India’s Amara Raja Group is getting into TV. It is launching a new content division with thriller series “Curse of the Kohinoor,” which will be directed by Colin Teague, whose credits include “Dr Who” and its spin-off “Torchwood.”
Amara Raja is an India-based industrial corporation that works across sectors including automotive, food, and electrical products. Its newly-created media and entertainment division will be based in Hyderabad, India, and London, England.
The new content player has pacted with Star Entertainment Worldwide, producer of the Indian version of the “Biggest Loser” format, and Bobby Bedi’s Contentflow Studios, on “Curse of the Kohinoor.”
The heist thriller series tells the story of a plot to steal the Kohinoor diamond, centerpiece of the British Crown Jewels. The series will intertwine the history of the iconic diamond with the story of the robbery attempt.
“Working with producers and broadcasters from across the globe, our...
Amara Raja is an India-based industrial corporation that works across sectors including automotive, food, and electrical products. Its newly-created media and entertainment division will be based in Hyderabad, India, and London, England.
The new content player has pacted with Star Entertainment Worldwide, producer of the Indian version of the “Biggest Loser” format, and Bobby Bedi’s Contentflow Studios, on “Curse of the Kohinoor.”
The heist thriller series tells the story of a plot to steal the Kohinoor diamond, centerpiece of the British Crown Jewels. The series will intertwine the history of the iconic diamond with the story of the robbery attempt.
“Working with producers and broadcasters from across the globe, our...
- 10/13/2019
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
The 7th edition of Cinemascapes 2013 was held on 19th & 20Th October, 2013 in Hotel Novotel, Mumbai. Like every year, the event based on Cinematic Tourism was organized by Cross Section Media Pvt. Ltd. and supported by The Film & Television Producers Guild of India Ltd. Confederation of Indian Industries (Cii) were the Industry Association Partners while Ernst & Young Llp were Knowledge partners.
The event was inaugurated by Hon’ble Union Information & Broadcasting Minister Shri Manish Tewari. The Minister, in his keynote address, reflected on the need to leverage the growing synergy between the entertainment and tourism industries to optimum effect & the introduction of a Single Window Clearance System which will hopefully simplify and streamline the process of availing permissions for shooting in India, amongst a host of other issues. Guild President Shri Mukesh Bhatt spoke about mutually beneficial relationship between Cinema & Tourism which was leading to a win win situation for the stakeholders.
The event was inaugurated by Hon’ble Union Information & Broadcasting Minister Shri Manish Tewari. The Minister, in his keynote address, reflected on the need to leverage the growing synergy between the entertainment and tourism industries to optimum effect & the introduction of a Single Window Clearance System which will hopefully simplify and streamline the process of availing permissions for shooting in India, amongst a host of other issues. Guild President Shri Mukesh Bhatt spoke about mutually beneficial relationship between Cinema & Tourism which was leading to a win win situation for the stakeholders.
- 10/28/2013
- by Press Releases
- Bollyspice
Shri Mukesh Bhatt was unanimously re-elected as President of The Film & Television Producers Guild of India Ltd. (“Guild”) at the first meeting of its newly constituted Guild Council of Management which was held immediately after the 59th Annual General Meeting on 26th September, 2013 at Hotel Sun-n-Sand.
The other office bearers of the “Guild” Management Team were also reelected – namely Shri Dheeraj Kumar, Shri Ashutosh Gowariker, Shri Vipul Shah & Shri Siddharth Roy Kapur as Vice Presidents and Shri Manish Goswami & Shri Ashim Samanta as Treasurers.
Shri Ratan Jain, Shri Vijay Singh & Shri N P Singh were elected as new members in the Guild Council of Management for the year 2013-14 whilst Shri Rajkumar Kohli was nominated by the Council as a co-opted member. Veteran Council member & Ex-President of Guild Shri Amit Khanna was honored by the Council on being accorded the privilege of a Permanent Member of Council of Management.
Shri...
The other office bearers of the “Guild” Management Team were also reelected – namely Shri Dheeraj Kumar, Shri Ashutosh Gowariker, Shri Vipul Shah & Shri Siddharth Roy Kapur as Vice Presidents and Shri Manish Goswami & Shri Ashim Samanta as Treasurers.
Shri Ratan Jain, Shri Vijay Singh & Shri N P Singh were elected as new members in the Guild Council of Management for the year 2013-14 whilst Shri Rajkumar Kohli was nominated by the Council as a co-opted member. Veteran Council member & Ex-President of Guild Shri Amit Khanna was honored by the Council on being accorded the privilege of a Permanent Member of Council of Management.
Shri...
- 9/28/2013
- by Press Releases
- Bollyspice
Multi Screen Media Private Limited is producing a slew of movies this year through its motion pictures division. Bajatey Raho is the first movie to release on 26th July which has been co-produced with Eros International. It is a revenge comedy starring Dolly Ahluwalia, Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey, Ravi Kissen & Vishakha Singh. The next movie is being produced in association with Kepl and is titled Mango.
Mango, directed by Abbas Tyrewala, also marks the return of Kepl with a romantic comedy after Saathiya. Set in the heart of Goa, Mango is all set to recreate the same magic that Abbas created in his directorial debut movie, Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na. Cast of the movie includes Rannvijay, the winner of Roadies and an accomplished host who has made his mark in the film industry with his Hindi and Punjabi films. Also starring is the critically acclaimed Chandan Roy Sanyal, best...
Mango, directed by Abbas Tyrewala, also marks the return of Kepl with a romantic comedy after Saathiya. Set in the heart of Goa, Mango is all set to recreate the same magic that Abbas created in his directorial debut movie, Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na. Cast of the movie includes Rannvijay, the winner of Roadies and an accomplished host who has made his mark in the film industry with his Hindi and Punjabi films. Also starring is the critically acclaimed Chandan Roy Sanyal, best...
- 7/29/2013
- by Press Releases
- Bollyspice
Oscar Rebello, the well known social activist and former convenor of 'Goa Bachao Abhiyan', was assaulted by the bouncers of the film unit of Mango, that's being produced by Kaleidoscope Entertainment Private Limited and owned by Bobby Bedi.
The incident apparently occurred when Oscar, after parking his car, was crossing the road to walk to his clinic when the film unit's bouncer grabbed him from behind after screaming at him. Even as Rebello was tackling the bouncer, around four more bouncers not just joined them, but also assaulted him and abused him in Konkani. Post that, Rebello called up the Mayor Surendra Furtado and a few councilors, who then arrived with the police, which forced the film crew to quickly wind up their shooting. The police then detained the bouncers, who had fled from the scene initially.
Speaking to a leading newspaper, Rebello said that besides him, the bouncers also...
The incident apparently occurred when Oscar, after parking his car, was crossing the road to walk to his clinic when the film unit's bouncer grabbed him from behind after screaming at him. Even as Rebello was tackling the bouncer, around four more bouncers not just joined them, but also assaulted him and abused him in Konkani. Post that, Rebello called up the Mayor Surendra Furtado and a few councilors, who then arrived with the police, which forced the film crew to quickly wind up their shooting. The police then detained the bouncers, who had fled from the scene initially.
Speaking to a leading newspaper, Rebello said that besides him, the bouncers also...
