Bollywood on self-healing path with four hits

Energetic openings to Bollywood's four recent releases, 'New York', 'Kambakkht Ishq', 'Love Aaj Kal' and 'Kaminey', have succeeded in getting the business perk up. Wounded by a long strike earlier this year, the film industry is perhaps on a self-healing path now, say trade pundits.

The two-month-long stand-off between the producers-distributors and multiplex owners over revenue sharing, which was resolved June 5, led to a whopping Rs.300 crore (Rs.3 billion) loss to the Hindi film industry.

The dry spell was broken by Kabir Khan's 'New York' that released June 26 followed by the other three films -- 'Kambakkht Ishq' that came July 3, 'Love Aaj Kal' July 31 and 'Kaminey' Aug 14 -- raking in a net profit close to almost half the losses so far this year.

'These four films will do a net business of Rs.150 crore (Rs.1.5 billion) put together,' revealed an industry insider.

Said trade analyst Taran Adarsh: 'The industry is definitely on a recovery path... it is getting better now, but we do need a big number of hits to follow as even an A-list movie like 'Luck' bombed.

'Every movie has a luck of its own. For example, a small-budget film like 'A Wednesday' had a moderate release last year but proved to be a dark horse. At the end of the day it's the content that will win.'

Film critic Omar Qureshi had something similar to say.

'The industry is healing. Everyone was deprived of movies. There was a desperation to watch films and the audiences couldn't handle it. So they took multiplexes by storm once good movies hit the screens and the result is worth watching,' said Qureshi.

'But that doesn't mean mediocre movies will win the race too... it'll only take big-budget and big-banner movies with a good story to make up for the losses and bring in footfalls,' he added.

The stand-off between producers-distributors and multiplex owners started in February over revenue-sharing. While the producers demanded a flat 50 percent share of all film revenues irrespective of the stars, budget and box-office collection, the exhibitors stressed on sharing profits based on the movie's earnings.

As a result the producers declared a strike from April 4 onwards, which saw no big Bollywood releases in multiplexes across the country.

Now all eyes are set on an array of big releases after the lull.

The line-up includes Shahid Kapoor-Rani Mukerji starrer 'Dil Bole Hadippa', three movies of Salman Khan -- 'Wanted', 'Main Aur Mrs Khanna' and 'London Dreams' -- two Ranbir Kapoor-starrers 'Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani' and 'Rocket Singh - Salesman of The Year', and Aamir Khan's '3 Idiots'.

Apart from these, there are also Hrithik Roshan's much-talked-about action thriller 'Kites', Priyanka Chopra's 'What's Your Raashee?', two movies starring Amitabh Bachchan -- 'Aladdin' and 'Pa' -- Akshay Kumar's 'De Dana Dan', Govinda's 'Hook Ya Crook' and Neil Nitin Mukesh's 'Jail'.

Bollywood blockbuster

Jodhaa Akbar, a historical epic about the romance between a Mughal king and a Hindu princess, dominated the 10th International Indian Film Academy awards on Saturday, winning six awards including best picture and best actor for heartthrob Hrithik Roshan.

Two Montreal English bands may be dropped from a bilingual St-Jean-Baptiste concert after one of the backers threatened to pull out over language issues.

The bilingual concert on June 23 in Montreal was to have showcased English bands Lake of Stew and Bloodshot Bill along with Quebec artists Malajube, Vincent Vallieres and Marie-Pierre Arthur.

Jammie Thomas-Rasset, the Minnesota woman who became America's only music file-sharing defendant so far to go to trial, is getting a replay two years after losing the case.

Thomas-Rasset will be armed with aggressive new lawyers when her retrial begins in federal court today.

I've always wanted to work with Hrithik: Bhansali

Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali says he always wanted to work with Hrithik Roshan and he's doing exactly that in his new venture that also stars his favourite actress - Aishwarya Rai. The two have already created wonders together in Dhoom-2 and Jodhaa Akbar.

"Hrithik and I wanted to work together for a very long time. I've always been impressed by his sincerity as an actor. I was waiting for the right opportunity to sign him. Working with Hrithik would be a new and rewarding experience," Bhansali said.

The director admits that Aishwarya is "special", after having worked with her in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Devdas.

"Aishwarya is very special to me. She suits the role in my new film to perfection. When she read the script she was deeply moved," he said.

Bhansali also rubbished reports that he had signed on Pakistani actor Imran Abbas for his next venture.

"I haven't signed anyone called Imran Abbas. I'm not making Heera Mandi right now...I met him almost a year ago, but I immediately realised he wasn't the actor I was looking for. Just because I don't speak out, people take advantage of my silence."

He also maintains that he is still proud of his Saawariya, which flopped.

"It's my rarest work in terms of treatment."

Excerpts from the interview:

You seem to have quietly signed a Pakistani actor called Imran Abbas for Heera Mandi.
So quietly that even I don't know about it. I haven't signed anyone called Imran Abbas. I'm not making Heera Mandi right now. It may happen much later.

