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Monday, May 11, 2009

Slumdog inspires more British films with Bollywood stars

Agencies / May 11, 2009

The runaway success of Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire, which swept the Oscars this year, has inspired several British film makers to go in for movies with Bollywood stars to attract the global audience. 

Many studios are now looking to replicate its success. One of the new films in production include 'Indian Summer', which is being filmed on location in the subcontinent. It tells the story of the last days of colonial rule and is directed by Joe Wright, who had a period-drama hit with Ian McEwan's 'Atonment'. "India is a fascinating, extraordinary place," Wright told ‘Variety’ magazine. "What's happening there is going to affect us more and more, whether in film industry terms or politically with what's happening in Pakistan." 

NRI filmmaker Gurinder Chadha, who directed the box office hit 'Bend It Like Beckham' in 2002, is currently making 'It's Wonderful Afterlife', a film set in London. It stars versatile Bollywood actress Shabana Azmi and is a comedy about a British Asian mother's attempts to marry off her daughter, which leads to a bout of serial killing. 'Blame it on the Bhangra' is another comedy about a British Asian girl trying to break into the macho world of bhangra dancing. It is being developed by Origin Pictures, which is run by former head of BBC films David Thompson. He is co-producing it with the ‘BBC’. 

"I think that a film like Slumdog... showed that people are more open to experiencing different cultures in cinema," Thompson told ‘The Independent’. "There's a whole different energy about India. It's upbeat rather than miserable, colourful and light, that is what people are looking for rather than British grey skies. What we're trying to do in 'Blame it...' is make a film that crosses over for the two cultures. "It's a dance comedy, done in a way to appeal to both audiences. The bhangra dancing will be a special kind, a synthesis of western dancing and Indian bhangra dancing, designed to work for both audiences," Thompson said. 

Not only British, even Bollywood has also woken up to the potential of the East-West mix. 'Kites', a high-budget Bollywood film shot in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and India will be screened at Cannes. It stars Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan and the Mexican model and actress Barbara Mori. It is described as an "action packed, international romantic thriller" and the dialogue is in English, Hindi and Spanish. 

'Rafta, Rafta' is another comedy set in an Indian community in the north of England, in which two newlyweds find it hard to consummate their marriage. Slumdog Millionaire, made for around 10 million pounds has so far grossed over 227 million pounds at the international box office. It also picked up eight Oscars, adding critical acclaim to its commercial success.

Source: http://www.screenindia.com

American Idol Finalists Return Home

The three play live for audiences at home…

MTV / 11 May, 2009

The finalists in American Idol 2009 have returned to their home towns to meet fans and sing live.

Adam Lambert, Kris Allen and Danny Gokey will compete to win the talent show as it reaches its climax on May 20. And to drum up support they’ve each hit different parts of the US with cameras in tow.
 
Danny Gokey was in Milwaukee on Friday where he performed at the gospel church where he is musical director. Between singing gospel he talked about the funeral of his wife last year which also took place at the church.
 
He said: "I couldn't even cry. ... I was so shocked… Me and my family, we didn't know how to say goodbye... It was the most tragic event I ever had to face in my life."
 
On the same day Adam Lambert was at his old high school in San Diego to sing two songs to adoring fans. He ran through his versions of Michael Jackson’s Black Or White and Tears For Fears’ hit Mad World.
 
Kris Allen played three free gigs near his hometown of Conway, Ark.- singing The Beatles classic Come Together and Aint No Sunshine.
 
At the biggest gig Allen played to 3,000 people at the Little Rock outdoor amphitheatre.

Source: http://www.mtv.co.uk

Michael Jackson’s London shows may not go on

By Herald wire services / May 12, 2009

Michael Jackson’s much-ballyhooed London shows may not go on, if lawyers for his family’s tour-in-the-making get their way. AllGood Entertainment - the company that is putting together a series of concerts with Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and their brothers - has fired off a cease-and-desist letter to the people organizing Jacko’s London concerts in July. Apparently, back in November, Whacko Jacko’s manager Frank Dileo signed a deal that promised Jackson would do the family tour. As part of the deal, the King of Pop was to refrain from any other concert deals for 18 months. Jackson’s attorneys claim that Michael never signed the family-tour agreement and his manager did so without his knowledge.

Source: http://news.bostonherald.com

Timberlake mocks relationship with Spears on TV show

Agencies / May 11, 2009

Pop star Justin Timberlake shocked his audience by giving a raunchy performance and mocking his former relationship with singer Britney Spears while hosting a TV show. 

