'The Artist', 'Hugo' in tie with five Oscars each

Los Angeles: French silent film 'The Artist' and period film 'Hugo' became the big winners at the star-studded 84th Academy Awards ceremony here as they walked away with five honours each. 'The Artist' was named the best picture and also won the best actor and best director's trophy for Jean Dujardin and Michel Hazanavicius respectively.

'The Artist', a black and white film about a silent movie star who fears his downfall after the arrival of talkies, also won in the best costume and best original score categories. The movie is said to be the second silent film to have ever won an Oscar -- the first being 1927 film 'Wings', which was awarded at the first Academy Awards in 1929.

'Hugo', directed by Martin Scorsese, won more in the techical categories. Set in 1930s Paris, it is a 3D adventure drama about a boy embroiled in the mystery of his father's death and an automaton. The film took away the honours in best cinematography, best art direction, best sound editing, best sound mixing and visual effects categories.

Veteran actress Meryl Streep received her third Oscar at the glittering ceremony at the Kodak Theatre here Sunday night. She won the best actress award for her portrayal of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher in 'The Iron Lady', which won the best makeup award too.

American actress Octavia Spencer was left in tears as she was awarded the best supporting actress trophy for Reliance DreamWorks' 'The Help', in which she essayed the role of a big-mouthed maid named Minny. The best actor in a supporting role award went to Christopher Plummer for 'Beginners'. At at 82, he is said to be the oldest winner of the golden statuette.

Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash were awarded for the best adapted screenplay of 'The Descendants', which has been translated to screen from Kaui Hart Hemmings' eponymous novel, while Woody Allen won the best original screenplay for romantic comedy 'Midnight in Paris'.

'Rango', a movie about a chameleon, was named the best animated feature film, and 'The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr.Morris Lessmore' took away the best animated short trophy at the awards gala.

The best foreign film award was given to Iranian film 'A Separation', which also won the Golden Globe trophy in the same category this year. India's official entry in the category -- Malayalam film 'Adaminte Makan Abu', had even failed to make it to the top nine shortlist.

Pakistani documentary film 'Saving Face', which uncovers the story of hundreds of people, mostly women who become acid attack victims, received the best documentary (short) title, while 'Undefeated' won the award in the best documentary (feature) category.

The Oscar for original song went to 'Man and Muppets' from 'The Muppets'. The number was composed by Bret McKenzie.

The best film editing award was bagged by Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall for David Fincher's 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo', and the best live action short film went to 'The Shore'.

Octavia Spencer wins supporting actress Oscar for 'The Help'

Los Angeles: Octavia Spencer, a first time Oscar nominee, took home the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her role as a sassy maid in the 1960s-era drama 'The Help'. 'Thank you, world!' said Spencer, who was crying and shaking as she accepted the award. The movie based upon the bestselling novel about the lives of black domestics in the pre-Civil Rights-era South has turned Spencer from character actress into a star since she has won the lion's share of awards this season.
She was so overcome she had to be helped onstage by the film's writer-director, Tate Taylor, to a long and boisterous
ovation from the star-studded audience at the 84th Academy Awards. Spencer was nominated alongside Berenice Bejo for 'The Artist', Jessica Chastain for 'The Help', Melissa McCarthy for 'Bridesmaids' and Janet McTeer in 'Albert Nobbs'.

The first awards Sunday night were presented by Tom Hanks, and both went to 'Hugo'. One was for cinematography for Robert Richardson, and the other was for art direction, which went to the husband and wife team of production designer Dante Ferretti and set decorator Francesca Lo Schiavo. Other winners were Mark Bridges, who won for costume design for 'The Artist', and Mark Coulier and J Roy Helland for makeup for transforming Meryl Streep into former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher for 'The Iron Lady'. 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo's Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall won the Best Film Editing Oscar.

Iran's 'A Separation' wins best foreign language Oscar

'A Separation' won the Oscar for best foreign language film on Sunday, becoming the first Iranian movie to win the honor.

Written and directed by Asghar Farhadi, the domestic drama focuses on a couple going through a divorce and touches on traditions, justice, and male-female relationships in modern Iran.

'A Separation' was regarded as the front-runner for the foreign language Oscar after sweeping the awards circuit in Europe and the United States. It also garnered an Oscar nomination for best original screenplay.

It was the second Iranian film to be nominated for an Oscar, and the first to win.

'At this time, many Iranians all over the world are watching us and I imagine them to be very happy,' director Farhadi said while accepting the Oscar.

'At a time of tug of war, intimidation and aggressions exchanged between politicians, the name of their county, Iran, is spoken here through her glorious culture, a rich and ancient culture that has been hidden under the heavy dust of politics.'

'I proudly offer this award to the people of my country, the people who respect all cultures and civilizations and despise hostility and resentment,' he added.

'A Separation' has received almost universal critical acclaim, gracing many top 10 lists for the best movies of 2011.

Two nights before the Oscar ceremony, Israeli and Iranian artists came together in a show of peace, said Lior Ashkenazi, a star of the Israeli foreign language Oscar entry 'Footnote'.

