Welcome 2 Karachi is time pass/Day 587

Vashu Bhagnani produced aur Ashish Mohan directed Welcome to Karachi, kahani hain do lafantar dost, yaane Shammi/Arshad Warsi aur Kedar/Jackie Bhagnani ki.

Dono bekar hain aur unko jo bhi kaam diya jaata hai, usse wo bilkul ulta karte hain.

Jackie ke pita, Nimesh Patel, wedding planner hain, aur dono doston ko shaadi ki zimmedaari dete hain, magar yahaan bhi, dono gadbad kar dete hain.

Jiss boat mein baaratiyon ka swagat karna hota hain, wo boat, smamandar mein doob jaata hain aur dono Karachi pohach jaate hain.

Film unke sarhad paar adventures ki gaatha hain - jahan bomb hain, goliyaan hain, mehfil hain aur naach gaana bhi.   

Sab kuch absurd, exaggerated hain, over the top hain magar ye subject ki zaroorat hain.

Chaar writers, Bakshi, Hirjee, Hussain aur Mohan milkar, char mulk, Bharat, Pakistan, America, Taliban ki samasyaaon ka humorous ‘take’ dete hain.

Film ka minus, kahani ek hi rang aur sur mein chalti hain jiski wajah se film kuch pheeki pad jati hain. 

Film ka plus, film ka refreshing subject, dilchasp locations aur Rochak Kohli ka music.

Zyadatar cast alag mulkon se hain, Shammi Thakur ki bhumika mein Arshad Warsi competent hain aur Kedar Patel ki bhumika mein Jacki Bhagnani surprise packet.

 Welcome to Karachi ko Big Entertainment Ratings milte hain 2.5 stars.

Bhawana Somaaya/ @bhawanasomaaya

So who is Meenakshi Dixit? Day 587

Meenakshi Dixit is a look alike of Madhuri Dixit who has grabbed the role of a prostitute in P Se PM Tak set to hit the screens on 29 May 2015.

Popular for her item numbers in Bengali films like Dookudu and Baadshah Meenaxi was excited at the prospect of making a debut in Bollywood and did not care that she enacted the role of a sex worker. While her detractors in Tollywood think it is a mistake to debut in such a role Meenakshi has taken it as a challenge to the red light area in Mumbai to add authenticity to her performance.

In case the film and her performance are appreciated Meenakshi’s story should be titled Tollywood se Bollywood Tak.

Does National award make a difference? Day 586

In the case of Usha Jadhav it seems to have made a great difference. Not only is Marathi cinema looking at her with renewed interest but she has bagged interesting parts in Hindi cinema as well. Last seen in Rahasya as kaykay to perform stunts in her next film Lucknow Times

The National Award winner actress Usha Jadhav will next be seen in Rahasya as Kay Kay Menon’s nagging wife Jadhav has signed Lucknow Times set in the midst of the Naxalite movement and Usha is excited about the role because she has never played a tough role and looks forward to training in stunts. The film is directed by Sudipto Sen.

Imaad Shah follows in his father’s footsteps Day 585

Happy New Year followed by "Calcutta Kiss" in Detective Byomkesh Bakshi and recently Bombay Velvet, Imaad adds another feather in his cap, his new film M Cream, has been rated the Best Film and Imaad the Best Actor at St Tropez International Film Festival. Naturally the Shah family is over the moon with the news. Naseerudin Shah said he is a proud father and though he never attached any importance to awards allhis career he is super excited for his son to come into focus so early in his career. Mother Ratna was also very happy, said Imaad is multi-faceted, equally at ease with both singing and acting and I pray that he is able to pursue both on all mediums here and overseas.

Prachi Desai takes a break Day 584

While MSM and Ekta Kapoor held a trailer release of their ambitious venture Mohammad Azharuddin biopic and the cricketer and hero Emraan Hashmi addressed the media, the heroine of the film, Prachi Desai decided to go on a holiday before she committed to one long year to the film.

Like most young actors and filmmakers, Prachi has made it a practice to escape for a month or two before getting on the treadmill again. Prachi will be seen in Rock on 2 this year followed by Azharuddin in 2016.

