Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Copyright issue: HC declines to stay Don 2


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MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Monday declined to grant a stay on the upcoming Shah Rukh Khan starrer “Don 2” following a suit claiming damages for alleged copyright infringement. Nariman Films and Irani family, makers of the original 1978 film Don, starring Amitabh Bachchan, had moved court, claiming that the new Don 2 had violated copyright by adopted the signature tune and songs of the orginal Don, as well as its script, characters and music.
Justice S F Vajifdar however said that he could not grant a stay on the release of the film, as theatre owners were not before the court.
Since the plaintiffs are claiming damages amounting to Rs 200 crore, the court has directed the makers of the film to maintain all the accounts relating to the film till the matter is finally decided.

Rakhi Sawant says Katrina follows her dance moves


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MUMBAI: Rakhi Sawant, perhaps true item-girl in Bollywood today, alleges that actress Katrina Kaif has copied her antics in her Chikni Chameli act in Agneepath remake.
"I think Chikni Chameli is a good song. Katrina has danced very well but it's not something new. I have already done all this before. You can watch all my songs, I have already done that," the 33-year-old controversy queen said here at the Big Stars Entertainment Awards.
"I have done this in Dekhta Hai Tu Kya and she did this in Shiela Ki Jawaani. In Chikni Chameli, she is again following me. It seems Katrina really likes me...It's alright if someone wants to follow me and dance," added Rakhi, who did a cameo in a few films before featuring in a full-fledged item number Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne in 2003.
Rakhi hasn't got any awards so far. When asked about it, she compared herself with Aamir Khan, though in a light-hearted manner, and said: "Aamir and I are similar. Neither he gets awards, nor do I. But we have won the heart of India and we do not need an award."
The loud-mouth actress, who has dabbled both in television and films, was last seen on the big screen in an item song in Loot. On small screen, she hosted the reality talk-show Ajab Desh Ki Ghazab Kahaaniyan.

Top 10 actors that ruled 2011


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MUMBAI: From He-Man to funny man, from flamboyant to sombre - Bollywood's top notch actors have shone on the silver screen in various avatars and also kept the cash registers ringing. IANS lists the top 10 actors of the year:
1) Salman Khan - He should be titled hit khan. If Bollywood's knight in shining armour bailed the industry out in 2009 and 2010, he boosted the box office business this year too with Bodyguard and Ready. In both, neither the content was premium, nor were the performances superlative, but what helped the actor stand out were the big bucks his films yielded at the box office, strengthening his position as a bankable star.
2) Aamir Khan: What one missed in Salman Khan's films was prominently present in Aamir Khan-starrer Dhobi Ghat. Aamir wowed his fans as a lonely painter in the directorial debut of his wife Kiran Rao, who deftly handled a bouquet of stories, travelling across various sections of society in the lanes and bylanes of Mumbai. The actor had just one release, that too, consciously designed for niche audiences, but everyone eulogised it, saying, "Wow! What a performance! What an actor!" If that were not enough, Aamir was admired for daring to produce adult comedy Delhi Belly and the film's success further strengthened his image in volatile Bollywood.
3) Ranbir Kapoor: If his great grandfather, grandfather and parents are admired and respected for their cinematic genius, Ranbir Kapoor has proved that he is a true torch-bearer of the Kapoor khandan. The youngster excelled in his only release Rockstar, which was marred by a bad script. His role required a range of emotions and he stood out in every scene and kept the audiences hooked.
4) Shah Rukh Khan: Romance is his forte! But this time Shah Rukh Khan donned the garb of a superhero in RA.One to woo his fans. Though the film was not appreciated much for its content, his fans liked him as a geek scientist and as a superhero. He also earned praise for the use of technology, innovative marketing and promotional techniques to promote his product.
5). Amitabh Bachchan: Retirement? No way, says Big B. Instead he is grabbing central roles at the age of 69 and this year too he came out with two films Bbuddah Hoga Tera Baap and Aarakshan - as different as chalk and cheese. If the former saw him as a flamboyant underworld don, the latter featured him as a college principal fighting for the rights of students. In terms of business, neither were money spinners, but as far as acting is concerned, Amitabh is Amitabh. He was terrific in both the roles and critics gave him a thumbs up.
6) Farhan Akhtar: When there is a huge star cast, it is not easy to make an impression. But Farhan Akhtar did that in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, which also starred Abhay Deol and Hrithik Roshan. The art of acting is all about sensitivity, emoting, feelings -and Farhan got them all right.
7) Hrithik Roshan: Usually seen in over-the-top roles, Hrithik Roshan for the first time did a role that was slightly offbeat and closer to reality. If Kites didn't allow him to fly high in the sky, his performance in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara helped him unleash his potential as an actor.
8) R. Madhvan: An NRI, who belongs to a middle-class family, returns home to find a wife. He encounters a drunken girl, who is not interested in marrying him. But her spirit is such that he falls head over heels in love with her and it becomes heartbreaking for him to let her go with some other guy. Madhavan not only suited the role, but he revelled in it, earning plaudits from both critics and fans.
9) Abhay Deol: He emerged as the dark horse. Be it a doomed lover in Dev D or a smart thief in Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye, he has effortlessly carried his roles in the past. He continued his winning streak as a confused lover in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.
10) Saif Ali Khan: This Khan showed his sparks in Omkara and after that he embarked on a journey that showed his versatility. This year he had just one release in Aarakshan, which was not a super hit, but the film's box office performance didn't overshadow Saif's work. Critics felt he scored very highly in sincerity, subtlety and sheer screen presence as a Dalit boy in the movie, highlighting the reservation issue.

It’s official! Chikni Chameli is an adaptation


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MUMBAI: Agneepath’s Chikni Chameli… adapted from Marathi hit Kombdi Padali…, composers Ajay-Atul delighted to recreate the number.
It’s official! Agneepath’s publicity driver item song, Chikni Chameli..., picturised on Katrina Kaif, is adapted from a hit Marathi song, Kombdi Padali… from the movie Jatra. Ajay-Atul who worked on the original, are extremely kicked about the Hindi adaptation of their chartbuster that premiered on a Marathi music channel on Friday.
“It shows that Bollywood notices our work. Usually, music composers don’t like re-working their tracks or adapting them from one language into another because that’s considered to be a form of rehashing. But in a situation like Agneepath’s, we were more than happy to do it. And Shreya Ghoshal just took it to another level with her voice,” beams Atul, adding that the director Karan Malhotra and producer Karan Johar were extremely keen to have the particular number incorporated in the soundtrack.
“The situation and the film have an earthy feel. And eventually, once we started working with the team, we realised that this song works best. We have nothing to lose now because our work will get more recognition.”
Meantime, comparison is being drawn between Chameli Katrina Kaif’s koli avatar, Helen’s kashti sari from Mungda… (Inkaar) and Madhuri Dixit’s fisherwoman attire from Humko Aaj Kal Hai…. (Sailab).
Bring this up, and Katrina says, “I don’t want to be compared with dancing icons like Madhuri and Helen. Their songs are still being played on reality shows and for stage performances. They’ve done a fabulous job. I think they looked stunning in those songs.”
The actor, who is open to item songs, adds, “Mungda and the Madhuri song are classics. My song is relatively new. As for the look comparison, I don’t think any of them wore a ghagra-choli in the songs you mention. But I’d take it as a compliment if I came anywhere close to what Helen and Madhuri did.”