Oscar Rahman returns to his home town
With two Oscars in hand, AR Rahman returns his hometown Chennai. The hero who has made India feel proud with his composition in Slumdog Millionaire gets a hero’s welcome at the Chennai airport. Fans in large number gathered outside the airport to get a glimpse of Rahman with the prestigious statuette. Rahman’s close friend and musician Sivamani with his troupe welcomed the Oscar recipient in a melodious way.
Kerala's Kottu Melam (percussion instrument) artists gave a performance on behalf of the Indian Airlines in regard of the music maestro. Rahman who is the first Indian to win two Oscars received a bouquet at the airport terminal. It was handed over to him by Tamil Nadu Information Minister Parithi Ilamvazhuthi on behalf of the state government.
"Everyone wanted an Oscar so much, so i got it. I got them two Oscars. the message of my music is peace and harmony," said Rahman in a press conference. He said that he is overwhelmed to receive such a grand reception and happy to back home. As he headed to his home, he waved his hand to the crowd who was eagerly waiting for his arrival.
Really, all Indians are feeling proud of Allah Rakha Rahman.
Bollywood News : Its a SPECIAL Day in the History of Bollywood Cinema. Indian music maestro A.R. Rahman became the first Indian to bag two Oscars for his work in British filmmaker Danny Boyle’s much acclaimed “Slumdog Millionaire”, which tells the rags-to-riches story of a Mumbai slum dweller.
He got his first Oscar on the night of the 81st Academy Awards here for best original score for the Mumbai-based drama.
The composer was overwhelmed and interspersed his speech with Hindi as well as Tamil on receiving the coveted trophy here Sunday.
“There is a dialogue from an old Hindi film - “Mere paas ma hai” - which means I have nothing but a mother. My mother is here, I have her blessings. I am glad she could be here,” said Rahman.
He ended the acceptance speech by saying “God is great” in Tamil, something he says after winning every award.
He shared the second Oscar for best original song for the film’s theme number “Jai Ho” with noted Indian lyricist Gulzar.
“All my life I had a choice between hate and love. I chose love and I am here,” said Rahman after receiving his second golden statuette.
Indian music maestro A.R. Rahman’s wife used to wake up in the middle of the night and say “I want you to win an Oscar”. Now he has won two. It’s not only her dream that has turned into reality at the 81st annual Academy Awards, it’s a milestone for Bollywood too.
Bollywood celebrated as Rahman bagged the Oscars for best original score in “Slumdog Millionaire” and its theme song “Jai Ho”.
Bollywood director Anurag Kashyap is all praises for the singer-composer. He said: “This is a happy moment for all of us. We all should celebrate because he (Rahman) has made us proud. Finally we did it!
Filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, who has worked with Rahman for his films “Rang De Basanti” and “Delhi-6″, says the singer-composer truly deserved the award.
“I am proud and so happy that it’s A.R. He brought north and south India together when he started composing music and now he has successfully bridged the gap between the east and the west. It’s incredible! There are more people in the west who know him now than they know about his work,” Mehra told.
Rahman, the first Indian musician to win the annual Academy Award, was listed for three of the film’s ten Oscar nominations - one for his original score and two others for songs composed by him, “O Saya” and “Jai Ho”.
According to singer Mohit Chauhan who has sung in Rahman’s latest hit composition “Masakalli” from “Delhi-6″, this Oscar win is an inspiration for the Indian music industry.
“It is very encouraging. Rahman is a great inspiration for all the musicians in the country. And it’s a great honour also. Our films are going places and so is our music. We can look ahead to good times,” said Chauhan.
Veteran filmmaker and critic Aziz Mirza says: “The international recognition that Rahman has earned for himself makes every Indian proud. He deserves it more than anybody else for his wholehearted dedication to music. It’s a rare honour. I congratulate Rahman.”
Southern actor R. Madhavan feels Rahman should have won an Oscar the very first time he composed music because he truly deserves it.
