Where Bollywood Comes Alive
Posts tagged parzania
Why were Kamal Haasan or Rajinikanth not part of Bombay Talkies song?-Onir
13 weeks ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Cannes is all about stargazing on the red carpet and 100 years of Indian cinema has turned into 100 years of Bollywood, say Onir & Co. There’s money for a 4 crore starry party at Cannes, but back home, there aren’t many theatres for our festival-hopping films. onir lashes out at the double standards in India
Zinia Sen (THE TIMES OF INDIA; May 25, 2013)
Bollywood celebs may be preening on the Cannes red carpet, but back home, many festival films never get a proper release. Onir, who was instrumental in starting Save Indie Films at Cannes last year, lashes out against the culture of celeb worship, the travails of indie filmmakers and how 100 years of Indian cinema is turning into 100 years of Bollywood. Excerpts:
The celebration of 100 years of Indian cinema is grabbing eyeballs at Cannes. But all you see is Bollywood… The Hindi film industry comprises 25% of Indian cinema, but strangely, films from no other industry was thought good enough to be taken to Cannes. Also, around 4-6 crore is splurged on an India night at Cannes. Why do we need such a PR exercise when the films selected for Cannes don’t even get a proper release? Miss Lovely, which competed in the Un Certain Regard last year — a section higher than Directors’ Fortnight where Gangs of Wasseypur was screened — is yet to release in India. The same holds true for Peddlers (2012). Does the Ministry, while sanctioning budgets, ever check later if the films are releasing? Just being to Cannes is not enough when all of More >
The Jolly effect: Recent cases against films, makers
02 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Throw a stone and you are likely to hit someone who is offended by a film. With the surge in cases against filmmakers, the industry clamours for clarity
Shubha Shetty (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 26, 2013)
Chennai-based advocate P Balambal has filed a case against Jolly LLB, alleging the film suggests it is jolly to be a lawyer when in reality, it is not so.
While this may be dismissed as an example of taking one’s profession a bit too seriously, fact is, it is just the latest in a cache of cases against various films pending in courts across the country.
Indeed, the one persistent complaint seems to be “my sentiments have been hurt”; be it a scene, dialogue, song, dance or title of any film based on any topic. And though some such cases may arise out of genuine concern, others appear to be quick fixes for instant publicity or financial gain.
Vijay Singh of Fox Star Studios, producers of Jolly LLB, said: “The series of legal notices slapped on Fox Star Studios regarding our latest film Jolly LLB is evidence of increasing intolerance among fringe groups, who, if they have their way, won’t let cultural freedom flourish. The recent observation by SC judges, ‘Don’t watch the film if it offends you’ is an incisive pointer to discourage such elements. The fact that the film is a big hit is proof that the common man is far more tolerant. We need to ensure that culture vultures don’t run us over.”
Rahul Dholakia, who dealt with cases against both Parzania and Lamhaa, said: “Bollywood More >
I don’t like diamonds; my biggest expense is books-Sarika
06 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Seema Sinha (BOMBAY TIMES; November 27, 2012)
Starting off as a child actor, graduating to a seasoned actress, then moving behind the scenes as a technician and returning to face the arc-lights… actress Sarika’s journey in the film world has come full circle. Dressed in a simple cotton salwar kurta, the light-eyed actress with the “never looking back” attitude talks career, daughters and, as usual, clamps down when it comes to her ex-husband — Kamal Haasan.
You seem to be leading a simple life… I am a very simple person, very basic. I don’t like jewellery or diamonds. My biggest expense in life is books and music. Whenever I get a signing amount I immediately run to a bookstore where I spend the whole day and my girls say, ‘Oh my God, now she will splurge 10000 to 15000…’
It’s been quite some time since you separated from Kamal Haasan. Have you moved on in life? Yes, of course, or else I wouldn’t have been where I am today. I am very happy as I have done it on my own. An ideal or a perfect life is to have people there for you at different stages of life, but it didn’t happen with me which I am okay with. This is my life and I have made the best of what I can as even today I take care of myself. I make sure that there is food on the plate. One thing nobody can take away from me is my pride. You get up in the morning, put on your makeup and you go. You thought you will never have to do all this again, but you have to do it so make the most of it. Do a Parzania, win a More >
Dholakia’s next on illegal liquor trade in Gujarat
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
The Parzania director has decided to bring out the real story behind the illegal liquor trade in Gujarat fuelled by the Government’s age-old prohibition laws
Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 10, 2011)
His hard-hitting film Parzania exposed the real-life experience of a 10-year-old Parsi boy who disappeared during communal riots in Gujarat and won Rahul Dholakia the National Film Award. Sticking to his genre of filmmaking, Dholakia is gearing up to raise the bar a notch higher.
This time, Dholakia is all set to address a state-wide issue of prohibition of alcohol in Gujarat and how it fuels the rampant illegal selling and consuming of liquor.
Our source elaborated, “Rahul Dholakia is keen to make a movie on the prohibition of alcohol in Gujarat as this topic has been largely unexplored. The filmmaker has roped in two Ahmedabad-based journalists to write the film.
The script is packed with a decade-long research on the issue namely – the impact of dry laws on socio, religious and cultural ethos. From Gandhi to Modi, the liquor policy in the state has been consistent.
The illegal trade of liquor in Gujarat is estimated to be over 12 to 15,000 crore, which is almost five times the state’s health and education budget. Irrespective of the political party that comes to power, no leader likes to tread on this sensitive issue.
