Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 378

Ek Dissapointment!

28/06/2014

Balaji produced aur Mohit Suri directed Ek Villain do premee aur ek serial killer ki kahani hai.

Prem kahani mein premee ya toh haste hain aur ya phir rote hai.

Iss prem kahani mein, ladki hamesha khush rehti hai aur ladka hamesh gusse mein rehta hai.

Ladki Aisha yaane Shradha Kapoor ladke ko ‘villain’ pukarti hai aur ladka Guru yaane Sidharth Malhotra ladki ko ‘pagal’ bulata hai.

Police station se pagal khane ke safarr tak dono mein dosti aur pyaar ho jaata hai aur ye sab itna aasan aur uncomplicated dikhaya hain ki jootha aur banaavti lagta hai!

Ritesh Deshmukh, Siddharth Malhotra aur Shradha Kapoor apni orr se  puri mehnat karte hai magar unke jasbaad dilo tak nahi pohachte.

Film behad violent hai aur lambi bhi...

Haan kuch gaane aur shann khupsurat hai jaise pahadi ke upar pehli baarish mein naachte morr…ya phir hatheli mein thaami titli…!

Kummi hai toh jasbaad aur logic ki, ya p-hir director Mohit Suri ke special touch ki!

Ek Villain ko Big Entertainment Ratings milte hai 2 stars.

Bhawana Somaaya / Twitter - @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 377

Story in Pictures

26.6.2014

Veteran press photographer R T Chawla associated with film industry for 30 years has penned a book about his memories. Associated with Punjab Kesari published from Punjab, Chawla has been writing this book over a couple of years. Chawla says while other writers write about stars he has written about his experiences with stars. “There was so we observed and so much we absorbed. I have spent so much time with Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar.  I have been a witness to their happy and sad moments of life and through this book I share these experiences. Comprising over exclusive 1000 photographs the book is to hit the stands by next month. 

Bhawana Somaaya/ Tweets@bhawanasomaaya 

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 376

Icons

25.6.2014

You have to grant it to Neville Tulli, whatever he does, he does with style. All his events are superbly organized, extremely aesthetic and superbly attended. He does not leave anything to chance. Osian’s 2^nd Osianama Series Auction and the ICONS – the 2^nd Cricketing Heritage Auction (with a focus on the memorabilia of Sir Don Bradman, Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Richard Hadlee, Dennis Lillee, Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar) jointly held at the Tao Art Gallery in Mumbai recently was an evening to remember. The art displayed were masterpieces and the evening an example of utmost style and grace.

Bhawana Somaaya/ Tweets@bhawanasomaaya 

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 375

Summer In Dubai

24.6.2014

I became a member at The Club in Andheri a few months ago and have never regretted it. It is the best place to walk in the evening and if I can become adventurous to learn swimming, the best place to swim too. It has the best Spa to pamper yourself at the end of a week end and if you are health conscious the best place to use the gym and lose some pounds.

But what I like most about the place is the extracurricular activities. A few months ago, they had invited Bhrama Kumari Shivani to deliver a lecture and the house was full. A few weeks ago, they organized a Bollywood Night where renowned singers entertained senior guests and a few days ago they organized a theme party titled Summer in Dubai where Sheikhs served falafel and there was a mehandi wali to paint your hands. They had organized a dance number too but with the new laws the performers were not granted permission which was a major disappointment but the food and the ambience more than made up for the loss.

In short life at The Club is nonstop fun and the show goes on…

Bhawana Somaaya/ Tweets @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 374

Who Killed Mr Boddy

23.6.2014

The internationally popular game is now a fun filled musical which brings the world's best known suspects to life and invites the audience to help solve the mystery: Who killed Mr. Boddy in which room and with which weapon. Before the play begins the audience is served forms to help them deduce the solution from clues given during the play showing. 

Three audience members choose from cards representing the potential murderers, weapons and rooms. There are 216 possible solutions. There are three qualified detectives to unravel the merry mayhem.