Actress Divya Dutta hails the composer and says she is extremely proud of his win.
“Like every Indian, I am very happy about the win. I was sure Rahman will come back with the award. The film was amazing,” said Dutta.
Before this, only two Indians have won the Oscar in its 80 year history - Satyajit Ray was given the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992 and Bhanu Athaiya won the best costume design Oscar along with John Mollo for the 1982 film “Gandhi.”
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will soon follow the foot-step of her father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan and husband Abhishek Bachchan and croon for her film. Buzz is that she had earlier lend her voice for Mani Ratnam’s Ravan and now she will again sing for music composer duo Vishal-Shekhar.
Vishal and Shekhar made Ash sing a stanza and shocked to hear her remarkable voice and then and there they decided to make her sing. Shekhar said, “You won’t believe what an amazing voice Ash has! We’ve talked her into singing a song for us and we’re going to record it very soon"
The composer had not yet decided what to do with Ash’s piece of voice. They are still in dilemma whether to include it in a movie or incorporate in a album. When asked if they are planning a film, they promptly replied, “No, no. Right now, we’re only recording it, before Ash changes her mind! We’ll see what to do with it in the future".
The music composer duo earlier made Abhishek holds the mike for the song ‘Right Here Right Now’ for ‘Bluffmaster’ and has now gone on to record Ash’s new crooning act.
Director Prakash Jha is contesting for the Lok Sabha elections from the Bettiah seat in Bihar and helping out in his campaign will be his ‘Rajneeti’ lead actors, Ajay Devgan and Katrina Kaif. Both are popular public figures and will invite huge crowd.
A source on the project reveals, "Ajay is very close to Jha. Even though he doesn't endorse political parties or take a political stand, he will definitely do everything in his capacity to support Jha. Also Katrina, who has been drawing huge crowds to the locations where the film is being shot, will be roped in. People travel from long distances to come and see her. If she campaigns for Jha, it will definitely add to the glamour element."
Devgan feels Jha will an ideal leader for the constituency. A source adds, "Jha has done to help the flood victims in Bihar, and his Punarvaas campaign has been a huge success and Ajay has personally followed the project. So he wants to support him."
However Ajay Devgan's publicist denied the news, "The news that Ajay is campaigning for Jha in the forthcoming elections is not true."
Bride: Ayesha Takia
Groom: Farhan Azmi
Venue: Cricket Club of India, Mumbai
Ayesha Takia will tie the knot with her long-time boyfriend Farhan Azmi, a restaurateur and son of Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi on March 1 in a private and traditional nikaah ceremony at a mosque in Mumbai followed by a grand reception the next day at CCI, Mumbai. The two have been going steady for a long time.
All the preparations are complete including Ayesha’s wedding trousseau. Ayesha has finished shooting for Boney Kapoor’s Wanted-Dead Or Alive directed by Prabhu Deva; the Hindi remake of the Tamil hit Pokkiri and Nagesh Kukunoor’s 8×10 Tasveer and is not taking on any more projects. The only film she will shoot after marriage is Revathi’s Phir Tum Mil Gaye, a woman-oriented project.
She also has Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai!, Naughty@Forty, Milind Ukey’s Paathshala opposite Shahid Kapoor and Nikhil Advani’s Ab Dilli Door Nahin.
Telugu star Nagarjuna and director Puri Jagannath are expected to attend the reception to be held on March 2. The wedding was supposed to take place in December, but was postponed due to the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
Groom: Shakeel Ladhak
Venue: Bandra Church
March 4 is going to be the wedding to watch out for when Amrita Arora and Shakeel Ladhak will exchange rings and wedding vows at a Bandra church followed by a brunch at Olive.
On March 5, Salman’s sister Alvira Agnihotri will host mehendi and sangeet ceremony at Salman’s residence. The nikaah ceremony will be held in the afternoon on March 6, followed by a grand reception in the evening at Taj Lands End Hotel in Mumbai.
