IIFA Utsavam: Baahubali and Srimanthudu Win Top Honours

 IIFA are presented annually by the International Indian Film Academy to honour  the artistic and technical excellence of the Bollywood industry. Started in the year 2000, the awards are primarily hosted for the Hindi film industry. 

After 15 years, the team has decided to foray into South India as well. Named IIFA Utsavam, the first edition of the awards ceremony took place in Hyderabad, and it honoured the big achievers of the Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam film industry. The event was spread over two days. Here’s what happened at the event.

 

The Big Winners

 

 

The first day honoured the Tamil and Malayalam industry. The most-talked about movie of 2016, Baahubali, swept away the major awards in Tamil. It was a double delight moment when Ramya Krishnan won the best supporting artist for her role in Baahubali, in Tamil and Telugu. The second big winner was the Malayalam film, Ennu Ninte Moideen. Prithiviraj and Parvathy won the award for Best actor and Best actress respectively. Premam also got its fair share of honours. Rajesh Murgesan was awarded the best music director. 

 

 

Aravind Swamy, Jayam Ravi and Mohan Raja won awards for their super hit film, Thani Oruvan. With Aravind Swamy taking home the trophy for playing an antagonist, Telugu film Srimanthudu bagged six honours at the event. Kannada film, Rangitaranga, won the most number of awards in the Kannada awards segment. 

 

The Big Moments

 

 

Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan was one of the main guests at the first edition of the IIFA Utsavam. In his speech at the event, the actor called for respecting different languages in the country. He also spoke about his mentor, late Balachander, and stated that it was because of Balachander, that he could become an actor that he is today.

 

 

India’s very own Michael Jackson, Prabhu Deva dazzled the audience with his dance performance. Ram Charan, Shriya Saran and  Akhil Akkineni also entertained everyone with their dance performances.

 

The Red Carpet

 

 

When it comes to awards shows, it is needless to say that celebrities try and look their best. IIFA Utsavam was nothing different. From Tammannah’s stylish bright green outfit to Regina Cassandra’s gorgeous number; the ladies scorched the red carpet with their hotness.

 

 

 

The men weren’t far behind either, Mahesh Babu looked dapper in a black suit, whereas Siddharth  looked every bit like a rockstar in his maroon suit.

 

Do you agree with the results of IIFA Utsavam? Let us know in the comments section below.

 

Source: Bookmyshow

Asterix : The Mansions Of The Gods: Film Review – Hilarious!

Verdict: Fun for the veterans, and the uninitiated.

What Red Velvet cake is to the belly, The Adventures of Asterix is to the mind. For those not in the know, Asterix, a series of comic books in French, was the brainchild of the late René Goscinny, who has been lovingly nurtured by Albert Uderzo.

The Mansions of the Gods, based on the 17th volume of the Asterix comic book series, deals with the antagonist, Julius Caesar (voiced by Philippe Morier Genoud), who orchestrates the elimination of the Gaulish hamlet. He intends to acculturate the Gauls to Roman culture by building mansions around them with the help of the architect Squareonthehypotenus, the Roman captain Oursenplus (voiced by Alexandre Astier) and Senator Prospectus (voiced by Alain Chabat). Despite the efforts Asterix (voiced by Roger Carel) and Obelix (voiced by Guillaume Briat) make to mar Caesar’s endeavors, the Gauls succumb to the Roman way of life. Cacophonix’s expulsion from the mansion, results in the destruction of the Roman colony, and its remains are covered by Getafix’s trees.

Directed by Alexandre Astier and Louis Clichy, this cinematic experience, with a run time of 85 minutes, manages to stay true to its source, and unabashedly so. Although, the story has nothing unexampled to offer, a few add-ons give the film a tinge of freshness. The characters are true to the book, the visuals are eye-catching and Rombi‘s music enhances the viewer’s experience.

Most of the dialogues in the film comprise jokes that cater to an audience inclusive of adults as well as children. However, the film does not incite a laugh riot. That is not to say that one doesn’t titter. The film provides opportunities to do so, in snatches. For instance, when Asterix runs out of his potion, he pretends to possess strength enough to punch a man to the other side of the forest. The film, with its well thought out gags, manages to be more than just drollery. It also brings up pertinent 21st century concerns about deforestation and perceived "development". 

Why You Should Watch This Movie:

Asterix : The Mansions of the Gods not only makes fans of the Asterix comic series dancing-on-air happy, but it also enthralls the newbies, acquainting them with Asterix’s world, with ease. 

– By Sonakshi Kurbah

Source: Bookmyshow

Roger Federer at 300

Roger Federer, 34, has won only two Grand Slams this decade. He won the 2010 Australian Open, the first of the decade, by defeating an upcoming Andy Murray in the final. He then won Wimbledon 2012 by defeating Murray (again) in four tight sets. 

But on Friday, at Melbourne for the Australian Open 2015, Federer reached an insurmountable landmark – one of the many that he seems to keep achieving these days. He defeated Grigor ‘Baby Fed’ Dimitrov in the third round, winning his 300th Grand Slam match of his career. To put things into perspective, the second best male player on this list is Jimmy Connors, who played till he was 40, winning 233 matches. Andre Agassi and Ivan Lendl played on for a while too, winning 224 and 222 respectively. Only Novak Djokovic – currently the best player on the planet – on 209 matches, stands a chance of coming close to this number. In tennis history, Federer stands behind only Martina Navratilova, who won 306 singles Grand Slam matches over her long career. Chris Evert finished on 299. 

This is an ode to the Swiss legend’s longevity. He has enjoyed a regeneration of sorts over the last two years, and has reached three Grand Slam Finals, losing to Djokovic in each of them. He was No. 2 in the world for most of 2015, and is currently no. 3, in stark contrast to long-time rival Rafael Nadal, who will fall below his No. 5 ranking after losing in the first round to fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco. 