'At the Academy event in hour of the foreign films, we sat, spoke and all the veils came off,' Ashkenazi told Israel's Army Radio. 'They are warm hearted people. We invited them to Tel Aviv and they invited us to Tehran.'

Farhadi, who works and lives in Iran, has been reluctant to entertain theories that his film is a parable for the struggles between Iran's young dissidents and its paternalistic mullahs, saying it is up to audiences to take from the movie what they will.

Others have interpreted 'A Separation' as a comment on class differences, or as a critique of Iran's justice system, or a clash between modernity and tradition.

Farhadi made the movie under Iranian censors who impose strictures on filmmakers in the name of Islamic morality and national morale. But he has said he was not confronted with censorship.

Award-winning Iranian director Jafar Panahi was sentenced to jail in 2010 and banned from making any more films. Farhadi has spoken up for Panahi, putting himself in the line of fire from hardliners in the Iranian government.

But Farhadi has also criticized fellow Iranians who emphasize state censorship in order to promote their movies abroad, saying they are as morally culpable as the government officials who censor them.


'The Artist' wins best costume design, 'The Iron Lady' makeup

Silent black and white film 'The Artist' won an Academy Award in the best costume design category, while Meryl Streep-starrer 'The Iron Lady' took home the golden statuette for the best makeup.

Mark Bridges received the award for 'The Artist', and Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland collected the trophy for 'The Iron Lady', in which Streep reprised the role of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

Pakistani film wins Oscar for best documentary

Los Angeles: Pakistani documentary film 'Saving Face', which uncovers the story of hundreds of people, mostly women who become acid attack victims, was honoured with the Oscar award for best documentary (short) at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony here.

Directed by Daniel Junge and Pakistani filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, 'Saving Face' follows several survivors, and narrates the tale of their fight for justice, and a Pakistani plastic surgeon who has returned to his homeland to help them restore their faces and their lives.

The film beat 'The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement', 'God is the bigger Elvis', 'Incident in New Baghdad' and 'The Tsunami and The Cherry Blossom' to win the prestigious award.

In the best documentary (feature) category, the Oscar went to 'Undefeated' directed by TJ Martin, Dan Lindsay and Rich Middlemas.

AR Rahman performs at Oscars 2012

Los Angeles: Music maestro AR Rahman, who had performed at the Academy awards last year, returned to the prestigious ceremony to lend music to the Oscars show. 'Oscar sangamam - If you are watching the Oscars live, catch our Oscar superband headed by Hans Zimmer perform tonight,' Rahman posted on Facebook, alongwith a photo of his co-performers.
The 46-year-old composer, who won two Oscars in 2009 for 'Slumdog Millionaire', pleased the audience throughout
Sunday night's ceremony with his instrumentals and vocals. He had performed his tracks from the film '127 Hours' at the
Oscars last year.At the 84th Academy Awards, 'The Dark Knight Rises' composer Hans Zimmer was the show's musical consultant with Pharell Williams.

The performances at the ceremony included Esperanza Spalding's rendition of Louis Armstrong's 'What a Wonderful World' as a tribute to the dozens of entertainment industry professionals who died in the last 12 months, including Jane Russell, Whitney Houston, Elizabeth Taylor and Etta James. There was also an interlude from Cirque du Soleil. The circus gymnasts took on an old-school cinema theme, performing backflips in bell-boy outfits, cocktail dresses and tuxedos.

Controversy over SRK's bungalow: Plea filed in SC

New Delhi: The controversy over Shah Rukh Khan's palatial bungalow 'Mannat' has reached the Supreme Court with the filing of a petition alleging violations by the megastar while constructing his dream house. The petition has alleged that there were violations of archaeological laws and coastal regulation zone in the construction of Mannat.Simpreet Singh and Amit Maruand of Mumbai approached the apex court challenging the Bombay High Court's order which had dismissed their petition against Khan.

The high court had, on January 28, dismissed the PIL filed by the duo and imposed a cost of Rs 20,000 on them saying that it was a 'publicity petition'. The PIL had alleged that the actor had constructed the building inside the compound of his bungalow in violation of environment and heritage laws. Khan had, however, contended that there was no violation of rules an

The Artist shines at French awards

Silent movie The Artist shone at home on Friday, netting best film and other prizes at France's annual Cesars, held two days before the Oscars in which the film is a top favourite.

The black-and-white tribute to Hollywood's golden age -- about a silent movie star struggling after
the arrival of the 'talkies' -- was named best film at the 37th Cesars ceremony held at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris.

Berenice Bejo, who plays an up-and-coming Hollywood starlet in The Artist, was visibly moved to accept the best actress Cesar, two days before competing for the best supporting actress Oscar in Hollywood.

The French actress' partner Michel Hazanavicius was named best director for the film, which picked up best score for the 1920s and 30s-inspired soundtrack by composer Ludovic Bource, as well as best set design and best cinematography.