The pop superstar made his third appearance on the Saturday Night Live (SNL) comedy show, and refused to hold back during a string of hilarious skits, ‘Contactmusic’ reported. 

In one he dressed as his immigrant ancestor and predicted the future for his great-great grandson (Timberlake) and sang, "He'll date a popular female singer (Spears). Publically they'll claim to be virgins, but privately - he hit it." Timberlake also teamed with SNL regular Andy Samberg to perform an unexpected song 'Motherlover' for the occasion of Mother's Day which did not quite go well with his fans.

Source: http://www.news.google.com

Oriental paintings at Zainul Gallery

Rahad Abir / May 11, 2009

A group painting exhibition, organised by the ‘Oriental Painting Study Group’ is being held at Zainul Gallery of the Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University. The exhibition, inaugurated by Professor Abdus Sattar, the head of Oriental Art department on May 8, will remain open from 11:00am to 8:00pm till May 15.

Twenty one members of the group have participated for the first time in the exhibition and are displaying 27 of their artworks. Among the participants, Malay Bala, a teacher of the Oriental Art department, is displaying the painting ‘Shakuntala-13’. The largest wash painting in the exhibition is based on the greatest Sanskrit poet Kalidas’ protagonist Shakuntala. The painting shows Shakuntala deeply involved with her companions in the forest.

Including eleven wash paintings there are also some artworks in watercolour, oil on canvas, miniature painting, calligraphy, charcoal, poster colour, pencil drawings and mixed media in the exhibition. Most of the paintings have women, plants, portraits, still life and moments of life as their themes.

Purnima Mondal presents an artwork titled ‘Indian Miniature’ and Asrafa Siddiqua has worked on calligraphy. Sinthia Arefin’s ‘Conversation’ on pencil drawing, Sumon Baidya’s ‘Tea Stall’ on watercolour and Khairunnesa Tushi’s ‘The story of shoe’ on mixed media draw the attention of the viewers.

Source: http://www.newagebd.com

Klum and Seal renew wedding vows

Agencies / May 11, 2009

Supermodel Heidi Klum and her singer husband Seal renewed their wedding vows in a retro themed ceremony at a beach house in Malibu. 

The celebrity couple who are celebrating their fourth wedding anniversary, have an annual ritual of renewing their wedding vows in Mexico where they had first wed, but they had to stick closer home this time because of the swine flu scare. However, Klum and Seal made most of the moment and threw a retro themed party which was attended by the couple's friends and family, reported People magazine online. 

Klum, who is pregnant with their third child, wore a white wedding dress and had her hair arranged in cornrows while Seal wore a mullet wig and a leather jacket with the American flag embossed on it. The preacher who presided the ceremony dressed like Elvis Presley. There were about 75 guests attending the ceremony, including the likes of Debra Messing and Matthew Perry, all of whom wore denim shorts with leopard print leather jackets. 

Family and friends cheered and toasted Heidi and Seal with Mexican beer and were treated to Mexican food while listening to 60's rock music. They then partied on the patio decorated with inflatable pink flamingos and leopard print balloons.

Source: http://www.news.google.com

Kate Winslet, DiCaprio donate $30K to last Titanic survivor

ANI / May 11, 2009

Actors Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio have together made a donation of 30,000 dollars to the last remaining survivor of the doomed ship Titanic. 

According to ‘Access Hollywood’, the two, along with ‘Titanic’ director James Cameron, handed over the cash to ensure that 98-year-old Millvina Dean can pay her nursing home fees. Dean was the ship’s youngest passenger at nine months old when the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank en-route to New York in 1912. She is the ship’s only living survivor. 

Photographer Don Mullan made an appeal to help raise money for Dean in the Sunday edition of the Irish Independent newspaper, and also reached out to Winslet, DiCaprio and Cameron in a bid to raise awareness. Mullan has already set up an exhibition to raise funds. 

“I figured that if the edition sold out, it would secure Millvina for a full year. My plan, however, was to double the impact and thereby secure her for two years,” ‘Contactmusic’ quoted him as telling the publication. “I decided, therefore, at the opening of the exhibition, to publicly challenge James Cameron, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, 20th Century Fox and Celine to match me dollar for dollar,” he added. 

According to reports, Mullan is still waiting to be contacted by Celine Dion, who won an Oscar for the movie's theme song My Heart Will Go On.

