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Tag: Mukesh Bhatt

  • Filmfare spotlights Gujarat’s cinematic potential!

    Filmfare spotlights Gujarat’s cinematic potential!

    Mumbai: For over seven decades, Filmfare has been chronicling remarkable accomplishments and milestones of the Indian Film Industry. The platform continues to lead the way in honouring cinematic and artistic brilliance. For the 69th edition of the Filmfare Awards, which is scheduled to be held on January 2024, Filmfare takes the celebrations to the Vibrant State of Gujarat. One of the core objectives of this partnership seeks to establish Gujarat as a global centre for tourism, investment, and a thriving hub for cinematic production.

    The inaugural Filmmakers’ Round Table took place at the Taj Lands End in Mumbai on 11 October where the event served as a significant precursor to the Filmfare awards. Spearheaded by The Times Group managing director Vineet Jain, Filmfare played a pivotal role in fostering the growth of the Indian film industry. It achieved this by convening a distinguished panel of attendees.

    Leading this high-profile gathering was the Gujarat chief minister Bhupendrabhai Patel, who headed a high-powered delegation from the Gujarat Government. Accompanying him was the Tourism of Gujarat minister Mulubhai Bera, as well as other key policy makers and officials from the Government of Gujarat.

    The film & entertainment industry was well-represented, with prolific filmmakers such as Imtiaz Ali, Aanand L. Rai, Boney Kapoor, Om Raut, Mukesh Bhatt, R. Balki, Jayantilal Gada, Nitesh Tiwari, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Nikkhil Advani, Ramesh Taurani, Madhur Bhandarkar, Apoorva Mehta, Raj & DK, Harshavardhan Kulkarni, Venky Mysore, Aparna Purohit, Anand Pandit in attendance, among others. The session was deftly moderated by the actor Kubbra Sait, who skillfully guided in-depth discussions that shed light on Gujarat’s comprehensive support systems for filmmakers.

    The Round Table event underscored Gujarat’s unwavering commitment to becoming the ultimate destination for filmmaking and film production. This commitment is substantiated by their world-class infrastructure, enticing incentives, and a comprehensive cinematic policy.

    Patel commented, “Our collaboration with Filmfare signifies Gujarat’s vision to be at the forefront of cinematic excellence, and this Round Table is a significant milestone towards achieving that goal. We are committed to providing the necessary infrastructure, incentives, and support to ensure that Gujarat becomes a preferred destination for filmmakers from across the world.”

    Tourism of Gujarat minister Mulubhai Bera said, “Gujarat’s rich cultural heritage and diverse landscapes have always been a source of inspiration for filmmakers. We are excited to partner with Filmfare to promote Gujarat as a thriving hub for cinematic productions. With a welcoming atmosphere, breath-taking locations, and robust support systems, Gujarat offers filmmakers a unique canvas to bring their artistic visions to life.”

    Jain commented, ” The Government of Gujarat has been unwavering in its dedication to offer filmmakers the necessary support, infrastructure, and policies. We are proud to be a facilitator in bringing together the entertainment industry and a canvas like Gujarat for painting their stories on.”

  • Amazon Prime plans to add more originals & evaluating regional content

    MUMBAI: Amazon Prime is loading its platform with worthwhile content with each passing month and week. It is moving swiftly on having original as well as acquiring aggregated content. Now, it has plans to add more originals, and is also looking at having regional content. Amazon has content deals with Mukesh Bhatt’s Vishesh Films, Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, and Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series for their existing and upcoming films.

    In India, apart from reportedly being in the neck-and-neck IPL race as it aims to bring exclusive cricket content to its viewers, it has recently signed up deals with superstar Salman Khan, reputed filmmakers — Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani. Amazon Prime Video announced a first-of-its-kind, worldwide exclusive content deal with Salman Khan Ventures which made Amazon the exclusive streaming home of future titles of Khan commencing with the recently released Tubelight.