The master has seen his fair share of timeless matches over his career, more so in the best-of-5 format. Here are three of his classics:

Wimbledon 2001, Quarter-finals 

19-year old Federer, with streaked hair and a wild ponytail, gave the then-greatest grass-court player of all time a schooling in passing shots, baseline tennis as well as volleying. The match lasted five beautiful sets, and the crowd truly believed they had witnessed a passing of the baton. They were right, in a way. Had the heir apparent finally arrived? Was anyone going to take ahead the ‘greatest’ legacy? Pete Sampras was almost 30, and won only one more Slam after his career went into terminal decline with this loss to Federer. But he also hailed the Swiss boy as one to look out for – and must have felt tempted to eat his words when Federer lost to Tim Henman in the semis and the first round to Mario Ancic next year. Two years after the win over Sampras, 21-year old Federer returned to SW19 and destroyed everyone in his path to win his first ever Grand Slam. It was 2003. Between 2003 and 2010, he won 14 more Slams. It all began with Sampras. 

Australian Open 2005, Semi-finals

Only Marat Safin could beat anyone on his day, they had said. He had done so in 2000, beating heavy favorite Sampras at the US Open. But he had refused to win any more Majors till this fortnight in 2005. Federer was already on a streak, and was virtually unbeatable through 2004. Then, in the semis, he came across an inspired Safin – who refused to yield an inch, who hit cleanly and didn’t break too many rackets, and the Safin that had met Sampras years ago to shock the world. Over five sets, Federer tried to slice his way out of his backhand returns, but Safin always had an answer. Eventually, Safin came through in five, defeating the King at his pomp, and going on to defeat Lleyton Hewitt, the home favorite, in the 2005 final to win his second (and last) Grand Slam major. Over the next seven years, Federer exacted revenge in almost every Slam on every court, defeating Safin repeatedly. But it wasn’t the same Russian those days. The 2005 guy bore some resemblance to the guy who won the 2014 US Open on a hot streak – a one-hit wonder of sorts, Marin Cilic. 

Wimbledon 2008, Final

Quite simply the greatest Men’s Singles match of all time. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal – who was then the King Of Clay edging closer and closer to a victory on grass each year – raised the standards of tennis to stratospheric heights. Other players must have watched and felt diminished, because the two produced a display that transcended sport. Nadal took the first two sets 6-4, before Federer stormed back in two tie-breaks to take it to the fifth. Who can forget his on-the-run backhand passing shot on match-point in the fourth set tiebreak? Nadal couldn’t quite believe it himself. But the Spaniard composed himself in the final set. He won it 9-7 in darkness – not fading light – but utter darkness, when it looked like the court was only lit with camera flashes. He wasn’t to be denied after a heartbreaking fifth set loss in the 2007 final, when he was still improving on other surfaces. Finally, he had conquered the one surface nobody thought he would. And he did it against the greatest grass-court player of all time – who had succeeded Sampras one fine day seven years ago on the same court. Was this another passing of the baton? Surely, it was too early to tell. Federer won it back in 2009 when Nadal was injured, as well as the Career Slam by winning the French Open, thereby sealing his legacy and proving that he was never going to be done. 

 

 

Source: Bookmyshow

6 Patriotic Songs for This Generation

It’s that time of the year again. When people bring out whatever orange and green clothing they have, to wear as a hat tip to nationalist sentiment. Otherwise, a lot of Indians, especially the youth, only feel a surge of patriotism when a cricket match is going on. The rest of the year they’re busy cribbing about everything that is wrong with the country. 

 

To be fair, there is a lot to crib about in our country. And we complain because we expect better from it, because we know it can be better. But even in our most critical moods, we will admit that there is a lot to love about our country as well (food, music, clothes, and duh, Bollywood!). Yes, the patriotism of youth is different, so the usual Mother India brand of music doesn’t cover it. But there are some patriotic songs that we can relate to. 

 

So here goes: our modern and fun Republic Day playlist!

 

Des Mera

 

 

This satirical film (Peepli Live) had a varied and interesting soundtrack. While all the songs had their merits, you would especially relate to this peppy song, about how India’s not flawed, it is colorful! 

 

Rang De Basanti

 

 

This song is a rich and moving tribute to the ‘ask no questions’ kind of love for the country.

 

Chak De India

 

 

The film didn’t make the Indian government look very good but then, the government is not ‘India’, the people are. And it is to the people that the song appeals. 

 

Chale Chalo

 

 

This war cry of a song from Lagaan will get your blood pumping and heart thumping. The perfect mood for Republic Day.

 

Jagaa Khunnas

 

 

Saala Khadoos brings you the next level of inspiration for you to get moving and give direction to your anger (a non-violent direction, preferably).

 

Tu Bhoola Jise

 

 

Remember this lesson from Airlift: At the end of the day, there’s only one country that you can call your own and, more importantly, that will call you its own.

Source: Bookmyshow

Malayali Heroines Who Charm Kollywood

 What’s common between Shobana, Revathi, Radha, Asin, Nazriya and legendary actress Padmini? They were all Malayalam heroines, who made their foray in Tamil cinema and went on to dazzle the Tamil audience. One can’t give credit only to them, Tamil cinema loves to showcase new talent. Especially, when they are actresses from other regional industries. One of the main reasons why Malayali actors are like by Tamil audience is because of the fact that their looks match that of a Tamizh Ponnu (Tamil girl). Let’s take a look at the list of Malayali heroines who are ruling the Tamil Tinsel Town: 

The New Entrants:

 

 

Be it Keerthy Suresh in Rajini Murugan, Madonna Sebastian in Premam (Malayalam) or Manjima Mohan in Oru Vaddakan Selfie (Malayalam), these heroines are currently the talk-of-the-town. They may be only one or two films old, but have managed to win the attention of filmmakers.

