Posts Tagged ‘november 4’
By Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 04, 2009)
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W e’ve discovered the secret to how Amitabh Bachchan flawlessly sang in a child’s voice for Paa recently. Director Balki reveals that Amitabh has been able to effortlessly replicate the voice of a 12-year-old for his dialogue and song in the film by using specially designed dentures. Balki says, “It’s all about the special dentures we got made for our boy-hero Auro (Amitabh’s character in Paa). The minute Mr Bachchan wears the dentures, he sounds like Auro.” Explaining how it works, Balki adds, “It’s partly to do with the shape and size of the dentures, which help change Mr Bachchan’s voice. He gets a lisp and his speech pattern gets altered because of the extra teeth.” Amitabh wore the dentures throughout the film’s shooting and also had them on while dubbing. “You can call them magical teeth…they’ve helped transform Mr Bachchan on the sets and also in the dubbing studio,” says Balki. About the title track sung by Amitabh, Balki says, “Ilaiyaraaja sent us the track his own voice from Chennai. Mr Bachchan recorded for it and the track was sent back to Ilaiyaraaja for mixing.” |
Shabana Azmi back to theatre
Posted on: November 4, 2009
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If you find Shabana Azmi talking to herself, don’t be surprised. She will now act in a one-actor play where she essays two roles. Broken Images, based on Girish Karnad’s A Heap of Broken Images, will be directed by theatre veteran Alyque Padamsee.
Shabana needs to master the art of playing one character and also its spirit. Though Shabana is not talking about her new venture, reports from the Azmi household suggest that she has been rehearsing the scenes rigorously with her sister-in-law Tanvi Azmi, standing in for the character of her spirit. Shabana’s earlier play Tumhari Amrita with Farooque Shaikh had only two characters and it continues to be a hit more than a decade after its first staging 18 years ago. Ardent Shabana fans hope Broken Images will have a similar impact. A friend of Shabana says, “At this stage of her career, Shabana needs new challenges as an actor. Otherwise, she would rather devote her time to the social causes she stands for.”
The friend also expresses concern about the difficulty that Shabana will face while playing the two characters. She adds, “How will Shabana be able to play two characters in a play without any support from another actor? In Tumhari Amrita, she had Farooque. In Broken Images, it’s just Shabana.” Alyque Padamsee said, “Right now, I am in the middle of rehearsals with Shabana. Could you call later?” In a hurry to sign off, an impatient Alyque said that he had convinced big actors like Shabana to work with him earlier too. “I had also directed Smita Patil in a play 20 years ago,” he says. The play is expected to be staged in Mumbai in December, to be followed by other cities in India and abroad. |
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Santosh Sivan to play Ravi Verma
Posted on: November 4, 2009
| Even as the fate of Ketan Mehta’s Rang Rasiya, based on Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma’s love life remains uncertain, cinematographer-director Santosh Sivan has quietly signed a Malayalam film where he plays the painter. The film is titled Magara Manju (meaning winter mist) and will be dubbed in Hindi and English. The film’s shooting begins next week in Cochin and will be directed by art house director Lenin Rajendran.
Santosh, whose hands are full with cinematography and direction assignments, was at first hesitant to act in the film. He says, “Director Lenin Rajendran convinced me that I was right for the part. The main attraction for turning to acting is Raja Ravi Varma himself. I empathise very closely with his art as I’ve grown up with it. When I was a kid, my grandmother illustrated her stories with Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings. I also paint a bit. I think I’ve acquired my visual aesthetics from this man. I was also Director of Photography for M F Husain’s Gaja Gamini and his son Owais’s Meenaxi: Tale of 3 Cities.” Santosh’s co-star in the film is the new South sensation Karthika . He says, “Karthika is the daughter of veteran Tamil actress Radha. I sort of like the way we look together.” The film will also be shot in Trivandrum and Goa. Incidentally, the only other occasion when Santosh Sivan has acted was in Aditya Bhattacharya’s Raakh (1989). “After my shot, Pankaj Kapur (who was also acting in the film) couldn’t stop laughing (at his bad performance),” recalls Santosh with a chuckle. Epic story There is a growing interest in the life of Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906), who is famous for his paintings based on Indian mythology and epics. First, Ketan Mehta took it upon himself to portray the love life of Raja Ravi Varma in Rang Rasiya. Randeep Hooda plays the painter while Nandana Sen plays his muse. Then Malayalam film, Magara Manju, has Santosh Sivan playing Raja Ravi Varma. A book on the life of painter called, The Painter: A Life of Ravi Varma by Deepanjana Pal, Mumbai-based art critic is expected to hit the shelves soon.
