‘Turning 30!!!’: an insight into a woman’s psyche

Aging skin, fading glow, white streaks in the hair and uncertainty – audiences will get to taste a slice of life in “Turning 30!!!” that talks about women either hitting a subconscious halt or turning a new leaf at the milestone age.

Produced by Prakash Jha, the light-hearted outing is the directorial debut of Alankita Srivastav, who has been a long-time assistant to Jha.

With former beauty queen Gul Panag in the lead, the young urban woman-centric love story also features Purab Kohli in a pivotal role. Made at a budget of Rs.3.5 crore, the film will hit over 125 screens Friday.

Dharmendra and his sons Sunny and Bobby Deol-starrer “Yamla Pagla Deewana” is also releasing the same day, but the first time director has no apprehensions.

“Not at all! I love Dharampaji. In fact we are all going to watch ‘Yamla Pagla Deewana’ together with ‘Turning 30!!!’,” Alankrita said over the phone from Mumbai.

“It is a completely different kind of film and there is space for both the movies. They are in completely different zones and genres,” she added.

Set in Mumbai, the movie revolves around Naina (Gul) who, in the face of her 30th birthday, grapples with a heartbreak and a crisis in her advertising career. A hilarious and heart-warming journey of a young woman who is blossoming into a woman of substance, the movie then deals with the hurdles in her life and how she overcomes them as a mature person.

Gul, who herself touched the 30-mark last year, says apart from the physical changes that one experiences, a lot of self-assessment starts poking women in the head at that age.

“The skin starts showing its age, the glow might start fading, the tightness and firmness on the skin starts to feel the change. Expectations begin to hover in a self-assessment procedure and also by your near and dear ones,” she said.

“But the people who are stable in their lives don’t really realise much of these things. But the ones who haven’t been able to establish themselves go through this phase more than the others,” she added.

Having already generated some buzz courtesy its slick trailer and a different subject, the movie is expected to receive niche footfalls.

“Usually people in rural settings are settled in their lives with their family and work and just have an aim to earn more and live a happy life. But in urban settings, we are so disorganised. Women are not married, might be unemployed, they have no permanent accommodation at times and, on top of it, the physical changes start worrying you….so it is something to be anxious about,” said Alankrita.

Read more »

Salman named best actor, ‘Dabangg’ best film at Apsara Awards

Bollywood star Salman Khan Tuesday triumphed at the 6th edition of the Chevrolet Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards by bagging the best actor prize for hit comedy “Dabangg”, which was declared the best film.

“Dabangg”, released last year, was Arbaaz Khan’s first film as a producer and became the biggest grosser of the year at the box office. Directed by first time director Abhinav Kashyap, the film also introduced Sonakshi Sinha, daughter of actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha. It gave 2009’s best item number “Munni Badnam” too.

Karan Johar got the best director award for “My Name Is Khan”. Set in a tumultuous post 9/11 America, the film starred Shah Rukh Khan as a Aspergers syndrome patient who sets out on a journey to prove that every Khan is not a terrorist.

In the best actress category there was a tie between Vidya Balan and Anushka Sharma – while the former was awarded for her stupendous performance in critically acclaimed “Ishqiya”, the latter was honoured for her role in the successful film “Band Baaja Baraat”

Read more »

‘No Entry’ sequel not called ‘Be Positive’: Anil Kapoor

Evergreen actor Anil Kapoor has dismissed rumours that the sequel to his 2005 laugh riot “No Entry” is named “Be Positive” after the oft-repeated phrase by his character in the outing.

“No. It’s not called ‘Be Positive’. It’s called ‘No Entry Mein Entry’,” Anil said.

The sequel too has producer Boney Kapoor and director Anees Bazmee.

Rumours are rife that the original male cast of Salman Khan, Anil and Fardeen Khan will be seen in double roles in the Part II.

Read more »

I’m not doing ‘Desi Boyz’, ‘Tezz’: Suniel Shetty

Macho actor Suniel Shetty has denied that he is a part of action comedy “Desi Boyz” and thriller “Tezz”.

“I am not doing ‘Desi Boyz’ or ‘Tezz’. That’s what I have said no to,” Suniel said.

The directorial debut of Rohit Dhawan, “Desi Boyz” stars Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, John Abraham and Deepika Padukone while Priyadarshan’s “Tezz” features Mohanlal, Anil Kapoor, Ajay Devgn, Zayed Khan, Kangna Ranaut, Sameera Reddy and Boman Irani.