 

Keerthy Suresh will next be seen in Pambu Sattai, an untitled film with Sivakarthikeyan, and Prabhu Solomon‘s next with Dhanush. Madonna Sebastian will be seen in Nalan Kumarasamy‘s Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum. While, Manjima Mohan, has three projects in the pipeline, including the yet-to-be released Achcham Enbadhu Madamaiyada opposite Simbu, Vikram Prabhu‘s next, and Udhayanidhi‘s untitled project. 

 

It’s safe to say that these heroines will take over Tamil cinema this year.

 

The Favourites:

 

 

If there’s one heroine who is ruling Kollywood at the moment, it is Nayanthara. The actress has delivered about five hit films in 2015, and has climbed to the numero uno position. She is an actress who can balance between content drive roles and glamorous roles. The dusky beauty Amala Paul is another actress who has cemented her position in the film industry.

 

She is one actress who doesn’t let her married tag affect her choice of films. There are two other favourites to this list – Parvathy and Nithya Menen. Known for her outspoken nature, Parvathy has charmed the Tamil audience with films like Maariyaan and Poo. While Nithya Menen has become a hot favourite after her role in Mani Ratnam’s 2015 film, Oh Kadhal Kanmani. Apart from acting in Telugu films, Catherine Tresa is is slowly making her mark in Kollywood as well.

 

Who is your favourite actress? Tell us your views in the comments below.

 

Source: Bookmyshow

The Best Dressed Celebrities at Bollywood Awards

 ‘Tis the season of awards! From Stardust to the Screen Awards to the mother of all awards, Filmfare Awards, all of them have been held. The last year didn’t have many successful films, and most of the awards were picked by Bajirao Mastani and Piku. Coming to actors who impressed, it was Ranveer Singh all the way. Apart from picking up the Best Actor award at almost every function, he also performed at them. Also, it was great to see the actor sport better outfits (read: not the one he wore at the GQ Awards). The actresses, too, flaunted their designer best. Here are some of the celebrities who set the red carpet on fire:

Deepika Padukone

Ranveer Singh

Parineeti Chopra

Aishwariya Rai Bachchan

Shahid Kapoor

 

 

Source: Bookmyshow

Deadpool: The Most Romantic Movie of 2016

It’s almost Valentine’s Day. You know what that means. Filmmakers are getting set to release the next romantic tearjerker or the most delightful rom-com of the year. But an unlikely contender might take the box office by storm on Valentine’s Weekend. And his name is Deadpool.

This hilarious (yet, surprisingly believable) fan-made trailer for Deadpool showed us what the film would be like as a romantic drama. It’s no surprise, then, that it took the internet by storm and even got attention from the filmmakers, who decided to roll with it! They released a series of hilarious posters for the most romantic film of the year, Deadpool.

They even released a new synopsis for the film, one that would put a Nicholas Sparks film to shame!

A cancer victim can’t bear to leave the one he loves, so he undergoes an experimental treatment that tests the limits of their relationship.

But that’s not all! Ryan Reynolds and the makers of the film also took to Twitter to find out what would happen if Deadpool was on the Bachelor.

Even though we know better, we’re already looking forward to the most romantic movie of 2016. Valentine’s Day can’t come soon enough!

Source: Bookmyshow

5 Things Our Man Needs to Learn From Ranveer

Ranveer Singh‘s journey in Bollywood has been nothing short of a roller-coaster ride. From his debut in Band Baaja Baaraat in which he plays a typical Delhi boy (Bittoo Sharma) to playing Bajirao in Bajirao Mastani; Ranveer has come a long way. The only thing that has remained constant is his energy, which we absolutely love. Ranveer’s quirky ways have won the audience’s hearts. But we are not the only ones bowled over by his charm. His relationship with Deepika Padukone is no secret. And the way they handle it makes us go ga-ga over their chemistry. We think that every man can take a page out of Ranveer’s Book of Love and learn a thing or two.

LESSON 1: Learn To Take a Joke

There’s nothing sexier than a man with a sense of humor.  

LESSON 2: Respect Elders

At the recent Filmfare event, Ranveer showed respect towards elders by touching Deepika’s father’s feet! Of course, it made headlines. 

LESSON 3: A Little PDA Never Hurt Anyone

Jab pyaar kiya toh darna kya? Ranveer’s ‘paparazzi who-dat’ approach gets a big thumbs-up from us! 

LESSON 4: The Right Amount of Possessive

Don’t lose it every time your girl talks to another man. SPACE is the keyword! 

LESSON 5: Never Letting Insecurity Rule The Relationship

How many boyfriends would be comfortable with their partner working with her ex? Thank you for being so cool! 

 

Dear Boyfriend, please learn. 

 

 

Source: Bookmyshow

Oscars 2016: Our Predictions

Finally, the nominations we’ve all been waiting for are out. The 88th Academy Awards, which will be held on February 28 at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, California, has 24 categories – and will be hosted by comedian Chris Rock for the second time. 

No major surprises with the nominations (as voted by close to 6000 industry professionals), but there were some notable snubs. The Revenant expectedly received 12 nominations, with action flick Mad Max: Fury Road garnering 10. This is the second consecutive year Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu’s film has picked up maximum nominations. We will go over each of the main categories here with our comments and predictions:

BEST PICTURE

The Big Short, Bridge Of Spies, Brooklyn, Mad Max, The Martian, The Revenant, Room, Spotlight

 

Snubs: Carol, Ex Machina, Straight Outta Compton, Inside Out (which should have ideally replaced The Martian on this list).