Written by Pittro and directed by debut director Saloni Shukla who trained in Mumbai, New York and Singapore in cinematography, filmmaking and digital editing before exploring on theatre are responsible for a new chapter in theatre involving audience participation in solving a mystery.

Six weapons, six rooms, six suspects and 216 possible endings determined at the beginning of the show by the audience, Who Killed Mr Boddy is a witty, beguiling play and hosts the premier during the Prithvi Summer time on 21 Saturday and 22 Sunday, 11am.

Bhawana Somaaya/ Tweets @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 373

Humshakals is madness!

20 / 06 / 2014

Vashu Bhagnani produced aur Sajid Khan directed, Humshakals, ek nahi, do nahi, teen kirdaron ke teen, humshakalon ki kahani hain.

Abhi tak humne zyadatar, ek actor ke humshakal, yaane double roles ki filmein dekhi hain, jaise Ram aur Shyam ya Seeta aur Geeta.

Gulzar sahab ne pehli baar, Shakespear ki Comedy of Errors par adharit, double actors ko double roles mein pesh kiya tha, Angoor mein.

Hindi cinema mein, sirf do super stars ne ek film mein teen roles, jaise ek baap aur do judwa bête ki bhumikaein nibhayi hain. Dilip Kumar ne Bairaag mein aur Amitabh Bachchan ne Mahaan mein!

Aisi filmon mein aksar, ek character serious hota hai, jo drama pesh karta hain aur doosra character, hasmukh hota hai, jo comedy karta hain!

Sajid Khan ki Humshakal mein teeno actors, Saif Ali Khan, Ritesh Deshmukh aur Ram Kapoor teeno roles mein slapstick comedy karte hai.

Aisi filmo mein kaun, kya karta hai se zyada, kaun, kaise karta hai, zyada maine rakhta hain.

Magar Saif Ali Khan, Ritesh Deshmukh aur Ram Kapoor, kyun aur kya karte hai  sirf director Sajid khan jaante hain.

Kahani illogical hain, jokes stupid aur characters brainless.  Behtar hoga agar aap apne humshakal ko ye film dekhne bheje.

Humshakals ko Big Entertainment Ratings milte hai 1.5 stars.

Bhawana Somaaya/ Tweets @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 372

Tisca Chopra-Acting Smart

19.6.2014

These are wonderful times when a writer is an actor and an actor is an author.The highly talented actress Tisca Chopra recently turned an author by releasing her debut book Acting Smart at Le Mangii Juhu!

The event was graced by old and new friends from television and film world. Boman Irani was the chief guest and other friends from the industry who were there to support Tisca were Mini Mathur, Mukesh Chabbra and Sakshi Tanwar.

Tisca revealed that the idea of the book had been haunting her for a long time and finally she mustered courage to write it as a book. The book is called Acting Smart and is penned by an actor but the content is everything but acting and therefore the title Acting Smart. Pun intended.

Bhawana Somaaya/ Tweets @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 371

The world’s a workshop

18.6.2014

Theatre, TV and film actor Nivedita Bauthiyal has done more than 50 Hindi-English and folk plays and conducts workshops in schools and colleges and corporate offices in Mumbai and outside. Associated with IPTA for many years she is currently the Vice President of Indian Peoples Theatre association Mumbai (IPTA).

Associated with the performing medium for more than three decade4s Nivedita has been active both before and behind the camera. Bauthiyal’s workshp includes the following: Acting, Body Culture, Voice Culture, Speech & Diction, Storytelling, Story making, Scriptwriting, Music and Production/Performance.

The theatre workshop enhances your personality and provides an opportunity to explore your potentials. It improves communication skills and confidence in adults and children benefit from the experience in their academic learning. They learn about creating drama, learn interaction and become better speakers and listeners. The exercise of free communication builds their self esteem.

