Main Story
"I have focused on Milkha’s love for his country, not his records"Legendary Indian long-distance runner Milkha Singh was appropriately the star of the event that…
Salman Khan With YRF AgainThe first time this lethal combination worked together, they produced a huge success in Ek Tha…
3D Film For Salman KhanHe’s not signed a film that will be shot in 3D but Salman Khan is toying with converting a film…
First Half Of Disney UTVAt the end of the day, it’s the numbers that count, right? And judging by the numbers, Disney UTV…
Rajkumar Santoshi To Direct Ghayal 2It’s no news that Rahul Rawail is no longer part of Sunny Deol’s Ghayal 2. When this happened,…
Blessing In DisguiseShe made her foray into filmdom with a disaster, Teen Patti, and everyone said her career was over.…
Blockbuster ExpressIt would be no exaggeration to call her ‘blockbuster actress’ as the collections of her films…
Fukrey Lukewarm; YJHD Continues Winning StreakThis week, Hollywood release Man Of Steel has taken over our box office counters, leaving behind…
Features
Cannes Film Festival
May 15 – 26, 2013
Cannes, France
What’s It All About?
The Cannes Film Festival popularly known as Festival de Cannes, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France. It previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. The festival was founded in 1946 ...
Ranbir Kapoor’s Badtameez Dil
The moment the Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone starrer Yeh Jawaani Hain Deewani’s song Badtameez dil, hit the television screens, it mesmerised one and all. The song sung by Benny Dayal and Shefali Alvares became a rage right from the word go. And not just that, Kapoor’s dance moves became ...
“Live music brings more melody to a song”
Establishing yourself as a composer is tough mainly because the domain has been pretty much divided into camps. The good news is things are changing and there’s new talent making us sit up and take notice. Mannan Shah is one of them. Mannan’s recent album Commando rocked the charts, especially ...
Posted in Features
Tagged Commando, Dilip Ghosh, mannan shah, sawan bairi, Vidyut Jamwal, Vipul Shah
Leave a comment
“Aashiqui 2 put me under a lot of pressure”
Ankit Tiwari hails from Kanpur, and, like thousands before him, he too came to Mumbai to make a mark. After much blood, sweat and tears, Tiwari’s talent was noticed by the audience in Aashiqui 2, for which he has composed the song Sunn Raha…
Background
Music is in ...
“Success is defined by your own goals”
From playing live songs on stage, composing music and then songwriter, Sachinn Gupta has done it all. Mere Dad Ki Maruti is the latest feather in his cap.
Background
I spent my childhood in Nigeria, where we used to watch a lot of Hindi films. I remember how ...
On A Roll
Is Marathi cinema finally emerging from its cocoon? A look at how the landscape of this regional film industry is changing
When a noted filmmaker plans a 3D movie, a first for the industry, it’s a harbinger of good times. And when corporate production studios throw their hats ...
Posted in Features
Tagged Chintoo 2, Ek Thi Daayan, films, Kokanastha, Mahesh Kothare, Mahesh Manjrekar, Marathi, Star Pravah, Viacom18 Motion Pictures, Yeda, Zapatlela 2
Leave a comment
“Big names are not holding back new talent”
Priyanjali Lahiri has carefully woven together her dream of becoming a costume designer. Lahiri first graduated from National Institute of Fashion Technology before she moved to Mumbai to stitch her dream into reality.
Initial Days
When I came to Mumbai, I started by assisting Anaita Shroff Adjania. I worked ...
Posted in Features
Tagged costume, designer, Priyanjali Lahiri, Sonali Cable., Taare Zameen Par
Leave a comment
“Contrary to belief, actors are not demanding”
Falguni Thakore is a seasoned player in the costumes department and began her career many years ago with Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Kareeb. There’s been no looking back ever since.
Initial Days
When I started my career, it was not very difficult to land a project. The challenge was ...
Posted in Features
Tagged Abhishek Bachchan, actor, Akshay Kumar, Boss, costume, designer, falguni thakore, film, Kareeb, Special 26
Leave a comment
‘‘Costume designers are not fashion designers”
Payal Saluja has worked in the industry for a long time but it was Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola this year that gave her recognition. The costume designer talks about her journey in Bollywood and experience on a Vishal Bhardwaj film.
Initial Days
I always wanted to get ...
Batting @100
Exactly a 100 years after it all began, just how much has Indian cinema changed?
It’s a red-letter day in the history of Indian cinema, not just Bollywood. On May 3, a hundred years ago, a daring film connoisseur Dadasaheb Phalke gifted the nation its first silent, full-length feature ...