 

Prediction: It will come down to a head-to-head battle between journalist drama Spotlight and picturesque survival drama The Revenant. My money is, however, on Mad Max: Fury Road, which could just walk away with the night’s major award – and deservedly so – especially after it swept the Critics’ Choice awards recently, winning 9 out of its 10 nominations.

BEST DIRECTOR

Lenny Abarahamson (Room), Alejandro G. Inarritu (The Revenant), Tom McCarthy (Spotlight), Adam McKay (The Big Short), George Miller (Mad Max)

 

Snubs: Steven Spielberg for Bridge Of Spies, Todd Haynes for Carol and Ryan Coogler for Creed, Danny Boyle for Steve Jobs

 

Prediction: It’s Inarritu v/s George Miller. The winner here will also go on to have his film pick up the main prize. Again, my money is on George Miller – and not simply because Inarritu only just won this award last year. Miller reinvents the action genre and gave us the most pulsating action movie in decades. Despite the Golden Globes snub, he should win big here. However, knowing the Academy and its traditionally conservative Oscar-bait choices, they are likely to go with an against-all-odds man-versus-nature Leo vehicle.

BEST ACTOR

Bryan Cranston (Trumbo), Matt Damon (The Martian), Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant), Michael Fassbender (Steve Jobs), Eddie Redmayne (The Danish Girl)

Snubs: Michael B. Jordan for Creed, Michael Keaton for Spotlight, Steve Carell for The Big Short

 

Prediction: This is a sure shot (finally!) Leo win. He has done everything, including eat a raw liver and fight a bear, to finally land this award. This is his sixth nomination, and could be his first win. If, miraculously, last year’s winner Eddie Redmayne pulls it off for The Danish Girl, it’d be a loss for humanity in general.

BEST ACTRESS

Cate Blanchett (Carol), Brie Larson (Room), Jennifer Lawrence (Room), Charlotte Rampling (45 Years), Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn)

 

Snubs: Alicia Vikander for Ex Machina, Laia Costa for Victoria, Charlize Theron for Mad Max

 

Prediction: Brie Larson is the favourite for her performance as a kidnapped mother in captivity with her young son. In any other year, though, it’d have

come down to Saoirse Ronan and Cate Blanchett for their diametrically opposite roles in 1950s New York.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Christian Bale (The Big Short), Tom Hardy (The Revenant), Mark Ruffalo (Spotlight), Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies), Sylvester Stallone (Creed)

 

Snubs: Every other male actor in Spotlight and The Big Short, Jacob Tremblay (Room), Samuel L. Jackson for Chi Raq, Oscar Isaac for Ex Machina

 

Prediction: This is the toughest category to predict. It’s wide open, and every one of them deserves it. My personal favourite is Mark Rylance for Bridge Of Spies, but since the movie hasn’t gotten much love in awards season, it will come down to a direct shootout between sentimental favourite Stallone for ‘Creed’ and Mark Ruffalo in Spotlight. Stallone could steal it – more as a lifetime achievement award.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight), Rooney Mara (Carol), Rachel McAdams (Spotlight), Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl), Kate Winslet (Steve Jobs)

 

Snubs: They’re all here

 

Prediction: Winslet won at the Globes, but she was utterly surprised, because everyone expected either Jennifer Jason Leigh (because a Tarantino film always gets a supporting favourite) or Alicia Vikander for one of her two fantastic roles in a stellar 2015. Again, though, it could be Kate Winslet – and perhaps Steve Jobs’ only win on the night.

BEST FILM EDITING

The Big Short, Mad Max, The Revenant, Spotlight, Star Wars

 

Snubs: Room, Steve Jobs, Bridge Of Spies

 

Prediction: Director George Miller’s wife Margaret Sixel is an overwhelming favorite to win it for Mad Max. Frankly, nobody else deserves it more. She literally defined the pulsating film.

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Embrace Of The Serpent (Columbia), Mustang (France), Son Of Saul (Hungary), Theeb (Jordan), A War (Denmark)

 

Snubs: El Club (Chile), The Brand New Testament (Belgium)

Prediction: Son Of Saul, all the way. No doubts here.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Bridge Of Spies, Ex Machina, Inside Out, Spotlight, Straight Outta Compton

 

Snubs: Golden Globe winner Aaron Sorkin for Steve Jobs, Quentin Tarantino (The Hateful Eight), Amy Schumer for Trainwreck

 

Prediction: Alex Garland has to win it for the beautiful Inside Out, one of the most original and poignant animated films of all time. However, the Academy will favour the high-profile Spotlight or indie Ex Machina instead.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

The Big Short, Brooklyn, Carol, The Martian, Room

 

Snubs: None

 

Prediction: Though my heart roots for Emma Donoghue’s ‘Room’, the winner will most likely be the writing pair of Adam McKay and Charles Randolph for simplifying and stylizing complicated financial parlance in ‘The Big Short’.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

It doesn’t matter, because ‘Inside Out’ has this in the bag. Anomalisa is a distant second.

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

Bridge of Spies, Carol, The Hateful Eight, Sicario, Star Wars

 

Prediction: Ennio Morricone is the favourite for his sassy Tarantino-driven score, but my personal favourite is Carter Burwell for ‘Carol’.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Carol, The Hateful Eight, Mad Max, The Revenant, Sicario

 

Snubs: Bridge of Spies, Brooklyn

Prediction: Surely, Roger Deakins has to get one finally for Sicario. But it will instead be ‘Chivo’ Lubezki for ‘The Revenant’ – who won consecutive Oscars for his work on ‘Gravity’ and ‘Birdman’. Could this be his historical hat trick?

 

NOTE: The Indian connection is limited to Asif Kapadia’s nomination for his documentary on Amy Winehouse – Amy, and Sanjay Patel for his quirky terrific short Sanjay’s Super Team. They’re both favorites in their respective categories to take home the coveted trophies. 