The bride’s vintage white gown is designed by Ashley Rebello. It will be a long lace gown flaring at the hips and tapering in a high neck.
The lace for the gown will either be Christian Dior or Karl Lagerfeld. Ashley is also designing an emerald green and maroon ghagra for Amrita and a chikan pathani for the groom Shakeel Ladhak for the nikaah ceremony.
The bridesmaids Amrita’s Sister Malaika Arora-Khan, best friend Kareena Kapoor and close friend Mallika Bhat - will be in peach Grecian-inspired gowns.
Vikram Phadnis is apparently designing some outfits for them for some wedding-related events. So has Shantanu and Nikhil who created several outfits for various functions including an avant garde lehenga for Amrita, which is made of old silk brocade sarees with a wide off-shoulder blouse.
Ghajini Latest Box Office Report , Ghaini Rs 200 Cr Breaks Box Office Records Collection
Bollywood has shot to a new high, thanks to 'Ghajini'. When booking for the movie opened at a theatre in the UK on Wednesday, the film became the first to gross Rs 200 crore at the worldwide box office. What's more, the mark has been achieved in little less than two weeks. It has grossed Rs 162 crore in the domestic market and Rs 39 crore has come from overseas till Thursday.An ecstatic Madhu Mantena, the Ghajini producer, admits to being "overawed'' by the record but trade consultant Amod Mehra is apparently not surprised. "The film was very strong from Day 1. It has been galloping like a onehorse race and, in my estimate, it will cross the Rs-250-crore (gross) mark very easily,'' Mehra said.
Bollywood producer Punkej Kharbanda is also not surprised that a Hindi film has broken all previous box-office records. "In the last year alone, there has been a 40% increase in cinema screens and also a rise in the cinema-going population, especially in the age group of 18-35. With most of the theatres recording good numbers on Ghajini, the Rs-200-crore mark is hardly a surprise,'' Kharbanda said.
Ghajini released with the maximum number of prints in India (1,200 digital and analog versions) and it made inroads into even provincial towns where films never get released on the same day as the rest of the world. A trade source said, "The film is set to take over the mantle of the highest domestic Bollywood earner from Anil Sharma's Gadar-Ek Prem Katha.'' In the overseas market, the film is, till now, second only to Karan Johar's Kabhie Alvida Na Kehna.
Ghajini has also reportedly earned Rs 4 crore from gaming rights (a first for a Bollywood film), Rs 21 crore for satellite rights for India and overseas and something to the tune of Rs 10 crore for home video and music....
How to get Figure like Kareena Kapoor?
Kareena Kapoor has turned writer for her dietician Rujuta Diwekar! Confused? Well Bebo has written a foreword in Rujuta Diwekar's bestselling book, Don't Lose Your Mind, Lose Your Weight and in that she has herself revealed her breakfast secrets that lead to her size zero figure."Rujuta has changed my perception towards diets and dieting. She has taught me to eat well, eat right and eat regularly. I started working with her around the time I started work on Tashan. The results are for all to see.
My size zero became a topic of national interest. The media asked me if it was diet or exercise. It was a combination of both; 70% diet and 30% exercise-training and yoga, " writes Kareena in her foreword.
"Rujuta understands my work and lifestyle and has given me a diet totally customised to my needs. My diet on work days is different from my diet on shoot days. It even on varies on shoot days, like it is different if I have to dance or perform. The meal is planned according to my level of activity."
"In Mumbai, my breakfast is muesli and milk or a chillah or parathas; no chai or coffee. While shooting for Tashan in Ladakh. I ate fresh fruit for breakfast and thukpas and momos for my other meals. I had pudina tea without milk.
On the last day, I was allowed pizza as well. In Kerala, I had idlis and appams. In Italy it was risotto and pasta with gorgonzola; half portions though, not full."
"I make sure I eat every two hours. My evening snack or meal is soy milk or a sandwich. Rujuta focuses on nutrition, not calories. Amazingly, she likes to keep the nutritional value of what you eat, as compared to the calories consumed, high.
