| Waheeda Rehman to inaugurate Kerala film festival Posted: 28 Nov 2010 04:22 AM PST 
Panaji, Nov 28 - Legendary actress Waheeda Rehman will travel south to throw open the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) in December this year. IFFK Chairman and the festival director K.R. Mohanan told reporters here Sunday that the actress, who inaugurated 40th International Film Festival of India in Goa last year, will be the chief guest for the festival which begins Dec 10, while renowned German filmmaker Werner Herzog would be the guest of honour. 'The eight-day long festival is organised by Kerala State Chalachithra Academy (KSCA) and will be held in Thiruvananthapuram. As many as 14 films from Asia, Africa and LatinAmerica will compete for the top awards,' Mohanan said, adding that the top purse, the Suvarna Chakoram for the best film, will beawarded Rs.15 lakh (Rs.1.5 million). 'Rajata Chakoram and a cash prize of Rs.400,000 will go to the best director and a Rajata Chakoram and Rs.300,000 will go to the best debut filmmaker. In addition to this, a Rajata Chakoram and Rs.200,000 would be awarded as the audience prize,' he said. Mohanan further said that the festival will screen a retrospective of filmmaker Rainer Fassbinder, while T.V. Chandran willbe the Malayalam filmmaker in focus along with other films from Central Asia and those made by Black American filmmakers. 'We will have 190 films screened at 10 theatres in Thiruvananthapuram,' Mohanan said. IANS |
| Simon Cowell brands Cheryl Cole ‘mad’ and ‘vain’ Posted: 28 Nov 2010 04:20 AM PST 
London, Nov 28 - Simon Cowell blasted at Cheryl Cole yesterday calling her "mad" and "vain" and claimed her acts would be better off if he was in charge of them. In yet another stinging attack on his fellow judge, the X Factor bosssaid Cheryl doesn't bring out the best in her acts. "When she gets criticised by me it's like she has been shot, and she is genuinely devastated and upset for 24 hours," the Mirror quoted Simon as telling about Cher. "Everyone thinks she looks up to Cheryl - but she looks up to me. "Cheryl sees something of herself in Cher - it's vanity! Some might even say narcissism!" he said. Cowell said Cole was playing it toosafe with Cher last week by putting her on a staircase, dressed in a nightie, and getting her to sing the John Lennon ballad Imagine. It could "ruin her chances of making the final", he said. "You have got to take a risk withthis girl. You have to trust she has enough young fans who wouldvote for her. "Don't do a traditional safe X Factor song - do something that'sher, because if she fakes it, she'll be out," he said. He said Cole isn't a good mentor to Rebecca, adding, "Rebecca's not a whimpering puppy. She's gotsteel in her. She genuinely wants to win. She argues passionately about the songs and the way shewants to do them." "If her personality isn't coming across, it's Cheryl's fault. It's Cheryl's job. Or maybe Rebecca switches to me for a week, I'll gether personality out!" he said. On Cheryl's third act, Katie, he said, "I think it's girls who dislike her, not guys. Like in schools, for some reason people turn against one person if they annoy them. I think whatever happens with our Katie she will have a career." Simon claimed that Cheryl had copied the trademark military salute she has given fans throughout this series from him. "I did it on American Idol and it just demonstrates exactly what I thought was true. That before she came on the show she would spend hours and hours looking at me on the internet. She has now taken it and copied it. I'm going tofind the footage and prove she iscopying it. And I want it back!" he said. Simon even accuses Cheryl of being "mad". "The slogan this year was 'embrace the madness'. Cheryl says she can't work out if she is embracing it or actually going mad. It's a fine line - but Cheryl has always been mad! I f you look into Cheryl's eyes you will see total madness! She was always fighting it but it was always thereready to come out. I've had the most bonkers conversations with Cheryl," he said. (ANI) |
| Big budgets have driven experimentation out of Hindicinema: Palekar Posted: 28 Nov 2010 04:17 AM PST 
Panaji, Nov 28 - Noted actor-director Amol Palekar feels big budgets have driven sensitivity and experimentation from mainstream Hindi cinema. Addressing a press conference onthe sidelines of the 41st International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Palekar, whose Marathi film 'Dhoosar' was premiered here Saturday, said regional cinema has contributed 'nicely and strongly' towards the palette of Indian cinema. 'When Hindi films are made, one looks at a wider market, the masses. These heap pressures on the minds of the filmmakers. Will itappeal to everyone?' Palekar, who has revived regional Marathi cinema in the recent past, said. 'And then there are the budgets. I am not saying they are bad, butthen no one wants to take risks with such huge budgets. There is only talk of Rs.40 or Rs.50 crore film with a budget of Rs.20 crore for promotion. One is only talking about the commercial side of cinema not the creative side,' Palekar said. The actor of classic comic superhits of the yesteryears like 'Golmaal' and 'Chhoti si Baat' said that relatively sober-budgeted regional cinema could afford to take risks and experiment because it was not buoyed down by tons of money. 'Indian cinema is not only Bollywood. Regional cinema has contributed nicely and strongly into making Indian cinema what it is,' said Palekar who has directed critically acclaimed movies like 'Anahat', 'Thoda Sa Rumani Ho Jayen' 'Daayraa' and 'Samantar'. Palekar said his film 'Dhoosar' deals with Alzheimers disease surrounding the relationship of a mother and daughter. The film, according to him has been shot almost entirely in Goa. IANS |
| U2’s Bono meets Kevin Rudd to talk about poverty, aid Posted: 28 Nov 2010 04:15 AM PST 
