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Tag: Sridevi

  • Indian Film Festival 2025 to honour Raj Kapoor’s centenary year

    Indian Film Festival 2025 to honour Raj Kapoor’s centenary year

    MUMBAI: The Embassy of India in Yerevan is rolling out the red carpet for cinephiles with the Indian Film Festival 2025, a three-day celebration of India’s rich cinematic legacy. Organised in collaboration with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), the festival will take place from 7-9 February at Kino Moscow Theatre, showcasing the timeless brilliance of Raj Kapoor alongside contemporary Indian classics.

    This grand cinematic affair will commemorate the 100 birth anniversary of Kapoor, a name synonymous with Indian cinema’s golden era. With a mix of old-world charm and modern storytelling, the festival aims to strengthen cultural bonds between India and Armenia through the universal language of film.

    The festival will open on 7 February at 6:00 pm with an exhibition, “Life and Times of Raj Kapoor”, at the Big Red Hall of Kino Moscow Theatre. Following this, at 6:30 pm, Kapoor’s visually stunning and philosophically profound film Satyam Shivam Sundaram (with English subtitles) will take centre stage.

    On 8 February, the Small Red Hall will play host to two of Kapoor’s most beloved works. Anari will screen at 1:30 pm, a heartwarming tale that still resonates with audiences. Later, the festival will present Awaara, a globally revered film that cemented Kapoor’s reputation as India’s answer to Charlie Chaplin. Both films will be screened with Russian subtitles, making them accessible to a wider audience.

    On 9 February, the festival takes a poetic turn with Teesri Kasam at 2:00 pm, a lyrical masterpiece known for its evocative storytelling. Wrapping up the festival with a contemporary touch is English Vinglish at 7:00 pm, featuring the legendary Sridevi in one of her most memorable performances. Both films will also be presented with Russian subtitles.

    All screenings are free of charge, inviting cinema lovers to immerse themselves in India’s cinematic magic. The festival will be held at 50, 2 Dzorapi St, Yerevan 0019, Armenia, promising a delightful mix of nostalgia and modern storytelling.

    Whether you’re a die-hard Kapoor fan or simply someone who loves a good film, the Indian Film Festival 2025 is set to be a celebration of artistry, culture, and timeless storytelling.

  • Neeta Lulla: 40 years in fashion industry hasn’t been a cakewalk, been quite a struggle

    Neeta Lulla: 40 years in fashion industry hasn’t been a cakewalk, been quite a struggle

    Mumbai: Neeta Lulla has recently celebrated a significant milestone – 40 years of relentless dedication to her craft. However, behind the glitz and glamour lies a tale of perseverance, challenges, and remarkable achievements.

    In a candid conversation, Lulla reflected on her journey, acknowledging the hurdles she faced along the way. “40 years in the industry has not been a cakewalk, it has been quite a struggle. Apart from being a fashion designer, I am also a costume designer, a housewife, and a mother. Being able to juggle these roles and seamlessly transition from one role to another was quite a task”.

    The designer, who has worked on over 300 films and has been designing wedding dresses since 1985, said that “ time management and good organisational skills can be an asset.”

    “Luckily for me, my workplace was my home in the beginning, and later on, it was closer to home, so it was a huge advantage, and it helped me manage both my roles at work and home,” added Lulla.

    Check out the video from Neeta Lulla’s 40 years in Fashion celebration party,

     

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    A post shared by Neeta Lulla (@neeta_lulla)

     

    The designer, who has been feted with the National Film Award for Best Costume Design in 2009 for ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ and 2012 for the Marathi language film ‘Balgandharva’, talked about being a female designer in the industry.

    Lulla said that “gender inclusivity has always been a norm in our industry.”

    “Back when I started working, we had many stalwarts, who were working in the films and the industry – and they were women. We had a good space in those times, where there were no restrictions to only men. At that point, many women were managing the creative aspect of costume and fashion design, for female actors.”

    For male actors, it was a male designer, said Lulla, who crafted an unforgettable pearl-encrusted lehenga for actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s mehendi ceremony.

    “But today, there is a lot more room and inclusivity where male designers design for women and female designers design for men have gotten in the scene and it has always been a common aspect of the industry from that time,” she added.

    Over her 40 years run in the industry as a fashion stylist and a costume designer, Lulla has created the look for leading Bollywood personalities including Late star Sridevi, Juhi Chawla, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Shilpa Shetty, Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Rajinikanth, Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan.

    How is it working with the Indian film industry?

    “It has been a beautiful journey working with the Indian Film Industry. This year marks my 40th year in the fashion industry and in 2026, it will be my 40th year in films. This journey is filled with many joy rides, speed breakers, and challenges but if I had to do this all over again, I would happily do it,” said the 59-year-old designer.