 

Expect both the Sound awards to go to Mad Max OR The Revenant (they won’t be split), while Production Design could go to period cold war drama, Bridge of Spies. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: Bookmyshow

Income Tax Officials Aim South Film Industry

 The film industry boasts of several top league actors who star in films that turn out to win big at the box office. These actors stay in the limelight for their choice of films  and their exceptional performances. Apart from making their livelihood through films, actors make huge earnings from advertisements, foreign work and appearances at weddings. It is reported that some of their earnings from these events go unaccounted for. They then become a prime target when it comes to Income Tax raids. The I-T officials undertake a surprise raid on their property and seize them. The is fairly common in the Bollywood film industry, and it has now begun in the South Indian Film industry as well. 

Last year, just before the release of Puli, Income tax officials raided the residence and office of Vijay and the producers of his film Puli following reports that some investment made in Puli is unaccounted for. The I-T officials also announced that Vijay had been evading tax for the last five years.

 

The raids take place only before the release of the particular actor’s film, which eventually results in the delay in the release. But it looks like that isn’t the case any longer. Last week, the homes of Dhanush and Kushboo were raided. Although there is no proof, reports are rife that several of their possessions were seized. The I-T raids on the two actors has taken the Tamil film industry by surprise, as these two celebrities did not have any immediate releases. Director Bala‘s house (whose film Thaarai Thappattai released on Pongal) was also raided, however, he was not charged. 

 

Telugu actors too aren’t spared. In 2011, I-T officials raided the homes and offices of Nagarjuna, Ravi Teja, Anushka and Venkatesh. It is reported that a district court had issued summons to the actors regarding their properties. The I-T Department seized several documents during the operation. 

 

It may be recalled that in the previous years the I-T sleuths raided the premises of many noted cinema personalities like Mahesh Babu, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Nayanthara and Ajith.

 

Source: Bookmyshow

Ricky: Film Review – Hariprriya Steals the Show

Verdict: Strong story, weak execution

Once in a while do movies in Sandalwood have stories that grasp your imagination from the very first frame – Ricky could have been so much more. What starts out as a slow narrative of two families intertwined by fate, love and a lot more slowly devolves into a regular love story between two young children who grow up to love each other, as the story pendulums between Mangalore and Bangalore. From the green vivid fields of Dakshina Kannada the story tangents, quite unnecessarily, to Dachigam National Park in Jammu & Kashmir, with no real effect on the main storyline. It’s almost like the snow-capped peaks, green vales and beautiful landscapes of J&K were merely used as decorations that, literally, served no real purpose.

 

The narrative also manages to weave in Malnad’s love-affair with the Naxalite movement. A beautifully-crafted voiceover by Sudeep manages to seamlessly connect communism to Naxalism (slightly problematic) and the film does come across as being slightly pro-Naxal. The film is ridden with beautiful poetry, some delivered by actual characters in the narrative and others in the voiceover that the film begins and ends with.

 

 

Hariprriya manages to essay the role of a Naxal rebel to the dot. She reminds one of Nandita Das’ beautiful portrayal of a LTTE cadre in Kannathil Mutthamittaal. What irks the audience is the sudden need for the hero to take center stage. A strong, almost ferocious Hariprriya, once she falls back in love, suddenly morphs from strong lioness into meek lamb while Rakshit Shetty fights ten bad guys at a time. So annoyingly predictable!

 

The film is entertaining for sure and post-interval, the plot really keeps you glued to the screen. It’s the unnecessary need to bring back the hero, as the savior, that annoys mostly. The music is good, but most songs do not stick with you. Yele Mareyali by Naveen Sajju with Sudeep’s voice-over is heart-wrenching and a must watch/listen. Jeeva Neenu by Rajesh Krishnan also manages to strike a chord. Arjun Janya’s music does work for this film, though some songs are very unnecessary.

 

Rishab Shetty has managed to craft a decent movie, but so much more could have been done. That said, we’re thankful for a film that proudly portrays the Laal Salaam movement of Karnataka’s Western Ghats. Kudos for that!

 

Why You Should Watch This Movie:

 

For Hariprriya. For revolutionary poetry. For Sudeep’s voice. For a fresh story.

 

— By L Romal M Singh

Source: Bookmyshow

Airlift: Film Review – The Khiladi is Back!

Verdict: A brilliant depiction of a true story.

 

Making a film about a real life story doesn’t necessarily result in good cinema. A lot of the time makers botch up facts, and to commercialize the film, they pay less attention to the storyline. It’s a good thing that Akshay Kumar’s latest film, Airlift isn’t subject to these problems. The film starts off on an extravagant note with businessman Ranjit Katyal (Akshay Kumar) leading a lavish life with his wife Amrita (Nimrat Kaur) and daughter. After a bit of song and dance, things go awry when Iraq attacks Kuwait. The couple can use their pull and leave the country, but Ranjit’s conscience stops him from doing so. Much to his wife’s annoyance, Ranjit decides to help fellow Indians, a lot of whom are his office staff.

 

 

Based on the 1990 evacuation of Indians from Kuwait, Airlift is Raja Menon’s third film after Bas Yun Hi and Barah Aana. The director has everything going for him, in this case: a great cast, a big budget, and a superb story. It’s great that he makes the most of them and gives us a fantastic film. He absorbs you into the world of the refugees while focusing on a few individual stories. The only flaw in the movie is the presence of songs, as they seem forced into the narrative.

 

Coming to the cast, Purab Kohli and Prakash Belawadi (last seen in Talvar) get some important scenes and shine in them. Airlift is Nimrat Kaur’s second big outing after the 2013 hit, Lunchbox, and the actress stands out in the screen time that she gets. She impresses in the scene in which she lashes out at a refugee, who questions her husband’s intentions. Now to talk about the film’s biggest strength – Akshay Kumar. The actor is in fine form and plays the unsung hero to perfection. From a flamboyant businessman to a helpless refugee, he makes every shade of his character believable. We hope the actor signs more films like Airlift, rather than those mindless comedies.