Posted in Features
Tagged 100 years of Indian Cinema, Anil Sharma, Govind Nihlani, Sameer
Leave a comment
Back To The Future
This mini-England in Canada blends old-world charm with new-age experiences. All this against a postcard-perfect backdrop
Victoria, the capital of the British Columbia region of Canada, is also known as the City of Gardens for it is always blooming. Acknowledged for its innate beautiful gardens, coastlines, forests, beaches and lakes, ...
Posted in Location Hunt
Leave a comment
Maryland Film Festival
May 8 – 12, 2013
Baltimore, US
What’s It All About?
The Maryland Film Festival (MFF) is an annual, four-day event that takes place during first weekend of May. It presents top-notch film and video work from all over the world and screens around 50 feature films and 75 ...
Posted in Film Festivals
Leave a comment
Small Wonders
So far, this year had about 35 releases, both big and small. But it was the small films that earned the best return on investments (ROI). Small scale films including Jolly LLB, Table No 21, Kai Po Che!, ABCD – AnyBody Can Dance, Special 26 ...
Posted in Features
Tagged Aashiqui 2, ABCD – AnyBody Can Dance, Bombay Talkies, Fukrey, Gippi, Go Goa Gone, Hum Hain Rahi Caar Ke, Jolly LLB, Kahaani, Kai Po Che, Mickey Virus, Paan Singh Tomar, Saheb Biw Aur Gangster Returns and Mere Dad Ki Maruti, Special 26, Table No. 21, Vicky Donor, What The Fish
Leave a comment
Hawaiin Hiatus
Smoking volcanoes, endless beaches and dense rainforests… The island of O’ahu in Hawaii is a stunning tropical destination for film shoots
O’ahu is the third-largest of the Hawaiian Islands and the most populated island in the state of Hawai‘i. The state capital, Honolulu, referred to as the most-in-style city, ...
New York Indian Film Festival
April 30 – May 4
New York, US
What’s It All About?
The New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) is the oldest and most prestigious film festival in the US. It screens premieres of feature, documentary and short films made from, of and about the Indian subcontinent ...
Posted in Film Festivals
Tagged Baavra Mann, Dekh Tamasha Dekh, Filmistaan, Sati, Shaahid
Leave a comment
Castles & More
After already seducing Hollywood with its idyllic charm, the German state of Bavaria is waiting to be discovered by Hindi film producers
This is the free state of Bavaria (aka Bayern) in Southern Germany with its picture-perfect countryside. Unspoilt natural surroundings, healthy air, a wealth of culture and the ...
Posted in Location Hunt
Leave a comment
“Novels are the biggest story bank we have”
Ashwin Sanghi is the author of bestselling books like The Rozabal Line, The Krishna Key and Chanakya’s Chant. Recently, Disney UTV bought the rights of Chanakya’s Chant, which will now be translated into celluloid.
Background
I had always been a voracious reader because of my grandfather. He was an ...
Posted in Features
Tagged Ashwin Sanghi, Chanakya’s Chant, The Krishna Key, The Rozabal Line
Leave a comment
“Ek Thi Daayan happened quite by chance”
Gurgaon-based journalist-author Mukul Sharma is noted for his columns and short stories. He joined the ranks of B-Town when Vishal Bhardwaj approached him after reading a short story he wrote back in the ’80s. Sharma and Bhardwaj worked on the short story and turned it into a novella, which later ...
“The industry tends to judge you by your previous project”
Bhavesh Mandolia is a computer engineer from Vadodara who loves to write. So it was a huge moment, when he watched the credits of OMG! – Oh My God!, a movie based on a Gujarati play Kanji Viruddh Kanji, which he penned, . Mandolia also won a National Award recently ...
Ring In The New
Bollywood has seen a rush of new – and successful – talent in the last 12 months. Are the stars losing their sheen?
Lady Luck is definitely smiling on fresh talent this year as more and more filmmakers are placing their bets on them. And what’s more, new talent ...
Posted in Features, Main Story
Tagged Akshay Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Chashme Baddoor, Commando, Gangs Of Wassepur I, Ishaqzaade, Salman Khan, Vicky Donor
Leave a comment
Charleston International Film Festival
April 24-28, 2013
Charleston, US
What’s It All About
The Charleston International Film Festival (CIFF) brings people together through the art and science of film. The purpose of the festival is to promote the exchange of ideas and create greater cross-cultural awareness.
The festival has an international ...
Cin-tillating Cincinnati
America’s first boom town presents an eclectic mix of urban and pastoral that will charm the camera
Cincinnati is often referred to as the first ‘purely American city’. It is in Northern Kentucky, which largely forms the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky metropolitan area and destinations lying on either sides of the ...
