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Monday, May 28, 2012

Rajini watches Vazhakku Enn 18/9

Cinemimi [Monday, May 28, 2012]
On Saturday evening, Superstar Rajinikanth was busy catching Balaji Sakthivel's film Vazhakku Enn 18/9 at a preview theatre. Apparently, he was extremely impressed with the film and was all praise for the team.

Rajini is said to have been blown away by the performances of the first-time actors. The cast was eagerly waiting to meet the Superstar post the film.

Muthuraman, who plays the role of the supposedly honest cop, was one who especially caught his eye. After the show, he apparently asked him if it was his first film. When the actor said yes, Rajini, it seems, asked him for his blessings and said he had so much to learn from him! The stunned actor was at a loss of words.

Later, the Superstar called director-producer Lingusamy and said this movie was a bold effort and is a masterpiece in Tamil cinema. Meanwhile, Kamal Haasan too is expected to catch Vazhakku Enn... over the next few days.

Kamal says OK OK
Kamal Haasan watched Oru Kal Oru Kannadi recently in a preview hall in the city, where director Rajesh was also present. A source tells us that the Ulaganayagan enjoyed himself and complimented the team. It seems he said that the verdict already has been given by the public, who have made the film such a big success.

Next change?

Cinemimi [Monday, May 28, 2012]
Despite the Capital's cosmopolitan character, there is little space for regional cinema here

PVR Saket, Vicky Donor, 12:35 p.m; Shipra Mall, Department, 10 a.m.; MovieTime, Avengers, 5:05 p.m.

Not finding a regional name in the movie list of popular Delhi multiplexes? It is not surprising. Though Delhi is considered a melting pot of cultures, its cosmopolitan character rarely translates to the kind of movies it has to offer to its inhabitants.

People from different regions of the country reside here, making it a much sought after place to live in. If Chittaranjan Park has Bengalis living in huge numbers, R.K. Puram is a hub of Tamils. Similarly Katwaria Sarai constitutes people from Odisha, and North-West Delhi is famous for its Punjabi population. Movies representing these communities, though, are hardly played by the multiplexes of the city.

Sumit Seth, Marketing Manager, MovieTime, Pitampura, defends, “We run multiplexes to make money. Contrary to popular belief, we don't earn our profit from the tickets. Popcorns, soft drinks and other eatables help us make money. So, obviously, even if we have more than six screens, we would show only those movies that are crowd-pullers. Why would we risk our revenue for a regional flick that has limited viewership?”

The profit from a multiplex ticket costing Rs.100, for instance, is shared by film distributors, multiplex owners and film producers. Twenty per cent of the sum goes into entertainment tax. The remaining amount is shared equally among the film distributors and theatre owners.

Keeping aside the financial aspect, don't the film distributors hold the responsibility of encouraging regional cinema in a metropolitan city? Amar Nath Bhatia, a film distributor, responds, “Money is the biggest catalyst in the entire scheme of things. We are not averse to the idea of promoting regional films. But we need to accept that such films work only in certain pockets of the city.”

Among the regional lot, Punjabi films have fared relatively well in the Capital. But it is just the tip of the iceberg, says popular Bollywood and now Punjabi actor Jimmy Shergil. “The northern belt of Delhi-NCR, UP, Bihar and Haryana is an important territory for our films but still only two to three film prints are sold in the area. The fault lies with the actors too. Regional film personalities should promote their films in Delhi as well. These films generally work by word of mouth and when people start taking notice, they are ready to be pulled down.”

In the horde of things, there are a few forces constantly working to take regional cinema to the people. Delhi Tamil Sangam at R.K. Puram organises free movie screenings every month for members as well as non-members. R. Mukundan, Secretary of the organisation, chirps, “We receive hundreds of calls everyday, mostly from Tamils requesting a movie screening. Our initiative is to help the community stay rooted to their culture and cinema even if they are kilometres away from their native place.”

Parveen Vohra of Hans Cinema mentioned that regional audience won't shell out Rs.100 to 250 to watch their films. They would go for other alternatives like CDs, online and even television. Keeping in mind that the area is favoured by Bihari immigrants, Hans often plays Bhojpuri films, brining up a rare instance in the city dominated by Hindi and Hollywood flicks.

North East Haat is another organisation that is taking small steps to bring North Eastern films closer to the Capital. Its Secretary, Rosy Nieithem expressed, “As far as the promotion of our films is concerned, nothing official has been done by the Delhi government. We organised the North East Film Festival on the JNU campus in 2010 but due to lack of funds we fail to take up such initiatives on a regular basis.”