The Artist -- which already picked up awards at the Golden Globes, the British BAFTAS and the Spanish Goyas -- is contending for a whopping 10 Oscars at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles.

Film lead Jean Dujardin, acclaimed for his role as a fading silent film star, left the Cesars empty handed but heads to Hollywood this weekend with a chance to become the first Frenchman to win a best actor Oscar.

Omar Sy, co-star of Intouchables (Untouchables), a feel-good comedy about a quadriplegic aristocrat and his home-help from the melting-pot Paris suburbs, was named best actor -- the first black actor to scoop a Cesar.

One of the most successful films in French history with 19 million viewers, the surprise hit from Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache made a star of Sy, in a country where nearly all leading film thespians are white.

French cinema has had a bumper year artistically and commercially, with 215.6 million cinema tickets sold in the country of 65 million in 2011.AFOqa

Have acted in almost all roles: Jagathy

Thiruvananthapuram: Veteran actor and comedian Jagathy Sreekumar said that he has acted in almost all roles of father, son, grandfather, beggar, minister, king, etc. He has acted in over hundreds of roles and now is utterly confused on what roles he has to enact. Now he has no more roles to play, admits Jagathy.

He was speaking at the annual day celebrations of the Garuda Kala Samaskara Samisthy, the cultural wing of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple staff union. When he was young, there were no encouragements of any sort but this present generation is encouraged a lot. The Malayalam film industry is loaded with male and female stars but the industry is devoid of creative stories and films, Jagathy said.

The cultural meet was inaugurated by minister P S Sivakumar. Executive officer of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple V K Harikumar presided over the meet. District collector M Nandakumar gave the keynote address.

Jagathy Sreekumar was honoured in the meet. President of the Garuda Kala Samaskarika Commitee president D Venugopal, G Jayashekaran Nair, Counsellor S Udayalakshmi, A Rajashekaran Nair spoke on the occasion. Prizes were given to the winners of various cultural meet by Jagathy.

Telugu superstar Nagarjuna may join AP politics

Hyderabad: Telugu superstar Nagarjuna Akkineni may soon take a plunge into active politics in Andhra Pradesh. At the inauguration of a jewellery showroom in temple-town of Tirupati today, the actor expressed his desire to join politics, close on the heels of another popular star Nandamuri Balakrishna announcing his decision to contest the 2014 elections on behalf of the Telugu Desam Party. 'I am a keen observer of politics and feel like taking the plunge...but don't know if I will fit the bill,'
Nagarjuna, known to be a reserved person, said in reply to a question at the showroom inauguration. Son of legendary Telugu film hero and Dadasaheb Phalke awardee Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Nagarjuna endorsed some of the welfare schemes launched by the then Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.


He, however, did not campaign for the Congress though efforts were made to rope him in. The 52-year-old award winning popular star has many business interests, including in the television medium along with actor-turned-politician K Chiranjeevi.
His elder son Naga Chaitanya has started making a mark as a hero while another son Akhil, too, may step into Nagarjuna's shoes in future. Nagarjuna has starred in a few Hindi films as well, notable among them being 'Khuda Gawah' with Amitabh Bachchan, and `Shiva'. He has essayed the role of Shirdi Sai Baba in an upcoming Telugu film. Will Nagarjuna join ruling Congress or YSR Congress of Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, going by his admiration for late Y S R Reddy, is the point of debate now in the state, which has seen several star-turned-politicians.

AK Antony's son set for acting debut with Oberoi

Ajith Antony, son of Defence Minister AK Antony, has decided to try his luck in showbiz and his debut film Oberoi will go on the floors in August.

The film's director Aji John said the script for the Malayalam version is over and now they are scouting for a writer to pen the script in Tamil.

'The earliest we can start shooting for the film is in August because a few more things have to fall in place. We want the shooting to take place simultaneously for the Malayalam and Tamil version, hence the delay,' said John.

Ajith, 22, is the younger son of Antony and a graduate in English Literature from St. Stephen's College, Delhi.

The dialogues of the Malayalam film have been written by Anoop Menon and the Malayalam version would be distributed by Marikar Films.

'The story of the Malayalam version has been penned by Ajith itself as the story was his own. The photo session of the film was completed in Goa,' said John.

The film tells the tale of two North Indian families who are rivals in business.

John says that 'Ajith is the leading star' but has refused to reveal the other cast members, saying: 'Please allow us to retain a bit of suspense as the star cast is being finalised.'

John is currently looking for location for his forthcoming film Namaku Parkkan.

'Oberoi's shoot will begin only after I complete my present film and the release of Ajith's film is expected only next year,' said John.

Shruti Haasan admits getting nose-job

Actresses usually shy away from discussing their cosmetic surgeries, but Shruti Haasan has no problems in admitting that she went under the knife for a nose-job before her Bollywood debut. However, she clarifies it was for medical reasons.

She says she went in for a corrective surgery in the US because she was facing breathing problems. She revealed on BIG CBS Love's show 'India's Glam Diva' that she went through a septoplasty because of a common disorder involving a deviated septum.

