Tata Sky appoints Asin as brand ambassador

MUMBAI: After Aamir Khan, DTH service provider Tata Sky has now appointed South Indian actress Asin as it’s brand ambassador. The actress will feature across all Tata Sky brand and product communication including ads on TV, print, outdoor and radio. Incidentally, Tata Sky has been promoting the Khan – Asin starrer Ghajini, which is slated […]

Zee TV to premiere Taare Zameen Par on 14 December

Mumbai: Aamir Khan’s directorial venture Taare Zameen Par will be premiered on Zee TV on 14 December at 8 pm. The movie portrays the problems of a dyslexic child and raises one question in the minds of all parents – Why does the Indian education system only emphasize on academics without letting a child develop […]

Indian producers open to releasing Hindi films in Pakistan

MUMBAI: The Mumbai terror attack has had some serious repercussions not just on the political front but also on the entertainment front. Indian films were officially banned in Pakistan since the 1965 war between the two countries. However, movies like Awarapan, Bhoothnath, Race, Welcome, Taare Zameen Par, Singh Is Kinng, Kidnap, Golmaal Returns, Dostana and […]

National Award winning sound engineer H Sridhar passes away

MUMBAI: Indian film industry’s sound engineer Sridhar Hariharan passed away on Sunday night (30 November). Hariharan, who has won the National Award four times, died of a cardiac arrest. He has worked on the music score of Aamir Khan starrer Ghajini, which is slated for release later this month. Hariharan worked is close association with […]

Nominations announced for V Shantaram Awards 2008

Mumbai: The nominations for the V Shantaram Awards have been announced. These awards have been instituted by the V Shantaram Foundation in honor of the legendary Dr. V. Shantaram to award cinematic excellence. V Shantaram awards provide a national platform for films to compete on excellence transcending language barriers. They are judged by RACE – […]

Asia Pacific Screen Awards winners announced; India no show

Mumbai: Winners in the Asia Pacific Screen Awards were announced on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. More than 700 film industry luminaries from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and the United States attended the ceremony. Some of the Indian films that were competing at the awards were Aamir Khan’s directorial debut Taare Zameen Par and Ashutosh […]

Madhuri Dixit on Zoom’s Bollywood Biographies

Mumbai: Madhuri Dixit will be featured on Zoom’s new show Bollywood Biographies, to be aired on 17 October at 8.30 pm. Madhuri’s family and friends from the film industry will speak about the actress. In the forthcoming episodes, actors like Aamir Khan, Hrithik Roshan, and Rekha will be featured in the show.  

Tata Sky launches Personal Video Recorder facility

Mumbai: With the sky wars heating up as new entrants like Reliance ADAG’s BIG TV and Bharti’s Airtel Digital TV tuned into the airwaves, existing DTH players like Tata Sky and Dish TV are upping their ante. Tata Sky has launched Tata Sky+, a new-age service that uses Personal Video Recorder technology for the first […]

Kareena Kapoor charged up about Golmaal Returns!

Mumbai: Kareena Kapoor is surely going down the Aamir Khan route in ensuring that Golmaal Returns, her first release after Jab We Met, Tashan does not fall short of creating the magic it promises to create at the Diwali box office. According to industry sources, even while shooting for Kambakth Ishq in Venice with Akshay Kumar, […]

Radio Mirchi listeners get chance to learn filmmaking

Mumbai: Listeners of Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM on 14 July got an opportunity to flaunt their acting talent. Anupam Kher with RJ Anmol judged the participants on Radio Mirchi pe Crash Course in filmmaking. Commencing 23 June, the first ever on-air filmmaking crash course – Radio Mirchi pe Crash Course in filmmaking was a two-week […]

Manav Gohil debuts in Dharmesh Darshan’s Bhanvraa

Mumbai: Manav Gohil is all set to make his debut on the silver screen in Dharmesh Darshan’s Bhanvraa-The Love Bee Stings! This romantic thriller required someone who would portray the perfect metrosexual–sensitive, vulnerable yet physically strong and has a heart of gold. Says the director, "I wanted some fresh faces for Bhanvraa because I’ve worked […]