Regional films famous for their content and script are bringing in the factor of presentation and style as well of late. Punjabi films are setting cash registers ringing even in non-Punjabi areas. Other language films like Bengali, Malayalam and Marathi cinema are also taking a different route to reach a wider audience. But, sadly, movie lovers of the city get very few opportunities to watch different kind of cinema.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Petrol hike perturbs B-Town!

amitabhbachchanCinemimi [Saturday, May 26, 2012]
The steep rise in petrol price has left Bollywood celebrities like Gul Panag and Divya Dutta concerned about the plight of the country's common man, while megastar Amitabh Bachchan and actor Ronit Roy have mocked at the issue through jokes. Petrol in Delhi will cost Rs.73.18 a litre, in
Mumbai Rs.78.57 a litre, in Kolkata Rs.77.88 and in Chennai Rs.77.53 per litre. The celebrities took to Twitter to share their views on the Rs.7.5 price hike in fuel.

Here's what they had to say:

Amitabh Bachchan: Petrol up Rs.7.5: Pump attendant - 'Kitne ka daloon ?'! Mumbaikar - '2-4 rupye ka car ke upar spray kar de bhai, jalana hai!!

Boman Irani: Another petrol price hike!!! Thankfully the ticket prices of Ferrari Ki Sawaari will still cost the same.

Gul Panag: Petrol becomes more expensive, again. May be its time to improve public transportation and seriously develop alternate sources of energy.

Ashish Chowdhry: Just by the way, disgusted with the centre for hiking petrol prices the way they have leaving aside options which would hurt the 'aam aadmi' less. A numb move! Increase taxes on gold and silver, look into tax exemptions, focus on loose subsidies, build industry; huge options. Why hurt common people so bad?

Divya Dutta: Every one seems to be filling petrol! Rs.7.50 hike?? Can we all get back to bicycles please? It's getting worse!

Kunal Kapoor: Petrol is up to 78 rs per litre! Forget cars, banks need to come up with EMI schemes for petrol as well now!

Kabir Bedi: Oil Cos have losses of 145,000 Crore in last 4 years. Petrol price rise unavoidable UNLESS Govt reduces taxes. WILL THEY?

Low profile was not intentional: Sonakshi

Sonakshi Sinha hot pictureCinemimi [Saturday, May 26, 2012]
Post the success of Dabangg, Sonakshi Sinha stayed away from media glare, but the actor says “it wasn’t intentional.” She was working non-stop all that time.

“I’ve no complaints that I wasn’t seen on- screen for one-and-half years as I was busy shooting for all the films I signed, doing
advertisements and shows. Workwise it has been a good time for me,” says Sonakshi, whose second film, Rowdy Rathore, is releasing on June 1. The film, directed by Prabhu Deva, will see her romancing actor Akshay Kumar.

Sonakshi, 24, has five other major films in her kitty right now. “I am doing Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai 2, Joker, Dabangg 2, Son Of Sardar and Lootera,” says the actor.

Salman Khan to attend IIFA

Salman KhanCinemimi [Saturday, May 26, 2012]
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan will reportedly add to the glamour at the upcoming 13th International Indian Film Academy awards. Contrary to reports that none of the Khans are going to attend the IIFA this year, the Bodyguard star will be in Singapore for the Bollywood extravaganza,
sources close to the award ceremony said.

Salman will be returning to IIFA after two years as he did not attend last year's awards. Parties thrown by the actor at the IIFA are very popular.

It is not clear yet whether Salman will be performing at the awards gala night where Wanted director Prabhu Deva will be choreographing the performances by various actors.

The IIFA weekend is being held from June 7-9 in Lion City Singapore.

So Long 'Avengers': 'Men in Black 3' Ready to Take Number One

Cinemimi [Saturday, May 26, 2012]
Anyone ever heard of Star Wars, the movie that made $461 million here in the USA? Oh yeah, Marvel's The Avengers (read review) topped it. On Monday.

The ultimate superhero team-up continues to set records as it gathers up dollars in its race to the number one movie of all time — but this weekend, another competitor may finally take down the box office juggernaut. Men in Black 3, mega star Will Smith's return to the big screen (his last film was 2008's little-seen Seven Pounds), hits theaters theaters this weekend and is expected to trounce Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and the rest of the gang in the North American market. Fourteen years after the 1997 original and a decade since the second, but the Men in Black is already a billion dollar worldwide franchise. Hollywood.com Box Office Analyst Paul Dergarabedian predicts the third installment, which reunites Smith with Tommy Lee Jones, while adding Josh Brolin into the mix, will take home around $80 million over the Memorial Day weekend, stealing coveted 3D and IMAX screeners from The Avengers.