- 6/26/2013
- by Bollywood Hungama News Network
- BollywoodHungama
The 6th annual edition of Cinemascapes, an event that celebrates the coming together of cinema and tourism, was held in Mumbai on 24th & 25th October 2012, bringing some 14 exhibiting companies to meet with the professionals in the film fraternity. The event has been supported by the Film and Television Producers Guild of India as its anchor partner since its inception; this year, the event also became a part of the Mumbai Film Festival.
The Film and Television Producers Guild of India was represented by veterans Mukesh Bhatt, the Guild President, Amit Khanna, Ramesh Sippy, Bobby Bedi and Manish Goswami during the daylong event. Mahesh Bhatt, Ramesh Sippy and Shyam Benegal were also present at the Awards ceremony in the evening. The event was also supported by other leading industry association including the Imppa with the presence of its president T.P. Aggarwal, Ffi represented by L. Suresh & Ravi Kottarakara, Manoj Srivastava, CEO,...
The Film and Television Producers Guild of India was represented by veterans Mukesh Bhatt, the Guild President, Amit Khanna, Ramesh Sippy, Bobby Bedi and Manish Goswami during the daylong event. Mahesh Bhatt, Ramesh Sippy and Shyam Benegal were also present at the Awards ceremony in the evening. The event was also supported by other leading industry association including the Imppa with the presence of its president T.P. Aggarwal, Ffi represented by L. Suresh & Ravi Kottarakara, Manoj Srivastava, CEO,...
- 11/10/2012
- by Press Releases
- Bollyspice
Shri Mukesh Bhatt was unanimously elected as President of The Film & Television Producers Guild of India Ltd. (“Guild”) at the first meeting of newly elected Guild Council of Management which was held immediately after the 58th Annual General Meeting on 15th September, 2012 at Hotel Sun-n-Sand. Shri Mukesh Bhatt succeeded Shri Ramesh Sippy, who retired as the President after his tenure of 2 years with The Film & Television Producers Guild of India Ltd.
During the same meeting, Shri Siddharth Roy Kapur was also unanimously elected as Vice President of the Guild. In addition, Shri Dheeraj Kumar, Shri Ashutosh Gowariker and Shri Vipul Shah were also re-elected as Vice Presidents along with Shri Manish Goswami & Shri Ashim Samanta who were also re-elected as the Treasurers.
Ms. Ekta Kapoor & Ms. Shrishti Arya were also nominated as the 2 new members in the newly formed Guild Council of Management for the year 2012-13.
Shri Kulmeet Makkar...
During the same meeting, Shri Siddharth Roy Kapur was also unanimously elected as Vice President of the Guild. In addition, Shri Dheeraj Kumar, Shri Ashutosh Gowariker and Shri Vipul Shah were also re-elected as Vice Presidents along with Shri Manish Goswami & Shri Ashim Samanta who were also re-elected as the Treasurers.
Ms. Ekta Kapoor & Ms. Shrishti Arya were also nominated as the 2 new members in the newly formed Guild Council of Management for the year 2012-13.
Shri Kulmeet Makkar...
- 9/18/2012
- by Press Releases
- Bollyspice
Mukesh Bhatt has been elected as the new President of the Film & Television Producers Guild of India Ltd. (Guild). The election was convened on the 15th September, 2012 at the 58th Annual General Meeting. Bhatt succeeds Ramesh Sippy who has served as the President for the last two years.
Among others, Siddharth Roy Kapur has been elected as the Vice President, while Ekta Kapoor and Shrishti Arya are nominated as the two new members in the newly formed Guild Council of Management for the year 2012-13.
The newly elected members of the Guild Council of Management for the year 2012-2013 are:
1. Mukesh Bhatt (President)
2. Ashutosh Gowariker (Vice President)
3. Dheeraj Kumar (Vice President)
4. Vipul Shah (Vice President)
5. Siddharth Roy Kapur (Vice President)
6. Manish Goswami (Treasurer)
7. Ashim Samanta (Treasurer)
8. Ramesh Sippy
9. Dr. Yash Chopra
10. Manmohan Shetty
11. Kamal Kumar Barjatya
12. Amit Khanna
13. Rakesh Roshan
14. Bobby Bedi
15. Sushilkumar Agrawal
16. Rajkumar Kohli
17. Karan Johar
18. Vishal Bharadwaj
19. Farhan Akhtar
20. Prosenjit Chatterjee
21. D.
Among others, Siddharth Roy Kapur has been elected as the Vice President, while Ekta Kapoor and Shrishti Arya are nominated as the two new members in the newly formed Guild Council of Management for the year 2012-13.
The newly elected members of the Guild Council of Management for the year 2012-2013 are:
1. Mukesh Bhatt (President)
2. Ashutosh Gowariker (Vice President)
3. Dheeraj Kumar (Vice President)
4. Vipul Shah (Vice President)
5. Siddharth Roy Kapur (Vice President)
6. Manish Goswami (Treasurer)
7. Ashim Samanta (Treasurer)
8. Ramesh Sippy
9. Dr. Yash Chopra
10. Manmohan Shetty
11. Kamal Kumar Barjatya
12. Amit Khanna
13. Rakesh Roshan
14. Bobby Bedi
15. Sushilkumar Agrawal
16. Rajkumar Kohli
17. Karan Johar
18. Vishal Bharadwaj
19. Farhan Akhtar
20. Prosenjit Chatterjee
21. D.
- 9/18/2012
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
Berlinale Co-Production Market 2013 is calling for entries of new feature film projects from experienced producers. Submissions can be made till 24th October, 2012. The projects should be suited for international co-production. The films should have budgets between 1.5 and 20 million euros, with partial financing already in place.
The 10th edition of the Berlinale Co-Production Market will be held from 10th – 12th February, 2013. Twenty of the submitted projects will be selected and the producers will meet their interested potential co-producers, financiers, sales agents, distributors, TV broadcasters and funders in Berlin.
See here for project submission forms and selection criteria.
The annual Berlinale Co-Production Market is a part of the European Film Market, and is partnered by Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung (Mdm) and the Media-Programme of the European Union.
Kutch, a project by Bobby Bedi was the first Indian selection at the Berlinale Co-Production Market 2012. Bobby Bedi has produced films like Maqbool, Saathiyaand Bandit Queen and...
The 10th edition of the Berlinale Co-Production Market will be held from 10th – 12th February, 2013. Twenty of the submitted projects will be selected and the producers will meet their interested potential co-producers, financiers, sales agents, distributors, TV broadcasters and funders in Berlin.
See here for project submission forms and selection criteria.
The annual Berlinale Co-Production Market is a part of the European Film Market, and is partnered by Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung (Mdm) and the Media-Programme of the European Union.
Kutch, a project by Bobby Bedi was the first Indian selection at the Berlinale Co-Production Market 2012. Bobby Bedi has produced films like Maqbool, Saathiyaand Bandit Queen and...
- 9/14/2012
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
The 62nd Berlin International Film Festival will open today, February 9, 2012, with the world premiere of Benoît Jacquot’s film Farewell My Queen (Les adieux à la Reine).
All members of the International Jury- Anton Corbijn, Asghar Farhadi, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jake Gyllenhaal, Mike Leigh, François Ozon, Boualem Sansal and Barbara Sukowa – will be present.
Mohan Kumar Valasala’s Panchabhuta will compete in Berlinale Shorts at the festival. Gattu, directed by Rajan Khosa and produced by the Children’s Film Society of India (Cfsi) will compete in Generation KPlus section of the festival.
