights of Phas Gaye Re Obama, director Subhash Kapoor is a happy man that his small budget film would be made in Telugu.


    Confirms Kapoor, “Yes, it is true. Sayed Ayub, who runs a prominent production house in the south, has approached us with an offer to remake the film in Telugu.” 


    Kapoor assures that a film with a universal storyline can be made in any language by observing, “I strongly feel that while the basic concept and the storyline of the film is fresh, the film‘s simplicity can be adapted in any language. The terms and conditions of the remake would be finalised by next week.”


    The story of a millionaire getting kidnapped and people making money out of it can fit in any language and culture, Kapoor feels.
     

  • T-Series’ Ready releasing on 27 May

    MUMBAI: T-Series Ready is set to release on 27 May next year.


    Directed by Anees Bazmee, the film promises action and comedy. It stars Salman Khan and Asin in lead roles. Besides, the film also stars Paresh Rawal, Mahesh Manjrekar and Sudesh Lahiri.


    Avers T -Series head honcho Bhushan Kumar, “The schedule of Ready is moving smoothly and it‘s been great fun working with Salman. We share a great friendship not to mention a fantastic working equation. It‘s overwhelming to see his commitment towards the movie. He is a thorough professional and is always there with interesting inputs wherever need be.”


    Ready is a remake of a Telugu film of the same name made in 2008. The original starring Ram and Genelia was directed by Srinu Vytla.


    According to Kumar, his film has just the right ingredients that would have audiences asking for more. The film has lots of humour, there are 2-3 action sequences which Salman fans will love and there are a lot of dramatic sequences, he adds.
     

  • Warner Bros Intl. in two pacts in the Nordic

    MUMBAI: Warner Bros. International has struck two new partnerships in the Nordic region. Firstly, it has pacted with Fox International in Sweden and also with Svensk Filmindustri in Norway, Denmark and Finland to distribute its slate of films.


    The deal was announced by Warner Bros. International‘s executive vp Europe and Latin America distribution Monique Esclavissat. The deal comes in the wake of the reorganization of Sandrew Mentronome, Warners‘ longtime licensee in those territories.


    “With so many viable contenders, this was not an easy decision for Warner Bros. International, but we feel we have chosen the best home for our product in each specific market,” Esclavissat said. “We are looking forward to a fruitful ongoing relationship with Fox and build a new mutually rewarding venture with SF,” she added.

  • Ten Europeans for Shooting Stars at Berlin Fest

    MUMBAI: Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson (True Grit), Germany‘s Alexander Fehling (Goethe), Pilou Asb?k (R) of Denmark and English actress Andrea Riseborough (Brighton Rock) are among the 10 young actors picked to be Europe‘s Shooting Stars at the Berlin International Film Festival next year.


    Others tipped to be the next big thing are Spain‘s Clara Lago (Bunker), Nik Xhelilaj (the Albanian in The Albanian), Croatian actress Marija Skaricic (Mother of Asphalt), Sylvia Hoeks, star of Dutch Oscar-contender Tirza, Swedish actress Alicia Vikander (Pure) and Macedonia‘s Natasha Petrovic (As If I Am Not There).


    The ten some actors would be for producers and agents to be picked for their films at the 2011 Berlin Film Festival that runs from 10 to 20 February next year.


    Earlier the event has been an international launch pad for European acting talents like Carey Mulligan, David Kross and Mélanie Laurent.
     

  • Fardeen Khan to revive father’s production banner

    MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Fardeen Khan is mulling with the idea of reviving his father Feroz Khan‘s production banner F. K. International.


    Once, he‘s done with the re-launch, Khan is planning to remake some of his father‘s films of which Qurbani would be one. He is currently going through scripts that he would probably turn into films from the F.K. international stable.


    Going by a not-so-good career in acting so far, Khan is not taking up any new films. But he is completing Boney Kapoor‘s sequel to No Entry titled Be Positive.