I have learnt what she means when she says, "be smart about food" and still enjoy what you eat. Now thanks to this book, you can (learn) too and I am sure you will find it good enough to eat, " signs off the svelte and gorgeous superstar.
Rujuta Diwekar's book Don't Lose Your Mind, Lose Your Weight is presently selling like hot cakes and is available at bookstores....
India's Oscar wins just the beginning, says elated Bollywood
Mumbai, Feb 24 (IANS) Bollywood hailed Oscar winners A.R. Rahman, Resul Pookutty and Gulzar saying they were the flagbearers of Indian cinema and that this is just the beginning of the country's march to global glory. From Amitabh Bachchan to Preity Zinta everyone was euphoric about the wins.
Amitabh Bachchan: Great moment for Indian cinema and Indian talent. And that two of our most talented film artistes have won international recognition is remarkable.
Karan Johar: It's a proud moment for our fraternity. This is just the beginning. Rahman and Resul are flagbearers for an entire movement in world cinema where India is going to play a major part. More power to them and thank you Rahman and Resul for this master-stroke of a flag-off.
Deepa Mehta: It's just fabulous. I can't think of anyone more deserving. What a great day for Rahman. What a great day for India and Indians. We always knew Rahman was talented and brilliant. And now the world knows it.
Preity Zinta: You've no idea how euphoric I'm feeling. I've been up and dancing all morning. I mean Rahman and Gulzar saab are the jewels of Indian cinema. They did my first ever song "Jiya jale" in "Dil Se". And they've been doing consistently outstanding work. What Rahman did in "Slumdog Millionaire" was to bring out a kind of clever fusion which just clicked with the world. I love him for it.
The one that I'm happiest for is Resul. To be honest I knew little about his work until "Slumdog Millionaire". "Dil Chahta Hai" was the first Hindi film with live sound. Now, of course, sound in our cinema is finally making itself heard. It's sad but true that we very often wait for the West to recognise a genius. My heart had broken when I had seen how little kids were shown to be treated in Mumbai in "Slumdog Millionaire". It was so true and so sad. Now my heart swells with pride. I'm so happy I don't know if I'm coming or going.
Shabana Azmi: Rahman is a genius like no other. His music is informed by his spirituality. His success in the international arena was written in stone. No surprises there. Resul has brought the spotlight on the skill and prowess of Indian technicians. As a fellow student of the FTII (Film and Television Institute of India) I feel doubly proud. But for me the greatest thrill is that a small independent film rather than a big budget studio film has won the best film. I'm thrilled for my friend Anil Kapoor. He has walked the path less travelled and is reaping the dividends.
Bipasha Basu: I was so sure that he would get it. Long before he had won, I had typed a text message saying A.R. Rahman has done it. I think Resul and Rahman have made all us Indians proud. What an amazing performance by Rahman. And his acceptance speeches were so real confident and dignified. I'm so happy. For the first time in my life I was late for work because I was watching the Oscars.
Shilpa Shetty: I cried when I heard Resul's name being announced. Those tears of joy were for all of us. I felt I had won the Oscar. Resul and Rahman both deserved it. We waited long. But the wait has been worth it.
Alka Yagnik: Very very well-deserved. Rahman and Resul have done us all very proud. They're our real heroes, the jewels in India's crown. I'm so fortunate to have been a part of the "Slumdog Millionaire" soundtrack. God bless both Rahman and Resul. Jai ho!
Vishal Bhardwaj: We have done it! Gulzar saab should have gone for it. If not for himself than for me and for his daughter Meghna.
Sharmila Tagore: I'm very, very happy for both of them.
Subhash Ghai: "Slumdog Millionaire" becoming a global success confirms the talent and potential of Indian artistes and technicians abroad. It's a new perspective thrown open for Indian filmmakers where we no longer need to ape the West, but think of Indian themes and not just star-studded projects. Next time I want to see an Indian director winning an Oscar for a film on India. Jai ho!