Source: http://www.screenindia.com

Jen doesn't believe in everlasting love

ANI / May 11, 2009

Jennifer Aniston says that people are ‘fooling themselves’ if they think love lasts forever. 

The former ‘Friends’ star, who has a string of failed relationships and a divorce behind her, insists that nothing in life stays forever. “That’s unrealistic or hoping for too much. I don’t think it’s worth all that pressure,” the ‘Daily Express’ quoted her as saying.

In the interview with ‘Cosmopolitan’ magazine, she said that communication is the most important factor in a relationship. “People often expect their partner to read their minds and when that doesn’t happen, they get pretty upset,” she said. 

“Then the other person gets even more upset and, at the end of the day, it’s all because they didn’t talk it over at the beginning,” she added.

Source: Google News.

Bob Marley: An Afro-centric, Rastafari superstar

Africa unite;
'Cause we're moving right out of Babylon,
And we're going to our Father's land.
How good and how pleasant it would be before God and man,
To see the unification of all Africans.
-- Bob Marley

Compiled By Cultural Crospondent / May 11, 2009

Consider the brilliant and evocative music Robert Bob Nesta Marley (1945-1981) gave the world; music that stretches back over nearly two decades and still remains relevant and universal. Marley has been hailed as "the first 'Third World' superstar," "Rasta Prophet," "visionary," "revolutionary artiste" and "Afrocentric." These accolades were not mere hyperbole.

During his over twenty years career, Marley's growing style encompassed every aspect in the rise of Jamaican music, from 'ska' to contemporary 'reggae.' The Wailers' signing to Island Records in 1972 was a revolutionary move for a reggae band. Their first album, "Catch a Fire" that year was the start of a long climb to international fame and recognition of Marley, which continued till "Uprising" (1980).

In between "Catch a Fire" and "Uprising," Marley and the Wailers released seven more studio albums -- "Burnin'," "Rasta Revolution," "Natty Dread," "Rastaman Vibration," "Exodus," "Kaya" and "Survival." Most of his songs from these albums encompass mainly three aspects-- Rastafari philosophy, songs for the oppressed and love songs. It's difficult to understand Marley's music appropriately without considering Rastafari -- a monotheistic religious movement that accepts the former emperor of Ethiopia Haile Selassie I (1892-1975) as the incarnation of God. It must be stated, however, that Rastafari is at the very core of Marley's music.

"Rastaman Vibration" (1976) was, for many, the clearest exposition of Marley's music and beliefs, including such tracks as "Crazy baldhead," "Johnny was," "Who the Cap Fit" and, perhaps most significantly of all, "War," the lyrics of which are derived from a speech made by emperor Haile Selassie before the United Nations General Assembly in 1963.

The lyric follows -- "Until the philosophy, which holds one race superior/And another inferior/Is finally and permanently/Discredited and abandoned/Everywhere is war -- Me say war." Marley referred Haile Selassie as “The Lion” in many of his songs. 

"Exodus" (1977) established Marley as an international superstar. The album includes songs like "Exodus," "Waiting in vain," "Jamming," "Natural mystic" and one of his best love songs "Turn your lights down low."

"Exodus" has been recognised by music critics and scholars as one of the greatest albums of all time. In 1998, TIME magazine named "Exodus" the best music album of the 20th century. Two events in 1978 were significant to Marley. In April that year he returned to Jamaica after two-year exile in UK to play the One Love Peace Concert. And at the end of the year he visited Africa for the first time, going to Ethiopia, spiritual home of the Rastafari.

Following year Survival was released. The album depicted Marley's Afro-centrism through songs like "Africa Unite," "Zimbabwe" and "Survival." In the song Africa Unite, Marley proclaims Pan-African solidarity. The album's cover-jacket significantly depicts 47 flags of 47 African nations. 

Marley again toured Africa in 1980 at the official initiation of the Government of Zimbabwe to play at that country's Independence Ceremony. It was one of the significant honours afforded the band, and one, which underlined Marley's importance in the Third World.

"Uprising" (1980) was Marley's final studio album, and is one of his most religious productions, including "Redemption song" and "Forever loving Jah." It was in "Redemption song" that Marley sang the famous lyric,

“Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery/None but ourselves can free our minds."

At the end of the European tour in 1980, the band went to America. Marley played two shows at Madison Square Garden but, immediately afterwards he became seriously ill. Cancer was diagnosed. Marley fought the disease for eight months. The battle, however, proved to be too much. He died in a Miami Hospital on May 11,1981. 

