Manoranjan Unlimited

Jhalak Dikhla Jaa - Season 3

2009-02-24T03:55:00.000-08:00

Jhalak Dikhla Jaa and Nach Bailye are the two rival dancing reality shows. Nach Baliye Season 2 was much better than Jhakal Season 1. The Jhalak improved its standards and Jhalak season 2 stole the TRPs and was much better than Nach Baliye Season 3.

Jhalak season 3 reportedly is even better so lets see what it has in store for us. It will take over from Indian Idol 4 on Sony TV. The participants are:

* Bhagyashree and Toby Fernandes (Not very excited after watching her dance in MPK)

* Mohinder Amarnath and Lilian Mende (Why he has to do this to himself, I believe he is going to be another Sanjeev Kapoor of season 2)

* Shilpa Shukla and Nishant Bhat (Dont know her...sooo)

* Ram Kapoor and Marischa Fernandes (He can dance??? Thats news to me!!)

* Gauhar Khan and Hanif Halal (She is an amazing dancer but I doubt whether she will win; good dancers hardly win the reality show - remember Sweta Salve)

* Monica Bedi and Javed Sanadi (She will rock the stage; she knows exactly what it takes to put the stage on fire)

* Parul Chauhan and Deepak Singh (She is an OK dancer but quite popular on TV as Ragini of Bidaai; so she could be another Mona Singh of season 1)

* Anand Raj Anand and Rozita Rajput (Why man?)

* Hard Kaur and Savio Barnes (I am most excited to watch her performing; she is a rock star for sure)

* Karan Singh Grover and Nicole Alvaris (He is a great dancer; his performances in Zara Nach ke dikha were amazing)

Now the Judges; its going to be woman power this time. All the judges are ladies; two ace choreographers and one ace actor. I love all the three ladies Juhi Chawla, Vaibhavi Merchant and Saroj Khan strictly in this order only.

So I am all excited about the third season of Jhalak. Lets see how it goes!! :)

Real Khatron Ka Khiladi

2009-02-16T02:02:00.000-08:00

Akshay Kumar is truly a Khatron Ke Khiladi. He is know for doing unimaginable stunts. He performed a challenging underwater stunt sequence for Percept Picture Company’s forthcoming film 8X10. Akshay underwent a special training course at Bangkok for the same.

Akshay Kumar plays a guy with a supernatural gift of being able to delve in the past of dead people by touching an object belonging to them. Akshay's first movie with a non-commercial film-maker.

Akshay Kumar always pushes the envelope when it comes to action, and for Percept Picture Company's 8X10, the actor pulled out all the constraints. Akki went to Bangkok and did a special course for the challenging underwater sequence.

The underwater sequence was shot by director Nagesh Kukunoor at a pool in Chembur last week. It's a psychological super-thriller and there can't be a better actor to play this role. Production house suggested using a stuntman but Akki ruled it out and insisted on doing the part himself, and the results are amazing." Apparently, such a scene has never been seen before in Hindi cinema. Akki is playing a super-hero but not with supernatural powers.

The scene is a highly adventurous sequence in deep waters and the actor is tied up in chains. It's a long fight sequence with other co-actors. If you don't do it properly, it can cause all kinds of health problems.

They spicy controversy which was not that spicy

2009-01-29T02:07:00.000-08:00

The screen award night was promoted heavily with the clippings of Sajid and Ashutosh controversy only. Generally, such award nights are promoted based on Star's performances. This time star's performances were showed only 2 days before the event that too with low frequency as compared to the controversy clipping.

I was doubtful even before I saw the program on TV about it and was sure it will be nothing. Sajid Khan has tried this while launching his show "Sajid's Superstars" on Colors. The first episode with Ritesh Deshmukh was heavily promoted with the clipping where Sajid Khan asks him whether he is Gay and Ritesh got offended. When the episode was finally aired it turned out to be a joke but the episode got the TRP which it was looking for. Same trick was applied in this situation also.

In the time of recession when Screen was unable to recruit expensive Stars like Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan (oops I wrote their names together ;) ) who usually perform in all the award nights. They got their event done in less budget by recruiting only actresses (5 in nos.) in the name of women power. Since they didnt have the star power to promote their event they created a clipping made by mixing statements said on different occasions which looked like a spicy controversy and promoted their event heavily using that.

It turned out to be nothing when the event was finally aired.Ashu said Shutup and immediately said Sorry. One thing I really liked about Sajid Khan is that he maintained his cool, being a host he gave all the chance to Ashu to complete his statement and was quite polite until he was provoked again by Farah Khan.

