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Posts tagged flak
Akshay joins world chorus against Jen
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
…wants ban on the word ‘retard’ after Hollywood hottie shoots off her mouth
Prithwish Ganguly | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; August 28, 2010)
Sassy Hollywood actress Jennifer Aniston isn’t making headlines for the right reasons. Her joking statement of calling herself a retard on national US television has drawn a lot of flak, especially from many international groups fighting for the rights and wellness for the disabled.
The former wife of Brad Pitt used the word on the Live with Regis and Kelly show while saying, “Yes, I play dress up! I do it for a living, like a retard!” And the Special Olympics Committee, a global organisation that hosts bi-annual games for sportstars with disabilities, is miffed at Jennifer’s choice of word.
“The pervasive use of the R-word, even in an off-the-cuff, self-deprecating manner, dehumanises people with intellectual disabilities and perpetuates painful stereotypes that are a great source of suffering and negative stigma,” an official of the games has been quoted as saying. Meanwhile, taking up the baton of this international uproar against Jennifer is Akshay Kumar — the brand ambassador of Special Olympics Bharat. The Bollywood Khiladi is starting a novel campaign ‘Ban the R Word’ to demand a ban on the usage of the word ‘retard’.
Akki has been deeply pained by the word’s usage. And he will leave no stone unturned to make ‘Ban the R Word’ sensitise people to be humane while referring to people with More >
Raavan is an intelligent film…-Amitabh Bachchan
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Five things Amitabh Bachchan did not tweet or blog about in response to the criticism Raavan has faced…
TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; June 23, 2010)
1 If there have been rabid remarks on Raavan then that is what the people who made these observations have felt. When you are in the public arena, you will always be vulnerable to adverse comment and accusation. You will also be the idol of several, loved and admired equally. You cannot have it good all the time. You must learn to live with it or stop being a member of the celebrity club. Take it on the chin and smile. If you are right, get up and prove it. If you are wrong, acknowledge and accept it.
2 Mani Ratnam is an exceptional talent, even his so called ‘worst’ is a million times better than many so called ‘bests’. When one sets such high standards of credibility, you garner high expectation also. And when the audience feels that the standard has been even minutely compromised, it expresses disappointment. Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan may have disappointed you in Mela and Paheli, respectively. But that never stopped you from loving them for box office excellence in 3 Idiots and Kabhie Alvida Na Kehna.
3 The film is an astonishing mix of mythology and politics put out in ethereal poetry. It is an intelligent film that the ticket-paying audience and the box office pundits are not necessarily impressed with. Hence, the adverse reactions. Fair enough. It is Mani’s vision. We may not like his More >
DVD Review: MY NAME IS KHAN by JOGINDER TUTEJA
13 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in External Reviews
By Joginder Tuteja, April 24, 2010 – 11:13 IST
MOVIE DETAILS
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Soniya Jehan, Jimmy Sheirgill, Zarina Wahab, Tanay Chheda, Yuvaan Makar Director: Karan Johar Producer: Gauri Khan, Hiroo Johar Music: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy Lyrics: Niranjan Iyengar
THE FILM
Their names are Khan and Johar. And they are no more just candy floss filmmakers.
This statement pretty much describes the effort that has gone into making My Name Is Khan and the best part is that within no time, it is obvious that the ‘effort’ isn’t made visible just for the sake of it. First and foremost the film is a complete turnaround for Karan Johar brand of cinema because he leaves his troupe of 500 group dancers somewhere far behind and settles for a world where the only dance step performed by Shah Rukh Khan is an awkward ‘two left feet and one forward move’. Thankfully, this is not the only factor that makes My Name Is Khan entirely different from all the films that Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan have made so far. There is more. Actually, a lot more.
Credit must be given to Karan Johar and Co. for letting know their audience what’s in store in the opening reel itself. Within a restricted space of the credit rolls, the picture is completely clear that it is not going to be an easy journey for Rizwan Khan (Shah Rukh Khan) who is off on a road journey to meet the President of America. His mission? To tell him and then the entire world that ‘His name is Khan and he is not a More >
Vidya to wear Sabyasachi’s outfits in No One Killed Jessica
03 years ago
Vidya Balan to stick to what suits her best in No One killed Jessica – ethnic wear by her favourite Sabyasachi
By Sonal Chawla (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 22, 2010)After getting flak for her dressing sense in her earlier movies, Vidya Balan has become extremely conscious of her clothes. She is finally happy that she has been appreciated for her outfits in Paa and Ishqiya, thanks to designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee.
So it’s not surprising that Sabyasachi has become her favourite designer. Lately, she insisted that she will only work with him in No One killed Jessica, directed by Rajkumar Gupta.