"Confrontation," the last studio album, was released posthumously in 1983.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net

Star Trek beams to top of chart

The new Star Trek film has rocketed to the top of the North American box office chart, early figures show.

BBC / May 11, 2oo9

Director JJ Abrams' prequel to the sci-fi franchise took an estimated $76.5m (£50.3m) in its opening weekend, easily beating its nearest rival. 

The figure far surpasses the opening totals of the previous 10 Trek films. 

Star Trek's impressive opening pushed previous chart-topper X-Men Origins: Wolverine down to second place, with takings of $27m (£17.7m). 

But the comic book hero movie still ranks as the biggest film opening so far this year, taking $85m (£56m) in its first weekend.

Star Trek, which stars newcomer Chris Pine in the lead role, reveals the back stories of Captain Kirk, Mr Spock and the rest of the crew of the USS Enterprise. 

Paramount Pictures had estimated that the movie would make about $50m (£33m) for the weekend, but hoped strong reviews would help carry it to a bigger opening. 

Vice chairman Rob Moore said he expected the movie, which had a $140m (£92.3m) budget, should gross over $200m (£132m) total this summer, even with competition like Terminator: Salvation and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince being released in cinemas soon. 

The rest of the films in the top five all shuffled down one place to make way for the sci-fi blockbuster. 

Romantic comedy Ghosts of Girlfriends Past was at three, with Beyonce thriller Obsessed at four and Zac Efron comedy 17 Again at five. 

The only other new nationwide release, comic crime tale Next Day Air, opened at number six with $4m (£2.6m).

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk

Jagoron celebrates Tagore

Cultural Correspondent / May 11, 2009

Cultural organisation 'Jagoron Shangskriti Chorcha O Gobeshona Kendra' (JSCGK) held a two-day special event titled “Kobi Pronaam” at the Department of Dance of Music, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), celebrating the148th birth anniversary of Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore, starting from May 8. 

The event featured solo and group rendition of songs, dance, recitation and more. An exhibition on Tagore's paintings was also held as part of the celebration. A total of 20 reproductions of Tagore's paintings were put on display. 

The two-day event featured performances by nearly 25 noted and emerging Tagore artistes. On May 8 the show started with a recitation of the Tagore poem, “Aji ei probhatey rabir kor” by Ahkamullah. A group performance of the Tagore number “Hey notun dekha dik aar baar” by Sur-er Dhara followed.

On the first day a total of 10 artistes -- Himadri Shekhor, Shoma Rani Roy, Mamun Zahid Khan, Chhaya Karmakar, Azizur Rahman Tuhin, Salma Akbar, Pijush Barua, Rezwana Chowdhury Bonnya, Mahiuzzaman Chowdhury and Papia Sarwar -- performed at the programme. Ahkamullah and Dalia Ahmed presented recitation. Lively dance performances by Nrityam added to the attraction.

On the second day solo performances were staged by Mita Haque, Sajed Akbar, Laisa Ahmed Lisa, Fahim Hossain Chowdhury, Sharful Alam, Farhin Khan, Swati Sarkar, Ashim Dutta and others. Group performances were staged by Surtirtha and Jagoron. Laila Afroz and Belayet Hossain presented recitations and dance performances were staged by Nritya Nandan.

This was the first programme by Jagoron. The organisation was founded on April 2008. The event was supported by Step Media Ltd.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net

Kutcher twitters during Obama dinner party

Agencies / May 11, 2009

Ashton Kutcher is one avid Twitter user as the actor connected with fans even while having dinner with US President Barack Obama, by making live updates on his web page. 

Kutcher helped his one million followers on social networking website Twitter.com rub shoulders with Hollywood A-listers such as Steven Spielberg, Glenn Close, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck as he posted notes and pictures online, ‘Contactmusic’ reported. 

"Off 2 the White house correspondents dinner. I'll shootnlive vid (show a video) if something exciting happens...," the actor wrote on his page before leaving. 

"I'm trying to figure out why anyone would let me sit this close to the president... Demi claims Obama gave her the 'what's up' smile. Meanwhile all I got was the 'who farted' squint," the actor joked on his page. The 'Just Married' actor also posted a photo of his wife Demi Moore flashing a smile for the camera as Obama stands in the background. 

And before heading home Kutcher summed up the evening by noting, "Overall a very interesting night. I think we made great headway on advancing the Human Trafficking issue and the Call to national service."