Farhan Akhtar’s Don 2 which is a co-production between India and Germany will have a special screening at the festival.
Kutch, a project to be directed by Bobby Bedi will be the first Indian project to participate in Berlinale co-production market. Indian film curator and journalist Meenakshi Shedde is on the Firpresci jury of the festival. Chaitanya Tamhane,...
All members of the International Jury- Anton Corbijn, Asghar Farhadi, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jake Gyllenhaal, Mike Leigh, François Ozon, Boualem Sansal and Barbara Sukowa – will be present.
Mohan Kumar Valasala’s Panchabhuta will compete in Berlinale Shorts at the festival. Gattu, directed by Rajan Khosa and produced by the Children’s Film Society of India (Cfsi) will compete in Generation KPlus section of the festival.
Farhan Akhtar’s Don 2 which is a co-production between India and Germany will have a special screening at the festival.
Kutch, a project to be directed by Bobby Bedi will be the first Indian project to participate in Berlinale co-production market. Indian film curator and journalist Meenakshi Shedde is on the Firpresci jury of the festival. Chaitanya Tamhane,...
- 2/9/2012
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
Berlinale Co-Production Market
Kutch, a project to be directed by Bobby Bedi and produced by his company Kaleidoscope Entertainment made it to the Berlinale Co-Production Market 2012 as the first Indian project in the official selection. Bobby Bedi who has produced films like Maqbool, Saathiya and Bandit Queen and directed a documentary series called Kehta Hai Joker, will make his foray into feature film direction with Kutch, which is said to be based on female infanticide.
Berlinale announced 39 projects that will participate at the 9th Berlinale Co-Production Market to be held from February 12-14, 2012.
Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox has been selected for Talent Project Market. He was a participant of the Berlinale Talent Campus in 2011.
The official section for the Berlinale Co-Production Market 2012
- Odyssea (director: Pascal Deux), Alliance de Production Cinématographique, France
- Heirs of the Night (director: Marco Kreuzpaintner, tbc), Bavaria Pictures & Hamster Film, Germany
- The Santo...
Kutch, a project to be directed by Bobby Bedi and produced by his company Kaleidoscope Entertainment made it to the Berlinale Co-Production Market 2012 as the first Indian project in the official selection. Bobby Bedi who has produced films like Maqbool, Saathiya and Bandit Queen and directed a documentary series called Kehta Hai Joker, will make his foray into feature film direction with Kutch, which is said to be based on female infanticide.
Berlinale announced 39 projects that will participate at the 9th Berlinale Co-Production Market to be held from February 12-14, 2012.
Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox has been selected for Talent Project Market. He was a participant of the Berlinale Talent Campus in 2011.
The official section for the Berlinale Co-Production Market 2012
- Odyssea (director: Pascal Deux), Alliance de Production Cinématographique, France
- Heirs of the Night (director: Marco Kreuzpaintner, tbc), Bavaria Pictures & Hamster Film, Germany
- The Santo...
- 1/18/2012
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
Ramesh Sippy
Filmmaker and incumbent president Ramesh Sippy was re-elected as President of The Film & Television Producers Guild of India Ltd. (“Guild”) at the first meeting of newly elected Guild Council of Management recently.
Mukesh Bhatt, Vipul Shah, Ashutosh Gowariker and Dheeraj Kumar were elected as Vice Presidents of the Guild. Manish Goswami and Ashim Samanta will serve as the Treasurers.
The members of the newly elected Council of Management of Guild are Ramesh Sippy, Mukesh Bhatt, Vipul Shah, Ashutosh Gowariker, Dheeraj Kumar, Manish Goswami, Ashim Samanta, Yash Chopra, Manmohan Shetty, Kamal Kumar Barjatya, Amit Khanna, Rakesh Roshan, Bobby Bedi, Sushilkumar Agrawal, Rajkumar Kohli, A G Nadiadwala, Subhash Ghai, Karan Johar, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Vishal Bharadwaj, Farhan Akhtar, Prosenjit Chatterjee, D. Suresh Babu, Kiran Shantaram (Permanent Member) and Randhir Kapoor (Permanent Member).
The Film & Television Producers Guild of India Limited is an autonomous non-profit film trade body established in 1954. The...
Filmmaker and incumbent president Ramesh Sippy was re-elected as President of The Film & Television Producers Guild of India Ltd. (“Guild”) at the first meeting of newly elected Guild Council of Management recently.
Mukesh Bhatt, Vipul Shah, Ashutosh Gowariker and Dheeraj Kumar were elected as Vice Presidents of the Guild. Manish Goswami and Ashim Samanta will serve as the Treasurers.
The members of the newly elected Council of Management of Guild are Ramesh Sippy, Mukesh Bhatt, Vipul Shah, Ashutosh Gowariker, Dheeraj Kumar, Manish Goswami, Ashim Samanta, Yash Chopra, Manmohan Shetty, Kamal Kumar Barjatya, Amit Khanna, Rakesh Roshan, Bobby Bedi, Sushilkumar Agrawal, Rajkumar Kohli, A G Nadiadwala, Subhash Ghai, Karan Johar, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Vishal Bharadwaj, Farhan Akhtar, Prosenjit Chatterjee, D. Suresh Babu, Kiran Shantaram (Permanent Member) and Randhir Kapoor (Permanent Member).
The Film & Television Producers Guild of India Limited is an autonomous non-profit film trade body established in 1954. The...
- 10/7/2011
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
Eminent Film Maker and Incumbent President Shri Ramesh Sippy was unanimously re-elected as President of The Film & Television Producers Guild of India Ltd. (“Guild”) at the first meeting of newly elected Guild Council of Management which was held immediately after the 57th Annual General Meeting held on 29th September, 2011 at Hotel Sun-n-Sand. The other office bearers elected are as follows:-
1. Shri Mukesh Bhatt (Vice President)
2. Shri Vipul Shah (Vice President)
3. Shri Ashutosh Gowariker (Vice President)
4. Shri Dheeraj Kumar (Vice President)
5. Shri Manish Goswami (Treasurer)
6. Shri Ashim Samanta (Treasurer)
The following are the members of the newly elected Council of Management of Guild:-
1. Shri Ramesh Sippy
2. Shri Mukesh Bhatt
3. Shri Vipul Shah
4. Shri Ashutosh Gowariker
5. Shri Dheeraj Kumar
6. Shri Manish Goswami
7. Shri Ashim Samanta
8. Dr. Yash Chopra
9. Shri Manmohan Shetty
10. Shri Kamal Kumar Barjatya
11. Shri Amit Khanna
12. Shri Rakesh Roshan
13. Shri Bobby Bedi
14. Shri Sushilkumar Agrawal
15. Shri Rajkumar Kohli
16. Shri A...
1. Shri Mukesh Bhatt (Vice President)
2. Shri Vipul Shah (Vice President)
3. Shri Ashutosh Gowariker (Vice President)
4. Shri Dheeraj Kumar (Vice President)
5. Shri Manish Goswami (Treasurer)
6. Shri Ashim Samanta (Treasurer)
The following are the members of the newly elected Council of Management of Guild:-
1. Shri Ramesh Sippy
2. Shri Mukesh Bhatt
3. Shri Vipul Shah
4. Shri Ashutosh Gowariker
5. Shri Dheeraj Kumar
6. Shri Manish Goswami
7. Shri Ashim Samanta
8. Dr. Yash Chopra
9. Shri Manmohan Shetty
10. Shri Kamal Kumar Barjatya
11. Shri Amit Khanna
12. Shri Rakesh Roshan
13. Shri Bobby Bedi
14. Shri Sushilkumar Agrawal
15. Shri Rajkumar Kohli
16. Shri A...
- 10/5/2011
- by BollySpice Editors
- Bollyspice
Photograph courtesy: Navroze Contractor
[Bhushan Nagpal reports on the Mani Kaul Memorial Meeting held in New Delhi on July 9, 2011. The meeting was attended by his family, friends and members of the film fraternity]
It was a sombre occasion, a memorial meeting to remember a veteran filmmaker who was no more. And yet, speaker after speaker made references to the sense of humour that Mani Kaul possessed, and related jokes he used to tell, sometimes at his own expense.