The other lesson she has also learnt in the recent past is that she should stick to Indian outfits that she is comfortable in, rather than experiment with the Western look.
VidyaBalan Sabyasachi MukherjeeA source from the unit reveals, “Vidya categorically told Gupta that she needs Sabya on board for her clothes. As she is accepted and appreciated for her Indian wear, she will once again be seen in similar costumes in this film. At best, the actress will wear denims paired with tunics and kurtis. Her role does not demand a Western look and thus she will stick to Indian wear.”
Apart from movies, Vidya has also been dressing for events in Sabya creations. “She carries it off really well and has been garnering major compliments for the same,” the source added.
The media thinks it is mine and Ritiesh’s revenge on them-RGV
03 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Rann is 100% inspired by real life , says RGV
MEENA IYER Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; January 21, 2010)
The maverick Ram Gopal Varma can’t help but play with fire. It is alleged that his work Rann, that is based on the electronic media, is 100% inspired by real life. Though RGV hid behind a careful “Rann is a work of fiction, 100% inspired by real life” at a recent press conference, the grapevine says that the film draws specific references to certain politicians, media czars and industrialists.
Rann is a drama that shows the misleading, deceptive and devious side of the news business on the one hand, and the curious, generous and indispensable side on the other hand, in its effort to see which will carry more weight in today’s India.
Of course, what everyone is curious as hell about is who RGV has modelled his principle characters on. The filmmaker smiles mysteriously as he says, “Well you’ll have to watch the film to see the similarities between the reel and the real life characters who people are imagining that I have drawn inspiration from.’’ And though he won’t say it, talk is that in the plot line there is a passing reference to two industrialist brothers who are currently at war with each other.
Anyway, what RGV is ready to throw light on is the fact that he has modelled the character of his protagonist Amitabh Bachchan on the lines of a Dr Prannoy Roy. “When Prannoy launched his channel three decades ago he came with a lot of respectability and More >
My character in 'Ishqiya' oozes sensuality: Vidya Balan
03 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
After playing an ideal mother in ‘Paa’, Vidya Balan says she is ready to surprise audiences with a completely different avatar in forthcoming movie ‘Ishqiya’. She will be seen as a conniving, scheming woman in Vishal Bharadwaj’s dark drama.
“For the first time I’ll be playing a woman who is conniving, scheming and in whom there is a sexual aggression,” Vidya told us in an interview.
“She is an aggressive person. She is someone who is unapologetic about her own choices. Bold is the word I’ll use for the lack of a better word. In the Indian context, she would be Rambha, Durga or Kali. She is someone who is dressed from top to toe but oozes sensuality,” the actress said.
Set in eastern Uttar Pradesh, ‘Ishqiya’ is a tale of romance between individuals caught in a web of crime, suspense, passion and deceit. Made by first time director Abhishek Chaubey and produced by Bharadwaj, the film also stars Arshad Warsi and Naseeruddin Shah in pivotal roles.
In the film, Vidya sports a deglamourised look and mouths expletives.
Asked if Bharadwaj was the reason she signed ‘Ishqiya’, she said: “It’s always very reassuring when the producer is an established guy because when you take a film, you want to know that no compromises will be made while making the film and even after it gets released.
“Of course Vishal comes with a certain brand and credibility…but more importantly I loved the role offered to me. I wouldn’t have given it up. Along with that I loved Abhishek’s passion and More >
Bandra Muslims to defend SRK, Mannat from Sena
0By KETAN RANGA (Mid-Day; February 4, 2010)
Muslims from Bandra have come out in Shahrukh Khan’s support after the actor drew flak from the Shiv Sena for his comment on the non-inclusion of Pakistani players in the IPL.
The 700-member strong Bandra Muslim association, whose membership includes maulanas, political leaders and Muslim youth from Bandra, held a meeting last night and decided to express their support for the star and oppose the Sena’s stand. They have also decided to guard the actor’s residence, Mannat.
‘Stern action required’ Farooq Ghosi, president of the association, said, “Shahrukh and Aamir belong to the Bandra area and they are being targeted because they are Muslim actors. We have been noticing the statements made by the Sena leaders in the last few days and we won’t allow this to continue. The government should take stern action and arrest Uddhav or we will come out on the streets. We will guard the homes of these actors and if Sena protestors come to their residence, our youth will protest. We will answer the Sena people using their own methods.”
When asked whether this would create further law and order problems, he said, “Shiv Sena has already created the controversy. We are just trying to help the actors as saving the people of Bandra is our responsibility. We are not the actors’ followers but we won’t allow the Sena to target them unfairly.” The association will hold a press conference at the Press Club this afternoon.
Shah Rukh Khan, who is in New More >