Source: http://www.news.google.com

Jennifer Aniston to act in an imitation of ‘Mr. And Mrs. Smith’

ANI / May 11, 2009

Hollywood actress Jennifer Aniston has left tongues wagging as she has signed on to star in a flick very similar to ‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith’, which resulted in the end of her marriage to Brad Pitt. 

The flick in question is ‘Bounty Hunter’ wherein Jennifer will be cast opposite Gerard Butler. The film will feature Jennifer as a journalist who is on the run from her hitman ex-husband, portrayed by Butler, after he's instructed to kill her. 

"She's a witness to a murder, and the bounty hunter - her ex-husband (Butler) - is given her as a hit,” ‘Contactmusic’ quoted Jennifer as saying. 

Pitt and his current lover Angelina Jolie played rival assassins in ‘Mr and Mrs Smith’.

Source: http://www.news.google.com

Celebrities for acid survivors

Purple and ASF to hold a fundraising exhibition

The Daily Star / May 11, 2009

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary (on May 12) of Acid Survivors' Foundation (ASF), the organisation is collaborating with Purple, a monthly English magazine, and holding a painting exhibition, says a press release. Proceeds from the exhibition, featuring artworks by celebrities, will go to ASF funds. 

Participating artists are acclaimed writer/director Humayun Ahmed, actress Bipasha Hayat, actor-admaker Afzal Hossain, singer-interior designer Nasim Ali Khan, ad executive Neville Ferdous and news presenter Mishu Rahman (also the editor of Purple). Though they have attained fame in different fields, these celebrities share a passion for the arts and for some of them, this is the first exhibition of their artworks.

The exhibition will be held at the Standard Chartered Bank, Gulshan Avenue, Dhaka, starting from March 17 to 22. Standard Chartered Bank is sponsoring the venue for the event. Participating celebrity artists will attend the inaugural on May 17. Artworks are priced between Tk 5,000 to 20,000. 

Purple editor Mishu Rahman said that Acid Survivors' Foundation is engaged in a mission that is necessary and has acquired acclaim internationally. Purple is eager to highlight the advancement of Bangladesh to the world and this exhibition would definitely generate positive energy among those who are fighting for this cause, and those who want to speak out against acid violence by helping ASF.

ASF has been working towards helping acid victims and generating awareness against the crime since 1999. The ultimate goal of the organisation is to eliminate acid violence from Bangladesh.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net

Chris Brown denies involvement in Rihanna’s nude photo leak

ANI / May 11, 2009

Popstar Chris Brown has poured cold water on reports claiming that he leaked Rihanna’s nude pics, insisting that he has nothing to do with it. 

After a set of nude photos allegedly featuring the Umbrella hitmaker leaked online, it was speculated that Brown was behind the leak. However, Brown has firmly declared that he has nothing to do with the incident. 

"This is both a false and defamatory statement. Chris has not released or ''leaked'' any photos of Rihanna (or anyone else for that matter),” the Daily Star quoted Brown’s representative as telling ‘Essence.com’. 

Meanwhile, Rihanna, who is devastated with the leak, has fled to Hawaii in a bid to avoid media frenzy.

Source: http://www.news.google.com

Painter Pranesh Mondol passes away

Cultural Correspondent / May 11, 2009

Painter Pranesh Mondol, a student of Government Art College (at present Faculty of Fine Arts), passed away on April 30 at Amri Hospital of West Bengal, India. He was 68. He was suffering from old age complications. 

Pranesh Mondol was born in 1941 in Bikrampur of Dhaka. He did his honours Dhaka Art College, in 1961. He obtained higher education in Graphic Design in 1980 from London. He was associated with Government Agriculture Department. During the Liberation War, he worked under Patua Quamrul Hassan at Government Information Department. 

Pranesh was associated with Dainik Ittefaque, Kochi O Kacha and monthly Begum. He did several portraits with line, illustration, oil and watercolour. He was also a designer of stamps. He was directly involved with left parties and played an important role in the politics of the 60s. His works were exhibited several times at home and abroad. He bagged a number of prestigious awards during his lifetime.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net

Bollywood veterans pay tribute to their mothers in video

Agencies / May 11, 2009

Bollywood's legendary actor Dilip Kumar, evergreen hero Dev Anand and Dharmendra will be seen paying tribute to their mothers in British-Pakistani singer's music video 'My Dearest Maa.' 

In Raja Kaasheff's video, which is due for release soon, these actors have spoken about their mothers. The video also feature Pran, Moin Akhtar and Nadeem Baig. 