All in all you know how to market an event at its best. Kudos to Screen Marketing Team for packaging it so well and getting the TRPs which they aimed for.

Luck By Chance - Looks Promising!!

2009-01-22T22:00:00.000-08:00

Luck By Chance - directorial debu of Zoya Akhtar lloks quite promising with excellent music and brilliant start cast of brother Farhan Akhtar in the lead role with Hritik Roshan, Rishi Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, Isha Sharvani, Sanjay Kapoor, Konkona Sen Sharma, Dimple Kapadia.

She was turned sown by many big stars including Saif Ali Khan but finally the star cast that she was able to manage looks quite promising atleast to me. Hritik is paying himself in the movie that is of a super-star. The movie is about a struggler's journey in Bollywood where destiny played a crucial role.

What I am looking forward from this movie is the chemistry between two performance power houses Farhan Akhtar and Konkana Sen. The music is also super rocking by the way, especially Sapno se bhare Naina.

Slumdog Millionaire

2009-01-21T03:30:00.000-08:00

This movie is a completely director's movie. The story is simple but the treatment is very difficult. The story is about a slum dwelling 18 years old boy who won 2 million Rs. at a GK quiz show called "Who wants to be a Millionaire" without any formal education. He found answer to most of the questions in one or the other incidents of his life and for rest of them he played bravely. The movie bares out some dark secrets of slum life which is really thought-provoking. Man, if you crib about anything in life, watch this movie and you will know how blessed you are.

The movie always keeps you on your toes as in what’s going to happen next. It has very tightly roped-in the flash-back and current scenes together; which makes it really interesting. The way Rang De Basanti had roped in the movie scenes (movie which was being filmed in the movie) and the real life scenes of movie. I hope you got what I want to say?

It was so difficult; had it not been directed so brilliantly, it could have been a complete turndown. AR's background music is superb and makes every scene complete. Must watch film guys, just go for it!!

Maula from Dilli 6

2009-01-19T23:15:00.000-08:00

Prasoon Joshi did it again!!
After stirring your soul with Maa in "Taare Zameen Par" he has given another soul touching track as Maula in Dilli 6. If you have not listened to that song yet; you are seriously missing something. Kailash Kher as usual rocked again with his recitation of Maula. Reminded me of the magic he created with his "Suban Allah" in Fanaa.

I am so looking forward to Dilli6. I believe the most promising chemistry after SRK-Kajol is going to be this duo - Abhishek and Sonam. So people; here are the complete lyrics for you. This song is definitely food for your soul. Enzoiiii!!

================================================================================

Arziyaan sari mein chehre pe likh ke laaya hoon
Tumse kya mangu mein tum khud hi samjah lo
ya maulaaaa....
Maula Maula Maula Mere Maula
Maula Maula Maula Mere Maula
Maula Maula Maula Maula
Maula Maula Maula Maula

Dararein dararein hain maathe pe maula
Maramat mukdar ki kar do maula
Mere Maula
Tere Dar pe Jhuka hoon Meeta hoon bana hoon
Marammat mukdar ki kar do maula
Marammat mukdar ki kar do maula

Jo bhi tere dar aaya
Juhkne jo sar aaya
Mastiyan piye sabko
Jhoomta nazar aaya
Jo bhi tere dar aaya
Juhkne jo sar aaya
Mastiyan piye sabko
Jhoomta nazar aaya

Pyaas le ke aaya tha
Dariya woh bhar laya
Noor ki barish mein beeghta sa tar aaya
Noor ki barish mein beeghta sa tar aaya

Maula Maula Maula Mere Maula
Maula Maula Maula Mere Maula
Maula Maula Maula Maula
Maula Maula Maula Maula
Dararein dararein Maathe pe maula
Maramat mukdar ki kar do maula
Mere Maula

Jo bhi tere dar aaya
Jhukne jo sar aaya
MAstiyan piye sabko
Jhoomta nazar aaya
Jo bhi tere dar aaya
Jhukne jo sar aaya
MAstiyan piye sabko
Jhoomta nazar aaya

O Ek khusbu aati thi
O Ek khusbu aati thi

Mein bhatakta jata tha
Reshmi si maya thi
Aur mein takta jata tha
Jab teri gali aaya
Sach tabhi nazar aaya
Jab teri gali aaya
Sach tabhi nazar aaya
Mujhe mein woh khusboo thi
Jisse tune milwaya