Read more »

DEEPIKA SINGH HOT PIC

DEEPIKA:
  she is very hot,not only hot very petty to express abt her because she is deepika

Read more »

The men in Deepika's life

Before her Bollywood debut Deepika is rumoured to have dated struggling models Nihar Pandya, Upen Patel and Muzzamil Ibrahim. After the phenomenal success of her debut film 'Om Shanti Om', Deepika was seen cheering Yuvraj Singh at cricket matches though there never was any official confirmation from them. Did she date Dhoni too? We don't really know. Deepika was reportedly very upset when Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh made fun of her at an awards ceremony. The Deepika-Ranbir affair was no secret. Both confessed their undying love for each other and Deepika also got RK tatooed on her nape. But Ranbir's alleged infidelity broke Deepika's heart. Recently Deepika has been frequently spotted with Kingfisher scion Siddharth Mallya. While a wiser Deepika is being very discreet about her current relationship, their public appearances together say a different tale.

Read more »

no one killed jessica

Story: Based on the murder of model Jessica Lall (1999) in an uptown eatery in Delhi and her sister, Sabrina Lall's fight for justice, the film showcases contemporary India as it is. The mockery of the legal procedure, the loopholes in the policing system, the corruption in the power circles, the vulnerability of the common Indian: Sabrina's ( Vidya Balan) struggle -- powered by the feisty journalist, Meera Gaity's dogged investigation and the people's crusade -- brings life to newspaper headlines that still haven't been forgotten. 

Movie Review: No One Killed Jessica (NOKJ) is a film that unleashes a myriad emotions in you. The hard facts of modern India's most written about case are well known by almost everybody but the director Rajkumar Gupta's (he'd already displayed his talent in Aamir) dramatic handling of the crime, the criminals, the crusaders and the victim creates a storm, once again. The film makes you feel angry, sad, frustrated, bitter about the umpteen flaws in our administrative and legal machinery. But more than all this, it fills you with hope and confidence about your own self. NOKJ reaffirms the power and the efficacy of the ordinary man who can -- and must -- make the difference in a dismaying world. Unlike super hero sagas, the film doesn't just showcase two feisty women -- Sabrina and Meera -- who take on the might of the fecund Indian state. Instead, it throws light on the fact that the whole nation came together, joined the Justice for Jessica crusade and displayed how power actually resides in people rather than politicians and their puppets. That's the heartening message the film throws out loud and clear at a time when the state of the scam-tainted nation isn't too edifying. 


The pitfalls in making a film that draws its drama from real life are many. NOKJ could easily have unspooled like a soulless documentary that cuts and pastes newspaper headlines in cardboard collage fashion. But kudos to the film maker and the performers for infusing whole lot of soul and body in the film which races across like a hard-punch thriller. From the first phone call which informs a sleepy Sabrina of her sister's death to the candle-lit vigil at India Gate, NOKJ is a racy crime drama that relentlessly draws you in. And when its not the riveting screenplay (Rajkumar Gupta) and the dialogues which hold your attention, it is the actors who grab eyeballs with their power-packed portrayals. Rani Mukherji's rendition of the `bitch', Meera Gaity -- a balsy, cuss-word-spewing newshound -- is sure to give you an adrenalin high. Newcomer Myra's Jessica act is full of life and endearing. But it is Vidya Balan's Sabrina who steals the show with her quiet courage, her absolute ordinariness and her complete disbelief at how someone with a pistol in his hand and power in his head could shoot down somebody for a mere drink. Watch Balan's body language and her aimless travels in Delhi's public transport and you'll understand how the common man survives in India: against all odds, albeit with courage and dignity. A word about Rajesh Sharma's cop act: it's poignant and brilliant. He's the cop who unabashedly takes a bribe for not beating up the politician's son in custody and yet does any and everything to fight for justice. 


The film has an impeccable first half and could do with some editing in the second half. But the high drama, the arresting performances and the spunky audio track (Amit Trivedi) make NOKJ a memorable viewing. 


A word about: 


Performances : Everyone puts in an impressive act. If Rani is impeccable as the world-wise, hard-talking, foul-mouthed journalist, then Vidya's common man (read girl) act is stupendous. The rest of the ensemble cast fits in perfectly in their respective roles. 


Story : Rajkumar Gupta's taken newspaper headlines and added heart and soul to them. 




Dialogues: It's copy book Delhi that comes alive on screen. From the betel-stained thanas to the high-heeled social circuit, the lingo has no false ring. 


Cinematography : Delhi looks beautiful, ominous, heartless and all-heart too. 


Music: Amit Trivedi's heavy-metal tracks form the right ringtone to this hard-hitting film. Case in point `Dilli Dilli' and `Aali re'. 


Styling : Rani's uptown TV journo garb and Vidya's almost dowdy -- and functional -- dress sense are totally in sync with the story. 


Inspiration : Real life.

Read more »