 Bhawana Somaaya/ Tweets @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 370

Shadow & The Substance

17.6.2014

Subhash Ghai sent a mail that going through his files he discovered a picture of Mr and Mrs Dilip Kumar sowing a plant at the bhoomo poojan of the campus of his Whistling Woods School. On that day Ghai told Yusuf Khan that he would name the plant Dilip Kumar and today the tree stands tall in the campus reminding all of the memorable day when Dilip Kumar visited the campus. Ghai has claimed in all his interviews that Dilip Kumar is the reason for him joining films and starting an academy. “There would have been no Whistling Woods if there was no Dilip Kumar”. On the release of Dilip Kumar’s autobiography The Shadow and the Substance, Subhash Ghai became emotional and said Dilip Kumar will remain immortal for show business for years and years to come.

Bhawana Somaaya/ Tweets @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 369

All the world’s a workshop

16.6.2014

Theatre, TV and film actor Nivedita Bauthiyal has done more than 50 Hindi-English and folk plays and conducts workshops in schools and colleges and corporate offices in Mumbai and outside. Associated with IPTA for many years she is currently the Vice President of Indian Peoples Theatre Association Mumbai (IPTA).

Associated with the performing medium for more than three decades Nivedita has been active both before and behind the camera. Bauthiyal’s workshop includes the following: Acting, Body Culture, Voice Culture, Speech & Diction, Storytelling, Story making, Script writing, Music and Production/Performance.

The theatre workshop enhances your personality and provides an opportunity to explore your potentials. It improves communication skills and confidence in adults and children benefit from the experience in their academic learning. They learn about creating drama, learn interaction and become better speakers and listeners. The exercise of free communication builds their self esteem.

Bhawana Somaaya/ Tweets @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 368

Fugly raises issues, Chal Bhaag bores!

13/06/2014

Grazing Goats produced aur Kabir Sadanand directed Fugly, chaar doston ki kahani hain.Dev yaane Mohit Marwah, tourist guide banna chahta hain. Devi, yaane Kiara Advani apni maa ki khushi chahti hain.

Gaurav yaane Vijender Singh World cup jeetna chahta hain aur Aditya, yaane Arfie Lamba apna family business chamkana chahta hain.

Ye saare sapne sach ho sakte thhee, agar, unki mulaqat, Police Inspector Chautala, yaane Jimmy Shergil se naa hoti!

Film ka premise contemporary hain, casting refreshing aur actor’s ke beech ki chemistry terrific!

Arfie Lamba hasmukh hain, nayi jodi Mohit Marwa aur Kiaira Advani effective magar baazi marte hain Chautala, yaane Jimmy Shergill.

Film ke kuch sequences lambe hain, kuch repetitive hain, aur kuch pehloo nazar andaaz kiye gaya hai – jaise mushkil samay mein charon doston ke pariwar aur unki aam zindagi!

Phir bhi Fugly dekhni chahiye kyon ki Director Kabir Sadanand samaaj se jude hue aham muddein uthate hain…

Desh ke shahido ki neglected families, bade shehron ki bimariyaan jaise - drugs/ rave parties/ eve teasing/blackmail aur police se politics tak faila hua corruption!

Fugly ko nek vichar aur sandesh  ke liye Big Entertainment Ratings milte hain 3 stars.

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Saini Hyder produced aur Prakash Saini directed, Chal Bhaag Purani Delhi me rehne wale teen badmashon ki kahani hain.

Munna Supari, yaane Deepak Dobriyal jo baat baat par chakkoo chalata hain.

Bunty Chor yaane Tarun Bajaj jo wallet aur chain churata hai.

Aur Daler yaane Varun Mehra jiske nazdeek jaane se wo katne ko aata hain.

Ek raat, beech sadak, shehar ke MLA ka khoon ho jata hain aur ilzaam aata hain Munna/ Bunty aur Daler par!  

Chaal Bhaag chor police ki bhaaga bhagi ki kahani hain. Na ismein koi naveenta hain aur na entertainment.