Shruti, who made her Bollywood debut with 'Luck' in 2009, and is also a singer, was apprehensive about undergoing the surgery for fear of it affecting her voice.

Post-surgery, life has become a lot easier, she said, adding: 'I am able to sleep peacefully and sing without any difficulty. It is a minor procedure and I am greatly relieved.'

The 26-year-old, daughter of veteran actors Kamal Haasan and Sarika, will share more details of her nose-job on the show, to be aired Sunday.

Co-incidentally I've become face of change: Vidya

Mumbai: Vidya Balan, whose film count includes mostly female-oriented themes, says the film industry changed over the years and co-incidentally she has become the face of this change.

'I believe that change doesn't happen overnight, it takes time. I am lucky that today when we are feeling the change, it's a co-incidence that I have become a face of this change,' she said in an interview.

Vidya gave strong performances in 'Ishqiya', 'Paa', 'No One Killed Jessica' and 'The Dirty Picture'. The 33-year-old, who will be seen next in Sujoy Ghosh's 'Kahaani', feels lucky to be present at a time when such stories are being written.

'I am lucky to be a part of Indian cinema at a time when such stories and roles are being written and I am getting a chance to be a part of such good films. I try to do my work honestly. It feels great to get so much love from the people,' said Vidya who had stormed the industry with her very first film 'Parineeta' in 2005.

Releasing March 9, 'Kahaani' is a thriller and shows a pregnant woman's struggle to find her missing husband in Kolkata.

'Bel Ami' to release in India March 16

New Delhi: Robert Pattinson and Uma Thurman-starrer 'Bel Ami' will hit the theatres in India March 16.

The English language movie, based on an 1885 novel of the same name, is the story of Georges Duroy who travels through 1890s Paris and uses his wit and power of seduction to rise from poverty to wealth in a world where politics and media jostle for influence, where sex is power and celebrity an obsession.

'Bel Ami', directed by Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod, will be distributed in India by PVR Pictures.

Film associations to go on strike Thursday

New Delhi: Demanding withdrawal of service tax on the film industry, the Film Federation of India, has called for a one-day strike Thursday
The federation claimed that over 9,000 standalone movie theatres will remain shut Thursday. Multiplexes, however, will not be a part of the strike.

Kerala Film Producers' Association, Distributors' Association, Film Exhibitors' Federation, Cine Exhibitors' Association, AMMA and FEFKA too have come in support of the strike. The striking unions would stage their protest at Saritha Theatre premises, Kochi Thursday.

India pandering to emotions on fishermen’s killing: Italy

Rome: Indian authorities are pandering to emotions over the arrest of two Italian Marines for last week's killing of two Indian fishermen, Italy's Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi has said.

Indian authorities are pandering to emotions and local politics, Italian news agency AKI quoted the minister as saying Monday.

A security detail of Italian Marines Feb 15 fired at a fishing boat off the coast of Kerala, killing two Indian fisherman. The Italians said they mistook the victims to be pirates.

Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone are accused of carrying out the shooting and were taken ashore Sunday and detained by Indian authorities.

"At the moment, there are considerable differences of a judicial nature," Terzi told reporters here.

Terzi said local politics was adding to the difficulty of resolving the diplomatic differences.

The two Marines have been arrested and charged with murder. The Italians say the incident took place in international waters and the Italians should be tried in Italy. India disputes this.

"Complicating an already complex situation are the elections being held in Kerala that are without a doubt influencing the feelings of the citizens and as a consequence risk influencing the investigation," the Italian foreign minister said.

Italy said the soldiers aboard the Enrica Lexie suspected the fishing boat was a pirate vessel and followed proper procedures by firing warning shots before taking direct aim. India says the marines failed to show "restraint".

Terzi Monday spoke by telephone with his Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna and said the fishing boat was in international waters. Its location is a matter of dispute between the two countries
.

Father's Day, flawed yet bold

Kalavoor Ravikumar had tried scripting a few not-so-common themes in Malayalam cinema, in his career. Even while adhering to all the melodramatic elements his 'Ishtam' talked about the unusual relationship between a father and son and the son's attempt to bring back the long lost love to his father's life. 'Nammal' had two down-trodden youngsters who aim it big, and
emphasized the dignity of labor. 'Manjupole oru pennkutti' touched upon a taboo-subject that usually our cinema shies away from - incest, though the script falters miserably in the latter half of the cinema. 'Father's day' is the second feature film of this scenarist-turned-director who debuted with a film for children, 'Oridathoru Puzhayund'. This movie also has an uncommon
theme, that of the life of a rape victim, a very realistic portrayal of the wounded and her struggle to keep her sanity.

But being a fairly good script writer is not a guarantee for being a good director. As Auteur theory proposes, cinema is a director's creation and if he cannot master the art and craft of film the backup of a good story line will not save the movie. In 'Father's day', in spite of a realistic theme and good performances from the debutant Shahin (exceptionally good
performance for a newcomer), Revathi and Lal (in a cameo role) the director fails in selecting all the other characters and by over dramatizing many an incidents he loses the grip over the script. His professed love for theatre overshadows the movie maker giving the feel of a theatre performance with the lines clearly drawn out and movement restricted.

