David Fincher wins BAFTA for ‘The Social Network’

London, Feb 14 – American director David Fincher walked away with the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award for best director for his motion picture ‘The Social Network’ Sunday. 

The movie is an adaptation from Ben Mezrich’s 2009 non-fiction book ‘The Accidental Billionaires’. It traces the founding of the social networking website Facebook and its resulting lawsuits.

‘The Social Network’ features an ensemble cast including Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Brenda Song, Armie Hammer, Max Minghella, Rashida Jones, Joseph Mazzello, and Rooney Mara.

Fincher beat the likes of Darren Aronofsky for ‘Black Swan’, Tom Hooper for ‘The King’s Speech’, Christopher Nolan for ‘Inception’ and Danny Boyle for ‘127 Hours’ at the gala that took place at the Opera House in London.

He won the Golden Globe best director award for the same movie earlier this year. 

IANS

‘The King’s Speech’ sweeps BAFTA, Rahman loses

London, Feb 14 – ‘The King’s Speech’ swept away the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards as the movie received seven trophies across various categories, including the original music title, leaving behind Indian composer A.R. Rahman’s work in ‘127 Hours’. 

At a glittering ceremony here Sunday night, the British royal drama, which is about a stammering monarch, took away the awards for best film, outstanding British film, original screenplay, best actor (Colin Firth), best supporting actor (Geoffrey Rush), best supporting actress (Helena Bonham Carter), and best original music (Alexandre Desplat).

 

The film had received 14 nominations.

Rahman, who won a BAFTA in 2009 for his work in ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, can now pin his hopes only on the penultimate – the Oscars. He has been nominated in two categories – original score and original song at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards for the original score in ‘127 Hours’ as well as original song ‘If I Rise’ for the same movie. 

Christopher Nolan’s ‘Inception’ and David Fincher’s ‘The Social Network’ had a tie with three awards each.

While ‘Inception’ got the gong for best visual effects, best sound and best production design, ‘The Social Network’ bagged trophies in the best director, best adapted screenplay and best editing categories.

The best actress award was claimed by Natalie Portman for ‘Black Swan’.

A special award for outstanding British contribution to cinema was given to the famous ‘Harry Potter’ franchise.

‘Toy Story 3′ took away the award for the best animated film, beating ‘Despicable Me’ and ‘How To Train Your Dragon’. 

IANS

Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon loses Grammy

Los Angeles, Feb 14 – US-based Indian corporate honcho and classical singer Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon lost out on the Grammy for the best contemporary world music album for ‘Om Namo Narayanaya: Soul Call’.

Tandon lost out on the prestigious award to Bela Fleck (Throw Down Your Heart, Africa Sessions Part 2: Unreleased Tracks). The other nominations included Bebel Gilberto (All In One), Angelique Kidjo (OYO) and Sergio Mendes (Bom Tempo) at a glittering ceremony Sunday night.

Her Grammy-nominated album features Sanskrit chants and combines traditional Indian sounds such as sarod, sitar, and esraj with the Western instruments such as the piano, the electric bass and the classical guitar.

While the vocals are given by her, the music has been composed by sarod player Tejendra Narayan Majumdar with assistance from Snehasish Mojumder, the mandolin player.

An Indian Institute of Management (IIM) alumna, Tandon was born and brought up in Chennai and is sister of PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi. She herself worked with McKinsey and Company for 11 years.

Apart from being a singer, Tandon is also the trustee of New York University and American India Foundation. She serves on the Board of Overseers at the NYU Stern School of Business, where she is also Executive-in-Residence.

She lives in New York City with her husband Ranjan, founder and president of an investment firm, and their daughter Lita.

Last year, music maestro A.R. Rahman did the country proud by winning two Grammy gongs for Danny Boyle’s ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. Sitar expert Ravi Shankar and tabla great Zakir Hussain are also among the Indians that have brought Grammy home.

IANS

Lady Gaga wins Grammy

Los Angeles, Feb 14 – Singer Lady Gaga has walked away with the Grammy for best female pop vocal for the song ‘Bad Romance’ at the 53rd edition of the awards. 

The 24-year-old star beat Sara Bareilles (King Of Anything), Beyonce Knowles (Halo (Live)), Norah Jones (Chasing Pirates) and Katy Perry (Teenage Drama) to walk away with the prestigious honour at a glittering ceremony at the Staples Centre, Los Angeles Sunday night. 

