Television News

Other shows have been aping Indian Idol: Anu Malik

Roses don’t always grow in the courtyard of kings, they can also grow in the backyard of beggars,” is music composer Anu Malik’s poetic line to describe the music reality show Indian Idol on Sony. The ever-changing show’s constant factor (Malik has been a judge on the show since the very beginning), he looks forward to a new season once again.


Not bothered by audience fatigue or TRPs, Malik says People have been asking me repeatedly about the next season. This is the one show that people associate with music completely. Other shows have been aping Indian Idol.


Malik says he returns to Indian Idol every season to get a chance to discover amazing talent. “In the last six years we have visited not just the metros, but the interiors of the country in search of talent. I have seen people from every strata of society trying to prove their talent. And I value people only for their talent,” he says.


This season, legendary singer Asha Bhosle is an addition to the show as the fourth judge. How will this help the show? Malik says, “That is the channel’s call and I didn’t even ask them. They can have 10 judges if they want. I am concerned about myself as people love to watch me on the show.


Even so, Malik says, “She will bring along her immense experience. Her brain is very sharp even at the age of 80. You can’t take away her body of work from her, and that will bring an edge to the show. Ashaji will enter the show during the gala round, but Sunidhi (Chauhan), Salim (Merchant) and I have gone through the tough process of auditioning people.”


Sony aired another singing based reality show, X Factor last year instead of Indian Idol. How does he compare the two formats? “I wouldn’t be able to compare X Factor and Indian Idol as I wasn’t a judge on the former,” says Malik. “But there will never be another show like Indian Idol as Indians connect with the struggle, pain and victory of a regular person on a show that allows them to choose the winner.”

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Movies News

My darkest character yet: Raveena Tandon

Raveena Tandon is set to seduce a much younger guy in Sudipto Chattopadhyay’s Shobhana 7 Nights. The actor who was last seen in Bbuddah... Hoga Terra Baap (2011) says, “This is my darkest character till date. In 1997, I was to play my first villainous role in Dus, but the film was shelved as

director Mukul Anand passed away mid-way.”

The actor, who is now married to producer Anil Thadani and has two kids, says she was initially apprehensive about taking up the negative part. She says, “Shobhana is conniving and manipulating. She has her reasons, but to constantly be in that dark state of mind for the role was emotionally draining for me. Sometimes after the shoot, I would come home and lock myself up alone to resist being mean to Anil.”

The film, she says, is bold and sensual. It’s a love story that unfolds over seven nights and exposes the dark underbelly of Mumbai. She says, “While there is no physical intimacy, the approach and dialogues in the scenes are bold. The theme is hard-hitting. While it is the story of a high society woman, it also talks about a lad from Haryana who has come to the city to make it big.”

Raveena’s character picks up this man and makes him her toyboy. Ask her if the role is inspired from a real-life columnist and she says, “There are inspirations from real life, but the film and character are not based on any one person. It talks about youngsters who come to Mumbai to make it big and what happens when reality hits them. Some end up being used by escort services. Girls hook up with rich guys and guys end up being toyboys as they look for easier ways to live in luxury.”

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LATEST HOLLYWOOD NEWS

War at the box office

Come June and Bollywood will be set for action. About 30 films will release in June, July and August. But at the same time, 15 big name Hollywood films will also release.

While it’s a given that Hindi films will always rule the box office, it’s also a fact that in the last 10 years, the market share of Hollywood movies in India has increased from two per cent to eight or nine per cent and is worth about Rs. 850-900 crore. Since Titanic (1997) became the first Hollywood film to have a wide release in India, other films have followed. Last year, The Adventures of Tintin released with more than 350 prints — a record for an animated film. And this year, The Avengers opened across India at around 800 screens in four languages.

And given that international studios often spend sums like Rs. 2-3 crore on publicity as against Rs. 30-50 lakh earlier, trade experts feel that overseas films can no longer be regarded as pushovers.

“Bollywood must accept the power of Hollywood films,” says film trade analyst Taran Adarsh. “Since they are dubbed in local languages too, they affect the revenues of Hindi films.”

On June 8, Shanghai will clash with Madagascar 3 and Prometheus at the box office. Later, Ferrari Ki Sawaari, Gangs of Wasseypur and Teri Meri Kahaani will release along with Benjamin Walker’s Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. In July, The Amazing Spiderman, featuring Irrfan as Dr Promestheus, will take on Rohit Shetty’s Bol Bachchan. And Ice Age 4 will open on July 13 together with Cocktail and Barfi!. In August, Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum, Ek Tha Tiger, Joker, and Raaz 3 face The Bourne Legacy, Total Recall, The Expendables 2, and The Pirates! Band of Misfits."

Hindi filmmakers are not worried. “Only a big franchise is competition,” says Tanuj Garg, CEO, Balaji Motion Pictures. “Films like James Bond and Harry Potter, for example, will have specific patronage in India. But every Hollywood film isn’t a matter of concern.”