    F.K. International has produced films like Dharmatma, Jaambaaz and Dayaavan amongst others.
     

  • AR Rahman gets nominated for Golden Globe Award

    MUMBAI: Music Maestro AR Rahman has been nominated for the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards, which were announced last evening. He is nominated in the Best Music category for Danny Boyle‘s 127 Hours.


    127 Hours also bagged nominations for Best Actor (Drama) and Best Screenplay.


    After the success of Slumdog Millionaire, Boyle had once again teamed up with Fox Searchlight Pictures, producer Christian Colson, writer Simon Beaufoy and Rahman for the action drama starring James Franco.


    The film is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston‘s (played by Franco) adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah.


    Over the next five days Ralston examines his life and survives the elements to finally discover he has the courage and the wherewithal to extricate himself by any means necessary, scale a 65 foot wall and hike over eight miles before he is finally rescued.


    Throughout his journey, Ralston recalls friends, lovers (Clemence Poesy), family, and the two hikers (Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara) he met before his accident; wondering if they will be the last two people he ever had the chance to meet.


    127 Hours is slated for release in India in January 2011 by Fox Star India.


    Fox Star Studios India CEO Vijay Singh said, “AR Rahman being nominated once again for his brilliant music score in the film makes it very special for every Indian. We are looking forward to the January release and believe that the Indian audiences will appreciate this film just like Slumdog Millionaire.
     

  • True Cinema signs 3-year deal with Hollywood studio

    MUMBAI: Film production company True Cinema has signed a three-year deal for five films, with Hollywood-based studio Black Satellite and their production wing Media Distribution Partners.


    The films include Indian Autumn, Amrit Kumbh, Gora, Devi and Legend Of Rafailov.


    Amid reports, Hollywood stars Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore are to visit India in January to announce the tie-up with True Cinema.


    Meanwhile, True Cinema has also signed Mithun Chakraborty to star opposite Michael Caine in Indian Autumn. Apart from Chakraborty, the film will also see Indian stars like Moushmi Chatterjee and Soumitra Chatterjee.


    Says True Cinema head honcho Sudipto Sen, “Diaz and the entire Hollywood team will be visiting important Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Haridwar in January to formally announce the first ever Hollywood-Bollywood long term joint venture.”


    The film, directed by Sen will be shot in Los Angeles from March next year.
    Reports say that Russell Crowe will feature in Amrit Kumbh and will join the other celebrities in India later.

  • Whistling Woods signs MoU with National Institute of Film, Argentina

    MUMBAI: The film, television, animation and media arts institute, Whistling Woods International (WWI), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Institute of Film and Media Arts, Buenos Aires (INCAA).


    The MoU will allow both WWI and INCAA in assisting each other in the dissemination of films of both the countries as well as developing programmes, projects and tasks together to encourage co-production between the two countries and the enrichment of student filmmakers from both the nations.


    The agreement aims at bringing together two cultures that share a passion for film-making, WWI said in a statement. This exchange will not only bring worldwide recognition and global exposure but also aid students of both countries to evaluate and reflect on the cultural realities, differences and limitations which inhibit today‘s filmmakers, it said.


    By providing tools for dialogue and democratic participation, WWI and INCAA aspire to promote critical thinking and skills that can be used to create spaces for expression and exchange of ideas.


    INCAA GM Romulo Nestor Pullol said, “We aim to reach all places of the Argentine territory where there is room to work around our films through screenings, film discussions, recreation, among others. This alliance with Whistling Woods International will provide our students with a world-class experience of how meaningful cinema can be created with the right guidance and excellent.


    WWI dean John J Lee Jr added, “We at Whistling Woods International constantly endeavour to associate ourselves with world-renowned film institutes so that our students are not only exposed to global standards of filmmaking but also get an opportunity to exhibit their talent on an international platform.


    “We are honored with this alliance as INCAA arguably has a competitive advantage in segments within creative industries, notably screen production and post-production, and enjoys a growing recognition across a number of various arenas.”