And quite unlike a memorial meeting, it did spark some laughter now and then as jokes or anecdotes were told about the man who was vibrant and lively all his life despite his illness.
The memorial meeting was organized on July 9 by the Osian’s Connoisseurs of Art, where he had served as Director of the Osian’s Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema in 2009 and was Creative Director of its Film House.
The noted filmmaker, who was considered one of the pioneers of new Indian cinema that emerged in the late sixties and early seventies, died early in the...
[Bhushan Nagpal reports on the Mani Kaul Memorial Meeting held in New Delhi on July 9, 2011. The meeting was attended by his family, friends and members of the film fraternity]
It was a sombre occasion, a memorial meeting to remember a veteran filmmaker who was no more. And yet, speaker after speaker made references to the sense of humour that Mani Kaul possessed, and related jokes he used to tell, sometimes at his own expense.
And quite unlike a memorial meeting, it did spark some laughter now and then as jokes or anecdotes were told about the man who was vibrant and lively all his life despite his illness.
The memorial meeting was organized on July 9 by the Osian’s Connoisseurs of Art, where he had served as Director of the Osian’s Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema in 2009 and was Creative Director of its Film House.
The noted filmmaker, who was considered one of the pioneers of new Indian cinema that emerged in the late sixties and early seventies, died early in the...
- 7/11/2011
- by Bhushan Nagpal
- DearCinema.com
Bobby Bedi, the producer of films like Bandit Queen and Mangal Pandey- The Rising, expressed these views in one of the Ficci Frames sessions today on ‘Innovative Ways to Fund the Entertainment Business’. He quoted Gandhi to drive his point home, ‘There is enough for everyone’s needs but not for greed’. He said that the film industry was in a bad shape and it had none else but itself to blame for its plight. “We must follow the processes and set our house in order. We should learn to separate lies from reality,” he said.
- 3/25/2011
- Bollywood Trade
After several years of co-productions and joint investment, the two most prominent global film industries have come together for the signing of an historic declaration between the city of Los Angeles and the Indian film industry at Paramount Pictures in Hollywood, CA. As part of the declaration, the city of Los Angeles and the Indian film industry, represented by the Film and Television Producers Guild of India and the Film Federation of India, agree to develop and strengthen motion picture production, distribution, technology, content protection and commercial cooperation between the two filmmaking communities. The two parties also support the creation of the Los Angeles-India Film Council to increase Indian film production in Los Angeles. Speaking at the event, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said: "This declaration reinforces our city's commitment to attracting international production. In the past year, we have already seen Hindi movies such as My Name is Khan...
- 11/11/2010
- by Taran Adarsh
- BollywoodHungama
After several years of co-productions and joint investment, the two most prominent global film industries have come together for the signing of an historic declaration between the city of Los Angeles and the Indian film industry at Paramount Pictures in Hollywood, CA. As part of the declaration, the city of Los Angeles and the Indian film industry, represented by the Film and Television Producers Guild of India and the Film Federation of India, agree to develop and strengthen motion picture production, distribution, technology, content protection and commercial cooperation between the two filmmaking communities. The two parties also support the creation of the Los Angeles-India Film Council to increase Indian film production in Los Angeles. Speaking at the event, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said: "This declaration reinforces our city's commitment to attracting international production. In the past year, we have already seen Hindi movies such as My Name is Khan...
- 11/11/2010
- by Taran Adarsh
- BollywoodHungama
After several years of co-productions and joint investments, the two most prominent global film industries . Hollywood and Bollywood signed a historic declaration between the city of Los Angeles and the Indian film industry at Paramount Pictures in Hollywood. The two parties also supported the creation of the Los Angeles-India Film Council to increase Indian film production in Los Angeles. As part of the declaration, the city of Los Angeles and the Indian film industry, represented by the Film and Television Producers Guild of India and the Film Federation of India, agree to develop and strengthen motion picture production, distribution, technology, content protection and commercial cooperation between the two filmmaking communitiesSpeaking at the event, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said, .This declaration reinforces our city.s commitment to attracting international production. During the year, we have already seen Hindi movies such as My Name Is Khan and Kites filmed in Los...
- 11/11/2010
- Filmicafe
The city of Los Angeles and the booming Indian film industry have agreed to cooperate on developing movie production, distribution, technology, content protection and other forms of commercial cooperation. At a press conference held at Paramount Pictures on Wednesday, plans were announced to create the Los Angeles-India Film Council to promote increased Indian film production in Los Angeles.
"This declaration reinforces our city's commitment to attracting international production," Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said at the event.
Villaraigosa was joined by Indian producer Bobby Bedi and Film Federation of India President L. Suresh at the event, along with California Film Commissioner Amy Lemisch, Paramount Pictures chairman Brad Grey and MPAA Special Policy Advisor Fritz Attaway.
Grey said in a statement that these discussions "usher in a new era of strategic partnership," adding that he hopes it will "yield more co-productions and alliances, greater films and a stronger global film industry.
"This declaration reinforces our city's commitment to attracting international production," Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said at the event.
Villaraigosa was joined by Indian producer Bobby Bedi and Film Federation of India President L. Suresh at the event, along with California Film Commissioner Amy Lemisch, Paramount Pictures chairman Brad Grey and MPAA Special Policy Advisor Fritz Attaway.
Grey said in a statement that these discussions "usher in a new era of strategic partnership," adding that he hopes it will "yield more co-productions and alliances, greater films and a stronger global film industry.
- 11/10/2010
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
June 24, 2010:The more the delay, the less chance of success! Swastik Pictures certainly won’t like to hear this though. Two of its upcoming shows – ‘Mahabharat’ and a daily on Colors, will take more time to go on air. The latter has now been delayed inordinately and is almost as old as the epic itself. (No pun intended)
Star Plus had announced their desire to make the epic in early 2008. We’re half-way through 2010 with no trace of ‘Mahabharat’ yet. The channel had taken off the production reigns from Bobby Bedi and passed it on to Swastik Pictures, who had shot.
Star Plus had announced their desire to make the epic in early 2008. We’re half-way through 2010 with no trace of ‘Mahabharat’ yet. The channel had taken off the production reigns from Bobby Bedi and passed it on to Swastik Pictures, who had shot.
- 6/24/2010
- by realbollywood
- RealBollywood.com
Shiney Ahuja, who was accused of raping his maid last June, and is currently facing trial, has been allowed to enter the city of Mumbai. It may be recalled that in October last year, the court had granted bail to Shiney but he was asked to stay in Delhi and enter Mumbai only for his case hearing. However Shiney's lawyers have been seeking permission for his stay in Mumbai as the actor had to shoot for his film Shunya. After much hearing, the actor has been finally granted permission to stay in Mumbai till June 30 and thereby complete his shoot. Shunya is a horror flick in which Shiney co-stars alongside Sayali Bhagat. The film is directed by Puja Bedi (niece of Bobby Bedi who has earlier produced films like Bandit Queen, Saathiya, and Maqbool).