But don't feel bad for the superheroic squad. The Avengers will hang on strong in spot number two, with a fourth weekend gross in the $40 million range. Speaking of Star Wars, Avengers passed the fourth highest grossing film of all-time domestically, Star Wars: Episode One – The Phantom Menace on Thursday after just 21 days of release. Dergarabedian also suggests that the movie will hit the half a billion mark by Sunday, after 24 days of release — a new box office speed record.

The presence of Men in Black 3 and The Avengers doesn't leave too much room for the other mega-budget blockbuster floating around the month of May, but Battleship (read review) should still manage a total in the high teens by the end of the long weekend. The movie should continue to add dollars in both domestic and international territories, avoiding the steamroller that is Mr. Smith.

Round out the top five is Sacha Baron Cohen's comedy The Dictator (read review), which should command a total in the low teens and round out its total in the $40 million range, and newcomer Chernobyl Diaries, the latest from Paranormal Activity mastermind Oren Peli. In the vein of the supernatural series, Chernobyl Diaries takes the horror story to Ukraine with an unknown cast and low-budget production values. The movie should scare up around $10 million for a fifth place finish.

What movie will you see this holiday weekend?

[UPDATE: Men in Black 3 took Friday's box office, bringing in $18.0 million for the no. 1 spot. The Avengers came in second with $9.7 and new entry Chernobyl Diaries rounded out the top three on Friday with $3.5 million.]

Hollywood Docket: 'Call of Duty' Trial; 'SYTYCD' Star Vs. Manager; Art Law Overturned

Cinemimi [Saturday, May 26, 2012]
A roundup of the week's news in entertainment law.

Dish Network's big-money litigation with the major TV networks over its new AutoHop commercial-skipper dominated the legal headlines this week, but there were a few other stories worth noting...
The billion-dollar legal dispute between Activision Blizzard and the creators of the mega-selling Call of Duty video game franchise is finally heading to trial. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Elihu Berle has set June 1 for the start of a 22-day trial to determine whether a three-page agreement Activision signed in 2008 with game developers Jason West and Vincent Zampella, the former heads of the studio that developed Call of Duty, entitles them and other developers to hundreds of millions of dollars in royalties (West and Zampella were fired in 2010). The courtroom proceedings will coincide with the annual E3 video game convention down the street at the LA Convention Center. Perhaps a few game designers will stop by the courthouse to check out the legal gamemanship.

Music lawyers are calling these "Eminem cases": Doobie Brothers singer Michael McDonald has become the latest music figure to sue his label in the wake of the rapper's former production company winning an appeals court ruling against the record company practice of paying artists small royalties for downloads instead of a 50 percent licensing fee. Repped by litigator Richard S. Busch, McDonald sued Warner Music Group in federal court in Nashville, reports Billboard. Busch has filed other suits for Kenny Rogers and Peter Frampton.

So You Think You Can Dance judge Mary Murphy's legal battle with her ex-manager Michael Sanchez is heating up. Sanchez, brother of LA television personality Lauren Sanchez and brother-in-law to WME co-head Patrick Whitesell, was sued in December for allegedly stealing $60,000 from his former client. He fired back this week, according to TMZ, with his own lawsuit claiming Murphy has illegally coached contestants on the Fox show and has showed up drunk and high on cocaine.

California's high-end art world is abuzz with news that the state's controversial Resale Royalty Act of 1976 has been declared unconstitutional by a federal judge. The little-enforced law requires gallery owners and other art re-sellers to pay a slice of purchase prices to the original creator of the art. Judge Jacqueline Nguyen struck down the law last week, the LAT reports, because she believes it attempts to regulate commerce outside the state. In doing so, she dismissed a class-action suit brought last year by artists Chuck Close, Laddie John Dill, the estate of Robert Graham and the Sam Francis foundation against Christie's and Sotheby's auction houses. Artist lawyer Michael Bowse says an appeal is planned, with a possible showdown brewing at the 9th Circuit or even the U.S. Supreme Court.

Jiiva in the mood for love

jiiva-samanthaCinemimi [Saturday, May 26, 2012]
Jiiva has wrapped up the much vaunted climax scene in Mysskin's Mugamoodi with co-star, Narain. Renowned Hong Kong based stunt co-ordinator, Leung Siu Hung, who has worked with the likes of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan was involved with the adrenaline-charged climax shoot. The scenes have been wrapped up and insiders say that it has come out very well indeed.

Having worked hard on the action scenes and sore all over, Jiiva has returned from Karaikudi where the Mugamoodi shoot was going on and is back in Chennai for the filming of his Gautham Menon romance film, Neethane En Ponvasantham. Shooting is going on in the scenic East Coast road, and Jiiva is all set to romance his heroine, Samantha.