    Amazon Prime Videos has said that it would roll out three more original series by the end of 2017 calendar year. The move comes as its first India-produced series has found a favourable global audience. Amazon Prime director & country head Nitesh Kripalani told BusinessLine that they were looking to create content which could also be taken to the global market. Original content would be the key differentiator, he added.

    The OTT arm of Amazon has also partnered with around 50 content creators and production houses to enhance its offerings including Excel Media, Phantom Films (Stardust), Big Synergy (Vishpuri) and AIB.

    Original content is a plan that Amazon follows in the global market. It streams series such as You are wanted in Germany, Hitoshi Matsumoto for Japan, and The Man in the High Castle in the US.

    Kripalani said that the company was evaluating regional content. India was like many countries within a country where stories were quite different region-wise. The company was looking at the regional market. he added.

    Prime Video head of content – Asia Pacific James Farrell has said that India was a top priority market for Amazon and they believed that the love India has for films, the passion, the energy and the talent of India needed to be on a worldwide stage for the global audience. Kripalani is on threshold of unleashing the streaming service’s first Indian original — Inside Edge, with, voila, all of only 10 episodes on 10 July across 240 countries. 

    Also Read:

    Amazon India head Nitesh Kripalani’s amazing growth recipe

    ALTBalaji now available on Amazon’s Fire TV stick globally

    Eros Now available with free Amazon Fire TV subs

  • Begum Jaan…..A rebel without a cause!

    MUMBAI: The last memorable film on a brothel and prostitutes was Shyam Benegal’s Mandi. The theme was that wherever there are people, a brothel is bound to spring up and, otherwise, wherever a brothel comes up, a town is bound to come up.

    Begum Jaan is the remake of the Bengali language film, Rajkahini (2015). The closeness one can find between the two is about the women in the oldest profession fighting for survival.

    Actually, if one were to make a comparison as the women in the brothel, led by its
    founder, the character of Vidya Balan, resolve to stand their ground and fight out the battle of survival, it is with Ketan Mehta’s all-time classic, Mirch Masala, though it was not about prostitution. It was about saving a woman’s honour and, hence, the cause was justified.

    Begum Jaan is based around time when India was partitioned — India and Pakistan.

    Vidya Balan, a child widow, is disowned by her in-laws. Going through exploitation and hurdles, she ends up in prostitution. Being a strong-willed woman, she would do even that on her own terms. Her clientele includes big shots, influential people, even a king and some white men and officers who seek favours gratis. Ergo, Vidya wields great influence.

    Vidya has 11 women in her brothel, one old lady, Ila Arun, and a pre-teen girl, Gracy Goswami, a love child of one of her ‘girls’, Gauhar Khan. Vidya’s vast brothel, spread across a few acres, serves as a sort of shelter for women in distress who, eventually, join her trade. Socially ostracised, the brothels made their place away from towns.

    The girls live in bonhomie, they come from across India: Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab et al (how women from all over reached there in those days of great distances and limited transportation facilities is not answered). Maybe the idea is to make the brothel a representative of India: Unity in diversity!

    The place also has a Pathan sentry, played by Sumit Nijhawan, accompanied by his two ferocious looking dogs, all three totally loyal to Vidya.

    The going is good for Vidya and her girls till the powers that be decide to divide India into two countries, India and Pakistan. Here the film takes inspiration from various Partition stories written by the legendary writers, the likes of Saadat Hasan Manto. These are stories of unsuspecting bystanders, the kinds who unwittingly fell prey to the partition lines drawn by — Sir Cyril Radcliffe, the man in charge of The Border Commission, to divide the country.

    This is when the trouble starts for Vidya and her brothel. Her brothel falls right on the dividing line and to create the border and to separate two nations, it has to make way. Its very existence is in danger.

    The two men deputed to oversee the implementing of the division and build a barbed wire fence are the characters of Ashish Vidyarthi, a Hindu, representing India, and Rajit Kapoor, a Muslim, on behalf of the newly-formed Pakistan. That both are childhood friends but on different sides, is meant to add to the anxiety. Sadly, after creating a sort of ‘partition’ between both of them, their equation has been put on the back burner, except to show at the end that, both remain humane with their feelings intact to a wrongdoing.

