Could a reverse of 'Slumdog Millionaire' win an Oscar
"It is like a reverse 'Slumdog Millionaire,' says Amit Khanna, chairman of Reliance Big Entertainment, referring to RBE's film 'Kites' featuring an international cast, including Indian actor Hrithik Roshan. The surprise success in the United States of the movie "Slumdog Millionaire" shot in India with Indian actors and musicians and based on an Indian novel- has put the spotlight on the Indian film industry's ambitions of going global, argues Rama Lakshmi in an article for Washington Post, Saturday, March 7, 2009. Read more »
Aishwarya's moment of international fame with Pink Panther 2
Indian actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is looking for her real international fame with ‘Pink Panther 2’ set for Feb 6th 2009 release. Directed by Harald Zwart, film features Steve Martin, Jean Reno, Andy Garcia, John Cleese and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Though Ms. Bachchan has acted in a few international films but her real break is yet to come. She will be promoting the movie with lead actor Steve Martin in New York, Madrid, Moscow, Paris and Berlin. Read more »
Bollywood bloodbath to oust Ghajini distributor Raghav Bahl
Indian media mogul Raghav Bahl, Promoter of Network 18 Group that owns a number of TV channels such as CNBC India and CNN IBN, is fighting a group of hedge funds trying to eject him from the board of London-listed production house, The Indian Film Company (IFC). IFC became an overnight success in June 2007 when it got listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) Exchange in the UK. IFC released films such as Jab We Met, Welcome, Singh is Kinng, Golmaal Returns and Ghajini in the last one and a half years. Read more »
Film 'Rab Ne...' tests India-Pakistan relations
The three-day siege of Mumbai, for which India blames a Pakistani extremist group, has derailed plans for increasing economic ties between the countries, says The New York Times, Monday, November 2008.“Four years of sincere and bold initiatives from both sides have been put on pause mode, The momentum is badly affected,” said Jairam Ramesh, India’s junior minister for commerce. Latest Bollywood movie 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi' featuring India's top film star Shah Rukh Khan has become the latest victim of the Indo-Pak tensions. Read more »
'Shoot On Sights' hits UK screens
'Shoot On Sight' - much talked about film inspired by the July 7, 2005 underground bombings in London- has been released in 100 cinemas of the UK, Friday, August 22, 2008. Huge posters of the controversial thriller, directed by Jagmohan Mundhra, can be seen on London's red buses and phone booths. Producer Aron Govil has said that a portion of the profits from his 'Shoot On Sight' will be donated to the London bombings memorial planned for Hyde Park. Read more »
Recession! What recession? India signs more film deals with Hollywood
Berlin. As the Berlin International Film Festival gets into a full swing there are reports of Indian Reliance Big Entertainment (RBE) signing development deals with a number of Hollywood ventures, including a two picture agreement with 'Pretty Woman' star Julia Roberts' Red Om Films and Brett Ratner's Rat Entertainment. The latest announcement was made in Berlin by Reliance Big Entertainment's chairman Amit Khanna and president Rajesh Sawhney. Kathy Robinson looks at recession-proof India for India-EU Film Initiative (www.iefilmi.com) Read more »
Master Review: Bollywood spoof 'Luck By Chance' wins critics
A spoof on India's Bollywood film industry 'Luck By Chance' by debutant director Zoya Akhtar has received rave reviews on its release. But the director, fearing any backlash from the insiders, is keen to clarify that it's not a spoof. A number of film critics have given three to four stars out of five while reviewing the film. Struggling with recession and highly paid stars, Bollywood has welcomed the news. Read more »
Chandni Chowk To China: Biggest Bollywood release in the USA
LA- Indian star Akshay Kumar, it seems, has decided to to do better than all Khans in marketing his films. His latest film 'Chandni Chowk To China' is touted as the biggest screen presentation by its distributors. Warner Bros Worldwide Anti-Piracy Group will mount a targeted campaign to protect the worldwide release of its upcoming Bollywood kung-fu comedy Chandni Chowk To China, which will open day-and-date in more than 35 markets on January 16 as part of a 40-territory release. Read more »
'Ban all Indian movies in Pakistan'
LAHORE: Bollywood movie 'Dostana' has been banned in Pakistan and now the Lahore High Court of Pakistan is hearing a petition which says exhibition of all Indian films be declared unlawful, illegal and against the current Film Rules of Pakistan. Read more »
'London Dreams' yet to be filmed but sold for a record sum
London Eye Twilight by Gary T PalmerThe distribution rights of filmmaker Vipul Shah's, yet to be filmed movie, 'London Dreams', have fetched $27 million. On the other hand Britain's Tourism arm Visit London is launching a £4m global ad campaign ahead of the Olympic handover to promote the capital as a tourist destination in the run-up to the 2012 Games. The international campaign will target markets including India. Is there any connection between the two? Read more »