 

Why You Should Watch This Movie:  

 

Airlift is one of Akshay Kumar’s best works. The actor carries the film on his shoulders and his performance is one of its highlights. Also, the film is a gripping portrayal of the biggest human evacuation in history. The plight of the helpless refugees comes across on screen, and if you’re heading to the movies this weekend, make Airlift your first choice. 

Source: Bookmyshow

5 Talking Points Of India-Australia ODI Series

Team India, fresh from a morale boosting 3-0 Test series victory over South Africa, is not at its favorite touring destination. They have traditionally never done well in Australia (except 1985 and 2008), and their first bilateral 5-match ODI series down under isn’t going any differently. As we speak, they’re 4-0 down against a third string Australian bowling attack. 

While it’s easy to pin blame on every single department of this malfunctioning Indian ODI team, the reasons are more specific. Behind every high-scoring defeat, there seems to be a trend that refuses to cease. These haven’t been demolitions – even worse, they’ve been competitive bat-vs-bat matches that eventually come down to the slog overs. 

Here are 5 things we’ve learned from India’s humbling down under:

5. AUSSIE PITCHES? NAH!

The ODI World Cup that was held last year in Australia and New Zealand involved two ODI double centuries (by Chris Gayle and Martin Guptill). Think about that – 2 double centuries on grounds traditionally created to make it difficult and hard work for batsmen. Gayle’s double against Zimbabwe, in fact, came on the same ground (Canberra) where Australia scored 348 in the 4th ODI, with Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan getting centuries in a tanked chase and India just falling short after blazing towards 300. The first 2 ODIs produced scores of 308 and 309, with Australia easily chasing them down, after which a 295 was chased down at Melbourne, too. Shockingly, the Perth pitch was the slowest of the four – and the last ever match was played at the famed WACA before the new stadium takes over next year. These drop-in pitches in Australia also produced a record-breaking Test series aggregate between Australia and New Zealand last month – where batsmen like Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and David Warner made merry of on flat wickets. No score is too much in ODIs anymore, and it’s a pity that the ACB has compromised on its balanced pitches in order to rake in the crowds and money. 

4. SELFISH BATTING OR INCOMPETENT BOWLING?

Debates have raged about whether Rohit Sharma perhaps paced his charge till too late when India batted first and put 300+ totals on the board consistently – whereas it escaped most myopic visions that India’s middle order contributed virtually nothing to the last 5 overs of each match. Not surprisingly, only at Perth in the first ODI, when Rohit was still at the crease, India scored 60 off the last 5. These new rules that allow 5 fielders outside the circle in the last 10 overs has caused the downfall of M.S. Dhoni, the finisher, and India will be ruing the fact that they didn’t choose Suresh Raina for the one series he could have made a huge difference to. Ravindra Jadeja has done nothing as a batsman, and even the new guys like Rishi Dhawan and Gurkeerat Singh have failed. It doesn’t matter how much India put on the board though, because their bowlers – led by the inconsistent Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav – have made life very difficult for their team. With no batting middle order and bowlers who look like amateurs in overseas conditions once again, Dhoni’s headaches are now splitting migraines. 

3. WILL THE FINISHER STAND UP?

M.S. Dhoni has been failing as a middle-order batsman ever since the new ODI rules came into effect. At Canberra, when all he had to do was his job (and finish, after Shikhar and Kohli laid a superb foundation, impossible to destroy), he was dismissed for 0 – exposing the incompetent middle order to gleeful Aussie bowlers. It’s not the first time India have lost after their top order scored centuries, and it won’t be the last. Gurkeerat at 5 only proves how the tail starts early, and Dhoni must definitely be considering quitting the captaincy in order to extend his ODI career. He should because his bowlers haven’t responded to him. He has placed his fielders at all the wrong positions, and he looks like a victim of his team’s blatant weaknesses. 

2. THE AUSSIE BATSMEN

Even this young, second-string Aussie team boasts of batsmen – and more importantly, superb all-rounders like Maxwell, Marsh and Faulkner – that go right till no. 9. Not only that, the top order of Steve Smith and George Bailey have rotated the strike far more effectively than the Indian top order, and have run more 2s and 3s, played less dots (due to India’s rubbish bowling) and have read the fields perfectly over their 4 ODIs. Even when the team struggled in the 3rd and 4th matches, and looked like they were going down, Smith kept his cool and didn’t make any knee-jerk changes. He knew the inexperienced Indian temperament would show eventually, and thus kept the phenomenal home-winning streak of 18 consecutive ODIs alive. India could have again been the team to deny them when Kohli and Dhawan went great guns in Canberra, but India lost 9 wickets for 47 runs – perhaps their most shocking collapse in limited overs cricket recently. It’s therefore no surprise that the Indian top order’s 5 centuries so far this series have come in a losing cause, as compared to the Australians’ 3 centuries. What was that, Ravi Shastri? Individual records, what?

1. BLAME IT ON THE TURNERS

Every international team has become so strong in their own home conditions that it becomes sort of a joke when they travel to other shores. The 3-0 mauling of South Africa happened in a series that ruined batting averages and brought the likes of Ashwin and Jadeja – home specialists par excellence – to the core. Soon, Ashwin became no. 1 in the world, and came to Australia as the most feared spinner in cricket. This notion was dispelled within two ODIs at Perth and Brisbane, where Ashwin leaked runs without taking many wickets, and was eventually dropped for the Melbourne game, where, ironically, he could have been of some use. Except for the MCG match, Jadeja too proved ineffective, and the glorious dustbowls of Mohali and Delhi feel like light years away. You’d have to think Ravi Shastri would sooner or later admit that his strategy of producing ridiculous demon turners at home only works for players looking to be tigers at home. The same bowlers are rendered impotent abroad, which says a lot about why no youngster wants to grow up to be a bowler these days.