    Both, Ashish and Rajit are at their wits’ end trying to make Vidya vacate her brothel when they approach a goon, played by Chunky Pandey and, as it is known in today’s world, give Vidya’s supari (a contract to get her out by any means).

    The film, which had started deteriorating gradually before interval, drops to its lowest hereafter. The very idea of introducing Chunky, his getup, his manners, take the film down. Towards the end, it swings between morbid and macabre.

    The scripting tries to incorporate too many angles. The main ones being a brothel at peril, two friends, now belonging to opposite sides, trying to fulfil a task entrusted to them, and the disaster they create when they involve a third party. But, the writers cram in many other side stories; that of a young girl child born at the brothel, a lusty teacher and his treachery, a love story between a pimp and a prostitute and so on.

    The idea may be to show the human side of those concerned, good or bad. The narration strays too often with the extra tracks and the pace drops.

    The direction is not really up to the mark. The idea of creating little India in the brothel is bad; as the women in the brothel converse in their native languages, be is Punjabi or Gujarati, none gets the language right, they make a mess of it. That after the film propagates all through that prostitution has no religion or regional identity! The women shooting randomly at the enemies! What are they shooting at, the brothel courtyard walls? Music is not as it should be for a kotha/brothel setup. Most such film in the past have set high standards. Cinematography is of standard. Dialogue is good though oft heard before. Editing, as in all such films where the director loves all that he has shot, is weak. A lot could be trimmed.

    Performances by all concerned are excellent starting with Vidya Balan leading the band. Other women are good but those who stand out are — Gauhar Khan, Pallavi Sharda, Indrani Chakraborty and Gracy Goswami. Ashish Vidyarthi and Rajit Kapoor are okay.

    Pitobash Tripathy impresses. Naseeruddin Shah has no scope. Chunky Pandey is pathetic. Rajesh Sharma is good as usual. Sumit Nijhawan makes a mark but Vivek Mushran is passable.

    Begum Jaan is a purposeless film. Having opened poorly despite a national holiday today, its prospects for improvement are suspect.

    Producers: Mahesh Bhatt, Mukesh Bhatt.

    Director: Srijit Mukherji.

    Cast: Vidya Balan, Ila Arun, Gauahar Khan, Pallavi Sharda, Priyanka Setia, Ridheema Tiwary, Flora Saini, Raviza Chauhan, Poonam Rajput,Indrani Chakraborty, Gracy Goswami, Pitobash Tripathy, Sumit Nijhawan, Ashish Vidyarthi, Chunky Pandey, Rajit Kapoor, Vivek Mushran, Rajesh Sharma, Naseeruddin Shah.

  • India against obstructing Fawad film; Maharashtra assures ‘protection’

    India against obstructing Fawad film; Maharashtra assures ‘protection’

    NEW DELHI: Even as PEMRA’s ban on Indian content looms, the Indian Government has made it clear that it will not create any impediment for the release of producer-director Karan Johar’s ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ starring popular Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, among others.

    It is just a matter of a few hours when the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (Pemra’s) order issued on 19 October banning all Indian content on Pakistan media will come into force.

    PEMRA’s order is directed at all FM radio licence holders, landing right holders, and satellite television channels operating in Pakistan. The authority has threatened defaulters with punitive legal action.

    But, India’s home minister Rajnath Singh has assured smooth release of Fawad Khan-starring movie in India while talking to film producer Mukesh Bhatt who is also the president of the Film and TV Producers Guild of India.

    After the meeting with the minister in Delhi, Bhatt said, “Rajnathji said he will speak to the chief minister of every state, and assured that ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ will release without any violence or issue.”

    The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), a breakaway faction of the regional saffron brigade, had earlier said they would not allow release of any film featuring Pakistani artistes.

    The Indian Guild had subsequently passed a resolution asking the Government to ensure that films that were either ready for release or were under production and featured Pakistani artistes should be allowed.

