My-Maharashtra Movies

Amitabh to make Marathi film

2008-06-22T22:39:00.001+05:30

Bollywood's megastar is all set to produce a Marathi film which is to be directed by Umesh Kulkarni. Umesh in the past has won credits for his recent Marathi award winning film, Valu.

Amitabh's home production A.B Corp will produce the film.

Though cast and other details are not yet known, sources indicate that the film is expected to start with its shooting by September this year.
--MP

One Two Three music launched in Mumbai

2008-02-27T11:19:00.001+05:30

The audio release of Bollywood film, One Two Three directed by Ashwani Dheer was launched recently in Mumbai.

The function was attended by top stars casted in the film including Suniel Shetty, Tusshar Kapoor, Upen Patel, Sameera Reddy and Tanisha Mukherjee. Raghav Sachar who scores the music for the film was another attraction of the event.

He who handles a variety of instruments including saxophone, flute, harmonica, keyboards did a mighty performance at the show which enthralled the audience.

--MP

Minor blast in theater at Jodhaa Akbar screening

2008-02-21T10:11:00.001+05:30

A bag containing explosives kept under a seat in a theater near Mumbai exploded during the screening of the controversial film, Jodhaa Akbar.

However it was a minor for the damage caused to the seat, no one is reported to be injured in the incident. The incident took place during the mid interval of the film while being screened at a theater in Panvel town on Wednesday evening.

"It wasn't a loud explosion, which was why there was no commotion in the hall," said a senior police official. Police believe it could be the act of someone who is against the film.

--MP

Sanjay Dutt marries Mannyata

2008-02-11T20:54:00.001+05:30

After long speculations its finally made official.

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt had married his girlfriend Manyata in Mumbai today. Though there were news that the couple a secret legal marriage last week, today's function marked a wedding as per the hindu religious culture.

The simple marriage was a low key affair and was held at Manyata's house in Versova. The ceremony was attended by close family members and friends.

--MP

Pakistan may allow regular screening of Bollywood movies soon

2008-01-30T19:25:00.001+05:30

London, Jan.30 (ANI): A Parliamentary Committee on Culture in Pakistan is seriously considering lifting the ban on Bollywood movies, given that they are hugely popular with people in Pakistan.

According to a BBC report, Pakistani cinema goers may soon get to watch their favourite Bollywood films if the government clears a proposal by its MPs to remove a ban on them.

Officially Indian films are banned in Pakistan, a prohibition dating back to the 1965 war between the two countries.

Since 1965, only three Bollywood films -- Mughal-e-Azam, the 1960 classic starring Dilip Kumar and Madhubala; Taj Mahal, a 2005 film, starring Pakistani actress Sonia Jehan; and the 1984 film Sohni Mahiwal.
Cinema owners in Pakistan are keen to screen Bollywood films, but local filmmakers fear an influx would harm the Pakistani film industry.

"We have devised a mechanism for allowing the import of Indian films for a period of one year, after which the arrangements can be reviewed," Senator Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry, who headed of the parliamentary committee, was quoted as saying.

He, however, said the government would have to clear the proposal to allow the import and release of Indian films.

Though details are unclear, reports suggest that the import of a dozen Indian films will be allowed against the export of an equal number of Pakistani films to India. It is not clear also whether the Indian government would agree to such a proposal.

India's Hindi-language film industry, which includes Bombay's Bollywood movies, is the world's largest by viewership.
--MP

Amitabh Bachchan, Bal Thackeray launch Aditya Thackeray's debut music album

2008-01-19T15:19:00.001+05:30

Mumbai, Jan 19 (ANI): Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan along with
Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray have released the debut music album 'UMMEED' of Thackeray's grandson Aditya here.

Aditya, who is studying in class twelve, started writing poems initially at the age of fourteen on his grandfather.

While releasing the album last evening, Amitabh Bachchan, had all praise for Aditya.

"All I want to say is that I feel very proud to be a part of the event where the cassette of such a talented person is released and that too at such a young age," he said.

Aditya on other had seemed very excited at his first launch.

"This album is the collection of eight of my poems which have been transformed into songs now. It has come out in front of you now," said Aditya.

Aditya's younger brother Tejas has also contributed to the album.