Vidya Balan: God, I'm overjoyed, overwhelmed, proud and humbled. I couldn't stop my tears when I saw little Freida Pinto, Anil, Resul and the team on stage. To me, going from Obama's victory to the "Slumdog" Oscar victory suggests there're better times ahead for all of us. It's no longer about where you belong or who you may be. It's about one people one nation and one world. Now the binding force is merit.
Slumdog kids had a blast at the Oscars: Danny Boyle
London, Feb 25 (IANS) The child actors of "Slumdog Millionaire" - particularly the two real-life slum kids - had a blast on their Hollywood holiday, getting all sentimental, "just like art folk", the director of the movie said.
"They loved it, they laughed and cried and got very over 0sentimental, which is like all arts folk," Danny Boyle said after the movie won eight Oscar awards.
Boyle said in comments published Tuesday he was concerned about bringing the children to the Oscars ceremony, particularly the two poorer children Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Mohammed, who play child versions of the lead characters.
In article in The Times, Boyle said he "wondered how they would cope with the exposure to a world which has distorting lens at the best of times to any of us".
But, he said, it was the right decision.
"They enjoyed the moment. As soon as they got to their hotel, they jumped into the pool fully clothed. They went to Disneyworld and Universal Studios."
Boyle said the children are keen on going back to school. "They were banging on about exams, which means they're motivated.
"They know the experience was a short-term one, amazing but short-term and, as we have said, we will do what we can to extend our duty of care to them as they get older," he added.
Akshay Kumar attends the launch of Asian Heart Institute's cardiac air ambulance
Akshay Kumar is one actor who is always known to extend a helping hand to social causes. Yesterday the 'Khiladi' Kumar visited the Asian Heart Institute at BKC and looked on as Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss inaugurated the hospital's emergency air ambulance service.
The air-ambulance service, priced at Rs.85000, will also be available to patients from rural parts of the state and those seeking treatment at other hospitals. A 24 hour cardiac care helpline has also been launched.
For the time-being, the chopper would land only at Juhu airport and Mahalaxmi racecourse although authorities are requesting MMRDA to construct a helipad atop the Asian Heart Institute.
Ramu's heroine Priyanka lands with a broken leg
Ok, so first things first. Priyanka Kothari (earlier known as Nisha Kothari) hadn't disappeared anywhere after Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag or James. Neither had she suffered any fall out with her mentor Ram Gopal Varma. She was just taking a mini break and working in films down south. However, her Bollywood dream is still very much alive and this can be evidenced in her appearance in the teasers of Agyaat which are currently making the rounds of the internet world.
Yes, Priyanka is back as a leading lady and is one of the only females in Agyaat that has it's characters dominated by trees, rocks, an invisible element and of course a bunch of male youngsters.
However, it appears that after spending an 'agyaat' shooting schedule in the jungles of Sri Lanka, Priyanka couldn't really enjoy her 'silent' stint for an extended period of time. For some concluding work on the film which required her to travel to the jungles of Kerala, she met with an accident that resulted in a broken leg for the young-n-delicate lass.
Says a bed ridden Priyanka as she talks from a hospital in Cochin, "It was such an enjoyable shoot all this while. I had fun shooting in the jungles and maneuvering rocks and other blockages around me. But here I am with a broken leg. It's painful."
Apparently, it was an action sequence that resulted in the accident. Even though the crew of the film was taking utmost care that the sequence takes place seamlessly, her accident couldn't be prevented.
"I fell down while jumping during an action sequence. The next thing I know, I am in great pain and had been carried to a hospital bed", she says while trying to bring in a faint smile.
Priyanka has plans to return home today. "Yes, I wish to recuperate at home now. Nothing better than being back in Mumbai. I am hoping that my injury heals soon. I don't want the film to suffer because of the injury."