    Bhatt and Apoorva Mehta from Johar’s Dharma Productions had met the minister in Delhi to discuss the smooth release of the upcoming film. To a question about a ban of Indian films in Pakistan, Bhatt told newspersons that it did not make any difference to India since most Indian films shown in Pakistan were pirated.

    Johar had earlier appealed against stalling the release, saying he would not engage with talent from Pakistan in future.

    MNS continued their protests as the party rejected Johar’s statement that he will not “engage with talent” from Pakistan in future.

    The Maharashtra government has, however, assured protection to cinemas where the film will be screened from Diwali weekend.

  • India against obstructing Fawad film; Maharashtra assures ‘protection’

    India against obstructing Fawad film; Maharashtra assures ‘protection’

    NEW DELHI: Even as PEMRA’s ban on Indian content looms, the Indian Government has made it clear that it will not create any impediment for the release of producer-director Karan Johar’s ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ starring popular Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, among others.

    It is just a matter of a few hours when the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (Pemra’s) order issued on 19 October banning all Indian content on Pakistan media will come into force.

    PEMRA’s order is directed at all FM radio licence holders, landing right holders, and satellite television channels operating in Pakistan. The authority has threatened defaulters with punitive legal action.

    But, India’s home minister Rajnath Singh has assured smooth release of Fawad Khan-starring movie in India while talking to film producer Mukesh Bhatt who is also the president of the Film and TV Producers Guild of India.

    After the meeting with the minister in Delhi, Bhatt said, “Rajnathji said he will speak to the chief minister of every state, and assured that ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ will release without any violence or issue.”

    The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), a breakaway faction of the regional saffron brigade, had earlier said they would not allow release of any film featuring Pakistani artistes.

    The Indian Guild had subsequently passed a resolution asking the Government to ensure that films that were either ready for release or were under production and featured Pakistani artistes should be allowed.

    Bhatt and Apoorva Mehta from Johar’s Dharma Productions had met the minister in Delhi to discuss the smooth release of the upcoming film. To a question about a ban of Indian films in Pakistan, Bhatt told newspersons that it did not make any difference to India since most Indian films shown in Pakistan were pirated.

    Johar had earlier appealed against stalling the release, saying he would not engage with talent from Pakistan in future.

    MNS continued their protests as the party rejected Johar’s statement that he will not “engage with talent” from Pakistan in future.

    The Maharashtra government has, however, assured protection to cinemas where the film will be screened from Diwali weekend.

  • Bollywood supports Govt’s Pak policy; pleads for ongoing projects

    Bollywood supports Govt’s Pak policy; pleads for ongoing projects

    NEW DELHI: The Film & Television Producers Guild of India Ltd today expressed “genuine concern of all those film producers who have invested heavily in films featuring artistes from across the border.”

    Even as it expressed unflinching support to the Central Government and solidarity with the Armed Forces on their supreme sacrifice at Uri during the recent counter-terrorism operations, it noted there had been some discourse in the media recently with regard to certain threats to disrupt the release of these movies.

    The Guild, which represents most of the active Hindi film producers, said there were many producers who had either already shot their films or were in the process of completing their unfinished films prior to the escalation of hostilities with Pakistan, including Karan Johar’s soon to be released film ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ which has also been certified by the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC).

    Similarly, there are many other films which are scheduled to be released in months ahead including ‘Dear Zindagi’ and ‘Raees’ which also feature artistes from across the border.

    Guild President Mukesh Bhatt said, “The Guild in no uncertain terms confirms that the film industry stands in unison with the Government’s recent steps to counter terrorism and will naturally abide by decision with regard to government’s policy on issuance of work visa to foreign artistes. We would however urge the government to appreciate that the film producers who have already shot their films or are in the process of completing their unfinished films should not end up paying heavy price for no fault of theirs.”

    He further added: “The Central Government has taken several steps in the past to foster cultural exchanges by inviting industry representatives to participate in the Government’s efforts to improve our relationship with Pakistan”.

