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Jimena Navarrete of Mexico becomes Miss Unverse 2010
(Entertainment) |
24-08-10
Jimena Navarrete, the 22 year old Miss Mexico, was crowned Miss Universe 2010 at the beauty pageant on Monday evening.
Miss Jamaica - Yendi Philipps was declared the first runner-up while Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell emerged as the second runner-up.
Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela, crowned her successor Jimena Navarrete at the glittering function in Las Vegas.
The 59th Miss Universe pageant concluded on Monday 23 August 2010 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Jimena is the second Mexican to win the Miss Universe title, her country-mate Lupita Jones won the pageant in 1991.
The Miss Universe Organization produces the international beauty event every year. The Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants are a Donald J. Trump and NBC Universal joint venture. |
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Peepli Live gets good reviews - Amitabh Bachchan also likes it
(Entertainment) |
14-08-10
Peepli Live, the latest movie under the Aamir Khan banner has opened to audiences in India over the weekend. The movie has been released across the 600 screens by UTV Motion Pictures its distributor.
And, the film has done wonders on the box-office in its opening day. It has reportedly already collected more than 7 crores and is expected rake in even more over the Independence Day weekend.
Directed by debutant Anusha Rizvi, the film has Naseeruddin Shan and Raghuvir Yadav alongwith a host of other relatively unknown faces mostly from Habib Tanveer's Naya Theatre.
The film has received rave reviews. Folks have described the film with adjectives like... delicious irony, well researched, far far more authentic, very straightforward storytelling. One of the reviews has even labeled Peepli Live as the Best film of the year.
Amitabh Bachchan has written in his blog..."The film took me back to my place of birth and deposited me within the distinct atmosphere of my roots, and I loved that. But apart from that it was a superb film ; even the wife loved it." |
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Agraj to present Mangal Se Mahatma at Bilaspur today
(Entertainment) |
14-08-10
Mangal Se Mahatma (मंगल से महात्मा) a play written by the Dr. Rajesh Tandon and directed by Sunil Chipde will be staged by the artists of Agraj Natya Dal (AND) at Devkinandan Dixit Sabha Grah, Lal Bahadur Shastri School, Gole Bazar today 14-Aug-2010 on the occasion of Independence eve.
Mangal Se Mahatma is a full-length 2 hour drama that depicts India's freedom struggle right from the revolt by Mangal Pandey in 1857 to the Independence Day of 1947 and covers all major events of the period. Over 35 artists, all from Bilaspur, present the play.
The multi-media mode of execution on stage has been done using the light and sound technique by theater artists in the state for the first time.
According to Ritesh Dubey, the secretary of Agraj Natya Dal, "Mangal Se Mahatma debuted in 2007 under the banner of Agraj Natya Dal at Raipur to mark the 150th anniversary of first freedom fight", and has since been staged several times. The latest performance of this play was in naxal prone, backward region of Dantewada in May 2010.
The presentation in Bilaspur is being done under the ageis of Agrawal Mahila Samiti, Bilaspur.
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Aamir Khan's Peepli Live to open on 13 August 2010
(Entertainment) |
12-07-10
Peepli Live - the latest film to be produced by Amir Khan is scheduled to open to audiences in India on 13 August 2010. The movie is already causing furores in the political cirlces with one of its song "Mahangaai Daayan (महंगाई डायन)" on price rise and inflation.
This film is directed and written by Anusha Rizvi who says that she never intended to make files, before the story of Peepli Live came to her in a flash.
Peepli Live is a story of a poor farmer from Peepli village in rural India who is about to lose his land due to an unpaid government loan. A quick fix to the problem is the very same government’s program that aids the families of indebted farmers who have committed suicide.
Talking about his interest in the script, Aamir Khan says "From the time that the narration began I was drawn into it. I found it to be very funny and at the same time very heartbreaking. Very engaging, entertaining and enlightening, but a very unusual script for Indian cinema. In other words, it was right up my street." Aamir Khan adds "This is the first of the films that I have produced with the hope of entertaining a world audience. It’s a world that I am unfamiliar with... and scary. Let’s see how it goes."
Out of the cast of the film probably the only noted name is Raghubir Yadav. Most of the cast of Peepli Live was selected after an extensive and exhaustive casting process that lasted over 4 months. About 900 actors were auditioned in several cities in India. In the event, legendary Indian theatre director Habib Tanvir’s Naya Theatre repertory which comprises mainly rural folk actors provided the mainstay. |
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Mani Ratnam's film - Raavan opens on 18-Jun-2010
(Entertainment) |
16-06-10
Raavan - A Mani Ratnam Film - is scheduled to open to audiences on 18 June 2010.
Raavan is being released in Hindi and Tamil and has a powerful star cast of Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwariya Rai Bachchan, Vikram and Govinda. It is the story of a struggle between Beera Munda and Dev Pratap Sharma.
 Beera (Abhishek Bachchan) is an anti-establishment, non-conformist voice of the underdog and fiercely protective of his people. He is the beacon of hop for the oppressed lot and the pride and shame of Lal Maati.
Dev Pratap Sharma (Vikram) is an aggressive encounter specialist. His is willing to go all the way to achieve what he believes is right. Unrelenting in his perception of right and wrong, he firmly believes the end justifies the means, no matter how unorthodox are then means that are employed.
Mani Ratnam has proven his calibre as a film maker and has several block-buster hits to his credit including - Roza (1992), Bombay (1995) and Guru (2007). The file has music by A. R. Rehman and lyrics by Gulzar. |
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Rajkumar Hirani's 3 Idiots wins 8 awards at IIFA 2010 on 5-June-2010
(Entertainment) |
06-06-10
3 Idiots has bagged 8 awards at the 11th International Indian Film Academy Awards organized at Colombo over the weekend.
Directed by Rajkumar Hirani and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, the Aamir Khan starrer 3 Idiots had been nominated in 12 out of the 13 major categories of IIFA 2010 awards, our of which it has won in 8.
