Unpacking the Studio - Day 671

It is time for the exhibition we have been waiting for. Unpacking the Studio celebrates the Jehangir Sabavala Bequest with a walkthrough of the show at the Jehangir Nicholson Gallery. 

The exhibition has a unique theme where the curator, Ranjit Hoskote will walk us with a story that journeys the life of Unpacking the Studio. 

The exhibition infact captures Sabavala's journey within the evolving history of the studio, the influences on his work, his experiments with art both pre and post colonial and dramatizes the relationship between the studio, the gallery, and the academy in Sabavala's career.

It is perhaps the first of its kind exhibition and is made possible because of the generous contributions from friends and artistes who have opened their hearts and archives and parted with precious paintings, sketchbooks, diaries, drawings.

The memorabilia includes rare pictures lovingly shot by Sabavala’s wife Shirin Sabavala.

A preview for the dear ones may be held closer to the public event which is scheduled for an October release over fragrant tea and conversations.

@bhawanasomaaya

Akshay Kumar promotes in style - DAY 670

Akshay Kumar was in Delhi to promote his upcoming film Singh Is Bliing.

At a fashion show woven around the theme of SIB Akshay thought it appropriate to request the rich and the famous to support him in raising funds for grieve stricken farmer families. 

In a record 15 minutes the actor collected large funds and when Chief Minister of Delhi Mr Arvind Kejriwal learnt about this, invited Akshay and team to his office. 

The producer of the film Grazing Goats was confident that the film would do amazing business but the collections have overwhelmed everybody.

Singh is Bling is Akshay Kumar’s highest opening so far and has collected 20.67 CR on Friday 14.50 CR on Sat and a total of 35.17 in  just two days.

 Now we know why Akshay feels like a king when he wears a turban, he proves that Singh is surely the King.

@bhawanasomaaya

Talvar is thought provoking. Singh is Bling mindless entertaining - Day 669

Vishal Bharadwaj likhi aur Meghana Gulzar directed Talvar saal 2008 ke Noida double murder case ki kahani hai.

 

Issi case par issi saal, ek aur film release hui thi, Manish Sharma ki Rahasya aur jahan Rahasya ne iss ghatna ko ek kalpnik kahani ki tarha pesh kiya, director Meghana Gulzar ki Talvar newspaper headlines aur TV par hue vivaad ko dohrati hai.

Film ka plus film ka detailed research aur engaging screenplay. 

Talvar police, kanoon, media, CBI sab ko lekar sawal uthati hai.  

Director Meghana Gulzar chotte se chotte scene aur kirdaar ko ahmiyat deti hai aur sab se badi baat, audience ko underestimate nahi karti.

Filhaal, Just Married aur Dus Kahaiyaan ke baad, Talvar Meghana ki sabse mushkil aur mature film hai!

Hero Irfaan Khan film ki jaan hai aur jab wo screen par hai aap kissi aur par nazar nahi daal sakte ho.

Special appearance mein Tabu, haule se kahani mein shamil hoti hai aur Chupke se aapka dil chura leti hai.

Lyricist Gulzar ka sirf ek gaana hai magar aap ko jhanjhod ne ke liye kaafi hai.

Talvar dekhni chahiye, ye samajh ne ke liye, ke jab tak, humara zameer nahi jaagegae, tab tak, kuch bhi nahi badlega!

Sensitive, thought provoking, hard hitting Talvar ko Big Entertainment Ratings milte hai 3.5stars.

                                                                      

                                                                  **

Prabhu Deva directed Singh Is Bling, hero Raftar Singh ke kisson ki kahani hai.

Jab film Punjab ke chotte gaon mein shuru hoti hai aur Raftar/ Akshay Kumar, kabhi oonto ke saath daudta hai, aur kabhi naachte ghodon ke beech mele mein gana gaata hai, toh hum maan kar chalet hai ki ye masti bhari feel good film hai.

Jab Akshay ke pita uski harkaton se tang aakar, usse apne dost, Kirpal Singh ke paas, naukri ke liye Goa bhejte hai aur Kirpal Singh Akshay ko Amy Jackson ke body guard ki duty dete ha, tab Lara Dutt hume samjhati hai ki ye toh comedy film hai.

Aur Romania mein jab film ka villan, K.K.Menon, aate jaate, yuhin laashe bichata hai aur Goa mein, Amy Jackson apne stunts ke jalwe dikhati hai, tab khulasa hota hai ki asal mein ye feel good/ comedy film nahi stylized action film hai.

Akshay ko Angrezi nahi aati aur Amy ko Hindi nahi aati, iske bawajood, dono Punjab ki hariyali mein romance karte hai tab humari galat faimi door hoti hai ki ye action film nahi unusual love story hai.

Climax mein Akshay, Amy Jackson ke bichde pariwar ko milate hai aur kaafi rona dhona hota hai tab hum phir se confuse ho jaate hai ki ye toh serious family drama film hai.

Sach toh ye hai, ki director Prabhu Deva kisi genre/ sandesh/ kahani ke mohtaaj nahi hai. 

Amy Jackson ke action ko Akshay Kumar ki rang-birangi paghdiyon ko khubsoorat locations mein sajakar, director ka irada saaf hai: Balle Baale naachna!