    Meanwhile, the Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India President Nitin Datar has requested all theatres to ban Karan Johar’s film which stars Pak actor Fawad Khan, who was also seen in ‘Kapoor and Sons’ and earlier in ‘Khoobsoorat’ opposite Sonam Kapoor .

  • Bollywood supports Govt’s Pak policy; pleads for ongoing projects

    Bollywood supports Govt’s Pak policy; pleads for ongoing projects

    NEW DELHI: The Film & Television Producers Guild of India Ltd today expressed “genuine concern of all those film producers who have invested heavily in films featuring artistes from across the border.”

    Even as it expressed unflinching support to the Central Government and solidarity with the Armed Forces on their supreme sacrifice at Uri during the recent counter-terrorism operations, it noted there had been some discourse in the media recently with regard to certain threats to disrupt the release of these movies.

    The Guild, which represents most of the active Hindi film producers, said there were many producers who had either already shot their films or were in the process of completing their unfinished films prior to the escalation of hostilities with Pakistan, including Karan Johar’s soon to be released film ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ which has also been certified by the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC).

    Similarly, there are many other films which are scheduled to be released in months ahead including ‘Dear Zindagi’ and ‘Raees’ which also feature artistes from across the border.

    Guild President Mukesh Bhatt said, “The Guild in no uncertain terms confirms that the film industry stands in unison with the Government’s recent steps to counter terrorism and will naturally abide by decision with regard to government’s policy on issuance of work visa to foreign artistes. We would however urge the government to appreciate that the film producers who have already shot their films or are in the process of completing their unfinished films should not end up paying heavy price for no fault of theirs.”

    He further added: “The Central Government has taken several steps in the past to foster cultural exchanges by inviting industry representatives to participate in the Government’s efforts to improve our relationship with Pakistan”.

    Meanwhile, the Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India President Nitin Datar has requested all theatres to ban Karan Johar’s film which stars Pak actor Fawad Khan, who was also seen in ‘Kapoor and Sons’ and earlier in ‘Khoobsoorat’ opposite Sonam Kapoor .

  • Love Games….Viewers wont play!

    Love Games….Viewers wont play!

    In Indian cinema, films with sex based themes have been made for a long time now but were initially branded as C grade. Initially, they made their inroads into Hindi cinema as dubbed films with Malayalam films having explicit sex themes dubbed in Hindi. And since their main audience was in the small towns in the interiors, interpolation of footage from porn films was a much used practice. Such films found their target audience mainly during night shows.

    But with the interior theatres mostly demolished and the multiplex culture having taken over, sex oriented films are made in the guise of high society comedies or life behind the scenes. Some finesse and glamour quotient is added and Bhatt camp has a knack for making such themes.

    Films have grown from swapping car keys or room keys to swapping wives. ‘Love Games’ has a similar theme. Except that the protagonists are not spouses.

    Patralekha is young and recently widowed. But she is a nymphomaniac and needs sex regularly. This she finds in her bedmate Gaurav Arora, the son of a wealthy tycoon with a shaky life. Things appear fine but Patralekha is arrogant and lusty. So for her, Gaurav is useful only to fulfill her sexual urge. However, the two decide to seek some adventure.

     They decide to play a game which they call Love Games. The idea is to target married couples with the aim of scoring with both of them: Patralekha with the husband and  Gaurav with the wife. Whoever scores first will be the winner while the loser will source the supply of drugs for a week.

    In the process of playing this game, Gaurav finds love in Tara Alish Berry, a doctor married to criminal lawyer HitenTejwani. The feelings are mutual between the two as Gaurav is a lonely introvert soul while Tara suffers from an abusive husband. Gaurav does not need to play love games now. This is something Patralekha is not ready to accept. But she is not giving up yet and decides to plan one last love game involving all four of them.

    Expectedly, the film has enough lovemaking scenes. However, the story does not deliver a surprise though that would be expected from the filmmakers. The direction has nothing to write home about. Editing needed to be slicker. Dialogue is mundane. Cinematography is good. Musically, a couple of songs sound good. As for acting, all the four main actors seem enthusiastic but the only one who manages to do perform well is Tara.

