The New Generation of Movie Posters

This is what it eventually comes to. When Om Shanti Om was released, some of the posters looked like they had been painted in the old style. But the producers were taking no chances with the likenesses of Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone. The posters were generated by a computer programme. This meant that the stars looked like stars but the poster was made to look like they had been painted by hand.

When we went looking for the men who had painted cinema hoardings and posters, the watchman at one of the housing societies was slightly puzzled.

Balkrishna L Vaidya however still paints posters from his shop in Dadar. There isn’t much demand now but the 74-year-old remembers the glory days when there were nearly 30 studios working in Mumbai.

“Up to 1993, the hoardings on the roads were the most important way to advertise films,” he says. “Today, everything comes out of a machine somewhere.” But Vaidya has found an international niche for himself.

“Hans, a young man from Switzerland, saw one of my posters at Opera House and loved the work. He tracked me down and although he spoke no Hindi or Marathi, he insisted on coming to learn the art of painting with me. He studied for three days and at the end of it, I gave him a poster to take back with him.

“I did not expect anything more from him but then he wrote me a letter asking me if I would come to Switzerland and give a demonstration of my work there. I went, not because I wanted the stipend, but only because I wanted to travel and I felt this would be a great way to see the world. I must have done something right because they enjoyed my presentation and every two years, I get to go abroad to Italy, to Austria, to Germany, to London, to show them how we used to do our hoardings,” he says.

A reflective pause and then, “We don’t seem to care as much about our culture as they do. There’s not much demand for our work in India but abroad, it’s different. They hang my posters in offices, in museums. My work is in the Victoria & Albert Museum, in a museum in Germany. But as for the streets of Mumbai? We live now on our memories.”

Courtesy of Hindustani Times

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OSO Song Helps Make World Record!

More than 200 people danced together to the tune of a hit Indian song in the city’s Trafalgar square to set a world record for ‘Bollywood dancing’ by most number of people.

The five-minute routine that engaged 212 people simultaneously had people of all ages and backgrounds dancing to the popular song Om Shanti Om from the blockbuster ShahRukh Khan-starrer of the same name.

The feat achieved by the dancers, who braved inclement weather for the same, won them a place in the Guinness Book of Records.

Hosted by Strictly Come Dancing’s Erin Boag, the event encouraged young people to break several world records including largest number of football freestyle tricks in one minute.

Organisers admitted that weather had put many people off, with attendance down as compared to the 10,000 who took part last year.

The event was part of a dance-themed festival organised by BBC Blast which caters to teenagers and young adults.

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Manoj Kumar Complains to Yash Chopra

The controversy over spoof on veteran actor-filmmaker Manoj Kumar in Bollywood hit movie “Om Shanti Om” could return to haunt its actor Shah Rukh Khan as Kumar has accused him of “betrayal of trust” by not honouring his ‘promise’ of deleting the sequence from the movie.

“Shah Rukh had promised to delete the scene from the film when I objected. So many months have passed and he has not honoured his promise. This is nothing but betrayal of trust,” Manoj Kumar told PTI here today.

The veteran actor said he complained to filmmaker Yash Chopra about it because it was Chopra who had brought Shah Rukh and director Farah Khan to his house.

SRK and Farah had aplogised to Manoj Kumar and assured him that the scene would be deleted, the noted actor pointed out.

“I have told Yash Chopra about it. This is the only thing I can do,” he said while denying reports in a section of the media that he plans to file a defamation suit against the Bollywood superstar.

In a spoof in ‘Om Shanti Om’, Om, a junior artiste played by SRK, gains entry to a movie premier imitating Manoj Kumar.

When the real Manoj Kumar (a body double of the actor) comes, he is beaten up by security guards.

Moreover, the photograph on his driving license shown by the ‘real’ Manoj Kumar to the guards is in the actor’s trade mark style of covering the face with his hand.

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Farah Talks About OSO-Manoj Kumar Conflict

Director-choreographer Farah Khan has sought to bring the curtain down on a raging controversy over the depiction of Bollywood veteran Manoj Kumar in her film Om Shanti Om, saying she isn’t “bothered” about him any more.

“I am not bothered about him anymore,” said Farah over the phone when asked for her reaction to Manoj Kumar’s decision to file a case against her over his portrayal in the 2007 blockbuster.

Manoj Kumar had told a media outlet he would be filing a case against the makers of Om Shanti Om as they have not kept the promise of deleting the scenes that mock him.

He had said that he gave the nod to the film because of the intervention of the legendary director Yash Chopra who had mediated talks between him, Farah and Shah Rukh Khan, who starred in the movie.

Manoj said all of them had mutually agreed that the objectionable scenes would be deleted but this was not done.