Singh Is Bling ko Big Entertainment Ratings milte hai 2 stars.

@bhawanasomaaya

Main aur Charles - DAY 668

Randeep Hooda gave a sterling performance in Rang Rasiya but unfortunately the film went unnoticed.

Richa Chadha gave a heartfelt performance in Masaan and became the talk of the town.

Now the two come together for a much talked about film called Main aur Charles. 

The two have been busy with the promotions of the film for some time and at a recent event shocked the media when they agreed to kiss for the cameras.

This happened during the trailer launch of Mani aur Charles, and naturally the media was excited.

Unlike the olden days when the lead pair of a film did just aankhon aankhon mein ishara, 

the new generation like Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh indulge in open flirtation and Randeep Richa go a step further and are ready to kiss and tell in front of the shutter bags.

If the passionate kiss in public is anything to go by, we are ready for a sexy film coming to the theatres. What say Charles?

@bhawanasomaaya

Mumbai… You Be the Judge! - DAY 667

After Jagran it is the turn of Manhattan Short Film Festival. Filmgoers in Mumbai will unite with audiences in over 250 cities spanning six continents to view and judge the work of the next generation of filmmakers from around the world when the 18th Annual Manhattan Short Film Festival screens for the 6^th consecutive year in India at Matterden CFC, Lower Parel.

This year, Mahattan Short has terrific feedback with a lineup of  672 short entries from 52 countries. The 10 Finalists hail from eight countries, with short films from Turkey and Kosovo representing their respective countries for the first time. These short films will not only entertain a global audience but will be judged by them as well. Cinema-goers are handed a ballot upon entry that allows them to vote for the Best Film and Best Actor. Manhattan Short is the ultimate audience award that salutes the creative talents of both directors behind the camera and actors in front of it.

Mahattan Short 2015 highlights the importance of women in cinema and films feature actresses ranging from teenagrs to senior citizens. Other interesting films that deserve mention are: Bear Story and Patch, sophisticated animations. 

The Vote For India section will screen the winning films: Aavrati, about a teenage girl’s encounter with a good-hearted cop; El’ayichi starring Nimrat Kaur, Divyendu Sharma and Vibha Chibber; Karan Tejpal’s No Anaesthesia starring Deepak Dobriyal; a first-hand and unique account of the Bhopal tragedy in Bhopal Diaries 2012 and Ganesh Matkari’s take on sexuality in the glamour world Shot.

Votes will be sent through to Mahattan Short HQ with the winner announced at ManhattanShort.com on Monday Oct 5.

 @bhawanasomaaya

Jagran Film Festival opens with Standing Tall - DAY 666

September is the month when on one hand are the cultural festivals and on the other hand come a host of film festivals in India and Jagran Film Festival is always the first to start the season.

This year Jagran is reaching Mumbai after its three month run in 15 other cities of India. Opening with Standing Tall the festival will hold two screenings of the much talked about film amidst prominent Indian, international feature and short films.

 “Beginning with a film like ‘Standing Tall’ is a beginning on the right note” opines Manoj Srivastava, Strategic Consultant of the Festival. 

Directed by actress Emmanuelle Bercot who won the Best actress award this year at Cannes Film Festival, Standing Tall narrates the story of a six year old Malony, abandoned by his mother who is constantly in and out of juvenile court. An adoptive family grows around this young delinquent: Florence, a children’s magistrate nearing retirement, and Yann, a caseworker and himself the survivor of a very difficult childhood. Together they follow the boy’s journey and try unfailingly to save him.

Malony is sent to an educational center, where he meets Tess, a very special young girl who will show him that there are reasons for hope.

The film also stars Benoît Magimel, Sara Forestier and is produced by François Kraus & Denis Pineu-Valencienne.

Standing Tall is an exemplary cinematic exploration by Emmanuelle Bercot who has also written the screenplay of the film along with Marcia Romano. The film is due for release in Italy on 15 October 2015 after its screening in India.

@bhawanasomaaya

Kapil Sharma creates history - Day 665

Kis Kis ko Pyaar Karun breaks all records at the box office and even surpasses Karan Johar’s Student of the Year ( 9.25 CR) opening day figures which marked the debut of three actors! The film has apparently collected Rs 10.15 Cr on the very first day which is better than many star studded films. The collections are exceptional considering the fact that the film makes Bollywood debut of none other than Kapil Sharma. Two factors helped the film. That it was released on a public holiday, Bakri-Eid and Kapil’s stupendous popularity. There is one more reason for the fabulous draw: the other releases of the week (MadhurBhandarkar’s Calendar Girls and Bhaag Johnny) are below expectations. The film is produced by two brothers Ratan and Ganesh Jain and directed by two brothers, Abbas and Mustan. Abbas Mustan so far known for only making thriller movies with A list actors have for the first time ventured into comedy with a debutant and touched gold.

The film has sparkling performances from Kapil Sharma, Arbaaz Khan, Varun Sharma and the four heroines Manjari Fadnis,Elli Avram, Simran Mundi and Sai Lokur add glamour appeal.

Kis Kis ko Pyaar Karun proves that box-office has no favorites and everything is possible in show business.