Behtar hoga agar aap iske peeche na bhaage.

Chal Bhaag ko Big Entertainment ratings milta hain 1 star.

Bhawana Somaaya / Tweets - @bhawanasomaaya 

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 367

Gujarat & Mango festival

12.6.2014

Gujarat carries a legacy of being the only home for Asiatic Lions. Another specialty about Gujarat is its large scale production of mangoes of the best qualities. Gujarat Tourism has seized this timely opportunity to promote Sasan as a major tourist destination by organizing a Mango Festival. The Festival will be organised between 7-9 June 2014 and called Sasan-Gir. The Hon’ble Minister of State for Tourism, Shri Jayesh Radadiya will be the Chief Guest at the Inauguration Function. On display will be a variety of mangoes including Kesar, Badam, Payri, Totapuri, Neelam, Rajapuri, etc. A range of cultural programs and activities will entertain the audience combined with games and quizzes. The festival will provide a platform for interactions   between the farmers and the exporters and special tours have been planned to visit Sasan-Gir, Devaliya Safari Park, Mango farms in the area, Somnath Temple, the Light and Sound Show, Bhalka Teerth and Dehotsarg.

Bhawana Somaaya/ Tweets @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 366

Book on Dilip Kumar

11.6.2014

Yesterday was the release of Dilip Kumar’s autobiography and all roads led to Hotel Hyatt. Dilip Kumar has been an inspiration for a whole generation of actors in films and has in a career spanning five decades, done varied roles. Numerous writers have tried to capture his magic in print and there are innumerable books describing his immense talent. This week Dilip Kumar releases his autobiography in a much anticipated event in Mumbai and which will be attended by the entire film fraternity.

Dilip Kumar was born as Yusuf Khan on 11 December 1922 in an Awan family in Peshawar, now Pakistan. His father Lala Ghulam Sarwar was a fruit merchant and owned Orchards in Peshawar and Deolali. He is the third child of his parents older to nine siblings and the only superstar in the family. He studied at the prestigious Barnes School, Deolali and spent all his free time in reading.

Sometime in 1930 Ghulam Sarwar and his family shifted from Peshawar to Bombay and put his eldest son in charge of their fruit orchards. When Yusuf Khan completed his education; his father put him on duty to watch over their dry fruit suppliers and assigned to start a canteen in Aundh, Pune. Yusuf Khan was just 18 years old when he left home and his mother was worried how he would survive amidst strangers. She needn’t have worried because working in a Military Canteen had a positive influence on the young boy. He learned discipline, focus, commitment and when opportunity beckoned, Yusuf, supported by his father, was ready for adventure!

Bhawana Somaaya/ Tweets @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 365

Book on Aaamir Khan

10.6.2014

Today’s big news is the Mumbai Metro. The small news is that on Sunday was a book release of Aamir Khan that never happened.

The invite for Aamir Khan pictorial book published by Niyogi arrived a week. On Sunday evening as I got ready to reach the venue, a cameraman friend called to say that there was a mess up and Aamir Khan was not attending the event.

How could an established publisher like Niyogi organize a large scale event without confirmation from Khan?

How could they print distinguished names on the card without first getting Khan’s approval for the book and the event?

I shudder to think how the assembled guests must have reacted. Maybe author/ photographer Pradeep Chandra forgot to connect with Aamir Khan or maybe he assumed that the publisher will do the needful  but the evening was a letdown for Aamir fans.

Bhawana Somaaya/ Tweets @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 364

Varun Dhawan- Aliya Bhatt: Perfect Pair

9/6/2014

The occasion is the trailer release of AA Productions and Karan Johar’s new film Humpty Sharma ki Dulhaniya and the venue, PVR Juhu.  The media is settled in their seats and the cameramen all ready on the top berth to capture an overview of the event to unfold. Exactly an hour later than the allotted time finally the brand backdrops are brought on stage and spread out. It is an indicator to start the show.  The lights turn dim, from back stage appears a doli on the stage. 