Radio Mirchi lines up new programmes

Mumbai: Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM gears up to enjoy the monsoon season with a line up of new programming and initiatives. Monsoon Mein Mumbai Kya Bolta Hai will see Bollywood stars like Aamir Khan, Imran Khan, Genelia D’Souza, Shammi Kapoor, Imran Hashmi, Shilpa Shetty etc share tit-bits on the season on-air. Listeners can visit a […]

MSN India rolls out Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na contest

Mumbai: MSN India portal www.msnindia.com is hosting the ‘When Did You Know It Was Love’, where fans can win Premiere passes, movie tickets for Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi; autographed posters; audio CDs; or a chance to meet Imran Khan. MSN India is the exclusive online partner for the Mansoor Khan and Aamir Khan Production and […]

‘Even if people watch Love Story 2050 first, they can watch Jaane Tu… later because it is going to be in theatres for a very long time’ – Abbas Tyrewala

Debutant director Abbas Tyrewala is sitting a week away from the release of his film Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na. He has been a dialogue and screenplay writer for various films in the past including Asoka, Maqbool, Munnabhai MBBS, Main Hoon Na, Salaam Namaste and Welcome. After writing for 12 consecutive years in some form […]

Music Review: Jaane Tu.. Ya Jaane Na

Film: Jaane tu…ya jaane na   Producer: Aamir Khan and Mansoor Khan   Director: Abbas Tyrewala   Music director: A.R.Rahman Rateing: 3/5 With Jaane Tu..ya jaane na, Rahman does his usual with making music sans noise. While the music is first rate, the lyrics are a wee bit disappointing, since lyrical magic seems missing. Kabhi […]

Adlabs Films inks deal for Ghajini remake

MUMBAI: Adlabs Film has bought the overseas distribution rights for the Hindi remake of Tamil film, Ghajini, being produced by Arvind Allu and actor Aamir Khan. The film is slated to release next year in April. Confirming the same to Adlabs COO – film distribution and marketing Sunir Kheterpal says, “The deal was signed some […]

Mukta Arts releases second Marathi film Kannde Pohe on 6 June

Mumbai: Mukta Arts is all set to release their second Marathi Film Kaande Pohe produced by Dipti Talpade under their new banner Malpix Films. The film’s first copy is already out. Earlier this year, Malpix Films bought the worldwide distribution rights of critically acclaimed and Box office hit Marathi film Valu – The Wild Bull […]

Radio Mirchi Mumbai completes six years

Mumbai: Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM’s Mumbai station has completed six years. The journey has included initiatives like a mega contest for children Destination NASA with actor Aamir Khan; Hello Mumbai initiative for victims of building collapse in Borivli; Vote for the Taj campaign; and the Mirchi Mumbai Watch Brigade. Radio Mirchi Mumbai station director Sriram Kilambi […]

Bollywood stars, NDTV join hands for ‘Save the Tiger’ campaign

MUMBAI: It’s not too late to save our national animal from extinction. NDTV and Sanctuary Asia Magazine have joined hands to launch a mass movement – Save the Tiger – to stop the alarming decline in the number of tigers in India. Through this initiative, NDTV is seeking to collect one million signatures to represent the […]

Zeenat, Raj Babbar back in Dil To Deewana Hai

MUMBAI: Veteran actors Zeenat Aman and Raj Babbar are back again, for the first time after Insaaf Ka Tarazu. They will be seen together in Dil to Deewana Hai, a DS Productions film being directed by Raja Bundela.   Speaking on her role, Aman said, "When Raja Bundela approached me for this role I just […]

Laqshya Media, Jodhaa Akbar ink OOH deal

MUMBAI: Jodhaa Akbar, the Ashutosh Gowariker produced epic film starring Aishwarya Rai and Hrithik Roshan, will be promoted across Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chandigarh, exclusively by Laqshya Media as its Out of Home partners. Says Laqshya Outdoors CEO Soumitra Bhattacharya, "We are very happy to partner with this magnum opus. It is a […]

Taare Zameen Par goes tax free in Haryana

MUMBAI: The Haryana government has exempted Aamir Khan’s directorial debut Taare Zameen Par from payment of entertainment tax for 12 weeks in the state. Excise and Taxation minister Birender Singh said that the film deals with a sensitive social problem about children, which requires urgent attention of the society. The movie stars Aamir along with […]