    She describes the journey as “very fulfilling” and has helped her “evolve as a person and as a creative talent”.

    There’s no stopping her, as Lulla is currently working on five films.

    Without sharing much details, Lulla said: “As of now, my plate is filled with five films, a five-film project that is in the pipeline, and a musical in the works. And also, I am working on the new couture collection, which will be out soon.”

    As Neeta Lulla embarks on the next chapter of her illustrious career, her unwavering dedication to her craft serves as an inspiration to aspiring designers everywhere. With her remarkable talent, resilience, and visionary approach, she continues to leave an indelible mark on the fashion industry, shaping its future with her creative ingenuity and timeless elegance.

  • PVR INOX to re-release Subhash Ghai’s directorial ‘Karma’

    PVR INOX to re-release Subhash Ghai’s directorial ‘Karma’

    Mumbai: PVR INOX Ltd, India’s premier multiplex chain, is re-relasing the iconic Subhash Ghai’s directorial film ‘Karma’ from 2 to 8 February 2024. The movie will be screening in 43 cinemas in 19 cities across the country. Ticket prices for this cult movie begin at ₹112, and bookings can be made through the PVR INOX app or website and BMS and PayTM platforms. The film, known for its iconic dialogues and mesmerising songs, features a stellar cast of Bollywood icons such as Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Dilip Kumar, Sridevi, and Naseeruddin Shah, among others.

    Expressing his excitement on the re-release of Karma at PVR INOX, director, Subhash Ghai said, “Let me start by expressing my heartfelt appreciation for PVR INOX, as they have decided to re-release an iconic movie like ‘Karma’ from my filmography. I would love to invite our new audiences to connect and watch this movie on the big screens for a larger-than-life cinematic experience, showcasing the beautiful depiction of characters in this action-drama genre, along with the use of the iconic song ‘Aye Watan Tere Liye,’ which touched millions of hearts. It was specially designed for big screens in the 80s when audiences turned their faces away from small video screens. We have received a lot of unconditional love and support in a big way from north to south in bringing back the larger-than-life movie experience. Please do enjoy Karma, a motion picture from my heart as a filmmaker. A heartfelt thank you to PVR INOX once again. See you at the cinemas!”

  • A week full of damp squibs, despite huge expectations

    Some whiz kid got the idea that to make an Indian version of the popular comic book series Adventures of Tin Tin,blending it with a generous dose of Hollywood musicals and the rest will follow. But this just an idea, a one-liner. Not a script. However, a star fell for it for as he had nothing to lose. One can understand that, but how does a studio fall prey to the idea and commits anything between Rs 300 to Rs 1.50 billion?

    If last week the result was Jagga Jasoos costing around Rs one billion in the making, this week there was Munna Michael which was a straight but unimaginative ‘inspiration’ taken from the films of 1980s, described as disco films. When they were not branded as Disco films, Jumping Jack Jeetendra ruled and later when Mithun Chakraborty took over the mantle of the dancing star, it was the disco era and, he was the disco star!

    While the films in that era boasted of massive twists and turns and emotional appeal, Munna Michael is poorly scripted with nothing except dances and action. Casting Nawazuddin Siddiqui in a film cannot be considered an asset just because he is building a fan base despite not fitting into the scheme of things by any stretch of imagination!

    Not surprisingly, Munna Michael proves to be a loser. It opened such a poor response that immediately on its release, the theatre managements decide to reduce the film’s screening slots. The film collected 64 million on day one, lost some ground on Saturday while improving by around Rs 100 million on Sunday. The film collected Rs 205 million for its opening weekend.

    Lipstick Under My Burkha, a pretentious film based on the lives of women in Bhopal had the maker raise an issue, highlights the lives of four miserable women with their dreams and aspirations, mainly related to sex and freedom but ending without a remedial conclusion or even a suggestion to this end.

    Thanks to the controversy generated at the Film Censors, the film found few viewers mainly in select Delhi and Mumbai multiplexes. The film managed to collect Rs 11.5 million on day one and showed a marginal rise on Saturday and peaking on Sunday to collect Rs 55 million for its opening weekend. The real test for the film will be through the rest of the week.

    Jagga Jasoos, having been rejected, managed the first week’s collections of about Rs 431 million. The second week holds no promise as the film managed to add Rs 12 million on its eighth day compared to Rs 79 million on its first day

    The highly-touted Sridevi starrer Mom collected Rs 71 million in its second week to take its two-week total to Rs 296 million.