- 6/17/2010
- by Bollywood Hungama News Network
- BollywoodHungama
Shiney Ahuja is finding the repercussions of his rape case is following him and causing a number of issues for him in his work area. The actor had barely been signed on for Bobby Bedi’s upcoming Shaunya and the lead actress, Vaishali Desai has walked out of the film and while she hasn’t openly claimed that the reason was Shiney Ahuja, sources claim the actress does not want to be in the same frame as the accused actor.
Adhyayan Suman was the initial actor being considered for the film but was later offered to Shiney Ahuja who immediately accepted. However, when Desai heard of the actor change, she say good bye and decided against the film. "She comes from a very conservative background and doesn't want to be associated with Shiney. She reasoned that she wouldn't be comfortable working with him. She thought it would be a bad...
Adhyayan Suman was the initial actor being considered for the film but was later offered to Shiney Ahuja who immediately accepted. However, when Desai heard of the actor change, she say good bye and decided against the film. "She comes from a very conservative background and doesn't want to be associated with Shiney. She reasoned that she wouldn't be comfortable working with him. She thought it would be a bad...
- 5/11/2010
- Bollyspice
Actor Shiney Ahuja has signed his first film ever since he was arrested for allegedly raping his maid last June. Titled Shunya, the horror-flick will be directed by Puja Bedi, Bandit Queen-producer Bobby Bedi’s niece and will be shot in Lavasa, near Pune. Shiney has been barred from entering Mumbai by the court as the case is still sub-judice. ...
- 5/8/2010
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
Shiney Ahuja, whose career took a downward turn after he was alleged of rape, is back in news. The actor has signed a new film which will be a horror film.According to sources, Shiney will be part of this new film which is titled Shunya and will be produced by Puja Bedi, the niece of well known producer Bobby Bedi. The shoot of the film will take place in the outskirts of Mumbai soon as the actor has been barred by the court to enter Mumbai. Shiney's real life story is n...
- 5/8/2010
- GlamSham
Just when it seemed like the end of the road for Shiney Ahuja, he.s been signed for a film. This is the first project the actor has landed after being arrested for allegedly raping his maid.The film, titled Shunya, is a horror flick being directed by Puja Bedi, the niece of Bobby Bedi, who produced Bandit Queen. Sayali Bhagat plays the female lead.A source informs, .Shooting for the film begins on May 12 in Lavasa, a small town near Pune.The court has barred Shiney only from entering Mumbai..Shiney could not be reached for comment.
- 5/7/2010
- Filmicafe
Salman Khan starrer Wanted has proved that single screen theatres can spell good business for Bollywood. But scarcity of land and the kind of movies being made are deterring their resurgence. Manmohan Shetty, the filmmaker who spearheaded multiplex culture in India, now feels that single screens are vital. Bobby Bedi too has expressed angst against the exorbitant movie tickets at multiplexes. "Single screens play a vital role in box office collections. Most of the states in the country don't have a multiplex and these survive on single screens," said Amit Awasthi, manager (programming and operations) of Spice Cinemas at ...
- 12/5/2009
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
New Delhi, Dec 5 (Ians) Salman Khan starrer “Wanted” has proved that single screen theatres can spell good business for Bollywood. But scarcity of land and the kind of movies being made are deterring their resurgence.
Manmohan Shetty, the filmmaker who spearheaded multiplex culture in India, now feels that single screens are “vital”. Bobby Bedi too has expressed angst against the exorbitant movie tickets at multiplexes.
“Single screens play a vital role in box office collections. Most of the states in the country don’t have a multiplex and these survive on single screens,” said Amit Awasthi, manager (programming and operations) of Spice Cinemas at Noida.
“We cannot just.
Manmohan Shetty, the filmmaker who spearheaded multiplex culture in India, now feels that single screens are “vital”. Bobby Bedi too has expressed angst against the exorbitant movie tickets at multiplexes.
“Single screens play a vital role in box office collections. Most of the states in the country don’t have a multiplex and these survive on single screens,” said Amit Awasthi, manager (programming and operations) of Spice Cinemas at Noida.
“We cannot just.
- 12/5/2009
- by realbollywood
- RealBollywood.com
Salman Khan starrer 'Wanted' has proved that single screen theatres can spell good business for Bollywood. But scarcity of land and the kind of movies being made are deterring their resurgence.Manmohan Shetty, the filmmaker who spearheaded multiplex culture in India, now feels that single screens are 'vital'. Bobby Bedi too has expressed angst against the exorbitant movie tickets at multiplexes.'Single screens play a vital role in box office collections. Most of the states in the country don't have a multiplex and these survive on single screens,' said Amit Awasthi, manager (programming and operations) of Spice Cinemas at Noida.'We cannot just kill single screens. Both have their own clients because of the gentry and the pricing.'Yogesh Raizada, corporate head, Wave Cinemas, said: 'Pricing has always been a sensitive issue since day one for the public.'But the owners of single screens say not much land is available for them.
- 12/4/2009
- Filmicafe
Panaji, Nov 27 (Ians) Europeans coming to India for enlightenment is the theme of well-known German filmmaker Roland Reber’s forthcoming Indo-European film and he is in talks with Indian producer Bobby Bedi to co-produce it.
“I have always wanted to do a film in India. This movie has an Indo-European theme. A lot of Europeans, who are impressed by India’s old culture, think they can come here and get enlightened over the weekend,” Reber told reporters.
“I have spoken to Bobby Bedi and this will be my first co-production,” he added.
The filmmaker is here to attend the retrospective of his six films shown at the ongoing 40th International Film Festival of India (Iffi). His provocative.
“I have always wanted to do a film in India. This movie has an Indo-European theme. A lot of Europeans, who are impressed by India’s old culture, think they can come here and get enlightened over the weekend,” Reber told reporters.
“I have spoken to Bobby Bedi and this will be my first co-production,” he added.
The filmmaker is here to attend the retrospective of his six films shown at the ongoing 40th International Film Festival of India (Iffi). His provocative.
- 11/27/2009
- by realbollywood
- RealBollywood.com
Panaji, Nov 24 (Ians) Two prominent Bollywood filmmakers — Manmohan Shetty and Bobby Bedi — have spoken against multiplexes and the high price of tickets, saying these two factors could destroy the industry.
‘The main culprit to bring down Bollywood are multiplexes,’ said Shetty, who started the trend of multiplex cinema chains.
‘The tickets are priced so high that people who used to watch the movies by paying Rs.30 to Rs.40 are not coming to cinema halls anymore,’ Shetty said at a conference, ‘India - The Big Picture’, organised here by the Confederation of Indian Industry (Cii).
‘With.
‘The main culprit to bring down Bollywood are multiplexes,’ said Shetty, who started the trend of multiplex cinema chains.
‘The tickets are priced so high that people who used to watch the movies by paying Rs.30 to Rs.40 are not coming to cinema halls anymore,’ Shetty said at a conference, ‘India - The Big Picture’, organised here by the Confederation of Indian Industry (Cii).
‘With.