"I have worked with Indian artists before but this video was different. I worked with Dev Anand on the score of his upcoming film 'Chargesheet' so it was cool with him. But I was completely in awe of Dilip Kumar sahib as well as Pran sahib and Dharmendra ji," Kaasheff told a magazine. 

"But they were so gracious and so helpful. In fact, it was Dilip Kumar who had a hand in convincing Moin Akhtar (Pakistani comedian) to do the video," he said. 

"It isn't that I didn't want to work with Pakistani artists but to be honest, I didn't get much attention from anyone around here. India was next door and it just worked out," the 30-year-old singer said. The album is not entirely about mothers but has other songs too. 

"It is called 'My Dearest Maa' because of the lead single but the album features collaborations with Adnan Sami Khan and Anuradha Paudwal."

Source: http://www.screenindia.com

Ben Affleck rows with wife Jennifer Garner over domestic chores

ANI / May 11, 2009

Ben Affleck has revealed that he fights with wife actress Jennifer Garner over the importance of domestic chores. 

The actor insists that he doesn't understand the necessity of some domestic tasks, but risks his wife's wrath by ignoring them, reports the ‘China Daily’. 

"I got into an argument with my wife about making the bed, my point being, why does a bed need to be made? It doesn't hurt anyone for your covers to just lie on your bed during the course of the day until you come back to it and get back in it. My wife was like, ''You must have a made bed.'' It's crazy," he said. 

However, the actor soon found himself obeying his wife's requests. 

"Needless to say I lost that fight. By the end of it, I was making the bed, ironing it down and telling my kids, ''This is how we make the bed in our house,'' " he added.

Source: http://www.news.google.com

Arnie to make digital cameo in new Terminator flick

ANI / May 11, 2009

Arnold Schwarzenegger has confirmed that he will be a part of the new Terminator movie. 

The action star-turned-California governor had sparked speculation that he would return to the franchise, when he was spotted on the set of Terminator Salvation, starring Christian Bale. The news scared California citizens as they thought the Austrian-born star was abandoning his political responsibilities to return to the big screen, reports ‘Contactmusic’. 

However, the hunky star has assured civilians his cameo appearance in director Joseph "MCG" MCGinty Nichol’s film has already been shot - producers plan to use footage from the original Terminator movie and splice it in. Schwarzenegger told Entertainment Weekly, "I made it very clear that I don't have the time to do the movie. 

“I said that I would be willing to be in the movie if they get the technology together, and so they are working on that right now. 

“They would basically take technology out of Terminator I, and use that walk of mine and somehow bring it in (to the new film). It's just a brief scene."

Source: http://www.news.google.com

Ashutosh Gowariker to direct Rs. 100 cr epic movie

Bollywood Hungama / May 11, 2009

Dr. B. K. Modi's Spice Group, a leading diversified business group with interests in Telecom, Media, Entertainment, Technology and Financial Services, has announced plans to invest Rs. 400 crores in the entertainment and media businesses. His new venture, Spice Enfotainment, has chalked out plans in film production, television production, broadcasting, music, gaming and Internet, while creating, owning content and distributing it over multiple platforms including digital and wireless. 

Modi has announced two film projects with leading film directors, Ashutosh Gowariker and Anees Bazmee. Ashutosh Gowariker will direct the Rs. 100 crore epic titled ‘Buddha’, whereas Anees Bazmee will direct a full-on commercial potboiler titled 'No Problem’ in association with Anil Kapoor Productions. 

Gowariker's film will be in English and has been written by Oscar winner David Ward. The movie will go on floors in May 2010 and completed by the end of the year. The pre-production work of finalising the locations, technicians and artists will begin this month. 

‘Buddha’ will be shot in the foothills of Himalayas. Gowariker will only be directing the movie and not co-producing it. About the star cast, Gowariker said, "There is a strong possibility that a foreign actor would play the role of Buddha. Nationality should not be a concern for this character, which is truly an international face. There will be many Indian actors also." 

Meanwhile, Anees Bazmee's ‘No Problem’ will be shot in Singapore, wherein the city-state's government will share the production cost.

Source: http://www.bollywood.com

Madonna sets trust for Mercy James

Agencies / May 11, 2009

As pop superstar Madonna's desperate attempts to adopt four-year-old Malawian girl seem to go in vain, the star has decided to set up a trust fund for a better upbringing of Mercy James. 