The album features noted singers like Suresh Wadkar, Devki Pandit, Shankar Mahadevan, Kailash Kher, Sunidhi Chauhaan, Kunal Ganjawala, Jolly Mukharjee, Vaishali Samant and Swapnil Bandodkar. (ANI)
--MP

Mumbai New Year mob molestation case: Photojournalists identify 14 accused

2008-01-05T19:38:00.001+05:30

Mumbai, Jan 5 (ANI): The two photojournalists of the Hindustan Times, who had taken photographs of the incident of the Juhu mob molestation incident that took place on New Year eve, identified 14 people accused of being involved in the incident during an identification parade, which was held at the premises of the Arthur Road Jail on Saturday.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Amarjeet Singh, who had reached the spot when a mob of 70 to 80 men molested two ladies after they came out of J W Marriot hotel on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1, also identified the accused.

The 14 accused in the case, filed by Mumbai Police after the photographs generated a public outcry, have been charged with outraging modesty of women and unlawful assembly, and could face imprisonment up to a year.

Earlier in the day, Singh's driver and a constable accompanying him recorded their statements before a Special Executive Magistrate.

The case made a first breakthrough when two of the accused - Ravi Shukla and Nilesh - surrendered at the Juhu Police Station, which later led to a chain of arrests in the city.

"The photos confirm the presence of four of the men who have been arrested. Others who have been detained have confessed to being a part of the mob, but say that they did not molest the women. These men have been charged with unlawful assembly," said Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), K L Prasad.

He also informed about more impending arrests as there were two to three different groups of men who molested the women.

The 14 youths who were arrested on Thursday night were granted bail by a local court at Andheri on Friday.

However, since they couldn't furnish a surety and a personal bond of Rs 10,000, they were lodged at Arthur Road jail.

Terming the incident as a "sensitive'' case, Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil on Friday said that his government would seek setting up of a fast-track court for a speedy trial.

Meanwhile, the two prime accused in the case are still absconding. (ANI)

Reality show 'Nach Baliye' ends on a controversial note

2007-12-24T09:00:00.001+05:30

Mumbai, Dec 23 (ANI): Dance-based reality show 'Nach Baliye' ended on a controversial note in Mumbai, as family and friends of the loser pair cried foul play.

The runner-up paid of item girl Rakhi Sawant and Abhishek Awasthy walked out. The controversy centred round the rules which depended on fans' votes which could be mobilised.

Months of hard practice finally paid off as actors Aamir Ali and Sanjeeda Sheikh were declared as the winners of 'Nach Baliye-3'.

In a neck-to-neck battle, Aamir and Sanjeeda danced their way to victory outshining the pair of Rakhi and her beau Abhishek.

Aamir said: "I wasn't going to participate in Nach Baliye as I am not a dancer and Nach Baliye is a dance competition. Reaching this place from scratch is like a dream come true. I always told Sanjeeda that if she gets a good partner she will win Nach Baliye for sure."

Aamir-Sanjeeda have been extremely popular and it was their fans' votes that helped the couple clinch the title.

Hari Awasthy, elder brother of Abhishek Awasthy, said: "It is a game in which one losses and one wins. Amir Ali and Sanjeeda have won this contest as their performance has been appreciated and whole country has voted for them."

Bollywood hunk Salman Khan declared the winners. The judges included choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant, Director David Dhawan and actress Isha Koppikar.

The winning pair of Aamir and Sanjeeda walked away with the grand prize of Rs 20 lakh and a car autographed by all the pairs and celebrity guests on the show. (ANI)
--MP

Amitabh Bachchan's mother passes away

2007-12-22T10:39:00.001+05:30

Mumbai, Dec 21 (ANI): Teji Bachchan, the mother of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan passed away on Friday. She was 93.

Teji breathed her last at the Lilavati Hospital here where she was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Suffering from various ailments, Teji had been in hospital for nearly a year now.

Teji Bachchan was the second wife of well-known poet Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan.

In fact, when his first wife Shyama died in 1936, it sent him into a creative stupor for over a year. He was released from personal grief only after his marriage to Teji in 1942.

Dr. Bachchan and Teji won wide acclaim during their younger days as a singing duo at literary meets. (ANI)
--MP

Vani Tripathi has done it again!

2007-11-01T20:54:00.001+05:30

She is at it again. The relentless activist-actor Vani Tripathi has done it again. She is now making a film on one of the most gruesome truths facing the country  i.e. "Farmer Suicides".

Speaking passionately about it as she always does about most things, Vani says that the farmer suicide situation is a "BURDEN ON HER SOUL". Speaking on the topic at length she said I have been going to Maharashtra and its interior belts for number of years by now. I have seen the heart rending conditions that the farmers are facing and the incompetence of the present govt. Which has not been able to do anything about it.