This is the story of a victim, her long, worn out struggle to exist in the society where the perpetrators of the crime are let scot- free and are leading a happy life. Seethalakshmi (Revathi) is trying to lead a normal life as a college lecturer enjoying her work and she has her niece (newcomer Indu Thampi) and younger brother (Vineeth) to take solace in. The appearance of
a young stranger (Shahin) topples that calmness creating ripples in her already disturbed mind.

His presence pokes old painful memories and what follows forms the rest of the story. The youngster stirs up a hornet's nest in the lives of the culprits as well. Untimely song sequences, loud performance, ignorance of basic science (the DNA test being
a crucial scene in the movie, the director could have checked the basic facts), mar the joy of watching the film. Still it is a positive move for a few reasons: one, it has a middle aged woman as the protagonist. Second, this movie is not revolving round the star value of superstars or their charisma. And finally it has a relevant story to tell.

Privileged to work with Bipasha: Madhavan

Kolkata: Lauding Bipasha Basu as one of the most outstanding and rewarding actresses he has worked with, Bollywood actor R. Madhavan Sunday said it has been a privilege to work with the dusky beauty.

'She is one of the most outstanding and rewarding co-stars I have ever worked with. Bipasha is a heroine who is involved in all creative aspects of the film,'

'It has been a privilege to work with a heroine like her who have never made anybody wait for her on the sets. Bipasha has never been late on the sets,' said Madhavan who was in the city to promote 'Jodi Breakers'.

The film, directed by Ashwini Chaudhary and set to release Feb 24, is a wicked romantic comedy.

Madhavan plays the role of Sid, who along with Bipasaha, is a 'Jodi Breaker' - helping people who want to break their marriages and start a new life.

Bipasha said that the song titled 'Bipasha' is one of the favorite songs of her four-year-old niece.

'I never expected a song after my name. And it is really good that the Song has been a hit. My four-year old niece dances whenever the song is played. It is sign of the song being a hit,' she said.

Uma Thurman turns singer

Los Angeles: After acting, Uma Thurman is set to explore her singing ability with the television show 'Smash'.

However, the 41-year-old suspects it will be the first and last time she is asked to sing on screen.

'I do some singing, but not very well! I am probably not going to be offered a record deal off of this, but I enjoy it. It is so much fun. I get to do a number,' showbizspy.com quoted Thurman as saying.

'Whenever you start to sing or dance you probably think you don't want to do it and then you start and you can't stop - even if everyone else wants you to,' she added.

Veteran Tamil actor S N Lakshmi passes away

Veteran Tamil actor SN Lakshmi passed away in Chennai on Monday. She has acted in a number of Tamil films as mother, mother-in-law and grandmother, she has played close to 1000 films. She began her career way back in 1948 as a dancer in Chandralekha.

As Urvasi's mother in Michael Madana Kamarajan or as Kamal's mother-in-law in Mahanadi or the old woman in Thevar Magan, she was everybody's favourite patti.

Lakshmi also has done many serials.

Kushboo tweeted : ' Just heard about the sad demise of a great actor SN Lakshmiamma, have done many movies with her. MMKR being the best, may her soul rest in peace.'

No more surgery, Big B fine

Mumbai: Amitabh Bachchan has shown signs of improvement, and doctors at the Seven Hills Hospital Friday decided against another surgery on the megastar.

'The surgery was supposed to happen but after the check up, doctors decided there is no need of any surgery. He is doing fine,' a source told IANS.

Following two abdominal surgeries Saturday, the 69-year-old veteran complained of pain, due to which his stay in the hospital was extended.

On Thursday night, Big B blogged that more doctors had been called for consultation over his condition and that an incision on the neck was made -- indicating serious health concerns. But all seems under control now.

Amitabh has chosen to keep his medical condition private, and his family members as well as the hospital authorities have been asked to remain tigh-tlipped about it.

'I refrain from giving greater details of my condition... in the west patient has the right to not disclose - even to family!! I realise anxious members of EF and TwFmXt need to know...whenever there is some important procedure, will inform,' Big B had tweeted Thursday.

So far there is no new update from the actor, whose recurring abdominal condition is a result of an injury on the sets of 'Coolie' 30 years ago.

`Poricha kozhine manam' still in Malayalees heart - Revati

Revathi was in Kozhikode city to inaugurate `Festiv' the womens film fest of the Providence Womens College, Kozhikode. She reminisces that whenever she is in Kozhikode she remembers about her famous dialogue `poricha kozhiyinde manam' in Killikam where she portrays Nandini Thampurati which is still cherished in every Malayalees mind.

Women are capable of undertaking different works in different times but after marriage they are tied with family and their children. There should be a change in this. Revati said that women should come forward to create an impression in society. College principal Sister A C Ancy presided over the meeting.

