Aradhana to be screened at 14th MFF

The forthcoming edition of the city's most eagerly awaited cultural event, the 14th Mumbai Film Festival, presented by Reliance Entertainment and American Express and organized by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image, is poised to pay homage to Indian cinema's first "Superstar", Hindi film legend Rajesh Khanna, by dedicating a special segment to screen one of the late star's most memorable films Aradhana.

Directed by Shakti Samanta in 1969, the film featured Rajesh Khanna paired against Sharmila Tagore. The film's screening is scheduled to be held Godrej theatre at NCPA on October 21 at 1.15 p.m. Apart from Rajesh Khanna, the festival is also paying homage to Dara Singh by screening his movie Samson directed by Nanabhai Bhatt and to A K Hangal by screening his movie Dattak directed by Gul Bahar Singh. Both will be screened at the Godrej theatre on October 23 at 1.15 p.m. and on October 20 at 4.00 pm respectively.

The stellar lineup of over 230 films from around the world constitutes a mélange of classic and contemporary cinema with special segments dedicated to French, Italian and Afghan cinema. The festival will also host a special event segment to mark the centenary year of Indian cinema by screening a handpicked list of silent films accompanied by melodies from a live orchestra. The festival also endeavors to serve as a platform to showcase the works of young, talented and progressive filmmakers.

The 14th edition of the Mumbai Film Festival is scheduled from the 18th - 25th October, 2012 at National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) & Inox, Nariman Point, Liberty Cinemas, Marine Lines as the main festival venues and Cinemax, Andheri and Cinemax, Sion as the satellite venues.

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Bollywood News Amit Kumar's tribute to his father Kishore

Amit Kumar and his brother Sumit are just back from the US with their tribute concerts on Kishore Kumar. "We performed in Detroit and Chicago .We called the show 'Do Kishore'. We did it on a trial basis in the two American cities. Now that it has been accepted so wholeheartedly, we'll take our two 'Do Kishore' concerts to the rest of the world. We're already booked for 6 concerts in the US in April 2013. Then we'll take the concert all over India."

The 'Do Kishore' concerts are Amit Kumar's brainchild. "We first did the 'Do Kishore' charity concert with us two brothers celebrating our father's memory through his music. In Kolkata on April 12 in 1992. Sumit was only 9 years old then. Many luminaries associated with my father, like Ashok Kumar and Rajesh Khanna were present at the show."

Amit Kumar also has plans of making a film on his legendary father. "It was Bhaijaan (Mehmood) who suggested it. My brother and I had devised a skit where we both go to the moon and meet our father there. Mehmood suggested we make a film on that theme. That hasn't happened so far."

Amit and Sumit are also on the verge of starting a music company named Kumar Brothers Music. "It will be an online company. I'd be putting out my own composition for my fans online. It won't be film music, but folk songs, semi-classical numbers...One of my compositions 'Zindagi Dard' has been put out just to get a response. It's been well-received by my fans."

The online recording company attained feasibility in Amit Kumar's mind due to the progressive paucity of offline music companies. "There's no company one can take one's music to. It isn't as though I'm attempting to compete with any music company. An online music company eliminates the need for mediators like a producer or a music- company executive. It's a direct connectivity between my creativity and my listeners. I know I have an audience. There are people who love my voice."

Amit says he's done with film music. "What is there to sing in Hindi films? The greats that I worked with are dead or retired. The whole scenario has changed now. The music these days is cacophonic. I don't listen to the songs. And these item songs...so many of them and so boring! Some of today's composers claim that melody is back. Sorry, I don't hear it."

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Shahid to play cop in Neeraj Pandey's film

After finishing work on Prabhu Dheva's Namak and Rajkumar Santoshi's Phata Poster Nikla Hero, Shahid Kapoor will be doing Neeraj Pandey's next.

What is interesting however is the fact that Shahid would be seen playing a cop for the first time in his career in this particular flick. Neeraj Pandey has earlier made the much appreciated film A Wednesday and this one too seems like another hard-hitting film. Neeraj is currently busy giving finishing touches to his multi-starrer Special Chabees. 