“It all happened so fast”
Kristina Akheeva is Russian and grew up in Australia. Naturally, she never dreamt she would make her debut in Hindi films. But Akheeva has a deep connection with India. And soon after launching her modelling career, she was offered Yamla Pagla Deewana 2.
Background
I hail from Khabarovsk ...
“The doors are opening for newcomers”
Pooja Salvi launched her career with ad films and it was pure serendipity that her first advertisement was directed by Rohan Sippy. Now, Salvi is making her acting debut in Nautanki Saala, which has been directed by Sippy himself.
Initial Days
I had no connection with Bollywood but ...
“I needed a brand to make by debut”
Like many former beauty pageant winners, Pooja Chopra too was drawn to the arc lights. But she took her own sweet time to choose the film that would be her launch pad. Finally, it was Vipul Shah’s Commando that grabbed her attention. Chopra talks about her journey from being Miss ...
Posted in Features
Leave a comment
IPL Stumped!
With the IPL fever subsiding over the years, filmmakers no longer see the tournament as a threat to the business of cinema
We have managed to tide over the first quarter of 2013, a time usually considered unfavourable for the release of films. Now that we have the report card ...
Posted in Features
Tagged Aurangzeb, Bombay Talkies, Chashme Baddoor, Ek Thi Daayan, Gippi, Go Goa Gone, Nautanki Saala, Raja Harishchandra, Shootout At Wadala
Leave a comment
Bradford International Film Festival
April 11–21, 2013
Bradford, UK
What’s It All About?
The National Media Museum hosts the Bradford International Film Festival (BIFF) annually. In June 2009, Bradford was designated the world’s first UNESCO City of Film for its links to the production and distribution of films, its media and film ...
Mart Thinking
The Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (Filmart 2013) organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, which began on March 18, wrapped up with record exhibitor/buyer totals on March 21. This year witnessed healthy participation from 710 exhibitors from more than 30 countries and regions, up 10 ...
Posted in Features
Tagged 2046, Asian Film Awards, Barfi, Batman Begins, Batman Returns, Bruce Lee, Chetan Bhagat, Chungking Express, Chungking Mansion, Filmart, Filmart 2013, Gangs Of Wasseypur, Hong Kong, Hong Kong International Film Festival, IFC2, IMPEX, In The Mood For Love, Jackie Chan, Lara Croft, Michelle Yeoh, Pritam, The Goldfinch Restaurant, Times Sqaure
Leave a comment
Dry Run
Q1 was a disappointment for the industry but Q2 looks promising, with some big releases lined up. Here’s a detailed scorecard
Thanks to the examination period all over India, it’s dubbed as the leanest period for films and sometimes even a bad omen for releases. We’re talking about the ...
“Punjabi cinema is my target”
Diljit Dosanjh is a multi-talented artiste – he sings as well as acts, and he is also a superstar in the Punjabi film industry. This singer-turned-actor has sung the title track in Y-Films’ Mere Dad Ki Maruti.
Background
I hail from a middle-class family where you study and ...
Posted in Features
Leave a comment
Westward Ho!
Best known for Westerns, filmmakers will find almo...
Best known for Westerns, filmmakers will find almo...
Chicago Calling
Abundant local talent, varied locales and generous...
Abundant local talent, varied locales and generous...
Small Is Big
A mobile episode or mobisode, as a mini episode is...
A mobile episode or mobisode, as a mini episode is...
Rs 100 Cr: Singham Or ZNMD?
Three films released this week and none of them im...
Three films released this week and none of them im...
Living Eden
There's more to Kenya than wildlife safaris and th...
There's more to Kenya than wildlife safaris and th...
Spoil Sport!
The London 2012 Olympic Games kick started
The London 2012 Olympic Games kick started
Ek Tha Record
Blockbuster, super-hit and 100-crore club are tags...
Blockbuster, super-hit and 100-crore club are tags...
Immortal Memories
Here are some golden memories of the one and only ...
Here are some golden memories of the one and only ...
“People assume that a couple of stage shows make them actors”
Like many others, Rajeev Gupta had to forego his p...
Like many others, Rajeev Gupta had to forego his p...
“Kai Po Che got me the recognition”
Manav Kaul came to Mumbai almost a decade ago with...
Manav Kaul came to Mumbai almost a decade ago with...
“I learnt that a film never fails, its budget does”
Where most people struggle to find a toehold in th...
Where most people struggle to find a toehold in th...
“Working with big names guided me to the right path”
Ashima Chhiber completed her studies and then move...
Ashima Chhiber completed her studies and then move...