    Love Games lacks face value and poor opening response. Bad reports will only add to its box office prospects.

    Producers: Mahesh Bhatt, Mukesh Bhatt.

    Director: Vikram Bhatt.

    Cast: Gaurav Arora, Patralekha, Tara Alish Berry, HitenTejwani.
     
    Club Dancer…Poor fare.

    Club Dancer, the film, involves the name from a name from the renowned film industry family, the Mukherji clan. However, the film looks like an exercise to launch the female lead Nisha Mavani since right from the title to the extensive footage, everything is focused on her. As far as the story goes, the film offers nothing that has not been seen before in films like Satte Pe Satta (1982), Jhutha Sach (1984) et al.  

    Nisha is a night club dancer in Mumbai whose parents Shakti Kapoor and Zarina Wahab live in Punjab. Not wanting to shock her parents by telling them what she does, she has lied to them that she is happily married and working. But her lie lands her in trouble as Kapoor has a heart attack and plans to arrive in Mumbai for further treatment.

    Not wanting her neighbours to talk, she borrows her boss’ bungalow to present it to her parents as her own house. There is a bit of another film here – B R Chopra’s Ittefaq (1969) – as dangerous contract killer Rajbeer Singh walks into her house after killing the local chief minister with the police chasing him. He forces her to provide him shelter at gunpoint. She has no alternative as Singh is a gangster with a violent temper.

    When Singh seeks shelter for a period till things cool down, she makes a deal with him: he would act as her husband while her parents are around. That done, the film’s pace slows and it meanders till interval when Singh is seen being shot by the ACP, something Nisha does not know.
    NIsha is now a worried woman – with Kapoor’s bypass surgery on the anvil and his ‘son in law’ absent. However, she need not have worried at all since the scriptwriters can always visit the archives, borrow some characters from the past. So, another Singh lookalike emerges from nowhere. While the earlier one sported a beard and an uncouth long hair, this one has none of that and is rather suave.
    Nisha fallsin love with the new Singh but he is indifferent. He goes back to Goa where he came from: but most such films have a happy ending.

    Borrowing from ideas from films of the 1980s is fine but slaughter their value instead of improving upon them is sacrilege. Scripting is unimaginative. Direction is purely amateurish. Dialogues are pedestrian and the musical score is out of sync. Nisha’s acting is copybook and tutored, Singh has presence but no acting and, what is worse, he tries to be a Sunjay Dutt clone. Zarina is okay but casting Kapoor is a joke.

    The others overact in an effort to be noticed.

    Club Dancer has been released at limited screens but offers no hope.

    Producer: Shubir Mukerji.
    Director: B Prasad.
    Cast: Nisha Mavani, Rajbeer Singh, Shakti Kapoor, Zarina Wahab.

  • Love Games….Viewers wont play!

    Love Games….Viewers wont play!

    In Indian cinema, films with sex based themes have been made for a long time now but were initially branded as C grade. Initially, they made their inroads into Hindi cinema as dubbed films with Malayalam films having explicit sex themes dubbed in Hindi. And since their main audience was in the small towns in the interiors, interpolation of footage from porn films was a much used practice. Such films found their target audience mainly during night shows.

    But with the interior theatres mostly demolished and the multiplex culture having taken over, sex oriented films are made in the guise of high society comedies or life behind the scenes. Some finesse and glamour quotient is added and Bhatt camp has a knack for making such themes.

    Films have grown from swapping car keys or room keys to swapping wives. ‘Love Games’ has a similar theme. Except that the protagonists are not spouses.

    Patralekha is young and recently widowed. But she is a nymphomaniac and needs sex regularly. This she finds in her bedmate Gaurav Arora, the son of a wealthy tycoon with a shaky life. Things appear fine but Patralekha is arrogant and lusty. So for her, Gaurav is useful only to fulfill her sexual urge. However, the two decide to seek some adventure.