The programme was followed with the screening of movies directed by Revati namely `Mithr my friend' and Bengali movie `Paroma'. Revati spoke about `Mithr my friend' and `Paroma' was discussed by Deedi Damodaran, who had penned the script for the Bengali movie. On Saturday, Deepa Mehta's `Water' and a Iranian movie will be screened.

Amitabh Bachchan to undergo another operation

Mumbai: Amitabh Bachchan today said he will have to undergo a second surgery and that his stay in the hospital will be prolonged.

Bachchan, 69, who underwent an abdominal surgery on Saturday at the Seven Hills hospital, said on Twitter that he was required to make another visit to the operation theatre.

'Some more tests... more unpronounceable medication...
and... another visit to the OT... operation theatre! Going to be a long stay,' the actor tweeted, without giving details.

'I have no idea now how long this will take, but it does look as though it will be long... thank you for your prayers and love,' he added.

Admitted to the hospital on Saturday, Bachchan, who has been bravely updating his fans on his medical condition, posted a brief entry on his blog last night.

'I seek forgiveness... I will not be detailing any more... Some fresh medical issues have come up, and I need to concentrate on the treatment now,' he wrote.

Earlier on Wednesday, Bachchan had tweeted, 'Cure can be distasteful till it begins to work... till that happens, your faith in it diminishes by the minute... then suddenly AIW : All Izzz Well...!!,' he posted.

After his first surgery, the actor had tweeted he was in acute pain.

Bachchan has been battling a string of stomach ailments since his near fatal intestinal injury while filming a fight scene in 1982 movie 'Coolie'.

Unnam - Not sharp enough

This movie has everything - crime, money, lust, action - but, a story line that one could relate to. Adapted from Sriram Raghavan's 2007 Hindi movie 'Johnny Gaddaar' (acknowledging the source is a welcome change indeed), the movie is about the genesis of a crime, done on the lines of a crime thriller neo-noir film. Sunny (Lal) is a retired conman who had connections with Mumbai's underworld and Murukan (Nedumudi) is his confidante. Aloshy (Asif Ali) is an aspiring singer who now sings in a bar to eke out a living and who has been brought up by Sunny and his late wife Padma (Chitra Iyer) as their own son and Tommy (Prashanth Narayanan) is the son of an old friend of Sunny's to whom he is indebted. They plan a crime to make some quick-buck. However, this botched crime-saga to get richer by Rs. 2.5crore fails spectacularly thanks to one misdeed. A difference from the usual crime thriller pulp, is the fact that the identity of the culprit is revealed early, and the movie is an 'existential what-happens-after-he-done-it'.

Siby Malayil is a fine craftsman who could translate a good script beautifully into visual language ('Thaniyavarthanam', 'Kireedam', 'Dasharatham', 'Bharatham' with Lohitadas, 'Sadayam with MT, 'Akashadoot with Dennis Joseph). His stories usually revolved around the familial system within Kerala milieu. With 'Apoorvaragangal' he changed track opting for crime thrillers with metropolitan background suitable for a multiplex crowd. Johnny Gaddaar worked because it takes place in Mumbai whereas it is hard to visualize a no man's land in Kerala with all the characters flaunting guns, the protagonist/antagonist on a killing spree with no police or enquiry and the motive, making a fast buck, itself seemed unconvincing. Sunny decides to go for heroin-peddling not for himself, as he has retired from all that activities and is leading a life of a recluse, listening to his late wife's songs. He wants to help the others settle in life, but nobody seems to be in dire need of money and pooling 50 lakh was so easy for them all, except Murukan who plunders money in gambling. Had the plan been devised by Tommy who has no scruples when it comes to making money it would have been more convincing.

When we are watching a thriller we want the screws to be tightened with a gripping narration, but for 'Unnam' the second half becomes easily predictable and in the last shot the character reveals the motive to the audience, facing the camera. It ought to have been a monologue. Also it was more than obvious that on the throes of death, Sunny will switch on the tape recorder to hear his wife's song. The obsession with heroine's virginity is here to stay in Malayalam cinema it seems; even if she is married it ought to be so to be the love object of the hero. Aloshy is in love with Jenny (Rima Kallingal with the same plastic expression. At least she should have been provided with a good wig!), Tommy's wife. He is shown as an unscrupulous man in all his dealings, still he has not touched his wife!

The role of the protagonist look heavy for Asif Ali and his dialogue delivery resembles the delay effect (in music), with variation in timing. The surprise-package of the movie is Prashant Narayanan who has made his debut in Malayalam cinema memorable.

'Ekk Deewana Tha' about thrills of first love

New Delhi: How is it like falling in love for the first time, is what actor Prateik is set explore in his new film 'Ekk Deewana Tha', which releases Friday. Directed by Gautham Menon, the film is a launchpad of British actress Amy Jackson.

A Hindi remake of Menon's Tamil movie 'Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa', the film also features Manu Rishi and Sachin Khedekar. The music of the film is composed by Oscar winner A.R. Rahman and it is being distributed by Fox Star Studios.