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Manisha in Bhansali’s next
Posted on: November 4, 2009
Thirteen years after the hit Khamoshi, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Manisha team up again for another film
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After Khamoshi: The Musical, Manisha Koirala will again be teaming up with Sanjay Leela Bhansali for a film which takes her back to the same Catholic milieu. Manisha, who has just returned from a trip to the US, where she was with her steady boyfriend Chris, is glowing with pleasure. Though she is planning her foray into politics and perhaps intends to settle down with her boyfriend, it’s obvious that her passion for cinema is undiminished. She says, “Sanjay and I worked really worked well together. I wanted to work with him for quite a while now. But I waited for him to find the right part.” The pivotal part in Bhansali’s production My Friend Pinto, directed by Raghav Dar, has finally come her way. Says Manisha, “I’ve been dividing my time between Mumbai and the US, where things are going well between Chris and me. I also miss my home country Nepal and would like to spend some time there too but cinema will always remain my primary passion. After I did my friend Deepti Naval’s film Do Paise Ki Dhoop Char Aane Ki Baarish I’m hungry for challenging roles. None of those two-songs five-scene roles.” Manisha and Bhansali met recently and she was on for a pivotal role with Pratik Babbar whose mom Smita Patil has always been one of her favourite actresses. Manisha is also on the verge of signing films with Yash Raj Films and Raj Kumar Santoshi with whom she had earlier worked in Lajja. Says Manisha, “I’ll be working with soon with Mr Chopra and Mr Santoshi. Actually when I met them, I had lost a lot of weight. But now after my return from the US, I’ve gained some weight. I’m going to lose the extra kilos and then make a public appearance again. So you see, cinema and I can’t be separated. I’m looking forward to a fresh start.” |
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Mugdha Godse-Mithun split
Posted on: November 4, 2009
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While things are proceeding smoothly in Mugdha Godse’s professional life with Madhur Bhandarkar’s Jail up for release, the same can’t be said about her personal life. The latest couple to split is Mugdha and her longtime boyfriend, Mithun Purandare, who is a model and aspiring actor.
Mugdha and Mithun first met in 2003 during the shoot of a music video, which was being directed by ace photographer Jagdish Mali. Cupid struck when the two got several modelling assignments together. Mithun was completely smitten by Mugdha. He was on cloud nine when Madhur Bhandarkar’s Fashion, which marked Mugdha’s entry in Bollywood, hit the theatres last year. Buzz was, he had even booked an entire theatre so that he could organise a private screening of Fashion for Mugdha’s family, relatives and close friends. Destiny had other plans for the couple by the time Bhandarkar went on the floors with another Mugdha starrer, Jail. Things started going wrong early this year when the couple realised that they had completely different tastes. However, they soon buried the hatchet and decided to give their relationship another shot. “By then, too much water had flown under the bridge. They just couldn’t work things out,” said a source. The parting was, however, not ugly. “Mugdha and Mithun are still friends and wish well for each other,” added our source. When asked about her break-up, Mugdha was initially a little hesitant and said, “Things are different now.” On being probed further, she confirmed and said, “Mithun and I are not together any longer. I am single now. Both, Mithun and I, were very young then (when their relationship started). As two people grow up, they might realise that they are not meant to be together as a couple but are better off as friends.” |
Namak Ishq ka at Bandra Fort
Posted on: November 4, 2009
REAGAN GAVIN RASQUINHA Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; November 4, 2009)
MEENA IYER Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; November 4, 2009)
Physically, I feel 25-26. But I have no problems in accepting that I’m 44. In fact, if I look good, then the media writes that I’ve done plastic surgery. Honestly, if I sleep well, then I look good. Last night I slept well.
I enjoyed Season II with my cricket team. I was a bit disappointed when we didn’t fare well, but I know we’ll bounce back. I didn’t have film releases with the exception of Billu which was special for me. I got a honorary doctorate from the University of Bedfordshire, won a couple of other honours. My Name is Khan will come in February 2010. I had my shoulder surgery that kept me out of action now I’m on the road to recovery. I spent quality time with my kids. I’m finishing my book 20 Years Of A Decade. It was an unfortunate physical year but a good emotional one.
Yes, I have been constantly thinking about what I can give back to people, to society. Allah has been kind to me, He has given me so much. I have just six to seven good friends in the industry. But the media is my friend. You are the ones who remind me of my birthday at least four-five days in advance. You have given me so much love, so has my audience. Now I want to do something in return. I want to bring a smile to the faces of youngsters. I don’t want to start an NGO, but I do wish to do something for the cause of the girl child… The feeling of wanting to give is stronger now than it has been. I think of life as work. I want to introspect as to which direction I should take my life in. I want to do something to save the environment. Honestly, I haven’t done my bit yet but I will start now.
RA1. It is something I’m kicked about. It’s a film that children are going to love. It will have action, special effects and a super hero.
Yeah, Karan Johar gave me a lap top bag and a pair of very expensive shoes. My children are making something for me that will come over the weekend. Parmeshwar Godrej sent me a gift. She does that each year. One of my fans has bought me a piece of land on the moon, one has bought me land in Scotland. I’m accepting gifts till this weekend, so all of you who wish to give me something can do so till Sunday.