Darsheel nominated for Filmfare best actor

MUMBAI: After the child’s argument to be nominated for best actor instead of best child artist, Taare Zameen Par’s child actor Darsheel Safary has been nominated for category of best actor in a leading role (male) at the Filmfare Awards. Safary will be competing with the likes of Abhishek Bachchan (Guru), Akshay Kumar (Namastey London), […]

Taare Zameen Par applauded worldwide

MUMBAI: Aamir Khan’s directorial debut Taare Zameen Par, being distributed by UTV Motion Pictures in the overseas market, has recorded grand collections worldwide. TZP collected more than $ 1.45 million alone in the US and Middle East at the end of second weekend, giving the film a bigger opening than Chak De! India in the […]

Zee unveils progamming for New Year’s Eve

MUMBAI: New Year’s Eve special this year is scheduled for telecast from 7 pm on Sunday, 30 December. A musical comedy will be put up together by Aditya Narayan and Sunil Pal accompanied by singers including Daler Mehendi, Mika, Anand Raj Anand, Shweta Pandit, Anushka, Abhijeet, Sanchita, Twinkle, Bappi Lahiri, Vinod Rathore, Suresh Wadkar, Himani, […]

Welcome and TZP stream on Youtube.com

MUMBAI: Convergence of a platform for long been looked upon as a boon. However the team associated with Aamir Khan’s Taare Zameen Par (TZP) and the Akshay Kumar starrer Welcome would have a different take on it as the films are now available on Google’s video sharing website Youtube for free viewing. Both the films […]

India: Welcome overtakes Taare collections

(UPDATED: Wednesday, 26 December, 9.00 pm)   MUMBAI: The weekend collections in India of last week’s releases Welcome and Taare Zameen Par have been announced by the respective companies. Studio 18 distributed Welcome grossed Rs 390 million (Rs 39 crores) in the first five days, whereas Aamir Khan’s Taare Zameen Par has grossed Rs 110 million (Rs 11 crores) […]

Film Review: Taare Zameen Par

Film: Taare Zameen Par Producer: Aamir Khan Productions Presenter: PVR Pictures Director: Aamir Khan Cast: Aamir Khan, Darsheel, Tisca Chopra Rating: 8/10 Chicken soup for the soul of every parent, child and human who wishes to be one. Human that is. There are million reasons for the birth of a film. Money, fame, desire, madness, […]

PVR formulates strategic release for TZP

MUMBAI: PVR and Aamir Khan’s Taare Zameen Par will hit screens on 21 December. The film not only marks Khan’s directorial debut but also PVR’s launch as a co-producer of the film. PVR will distribute the movie all across India.  PVR is among the leading film exhibition chains of India and has many multiplexes and […]

Studio 18 eyes OSO revenue share for Welcome

MUMBAI: The year gone by has seen most number of companies up in arms against multiplexes over revenue sharing terms for some of their movies. Even as the year is coming to end this stalemate goes on. Now Welcome’s all India distributors Studio 18 and multiplexes are battling over the movie’s revenue sharing terms.The movie […]

T-Series bags Best music company award

MUMBAI: Music giant T-Series has bagged the 14th Lions Gold Awards 2007 as India‘s best Music Company Award this year.   Held in Vile Parle, Lions of SOL Mumbai felicitated T-Series at a function in an entertaining evening celebrating the achievers in various categories in entertainment.   T-Series won the Award for Lion’s Favorite India’s […]

UTV presents unprecedented winter line-up

PRESS RELEASE – Releases 5 blockbusters back to back in the span of 4 months– Releases include top-drawer talent such as Aamir Khan, Hrithik Roshan, John Abraham, Mahesh Babu & Aishwarya Rai! November 28, 2007: UTV Motion Pictures Plc’s (“UTVM” or the “Company”) boasts of the biggest release slate ever planned by an Indian studio, in […]

Music Review: Taare Zameen Par

Film: Taare Zameen Par   Director: Aamir Khan   Producer: Aamir Khan Productions   Presenter: PVR Pictures   Music Directors: Shankar, Ehasaan and Loy   Lyrics: Prasoon Joshi   Rating: 2.5/5   This one cannot be slotted as one of the best offerings from the musical trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. It certainly has an appeal, but poles […]

Studio 18 acquires Welcome from UTV

MUMBAI: It was only the beginning of the saga when in August this year UTV Motion Pictures acquired the worldwide rights (distribution, audio and home video) for Anees Bazmee directed Welcome from Firoz Nadiadwala. UTV acquired the rights for approximately Rs 47 crores (plus Rs 3 crores for prints). And this when the movie was […]