The story of the film revolves around Sachin, a regular 22-year-old engineering graduate from a middle-class family in Mumbai, who is in love with cinema and wants to carve a niche for himself in filmdom. But it was not easy to fulfill the dream -- like many others, he struggles and struggles and his only source of survival is his pocket money.

While waiting for his big break, he meets Jessie and instantly falls in love with her. Jessie is a beautiful, elegant and smart girl, but belongs to an orthodox Malayali Christian family, where watching movies, partying or falling in love are taboo.

Jessie, from her end, tries to forge a friendship, believing that hiding their feelings under the umbrella of friendship would save them heartache, tears and a full-blown family drama.

'Ekk Deewana Tha' is described as intense, yet feel good love story of two completely different characters and how they cooperate with the pangs and pleasure of first love.

This is Prateik's second solo venture after 'My Friend Pinto'. However, he has been part of multi-starrers like 'Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na', 'Dhobi Ghat' and 'Aarakshan'.

Well in sync with the theme of 'Ekk Deewana Tha', the music of the film was launched with much fanfare against the backdrop of the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra.

Rumours are abuzz that Prateik and Amy are dating each other ever since they met on the sets of the film, but they refuse to confirm or deny it. Prateik admits he would love to act with Amy again.

Rahman was caught up in a controversy following objections from a Christian group over the use of the word 'Hosanna' in a song from the film. The Mozart of Madras clarified saying he didn't intend to hurt anyone's sentiments.

'As with any film project I work on, I had spent several months researching before composing and writing all the songs for 'Ekk Dewaana Tha' and had consulted friends who are Christian in particular about the use of the word 'Hosanna' in this song,' Rahman said.

Rahman rarely gets involved in promotional activities for any film but he agreed to shoot a promotional video for the film, while singing a track 'Kya hai mohabbat'.

Prateik's last solo release 'My Friend Pinto' failed to rake in moolah at the box-office, so now he pins hope on this film.

Dhanush denies brand association with Emami Navratna

New Delhi: Southern actor Dhanush denies that he has any brand association with Emami or its brand Navratna that were reported to have partnered for in-film promotion for his Tamil film '3'.

'I have no association with Emami or the brand Navratna and thus the brand has no promotional privileges as brand associates. I am not individually promoting the brand in any capacity, neither do they have any promotional rights with my film, as reported in certain newspapers,' Dhanush said in an official statement.

According to reports, the singer-lyricist of viral hit 'Kolaveri di' has been roped in to endorse Marico's Parachute Advansed hair oil.

Dilip weds Biju Menon in `Mayamohini'

Dilip's wedding with Biju Menon is over. Don't be surprised but this is a scene in Mayamohini, the new venture of director Jose Thomas. Apart from Dilip in the lead, who dons a woman character, Sudeesh too is donning a woman's role in the movie. Dilip is playing a woman's character in most part of the movie.

Shooting for the movie scripted by Uday Krishna-Sibi.K.Thomas duo is progressing in Ernakulam.

Directed by Jose Thomas and produced by P Sukumar, Madhu Warrier, Lekshmi Rai is doing the lead role in this film while Maithili, Mamukkoya, Sphadikam George, Sarath Babu, Kazan Khan are the other players. Babu Raj too plays a different role in the movie. Mayamohini movie is expected to be release in early 2012.

Vidya played choosy before saying yes for 'Kahaani'

Mumbai: Vidya Balan, who has been on a success spree after her films 'No One Killed Jessica' and 'The Dirty Picture', took a lot of time before zeroing on to Sujoy Ghosh's 'Kahaani.'

'Sujoy came to me with a script, which I didn't like. Then he said I will bring to you one idea after another till you like it. I thought he was just saying it. But he actually came with a lot of ideas to me and I liked this one a lot and asked him to develop it and that we will see. But till the time the script was not complete, I didn't say yes,' the 33-year-old said while promoting 'Kahaani' at Radio Mirchi.

Releasing March 9, 'Kahaani' tells the story of a pregnant woman who comes to Kolkata in search of her missing husband.

'He patiently waited for me and thank god he did that because it has been a great experience. I have been associated with this film in different capacities besides acting. After 'Parineeta', this is the film with which I feel so associated in terms of the process - from scripting to locations,' she said.

Vidya admits she takes her own sweet time before selecting a script.

'I take time in saying yes to a script only because I want to be completely sure that this is the film I want to do,' said Vidya, who has been picking up all the awards for her portrayal of southern siren 'Silk' in 'The Dirty Picture'.

Jayaram in Murgadoss `Thuppaki'

Jayaram will be sharing screen with Vijay in the upcoming movie 'Thuppaki', directed by 'A.R Murgadoss. The film has Vijay and Kajal Agarwal in the lead roles and Sathyan has a main role in the film. The film's music has been scored by Harris Jayaraj and cinematography by Santhosh Sivan. Murgadoss had given famous hits like Gajini and Ezham Arivu.