More than a lakh of farmers have committed suicide in the past one year itself only in Maharashtra so you can well imagine what the condition would be all over the country.

Vani says she has nightmares about the farmer suicide situation and says that it is giving her sleepless nights. The entire shooting will happen in the interiors of the state and will be there for a month both in the vidarbha and the marathwada region of Maharashtra. Vani says its right time "The truth needs to be told ". And she has decided to take up this very strongly.

Her work with the Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha is also in focus as she's addressing "Woman Issues" very convincingly all across the country.

She says being a young national secretary of the youth wing of the party is a huge responsibility and she wants to do more advocacy for the issues relating to young women all across the country.

Talking about her acting work, she said more wants to be on a path which she connects to and also talk about the those truths also which we ignore. "My work has to reflect my ideas".

On being asked how she feels about being on aggressive speaker and a "star campaigner" for the BJP She says over "she feels passionate about the political path that she's on". She rejects the word "Star" and says we are all "Karyakartas" of the party and we have to do so much more as every activity has social accountability and she is very aware about it.

Way to go Girl! Hail Girl Power!

Rama Naidu produces Marathi film

2007-10-30T21:27:00.001+05:30

Dr D Rama Naidu is a very popular name for the last four decades when it comes to Telugu films. When he tried his hand at Hindi films too, he was successful. Now the producer has ventured in the making of Marathi films. Suresh Productions’ maiden Marathi venture Majhi Aai is being directed by Kanchan Nayak. Starring Renuka Daftardar, Subhodh Bhave, Ramesh Bhatkar, Smita Jaykar, Nagesh Bhosale, it has screenplay and dialogue by Shrikant Bojewar., lyrics by Jagdish Khebudkar and music by Acchyut Thakur. Some of Dr D Rama Naidu’s Hindi films are Premnagar, Dildaar, Tohfa, Jeevan Ek Sangharsh, Prem Qaidi, Anari, Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain with about 74 films in Telugu. He even has a record of making family-oriented films in Bengali, Tamil, Kannada, Orissa, English and other languages. And now Majhi Aai is the 125th film from his banner.

Zhakmarlee Bayakokelee

2007-10-30T21:26:00.002+05:30

Bollywood actress Bhagyashri Patwardhan makes her debut in a Marathi film 'Zhakmarlee Bayakokelee', whose 'mahurat' took place at city's Shalini studio. Actress Bhagyashri started her film career with a Hindi film ''Maine Pyar Kiya'' that was a big hit. In this Hindi film she got the voice of melody queen Lata Mangeshkar as her play-back singer and the music was composed by music director Ram Laxman. Again after a gap of 14 years, this trio will be seen in a Marathi film, producer Nandkumar Vichare and director Bhaskar Jadhav. Apart from Lata Mangeshkar, the other play-back singers are Suresh Wadkar, Sadhana Sargam and Vaishali Sawan. Popular Marathi film actor Bharat Jadhav will be playing the lead role, while character actors like Mohan Joshi, Vijay Gokhale, Vijay Patkar, Pramod Shinde, Nilam Shirke are also in the film.

Zee Marathi signs on 'Sa Re Ga Ma..' winner Prasad Oak

2007-10-30T21:26:00.001+05:30

Zee Marathi, the Marathi entertainment channel from the Zee stable, has inked a two year exclusive contract with actor Prasad Oak. With this agreement, Prasad Oak will only be featured in progammes on Zee Marathi. He will, however, be allowed to perform in Hindi or Marathi theatre and films. Prasad Oak was the winner of the Marathi version Sa Re Ga Ma Pa that culminated in June this year. He currently stars in daily show Avghachi Sansaar that airs at 7.30 pm from Monday to Saturday on the channel.

Euphoria performs in Nagpur

2007-10-30T21:25:00.002+05:30

Saturday night Nagpur rocked as the Euphoria band gave an electrifying performance before an excited young crowd. After all it was none other than Dr Palash Sen who was performing that night, and giving th city a feel of good music. The singer's frequent interaction with his fans, urging them to sing and dance along earned him applause and a personal rapport soon formed between them. As if this was not enough, Palash instructed all lights to be put off and urged the crowd to switch on their mobile lights and sway up and high, turning the entire venue into a sea of mobile lights twinkling like stars in the sky.

Euphoria performs in Nagpur

2007-10-30T21:25:00.001+05:30