     They decide to play a game which they call Love Games. The idea is to target married couples with the aim of scoring with both of them: Patralekha with the husband and  Gaurav with the wife. Whoever scores first will be the winner while the loser will source the supply of drugs for a week.

    In the process of playing this game, Gaurav finds love in Tara Alish Berry, a doctor married to criminal lawyer HitenTejwani. The feelings are mutual between the two as Gaurav is a lonely introvert soul while Tara suffers from an abusive husband. Gaurav does not need to play love games now. This is something Patralekha is not ready to accept. But she is not giving up yet and decides to plan one last love game involving all four of them.

    Expectedly, the film has enough lovemaking scenes. However, the story does not deliver a surprise though that would be expected from the filmmakers. The direction has nothing to write home about. Editing needed to be slicker. Dialogue is mundane. Cinematography is good. Musically, a couple of songs sound good. As for acting, all the four main actors seem enthusiastic but the only one who manages to do perform well is Tara.

    Love Games lacks face value and poor opening response. Bad reports will only add to its box office prospects.

    Producers: Mahesh Bhatt, Mukesh Bhatt.

    Director: Vikram Bhatt.

    Cast: Gaurav Arora, Patralekha, Tara Alish Berry, HitenTejwani.
     
    Club Dancer…Poor fare.

    Club Dancer, the film, involves the name from a name from the renowned film industry family, the Mukherji clan. However, the film looks like an exercise to launch the female lead Nisha Mavani since right from the title to the extensive footage, everything is focused on her. As far as the story goes, the film offers nothing that has not been seen before in films like Satte Pe Satta (1982), Jhutha Sach (1984) et al.  

    Nisha is a night club dancer in Mumbai whose parents Shakti Kapoor and Zarina Wahab live in Punjab. Not wanting to shock her parents by telling them what she does, she has lied to them that she is happily married and working. But her lie lands her in trouble as Kapoor has a heart attack and plans to arrive in Mumbai for further treatment.

    Not wanting her neighbours to talk, she borrows her boss’ bungalow to present it to her parents as her own house. There is a bit of another film here – B R Chopra’s Ittefaq (1969) – as dangerous contract killer Rajbeer Singh walks into her house after killing the local chief minister with the police chasing him. He forces her to provide him shelter at gunpoint. She has no alternative as Singh is a gangster with a violent temper.

    When Singh seeks shelter for a period till things cool down, she makes a deal with him: he would act as her husband while her parents are around. That done, the film’s pace slows and it meanders till interval when Singh is seen being shot by the ACP, something Nisha does not know.
    NIsha is now a worried woman – with Kapoor’s bypass surgery on the anvil and his ‘son in law’ absent. However, she need not have worried at all since the scriptwriters can always visit the archives, borrow some characters from the past. So, another Singh lookalike emerges from nowhere. While the earlier one sported a beard and an uncouth long hair, this one has none of that and is rather suave.
    Nisha fallsin love with the new Singh but he is indifferent. He goes back to Goa where he came from: but most such films have a happy ending.

    Borrowing from ideas from films of the 1980s is fine but slaughter their value instead of improving upon them is sacrilege. Scripting is unimaginative. Direction is purely amateurish. Dialogues are pedestrian and the musical score is out of sync. Nisha’s acting is copybook and tutored, Singh has presence but no acting and, what is worse, he tries to be a Sunjay Dutt clone. Zarina is okay but casting Kapoor is a joke.

    The others overact in an effort to be noticed.

    Club Dancer has been released at limited screens but offers no hope.

    Producer: Shubir Mukerji.
    Director: B Prasad.
    Cast: Nisha Mavani, Rajbeer Singh, Shakti Kapoor, Zarina Wahab.

  • The Film & Television Producers Guild of India announces 11 edition of the Renault Sony Guild Film Awards

    The Film & Television Producers Guild of India announces 11 edition of the Renault Sony Guild Film Awards

    MUMBAI: The Film and Television Producers Guild of India has announced the 11 edition of the Renault Sony Guild Film Awards. The Guild constitutes of the most influential luminaries in cinema who select winners, making it one of the most credible and much revered accolades. The extravaganza will unfold with New Year Celebrations in January and will be broadcast exclusively on Sony Entertainment Television.