The curtains are sealed and you expect the heroine of the film Aliya Bhatt to jump out of the doli instead it is Varun Dhawan who jumps out with shades and a microphone in hand. Varun introduces himself as Humpty Sharma and declares that he is desperately looking for a bride.“Deepika, Katrina jaisi koi bhi chalegi magar thodi short hogi toh mujhe zyada suit karegi...” Loud bugles, deafening drums and a row of baratis dance down the aisle and among them is the effervescent Aliya Bhatt dressed in a costume similar to what Rani Mukherjee wore in Bunty aur Babli.

Aliya hops on the stage beside Varun and the duo are ready to take any questions from the media.

Bhawna Somaaya/ Tweets @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 363

Filmistan entertains, Holiday enlightens

 6/6/2014

UTV produced aur Nitin Kakkar likhi directed Filmistan, Bollywood fan Sunny ki kahani hain.

Sunny barson se filmon mein struggle kar raha hain aur ab tak anginat auditions se nakara ja chuka hain.

Rajashthan ke ek outdoor shooting ke dauran Sunny ka apharan kiya jaata hain aur wo apne aap ko Pakistan mein paata hain!

Filmistan dekhne ki 5 vajah hain. Ek, film ka brilliant concept. Filmistan ab tak ki Hindustan/ Pakistan par bani sabse anokni film hain.

Do, film ki sadgi. Director Nitin Kakkad jis thehrav se apni kahani aur kirdaron ko pesh karte hain aap ka dil jeet lete hain.

Teen, film ke samvaad jo zyadatar film dialogues par adharit hain isliye nostalgic hain aur hilarious bhi.

Chaar, film ke powerful performances jaise Aftaaab ki bhumika mein Inamullahaq aur sabse badhhiyaaan Sunny yaane Sharib Hashmi.

Aur paach, sabse aham, film ka message. Na film purane zakhm ka zikar karti hain aur na badlav ka vaada.

Filmistan insaniyat ki kahani hain. Jasbaadon ki kahani hain. Cinema ki kahai hain!

Filmistan ko Big Entertainment Ratings milte hain 4 stars.

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Vipul Shah/Reliance produced aur AR Murgadoss directed Holiday military officer Capt Viraat Bakshi ki chuttiyon ki kahain hain.

Chuttiyon mein Viraat apne liye shaadi ke liye ladki dekhta hain, pariwar/ doston ke sang samay bitata hain aur 40 dinon ke andar terrorist gang ka sarvanash bhi karta hain!

Holiday dekhne ki 4 vajah hain. Ek, ye Sleeper Cells ke baare mein hain– yaane aise criminals, jo hamare aas paas, aam zindagi jeene walon mein se hain jo desh drohi hote hain aur jo iss vishay par ye pehli Hindi film hain.

Do film ka jaanbaaz action aur gripping screenplay.

Teen, film ki attractive starcast. Akshay ke dost ki bhumika mein Dipinder Sharma, uske senior ki bhumika mein Govinda aur premika ki bhumika mein Sonakshi Sinha ek naya rang late hain.

Char, Akshay Kumar jo jaan leva action ke saath saath aapka bharpur manoranjan bhi karte hain.

Paanch, film ka social message: ek scene mein army officer apni behan se poochte hain, ‘Kya desh ki suraksha sirf army officer ka farz hain, ek civilian ki koi zimmedari nahi hoti?’

Crime world ko ek alag nazariye se pesh karne ke liyeHoliday ko Big Entertainment Ratings milte hain 4 stars.

Bhawana Somaaya/ Tweets @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 362

Coffee with Culture

5/6/2014

Whistling Wood has a knack of doing things different. First they launched an International’s cultural hub for those interested in movies, music and entertainment in Bandra and now in less than a year they are ready to launch another spacious destination in Andheri that will attract culture lovers. 