The 50-year-old star is working with her lawyers to set up a trust fund to pay for Mercy's schooling and travel even if the Malawian Supreme Court's awaited verdict goes against her, the British tabloid ‘News of the World’ reported. "Madonna loves Mercy. She wants to be part of her life and provide for her. She wants to make sure Mercy has everything she needs in life and her dreams are fulfilled," a source told the newspaper. 

The 'Material Girl' singer is reportedly making sure that the man claiming to be Mercy's gather, James Kambewa does not get his hands on the money. Madonna's adoption bid was turned down by a local malawian court last month on the grounds that prospective parents have to reside in the country for 18 to 24 months before the adoption takes place. 

The star went ahead and appealed the Supreme Court of the African country which is yet to give it's final verdict.

Source: http://www.news.google.com

European film festival draws crowd

Mohiuddin Alamgir / May 11, 2009

The ten-day European film festival, jointly organised by Alliance Française and Jahir Raihan Film Society is drawing crowds. The festival that began on May 6 will continue till May 15.

The organisers screened ‘Black Book’ (145 minutes, 2006) directed by Paul Verhoeven of Netherlands at 5:00pm and ‘A Talking Picture’ (96 minutes, 2003) directed by Manoel de Oliveira of Portugal at 7:30pm on Saturday. The story of the film ‘Black Book’ revolves around Eris, the central character who helps Jews and war fighters of the Southern Netherlands liberate the Nazi-occupied area during the Second World War.

 The film ‘A Talking Picture’ involves a Mediterranean cruise with mother Rosa Maria, who is a Professor of history of Lisbon University. She and her daughter Maria Joana are going to meet Maria’s father in Mumbai. They travel through the routes from France, Greece, and Turkey to Egypt. Whenever they stop, Rosa Maria enlightens her daughter about the history of the civilisations. In the film the director narrates the rise and fall of civilizations such as Egyptian, Roman, and Byzantine.

Today, the organisers will screen ‘The Sea Inside’ (125 minutes, 2004) directed by Alejandro Amenabar of Spain at 5:00pm and ‘The Novelist’ (107 minutes, 2008) directed by Hannu Kahakorpi of Finland at 7:15pm. On May 12, the organisers will screen ‘The Son’s Room’ (99 minutes, 2001) directed by Nanni Moretti of Italy at 5:00pm and ‘I Served the King of England’ (120 minutes, 2006) directed by Jiri Menzel of Czech Republic at 7:00pm.

 Oscar winning film ‘No Man’s Land’ (98 minutes, 2001) directed by Danis Tanovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina will be screened at 5:00pm and ‘The Trap’ (106 minutes, 2007) directed by Srdan Golubovic of Serbia at 7:00pm on May 13.

Source: http://www.newagebd.com

Carrie Prejean -- Who's the Boob Now?

By TMZ Staff / May 11, 2009

Those topless photos of Miss USA California Carrie Prejean were taken after she turned 18, according to one of her former pageant sponsors. This contradicts Carrie's position that she posed for the pics when she was only 17.

We obtained an email sent by the sponsor (we were asked not to use his name) and he says Carrie sent him one of the topless photos after January 6, 2009, asking "if she was in good enough shape for the Miss USA Pageant." The date is significant, because that's the day Carrie got a boob job. The former sponsor says the pic was post boob job and she was well over 18.

TMZ obtained 4 topless photos a week ago. Her rep contacted us and said Carrie's position was that she was naive at the time she posed. Then we got a second email stating she was only 17. As a result we did not publish the photos. But the sponsor says he's positive they were taken when Carrie was a full-grown adult.

Source: http://www.tmz.com

'The Amazing Race' Finale Recap: Skip to My Luau

By Josh Wolk / May 11, 2009

And so the fourteenth season of The Amazing Race ended justly: With Tammy and Victor victorious, and second-place Jaime standing at the mat berating herself…but only because there wasn’t a cabbie in sight to pin the rap on. 

Before I go further, I'd like to present a bit of a teaser: With the Race over, I'll be launching a new column on EW.com later this week that I'm very excited about. You want details, you say? Stick around until the end of the column, when all will be made clear. (But I will reveal this one hint now: It will not be a recurring photo gallery of all-time great nose flutists. The editors at EW.com rejected that one. They're such noseists.) 

