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.
Saif Ali Khan and Rekha received the Padma Shri this year for their contribution to Indian Cinema. Past winners have been Shahrukh Khan, Amir Khan, A.R. Rehman, Madhuri Dixit, Hema Malini, Shekhar Kapoor, Hariharan... all who are immensely talented. Rekha receiving this I understand... Saif? Mmm, not so much. No offense. He's talented forrr sure. I think about Omkara and am stunned by his acting skills, but I don't know if he's earned himself this award just yet. Either way... I can't help but marvel at how regal him and his arm-candy Kareena looked. He completely looks the title of "chote nawab" here.
Why don't our Bollywood men don sherwanis or kurta salwars more often? It takes their handsome level about ten notches higher than when they wear clothes intended for the youth. Just saying.
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.
Hrithik Roshan is the latest actor to join the singing bandwagon. When I read about this I kind of rolled my eyes because I figured all reports were using the term loosely. I mean, remember when Amir Khan "sang" "Kya Bolti Tu" or Shahrukh "sang" "Apun Bola" but really both were just speaking in sing-songy ways. Or before the music of Devdas released everyone was talking about how Madhuri was being classically trained for a song and we heard... and it was good, but not the full-on singing we were all expecting.
Of course I had to check it out and I was pleasantly surprised! So surprised it's currently my latest obsession. This kind of music strikes a chord with me (pun unintended). I love it so much I'm willing to forgive the line "lovers forever." I mean, it's no secret that I hate when English is used in Hindi songs because it usually sounds ridiculous (not always). Anyway have a listen!
Btw, while we're all here talking about actors singing don't you feel like Kareena's singing in "Jab Nahin Aaye The Tum" from Dev was sort of shunned? It's not supposed to be wonderfully melodious, but it's so real and charming:
Laaastly, in my previous post I mentioned the film Sadiyaan... well here's a gem of a song that will probably go uncelebrated due to the film it's associated with. You'll only like it if you're into Richa Sharma and/or Qawwali-type songs. If that's up your alley check it out:
(hahah what a random and totally inappropriate picture)
Somedays I find it ironic that I use the term "firangi."
Remember when Singh is King featured a song by Snoop Dogg and all the hooplah it caused, but then we heard the song and kind of laughed? And then remember when A. R. Rehman roped in Kylie Minogue for a song in Blue and everyone went buck wild until we heard the gibberish song-title, "Chiggy Wiggy" (still trying to figure out what that is exactly). Okay, so ready for this? Akon is the next to join the Bollywood bandwagon.
Mmmhm. Akon was roped in to feature a song in Anubhav Sinha's superhero film, Ra.One starring Shahrukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor. Vishal-Shekhar are the music directors of the film and claimed to have a great time recording with Akon. I am so super curious to hear this track. It's the most promising yet, but judging from previous Desi-American collaborations I'm not going to keep my expectations high. Oh, but it's sooo hard not to!
Okay, so while we're here talking about Ra.One, let me just give you the lowdown. It's supposed to be the second most expensive film made (Blue being the first most) and supposedly a science-fiction thriller. I bet Rakesh Roshan is pleased with himself for starting the "superhero" trend with Krrish. Arjun Rampal was supposed to play the villain. Man, that would've been awesome. Unfortunately he can't and was reportedly replaced by... Vivek Oberoi? This could work. I haven't decided how I feel about any of this superhero business yet. Thinking of SRK playing a superhero I'm instantly reminded of this hilarious scene from Om Shanti Om:
YOU can have a hand in voting for the Filmfare Awards. It doesn't specify, but my guess is that it's for the "popular" category, but who cares? You get to vote for Best Movie, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actor Female.
1) 3 idiots 2) Anurag Kashyap for Dev D 3) Amir Khan 4) ... haven't decided yet. Too torn. I haven't even narrowed it down from this lengthy list: Konkona Sen Sharma (for Wake Up Sid) Priyanka Chopra (for Kaminey), Kareena Kapoor (for Kurbaan), Vidya Balan (for Paa) or Mahi Gill (for Dev D).
In all honesty I think my heart strings are tugging at Priyanka Chopra or Mahi Gill... maybe Kareena? I don't want to turn away from the other performances though. Like I said, I'm torn.
The much-hyped Kurbaan, released this weekend and as expected is doing well. Looks like the whole 'films-where-real-life-couples-play-a-reel-life-couple-never-do-well' theory falls flat with this film and thankfully so 'cause I'm really anxious to see it! I always fall for good publicity and pretty much take anything Karan Johar says with a handful of salt and if he produced this film, then by God, I will watch it (I know biases are bad, but I can't help it. I love the man.). Which, speaking of, it's nice to see that Dharma Productions is branching out from its Romantic forte (barring the disaster that was Kaal) and sprinkling it's magic on other genres. So all-in-all the movie is running succesfully and has repeatedly been stated that it's "the best Hindi film of 2009." (of course 3 idiots, Rocket Singh and Paa have yet to release) I sense film award nominations already. I wonder how Thackeray & Co. feel with the success of the movie or Dharma Productions in general.
Let me to shed a little bit of light on this Thackeray controversy (if you haven't already been enlightened):
#1) Before the release of 'Wake Up Sid' Raj Thackeray [nephew of Bal (leader of the Shiv Sena party)] made K-Jo come over and told him it wasn't cool that Karan used the word "Bombay" (instead of Mumbai) in the film and asked him to apologize. So Johar-saab threw in an apology at the beginning of Wake Up Sid and everyone was pissed that he caved, this includes the CM.
#2) About a week ago Bombay (yes, Bombay) woke up to find that Kareena had been covered in a sari in all of the Kurbaan Billboards. I wish I was lying. The Shiv Sena women felt 'nude' pictures (mind you, all you can see is her bare back) were too vulgar for the general public. I saw a picture of the draped sari, it was hilarious. [I can't remember where I saw it and now I'm going crazy searching for it] The ladies planned to gift her a sari at her home and when asked how she felt about the whole situation the ever so blunt Bebo just said she hoped it was a color she liked.
Anyway, can't say much about the film since I live in Oklahomie and won't get to see the movie until Nov. 29th (the perfect ending to my Thanksgiving-Eid-Bedlam weekend) so I'll get back to y'all then.