    Guest in London added Rs 1.5 million in its second week to take its two-week total to Rs 68.5 million.

  • Box Office: Mom & Guest bring solace after Tubelight fails

    Two veterans, both with a huge fan following in their peak, Sridevi in Mom and Paresh Rawal in Guest Iin London, were expected to lead the charge at the box office. If one looked at the making of both the films, the production costs looks moderate. But, what matters is how much the theatrical rights have been sold for. And, in that sense, Mom riding the crest.

    The best recent film of moderate budget to excel has been Hindi Medium which achieved a high figure of about Rs 65 crore at the domestic box office. In case of Mom, the price at which it is sold and the kind of reports it has generated, it may fall short of its target by lengths. The difference is that, while Hindi Medium was an entertainer, Mom is a designed to be heavy film. And, they are not usually worth Rs 200 to 1000 that their admission rates command. No need to say, the eventual sufferers are the cinema chains.

    Mom had an inherent drawback in that an earlier film, Raveen Tandon starrer, Maatr, was based on the same theme. Since, the films are now made for the multiplex audience, a lot of the patrons would realize that Mom is just a female version of 1974 Hollywood trendsetter, Death Wish.

    *Mom opened to very weak response on Friday despite an overambitious release strategy as it was released across more screens than the film justified. The result was that many screens showed collection in few hundreds which showed on the film’s first day collections of a bare Rs 2.4 crore (Rs 24 million). The film showed an expected rise on Saturday and Sunday. The weekend collections according to trade sources are estimates are little over Rs 10 crore (Rs 100 million) while those released by the makers are over 14 crore.

    *Guest Iin London proves a damp squib. Following in the formula of Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge, which was no great shakes in itself, the film backfires in Toto. One must be really out of sync with the realities to think that another instalment of Paresh Rawal giving a noisy outlet to his stomach problem amounted to a comedy! It is a juvenile stuff to say the least. With the first day figures of Rs 1.2 crore.

    *Ek Haseena Thi Ek Deewana Tha has had a poor run at the box office with just Rs 1.05 crore to show while the weekend collected Rs 4.2 crore.

    * Tubelight, Salman Khan’s home production, sold at an exorbitant price which needed to do a business which none of his films has done before, is a total disaster. Strange that the film won’t even manage a lifetime business of what his film Sultan did in its opening weekend. The film had collected over 180 crore in its five day extended weekend.

    The film has added Rs 10.6 crore in its second week taking its two week tally to Rs 114.3 crore.

    *Bahubali2: The Conclusion has added about Rs 30 lakh in its 10th week.

  • Karishma, Sridevi serials on Sahara TV in April, June 2003

    Karishma, Sridevi serials on Sahara TV in April, June 2003

    MUMBAI: Sahara TV is firming up its plans to leverage its mega serials starring Bollywood stars during the forthcoming summer vacations. Also, the free-to-air Sahara channel will showcase the serials before the 14 July 2003 deadline when conditional access system will become a reality in the metros.

    Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor’s TV debut Karisma The Miracle of Destiny will launch on 28 April on Sahara TV. The serial will be aired Mondays to Thursdays at prime time. According to Sahara Media and Entertainment head Sumit Roy, the serial will be of a finite duration and will not exceed 262 episodes.

    The second attraction of Sahara TV will be the Sridevi starrer Hamari Bahu Malini Iyer that will go on air by end May or first week of June.

    This serial too, will be aired Mondays to Thursdays at prime time, in conjunction with Karisma The Miracle of Destiny and will be telecast for a finite 208 episodes.

    The end of the year will see the debut of Amitabh Bachchan in the capacity of an actor in another mega serial. Roy refused to divulge details about the Bachchan starrer.

    “We will be in the top bracket of entertainment channels within a year,” promises Roy.

  • Karishma, Sridevi serials on Sahara TV in April, June 2003

    Karishma, Sridevi serials on Sahara TV in April, June 2003

    MUMBAI: Sahara TV is firming up its plans to leverage its mega serials starring Bollywood stars during the forthcoming summer vacations. Also, the free-to-air Sahara channel will showcase the serials before the 14 July 2003 deadline when conditional access system will become a reality in the metros.

    Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor’s TV debut Karisma The Miracle of Destiny will launch on 28 April on Sahara TV. The serial will be aired Mondays to Thursdays at prime time. According to Sahara Media and Entertainment head Sumit Roy, the serial will be of a finite duration and will not exceed 262 episodes.

    The second attraction of Sahara TV will be the Sridevi starrer Hamari Bahu Malini Iyer that will go on air by end May or first week of June.

    This serial too, will be aired Mondays to Thursdays at prime time, in conjunction with Karisma The Miracle of Destiny and will be telecast for a finite 208 episodes.