IANS

Zeta-Jones once slept in cupboard

London, Feb 14 – Actress Catherine Zeta Jones has revealed that she was forced to sleep in a cupboard when she first arrived in Los Angeles to start her acting career. 

The Welsh actress moved to the US in the mid-90s to launch her career and was initially staying at a friend’s large Malibu house. She was scared to stay at the huge home on her own so she started sleeping in a cupboard.

‘When I first arrived in Los Angeles I stayed at my friend’s big house in Malibu for a while. Every night I’d lie awake listening to all the creaks and funny little noises the house makes,’ contactmusic.com quoted her as saying.

‘Then one night the gates began swinging for no reason. When you close them they automatically latch, but not this night. It was definitely a bit creepy, especially when you live on your own like I did. So I hid I was so scared that I slept in a cupboard!’ she added.

However, the 41-year-old star admits it was hard work getting her first big break in Hollywood.

‘There’s an unbelievable hierarchy out there. If you’re not on a certain rung of the ladder you don’t even get to read the material. I try not to rely on any kind of beauty. That’s why I try to put a certain oomph into my performances, some fun and physicality. I want to be here for the long run,’ she said. 

IANS

Charlize Theron to star in ‘Prometheus’?

Los Angeles, Feb 14 – Actress Charlize Theron is in talks to star in Ridley Scott’s new sci-fi thriller ‘Prometheus’. 

The starcast of the film also includes ‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’ star Noomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender, reports hollywoodreporter.com.

Scriptwriter Damon Lindelof is working together with Scott on the script. 

IANS

Eminem wins Grammy for best rap solo

Los Angeles, Feb 14 – Singer Eminem won a Grammy for his track ‘Not Afraid’ in the best rap solo performance category at the 53rd Grammy awards. 

Eminem piped Drake (‘Over’), Ludacris (‘How Low’), T.I. (‘I’m Back’) and Kanye West (‘Power’) to walk away with the prestigious honour at the gala event held Sunday night at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles. 

IANS

Fears over Liz Taylor’s health as hospital stay extended

London, Feb 14 – People are fearing the worst as Elizabeth Taylor’s stay in the hospital is extended by another week.

Taylor, who was was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles with “an ongoing condition”, is being treated for heart failure.

Dame Elizabeth, 78, who has made more than 50 films including The V.I.P.s, revealed she was suffering from the illness in 2004.

“She is being kept in the hospital for monitoring,” the Daily Express quoted her spokesman as saying. (ANI)

Arcade Fire wins Album of the Year

Los Angeles, Feb 14 – Indie rock band Arcade Fire has won Album of the Year for ‘The Suburbs’ at the Grammy Awards. 

The band beat Katy Perry (‘Teenage Dream’), Lady Gaga (‘The Fame Monster’), Lady Antebellum (‘Need You Now’) and Eminem (‘Recovery’) to win one of the top honours at 53rd edition of Grammy Awards Sunday. 

IANS

On Valentine’s Day, ‘Pyaasa’ among Time’s top romantic movies

Washington, Feb 14 – Indian director Guru Dutt’s fifties’ classic musical-drama ‘Pyaasa’ has been listed fifth among Time magazine’s Valentine’s Day list of top Romantic Movies. 

For the Feb 14 day celebrating love and affection between intimate companions, ‘Time.com has a list – from the songs you need to ease the pain to the movies that will sweep you up in a romance nearly as epic as your own’

In picking up ‘Pyaasa’, the Time asked: ‘Where did classic Hollywood go when it died?’

And itself answered: ‘To India, where the nation’s pop cinema (Bollywood to you) still attends to antique conventions of family fealty, personal integrity and, of course, all-conquering love.’

‘In this achingly lush tale of a poet whose one true friend is a prostitute, director-star Guru Dutt creates a musical drama as shimmering and ethereal as the poet’s verses, as sultry and earthy as Waheeda Rehman, the 20-year-old actress who became Guru Dutt’s mistress and muse,’ Time said.

”Pyaasa’ means ‘thirst’; if this film is your introduction to the glamour and heartbreak of Indian film, it’ll leave you parched for more,’ it said.

Here are the top ten Romantic Movies:

* Son of the Sheik (1926)

* Dodsworth (1936)

* Camille (1936)

* An Affair to Remember (1957)

* Pyaasa (1957)

* Jules and Jim (1962)

* Chungking Express

* Moulin Rouge (2001)

* Talk to Her (2002)

* Brokeback Mountain (2005)

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in) 

IANS

Aniston doesn’t rule out plastic surgery in future

London, Feb 14 – Actress Jennifer Aniston doesn’t rule out the possibility of going under the knife because of the pressure on women in Hollywood to look good. 

