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Tag: Mumbai

  • 47% tax rebate to film productions in Fiji

    47% tax rebate to film productions in Fiji

    MUMBAI: Fiji government has decided to offer 47 per cent tax rebate to film productions happening in the country.


    “We are planning to meet some of the producers in Bollywood shortly during this trip to promote film tourism in Fiji,” said Fiji minister for tourism, civil aviation, industry and trade Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.


    The announcement comes in the wake of a decision by Fiji Tourism to target Bollywood to promote tourism products and destinations in the country. Though a few Indian films have already been shot in Fiji, the tourism department is further trying to attract more and more film producers from India to shoot their films in the country.


    Speaking about Fiji as a tourism destination, the Minister said that it is a unique tourist destination in the South Pacific region with it offering wide variety of tourism products for Indians.


    Fiji Tourism is currently conducting road shows in four cities–New Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Mumbai. “The main focus of the show is to highlight the diverse tourism products and destinations in Fiji as well as to educate the Indian travel trade about Fiji‘s offerings,” shared Fiji tourism director – global destinations – India representative Pranav Kapadia.

  • Noted lyricist Shahryar passes away

    Noted lyricist Shahryar passes away

    MUMBAI: Lyricist Shahryar, known for having immortalised himself with songs like ‘Dil cheez kya hai aap meri jaan lijiye‘, ‘In aakhon ki masti ke mastaane hazaron hain‘ from Umrao Jaan, passed away on Monday after battling lung cancer. He leaves behind three children, two sons and a daughter.

    Shahryar had received India‘s highest literary award, the Jnanpith Award in 2008. The 75-year-old poet was known to have written heart touching lyrics for all of Muzaffar Ali‘s films like Umra Jaan, Gaman and Anjuman.

    Talking about the passing away of Shahryar, Farooque Shaikh, said, “This is a big loss to the world of Urdu literature. Shahryar Sahab wrote the lyrics for four of my films, Gaman, Umrao Jaan, Anjuman and Faasle and each of them was a masterpiece. I met him several times during the 1980s and more recently at his son‘s residence in Mira Road when he came over to Mumbai for cancer treatment.‘‘

    Born on 16 June 1936 in village Anwalla in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, Shahryar received his early education at Bulandshahr and then studied at Aligarh Muslim University. He was appointed as a lecturer in Urdu at Aligarh Muslim University in 1986 and served until 1996 when he retired as chairman of the Urdu Department of the University.

    In 1987 he received the Sahitya Akademy Award in Urdu for his poetry collection ‘Khwab Ka Dar Band Hai’.

  • Inspired yet insipid

    Inspired yet insipid

    MUMBAI: A coming of age film again; Imran Khan is 25 year old and Kareena Kapoor ready to enter her 27th. They say the generation today is fast and matures before teens, Imran, though in mid 20s (in the film) and a veteran of over half a dozen films, is still coming of age. Well, if he is taking his time coming of age, it is fine but an Indian film where the female actor is mature and smarter than the male actor and in full control is a rather dicey theme to attempt; what is more, the hero stays a loser till the very end! Whatever happened to happy endings?

     

    Producer: Hiroo Yash Johar, KaranJohar, Ronnie Screwvala.
    Director: Imran Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Boman Irani, Ratna Pathak Shah.

    Imran Khan has been sacked from his job by his architecture firm in the US and the sacking happens to coincide with the two day visit of his parents, Boman Irani and Ratna Pathak, from India. The only son of rich parents, Imran Khan has been brought up with their idea of discipline from brushing teeth thrice a day to which colour tie to wear. He can‘t wear socks and underwear unless pressed And one thought film heroes were supposed to be idols! Imran Khan‘s first thought always is what will his parents say/think? and he decides not to tell them about losing his job. Boman Irani plays the kind of father who was never happy with his son winning a silver medal but unhappy about losing out on gold one.

    Single, suppressed and jobless, Imran Khan bumps into Kareena Kapoor at a utility store who on her part has just been ditched by her boyfriend she keeps referring to as Sam. Kareena Kapoor is everything that Imran Khan is not; extrovert, fun loving and full of stories about her past affairs. It is Christmas eve and Kareena Kapoor invites Imran Khan to celebrate the evening with her at a shady bar; not quite the hero‘s class but that is what an always tight on money Kareena is used to. A simple beer drinking evening turns into tequila guzzling session, one thing leads to another and both end up in an instant marriage chapel only to come out married to each other. (If it sounds familiar the basic theme is from the 2008 Hollywood film, What Happens In Vegas). The realisation strikes the morning after and both decide to annul the marriage.