    The end of the year will see the debut of Amitabh Bachchan in the capacity of an actor in another mega serial. Roy refused to divulge details about the Bachchan starrer.

    “We will be in the top bracket of entertainment channels within a year,” promises Roy.

  • The Naagin concept is back again with a vengeance, this time as Vishkanya on Zee TV

    The Naagin concept is back again with a vengeance, this time as Vishkanya on Zee TV

    MUMBAI: After the huge success of Naagin, it seems there is market for more stories based on the supernatural across channels.

    However, the ‘Naagin’ or ‘Ichhadhari Naagin’ trend is not new in India and has been seen in several films like the Sridevi starrers Naagin, Nagina, Sheshnaag and also Mallika Sherawat’s Hiss.

    In fact, Zee TV had in 2007 launched a show on the same concept titled Naagin – Waadon Ki Agnipariksha produced by AK Films. The series ran for three years and completed 219 episodes.

    Once again experimenting with this concept, Zee TV is all set to launch its upcoming show Vishkanyafrom 21 March, to be aired from Monday to Friday at the 10.30 pm slot.

    Produced by Peninsula Pictures, Vishkanya is an extraordinary love story of star crossed lovers from the mysterious heartland of Kolkata. It is a story about  the female protagonist who would be drawn into a revenge tale in the midst of a blossoming love story.

    Though the promo of the show looks appealing and promising because of its graphics and visual effects, it will be interesting to see how the show penetrates the minds of the viewers in weeks to come.

  • The Naagin concept is back again with a vengeance, this time as Vishkanya on Zee TV

    The Naagin concept is back again with a vengeance, this time as Vishkanya on Zee TV

    MUMBAI: After the huge success of Naagin, it seems there is market for more stories based on the supernatural across channels.

    However, the ‘Naagin’ or ‘Ichhadhari Naagin’ trend is not new in India and has been seen in several films like the Sridevi starrers Naagin, Nagina, Sheshnaag and also Mallika Sherawat’s Hiss.

    In fact, Zee TV had in 2007 launched a show on the same concept titled Naagin – Waadon Ki Agnipariksha produced by AK Films. The series ran for three years and completed 219 episodes.

    Once again experimenting with this concept, Zee TV is all set to launch its upcoming show Vishkanyafrom 21 March, to be aired from Monday to Friday at the 10.30 pm slot.

    Produced by Peninsula Pictures, Vishkanya is an extraordinary love story of star crossed lovers from the mysterious heartland of Kolkata. It is a story about  the female protagonist who would be drawn into a revenge tale in the midst of a blossoming love story.

    Though the promo of the show looks appealing and promising because of its graphics and visual effects, it will be interesting to see how the show penetrates the minds of the viewers in weeks to come.

  • Sridevi, R Balki attend special screening for ‘Tapaal’

    Sridevi, R Balki attend special screening for ‘Tapaal’

    MUMBAI: A special screening of the award winning Marathi film Tapaal was organised recently and attended by Bollywood veterans like Sridevi, Boney Kapoor, director Imtiaz Ali, R Balki, Gauri Shinde and Niranjan Iyengar along with the cast and crew of the film.

     

    Appreciating the movie, Sridevi commented on a micro-blogging saying, “Just watched Marathi film ‘Tapal’. After a long time, was teary-eyed & emotionally choked. A must watch film for all.”

     

     “Laxman who also was the DoP of English Vinglish has done a commendable job in his first film as director & has packed some memorable moments in Tapal,” she added.

     

    Produced by Maitreya Mass Media and distributed by Pickle Entertainment, starring Nandu Madhav, Veena Jamkar, Milind Gunaji, Urmila Kanetkar and introducing Rohit Utekar, ‘Tapaal’ is all set to release on 26 September 2014.

     

    Tapaal is National & International Award winning Marathi film is set in a small village in the year 1977. It dwells with sympathy, concern and understanding on the bond between a little boy and a childless couple, and the social discrimination that they face.

     

    Even before its release, Laxman Utekar’s directorial debut is creating the right buzz. It has been critically acclaimed and has even won various accolades & awards at different film festivals for its sterling performances.

     

    Tapaal had its World Premiere at 18th Busan International Film Festival 2013, South Korea. It was also selected for the Indian Panorama Section at 44th IFFI (International Film festival 2013). Veena Jamkar bagged the best actress award at South Africa Film Festival. While Rohit Utekar won Best Child Actor Award, Prakash Holkar got the best lyricist award for his emotional composition ‘don disanchi sawali ‘ at the Maharashtra state film Awards.