As for Ram Gopal Varma, he is thrilled to have managed to shoot in some authentic locations for Agyaat. "As a director I have never been more thrilled on a location shoot than in Agyaat and that is thanks to the Sigiriya jungle (in Sri Lanka) where I have shot most of the film. The film requires to be shot in a real jungle and I am glad that I managed to get the right look that I had wished for", he says.
Cartoon network entertained Mumbai with ‘TOON CRICKET’
Mumbai witnessed history being created as over 20,000 cartoon network fans packed the Andheri Sports Complex to cheer for their favourite Toon stars at Cartoon Network’s Toon Cricket -The Battle for the Omnitrix in partnership with leading sports brand, Reebok. In a true cartoony version of the 2009 cricket season, Cartoon Network’s all-time favourite hero Ben 10 led his team, The Bentastics, to a victory over defending champions, MaxiMojo, in India’s first day and night Toon Cricket match. Playing the wild card entries for the Bentastics and Maximojo teams, were the Reebok brand ambassadors and ace cricketers – Rahul Dravid and Piyush Chawla. The duo were seen in full cricketing action as they played with the Toon teams.
In its sixth successful run, Cartoon Network’s most celebrated event fulfilled its promise of maximum fun and excitement as our world famous Toons captained by the youngest superhero Ben Tennyson from Ben 10 and the evil Mojo Jojo, from The Powerpuff Girls battled at the pitch. Adding to the excitement and experience of the evening was the Toon Cricket inaugural ceremony that entertained the audiences with a sound and laser show and a live-performance by the amazing pop band “Aasma” which left them asking for more.
In its sixth successful run, Cartoon Network’s most celebrated event fulfilled its promise of maximum fun and excitement as our world famous Toons captained by the youngest superhero Ben Tennyson from Ben 10 and the evil Mojo Jojo, from The Powerpuff Girls battled at the pitch. Adding to the excitement and experience of the evening was the Toon Cricket inaugural ceremony that entertained the audiences with a sound and laser show and a live-performance by the amazing pop band “Aasma” which left them asking for more.
Now Bollywood voices to become 'Kathmandu' voices too
Kathmandu, While Bollywood's kung fu comedy "Chandni Chowk to China" was given the thumbs-down in Nepal, it has now embraced the voices of India's Hindi film industry as the voices of "Kathmandu". Maverick Nepali actor-film director Akash Adhikari, who won the best actor award last year for his role in "Janayuddha", a film that dealt with the Maoists' 10-year "people's war", has roped in Bollywood singers Sukhwinder Singh, Kailash Kher, Sunidhi Chauhan, Sanjeevani and Aakriti Kakkar to sing in his new film.
"Kathmandu: Anything can happen in this city" will also give to the Nepali industry Aditya Narayan Jha, son of Hindi film singer Udit Narayan Jha, who was awarded the Padma Shri this year for his contribution to Indian cinema.
"Kathmandu: Anything can happen in this city" will also give to the Nepali industry Aditya Narayan Jha, son of Hindi film singer Udit Narayan Jha, who was awarded the Padma Shri this year for his contribution to Indian cinema.
When Gulzar refused to bow to Shah Rukh's lyrical pressure
Mumbai, Shah Rukh Khan is known to take interest in the music of his films and that's how he came up with the words "Love mera hit hit" for a song in his just released "Billu". But when the superstar approached noted lyricist Gulzar with his words to write the full number, the poet declined to use them.
"Pritam protested that the words were given to him by Shah Rukh and had to be used. When I refused, Shah Rukh came home a number of times to convince me. I reluctantly turned him down," Gulzar, who has written three songs for the film including the controversial "Marjani", told IANS.
"He (Shah Rukh) even suggested that I write whatever I wanted and his words ...
"Pritam protested that the words were given to him by Shah Rukh and had to be used. When I refused, Shah Rukh came home a number of times to convince me. I reluctantly turned him down," Gulzar, who has written three songs for the film including the controversial "Marjani", told IANS.
"He (Shah Rukh) even suggested that I write whatever I wanted and his words ...
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