Will Venkat Prabhu's luck work for CSK in finals?

Venkat PrabhuCinemimi [Saturday, May 26, 2012]
Our celebs are no different from every other crazy cricket fan in India and are following the fortunes of the home team, Chennai Super Kings avidly. Jiiva, Venkat Prabhu, Sibi Sathyaraj, Premgi Amaren, SPB Charan, Janani Iyer, Kushboo, Dayanidhi Azhagiri are some of the biggest fans of CSK.

Venkat Prabhu was in Malaysia for the 2 Qualifier matches in the playoffs and was distraught because the TV in his hotel was not airing the match. He immediately searched high and low for a place where he could watch the match and finally watched it at the Gridiron in Bangsar. Now he is back and plans to watch the final against Kolkata Knightriders in the stadium, since every time he has been in the stadium in the past, Chennai has won!

Now we know that our celebs will be rooting for Dhoni and the boys in yellow just like the rest of us! Go CSK and bring home the trophy for the third year in a row!

Kamal Haasan gives verdict on OKOK

Kamal HaasanCinemimi [Saturday, May 26, 2012]
A special screening of OKOK was arranged for Kamal Haasan by the team at 7pm in Four Frames. The ace actor had missed it because he has been away in the USA wrapping up his mammoth project, Viswaroopam. He was touched by the gesture and enjoyed watching the film we hear.

Kamal Haasan personally congratulated all present on a job well done. He was particularly appreciative of Director Rajesh and congratulated him on his hat - trick of hits. They spent some time discussing various aspects of the film and Kamal praised the director's work. Rajesh was thrilled with the compliments and is absolutely over the moon, thanks to Kamal.

Priyanka to act after wedding

Priyanka nair hot picCinemimi [Saturday, May 26, 2012]
Actress Priyanka Nair, who featured in Veyil as the love interest of Pasupathi, has tied knot with her beau Lawrence Ram. The marriage that happened at Trivandrum, was a closed event attended only by family and friends. Lawrence Ram has worked in many Tamil films as associate director. The actress is a recipient of Kerala state award for the best actress for her performance in Chandran's Vilapangalkkappuram.

Talking about her future plans Priyanka says, “My husband hasn’t asked me to quit acting. So, I’m definitely open for good roles.”

Ajith's remake plans

Cinemimi [Saturday, May 26, 2012]
Ajith has signed up for a film with director Siva of Siruthai fame for Nagi Reddy's Vijaya Productions. There is a lot of curiosity surrounding this project. Latest reports suggest that the film will be a remake of the Telugu film, Daruvu which has Ravi Teja and Taapsee in the lead. It was released yesterday and is being touted as an out and out masala entertainer.

Siva's last film, Siruthai which was also a remake of Ravi Teja's Vikramakoodu and had Karthi in the lead went on to become a smash hit. Clearly Ravi Teja is a lucky charm for director Siva!

Saguni's successive treats

saguni imagesCinemimi [Saturday, May 26, 2012]
The producers’ of Karthi starrer Saguni released two tracks from the film’s album yesterday as a treat for the actor’s birthday. Now, the film makers have announced that the film’s entire music album will be released on June 2nd followed by the audio launch of Sakuni, the Telugu version of the film on June 5th.

The film also stars Pranitha, Santhanam, Raadhika Sarath Kumar, Prakash Raj, Roja and Nassar. Directed by Shankar Dayal, the film has music by GV Prakash, cinematography by Muthiah and editing by Sreekar Prasad.

Sneha-Prasanna wedding on TV

Sneha-Prasanna wedding on TVCinemimi [Saturday, May 26, 2012]
It’s been a fortnight since the marriage of Sneha and Prasanna happened. To all of us who hadn’t had the chance of witnessing the couple’s wedding ceremony, Vijay TV is providing the opportunity. The channel will air the marriage of Sneha and Prasanna on 27th May at 12.30 hrs.

The celebrity couple’s wedding was attended by the top listers in the industry including Surya, Jyothika, Sivakumar, K.S. Ravikumar, Simran, Prabhu, Mani Ratnam, SPB, Meena, Cheran, Lingusamy, Dharani, Hari, Vivek, Parthiban, Samuthrakani,Pasupathy, Jayam Ravi, K. Bhagyaraj, Poornima, Mohan, Lizzy, Vairamuthu, Sivakarthikeyan, Vijaykumar, Manjula and many others.

The channel will air the wedding as three hours exclusive show.
sneha prasanna wedding reception photos
Prasanna Sneha-Wedding pictures
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