Producer Goldie Behl, whose I, Me Aur Main will release on June 27, agrees. “Of course, films will be competing with each other in terms of revenues. But how big a competition will it be? Hollywood hasn’t been able to break into the mainstream.”

However, says Kercy Daruwala, managing director, Sony Pictures India, “Movies like The Hangover and The Ugly Truth were big hits. We have to accept that the audiences’ tastes are changing.”

Overseas films have picked up for various reasons, adds Daruwala. “Increasing numbers of multiplexes, additional screens and lower admission rates have contributed to Hollywood’s popularity,” he explains. And dubbing movies in local languages like Hindi, Tamil and Telugu adds to their popularity. Almost 40 per cent of a Hollywood film’s business comes from Hindi dubbed versions while around 30 per cent comes from the Tamil and Telugu versions.

Interestingly, July 20 will see the release of only The Dark Knight Rises, the final installment in the Batman trilogy, in 700 screens across the country. No Hindi film is releasing that weekend.
(All release dates are subject to change)

Money talks
Over the past few years, Hollywood films have made big bucks in India.
Avatar
Rs. 142 crore
2012
Rs. 90 crore
Mission Impossible: The Ghost Protocol
Rs. 40 crore
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Rs. 36 crore
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Rs. 34 crore
Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of Unicorn
Rs. 24 crore
Kung Fu Panda 2
Rs. 27 crore

Record breaking Hollywood films

The Avengers smash Tezz at the box office

This week, a Hollywood superhero sci-fi flick has streaked past a star-studded Bollywood biggie at the box-office. The Avengers netted in around Rs. 15 crore over the weekend in India, while the Anil Kapoor-Ajay Devgn Tezz managed only Rs. 11.25 crore says trade analyst Komal Nahta, adding, “Tezz is a non-starter and given that summer vacations are on and there’s no strong Bollywood release this week, The Avengers is likely to keep going strong.”

The Marvel Studios’ multi-star cast action adventure arrived on Indian shores with 800-plus screens, in 3D, IMAX 3D and 2D. Along with the English version, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu-dubbed versions are also packing in the crowds.

According to UTV Motion Pictures that’s distributing the film in India, The Avengers collected Rs. 4.01 crore on Friday, Rs. 4.67 crore on Saturday and Rs. 5.32 crore on Sunday. The studio claims that it is the third biggest Hollywood weekend after Avatar (2009) and Mission Impossible 1V: Ghost Protocol (2011).

“This is a case study of how Hollywood movies in India can be maximised using the same aggressive marketing and distribution strategies that we have adapted for big Hindi releases like Jodhaa Akbar (2008) and Rajneeti (2010) in the past,” says UTV CEO Siddharth Roy Kapoor.

Sunil Punjabi, CEO, Cinemax, says that The Avengers opened in 82 screens in his theatre chain and registered 90 per cent occupancy over the weekend. “Vicky Donor sustained its impact through the second weekend with 95% occupancy in 48 screens, but Tezz was sluggish with 20-30 percent occupancy in 45 screens,” he says, attributing the Bollywood biggie’s failure to the lack of content. “If it was just competition from the Hollywood film that killed Tezz then Vicky Donor should have dropped too but that was not the case.”

Tezz was reportedly made for Rs. 40 crore and may run into losses, even after selling its satellite and home video rights.

Figure this

MI4

Rs. 17.53 crore*

Avatar

Rs. 15.22 crore*

The Avengers

Rs. 14 crore*

2012

Rs. 13.78 crore*

Spiderman 3

Rs. 13.38 crore*

*First weekend collections for top five Hollywood films in India

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BOLLYWOOD KHAN NEWS

The return of Prem

The Prem of Maine Pyaar Kiya is back on silver screen. Well if all goes well, Salman Khan will soon be seen in director Sooraj Barjatya film, film tentatively titled Bade Bhaiyya.

The film will go on floors by early next year. Keeping with the Rajshri tradition, Salman plays a titular role and he will be named Prem.

As a source tells a tabloid, Salman will play the character of the elder brother that was traditionally done by Mohnish Behl in the films by the banner.

Now the main question is who will be the actress

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LATEST BOLLYWOOD NEWS

Saif, Kareena to wed on October 16

Sharmila Tagore has confirmed to Mid Day that her son Saif Ali Khan, 41, will tie the knot with Kareena Kapoor, 31, on October 16 this year. The veteran actress added that there will be a reception soon after, though not a lavish one. "Yes, that's the date we have decided upon. There will be a reception, too, but not a very big one," Sharmila Tagore told the tabloid.

Sharmila had earlier told Hindustan Times: "Saif's wedding will happen as soon as the weather improves (after the summer and monsoon)."

Sources suggest that Kareena would not take a break for honeymoon and would shoot for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's next.

The wedding, a low-key affair, would be held at the Pataudis' ancestral home. It will only be attended by immediate family members of the couple.

Kareena Kapoor will continue to work after marriage

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