Wait a minute... deja vu. Like seeeerious deja vu (lighting diyas in the intro, garba, epic pagdi tying, etc. etc.). But wait? Why don't I care?
First of all a thousand applause because finally Deepika proves why she's the it girl this year and gets to show off her dancing* that I have screamed about and damn, homegirl is FIERCE (in spite of being injured while shooting this.)
Secondly, considering the song title has 'dhol baje' (was this a really desperate attempt or super brilliant tactic by Sanjay? Is HDDCS that long forgotten or is he using its success?) was I the only one underwhelmed by the beat?
Such spectacular costumes, sets, choreography, cinematography, editing. I hate this word, but: epic. Expectations met, Sanjay. Well done. Hope it continues. I stayed up for this release and it was well worth it.
A teaser of Priyanka Chopra's look from the item was released recently as well:
I'm back by popular demand and by popular demand I really just mean me (and a few lone supporters). Let's act like I never left and jump right in, shall we? We shall.
Every night I have been bumpin' and I mean bummmmpin' (more than it prob deserves) to this. It has all the flavors of classic Bollywood with the contemporary flair we've learned to accept and enjoy. This has "Shaadi Banger" (a phrase which has not been coined probably due to its suggestive content) written all over it. Deepika-Ranbir chemistry is so unmistakably good that I lament over their break up. But the thing that probably really makes this video is Ranbir Kapoor. I. Mean. Swoon.
Now for the complaining. That choreography? Remo D'Souza (known for hip hop) is the man behind this so what's he doing choreographing a Bollywood number? RK is given decent steps and he executes them super adorably/animatedly as the song calls for, but what about Deepika? She gets: strut, strut, matak matak, shimmy, matak matak, shimmy, strut strut.
Laaaazy choreography, I can't even. It hurts. It hurts me.
Listen, the girl can dance she just needs someone to polish her. She could easily be one of the best dancers in (current) Bollywood (I refer you to "Dhoom Tana" ) Actually, there are so many current actresses who could be polished/be given more challenging steps. Hell if Katrina can be fixed then, damn it, anyone can be. I don't know why choreographers aren't trying. Compare a good dancer from now to a bad dancer from the early '90s and there's hardly a difference. They tried so much harder. Maybe actor schedules just don't allow time for dance lessons. If you're going to have an industry that sells itself on "singing and dancing" then fix your dancing cause otherwise it's just embarrassing. To be fair there are those out there salvaging it like, ray of hope, Vaibhavi Merchant.
I'm not even going to start on the grave injustice done to Madhuri Dixit by overrated Farah Khan in this number becuase Madhuri can work any choreography, like this number. Or the whole influx of Russian dancers just to have fairer girls. GAG.
Choreo aside, enjoy the song! It's so addictive, fun, catchy and a jam through and through.
Two words: COOKIE. CUTTER. A typical, cynical, "different" take on the "modern" love story. Backdrop: Some delicious city outside of India. A hit Indian movie doesn't take place in India... duh.
Please note my sarcasm. I'm so annoyed. Okay so it looks cute. Cute as in let's watch this on Friday night when we're deathly bored. When did India's audience suddenly become the tweens of America? Remember in the '90s even early 2000s when Bollywood could do masala film, but have substance? I miss that. Okay, so like a few years ago I would have hope seeing a trailer like this I really would (think Salaam Namaste), but it just seems so overdone now. Just in the past few months we already have I Hate Luv Storys and Anjaana Anjaani. Those movies aren't bad, but they're just so... bleh like the status rom coms have in Hollywood and it shouldn't be that way because Bollywood IS rom com.
Watch, this movie will be like the next DDLJ after my rant haha. This film is slated to release November 26, 2010.
Do I waaaant to show you the trailer of Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey (KHJJS)?? After watching it... NO (but I will). Uprising against the British, folks talking about their playing field, Ashutosh Gowarikar directing. Oh hey, sounds like Lagaan. Too soon Ashutosh, too soon. It looks like all those other patriotic movies with a lot of Jai Hind, eff the Brits, bloodshed hoo ha. Okay so don't get me wrong there are good patriotic movies out there-- few, but they exist. I didn't really feel any sort of heart or soul in it. Maybe I'm just being a meanie because I wrote off the trailer 15 seconds in because of Abhishek's hilarious intro line. No seriously, I laughed out loud. Deepika might have a badass role though... enh I'm confused. Watch:
Can we just stop and marvel at how marvelous some of the ladies in the industry today are? Firstly, Lady Deepika Padukone was a show stopper for Farah Khan Ali at India International Jewelry Week. Let's just gape, stare and try not to drool:
Secondly, if you missed Kareena Kapoor at the Indian Idol 5 finale, like yours truly did due to severe food coma, then you missed out on witnessing this beaut. She. Looks. Gorgeous. No? Yes.
I'm so glad this movie hasn't been TOOO hyped up, so the trailer provides some what of a surprise element. I hope they dont' go overboard with the PR work like they do for every other movie. It's such an overkill and then there's no excitement left in actually watching the movie. Like 3 idiots, for example, they ran about two promos, both of which were very short and didn't reveal too much about the movie and look how successful that film was. Just a rant I've been wanting to go on... back to the film: We Are Family. Ugh, lame title... good stills and promo though, Look! (Oh and if you're wondering what the hell We Are Family is... jog your memoryhere)
How chilling is Kareena's expression? Chilling.
