Where Bollywood Comes Alive
Posts tagged Radio
Himesh returns to his first love?
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Rumour has it
The musician turned actor decides not to restrict his talent to his own films, signs up to compose the tunes for Akshay Kumar’s Namastey London 2
Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 02, 2011)
After four years, Himesh Reshammiya is making a comeback as a music director and that too with Vipul Shah’s sequel to Namastey London. Interestingly, the original was the last film that Reshammiya worked on, in 2007, before his decision to compose music exclusively for the movies he was cast in.
Our source told us, “Himesh was a on a roll as a music director and then as a singer. However, when he decided to compose music only for the films he was in, the entire industry was shocked. Now finally, after almost four years, he is back.
Namastey London was his last film for an outside banner as a music director. He will work on Namstey London 2 with Vipul and Akshay. Though Himesh still hasn’t decided whether he’ll be singing for the film, he already has a repertoire of around 500 tunes.”
The source added, “The music will be under Himesh’s recently formed music banner HR Musik. While Himesh might have abandoned his decision to do music exclusively for films he was cast in, he has decided that he will only do films under his own music company.
Himesh Reshammiya had been an extremely successful music director in the last decade with big musical hits like Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge (2000). Humraaz (2002), Tere Naam (2003), Aitraaz (2004), Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya (2005) and More >
Shenaz Treasurywala on Luv Ka The End
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
By Joginder Tuteja, April 23, 2011 – 12:22 IST
After being all cute and nice on television as well as her brief stint with films, Shenaz Treasurywala is now showing the mean side of her. Living up to the adage of ‘killer instincts’, Shenaz is revealing her inner devils by means of her first film as a screenplay writer – Luv Ka The End. Icing on the cake happens to be the fact that the film comes from the house of none less than Yash Raj films.
“It was Yash Raj Films’ idea to make a film around three girls who would be taking revenge on a guy in a course of one night. They commissioned Shenaz to write the film after reading another screenplay that she had written about three girls. However, the girls in the original screenplay were a little older in their late 20s and the setting was more like ‘Sex and the city’ in Mumbai. YRF wanted a young teen flick instead and hence put Shenaz and her partner (Roye Seagal) through a series of tests before finally giving them a green signal for Luv Ka The End “, informs a source attached to the film.
Once Shenaz, a popular VJ and actress in films like Ishq Vishk, Radio and soon-to-be-released Delhi Belly came into picture, she started developing younger characters that were to be played by the likes of Shraddha Kapoor (for whom the film is a re-launch after a disastrous Teen Patti) and her on-screen boyfriend Taaha Shah on whom the revenge is planned. Incidentally this is also the first ever film for which Shenaz has written More >
Himesh returns to (only) composing
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 10, 2011)
After a stint in acting in films like Karzzzz, Radio, Kajraare didn’t work out for the best, Himesh has decided to go back to where he belonged composing music for Hindi films.
Previously, Himesh had a condition that he will compose music for only those films in which he also gets to play the role of the protagonist.
But seeing his recent stint in acting, he has finally let go off his diktat and wants to concentrate only on composing music.
The only criterion that remains before Reshammiya signs any film would be that its music rights stays with his company, HR Musik.
Says Reshammiya, “I am ready with 110 songs and 300 compositions. Nearly 150 singers have signed up with me; they include bands and folk singers.
I have collaborated with them and also jammed with them. We are focusing on international albums.
And let me also tell you, that I don’t mind if an outside singer croons to my compositions for a film. Bollywood will definitely be a part of HR Musik.”
Producers’ stand based on ignorance-Javed Akhtar
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
The veteran lyricist has been banned by producers for his outspoken thoughts on artiste royalties but he insisits that the industry is ignorant of the real rules
Satyen K Bordoloi | MM Online Bureau (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 03, 2011) File photo of Javed Akhtar
Besides the scarcity of hits in 2010, Bollywood this year was ‘hit’ by infighting. A group of music composers and lyricists, with Javed Akhtarsought rights over their work and demanded royalty. This led to a decision within the industry to ban Javed Akhtar. As the year comes to an end, not only has the issue failed to resolve itself, it threatens to divide the industry further.
being the most vocal amongst them,An attempt was made to divert the topic at a press conference organised by various film bodies. Jointly addressed by Mukesh Bhatt, Ramesh Sippy, T.P Agarwal, Dinesh Chaturvedi and Ashok Pandit, the issue was shifted to the UPA government’s take on the film industry.
Mukesh Bhatt said, “The industry has been facing various issues like copyright issues, heavy taxation among other things, which has brought the industry to a paralytic stage. However, yesterday (28th December) we had a very important meeting with senior leaders of the Congress and the UPA Government, including Congress General Secretary – Ahmed Patel, I&B minister Ambika Soni and HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, we got a very positive response.” A pan-India strike that was planned from the 6th of January against the More >
Imran Khan’s toy copter confiscated by Customs
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Aneesh Phadnis and Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 18, 2010)
Little did actor Imran Khan imagine that his newly-purchased toy helicopter would land him in trouble with the custom authorities at the Mumbai airport. The actor was returning from New York after promoting his upcoming film Break Ke Baad and had purchased the helicopter there.
He was stopped by custom officials and quizzed about the toy. The officials demanded that Imran get permission from the Telecom Department for possessing such a toy. Restrictions have been imposed on import of aero models that run on certain radio bandwidths because of their possible interference with the communication networks of security agencies. The officials suspected that Imran was carrying such a model.
A source at the airport said, “When we asked Imran if he had permission from the telecom department for the toy, he replied that no permission is needed for the toy since it is not a remote controlled device and does not run on radio frequency.”