‘I think there is an extreme pressure on women and men to just stay young and unfortunately men and women don’t see it to grow old gracefully,’ femalefirst.co.uk quoted her as saying.

‘A lot of women go too far and end up looking a hell of a lot older than they actually are and it sort of has a reverse effect. So talk to me in 10 years,’ she added. 

IANS

Colin Firth, Natalie Portman win top BAFTA honours

London, Feb 14 – The year 2011 seems to have started on a good note for actors Colin Firth and Natalie Portman as they are sweeping the top honours at most of the award functions and the latest to join the list is British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards. 

While Firth walked away for the best actor award for ‘The King’s Speech’, Portman won the best actress for ‘Black Swan’ at a glittering ceremony here Sunday night.

‘The King’s Speech’ saw Firth playing the stammering king. ‘Black Swan’ had Portman playing a young girl ballet dancer who wins the lead in stage musical ‘Swan Lake’ and is perfect for the role of the delicate White Swan – Princess Odette – but slowly loses her mind as she becomes more and more like Odette’s evil sister, Odile, the Black Swan. 

IANS

Pakistan seeks release of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

Islamabad, Feb 14 – Pakistan has initiated hectic efforts to secure the release of famous singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan detained at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on charges of carrying undisclosed foreign currency.

Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir called Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Sharat Sabarwal and discussed the matter around midnight Sunday. He requested the Indian envoy to ensure that ‘no official should misbehave with Rahat during interrogation’.

Rahat was detained at the Delhi airport Sunday on his way back to Pakistan after attending concerts and award functions in India. More than $100,000 were recovered from the 15-member troupe.

After over six hours of interrogation by customs officials, he was formally arrested and would be presented in a court Monday morning, Dunya News reported.

Bashir also called up Pakistani High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik and directed him to ‘take immediate steps for securing release of Rahat’.

‘The matter should be taken up formally with Indian foreign office,’ he said, adding that ‘contact with Indian authorities for updates in the case must be maintained throughout’.

Earlier, Interior Minister Rehman Malik called Shahid Malik and directed him ‘to provide necessary legal and other consular help to Rahat’.

‘Regular updates should be given to authorities in Pakistan regarding efforts to resolve the case,’ he stressed.

Rahat’s brother-in-law, Asim Raza, told Dunya TV that they ‘received information from the media and were feeling concerned about it’. ‘We are yet to establish any proper contact with the authorities in India although Rahat talked briefly with his wife and asked her to remain hopeful of a positive outcome’.

Rahat, the nephew of legendary singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, is popular both in India and Pakistan. Several of his hit songs from Indian films are a rage on both sides of the border, for which he has won several awards, including the recent Filmfare award for ‘Dil to Bacha Hai Jee’. 

IANS

‘Thambikottai’ neither innovative nor entertaining (Tamil Movie Review)

Film: ‘Thambikottai’;

Cast: Narain, Poonam Bajwa, Prabhu, Meena, Sangeetha, Santhanam, Naan Kadavul Rajendran and others; 

Director: R. Ammu Ramesh; 

Producer: R.K. Suresh; 

Music Composer: D. Imman

 

‘Thambikottai’ was an important film for Narain, whose last release was ‘Anjathey’ that came about three years ago. It marks his attempt at returning to the action genre, a change from the cop roles he has been doing so far. 

The question is, whether the film delivers and makes a difference to the hero who was waiting anxiously, rejecting so many scripts, to try something different? Sadly, the answer is no.

This is the story of Chennai-based brother and sister – Alagiri (Narain) and Shanmughapriya (Meena). While the latter is a lecturer, the former studies in the same college. When she is teased by students, he beats them all up. 

The story shifts to the Thambikottai village when Alagiri goes on an NSS camp with his professor (MS Basker) and friends (Santhanam and gang). There, he meets Kanaga (Poonam Bajwa), daughter of a hoodlum-type-rich-man Amirthalingam (Rajendran) who tries to kill government officers who want to repair a damaged bridge that connects the village with the rest of the world. 

The villagers suffer because of this. 

The village has a connection to Alagiri, his sister and their dead father, Shanmugam (Prabhu).

The script smells of old. The reason behind villain’s resoluteness to keep the bridge unused is quite illogical. The script is lackluster without any interesting twists. There is hardly any brilliant scene to point out.