 

Source: Bookmyshow

Jugni: Film Review – A Little Love, a Lot of Music!

Verdict: A harmonious love story of two people who belong to entirely different worlds.

Bollywood has borne witness to many love stories; but only a few musical ones. Debutant director and writer Shefali Bhushan envisages a musical romance playing out between a young couple, who bond through their common love for music. The title Jugni (free like a firefly) compliments the carefree nature of the lead. It also means, a narrative device used in Punjabi folk. Either way, the title fits the story perfectly well.

The movie starts with Vibhavari (Sugandha Garg),a music director, traveling to Punjab in search of Bibi Saroop (Sadhana Singh), who is blessed with a soulful voice. It so happens that she meets Bibi’s son, Mastana (Sidhant Behl) instead and instantly takes a liking towards his voice. She wants to record a song with both the mother and son for her next movie and hence decides to stay with the family for a few days. In the course of her stay, a series of events bring Mastana and Vibhavari close to each other and eventually make Mastana fall in love with the latter. Both Mastana and Vibhavari are engaged to different people, which further complicates things. The story revolves around the two dealing with these very problems while continuing the recording process.

With a very fresh story line, Shefali Bhushan has made a remarkable debut as a director with Jugni. Garg bags a slightly meatier role compared to Behl but both do justice to their respective characters. Sadhana Singh might have a supporting role as Bibi Swaroop but is an important part of the movie; so is Anurita Jha, who plays the role of Mastana’s fiance Preeto.

Although an entirely new cast may not be as appealing to the audience, the story is what will lure them to watch it. With a runtime of an hour and 55 minutes, you can enjoy Jugni till the very end.

Why You Should Watch This Movie:

The story is fresh and so are the faces in Jugni. The director has done a fine job focusing on the minute things, in order to make sure the audience’s attention doesn’t waver. Also, some beautiful locations in Punjab and authentic Punjabi folk music are what you should look out for.

— By Sanaa Surve

 

Source: Bookmyshow

Rocky Handsome: Deadly and Dangerous

John Abraham is back, and in the kind of action-packed thriller only he can pull off!

 

 

The first trailer for Rocky Handsome is out, and it looks just as exciting as we expected it to be. The trailer gives us a glimpse into the life of a man, who his enemies know as ‘Deadly’, ‘Dangerous’ and ‘Rocky’. But while his adversaries might find it hard to get Rocky off their minds, there’s just one little problem – the government has no record of his existence before 2009. What unfolds is a trailer that is guaranteed to whet every action buff’s appetite.

 

It’s great to see John Abraham back in his action hero avatar for sure. Though we have loved the actor in his light-hearted roles, he truly shines in films like Rocky Handsome. However, it looks like there’s one adorable little actress who might upstage him in the film. Even though she only makes a brief appearance in the trailer, Diya Chalwad is already aww-inspiring! Don’t you agree?

Though we may not know a lot about the plot yet, one thing is for sure – this trailer looks both deadly and dangerous. As for the Handsome bit, John Abraham’s going to take care of that! Watch the high-octane trailer right here, if you haven’t already:

Source: Bookmyshow

Vijay’s Theri To Release On Tamil New Year

2015 wasn’t a particularly a good year for Vijay. His fantasy-drama film, Puli, which was touted to be a big film in his career, failed to create an impact at the box-office. The film was criticized by both critics and audience. But we all have to put aside the negative moments of the previous year, and begin 2016 on a better note, right? That’s exactly how Vijay has begun his year.

The actor has wrapped up the shoot of his film Theri. Directed by Atlee, this film will be Vijay’s first release of 2016. The first-look posters of the film showed us Vijay in an action mode. The posters showed us gun-trotting Vijay, that gave us a hint that he would be portraying the role of a police officer in the film. And images which are currently doing the rounds-on social media has confirmed this. Vijay will be seen playing the role of an IPS officer named, Vijaykumar. His gorgeous co-stars, Amy Jackson and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, will be seen playing a teacher and doctor respectively.

 

 

According to director Atlee, the title of the film implies three meanings – spark, energy and force.  This will be music director G. V. Prakash’s 50th music album. Apart from this, the film will also star famed filmmaker Mahendran playing a pivotal role in this film. The much-awaited film is said to release on 14th April, 2016 , which marks the Tamil New Year. 

 

Atlee’s ambitious film is produced by noted producer Kalaipuli S Thanu. His other big production is Kabali. Starring Rajinikanth in the titular role, the film is also nearing its final stages of completion. It is slated to hit the screens in summer after Theri. 

 

Source: Bookmyshow

The Winners of the Pongal and Sankranti Race

 The first festival of the year, Pongal and Sankranti, was celebrated last week. These joyous festivals made for three  days of holiday, which means a long weekend. But that’s not the only thing people were happy about. Audiences were spoilt for choice as a variety of films released during this period. This was the first time in many years that the Tamil and Telugu film industry saw so many films release on Pongal and Sankranti. All these films were backed by worthy production houses and top-league, bankable heroes. Some of these films were worth the hype, while others fizzed out. Wondering which films claimed the top spot? We give the details.

Please note: The list is based on Bookmyshow’s user reviews and ratings. 

 

TAMIL

 

1. Rajini Murugan

 

User Rating: 4 stars

 

 

The winner of the Pongal race in Kollywood is *drum rolls* – Rajini Murugan! Directed by Ponram and starring Sivakarthikeyan, Soori; Rajini Murugan’s release was on hold for close to a year. And when the film’s release was finally announced for Pongal, fans were overjoyed. Their joy doubled when the film turned out to meet their expectations. It delivered what it promised – rip-roaring comedy, entertainment and fun.