Shahid is looking forward to don the khaki avatar for this particular film and can't wait to get into character.

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Ghai's hit films to be remade in Tamil, Telugu

Years after its release, the films that have marked the progress of Indian cinema are looking at getting a new lease of life. Buzz is that Subhash Ghai's blockbuster films (made under his banner Mukta Arts) like Karz, Karma, Aitraaz and Hero are soon going to be remade in a new style.

It is learnt that Ghai's company Mukta Arts is currently negotiating with a number of leading South Indian producers to get the films remade in Tamil and Telugu languages. Sources close to the company say that Subhashji is in the final stages of talks about these remakes. Besides since the films are close to him, Ghai is in no hurry, and wants only the best makers to bag the rights.

The production house is keeping other details under wraps, but if all goes well, the remakes would hit the floors by mid-2013. 

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Prithviraj to relocate to Mumbai

Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil cinema's star-actor Prithviraj Sukuraman who has just made an impressive Bollywood debut as Rani Mukerji's aromatic amour inAiyyaa will wrap up his assignments in the South by the end of the year and move home from the South to Mumbai in January 2013.

His wife Supriya who used to a BBC journalist has been busy hunting for a home for the couple in Mumbai while Prithvi has been immersed in completing his films on the floor. 

Speaking of his plans to relocate into Bollywood, Prithiviraj said, "Mumbai will be my home now for a while. Since I'm serious about a career in Hindi films, I'd have to relocate to Mumbai. Supriya and I are not rushing into buying property. Since we are relocating into Mumbai, we want to buy ourselves the best apartment possible. While we find the ideal love nest, we'll rent a place in Mumbai in January when after completing my assignments we move to Mumbai. Once we are in a rented place in Mumbai we can look for a home to buy, aaraam se." 

Prithviraj who has already signed a second Hindi film, says he has left all the nitty-gritty regarding their new residence in Mumbai to his wife. "Though Supriya is a Malayali, she has spent a large part of her life in Mumbai. She's a Mumbai girl. In fact I saw the real Mumbai through Supriya's eyes. Of course I knew Mumbai before I got to know Supriya. But it was Supriya who showed me sides to Mumbai I had never seen." 

The urge to see the real Mumbai got hold of Prithviraj after he read Gregory David Roberts' novelShantaram. "Suddenly a new side to Mumbai opened up in my mind. I wanted to see all the places described in the novel like Haji Ali and the Leopold cafe. Supriya was a friend. I asked her to show me all these places. I invited myself over to Mumbai and Supriya took over my life for the next few weeks. This was when we fell in love and decided to get married. So the city holds great romance and relevance for me. I'd love to return to live in the city that gave the love of my life." 

Prithvi's voice fills up with affectionate gratitude when he talks about his wife. "She gave up her job to join me in the South. I owe her a lot. I don't think I would be what I am today without her support." 

Prithviraj who had been acting from age of 19 and has done films in three South Indian languages, doesn't see Aiyyaa as a debut in new language. "When the director came to me with the offer, I didn't focus on the language. In any case, my character doesn't speak much. I was just fascinated by the concept of the girl, Rani, falling in love with the scent of a man. I'd have accepted the offer in any language. At this stage of my career I'm looking for new challenges." 

Prithviraj has signed a Yash Raj film Aurangzeb. He has an interesting story to tell on how he signed it. "I was shooting for the song 'Aga Bai' for Aiyyaa on one of the floors at Yash Raj when the casting director at Yash Raj asked me if I'd be interested in auditioning for a part. I agreed. When I heard the role I was hooked." 

Prithviraj says he is very confident of his role in Aurangzeb although Arjun Kapoor has a double role in the film. 

"I wouldn't have accepted the role if I wasn't satisfied with what was offered to me. I am in no rush to get anywhere. I am here to stay. Mumbai is my home from January."

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