Here be the trailer:
Typical Dharma Productions. Can they PLEASE deviate from this NRI obsession they have going on. It's fun and all, but so sick of it. Do something Indian damn it. Whatever, the film looks fun and I think the casting is pretty brilliant. Well with the female leads anyway and I dont' think Rampal will disappoint. We'll just have to wait until Sept. 10 to reach a verdict.
Next in queue (queue?) is Lafangey Parindey. A Neil Nitin Mukesh and Deepika Padukone starrer, directed by Pradeep Sarkar (of Parineeta and Laga Chunari Mein Daag fame). The trailer pretty much explains the plot so have a looksie:
I mean... it's like, you want to laugh but you can't deny that you're curious, you know? Well, that's how I feel anyway. A blind roller skater named Pinky... have we trangressed back to the early '90s where something like that would be acceptable? Oh well, I like the director, like Deepika, and Neil's a promising kind of guy so I won't write it off.
Lastly, there's Aamir Khan's latest production venture: Peepli [live]. Yup. It's directed by newcomer Anusha Rizvi and stars a handful of really talented stage artists. According to our good ol' friend Wiki,
"It's a satire on the farmers' suicides and subsequent media and political response"
Seems kind of similar to Well Done Abba, which was also a satirical take on real-life situations that occurred in rural India. Just saying. If this film's successful, I feel like it will only be with a select crowd. Watch and judge for yourself.
...until next time! By the way, this is probably the first time in life I've actually blogged when people on my side of the world are awake.
Okay, so it's not awards season nor is the Cannes really an award function (but it kind of is) but I didn't know where else to place this post.
Our lovely Desi stars graced the red carpet this year as they have been (and been serving on the jury... this year being represented by Mr. Shekhar Kapur). Our Cannes regular Mrs. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been gracing the red carpet, photo calls and parties. Have a looksies, my friends:
Aishwarya Rai in I'm guessing Gucci because it was a Gucci party
Aishwarya Rai in Gucci
Aishwarya Rai in Gucci again
Wow, Abhishek did you steal that ugly outfit from Dhai Akshar Prem Ke?
Enough of Ms. Rai... let's move onto a rookie. Lady Deepika Padukone went to the festival for the very first time and I think she fared pretty well. People were hating on her haphazardly put together sari, but I don't care because with a face like that she could wear a trash bag and still draw positive attention.
Deepika Padukone in Rohit Bal
Aaaand lastly the cast of Udaan (the only Indian movie being featured at the festival).
Rajat Barmecha, Vikramaditya Motwane, Ronit Roy and Ram Kapoor
This isn't really on location, but more like a still from the film Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey. Remember when I told you about it? Anyway have a gander at Deepika in traditional clothing:
If I were to sit and post every magazine cover that our lovely stars grace I would be so behind... but this particular one was so stellar I couldn't not share.
WOW. Right? Right.
Waheeda Rehman Ji, Hema Malini Ji, Karisma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor and Deepika Padukone ALL ON ONE COVER? It kind of just takes your breath away... and then that record halting noise kicks in. Where the hell are the late '80s/early '90s ladies? Obviously getting all of these women on same date must have been hell and beyond but it would've just been perfect if Madhuri, Sridevi or Juhi were there. Regardless, I thought this cover was awesome.
It's the most wonderful time of the year, awards season is here! More than the actual (usually unjust)awards, I really just enjoy seeing the film industry come together, the performances (though these days they're 80% flashy and 20% dance. Sad story) and to reflect on how much has changed... and lately I've enjoyed seeing what they wear because India is finally stepping up their game when it comes to attire at award functions. We have a while to go before it's anything like Umrika's, but enjoyable nonetheless.
The first of the awards show was the Apsara Awards (to air on NDTV Imagine April 12), then The Star Screen Awards (to air on Star Plus) and the most recently held Stardust Awards (to air on one of the Sonys). I'll refrain from mentioning who won what in case you want to watch when they're aired. At the end of the season, I'll tally everything up. It will be fun to reflect, no? Yes. Until then... here are some pictures from the Apsara Awards for you to salivate over.
Look at who finally made up:
Finally! The real sari is making a comeback. By "real" I mean no over-the-top-blingified slutacious blouses. It's so classy, and beautifully epitomizes the Indian female. WHY don't actresses sport this more often? Surriously.
What an absolutely lovely shade of pink (coral?) and it really compliments her skin tone. She looks ethereal.
Dia... Dia, Dia, Dia. Will you ever give me a reason to hate you?
Looking at this photo, I want to refer to her as Jaya Bhaduri instead of Bachchan. She looks rejuvinated.
Wohoo! The first teaser of KARTHIK CALLING KARTHIK finally dropped!
A little birdie tells me (and I do mean that almost literally because I'm referring to Twitter) that Karsh Kale is helping with the background score! Along with Midival Punditz and Farhan Akhtar. If you're in the dark about who Karsh Kale and Midival Punditz are, they're both amazing fusion artists. I can't express how soulful and soothing their music is so I'm going to leave you with this video I stumbled upon with both of them performing at The Paleo Festival in Geneva. You're seriously in for a treat:
If you're curious, the soundtrack is being directed by the Amar Akbar Anthony of music Shankar Ehsaan Loy.
Another promo for Rann has been released. This one's a song promo titled "Vande Mataram":
I know I'm supposed to feel really empowered by this, but the only thing that really intrigues me in this entire mess of a trailer is Riteish. The rest of it is so stereotypical Ram Gopal Varma that I've become immune to it. You?