While cricketer Azharrudin is reading and reading the script and Emraam Hashmi is training in cricket, Prachi Desai is walking the streets of London, may be that is her way of preparing for the role.

TANU WEDS MANU RETURNS-KANGANA IS MAHARANI Day 583

Eros produced aur Anand Rai directed Tanu Weds Manu, Tanu Manu ki shaadi ke chaar saal baad ki kahani hain.

Ab Tanu Manu London mein rehte hain aur dono apni shaadi se na khush hain!

Jald hi dono Kanpur wapas laut te hain, Tanu apne ghar aur Manu apne pariwar ke sang.

Ab Tanu apne purane aashiq Awasthi ke saath vyast hain aur Manu, Tanu ki humshaqal Datto ka dil chura ne mein.

Film ka cimax thoda predictable zaroor hain magar iske alava film mein criticize kar ne ko kuch nahi hain.

Agar peechli baar, writer Himanshu Sharma ne kahani mein masti bhari thi. Iss baar wo deewangi ki saari hadhe paar karte hain.

London se Kanpur, beech mein Delhi aur phir Haryana tak, kabhi cycle/ scooter aur kabhi bus/ auto-rickshaw mein safar karti, Tanu Weds Manu  Returns bahtareen sangit, nritya aur hassi mazaak  ke saath saath, aham samajik muddein uthaati hain jaise  shaadi, dosti, kirayedar, kanoon, aurat-mard aur parampara.

Tanu Weds Manu Returns intelligent hain, entertaining hain, progressive hain.

 Manu ki bhumika mein Madhavan behad sensitive aur Tanu - Datto ka double role nibhati Kangana RANAUT  Queen ke baad, Maharani hain!!

Iss film ko apnedancing shoes pehan kar jaiyega , kyon ki jab Tanu aur Datto  nachne lagti hain aap apne aap ko nahi rok paogein.

Baad mein mat kehna ke bataya nahi tha.

Tanu Weds Manu Returns ko Big Entertainment Ratings milte hain 4.5 stars jisme se 2 star sirf Kangana RANAUT ke liye hain.

SALAAM BOLLYWOOD 2- Day 582

SALAAM BOLLYWOOD 1- Day 581

Bombay Velvet recreates swinging sixties Day 581

Phantom Films produced aur Anurag Kashyap likhi directed Bombay Velvet kahahi hain 1949 se 1969  daur ki, jab British, Portuguese, Parsi, Anglo culture Bharat ka hissa tha.

Jab sadkein sumsaan aur samundar Neela tha aur sharab, bazaar jurm  khule aam hota tha.

Ye kahani hain Mumbai shehar, aur isse banana wale kiradaar - media, industrialists, police, politician, underworld aur kalakaron ki. Unki aakankshaon aur sapnon ki.

Saath hi mein, ye dilchasp premi, boxer Balraj aur club singer Rosie ke andheri galiyon se roshan mehfil tak ke safar ki.

Film ka minus, kahani mein, ek saath bohat saare kirdaar, bohat saare raaz aur aur bohat saare tracks chalte hain, jiski wajah se, film lambi, complicated aur kuch bikhar jaati hain!

Film ka plus film ka art design, cinematography, music, lyrics, detailed sets, costumes aur ensemble performances...

Guest appearance mein, Raveena Tandon, supporting cast mein Vivaan Shah, Kay Kay Menon, Manish Chaudhary aur Khambatta ki bhumika mein Karan Johar, samma baandhte hain!

Anushka Sharma Rosie ko pehle sankoch aur darrd mein aur baad mein sthirta aur aatma vishwas ka anubahv karvati hain.

Rocket Singh, Wake up Sid, Raajneeti, Rockstar aur Barfii ke baad Ranbir Kapoor apne ek aur kirdaar, Johnny Balraj mein jaan phoonkte hain.

Bombay Velvet ‘feel good cinema’ nahi, ‘feel enlightened cinema’ hain.

Isse har haal mein dekhni chahiyein, unhe, jo uss daur mein pale bade huein.