Melbourne, Nov 28 - U2 frontman Bono met with Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd at the Sydney Opera House to talk about poverty and aid. Rudd's spokeman said the two met and spoke for about 45 minutes, along with Make History Poverty co-chairs Andrew Hewettand Tim Costello. The rock star for all praises for the government's development agenda, bipartisan support to reduce poverty globally and spoke about the challenge of global development and Australia'scontribution, the spokesman said. Bono's agenda was to get an expansion of the Australian government's aid program and meeting Millennium Development goals set by the UN to reduce global poverty, reports News.com.au. Rudd praised Bono for his activismand the pair also spoke about developments in HIV globally, the spokesman said. (ANI) |
| Sabyasachi’s jewellery line debuts with ‘Guzaarish’ Posted: 28 Nov 2010 04:14 AM PST 
New Delhi, Nov 28 - Renowned fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee's jewellery line made its successful debut with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's just-released 'Guzaarish'. He designed the line keeping in mind a multicultural element with a nomadic vibe. The navratan necklace worn by Aishwarya Rai in the climax of thefilm and other items like raindrop earrings, coral kanpashas, rhodolite balis, butterfly earrings,minakari bird ring and the turquoise and coral ring that she wears in the film have been designed by Sabyasachi and crafted by GAJA, the retail brand of Shree Ganesh Jewellery House. 'When Sanjay Leela Bansali approached me for 'Guzaarish', I realised that jewellery would play a very important role in shaping up Sophia's character as played by Aishwarya Rai,' Sabyasachi saidin a statement. 'It would have to be nomadic, quirky and personalised and so I decided to bring on board GAJA inSABYASACHI (his lable) because it epitomises that spirit. The whole line has been designed by me keeping in mind a multicultural element with a nomadic vibe.' For the collection, Sabyasachi used precious and semi-precious stones, minakari and filigree and had to work with about 60 skilledworkers from West Bengal to complete the line. The price range of rings and earrings starts from Rs.40,000 and navratan necklaces are priced at Rs.510,000 ''Guzaarish' is a joint effort of onethe most sensitive filmmakers, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, India's leading fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee and GAJA, the brand from India's foremost manufacturer of jewellery. It is also a matter of pride for all of us that the most beautiful womanin the world Aishwarya Rai Bachhan is wearing our jewellery in 'Guzaarish', ' said Nilesh Parekh, chairman of Shree Ganesh Jewellery House. IANS Free Download Guzaarish |
| Watson gushes about Potterco-stars Rupert and Daniel Posted: 28 Nov 2010 04:09 AM PST 
London, Nov 28 - Emma Watson has spent quite a few years filming the 'Harry Potter' series with Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint and she's all praises for them. "It's funny, they've both gone completely opposite ways. At the beginning Rupert was very confident, really chatty, very outgoing, and Dan was the quiet shy one," The Daily Mail quoted Watson as saying. "I remember at the first press conference, he was so overwhelmed by the whole thing. Now, you can't shut Dan up. He's telling jokes, he's got this incredible energy. Rupert's gone quiet. He's much more reserved, she added. "We are like siblings. If I'm feeling abit anxious or I need to talk something over with someone, Dan's the one I'll go to. Rupert's the guy I go to when I want to berelaxed and have a good laugh," the 20-year-old actress said. But it is from the grown-up actors on the Potter set that she feels she has learned most. "I learned from Emma how to behave on a set. She remembers everyone's name, she's incredibly courteous and considerate, and she makes everyone laugh," she said. Watson also confessed that a much-talked-about love scene with Radcliffe in the latest film caused some terror. "I was a bit nervous. I think that David [Yates, the director] didn't want us to get too nervous so heonly told us a day before we were going to do it, which helped.But at the same time I felt a bit panicked," she said. (ANI) |
| No more ‘princesses’ in Disney cartoon films! Posted: 28 Nov 2010 04:07 AM PST 
London, Nov 28 - It's like the end of an era in the world of cartoons - Disney bosses have announced that they will make nomore "princess" cartoons. Execs have decided that Tangled, based on the story of Rapunzel and due for UK release in January, will be the studio's final fairytale film, possibly for ever. Instead of focusing on repeating the success of Sleeping Beauty and The Princess And The Frog, Disney will focus its attention on its "mega franchises" such as Pirates Of The Caribbean and Toy Story, the most successful series in animation history. "Today, among little girls especially, princesses and the romanticised ideal they represent- finding the man of your dreams - have a limited shelf life," the Daily Express quoted Disney boarddirector John Lasseter, as saying. Ed Catmull, head of Pixar Animation, added, "Films and genres do run a course. Princesses may come back later ifsomeone has a new take." (ANI) |
| When Watson went from being ‘Hermione’ to a hottie! Posted: 28 Nov 2010 04:05 AM PST 
London, Nov 28 - Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series, has admitted that her new haircut was a symbolic gesture, to mark her leaving her character behind. "I'm 20 now, so I'm not a child any more. I've been on Harry Potter for ten years now, so I felt the need to mark the end of it in some way - I needed some way tosay to myself, 'Right, you're entering a new phase of your life now'. I needed a change, and that's what the haircut is about,"the Daily Mail quoted her as saying. Soon after she finished shooting the final Potter film, Watson wentto a hairdresser, handed him a picture of Mia Farrow and ordered him to get rid of her 'Hermione hair'. She said that her father was initially not thrilled about her newlook. "When I first told him that I was thinking about doing it, he said, 'Don't get carried away. You're not Audrey Hepburn yet.' But he loves it now, and so he's eating his words," Watson added. (ANI) |
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