Narain does his best to portray himself as an action hero. However, he as a college student is too much to accept! He doesn’t look the part. Secondly, his action sequences do not help him. It’s time an actor of his calibre should start looking at better scripts to pep up his career. 

Poonam is charming and convincing as the village belle and Aarthi and Santhanam do add some light moments. 

The one performance which stands out is that of Sangeetha, who lives the role of the lady don. Though her character is larger than life, she has played it to the best of her ability. Her villainy could have been better utilized in the script.

Meena, Prabhu and Rajendran do their best. 

The music is nothing to write home about, though the songs are peppy and suit the different situations. ‘Thiruvizha’ is a foot tapping number. 

IANS

Never say no to Bollywood in Senegal

Dakar, Feb 13 – From legendary actors Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar to contemporary film icons Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan, Bollywood is now and forever in Senegal, the coastal French-speaking West African country that’s madly in love with Indian films, music and cuisine.

Sitting in Sea Plaza restaurant, one can hear the dulcet notes of ‘Kajra re’, a popular Hindi film number, float into the salty breeze wafting in from the sun-kissed Atlantic Ocean.

Or go driving into the not-so-lonely balmy night, only to catch the latest Bollywood numbers, ‘Sheila ki jawani’ and ‘Munni badnam hui’, floating in from bars and discos scattered all over in this bustling city of over a million people.

Dancing in Dakar, says Sheikh, a 30-something restaurant manager who is equally fond of reading Sartre and Camus, is never really dancing without ‘hip-hopping Hindi music’. What do the French-speaking Senegalese like about Indian films?

‘The music is great. The dancing is first-rate and actresses are beautiful,’ Gorgui Sy, who heads Les Amis de’Inde, one of the 40-odd Indo-Senegalese friendship clubs dedicated to Indian music and dance that have mushroomed in the country whose population of nearly 13 million people is less than that of Delhi.

‘We like Indian culture, traditions and family values. It puts us into a dream world and also keeps us rooted in reality,’ Sy said.

‘We love Indian films and stars. Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithink Roshan are my favourites,’ said Antra Mbaye, who is associated with Kumar Sanu Kelo, a forum that promotes the music of Indian singer Kumar Sanu. ‘I loved ‘Devdas’,’ she said in her lilting French.

In fact, such is the popularity of Indian films and music that dozens of Indo-Senegalese friendship associations have been set up, points out N. Parthasarathi, India’s ambassador to Senegal, the Francophone nation whose historical sites and beach resorts attract nearly a million tourists every year.

‘They are dedicated to Indian music and dance. And they are mostly run by Senegalese,’ the envoy tells this visiting IANS correspondent, adding there are just 300 Indians living in Senegal.

Parthasarathi recalled with much relish how Pallavi Kulkarni, an Indian TV star, was mobbed at the airport when she visited Dakar in April last year. Kulkarni starred in ‘Vaidehi’, a popular Indian TV soap portraying a poor girl-rich boy love affair, which was a big hit with Senegalese women who form a majority of TV viewers in Senegal.

It was pure madness, recalled Sheikh. Thousands of men, women and children lined up the roads to have a glimpse of the actress, and her arrival was shown live by 2STV, the private TV network that aired the TV soap with French sub-titles.

The royal reception she got clearly outstripped that of Senegal’s President Abdoulaye Wade, who had returned from a weekend visit to the religious town of Touba on the same day.

Hindi film DVDs are much in demand here, said the Indian envoy. There is nothing like a Bollywood DVD to present to the Senegalese. They cherish it, said the envoy.

But it’s not just food, the spicy Indian food too has converted many Senegalese palates. Zaika (taste in Hindi), situated close to the sea front, is doing brisk business.

It’s not just Indians who patronise the Indian restaurant. Lots of Senegalese and foreigners come here, says Jaspreet Diwan, a 20-something manager of the restaurant in Punjabi Hindi who arrived here from Ludhiana, Punjab, five months ago.

And what do they like most? Dal tadka, butter chicken and chicken tikka, he says, amused at being asked an obvious question.

(Manish Chand can be contacted at manish.c@ians.in)

IANS

Christina Aguilera’s marriage will be officially over in April

London, Feb 13 – Christina Aguilera and her estranged husband Jordan Bratman’s marriage will officially come to an end in April (11).he former couple, which had a pre-nuptial agreement in place, has now reached an agreement regarding custody of their three-year-old son Max.

Aguilera’s lawyer, Laura Wasser, lodged the final documents in a Los Angeles court on Wednesday, reports the Daily Star.