Lit up in fairy lights to launch the book release of Not Just Bollywood – Indian Director’s Speak host Subhash Ghai and author Tula Goenka were in high spirits. Goenka’s book features 28 directors from across the country that includes Shyam Benegal, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Rituparno Ghosh, Onir, Rakesh Roshan, Yash Chopra and Mira Nair amongst others. The book captures not just the personal journeys of these filmmakers but presents how cinema has evolved in India.

The evening was alive with a mesmerizing jazz performance by Dee Wood and Azeem Banatwala’s brilliant comic timing had everyone in splits. Meghana Ghai, President of Whistling Woods told me that they intend to use the venue for diverse talent like book launches, play readings, film screenings and stand-up comics act in the night. The Film Club will be a space for exchange of art and culture ideas be it cinema or other performing.

Bhawana Somaaya/ Tweets @bhawnasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 361

Documentaries are fashionable

4/6/2014

On the second anniversary of WIFT celebrations Petrina Drazario promised she will give WIFT her best shot and she has. Last week she hosted the world premier of the much talked about documentary The World Before Her. It was a well attended event with serious documentary Today is maestro music director Ilaiyaraaja’s birthday. It will take centuries before another Illayraja will be born.

Bhawana Somaaya/ Tweets @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 360

Monthly Awards

3/6/2014

We have heard about annual awards but for the first time in the history of show business Life OK has come up with the novel idea of Monthly Awards. The nominations and the process is more or less the same except that the films considered are those showcased in a month. The categories will be the same and the jury will be the people of India. The idea is that why wait for a month to celebrate talent? If there is instant coffee and instant noodles why not have instant awards to tell you who will make it to the finals.

Quite clearly entertainment is not restricted to sports and to IPL or Kabbaddi, soon BIG Life OK Awards will become a front runner of a rage that is going to attack entertainment business. For the starters I had for company the hunk of television industry Mohit Raina. Have another look at him and tell me if Devon Ka Dev Mahadev is recognizable in a suit beside me.

Today is Sonakshi Sinha and Mani Ratnam’s birthday. Today, forty years ago Jab Andhera Hota Hai released and today, Radio was patented in 1896. Must say we have come a long way.  

Bhawana Somaaya/ Tweets @bhawanasomaaya 

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 359

Poster Boy

02.06.2014

There was a time films were made on the editing table; today films are made on the marketing table infact show business is every day coming up with new ideas to sell a film or rather dreams.

Poster Boy conceived by two young boys Jimmy Mistry and Vivek Gawade is a Film and Sports Merchandise company. Launched in 2012 with an idea to promote Licensed Entertainment Merchandise in India, it is the first of its kind initiative in India. Associated with Indian and International film production houses, actors and sports celebrities Poster Boy aims to promote celebrity branded products among fans and enthusiasts who collect movie and sporting memorabilia. The company aims to expand the global market for such memorabilia in India.

The worldwide licensing and merchandising market is estimated to be around $185 billion. Just Star Wars movie merchandise has done business of $9 billion, Harry Potter’s merchandise over $12 billion. Manchester United and Real Madrid have sold an average of 1.4m official replica shirts globally every year in the last half decade. The licensing and the merchandising market of Indian films is as promising and estimated to be around $30 million in retail. India houses one of the world’s largest entertainment & media industry with more than 1000 films releasing annually. Taking into consideration that licensing is relatively a new concept in India and the figures are miniscule compared to other international markets, India is even then fast establishing itself as a strong potential market in the future world of licensing.

Jimmy and Vivek have within just a year  established Poster Boy to a credible position that boasts of brand associations with all kinds of production houses be it UTV Motion Pictures, NFDC (National Films Development Corporation), Vinay Pictures (Andaz Apna Apna), Manchester United, Hrithik Roshan (HRX), Eros International,Warner Bros, Paramount Pictures Shemaroo or brand personalities like Sachin Tendulkar.

Bhawana Somaaya/ Tweets @bhawanasomaaya