Lara Dutta launches her official website

MUMBAI: After actor Aamir Khan, now Lara Dutta has launched her official website. Dutta has had some big releases in the last one year like Bhagam Bhaag, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom and Partner. The actress recently launched her own official website – http://laraduttaonline.com in Paris. Dutta had visited Paris where she was invited to be a part […]

Cartoon Network Enterprises eyes Bollywood

MUMBAI: While Hollywood woke up to the film merchandising phenomenon long back, the mania hit Bollywood big time with the Hrithik Roshan starrer Krrish. Now with an aim to tap this avenue, Turner International’s licensing and merchandising arm Cartoon Network Enterprises and its kids’ channel Pogo have set their eyes on creating merchandise for two Hindi […]

PVR strengthens focus on its production venture

PRESS RELEASE PVR Ltd., through its 100% subsidiary PVR Pictures is strengthening its content creation space as a part of its backward integration in the filmed entertainment space. The company has teamed up with veteran director Rajkumar Santoshi for two-films and is planning to make a historic epic “Ashoka- The Great” with Ajay Devgan. The […]

‘In 3 years PVR Pictures will contribute 20% to the company’s revenues & profits’ – PVR Films Cell CEO Ashish Saksena

Since its inception in 1997, PVR’s multiplex business has been on an upswing. A decade later, in 2007, after having established 23 properties in various parts of India, PVR Cinemas is still flourishing.  Now for the company, its distribution arm, PVR Pictures (acquired by PVR Limited in 2005) will be the focus area. While currently […]

PVR inks Rs 60 crore film deal with Santoshi

MUMBAI: PVR, which started its film production plans with Aamir Khan, has now roped in director Rajkumar Santoshi for a deal under which the two will jointly produce movies.   Of the two movies, one will be Ashoka starring Ajay Devgan in the title role and an untitled movie starring Shahid Kapur and Katrina Kaif. […]

Star to end season with Best of Koffee

MUMBAI: The show not only had the who’s who of Bollywood spill the beans but also biggies from the corporate world, television industry and even Hollywood. Capturing some of the most fun behind-the-scene moments, Karan Johar will be taking Koffee With Karan viewers down memory lane with the Best of Koffee with Karan. The episode will […]

Drop in rates alters home video sale graph

MUMBAI: A massive plunge in prices of VCDs and DVDs, which began earlier this year with Moser Baer’s entry into the market has made an impact on the home video market – for content owners.   While initially the pricing of Rs 34 and Rs 49 for VCDs and DVDs respectively sounded alien and generated curiosity, […]

PVR gets aggressive on film distribution

MUMBAI: With Aamir Khan Productions and PVR Pictures’ two co-productions gearing up for a release within the next six months, the latter has now stepped up on the film distribution front. PVR has already acquired the theatrical distribution rights of Loins of Punjab Presents and Victoria No. 203. Apart from these two films, PVR already […]

For The Love of Acting: Tisca Chopra

GUEST COLUMN Television and film actor Tisca Chopra, who will soon be seen in the Aamir Khan Productions’ Taare Zameen Par, pens down her thoughts on acting… Anyone can act. Infact we all do…. with children, with our bosses and certainly with our husbands. But is it the same as acting for an audience or […]

Ishq to be screened on Zee Cinema

MUMBAI: Zee Cinema in its Double Maza slot will air Indrakumar’s Ishq, which stars Aamir Khan, Ajay Devgan, Kajol and Juhi Chawla. It will be telecast on 22 July at 4:30 pm. In order to prevent their children from marrying poor spouses, wealthy Ranjit Rai (Sadashiv Amrapurkar), and his close, equally wealthy, friend, Harbanslal (Dalip […]

Record sales for Lagaan DVDs; beats Sholay

MUMBAI: The Lagaan home video, which was released after six years of the movie being released theatrically, has created a record of sorts. The DVDs and VCDs, which were recently launched, have surpassed sales of 2.5 lakhs units (Lagaan and Chale Chalo combined); thus making it the highest selling DVD in India in terms of […]