Maula Maula Maula Mere Maula
Maula Maula Maula Mere Maula
Maula Maula Maula Maula
Maula Maula Maula Maula
Dararein dararein hai Maathe pe maula
Maramat mukdar ki kar do maula
Mere Maula
Aaa...aaaa
Tut ke bikharna mujhko zarur aata hai
Tut ke bikharna mujhko zarur aata hai
Varna ibbadat wala ssarur aata hai
sajde mein rehne do
abb kahin na jaunga
sajde mein rehne do
abb kahin na jaunga
Abb jo tumne tukhraya to
Sawar na paunga
Maula Maula Maula Mere Maula
Maula Maula Maula Mere Maula
Maula Maula Maula Maula
Maula Maula Maula Maula
Dararein dararein hai Maathe pe maula
Maramat mukdar ki kar do maula
Mere Maula
Sar utha ke mene to kitni khwahishe ki thi
Kitne khwaab dekhe the kitni khosishe ki thi
Jab tu rubaru aaya
Jab tu rubaru aaya Nazarein na mila paya
Sar jhuka ke ek pal mein

Sar jhuka ke ek pal mein
Mene kya nahi paya
Maula Maula Maula Mere Maula
Maula Maula Maula Mere Maula
Maula Maula Maula Maula
Maula Maula Maula Maula
Mere Maula ..
Maula Maula Maula Mere Maula
Mora piya ghar aaya
Mora piya ghar aaya
Mora piya ghar aaya
Mora piya ghar aaya

Maula Maula Maula Mere Maula
Maula Maula Maula Mere Maula
Maula Maula Maula Maula
Maula Maula Maula Maula

Mere Maula ..
Maula Maula Maula
Mere Maula Mere Maula ..

Films to look forward to in 2009 - Part 2

2009-01-17T05:43:00.000-08:00

Raavan
Director: Mani Ratnam
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Vikram, Ravi Kishan

After years of speculation on a cinematic version of Indian epics like Mahabharat and Ramayan, finally one director has set to do the honours. This Mani Ratnam project is being directed amidst complete secrecy in the forests of Kerela. All that is conjured about the film is that while Aishwarya Rai is obviously playing Sita, its not husband Abhishek Bachchan but south actor Vikram playing Ram. Rather Ratnam has turned tables with casting Abhishek Bachchan as the Raavan. Let's see what difference Mani Ratnam imparts to the epic, which is known to almost every citizen of the country.

Luck
Director: Soham Shah
Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Imran Khan, Shruti Hassan, Mithun Chakravarthy, Ravi Kishan

Luck marks the debut of Kamal Hassan's daughter Shruti Hassan who will star opposite Imran Khan and will also lend her voice for some rocking numbers composed by Pritam. Luck also brings together the Kidnap duo of Imran Khan and Sanjay Dutt together. Ravi Kishan plays a psycho in the film and his character is akin to several animals rolled into one. One could credit the animal instincts to director Soham Shah who last directed the wildlife horror Kaal for Karan Johar and has now shifted to the Sanjay Dutt camp. The film is shot throughout in South Africa and promises to be high on adrenaline action.

Rajniti
Director: Prakash Jha
Cast: Nana Patekar, Ajay Devgan, Manoj Bajpai, Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif

Prakash Jha delves into his favourite territory again and as the title clearly suggests Rajniti is a film on present-day politics merged with chapters of Mahabharat. Ajay Devgan will symbolize the character of Karn, Nana Patekar of Krishna, Ranbir Kapoor of Arjun and Katrina Kaif of Draupadi. Also Vivek Oberoi was offered a role in the film but he opted out due to date problems.

Kaminay
Director: Vishal Bhardwaj
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra

Kaminay is an action-comedy and, as the title suggests, is about cunning people. Shahid Kapoor has lost weight for this role and his look in this film is being kept as a close-guarded secret. So much so that Shahid has stopped making public appearances until the promos of the film are out. Insiders reveal that Shahid sports a tanned look in the film with beard and different haircuts. Priyanka Chopra, on her part, is learning Marathi for her character in the film. There's also buzz of a passionate lip-lock between the two in the film.

Renzil D'Silva – Karan Johar Project
Director: Renzil D'Silva
Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Vivek Oberoi, Tara Sharma

Not much is known about this untitled project other than the fact that it's a political thriller and the first film to have Saif Ali Khan opposite Kareena Kapoor post their couple status. Tara Sharma is cast opposite Vivek Oberoi in the film.

Renzil D'Silva has created his own brand value as a writer with Rang De Basanti post which he has scripted several films under production like David Dhawan's Hook Ya Crook , Soham Shah's Luck , Rakyesh Mehra's Paanch Kaurav , Shoojit Sarkar's Kishore Kumar biopic and films for Mani Ratnam and Arjun Rampal. Finally he turns director with this film which has dialogues written by Anurag Kashyap, who once was not on very good terms with Karan Johar.