Now back to the Race… 

Let's take stock of our final three. There was Tammy and Victor, who realized early on that they needed to break out of the bossy older sibling/kowtowing younger sibling roles that were causing such tension. And they found a simple solution: Simply pretend the problem was solved, allowing the bossy older brother to continue to be bossy while they both claim he is not. Next stop in the Race? Denialsburg. It's located right next to Shamestown. 

Then there were Margie and Luke. We were set up this season to think of them as inspiring, but then Luke became a bit of a dick. This certainly set up a moral quandary in choosing who to root for. It was like finding out that a post-cancer Lance Armstrong is the one who keeps shortsheeting your bed. And finally, we had Cara and her thoroughly unpleasant friend Jaime. As the finale started, Cara said that from the beginning, she's said, ''Don’t underestimate us.'' From the beginning Jaime, on the other hand, has been saying, ''SPEAK ENGLISH! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU IDIOTS?'' 

As the episode began, the Race finally exited China and made its way to the last stop: Hawaii, all the better to get the teams stripped down to their swimsuits! Aoooogah! But the Race is a bit like an old Bob Hope special: it tries to be naughty, but doesn't quite get what real naughtiness is. It's kind of cute in its naivete, actually, especially when compared to contemporary skankapaloozas like Rock of Love Bus. On the Race, producers think, ''We're in sunny climes, we've got a couple of cheerleaders, let's get these folks in some hot two-pieces! Yeah! And then…and then…and then we'll have them haul a dead pig around! Meeee-ow!'' Jeez, why not have them put on negligees and then embalm a corpse? While I'm sure that there is a small species of pork-carcass fetishists who dimmed the lights, lit some candles, and got out the lotion at the sight of these fine, fine ladies grimacing under the weight of a dead, fly-covered pig, the rest of us could have thought of far better ways to sex up the show.

Source: http://www.ew.com

Winehouse abandons comeback gig

BBC / May 11, 2009

Amy Winehouse was forced to abandon a concert at the St Lucia Jazz festival because of ‘technical difficulties’, a spokesman has said.

It was the first time in months the 25-year-old singer had performed in front of an audience. Her spokesman said: ‘Circumstances beyond anyone’s control meant that this special show did not go as planned.’

He blamed the bad weather and said Winehouse would like to “express her disappointment” that the gig ended. Despite that fans have criticised her performance. Local resident Ben said her singing was ‘painful’. He added: ‘What a wasted talent.’

At one stage Winehouse appeared to forget the words to a song and told the crowd, ‘Sorry, I’m bored’. In a statement, her spokesman said: ‘Amy would like to express her disappointment that weather forced the abandonment of her show at the St Lucia Jazz Festival last night.

Source: http://www.newagebd.com

Tobey Maguire & Wife Welcome Second Child

GETTY / May 10, 2009

Congratulations to Spider-Man star Tobey Maguire and wife Jennifer Maguire, who celebrated the birth of their second child on Friday.

A rep for the actor confirms that Jennifer, 31, gave birth to a boy and that the family is "happy and healthy." The pair, who married in 2007 after dating for four years, are already parents to two-year-old daughter, Ruby Sweetheart Maguire.

Source: http://www.okmagazine.com

"Crazy Aunt" Oprah Addresses Grads, Receives Honorary Degree

By Megan Masters / May 10, 2009

It pays to have friends in high places.

That's what the 2009 graduating class of Duke University must have been thinking when Oprah Winfrey arrived at the ceremony to give a commencement address, as well as collect an honorary doctorate degree.

One possible reason for her appearance? Oprah's godson, and BFF Gayle King's son, William Bumpus, was among the 4,440 Duke graduates. Not that he is quick to brag about his Winfrey connection. Joked the Harpo big-wig, "Will never wants people to know he knows me. I'm like his crazy aunt that they let out at commencements."

Funny business aside, Winfrey provided sage advice and encouragement to the grads. "One of the best ways to enhance your own life is to enhance somebody else's," she said. "Each of us has to stand in our own shoes. Will you stand in them in humility and compassion and courage? Every day will give you a chance to make that choice." Winfrey was even generous enough to share her secret of success. "How can I help somebody else move to higher ground? That is success. That's it."

Not to be outdone by the mogul, Jimmy Fallon and Dolly Parton were also honored with degrees this weekend. Nearly fifteen years after leaving college to pursue his comedy career, Fallon completed his final semester and earned his bachelor's degree in communications. Parton also collected an honorary doctorate of humane and musical letters. Teased the country music legend, "Just think, I am Dr. Dolly."

Source: http://www.eonline.com