On being asked if the scene was shot keeping in mind the artistic liberty of the film industry, the offended actor had said: “I had studied in school that liberty is the undying passion of the mind and one cannot use it to humiliate others. This is an insult to Indian nationalism and patriotism.”

Manoj Kumar had taken objection to the scene in which his younger double was shown being beaten up by the police outside a movie theatre since they could not recognize him.

He had also objected to another scene in which Shah Rukh delivered a mock “Thank you” speech in a drunken state and concluding by saying he was Manoj Kumar.

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Manoj Kumar Still Miffed with SRK

After raising a storm last November for the clownish way he was projected in Shah Rukh Khan’s Om Shanti Om, Kumar is now considering legal action. This despite Yash Chopra having brokered peace with the aggrieved Kumar by taking a repentant SRK and director Farah Khan to his residence last year for a patch-up.

Kumar’s peeve now is that he was assured that the objectionable portion in the film would be deleted, but that hasn’t happened. So he’s left with no choice but to think of approaching lawyers for legal recourse.

“Yash Chopra did come to my place with Shah Rukh and others. I made them feel comfortable and didn’t even give them a chance to apologise. It was a delightful atmosphere. They said that portion would be deleted, but they haven’t kept their word. It was Yash’s responsibility since he brought them over. I called him yesterday and he said he was in London,” Kumar told BT.

The actor and filmmaker said he’s okay with the scene where they’ve shown the man playing him hiding his face. “But when he’s seated at the premiere how can the police not recognise him and beat him up? Today if Shah Rukh Khan or Salman Khan enter a premiere will they be beaten up by the police,” complained Kumar.

But considering Om Shanti Om is a fun film, shouldn’t he be more liberal and take the comic scene in his stride? “I’m a good actor, I’m a bad actor, a good filmmaker or a bad filmmaker, you can voice your opinion. But you can’t do this. You can’t hit below the belt. As per our constitution, a film can’t have something like this. Kisi zinda aadmi ka mazaak nahin uda sakte hain. First they make fun and second they don’t even keep their word. That’s upsetting,” he grumbled, adding, “I’m not Mahatma Gandhi!”

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Eros Starts 08 with Success Thanks to OSO

Bollywood studio Eros International, listed on London’s Aim market, saw revenues and profits soar last year helped by the success of Om Shanti Om, which scored the biggest first week in Indian cinema history when it opened in November.

The company predicted another bumper performance this year based on its new releases. It is also planning to move into Indian television broadcasting, through either a joint venture, partnership or acquisition. To bolster these ambitions the company may float its domestic operations in India.

In the year to the end of March Eros saw revenues increase 70% to $113m (£57m), while profits rose 47% to $45.5m. The results, better than City expectations, pushed shares in the company up 2.5p to 275p. The company floated two years ago at 176p a share.

Om Shanti Om was the most successful of the 18 films the company released during the year. Underlining the worldwide appeal of Bollywood productions, all but two of Eros’s releases last year had global distribution.

Om Shanti Om, which pays homage to the classic Hindi movies of the past few decades, is a product of the Eros studio system, which owes much to the old Hollywood model. It relies on contracting acting talent for years in advance – such as Om Shanti Om’s lead actor, Shahrukh Khan, often referred to as India’s Tom Cruise.

But the company has been expanding beyond films into television, digital content and syndication. It has deals with partners including Sony, Lionsgate and Viacom TV and video-on-demand partners across the world.

Eros also has a 24% stake in the global Bollywood television and music TV channel B4U, available in the UK on digital platforms such as Virgin Media.

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OSO Second Lead is Overwhelmed With SRK

Models, we often hear, are eager to make it in Bollywood. But Yuvika Chaudhary, who follows up her cameo in Om Shanti Om with a lead role in Summer 2007, is a selfproclaimed exception. It took a lot of chasing on the part of the producers to get her to do this film, says Yuvika.

“Every time they came and said ‘Do it, do it, do it’, I refused,” says the actress, who has been paired in the film with Sikandar Kher She is, however, not immune to fame. “Though I was hardly there (in OSO), people still call me Dolly, after the character What more can I say?” she asks, not a little proud.

The film’s director Farah Khan and star Shah Rukh Khan, she says, were impressed by her work. According to Yuvika, Farah had to do a bit of wooing, too. “I was the first one to be approached for the role in OSO,” she says. “Farah left the choice to me, saying, ‘If you refuse the role, only then will I approach somebody else.” It was the thought of working with Shah Rukh that clinched the deal. “He is a charmer I couldn’t keep my eyes off him,” she says.

Her most prized possession is a message from Farah, saying, “Shah Rukh is really impressed with you and so am I,” It took her a long time to accept Summer 2007, Yuvika continues. Modelling assignments, including a cola ad with Kunal Kapoor where Farah spotted her, were a more attractive proposition.