- 11/25/2009
- by realbollywood
- RealBollywood.com
Rishi Kapoor has brought back Russian actress Kseniya Ryabinkina, who played a trapeze artist in Raj Kapoor’s Mera Naam Joker (1970), for a role in his upcoming film, Chintuji. Chintuji is closely based on Rishi Kapoor’s real life. This will be Kseniya’s second Hindi film.
Producer Bobby Bedi had a tough time getting in touch with Kseniya because of not having her contact number. The team got in touch with the Russian Film Commission and the Kapoors had a few contacts in Russia. She readily agreed despite her ill health. She was brought to Chandigarh to shoot in a village called Paragpur,.
Producer Bobby Bedi had a tough time getting in touch with Kseniya because of not having her contact number. The team got in touch with the Russian Film Commission and the Kapoors had a few contacts in Russia. She readily agreed despite her ill health. She was brought to Chandigarh to shoot in a village called Paragpur,.
- 8/29/2009
- by realbollywood
- RealBollywood.com
Next Gen Films and Kaleidoscope Entertainment announced today the release of Chintuji, a take on actors becoming politicians. Starring veteran actor Rishi Kapoor who plays himself (Chintu Kapoor), the satire is scheduled to release on 4 September.After being appreciated in the super hit Love Aaj Kal, Kapoor is all set to captivate audiences with his character driven role in Chintuji where he plays himself Rishi ‘Chintu’ Kapoor. The film has been produced by Bobby Bedi and written & directed by Ranjit Kapoor.Kapoor says, ...
- 8/23/2009
- BusinessofCinema
Subhash Ghai, Abhishek Bachchan and Sushma Singh ,Secretary- Ministry of Information inaugurated the Indian Film pavilion at the Cannes International Film Festival to promote Indian cinema to the international market and showcase some of the prominent films and short films at the festival. After the inauguration, Assocham headed by D.S Rawat held a press conference with prominent personalities including Subhash Ghai, Amit Khanna, Anurag Basu, Bobby Bedi, Manisha Koirala, Dipti Naval and many others. At the press meet, Subhash Ghai expressed his confidence to media that though India has not had a strong presence at Cannes so far in terms of participation in the competition section, Cannes...
- 5/15/2009
- GlamSham
Bollywood actress and co-owner of Rajasthan Royals, Shilpa Shetty is going to share screen space with Australian cricketer Shane Warne in a movie to be produced by Bobby Bedi. Apart from Shane Warne, some other handsome players of the Rajasthan Royals have been roped in. Bobby Bedi thought to make film with Shilpa Shetty along with her team much before she owned the team.Confirming the story, Shilpa said, "It's a film with some of the Rr players. This was discussed before I became co-owner. The project is under review because of the shift in venue to South Africa. They would have shot some bits during the camp if the Ipl had happened ...
- 5/13/2009
- Bollywoodmantra.com
Arbaaz Khan might not be as great a star as his brother Salman but he has been quietly doing his kind of work. He was last praised for ‘Fashion’ where he starred alongside Priyanka Chopra. The fact that the recently released ‘Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye’ with Raima Sen and Randeep Hooda didn’t do well doesn’t worry him much.
Now he is looking forward to his newest movie, ‘The Stoneman Murders’ which he said tempted him a lot. He’s mighty impressed by the movie written and directed by Manish Gupta and produced by Bobby Bedi.
He’s.
Now he is looking forward to his newest movie, ‘The Stoneman Murders’ which he said tempted him a lot. He’s mighty impressed by the movie written and directed by Manish Gupta and produced by Bobby Bedi.
He’s.
- 2/12/2009
- by realbollywood
- RealBollywood.com
Kay Kay Menon the actor who is more known for his acting and less for attending parties is back in action. Every time the actor manages to impress his audience with his flawless acting skills. We had a brief chat with this talented actor about his upcoming movie The Stoneman Murders and his role in it.
Do you think that this movie will also create the same buzz like Bobby Bedi’s last realistic film Bandit Queen?
See you can’t compare Bandit Queen and The Stone man Murders. Bandit Queen was internationally acclaimed and it was a great great film it.
Do you think that this movie will also create the same buzz like Bobby Bedi’s last realistic film Bandit Queen?
See you can’t compare Bandit Queen and The Stone man Murders. Bandit Queen was internationally acclaimed and it was a great great film it.
- 2/5/2009
- by realbollywood
- RealBollywood.com
The Stoneman Murders – The film asks some straight questions and exposes the rot in the system that allowed for the cover up of a crime of such magnitude that let the killer go Scot free.
Bobby Bedi, the famed producer of the internationally acclaimed Bandit Queen is back with yet another hard hitting film that makes us sit up and take notice.
“When I first saw this script, I was completely taken aback by the mystery of so many murders that took place in Bombay, with not definitive arrest! Our writer had done extensive research on these serial killings. We found.
Bobby Bedi, the famed producer of the internationally acclaimed Bandit Queen is back with yet another hard hitting film that makes us sit up and take notice.
“When I first saw this script, I was completely taken aback by the mystery of so many murders that took place in Bombay, with not definitive arrest! Our writer had done extensive research on these serial killings. We found.
- 1/30/2009
- by realbollywood
- RealBollywood.com
Locarno International Film Festival,
Piazza Grande (World Premiere)
Ketan Mehta's sweeping epic, "The Rising -- Ballad of Mangal Pandey," is a kind of Bollywood "Braveheart" as one courageous and doomed man confronts the might of the British Empire, plus there's singing and dancing.
Sumptuously designed and beautifully shot, the film will delight Bollywood fans but likely will fail to capture mainstream audiences with its melodramatic style and jarring combination of stirring action, brutality and musical numbers.
For 100 years, the East India Company was the face of the British Empire, ruling one-fifth of the world and dominating the Indian subcontinent with the help of 300,000 Hindu and Muslim soldiers called Sepoys.
In Mehta's tale, the introduction of a new rifle in 1853 brought down the most successful private company in history. The rifle used a cartridge that soldiers had to bite the end of in order to pour the powder into the barrel. But the company used the grease of pigs and cows to seal the cartridges, and so placing them in their mouths violated the Sepoys' faiths.
Mangal Pandey (Aamir Khan) is one of the bravest Sepoys, having served with distinction in places like Afghanistan's Khyber Pass, where he saved the life of Capt. William Gordon (Toby Stephens).
At first, trusting the Company lie that the cartridges do not use pig or cow grease, Pandey bites the bullet, but when the truth is revealed, he leads the Sepoy in a rebellion that for the first time unites all the various creeds, tribes and castes of the region. It sows the seeds for the end of the East India Company's reign, though India would not gain its independence from Britain for about another century.
The saga is told in black-and-white terms with a clear division between good guys and bad guys. The dastardly villains are the ones in the red uniforms who speak as if they've just swallowed a plum. The only good British officer is, inevitably, Scottish.
The Bollywood style is so bouncy and optimistic, however, that it's difficult to sustain the effect of an oppressed nation when everyone, even untouchables and slave girls, all appear so jolly. The hero is savagely beaten by five Company men, but shortly afterward he joins the beautiful pleasure house girl Heera (Rani Mukherji) in a jaunty dance number.
Although the film is expertly rooted in its period, Heera seems to have been parachuted in from the 21st century with her cover girl eyes and MTV choreography.