According to TMZ.com, the music executive has already moved out of their California mansion (07Feb11), which will remain with the 30-year-old singer.

A judge will sign off on the divorce decree on 15 April (11). (ANI)

Mom, you are a star!, Madhuri Dixit’s kids realize

New Delhi, Feb 13 – She has mesmerised millions of Indians with her screen performances, but Madhuri Dixit’s US-brought up kids realised their mother was a big Bollywood star only when they visited the sets of a dance reality show recently.

‘They didn’t know, but they are kind of realising now

when they visited the sets of ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa’ and saw everybody praising me and talking about me. They ask like, ‘Oh, so you are a big star in India’,’ Madhuri told IANS in an interview.

Madhuri lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband Sriram Nene and two sons – Arin, 7, and Raayan, 5, and is in India as the judge of the fourth season of the show.

Madhuri became a national craze in the 1980s and the 90s with her scintillating performances in superhits like ‘Tezaab’, ‘Ram Lakhan’, ‘Tridev’, ‘Dil’, ‘Saajan’, ‘Khalnayak’, ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun’, ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’ and ‘Devdas’.

The actress took a sabbatical after 2002 and made a come back with ‘Aaja Nachle’ in 2007, but the film bombed at the box office.

The failure, however, didn’t affect the star aura surrounding her. She got a warm welcome by her fans and colleagues. Whether it’s award functions or other public events, Madhuri’s charm swept one and all.

The actress is touched after receiving such an overwhelming response from everyone and calls herself very fortunate.

‘It always feels wonderful. I feel blessed. There is not a single day when I don’t thank god that he has given me so much. I have received so much love from everyone wherever I have gone that I feel I am very fortunate and thank everyone for that,’ she said.

Her on-screen simplicity, acting prowess and elegant dancing style have made her an icon for many, especially youngsters.

So, how does it feel to be called an icon?

‘It feels really nice that people love you so much, they appreciate your work and consider you an icon. It’s always good to have compliments. It makes you feel nice. It makes your face glow,’ she said, flashing her evergreen smile.

She was recently honoured with a special award for completing 25 years in Bollywood at the 56th Idea Filmfare awards where she set the stage on fire with Shah Rukh Khan.

They danced together on hit songs like ‘Are re Are’ from ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’, ‘Maar Daala’ from ‘Devdas’ and ‘Tere Naina’ from ‘My Name Is Khan’.

‘This was my first ever stage performance with Shah Rukh anywhere in the world and I really enjoyed working with him after such a long time,’ she said.

Both have previously worked in films like ‘Koyla’, ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’, ‘Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam’ and ‘Devdas’.

For those eagerly waiting for Madhuri’s return to the big screen will have to wait for some more time as she will be going back to the US to be with her kids and husband after ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa’.

‘It was great to be back to work after I had taken time off to be with my kids. This is a nice change for me. I miss my kids very much; so I’ll be back (to the US) in a month,’ she said.

As for her next film Madhuri said, ‘I have been going through a lot of scripts, but nothing has been finalised as yet.’

She is currently in talks with Anil Kapoor to star in a Bollywood remake of Hollywood film ‘Freaky Friday’.

IANS

Pamela Anderson sues real estate tycoon ex-beau for $1 m

London, Feb 13 – Pamela Anderson has sued her former boyfriend for 1 million dollars for not following through on an agreement the two made when they were dating.

According to court documents, Laurence Hallier, a real estate tycoon who dated Anderson back in 2006, promised her a condominium in a new Las Vegas development he invested in.

In return she would help publicize the luxury building – The Panorama Towers, reports the Daily Mail.

Anderson claimed he told her that if the development was delayed, Laurence would give her 1 million dollars in cash. 

But not only did the project fall behind, she also never received her payment. 

The couple finally ended their fling last year, after having dated on and off for several years. (ANI)

Lindsay Lohan won’t judge X Factor

Washington, Feb 13 – Lindsay Lohan will not be a part of ‘The X Factor’.

Rumors had been running wild that the troubled star would be a judge on the highly anticipated talent show, since her notoriety would be good for ratings.

But it seems the rumors are not true.

“No, Lohan will not be part of the show”, Radaronline.com quoted spokeswoman Ann-Marie Thomson as saying on Saturday.

Apparently Simon Cowell, who created ‘The X Factor’ and will be the centerpiece of the judging panel, decided against the possibility of her joining the panel.

In fact, although Lohan has starred in five mug shots, she wasn’t even talked to about the job. (ANI)