The awards taken by 3 Idiots at the IIFA function on 05-June-2010 are...- Best Film
- Best Performance in a Leading Role - Female for Kareena Kapoor
The best actress award was shared with Kareena by Vidya Balan for Paa. - Best Director for Rajkumar Hirani
- Best Story for Rajkumar Hirani, Abhijat Joshi and Vidhu Vinod Chodpa
- Best Performance in Supporting Role - Male for Sharman Joshi
- Best Performance in a Negative Role for Boman Irani
- Best Lyrics for Swanand Kirkire
- Best Playback Singer - Male went to Shaan for Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh
3 Idiots had already won 8 out of the 12 technical awards that had been announced earlier, these included - Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay, Best Dialogue.
The award for Best Performance in a Leading Role - Male was bagged by Amitabh Bachchan for his role in Paa. Sanjay Dutt was awarded the Best Performance in a Comic Role for his role in All The Best.
Pritam's music in Love Aaj Kal bagged him the Best Music Direction award, while Kavita Seth took the award for the Best Playback Singer - Female for her number Ek Tara in Wake up Sid. |
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Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor's Rajneeti opens today
(Entertainment) |
04-06-10
Prakash Jha's latest venture - Rajneeti - opens to audiences today across the country.
 The Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor starrer is a film based on the Indian political scenario. The cast line-up of the movie also has Nana Patekar, Ajay Devgan, Naseeruddin Shah and others.
Produced and Directed by Prakash Jha, Rajneeti is a story about Indian politics and elections. The film has been co-produced by Ronnie Screwvala of UTV Motion Pictures.
It is the story of a fiercely fought election campaign , where money-power and corruption are accepted norms.
Rajneeti has seen its share of controversy during its run-up to the release. It had to face difficulty in getting its censor clearance. It is reported that the Censor Board of India saw a likeness between Indu Pratap, the character played by Katrina Kaif and Congress Party Chief Sonia Gandhi. |
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Madhur Bhandarkar's Jail to open on 6 Nov 2009
(Entertainment) |
20-10-09
 Director Madhur Bhandarkar's 2009 film - Jail - is set to release on the the 6 Nov 2009.
The profilic filmmaker who has earned a reputation for making realistic films has ventured with Percept Picture Company for this hard hitting subject that travels beyond the walls and bars of jails of India.
Titled Jail the movie is more realistic and is expected to showcase the gritty reality of the inmates some of them are under trials, convicts and also the cops who are in charge of maintaining order in the prison.
The movie stars Neil Nitin Mukesh as Parag Dixit, an ordinary man who finds himself behind the bars due to a series of unfortunate events around him. The movie is from Parag's point of view and tells stories of several other inmates.
Parag discovers the inner mechanism and the science responsible for the wretched status inside the prison and hordes of broken hearts and shattered souls which managed to find comfort amidst the four prison walls. He is left with a choice, to either live a life that is controlled and exploited or fight against the system!
The film also has Mugudha Godse, Rahul Singh and Manoj Bajpai. Music for the film has been don by Shamir Tandon and Toshi - Sharib.
Madhur Bandarkar says that Jail is his quickest shoor ever. He had embarked on a start to finish schedule on 12 March 2009. |
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Amitabh Bachchan starrer Aladin to release on 30 Oct 2009
(Entertainment) |
20-10-09
 Amitabh Bachchan starrer Aladin, a modern re-imagining of the classic tale of Aladin and The Magic Lamp, by Eros International and Boundscript Production, is scheduled to hit the screens on 30 October 2009.
Directed by Sujoy Ghosh, the film has Amitabh Bachchan playing the "modern" genie and Riteish Deshmukh as Aladin. The film narrates the tale of Aladin (Riteish Deshmukh) an orphan who lives in the city of Khwaish and is bullied by Kasim and his gang. His life changes when Jasmine (Jacqueline Fernandez) gives him a magic lamp.
Genius (Amitabh Bachchan), the genie from the magic lamp, desparately wants to grant Aladin his 3 wishes and end his contract with the Magic Lamp.
Sanjay Dutt plays the role of Ring Master - the ex-genie who wants to kill Aladin.
Sujoy Ghosh is also the co-producer, co-story/dialogue writer and the screenplay writer of the film. The music for the film has been done by the Vishal - Shekhar duo. |
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Michael Jackson laid to rest at Forest Lawn cemetary
(Entertainment) |
04-09-09
Michael Jackson's body has been buried 70 days after his death at Forest Lawn cemetary in Glendale, California. It is not however confirmed whether this will be his final resting place. There was speculation in the air for some time that the final burial place could be at his Neverland Ranch.
The ceremony was attended by the his friends and family including 77 year old Elizabeth Taylor and other celebrities. The ceremony which was scheduled for 7pm local time (7:30 am of 4 Sep Indian time) was delayed to accommodate the late arrival of his family.
Michael Jackson's body had been kept at the cemetary since his public memorial service on 6 July at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Born in 29 Aug 1958, Michael Jackson grew up to become the King of Pop. His album Thriller released in 1982 became the best selling album of all times.
He breathed his last on 25 Jun 2009, just a little over month before his 51st birthday. Court documents released on 25 Aug releaved that Jackson died due to a lethal dose of a powerful anaesthetic propofol and by 28 Aug the coroner of Los Angeles County officially confirmed that his death had been ruled a homicide. |
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