There are many bold statements about freedom and peoples' rights to their own cultures and faiths and a suggestion that there are modern versions of the East India Company at work in the world, which might well be true, but the message gets a bit lost amid all the happy singing people.
The Rising -- Ballad of Mangal Pandey
Kalaidoscope Entertainment & Inox Leisure Ltd. & TFK Films present a Kaleidoscope Entertainment & Maya Movies production
Credits:
Director: Ketan Mehta
Screenwriter: Farrukh Dhondy
Producers: Bobby Bedi, Deepa Sahi
Director of photography: Himman Dhamija
Production designer: Nitin Chandrakant Desai
Editor: Sreekar Prasad
Composer: A.R. Rahmaan
Cast:
Mangal Pandey: Aamir Khan
Capt. William Gordon: Toby Stephens
Heera: Rani Mukherji
Emily Kent: Coral Beed
Veer Pretap: Amin Hajee
Lol Bibi: Kiron Kher
Jwala: Ameesha Patel
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 150 minutes...
Piazza Grande (World Premiere)
Ketan Mehta's sweeping epic, "The Rising -- Ballad of Mangal Pandey," is a kind of Bollywood "Braveheart" as one courageous and doomed man confronts the might of the British Empire, plus there's singing and dancing.
Sumptuously designed and beautifully shot, the film will delight Bollywood fans but likely will fail to capture mainstream audiences with its melodramatic style and jarring combination of stirring action, brutality and musical numbers.
For 100 years, the East India Company was the face of the British Empire, ruling one-fifth of the world and dominating the Indian subcontinent with the help of 300,000 Hindu and Muslim soldiers called Sepoys.
In Mehta's tale, the introduction of a new rifle in 1853 brought down the most successful private company in history. The rifle used a cartridge that soldiers had to bite the end of in order to pour the powder into the barrel. But the company used the grease of pigs and cows to seal the cartridges, and so placing them in their mouths violated the Sepoys' faiths.
Mangal Pandey (Aamir Khan) is one of the bravest Sepoys, having served with distinction in places like Afghanistan's Khyber Pass, where he saved the life of Capt. William Gordon (Toby Stephens).
At first, trusting the Company lie that the cartridges do not use pig or cow grease, Pandey bites the bullet, but when the truth is revealed, he leads the Sepoy in a rebellion that for the first time unites all the various creeds, tribes and castes of the region. It sows the seeds for the end of the East India Company's reign, though India would not gain its independence from Britain for about another century.
The saga is told in black-and-white terms with a clear division between good guys and bad guys. The dastardly villains are the ones in the red uniforms who speak as if they've just swallowed a plum. The only good British officer is, inevitably, Scottish.
The Bollywood style is so bouncy and optimistic, however, that it's difficult to sustain the effect of an oppressed nation when everyone, even untouchables and slave girls, all appear so jolly. The hero is savagely beaten by five Company men, but shortly afterward he joins the beautiful pleasure house girl Heera (Rani Mukherji) in a jaunty dance number.
Although the film is expertly rooted in its period, Heera seems to have been parachuted in from the 21st century with her cover girl eyes and MTV choreography.
There are many bold statements about freedom and peoples' rights to their own cultures and faiths and a suggestion that there are modern versions of the East India Company at work in the world, which might well be true, but the message gets a bit lost amid all the happy singing people.
The Rising -- Ballad of Mangal Pandey
Kalaidoscope Entertainment & Inox Leisure Ltd. & TFK Films present a Kaleidoscope Entertainment & Maya Movies production
Credits:
Director: Ketan Mehta
Screenwriter: Farrukh Dhondy
Producers: Bobby Bedi, Deepa Sahi
Director of photography: Himman Dhamija
Production designer: Nitin Chandrakant Desai
Editor: Sreekar Prasad
Composer: A.R. Rahmaan
Cast:
Mangal Pandey: Aamir Khan
Capt. William Gordon: Toby Stephens
Heera: Rani Mukherji
Emily Kent: Coral Beed
Veer Pretap: Amin Hajee
Lol Bibi: Kiron Kher
Jwala: Ameesha Patel
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 150 minutes...
Locarno International Film Festival,
Piazza Grande (World Premiere)
Ketan Mehta's sweeping epic, The Rising -- Ballad of Mangal Pandey, is a kind of Bollywood Braveheart as one courageous and doomed man confronts the might of the British Empire, plus there's singing and dancing.
Sumptuously designed and beautifully shot, the film will delight Bollywood fans but likely will fail to capture mainstream audiences with its melodramatic style and jarring combination of stirring action, brutality and musical numbers.
For 100 years, the East India Company was the face of the British Empire, ruling one-fifth of the world and dominating the Indian subcontinent with the help of 300,000 Hindu and Muslim soldiers called Sepoys.
In Mehta's tale, the introduction of a new rifle in 1853 brought down the most successful private company in history. The rifle used a cartridge that soldiers had to bite the end of in order to pour the powder into the barrel. But the company used the grease of pigs and cows to seal the cartridges, and so placing them in their mouths violated the Sepoys' faiths.
Mangal Pandey (Aamir Khan) is one of the bravest Sepoys, having served with distinction in places like Afghanistan's Khyber Pass, where he saved the life of Capt. William Gordon (Toby Stephens).
At first, trusting the Company lie that the cartridges do not use pig or cow grease, Pandey bites the bullet, but when the truth is revealed, he leads the Sepoy in a rebellion that for the first time unites all the various creeds, tribes and castes of the region. It sows the seeds for the end of the East India Company's reign, though India would not gain its independence from Britain for about another century.
The saga is told in black-and-white terms with a clear division between good guys and bad guys. The dastardly villains are the ones in the red uniforms who speak as if they've just swallowed a plum. The only good British officer is, inevitably, Scottish.
The Bollywood style is so bouncy and optimistic, however, that it's difficult to sustain the effect of an oppressed nation when everyone, even untouchables and slave girls, all appear so jolly. The hero is savagely beaten by five Company men, but shortly afterward he joins the beautiful pleasure house girl Heera (Rani Mukherji) in a jaunty dance number.
Although the film is expertly rooted in its period, Heera seems to have been parachuted in from the 21st century with her cover girl eyes and MTV choreography.
There are many bold statements about freedom and peoples' rights to their own cultures and faiths and a suggestion that there are modern versions of the East India Company at work in the world, which might well be true, but the message gets a bit lost amid all the happy singing people.
The Rising -- Ballad of Mangal Pandey
Kalaidoscope Entertainment & Inox Leisure Ltd. & TFK Films present a Kaleidoscope Entertainment & Maya Movies production
Credits:
Director: Ketan Mehta
Screenwriter: Farrukh Dhondy
Producers: Bobby Bedi, Deepa Sahi
Director of photography: Himman Dhamija
Production designer: Nitin Chandrakant Desai
Editor: Sreekar Prasad
Composer: A.R. Rahmaan
Cast:
Mangal Pandey: Aamir Khan
Capt. William Gordon: Toby Stephens
Heera: Rani Mukherji
Emily Kent: Coral Beed
Veer Pretap: Amin Hajee
Lol Bibi: Kiron Kher
Jwala: Ameesha Patel
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 150 minutes...
Piazza Grande (World Premiere)
Ketan Mehta's sweeping epic, The Rising -- Ballad of Mangal Pandey, is a kind of Bollywood Braveheart as one courageous and doomed man confronts the might of the British Empire, plus there's singing and dancing.