Aur khaas taurpe yuva peedhi ko, kyon ki aisa mauka baar baar nahi aata.

 Bombay Velvet ko Big Entertainment Ratings milte hain 4 stars.

Bhawana Somaaya/ @bhawanasomaaya

Piku wins hearts Day 580

 These days wherever I go everybody is only talking about Piku. It is interesting that how when something is spectacular  the feedback is collectively overwhelming from all quarters.

the other day Deepika padukone and director Shoojit Sarcar were in our studio to discuss the agony and the ecstasy of creating and living the character.

I enjoyed talking to both of them.

FWICE Day 579

The FWICE has called for an indefinite strike from May 6^, 2015, as a last resort since the producers’ bodies are unwilling to arrive at a mutually agreeable Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which seeks to regulate working conditions in the film and TV industries.

The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) as everyone knows is the parent body of 22 trade unions of the film and TV industries in Western India, representing all the working people therein, including light men, spot boys, junior artistes, actors, cinematographers, sound recordists and all other technicians, including screenwriters and directors.

For too long the above technicians have suffered haphazard contractual arrangements and delayed payments says FWICE and have suggested the following:

1.      A15% annual increment in their wages.

2.      Workers to be paid within one month of completion of work.

3.      Ensure that all shootings don’t exceed 12 hours.

4.      Ensure safety measures and insurance for workers on sets.

5.      Issue formal letter of contract to all hired technicians.

If the film and TV industry looks forward t good talent and content, it is important that the producer-technician relationship be respected. 

Piku : Father daughter love story Day 578

Juhi Chaturvedi likhi aur Shoojit Sarcar directed Piku, kahani hain ek hypochodriach pita Bhaskar Bannerjee yane Amitabh Bachchan, aur unki architect beti Piku, yaane Deepika Paukone ki.

Bhaskar Bannerjee aur Piku apne wafadar sevak ke saath Dilli ke Chitranjan Park mein rehte hain.

Piku subah se shaam, ghar, office aur baba ka khyaal rakhti hain aur baba, subah se shaam, apna khyaal  rakhte hain.  

Director Shoojit Sarcar ne ab tak chaar filmein banayin hain aur sabhi samajik mudein uthaati hain.

Saal 2005 ki Yahan Kashmir ke baare mein thi…Saal 2012 ki Vicky Donor infertility ke baare mein…Saal 2013 ki Madras Café Sri Lanka ke baare mein.

 Saal 2015 mein Piku motion aur emotion ke alava medical/ transport/ senior citizen aur single women issuesko address karti hain.

Teen bhasha - Hindi, Bengali aur Angrezi aur teen shehar – Dilli, Benaras aur Kolkatta ka safar karti hui film ka plus: film ki refreshing writing, sets, costume, director ki detailing aur teeno actors ki super timing aur chemistry.

Bohat dekhli Romeo Juliet ki love stories, Piku baap beti ki prem kahani hain.

Bebaak pita Amitabh Bachchan, bezaar colleague Irfaan Khan aur humara dil chalni karti hui Deepika Padukone.

Na ismein koi plot hain, na story progression, na surprises aur na hi conflict.

Phir bhi, Pikku rasili hain, nirali hain, sachi hain, aur aaj nahi toh kal, hum sab ki kahani hain.

Piku ko pet pakad ke hasane aur apni jado se mila ne ke liye Big Entertainment Ratings milte hain 4 stars.

 Bhawana Somaaya @bhawanasomaaya

If only Salman had not gone to Rain Bar that night Day 577

 

For the last 24 hours the media has been playing only one story, Salman Khan.

The channels have been repeating old stories and images recapping the smallest detail of what happened that fateful night in the year 2002.

In all these days I’m sure Salman Khan has gone through that fateful night over and over again in his mind.

If only he had not visited the Rain bar in Juhu with his friends, not stayed that long, not traveled with them to JWMariott and on the way back his car had not lost control at the wheel.

If only something had prevented him from going out, if only he had stayed at home watching television and gone to bed early that nothing would have happened.