I'm now directing another film with Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai. I'm very excited about the film, and so are they.

You continue to be fearless in spite of Saawariya?
This is the time when filmmakers need to be fearless and experiment with themes. Fearlessness is my biggest asset as a filmmaker. I will continue to make films that come from deep within me. My very first film Khamoshi: The Musical didn't do well at all. A lot of people think it's my best work.

So are you as proud of Saawariya as the rest of your films?
Of course. Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam or Devdas can be made again, but Saawariya cannot. It's my rarest work in terms of treatment. It had beautiful performances and visuals. I tried to put a stage-play on film. Of course at the end of the day the audience decides what it likes.

So have you met Pakistani actor Imran?
Moin Beg, who has written Heera Mandi, wanted me to meet Imran. So I met him almost a year ago, but I immediately realised he wasn't the actor I was looking for. Just because I don't speak out, people take advantage of my silence.

Why don't you clarify the misconceptions when they occur?
I can't bring myself to become the master of sound bytes. But beyond a point silence is construed as a sign of acceptance. I don't even meet new actors, musicians or lyricists. I've already decided whom to work with in my next project. And why go to Pakistan to get actors? We've very talented people in our own country.

There were reports that some actors, including Ranbir Kapoor, didn't want to work with you?
People are writing tragic tales about me every day. They are even deciding what film I'm making and also casting actresses in them... Maybe stories about me sell. But when the misrepresentations go beyond my tolerance, it's time to speak up. The truth is Ranbir and Sonam would be there for me whenever I need them. However, at the moment I'm making a film with Hrithik and Aishwarya.

Will Parvathy win the Miss World crown?

The last time India won the Miss World pageant was in 2000. But experts busy grooming Parvathy Omanakuttan say she has the vivacity, warmth and beauty to bag the crown again for the country.

Standing tall at 5 feet 9 inches, 21-year-old Parvathy will compete with 109 contestants at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg, South Africa on Saturday. Zee Café will telecast the Miss World 2008 contest live at 8.30 pm.

"She has the 'X' factor that sets apart a supermodel from the models. It's her vivacity and warmth that make her instantly likeable. She is a perfect mix of beauty with brains," diction expert Sabira Merchant said in a statement.

Ace photographer Subi Samuel admires Parvathy a lot and believes she exudes class and confidence and this could do the trick for her.

Talking on the same lines, fitness expert Deanne Pandey said: "She is an ideal blend of panache and poise. Her face just lights up each time she smiles."

Ace choreographer Sandeep Soparrkar said: "You cannot take your eyes off her even in a room full of gorgeous women and that is the hallmark of a beauty queen."

Expectations from millions of Indians are acting as an inspiration for Parvathy as she feels 'this is a big responsibility' and is trying her best to live up to the hopes of everyone.

"This contest is not only about winning but with it comes the responsibility of upholding the name of the country. I am trying to be a stronger person to face the contest and I will try my level best to make every Indian all over the world proud," she explained.

Like many beauty queens, Parvathy too is smitten by the big screen and says she would love to act if the 'right' kind of roles fall into her kitty.

"I would love to do a movie opposite Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan, as I have a big time crush on these guys," she said.

Parvathy has big shoes to fill as India boasts of Miss Worlds like Reita Faria (1966), Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (1994), Diana Hayden (1997), Yukta Mookhey (1999) and Priyanka Chopra (2000).

Slumdog beats Jodhaa Akbar in US

Danny Boyle's acclaimed hit "Slumdog Millionaire" has reached $3.8 million at the North American box office, surpassing the $3.4 million of the Hrithik Roshan-Aishwarya Rai epic Jodhaa Akbar to become the highest grossing Indian movie of 2008.

The film set and shot in Mumbai has done this after only three weeks in theatres while playing in only 49 locations, Fox Searchlight said Friday. Released in February, Jodhaa Akbar played much wider in 125 theaters and earned its total gross over nine weeks.

"Slumdog Millionaire" will continue to open in more theatres nationwide throughout December and will see its box office gross continue to climb. Though financed in the UK, the film's setting, story, and characters are all Indian.

"Slumdog Millionaire" recounts the travails of an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai who goes on to win a staggering 20 million rupees on India's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" game show and the process is nabbed by the police on suspicion of cheating.

"Slumdog Millionaire" added to its impressive list of industry accolades this week winning three British Independent Film Awards for Best Film, Best Director, and the Most Promising Newcomer prize for 18-year-old actor Dev Patel.

The song 'Paper Planes' by British Sri Lankan singer MIA, which is featured on the "Slumdog Millionaire" soundtrack earned a prestigious Grammy Award nomination for Record of the Year Dec 3.

And Thursday the film was named Best Picture of the Year by the National Board of Review which also honoured it in two other categories - Best Breakthrough Performance by an Actor for Patel and Best Adapted Screenplay (tie) for Simon Beaufoy.