     

    Bollywood superstars Akshay Kumar, Priyanka Chopra, Shahid Kapoor, Ayushmann Khuranna, Kriti Sanon and Sonakshi Sinha feature among other star performers who will set the stage on fire with one incredible act after another. After a successful hosting stint last year, television’s superstar comedian Kapil Sharma will don the host’s hat once again and entertain audiences with his unbeatable comic timing.

     

    Renault India Operations Country Managing Director & CEO Sumit Sawhney said, “Renault India is yet again happy to work together with Guild’s 11th edition. This is our fourth year and we are elated to celebrate the achievements of distinct personalities of Indian Cinema who are driven by a commitment towards passion and excellence. Renault, the most awarded automaker in recent times, understands what it takes to win the hearts of people and also win accolades from a proficient jury. As we have always believed, both the Guild and Renault lay special emphasis on Driving the Change and are therefore a perfect fit with each other”

     

    The president of the Film & Television Producers Guild of India Producer and producer Mukesh Bhatt said “It is a pleasure to be an integral part of the Guild and play a role in honouring the best talent of Indian cinema. Over the years we have strived and maintained the highest standards in selecting amongst the best of the best and this time too we are confident the Guild Awards will celebrate the sheer excellence of Indian films”

     

    Talking about the awards, Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt. Ltd. CEO N.P Singh said, “We are pleased to host the prestigious Renault Sony Guild Awards, the official awards of the Film industry. The award winners are selected by the industry Guild – making it truly democratic, credible and honours achievers across different film disciplines. Sony Entertainment Television promises to make the ceremony a power-packed blockbuster night of celebration with exuberant acts & performances.”

     

    Actor Akshay Kumar commented on the occasion, “As a member of this hard working industry, the Guild awards are extremely auspicious to receive for any artist or film professional. With eminent members of our Indian film fraternity forming the Guild, the awards like every year are presented to brilliant work & outstanding achievements, it is a great honour to be nominated for the Guild Awards & now after completing 25 adventurous years in this industry, I will be taking you all down memory lane with my own energy to add to this wonderful night, by putting my best foot forward & performing my heart out to you all, hope you enjoy”

     

    TV Host and Comedian Kapil Sharma said “Guild Awards see the fraternity members honouring excellence in their very own industry. I had a great experience hosting for the Guild awards and it is a delight to entertain and interact with these great film personalities. This time too we have planned interesting acts and I am confident my hosting stint this year will be bigger success.”

     

    Speaking on the occasion, Wizcraft International Founder-Director Sabbas Joseph said, “It is a momentous occasion, each year, to see all of those in the industry who have worked so hard be rewarded for their skill and talent with which they create magic on-screen. This year’s Guild celebrations will be spectacular considering the incredible line-up of performances and the talent that will be celebrated at the ceremony.”

     

    Instituted to celebrate exceptional achievements in Indian Cinema, the film fraternity will congregate, once again this year, to celebrate and honour the best contributions and accomplishments in the industry and to celebrate their work in the previous year. The Sony Guild Awards honour excellence in the creative as well as technical categories. Conceptualized, produced, marketed and promoted by Wizcraft International Entertainment, the Awards will bring together the most celebrated stars of Indian Television and Cinema on one spectacularly star-studded stage.

     

    Conceptualized, produced, marketed and promoted by Wizcraft International Entertainment, the Awards will bring together the most celebrated stars of Indian Television and Cinema on one spectacularly star-studded stage.

     

    It is the only Award that does not allow the general public to be part of the voting process in keeping with its policy of ‘By the Industry, For the Industry’. The Guild consists of over 160 members, who constitute some of the most powerful and influential luminaries in its sector. The winners of the Awards are chosen by the Guild’s members, making it one of the most credible and much revered accolades.