Sumptuously designed and beautifully shot, the film will delight Bollywood fans but likely will fail to capture mainstream audiences with its melodramatic style and jarring combination of stirring action, brutality and musical numbers.
For 100 years, the East India Company was the face of the British Empire, ruling one-fifth of the world and dominating the Indian subcontinent with the help of 300,000 Hindu and Muslim soldiers called Sepoys.
In Mehta's tale, the introduction of a new rifle in 1853 brought down the most successful private company in history. The rifle used a cartridge that soldiers had to bite the end of in order to pour the powder into the barrel. But the company used the grease of pigs and cows to seal the cartridges, and so placing them in their mouths violated the Sepoys' faiths.
Mangal Pandey (Aamir Khan) is one of the bravest Sepoys, having served with distinction in places like Afghanistan's Khyber Pass, where he saved the life of Capt. William Gordon (Toby Stephens).
At first, trusting the Company lie that the cartridges do not use pig or cow grease, Pandey bites the bullet, but when the truth is revealed, he leads the Sepoy in a rebellion that for the first time unites all the various creeds, tribes and castes of the region. It sows the seeds for the end of the East India Company's reign, though India would not gain its independence from Britain for about another century.
The saga is told in black-and-white terms with a clear division between good guys and bad guys. The dastardly villains are the ones in the red uniforms who speak as if they've just swallowed a plum. The only good British officer is, inevitably, Scottish.
The Bollywood style is so bouncy and optimistic, however, that it's difficult to sustain the effect of an oppressed nation when everyone, even untouchables and slave girls, all appear so jolly. The hero is savagely beaten by five Company men, but shortly afterward he joins the beautiful pleasure house girl Heera (Rani Mukherji) in a jaunty dance number.
Although the film is expertly rooted in its period, Heera seems to have been parachuted in from the 21st century with her cover girl eyes and MTV choreography.
There are many bold statements about freedom and peoples' rights to their own cultures and faiths and a suggestion that there are modern versions of the East India Company at work in the world, which might well be true, but the message gets a bit lost amid all the happy singing people.
The Rising -- Ballad of Mangal Pandey
Kalaidoscope Entertainment & Inox Leisure Ltd. & TFK Films present a Kaleidoscope Entertainment & Maya Movies production
Credits:
Director: Ketan Mehta
Screenwriter: Farrukh Dhondy
Producers: Bobby Bedi, Deepa Sahi
Director of photography: Himman Dhamija
Production designer: Nitin Chandrakant Desai
Editor: Sreekar Prasad
Composer: A.R. Rahmaan
Cast:
Mangal Pandey: Aamir Khan
Capt. William Gordon: Toby Stephens
Heera: Rani Mukherji
Emily Kent: Coral Beed
Veer Pretap: Amin Hajee
Lol Bibi: Kiron Kher
Jwala: Ameesha Patel
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 150 minutes...
An exquisitely photographed, superbly acted production about the breaking of taboos in contemporary India, "Fire" was the featured film at the closing-night gala of Los Angeles' Outfest '97 festival.
The fact that the dialogue is in English and the writing is hip and accessible will help "Fire" blaze a path as a potential winner on the art-house, or even wider, circuit.
Set in a modern household in New Delhi, "Fire" follows a pair of frustrated females and the selfish males in their lives. Their normal existence unravels with the inevitability of a classic cautionary parable in this exploration of forbidden love.
Radha (the marvelous Shabana Azmi), an obedient wife, must endure a loveless relationship because her husband Ashok has fallen under the influence of a swami who preaches strict celibacy. Radha, who blames herself for her childless marriage, is wracked with guilt and has pretty much given up hope for romantic fulfillment.
Into the household comes Sita (Nandita Das), who, in an arranged marriage, has become the wife of Ashok's younger brother, Jatin (Jaaved Jaaferi). Sita is lovely and passionate, but her charms fail to stir Jatin, who is enamored of his Chinese girlfriend and only married Sita because of Ashok's pressure.
And so, two women languish without love, fulfilling duties of the family's combination video store-fast food restaurant. They eventually turn to each other for emotional comfort, and things take a turn into unexpected territory.
The film makes poetic, comic turns, paralleling ancient myths with personal events in the characters' lives. A trial of the purity of women is shown in several versions as a running gag -- and of course, there's no comparable test for the purity of men.
Director-writer Deepa Mehta is to be commended for the wonderful work she's done here, a tastefully erotic and revealing study of peoples' lives. One subplot features a vignette of remarkable perversity involving the servant Mundu (Ranjit Chowdhury) that is startling and revealing in its detailing of repression and male self-centeredness.
There's even a sobering political diatribe regarding the narrowness of Indian society, as a Chinese man criticizes the culture in a savvy indictment of universal racial intolerance.
FIRE
Canada, 1996
Producers Bobby Bedi and Deepa Mehta
Director-writer Deepa Mehta
Editor: Barry Farrell
Camera Giles Nuttgens
Music A.R. Rahman
Color
Cast:
Radha Shabana Azmi
Sita Nandita Das
Ashok Kulbushan Kharbanda
Jatin Jaaved Jaaferi
Mundu Ranjit Chowdhury
Biji Kushal Rekhi
Running time -- 104 minutes
No MPAA rating...
The fact that the dialogue is in English and the writing is hip and accessible will help "Fire" blaze a path as a potential winner on the art-house, or even wider, circuit.
Set in a modern household in New Delhi, "Fire" follows a pair of frustrated females and the selfish males in their lives. Their normal existence unravels with the inevitability of a classic cautionary parable in this exploration of forbidden love.
Radha (the marvelous Shabana Azmi), an obedient wife, must endure a loveless relationship because her husband Ashok has fallen under the influence of a swami who preaches strict celibacy. Radha, who blames herself for her childless marriage, is wracked with guilt and has pretty much given up hope for romantic fulfillment.
Into the household comes Sita (Nandita Das), who, in an arranged marriage, has become the wife of Ashok's younger brother, Jatin (Jaaved Jaaferi). Sita is lovely and passionate, but her charms fail to stir Jatin, who is enamored of his Chinese girlfriend and only married Sita because of Ashok's pressure.
And so, two women languish without love, fulfilling duties of the family's combination video store-fast food restaurant. They eventually turn to each other for emotional comfort, and things take a turn into unexpected territory.
The film makes poetic, comic turns, paralleling ancient myths with personal events in the characters' lives. A trial of the purity of women is shown in several versions as a running gag -- and of course, there's no comparable test for the purity of men.
Director-writer Deepa Mehta is to be commended for the wonderful work she's done here, a tastefully erotic and revealing study of peoples' lives. One subplot features a vignette of remarkable perversity involving the servant Mundu (Ranjit Chowdhury) that is startling and revealing in its detailing of repression and male self-centeredness.
There's even a sobering political diatribe regarding the narrowness of Indian society, as a Chinese man criticizes the culture in a savvy indictment of universal racial intolerance.
FIRE
Canada, 1996
Producers Bobby Bedi and Deepa Mehta
Director-writer Deepa Mehta
Editor: Barry Farrell
Camera Giles Nuttgens
Music A.R. Rahman
Color
Cast:
Radha Shabana Azmi
Sita Nandita Das
Ashok Kulbushan Kharbanda
Jatin Jaaved Jaaferi
Mundu Ranjit Chowdhury
Biji Kushal Rekhi
Running time -- 104 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 7/21/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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