Blue
Producer: Sri Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd.
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, Lara Dutta

The combination of Akshay Kumar and Sanjay Dutt could be lethal if exploited sensibly. Blue promises to be an out-an-out action thriller and has some amazing underwater sequences. Not just Akshay and Sanju but also Lara Dutta has done an action sequence amidst whales.

Kites
Director: Anurag Basu
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Barbara Mori, Kangana Ranaut

Post Jodhaa Akbar , Hrithik is really taking it easy and this would be his first release as the main lead (other than an extended special appearance in Luck By Chance ). After proving his credentials with Gangster and Life in a Metro , Anurag Basu is amongst the top league and is directing an intense romantic film. Originally producer Rakesh Roshan was trying to rope in actress Penelope Cruz but finally they zeroed in on Latin actress Barbara Mori for the role. This one promises some terrific chemistry between Hrithik and his female costars.

Rann

Director: Ram Gopal Varma
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Manisha Koirala, Riteish Deshmukh, Sudeep, Paresh Rawal, Gul Panag, Raima Sen

Ram Gopal Varma's next Rann promises to be a realistic look on the modern-day media industry and its exploitations for monetary gains. When News Channels, Political parties and Industrial czars are the principal movers and shakers in a film, there is obviously a tremendous scope for high drama.

In the film, Amitabh plays the founder of the first ever private news channel in the country and is a hardcore upholder of journalistic ethics. His ambitious son played by Sudeep (of Phoonk fame) looks at the channel purely as a business enterprise. Riteish Deshmukh plays an idealistic journalist who believes in reporting news than manufacturing it. Manisha Koirala plays the programming head of Bachchan's news-channel.

Lamhaa

Director: Rahul Dholakia
Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Kunal Kapoor

After Parzania , director Rahul Dholakia is being counted amongst the sensible filmmakers of the industry. His next film Lamhaa is set in the Kashmir valley where Sanjay Dutt plays a military intelligence officer. He sports a rugged bearded look in the film with coloured hair. While major portions of the film will be shot in sets erected at Filmcity in Mumbai, some important portions are to be shot in Kashmir and Manali. Bipasha Basu who was playing the female lead left the shoot suddenly from Kashmir, despite strict security measures in which the film was being shot. The producers are contemplating of replacing her with Vidya Balan.

Veer

Director: Anil Sharma
Cast: Salman Khan, Lisa Lazarus, Mithun Chakravarthy

Salman Khan had earlier pitched in story idea for his films like Chandramukhi and Baaghi . With Veer , he turns a full-fledged screenplay writer and if the genius of his father Salim Khan (of the famous Salim-Javed duo) has rubbed onto him, this should be a movie to look up to.

Veer is a period film with a war backdrop set in the 1900 where Salman Khan sports an ethnic look with long hair, antique beaded neckpiece, fur jacket and traditional kada.

Wanted Dead and Alive
Director: Prabhu Deva
Cast: Salman Khan, Ayesha Takia

The intentional 'and' in the title makes it sound self-contradictory. But that's the way the makers want to project this remake of South hit Pokhiri. Pokhiri could be to Salman, what Ghajini is to Aamir . The film would be south actor and choreographer Prabhu Deva's first directorial venture and thereby promises a rocking dance number by Salman Khan. Also probably this could be Ayesha Takia's last film considering she is planning to quit post her marriage.

English actress Lisa Lazarus is cast opposite Salman Khan with Mithun Chakravarthy playing a supporting actor and Jackie Shroff donning a negative role.

Priyanka did it again - After Desi girl its Khudaya Khair

2009-01-17T05:25:00.000-08:00

Priyanka has given yet another sizzling and steamy performance in the item song of "Khudaya Khair" from Billu Barber against SRK. The song has amazing lyrics and Priyanka has grooved brilliantly on the song. I found this song is the best item number of the movie better than Marjaani and Love mera hit hit.

Our Desi girl is truly rocking!!

Films to look forward to in 2009 - Part 1

2009-01-15T01:50:00.000-08:00

Here's a list of films to look forward to in 2009.

3 Idiots

Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Cast: Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi, R Madhavan, Kareena Kapoor

Chetan Bhagat's first novel Five Point Someone based on student life at IIT was a big hit when published some years back. Rajkumar Hirani takes a break from the Munnabhai series to adapt this literary work into cinema. Aamir Khan will once again play a college student post Dil Chahta Hai . With Hirani's expertise this one shouldn't turn out into some Hello , a tacky adaptation of Bhagat's second novel which was way too filmi and formulaic as compared to his much interesting first.

