Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Movie News
| Fans urge Celina to change | |
| Celina Jaitley recently did a hush-hush photo shoot with photographer Mahindra Soni in a classical Indian look. The gorgeous actress looks very classical and ethereal, very much like an Indian princess of a bygone era. The outfit was designed by Anna Singh while the brocade look was designed by Ritu Kumar. Celina was getting a lot of fan mail, urging her to be seen in an Indian look, and sure by the look of it, her fans won’t be disappointed. When contacted, Celina refused to divulge any details. Says Celina, “I just wanted to experiment with my look since I am doing interesting and different kinds of roles.” | |
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Viveik and AB Jr to be in film together | |
| After Abhishek Bachchan, Suneil Shetty, Tusshar Kapoor, Sammir Dattani, Viviek Oberoi is the latest entrant in Apoorva Lakhia’s Shootout At Lokhandwala. Apparently, Viviek plays the character that was the toughest to nab by the Mumbai police. What is to be marked here is that this is the first time that Oberoi and Bachchan Junior will be coming together. Of course, we all know what the duo have in common — Aishwarya Rai. Viviek has been a gentleman when it came to Ash. The actor chose to opt out of the Mani Ratnam venture Guru so as not to make things difficult for himself and others. Here is one actor who has maintained dignity and those who have worked with him swear by his professionalism too. | |
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Palekar partial to women | |
| After Daayra and Anahat, Amol Palekar completes his trilogy with his third film The Quest. This bilingual film in English and Marathi, deals with a young Maharashtrian couple where the woman is a lawyer and her husband is a chef in a five star hotel. The twist in their life comes when the wife realises that her husband is having a homosexual relationship. Titled The Quest in English and Thaang in Marathi, the film stars Mrinal Kulkarni, Rishi Deshpande, Shishir Sharma and Vijaya Mehta in the lead roles. Sandhya Gokhale (Palekar’s wife) has written the story, screenplay and dialogues of the film. Earlier, Palekar had planned to make the film in Marathi, but he ultimately ended up making an English version also. “I usually have these wine tasting sessions on my scripts before making a film. I invite friends who are not related to cinema and get their feedback on the script. It was during one of these sessions that everyone told me to make an English version. They unanimously decided that it would lose its impact if made in Marathi alone,” he reveals. All the three films in the trilogy have with woman as the main protagonist and her problems are put in the forefront. Though The Quest deals with homosexuality, it is the woman’s problems and how she deals with it which is more pronounced in film. “It is my faith and belief that a woman is equal to a man. I always feel that women are more focussed, more hardworking and better human beings than men. My love for women brings out my creativity into films. I have tried to answer all questions that arise out of such issues. It shows how her personal life is affected after she comes to know about her husband’s sexuality,” he says. Has his quest about relationships ended with this film? “No, my quest to find many more layers of relationships between men and women will go on,” he laughs. He goes on to add, “It’s an ongoing process. My search for looking at myself and society will go on. I try to find my answers in my life through my work. I try and attempt at different subjects to unravel the deep secrets of relationships. I don’t like to disrespect what others feel. If I don’t agree with their point of view I will debate but at the same time, I respect their choice. It’s condescending to say that I am superior because I am a man and I am being tolerant. I want to have empathy so that there is equality in a relationship.” So what’s next? “Well, I am reading a few scripts at the moment. Nothing has been decided as yet,” Palekar says. | |
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International projects for Shilpa are just rumours | |
| Shilpa Shetty’s spokesperson Dale Bhagwagar has dismissed rumours of the actress being part of the US-based director Roger Mende’s international film Forever. “Earlier, there was a rumour about Shilpa doing a Brad Pitt-starrer film called Babel and now this. Shilpa would surely like to be part of an international project in future, but as of now, she’s not signed any,” the spokesperson clarified. “After attending the South Film Fest this week, Shilpa has gone to Tirupati. On returning to Mumbai, she will resume shooting for Anurag Basu’s Metro, Anil Sharma’s Apne and the television show Jhalak Dikhla Jaa on Sony,” he informed. The rumour about Forever began when an international website listed Shilpa’s name in the cast of the film and indicated that she played the character of called Amrita Ledew in the film, who dies while giving birth and takes on the soul of her daughter. | |
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Anupam dedicates Khosla.. to Hrishida | |