 

 

2.  Thaarai Thaappatai

 

User Rating: 3.8 stars

 

 

Director Bala‘s film on the life and struggles of folk dancers received mixed response from the audience. Varalakshmi’s stellar performance won her accolades, Ilaiyaraja’s music added depth to the story. Some felt the realism in the film was necessary while the rest found it brutal. This proves that Bala’s films aren’t for the faint of heart. 

 

3. Kathakali

 

User Rating: 3. 8 stars

 

 

Another Pongal release which was almost at par with Thaarai Thaappatai was Kathakali. Directed by Pandiraj, Kathakali told a simple revenge story in a convincing way. The short run-time helped the action-thriller look racy. The climax of this Vishal-starrer was a true shocker. 

 

4. Gethu

 

User Rating: 2.7 stars

 

 

Packed with breathtaking visuals and stunning shots, Gethu starred Udhayanidhi as an action hero. Directed by Thirukumaran of Maan Karate fame, this film promised to be a thrilling suspense drama but didn’t manage to hold the attention of the audience. Udhayanidhi, Sathyaraj and Vikranth were the ‘Gethu’ performers of this movie.

 

TELUGU

 

1. Nannaku Prematho

 

User Rating: 4 stars

 

 

 

Jr. NTR’s Nannaku Prematho has turned out to be a notable landmark film for the actor. The actor’s 25th film has received praise from the audience and critics alike. The unusual revenge drama was backed by Sukumar‘s brilliant direction and Jr. NTR’s laudable performance.

 

2. Soggade Chinni Nayana

 

User rating: 4 stars

 

 

Nagarjuna’s double role as father and son has received rave reviews from the audience. This Sankranti release was touted as a family entertainer, and it proved to be one. Set against a rural backdrop, this film highlighted the bond between a couple and the value of relationships. 

 

3. Express Raja

 

User Rating: 4 stars

 

 

Sharwanand is turning out to be a bankable star, and his latest film Express Raja is proof of it. The hilarious film boasted of good characterization and ample twists. Surabhi and Sharwanand’s chemistry was another highlight of this film.

 

4. Dictator

 

User Rating: 3.3 stars

 

 

Nandamuri Balakrishna‘s 99th film got a tremendous response from his ardent fans. The film’s dramatic twists and punch-dialogues made it a trademark Balayya film.

 

Which one did you enjoy watching the most? Tell us your views in the comments below.

 

Source: Bookmyshow

Inside Dabboo Ratnani’s 2016 Calendar

Every Bollywood buff knows that the one of the most-talked about industry event every new year is the calendar launch by photographer extraordinaire, Dabboo Ratnani. Not very surprisingly, the 2016 edition of the iconic calendar was just as glamorous as its predecessors.

The girls upped the calendar’s hotness quotient with some sizzling photographs. While Anushka Sharma opted for a demure pose, Shraddha Kapoor channeled her inner badass. But she isn’t the only one. Kriti Sanon, Alia Bhatt and Athiya Shetty look sexier than ever, and Jacqueline Fernandez is an absolute knockout!



Lisa Haydon showed that she can make anything look sexy. Even being in the toilet!



Parineeti Chopra rocked the au naturel look, by looking stunning even with the least styling and makeup. Sonakshi Sinha, whose look was just the opposite, looked striking.



The men weren’t far behind. Farhan Akhtar and Varun Dhawan showed off their chiseled physiques in their shots. Abhishek Bachchan and Arjun Rampal suited up and boy, they look dapper!

 

And Sidharth Malhotra? He looks smokin’ hot… quite literally.

As usual, Dabboo Ratnani’s calendar didn’t disappoint. And everyone who has them is, without a doubt, the subject of our envy!

 

Source: Bookmyshow

And the Role Goes to…..

When a filmmaker of some repute announces that he is casting for a project, almost everyone wants to be a part of it. On a few occasions, the director is spoilt for choice as more than one actor approaches him/her for the role. Take last year’s Prem Ratan Dhan Payo for example. The film marked the return of Salman Khan to the Barjatya camp, and every top actress was considered for the film. From Deepika Padukone to Anushka Sharma to Sonam Kapoor, all wanted to be a part of the film, and the “fashionista” finally made the cut. The same happened with a lot of this year’s films too. Here are some of the actors who put the competition out of the running:

Anushka Sharma

Salman Khan’s next, Sultan is all set to release this Eid and there was a lot of speculation over the female lead of the movie. From Parineeti Chopra to Deepika, many were rumored to be signed on, but Anushka finally bagged the role.

 Arjun Kapoor

After Sushant Singh Rajput walked out of Mohit Suri’s Half Girlfriend, many actors were vying for the role. It was recently confirmed that Arjun Kapoor will play the lead in this adaptation of Chetan Bhagat’s novel. 

Deepika Padukone

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next production, Gustakhiyan is based on the life of Sahir Ludhianvi and Amrita Pritam. Priyanka Chopra and Sushant Singh Rajput were supposed to play the lead, but the makers have now gotten the Piku jodi, Deepika Padukone and Irrfan Khan onboard.

Aditya Roy Kapoor 

When Abhishek Kapoor announced Fitoor, many actors expressed their interest to be a part of the film. After all, the director was riding high on the success of Kai Po Che and Katrina Kaif was to play the heroine. After several discussions and negotiations, the director finally roped in Aditya Roy Kapoor for the film.

Shraddha Kapoor 

Tiger Shroff’s rumored girlfriend, Disha Patani was supposed to star opposite him in Baaghi. The makers wanted a known face though and Patani was replaced with Shraddha Kapoor.

Source: Bookmyshow