What's Your Rashee?

Director: Ashutosh Gowariker
Cast: Harman Baweja, Priyanka Chopra

More than Harman Baweja, we have faith in Ashutosh Gowariker who has a grand cinematic vision. Just like he directed a simple and small-scaled Swades post Lagaan , he is directing a comparatively undemanding film What's Your Rashee post the exasperating magnum opus Jodhaa Akbar . The film is based on an Indian novel and it will be interesting to see Gowariker recreate the Harman-Priyanka chemistry.

My Name is Khan

Director: Karan Johar
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol

Karan Johar takes a U-turn from his candyfloss filmmaking and tackles a more serious issue with My Name is Khan where Shah Rukh Khan plays a Muslim named Rizwan Khan and is detained in LA as a suspected terrorist. Add to it his character also suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, a milder form of autism and his impairment makes his behaviour more suspicious. Shah Rukh has gained weight and will be sporting a new trimmed hairdo for the film.

While Karan maintains that the film is a true story based on a couple's life in LA, some say it is inspired from the Oscar nominated Dustin Hoffman – Tom Cruise starrer Rain Man . Incidentally the film is already in news for its alleged similar storyline with Yash Raj Films' New York starring John Abraham, Neil Mukesh and Katrina Kaif. But to us the plot sounds more similar to Naseeruddin Shah's Shoot on Sight .

Kambhakkt Ishq

Director: Sabir Khan
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor, Sylvester Stallone, Denise Richards

Expect Sajid Nadiadwala to make his project as grand as possible. His favourite and the current superstar Akshay Kumar plays the lead role with Kareena for company. But the film is making news for its international star cast and this time there are no itsy-bitsy names but established stars like Sylvester Stallone and Denise Richards who have cameos in the film.

London Dreams

Director: Vipul Shah
Cast: Salman Khan, Ajay Devgan, Asin

The film was originally launched in 2006 with Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan and was being directed by Rajkumar Santoshi then. Some scenes were even canned with Salman Khan in Amritsar's Golden Temple. But then like most Santoshi films, this one too got shelved. In 2008 the film was revived with the same cast but Vipul Shah at the director's seat.

London Dreams is seemingly about rock musicians played by Salman and Ajay Devgan and rumoured to be inspired by the Oscar winner Amadeus . It would be interesting to see the Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam duo of Salman and Ajay together after a decade. Another attraction is Asin who is already making her presence felt in Bollywood.

Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani

Director: Rajkumar Santoshi
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Upen Patel

Ranbir Kapoor takes the Salman Khan legacy by being named as Prem in this love story. Interestingly he is paired opposite Salman's ladylove Katrina Kaif in the film. This is director Rajkumar Santoshi's first love story, who is otherwise known for socially driven action films. Not an intense romance flick, this one will have some light-hearted humourous moments. Santoshi explains the character of Prem as the Charlie Chaplin and Raj Kapoor of present times.

Main Aur Mrs Khanna

Director: Prem Soni
Cast: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Sohail Khan

Kareena Kapoor confessed that she was nervous working with Salman Khan in this film despite having shared screen space with him in Kyon Ki . Salman and Kareena play a happily married couple until Kareena falls for a club worker played by Sohail Khan. Govinda plays a marriage counselor who attempts to patch up their strained relationship. Does that sound like Biwi No. 1 with gender-reversal of sorts?

Allegedly Main Aur Mrs Khanna is the same film that was responsible for the Shah Rukh – Salman spat on Katrina's birthday party as, reportedly, Salman wanted SRK to play a cameo in the film which he refused.

Hook Ya Crook

Director: David Dhawan
Cast: John Abraham, Genelia D'Souza, Uday Chopra

The film was announced in 2006 with R Siddharth (of Rang De Basanti fame) and Amrita Rao in lead roles. In 2008 the lead pair was replaced by John Abraham and Vidya Balan. The film finally goes on floor in 2009 with Vidya being replaced by Genelia D'Souza.

Scripted by Renzil D'Silva (of Rang De Basanti fame), Hook Ya Crook is a comedy but not like David Dhawan's earlier slapsticks. This one has dark shades with a good dose of action, as well.

Aladin and the Mystery of the Lamp

Director: Sujoy Ghosh
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Riteish Deshmukh, Jacqueline Fernandes

Sujoy Ghosh's Aladin is a magnanimous fantasy film based on the popular Arabian Nights fable and has Riteish Deshmukh play Aladin while Amitabh Bachchan is the Genie. Sanjay Dutt plays a negative character while Aladin's love interest Jasmine will be played by newcomer Jacqueline Fernandes.