| Did you know that actor Anupam Kher had first met the late Hrishikesh Mukherjee at a function even before he embarked on his career as an actor? “I had always been a fan of Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s films. I don’t remember what the function was about, but here was Hrishida right before me and I stood in awe because for me, he was a filmmaker par excellence. He told stories that the middle class man could easily identify with.” says Kher. No wonder then that Kher has dedicated his upcoming film Khosla Ka Ghosla to the legend. “When I read the script that has been written by Jaidev Sahni, it was Hrishida who came to my mind instantly. Just like Hrishida, Sahni has tackled the issue with immense humour and warm affection. Since then, I told Dibakar to dedicate this film to Dada.” said Kher. He also said that he had many memories of Dada that would always be fresh in his mind. He adds, “We used to have frequent meetings at his house when I was signed for Jhooth Bole Kawa Kaate. Just a month before he passed away, he wrote ‘I love you’ over a piece of letter that I have preserved with me. Dada’s childlike demeanour, his jokes and most of all, his dedication to cinema is unforgettable.” About his upcoming film he says, “The character Khosla completely takes over and people will think of him and not Anupam Kher the actor. There are very few characters that I have related to like this, like Daddy and Saaransh, which were both serious films. This is for the first time that a comic character like Khosla will leave a mark.” | |
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Diaz hides behind voiceovers | |
| Cameron Diaz loves recording the voiceover for her Shrek character Princess Fiona because she struggles to deal with the scrutiny her appearance comes under. The Being John Malkovich star often feels “ugly” and relishes the opportunity to hide her “bad skin” behind the animated created by DreamWorks, says contactmusic.com. The 34-year-old says, “Everyone assumes you feel great all the time but imagine doing movie close-ups when you’re having a bad skin day. “That’s why I love voicing Fiona, it’s so freeing.” | |
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My lovers are scared of me, says Simpson | |
| Jessica Simpson can’t find love because she scares guys away. The Dukes of Hazzard actress has been linked to a string of suitors since her divorce from Nick Lachey, however, none of the relationships have worked out. She told US chat show host Ellen DeGeneres, “I think I’m too hard to be in love with. It ends up on the cover of every magazine. I scare people away. I’m a lot to take on. I wish I was in love, I need to be in love.” Jessica was most recently linked to singer-songwriter John Mayer, however, that fling only lasted a matter of days. Jessica, 26, also revealed she has no regrets about ending her three year marriage to Nick. She explained, “I’m so proud of that relationship. I’m proud of the marriage that I had and I think that Nick is an amazing man. I regret nothing and it made me who I am right now. And right now who I am, I am so in love with. It’s all about the journey.” Jessica admits that her new album, A Public Affair, was heavily influenced by her break-up. She added, “During the beginning of making of the record I was married. I was writing love songs. After going through an emotional time, I needed to have fun, to go out with my girls and shake my booty.” | |
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Aguilera to wed again in five years | |
| Christina Aguilera wants to get married again in five years. The Ain’t No Other Man singer, who tied the knot with music executive Jordan Bratman last November, has revealed that she and her husband have agreed to renew their vows every few years to keep their relationship fresh. She confessed to Glamour magazine, “We want to renew our vows every five years, so next time I might do it a little more rock ‘n’ roll.” Despite being blissfully happy, the 25-year-old singer admits she wasn’t looking for love when she first met Jordan. She said, “It completely took me by surprise because I wasn’t looking for relationship. I didn’t say, ‘Gee, I need to be happy, let me find a companion.’ But when it happens, it happens.” Trade Story: Bommarillu all the way Its official! Bommarillu turned out to be the biggest hit in USA by breaking all the records. 65,000 people are said to have watched this movie in USA so far. Read our special report - 2006 is a landmark year for Telugu Cinema. Not only has the volume of business and successes increased in India, even the overseas territory is growing with each passing movie. While Sri Ramadasu, Godavari and Pokiri have emerged solid hits, and Siddardh latest flick Bommarillu is a mammoth success in overseas. Dil Raju’s Bommarillu has shattered all previous records in Overseas and emerged as the biggest grosser ever. Without doubt, overseas is the hottest territory today! Siddharth has always been the poster boy in overseas with his debut NVNV creating furor. His flop film Chukkallo Chandrudu also turned out to be a profitable venture for both exhibitors and distributors in USA. But Bommarillu is a radically different story all together. Rama of RK Films, the overseas distributor of Bommarillu, is laughing all the way to the bank along with their exhibitors. Debutant Bhaskar’s outing Bommarillu is on a record-breaking spree in the entire overseas. To cut short the success of Bommarillu. It's a miracle! It's unbelievable! It's incredible! Idlebrain is proudly presenting trade report of the biggest hit and read what the exhibitors and distributor have to say on their own words.