Tisca Chopra awaits Taare Zameen Par release

MUMBAI: Tisca Chopra is on a high these days. After completing her act in Aamir Khan’s debut directorial venture Taare Zameen Par, which is scheduled to release in December this year, the actor is busy doing a show for Star News called Main Hoon Na and also planning her own production venture. Says she, "I’m […]

Ashoka Holla joins PVR Film Cell as COO

MUMBAI: In a bid to step up on international distribution of movies and the home entertainment space, PVR Cinemas has appointed ex-Studio 18 senior vice president international business Ashoka Holla as chief operating officer (COO) of its Film Cell division. The Film Cell houses the international distribution, home entertainment and content creation portfolios, which will […]

Excel Home Video releases Lagaan DVD

MUMBAI: Six years after its theatrical release, the DVD of Aamir Khan starrer Lagaan was released by Excel Home Video The DVD was launched by Aamir Khan for the first time in India. To mark the occasion and the sixth anniversary of the Oscar Nominated blockbuster, a limited special anniversary edition set was launched. The […]

Aditya Chopra to launch next venture

MUMBAI: Filmmaker Aaditya Chopra is set to launch his third directorial venture. Sources say that the subject of his next film is almost complete and plans are afoot to launch the film in September 2007. Hrithik Roshan and Aamir Khan have been almost finalised to play the two leads, it is learnt. The film will […]

Rang De Basanti bags top honours at IIFA

MUMBAI: UTV Motion Picures’ Rang De Basanti directed by Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra and starring Aamir Khan, Soha Ali Khan, Kunal Kapoor, Alice Patton, R Madhavan and Kirron Kher was the audiences’ and jury’s favorite film at the 8th Annual IDEA IIFA Awards at Yorkshire. Hrithik Roshan added another feather to his cap with the […]

Ashmit, Milind, Rahul in a patriotic film

MUMBAI: New filmmaker George Mathews, and the son of well-known South distributor popularly known as Mathews in the industry, forays into his first production with a patriotic subject. The film is titled as The Flag. George Mathews who is into shipping business says, “The Flag is a patriotic film and revolves around the Independence movement. […]

IIFA to include business, sports meets

MUMBAI: In a press conference held in Delhi IIFA Brand Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan announced that a lot of new features had been added to the IIFA weekend which will be held in Yorkshire from 7 to 10 June.    Apart from premieres of new films and the Business Forum meet which is now an inherent part […]

Bollywood Movie Awards nominees announced

MUMBAI: Rang De Basanti, Omkara, Lage Raho Munnabhai, Dhoom 2 and Kabhi Alvida Na Kehnaa lead  this year’s Bollywood Movie Award nominations, announced on 30 April 2007. Dhoom 2, Lage Raho Munnabhai, Omkara, Rang De Basanti, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehnaa have been nominated for the Best Film Award, while Rakesh Roshan (Krrish), Karan Johar (Kabhi […]

Baalath’s The Flag set for I-Day release

MUMBAI: Debutant director Sanjeev Baalath’s The Flag is being readied for an August 2007 release. The Flag is a period film based in 1941, in the Kantakpur village of Gujarat. Adds Balaath, “We recreated an entire village in Kantakpur, which is a few kilometers from Bhuj, where Aamir Khan’s Lagaan was shot. Like the Lagaan […]

International short film festival in Goa

MUMBAI: A festival of international short films, documentaries and animation movies is scheduled to be held in Goa this month. The five-day event will be held from 28 April and will be inaugurated by Bollywood actors Aamir Khan and Rahul Bose. Short-film maker Anand Patwardhan will be the guest of honour for the festival, which is being held […]

Film Review: Hattrick

Hattrick Film Review Banner: UTV Motion Pictures Producer: Ronnie Screwvala Director: Milan Luthria Cast: Nana Patekar, Paresh Rawal, Danny Denzongpa, Kunal Kapoor and Rimi Sen Rating: 1.5/5 Cricket and Bollywood are what drives the country and the recent marriage of these two passions delivered a Hattrick. However, one has seen better cricket themed films like […]

UTV to release Rang De Basanti in UK, USA

MUMBAI: UTV Motion Pictures will be releasing Rang De Basanti in the UK and US markets in a couple of months. The movie, directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra stars Aamir Khan, Soha Ali Khan, R Madhavan, Kunal Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman, Siddharth, Sharman Joshi, Alice Patten, Anupam Kher, Kiron Kher, Om Puri amongst others. The original […]