    However, the circumstances lead Kareena Kapoor to take shelter in Imran Khan‘s pad before she makes a trip to India in a few days. Fondness grows and she convinces Imran also to join her on her trip and yes, he can live at her house and his parents need not know. So what if Mumbai is so huge and crowded, Imran Khan can‘t hide from his parents as he is spotted crossing a road by his mother and it is time to change tracks as over a dinner Imran Khan opens up before his parents and guests breaking the shackles over his life. The story moves back to its original track, Imran Khan and Kareena Kapoor; the former has by now fallen head over heels for Kareena who does not share his feelings and is content telling him about her various past encounters! Her feelings for Imran Khan are purely platonic and that is how it remains as the film ends. The hero remains an eternal loser!

    This is a thin and routine storyline with mostly two characters, not equally talented, to carry it through. The funny moments and gags are few and far in between which makes the going very slow, dull at most times. Direction is routine. Musically, only the title song stands out. Dialogues are good at places, but not enough to make it a laugh riot.

    Performance-wise, Imran Khan has few expressions to offer coming out bland most of the time. Kareena Kapoor gives one of her better performances and does her part convincingly. Boman Irani and Ratna Pathak Shah are good.

    Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu is an insipid watch with poor prospects at the box office.

  • Pix’s ‘Big Break’ initiative ahead of digitisation

    Pix’s ‘Big Break’ initiative ahead of digitisation

    MUMBAI: In a bid to further engage with its viewers and build brand affinity, English movie channel Pix has announced a new marketing initiative – ‘Big Break’.

    The initiative will give a winner the chance to be part of a promo for the channel which will air in March. The winner will also be used for other channels in the MSM stable like Sony and Sab.

    Interested parties can submit a one-minute video of themselves online enacting a scene from one of their favourite films. The last date for submission of entries is 18 February.

    Ten people will be chosen and flown down to Mumbai. One winner will be chosen and will get the Red Carpet treatment.

    “With digitisation going to happen, it is important to remind people that Pix is a ‘must have‘ channel. We want viewers to feel committed towards us and to engage with us,” said Pix business head Sunder Aaron.

    A few years back, Pix had launched a short film festival initiative. Inspired by the response to that, the channel has gone ahead with this initiative.

    Pix marketing head Himmat Bhutalia noted that channels in the English movie genre are not doing enough at building brands. “While titles are important, brand recall needs to be created. It will be important for viewers to know what a brand stands for as we move into a digital arena where viewers will choose to carry a channel or drop it. Pix has a larger variety in content. We are also more into engaging in a dialogue with viewers,” he said.

    In terms of marketing, digital will be a greater focus area for Pix this year. “We took our local initiative chicks On Flicks online. We are also looking at extending our Pix movie Club initiative to the web. Traditional media is a one-way dialogue. With digital you can change your communication faster based on feedback,” averred Bhutalia.

    To market ‘Big Break’ the channel is using print, radio and television spots on MTV and Bindass.

    Bhutalia expects most respondents to be in the 15-30 year age group. On the ground, the channel is using an event management company to go to select schools and colleges in Mumbai and Delhi. There fans can make a one-minute video.

  • Zoya Akhtar set to make a short film with children

    Zoya Akhtar set to make a short film with children

    MUMBAI: After having debuted with Luck By Chance and seconded by Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Zoya Akhtar is set to direct a short film with children.

    Akhtar has been auditioning children for the film and if all goes according to plans, she will start shooting during the summer vacations this year.

    The film will be shot in Mumbai.

    Incidentally, Akhtar’s second film Zindagi Na Mile Dobara that starred Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol, Farhan Akhtar, Katrina Kaif and Kalki Koechlin, was well received by critics and turned out to be a huge box office success.

  • RP Singh joins Neo@Ogilvy as VP media

    RP Singh joins Neo@Ogilvy as VP media

    MUMBAI: RP Singh is shifting base to Mumbai and has joined digital and direct media agency, Neo@Ogilvy, as VP media. He comes in from Starcom Media Vest.

    Before this, Singh was based in Singapore where he handled duties as head of digital, South East Asia.

    Singh will report to Neo@Ogilvy national head Kunal Jeswani.

    Jeswani confirmed the news to indiantelevision.com.

    Before Starcom MediaVest, he worked with Maxus Interaction, the digital agency of GroupM, as business director.

    Singh has 11 years of experience in the industry. He started his career in 2001, with King Infotech Software Solutions, a software development company. He then worked as project consultant at StudioSmile for a year. He moved to GroupM China in March 2005 as associated direction, digital media.

    In 2008, Singh led Maxus Digital team in North India. After spending more than five years at GroupM, he joined Starcom MediaVest in November 2010.

    Singh has handled clients like Nike, Ford, Unilever, Lufthansa, Nokia, Hero Honda, Seagram, and Perfetti Van Melle during his stint in the industry so far.