Upon asking his comments on this phenomenal run he giggled and told that jeevi rating is the driving force for this kind of crowd and the mouth talk is spreading like a wildfire. First time many people are coming for this movie and feedback from Indian relatives and friends also causing this increased count in the repeat runs. Virginia is being another major centre in USA and attracted more than 4200 count in 2 weeks of its release and again it sets a new record for the big heroes to chase these numbers. The scenario is Detroit is no different and as per the exhibitors Srini and Ramesh, this movie has crossed all previous movies records within 3 weeks of its run. The counts for 3 weeks are as follows, 2496, 1317, and 1189, crossing 5000 mark and Srini find it difficult to obtain print for 4th week of screening at Detroit. The movie is such a big hit that the last show screened on week day attracted 131 patrons, which is a phenomenal feat for a Telugu movie. As per Kodandarami Reddy of Atlanta, “We have seen and screened many movies in Atlanta, but the response and the crowd is simply terrific. In the first week of screening it self it was attracted crowds that were little less than 3 weeks crowd of the previous blockbuster”. I am very much satisfied with the crowd in the second week of its run and planning for a 3rd week screening in this week”
In Portland, a small town in USA drew extraordinary numbers for Bommarillu, the exhibitor surprised to see these many Telugu’s in this area. Bommarillu got close to 800 numbers in this town and the latest sensational Blockbuster movie could able to draw 470 patrons in this town. Bloomington is another small centre in Illinois state attracted more than 750 people and so far no other movie had a repeat run in this centre and exhibitor Siva Busa is planning for another show in this weekend. Houston is another centre in Texas state and it has got huge crowd on its release and about 1200 patrons watched the movie in one week and it beats the earlier highest movie by 450 count. You name the centre; the response from the exhibitors and the crowd are awesome. Be it A, B or C centre in 70 + centres in USA, Bommarillu comfortably sits on the top and enjoying the biggest grosser tag.
On the survey from Idlebrain team in USA, a total of approximately 65000 people watched Bommarillu in USA alone (which grosses to approximately Rs. 3 crore) and expecting minimum 4000 people in the next weekend. What a hit in overseas! This count is going beyond imagination of the distributors and exhibitors in USA. Tailpiece: All the people who are involved in the screening were very happy as the movie is given for through away prices in almost all centres and every body churning out huge profits out of it. To their surprise repeat and reruns are also drawing crowds at par with initial run. | |
New Jersey is the biggest centre in USA for Telugu movies and Bommarillu just hits the bull’s eye in this area. Probably this is the first movie that went on housefuls for 3 weekends in NJ area. People are just pouring in at the theatre like there is no stop. As per the sources of Idlebrain.com, Bommarillu has been watched by more than 8000 patrons in the Clearview Edison Cinema’s in the Oak 
IMC6 Theatres at Sanjose, CA is being the major theatres/centre for Telugu movies in Bay Area. As per Raman Sanchula, exhibitor and theater owner, “Bommarillu is the biggest hit in Bay Area crossing all previous 
As per Ravi Raju Jampana from Los Angeles, Bommarillu got more than 1500 patrons and they are again hoping another 500 + in this week screening. As per Mr. Ram from Charlotte a very small centre has got more than 350 in numbers. Suresh Yaddanapudi had to struggle to get the extra theatre for the Bommarillu as he had originally planned one show in Richmond VA. The crowd numbers is all time high in Boston, Minneapolis, Connecticut, Dallas, Seattle, St Louis, Kansas and all most all centres. Repeat runs are going at full fire in almost all centres.
When it comes to Mr Rama, the overseas distributor has no words to say about this. He is enjoying every moment of the movie success and busy in counting the money and trade aspects of Bommarillu moreover his forthcoming movie MUNNA starring Prabhas and Illeana is ready for a theatrical release in the month of November 2006. He said “I released Bommarillu with 6 prints in USA, which was very high in number for stature of Hero Siddardh, after the stupendous success we added 3 more prints to reach the count to 9. Now we regret for not adding more prints as the demand for the reruns is very high. We almost ran the movie in all centres for once and repeat and reruns are currently going on.