Here, too, her idol influenced her decision. “I was turning down film offers, but then Kirron aunty Anupam uncle, Farah and even SRK told me to take up Summer 2007 SRK said, ‘In the initial stages of my career; even I did films that I thought wouldn’t do the magic.”

Her initial reluctance gave way to interested involvement as the shooting progressed: “I realised that Summer 2007 is destiny’s gift to me. It taught me that acting is a lot of hard work.” As she sets out on the road to stardom, Yuvika still retains the young fan’s gushing enthusiasm for King Khan. “When I looked into his eyes, it was hard to believe that he is in his forties,” says the actress. It was a bit of magic, that overwhelming star quality. It’s magic ghat Yuvika hopes will a one day be hers, too.

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SRK Hits Gold at IIFA Awards

It was a golden day for Shah Rukh and Chak De! India as the movie swept nine honours at the glittering ninth IIFA awards.

The Bollowood King Shah Rukh Khan received the best actor award for his inspiring role as a hockey coach in the film.

Khan, who gave a miss to Sunday’s star-studded ceremony here, virtually ruled the awards function as his home production Om Shanti Om also won five trophies.

His award was collected by the film’s producer Yash Chopra.

Chak De which was adjudged the best film of 2007. The movie is about a coach inspiring the Indian women’s hockey team to victory.

The film’s director Shimit Amin received the best director’s award. Jaideep Sahani received the award for best story for the film.

The awards in the technical section won by the film were: cinematography, Sound recording and sound re-recording, editing.

On the other hand, Kareena Kapoor bagged the best actress award for “Jab We Met.” Irrfan Khan and Konkona Sen Sharma won for supporting roles in “Life in a… Metro”.

Jaideep Sahani shared the screenplay award for the film with Anurag Basu (Life in a Metro).

SRK’s home production Om Shanti Om bagged awards for art direction, costumes, special effects and make up. Javed Akhtar also won the best lyricist award for the song Main Agar Kahoon.

The awards ceremony was held at the Siam Niramit complex in the heart of Bangkok city. Ritesh Deshmukh and Boman Irani were the hosts of the awards ceremony.

Dia Mirza donned a black halter top for a racy performance to promote her upcoming action thriller “Acid Factory,” only to be hit by a technical glitch that cut out the music and forced her to start again.

The stars of thriller Mission Istaanbul , about a terrorist plot centring on a Turkish TV station, shined in silver with Shriya Saran in a glitter top and a hip hop-styled Vivek Oberoi in a white plastic jacket and black trilby.

Akshay Kumar received a special achievement award. Kumar also told the audience that he had once waited tables in the host city Bangkok before setting out to become a movie star.

“I was just a young man when my adventure began here. I was naive, restless and eager to please. This city embraced me with such love and kindness,” he said.

Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor won the Best Debut awards for Saawariya and Om Shanti Om  respectively.

At least 500 of Bollywood’s biggest names walked down a carpet, which was changed from red to green in a nod to the environmental themes the event is working to promote.

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Ramadoss Lashes Out at SRK AGAIN!!!

Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has once again trained his guns on Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Earlier, the Health minister criticised Shah Rukh Khan for smoking on screen.

After asking actors to quit smoking on screen, the minister has once again taken on Bollywood, but this time over alcohol. According to Ramadoss, movies at present more often than not use ‘drunken’ scenes as a tool of humour – specifically aiming at Shah Rukh Khan’s rendition of a drunken junior artist in the movie ‘Om Shanti Om’. Ramadoss lashed out at actors potraying scenes of consuming alcohol to drown their sorrow. He expressed pity that these actors have been idolized by the country’s young and old.

Ramadoss on actors enacting such drunken scenes says, “Actors drinking on screen will encourage youngsters to take up the habit. Scenes depicting alcohol consumption in films need to be immediately stopped.”

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Deepika Snubs Gauri

They say that sometimes fame can go to one’s head.

And one star who seems to have acquired some rather starry ways is Deepika Padukone. Flushed with the success of her film, Om Shanti Om, opposite Shah Rukh Khan, the young actress has been giving others associated with the film, the cold shoulder.

It started with the film’s director Farah Khan. Deepika simply forgot to wish Farah on her birthday.

Now, the latest to get the ‘treatment’ is Shah Rukh’s wife, Gauri Khan. The story goes that Deepika ignored Gauri, who produced OSO, at the recently concluded Lakme Fashion Week because she was too busy with her boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor’s mother, Neetu Singh. The two were cheering for Ranbir, who walked the ramp for designer Arjun Khanna.

“She did not even say hello to Gauri and completely ignored her,” a source, who was present at the event, told Gullu.

While Farah said she is used to this type of behaviour as she knows how the industry works, we do not know what Gauri thinks about it. Time will tell.

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