  • Anand, Kapoor sons in a film

    Anand, Kapoor sons in a film

    MUMBAI: Though Dev Anand and Shammi Kapoor were never seen together in a film, filmmaker Kadar Kashmiri has roped in their sons to feature in his ambitious film, Ali Peter John.

    The film, produced under the banner of Ashwin Kumar Productions, will feature both Suneil Anand and Aditya Raj Kapoor in pivotal roles.

    Averred Kashmiri, “A few days before his death, I had discussed the idea of Ali Peter John with Dev sahib. He liked the idea and asked who would act in it. So, I expressed my desire to cast Suneil. Dev sahab was excited about it. He, however, asked me to talk to Suneil directly.”

    Kashmiri, who has also directed Shammi Kapoor in Karamdata made in 1986, added: “I have been closely associated with both Dev Anand and Shammi Kapoor. I have learnt a lot from them. I have seen their sons Suneil and Aditya grow up. It is an emotional moment for me to direct my friends‘ kids.”

    It may be remembered that both Suneil and Aditya have made their screen debuts. While Suneil made his debut with his father’s venture Anand Aur Anand in 1984, Aditya directed three films — Shamaal, ambar Salsa and Don‘t Stop Dreaming — and acted in two films — Chase and Mumbai 118.

     

  • Zee TV conducts dance mobs to promote DID 3

    Zee TV conducts dance mobs to promote DID 3

    MUMBAI: Zee TV, the flagship channel from the Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) stable, conducted flash mobs across various parts of Mumbai and Delhi on the Christmas Eve to increase viewership and brand effectiveness of season 3 of its popular dance reality show, Dance India Dance.

    On 23 and 24 December, many parts of Mumbai and Delhi saw a mob of nearly 50/100 people all dressed as collegians, shopkeepers and local residents, shaking their legs on Bollywood numbers.

    The dancemob was an initiative that was a part of the 360 degree campaign that the channel has planned during the launch phase of the show.

    With an aim to create a buzz on Dance India Dance Season 3, the dancemobs were conducted in various locations like Rajouri Garden market, PVR Anupam (Saket) and PVR Satyam (Janakpuri) in Delhi while in Mumbai they were conducted at Cinemax Andheri and PVR Phoenix Mall, Lower Parel.

    A similar activity was conducted on 24 December at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Churchgate stations.

    The channel has started airing auditions episodes since 24 December at 8.30 pm weekend band.

  • Gupta gets NOC to use real-life names in the film

    Gupta gets NOC to use real-life names in the film

    MUMBAI: The Mumbai police has granted permission to director Sanjay Gupta to name the characters in his film Shootout At Wadala after the real-life policemen involved in the 1982 incident in Mumbai.


    Gupta said, “After we‘ve got a no objection certificate (NOC) from the police department, we‘re free to name any of the cops who were part of the incident.


    “We‘re now in the process of covering all legal hurdles as far as naming every character from the underworld is concerned.”


    In this regard, Gupta had sought the services of Mumbai lawyer Ameet Nayak to be amply sure that all loopholes are plugged so that he can call a spade a spade or a Dawood a Dawood.


    Shootout At Wadala, a prequel the 2007 film Shootout At Lokhandwala, recreates the gunfight in which gangster Manya Surve was shot dead.


    Gupta‘s film will begin with a claimer: “Everything you‘re about to watch happened on the streets of Mumbai.”

  • Subhash Ghai opens 10th Third Eye Asian Film Festival

    Subhash Ghai opens 10th Third Eye Asian Film Festival

    MUMBAI: Filmmaker Subhash Ghai inaugurated the 10th Third Eye Asian Film Festival yesterday at the Ravindra Natya Mandir Complex, Prabhadevi, Mumbai.

    The opening ceremony saw the ‘Asian Film Culture Award‘ bestowed on noted Afghani filmmaker Siddiq Barmak. Barmak‘s film Osama will be screened tonight.

    The award presentation was followed by the screening of the festival‘s opening Film, 11 Flowers, directed by Chinese director Xioanshuai Wang.

    Some of the other important films to be screened at the festival are Nuri Bilge Ceylan‘s Distant, Italo Spinelli‘s Gangor, Rajesh Pinjani‘s Babu Band Bajaa and Asghar Farhadi‘s A Separation. Iranian filmmaker Monir Qeidi‘s On the Way to Villa will also be screened at the Festival.

    The week-long festival has been dedicated to Dev Anand who passed away in London on 3 December. Incidentally, he had inaugurated the first edition of the festival in 2002.

    The festival will close on 29 December with the screening of Ketan Mehta‘s as yet unreleased film Rang Rasiya.