The officials confiscated the toy on the grounds of obtaining a clarification from the telecom department. The source said, “It is a high-end toy and the customs department has no expertise or instruments to test such products. If Imran produces a no-objection certificate from the telecom department we will hand over the toy to him.” No case was registered against Imran as there was no violation of custom rules.
Imran’s official spokesperson said, “The More >
Why should I quit acting?-Himesh Reshammiya
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Himesh Reshammiya reacts to suggestions that he should give up films
Reagan Gavin Rasquinha | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; November 15, 2010)
Himesh Reshammiya is a man of strong convictions. Despite the fate of his recent films Radio and Kajraare which flopped at the box office and Bhushan Kumar saying that Himesh should stop acting and focus on singing as he is “a fantastic music director”, it turns out that Himesh is getting due for his efforts. Mahesh Bhatt recently posted his praise online: “After Kajraare, Himesh is going to make his worst detractors regret for having written his box office ‘obituary’. It is going to be a ‘plus’ experience for the viewers of the channel it is going to be aired on. It has been made with passion by Pooja (Bhatt) and everyone in it is super.” As for Himesh, he says, “There is no point in quitting acting. It’s a passion and I love it. I am also busy with my music. I have a lot of interesting work this year, so I just want to say I will prove my worth by working even harder and with the blessings of God make my parents proud.” As the saying goes, you can’t keep a good man down!
Big B to copyright his voice?
02 years ago
If he does so, he can sue people who use imitations of his voice for their own purposes
Chandna Arora | TNN (MUMBAI MIRROR.COM; November 09, 2010) Amitabh Bachchan
You’re not an aspiring actor unless you’ve tried your hand at an Amitabh Bachchan imitation. From radio to ads to comedy shows, good/bad/downright criminal copies of his voice and mannerisms are everywhere, and he’s not alone. Many actors and celebrities are spoofed or have their voices copied pretty much everyday – in fact, so often that we barely notice any more.
But recently, Big B took deep umbrage at a gutka company copying his voice for their advertisement, especially “for someone who does not smoke or propagate smoking or any kind of intoxicant, by keeping away from endorsing such products, it is most disgusting to find someone conflagrating the law of the land and the law of ethics,” he wrote online.
He’s also said that he’s going to copyright his voice so that it’s not copied in this manner anymore.
Kis kis ki copy?
He’s probably the most imitated star, but there are a bunch of others whom we’ve heard being spoofed endlessly over the years – in both commercial and non-commercial spoofs. These remain the favourites when it comes to copies. Says mimic and TV comedian Suresh Menon, “People like Sanjeev Kumar, Shotgun, Dadamuni, Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan remain the most copied stars, and it just shows that our present day actors are not as iconic or as stylish More >
I compose my music not because I’m arrogant-Sanjay Leela Bhansali
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Sanjay Leela Bhansali makes his debut as a music director
Meena Iyer | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; October 14, 2010)
The music of Khamoshi, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas and Saawariya were credited to various composers, but unknown to most people, Sanjay Leela Bhansali made a silent contribution to each of these albums. And in Guzaarish, a co-production of UTV Motion Pictures and Sanjay Leela Bhansali Productions that is releasing worldwide on November 19, he takes a bow as a music composer.
The songs of the film are already a talking point. But to understand Sanjay’s deep-rooted passion for this art, one must understand where it all began. Says Sanjay, “Any film that I start, starts with the sound-track, with a piece of music or a song.” He explains how he has to have a collection of songs for the characters that he is writing: “Besides songs, I must even have the background pieces that I will use for each of my characters.’’
As a boy, radio was his raison de etre. Listening to songs on the radio was his passion. Slowly the passion translated into an all consuming affair. From an avid listener, Sanjay went on to become a participant in the whole process of composing. He recalls how Vidhu Vinod Chopra and he spent two years with the legendary R D Burman during the making of 1942 — A Love Story. And before he knew it, he had started on a musical journey.
Sanjay counts five people who have contributed to this passion of his. Melody Queen More >
A Rendezvous with Ammaji of Peepli Live
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
MM.com speaks to Natha’s mother, Farrukh ‘Ammaji’ Jaffer, only to bring out the intellectual and lighter side of a lady from the rustic lands of Uttar Pradesh
Kathika Kandpal (MUMBAI MIRROR.COM; September 28, 2010) Farrukh Jaffer, a far cry from Ammaji of Peepli Live
“I am too busy and too free, depending on my priorities. But if there is someone to listen to me, I can talk 24 hours. Jaise ham abhi aapse baat kar rahe hain,” 72-year-old Farrukh Jaffer bursts out laughing. “Ammaji” is bound to slip out of your mouth when you are talking to her. One of the most memorable characters of Peepli Live, Ammaji, is what she is better known as now.
A graduate and a student of National School of Drama (NSD), Delhi, Farrukh started her career in All India Radio as an announcer in Lucknow. At NSD, she learnt a lot from one of the most influential theatre directors Ebrahim Alkazi. She performed in a few of his plays and thoroughly loved the experience. But somehow, she felt closer to radio and films. It was Muzzaffar Ali, director of Rekha-starrer Umrao Jaan, who gave her her big break in the film where she played Rekha’s mother. Farrukh, who has her base in Lucknow for years now, feels deep gratitude towards Muzzaffar Ali, “I am thankful to Muzzaffar saab from the bottom of my heart. He gave me my first break. And it was his serial Damyanti where Ashutosh Gowariker spotted me and offered me Swades. He always gave me the freedom an artiste like me craves More >