No police stations, no lawyers, no court cases, no bail and no fear of imprisonment.

But life is not ifs and buts, it is drama and what has to happen will happen.

He was unduly upset that day and stayed by himself practically the entire day but as dusk fell and the pain in the heart became unbearable Salman sought the company of his friends.

He felt going out will make him feel better; sometimes just being in the company of loved ones calms your depression.

Maybe it did, maybe that is why he stayed out longer, we will never know. Watching footage of him leaving for the session yesterday, he looked tense.

It showed in the way he hugged his parents, holding them but not wanting to linger in the moment.

At the session court it was evident that everybody was there for their share of the spotlight.

The media was in full attendance for coverage and juniors knew this was the time to impress their boss.

The advocates both for and against the defendant, grabbed the opportunity to come on camera

For Salman’s crazy fans it was the only moment to get up close to him.

For his protestors the only moment to raise their voice and black flags

Did you see how the prosecutor looked into the camera rather than the reporter talking to him?

Did you see how well coordinated Aabha Singh was in Black &White designer sari and why not?

In the evening expert commentators discussed and debated the verdict, they expressed and argued about the rights and the wrongs.

At night fall of them peacefully went to sleep.

Not Salman Khan, nor his family, they have not slept in days and it is a long journey before they will find peace.

Goodbye Galaxy, welcome Sahara Day 576

 

What is it about landmark judgments that they always come together.

For Sahara big boss,Subrato Roy and for Bollywood actor Salman Khan.

It has been fourteen months since Subroto Roy has been in jail, patiently waiting for his family to arrange his bail.

For Salaman Khan the sword of the hit and run case in the year 2002 has been hanging on his head for thirteen years.

Since the fateful day both the families have been under duress, spent large amount of money on lawyers and court cases.

The Roys have sold many of their prime properties to raise Rs 10,000 crores as bail for their father and Sahara boss.

Salman Khan, on the other hand has been working round the clock with shooting and stage shows because he sensed his expenditures were escalating every day.

For both, Roy and Khan the year has been tumultuous and the tragedies have transformed their lives.

The 67 year old media baron who dressed flamboyantly and prided in his flashy parties has learnt restraint. He said in an interview Roy revealed he has distinguished his friends from his betrayers.

50 year old Salman Khan was always the boy with a golden heart but has turned and made the world aware of what it is Being Human.

Yesterday, when Roy came to know of his bail approval, he went to meet his prison inmates and when in his cell drew a star on the wall.

Today, when Salman heard of his verdict in the court he looked forlorn but did not break down, maybe he said a prayer to God if he could be human. Today Sahara Shri Subrato Roy will walk out of Tihar Jail to return home to family.

Today, Salman Khan’s future is a question mark the actor is uncertain where destiny will take him.

Two tragedies, two stories Day 575

This is the story of two cops, ASI Dilip Shirke and his senior, PI Vilas Joshi.

Both attached to Vakola Police Station and both, died on the same day.

While PI Vijay Joshi is heralded a hero and bid adieu with a gun salute, ASI Dilip Shirke is condemned a criminal.

Colleagues of Dilip Shirke say that his seniors victimized him because he spoke up for the constables.

Sr PI Pardeshi who headed Vakola Police Station before Joshi says, Dilip Shirke always posed problems.

Abhishek, Dilip Shirke’s son says his seniors misunderstood him and the family is considering abetment complaint.

Vilas Joshi’s twin daughters are too young to comprehend what is going on.

Two tragedies, two funerals on the same evening...

Dilip Shirke’s last rites performed by his eldest son at Kherwadi crematorium and Vilas Joshi’s by his younger siblings at Chandanwadi with a full guard of honour.

Both leave behind weeping widows scarred for life.

Shirke attended a family wedding a few days ago and Joshi was planning a pilgrimage with wife and children soon but now it is all over.

Shirke was the sole bread earner of the family and now his children are unsure of the future.

Joshi also was the sole bread earner of the family and his wife has to still recover shock.

If only the wheel can be turned, if choices can be revisited, there would be no tragedies, no