The film covers a gamut of related issues ranging from revenues to religion, the politics of prohibition to communalism and More >
Ravi Chopra to produce Rahul Dholakia’s next
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
By Subhash K. Jha, August 7, 2010 – 13:34 IST
After Lamhaa and the almost-completed social satire Society, Rahul Dholakia is all set to direct a film for Ravi Chopra, again based on a “burning” issue.
But this time the issue that Dholakia who made films on the Gujarat communal riots (Parzania) and Kashmir, is not political. It’s about the loopholes in the legal system.
Ironically, the Chopras got themselves into a legal budge over the copyright of their latest film Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai which was an adaptation of the Hollywood film My Cousin Vinny.
Apparently, Dholakia’s film is inspired by the Chopras’ encounter with legal issues.
Says Dholakia, “Right now it’s slightly early to talk about the project. But yes it tackles legal issues. I can’t comment on whether Mr. Bachchan is in the film. It is every director’s dream to direct him.”
Rahul Dholakia’s telescopic look at the militancy and Kashmir in Lamhaa has earned him a staunch fan-following in the Valley. Though the film couldn’t be released in Kashmir because of the violence, pirated DVDs of Lamhaa have flooded the Valley.
Apparently, some top Kashmiri leaders have watched the film on an illegal cable channel and have now invited him to come to the Valley to address the question of militancy. Dholakia can’t reveal their names for the fear that the politicians would be pulled up for viewing Lamhaa illegally.
Sometime ago, a huge hue and cry was raised when BJP members had watched a pirated copy of Raajneeti in More >
Movie Review: LAMHAA by FENIL SETA
02 years ago
The Kashmir issue is the most persistent and complicated issue ever since India got independence, especially after 1989. Naturally any crisis catches the eyes of filmmakers and Kashmir problem was no exception. However, many films failed to give a true account of the problem and at such a point, Rahul Dholakia comes up with Lamhaa which promises to present the ‘untold story of Kashmir’. To an extent, the storyline is untold at least on celluloid but those closely or even remotely following the problems of the valley, Lamhaa offers nothing new. Still, a good direction would have helped but very unfortunately, Lamhaa is badly executed. A great chance gone totally waste!
The story of the movie: Vikram (Sanjay Dutt) is sent to Kashmir by the Military Intelligence to investigate the possible destructive plan that is likely to create havoc in the state. After reaching Srinagar, he assumes the identity of Gul Jehangir. On the same day, Haji (Anupam Kher), a popular separatist leader, survives attack by a suicide bomber but his close aide, Shabbir is killed. Aziza (Bipasha Basu), Haji’s aggressive and fierce protégé wants to know who is behind the blast and sets on a trial. Vikram aka Gul realizes that there might be a link between the blast and the possible destruction and starts investigating. Since both Gul and Aziza were aiming for the same goal, they team up. Soon, Gul finds out that the entire conspiracy is far deeper than expected and a lot of top More >
The real status of Sanjay Dutt’s pending films
03 years ago
By Joginder Tuteja, April 19, 2010 – 13:56 IST
Recently it was reported that Sanjay Dutt is booked till 2011 with multiple projects in floors. Understandably so since he is the only veteran star from the generation of Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Sunny Deol and Mithun Chakraborty, who continues to have a huge fan following and can get audiences rooting for him if he really wishes so.
However, what also remains true is the fact that he is only star amidst other major actors who has the biggest line up of pending/stuck/almost shelved projects up his plate.
The situation today is that Sanju baba has close to a dozen odd projects that are still waiting to reach the deadline in spite of their target release timeline left behind long back.
Joginder Tuteja brings to you the status of where each of these films stand, what their makers have to say, whether these films will ever see the light of the day and if so, then when?
——————————————————————————– Film: Mr. Fraud
Original plan for release: 2006
Producer: Shree Ashtavinayak Cinevision Ltd
Director: Abbas -Mustan
Co-stars: Ajay Devgan, Bipasha Basu, Tanushree Datta
Flashback
This Abbas-Mustan directed comedy had a fruitful London schedule way back in 2006. However, Sanjay Dutt’s personal problems resulted in any further shoot being delayed while there were also hassles around combination dates of all the stars (Ajay Devgn, Bipasha Basu, Tanushree Dutta) as well. Close to 70% of the film was already canned but there More >
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 66
03 years ago
WHAT’S YOUR CHOICE-WANTED OR ‘DIL BOLE HADIPPA!’?
After a very disastrous dry period, here comes the biggest season of biggies ever! From tomorrow till the last week of December 2009, we are going to get at least one biggie every Friday and some Fridays are going to be clogged with 3-4 big films. The season will start with two fresh and interesting films, Wanted and ‘Dil Bole Hadippa!’ (DBH).
Let’s talk about DBH first. This Rani Mukherjee starrer somehow reminds me of Rani’s Laaga Chunari Mein Daag which was similarly released during Ramzan Id in 2007 just like DBH. What’s more, both the movies are of Yash Raj Films! DBH is a very important film for Rani who off late has given a spate of flops. DBH is the best chance to prove that she’s still the best. If this film flopped, she may have to bid goodbye to films forever. Coincidentally, Rani was at a similar juncture during the release of Saathiya. She had given a lot of flops in a row and she had pinned all her hopes on Saathiya. In fact she was determined that if Saathiya doesn’t work, she’ll quit acting. Fortunately, Saathiya clicked big time with the audiences and Rani was appreciated by everyone for her performance. Fast forward to present-the situation is just the same!
What really impressed me about DBH is its marketing strategy. When the shooting of the film began, no one got a hint about Shahid’s presence in the film. The stills of the film that were released more than a year back featured More >