It will be a big break for Jayaram and he would be cast in an important role. Jayram said that when Murgadoss explained to him about his role, he was so thrilled and immediately gave his acceptance.

Mohanlal best actor, Kavya best actress

The Mathrubhumi – Kalyan Silks Movie Awards 2012 has been announced on Wednesday. Blessy's Pranayam won the best film award while Mohanlal has been selected as the best actor for his performance in 'Pranayam'. Kavya Madhavan won the best actress for her performance in 'Gaddama'. Renjith best director for film 'Indian Rupee'. All awards were selected by the viewers through coupons published in mathrubhumi, through club FM SMS & through mb4frames.com website.

Best Film : Pranayam.

Best Actor : Mohanlal (Pranayam)

Best Actress : kavya Madhavan (Gaddama)




Best Director : Renjith (Indian Rupee)

Best Screenplay : Bobby Sanjay (Traffic)

Best Supporting Actor : Thilakan (Indian Rupee)

Best Supporting Actress : Jayaprada (Pranayam)

Best Lyrics : ONV (Pranayam)

Best Music Director : M. Jayachandran (Pranayam)

Best Singer (Male) : Vijay Yesudas

Best Singer (Female) : K.S. Chithra

Best Cinematography : Santhosh Sivan (Urumi).

The awards would be given away on March 3 in Kochi.

Mullassery Madhavankutty Nemam PO fails to deliver

The film starts with a dream-sequence and ends with the fulfillment of that dream becoming reality. Madhavankutty (Anoop Menon) is a middle class government servant with a wife, a daughter and mother. A family man, he has given up his acting interests when he got married. He takes pride in his father and his lineage and is not ready to accept the money or material comforts offered by his corrupt father-in-law. He is supported in all his ventures by his ever loving and caring mother and wife and has a bunch of good friends to fall back on. His greatest dream was to build a house of his own, which gets toppled when he is confronted with school time rival (Nishant Sagar) who is a film producer now. In a fit of ire when poked by Nishant, Madhavankutty decides to make a film. His trials, tribulations and final victory make the rest of the story.

When one sees a movie a parallel plot runs in our mind and if the reel story fails to surprise, the enthusiasm of the audience will be doused. One consistent aspect about this movie is its predictability. Here are a few examples:
When Nishant ignites the passions we know that the hero will blurt out his intention of making a movie - he did.
When the hero is in dire need of money his wife will offer her 'tali' - she did
When the hero tries to cuddle with his wife after a tiff, his child will wake up calling out 'achaa' - she did
The mother when ruminating finds faults with herself for not being a strict mother rather than the one who pushes him to making a film. We know she will not see the light of another day, and the hero when he wakes up the next day will not find her in the house- he did not
The hero on the verge of collapse discusses with his friends what to do next, the bell rings, and we know it is his childhood friend who is now in Dubai and he will offer money - he did

The character of Janardhanan who comes to the film sets for a free meal will be a producer who has become bankrupt- how true

Janardhanan's car is pawned and he expresses his wish to travel one last time in that vehicle - we know the hero will retrieve the car for him - he did

The movie Madhavankutty made will make people jeer in the first half followed by a thunderous applause in the second half making it a blockbuster- that's exactly what happened

The rival will acknowledge the hero's victory - he did, the way we expected

And in the climax scene when the hero is at a loss for money for the release of his film next day, he gets the money and we know the source of the money, the person who sends it - you have not written the script, it's by Swathi Bhaskar, but your assumptions are hundred present correct!

That the male has to have the macho image is reinforced in this movie too in an irrelevant scene, where one of the minor characters, for no provocation, ridicules the effeminacy of Bollywood director Karan Johar ('pennungale pole nadakkunna alavalaathi'). ('Chandupottu', a movie by Lal Jose, had dealt with an effeminate character in the leading role, even there, in the climax he had to impregnate a woman and beat the villain blue to assert his masculinity, and thereby become acceptable in the society). And the leading lady's (Sonal Devraj) only criterion for being chosen for this role seems to be her Miss Kerala runner up title. This is supposedly a feel-good movie with no twists and turns, but falls flat in this attempt. The only relevant aspect about this movie is its incorporation of the fact how movies are made or could be made in the present scenario. If you have the date of a hero who has a good channel rating, the channels will pay a hefty amount as channel rights. This handsome amount is enough to start a movie and anyone could venture into movie making: whether he knows anything about the process or not becomes immaterial.And yes, the film has a song composed by late Ravindran and penned by Gireesh Puthencheri.

Shakira attacked by sea lion

Pop star Shakira was attempting to take a picture of a sea lion, which thought her mobile phone was a fish and attacked her. The singer suffered minor scratches.

The 35-year-old 'Hips Don't Lie' singer was busy trying to capture a good photograph of the animal, when it jumped out of the water and tried to bite her, thinking that her phone was a fish. Shakira's brother pulled her away from the beast, but the brother-sister duo couldn't manage without few bruises, reports thesun.co.uk.

Shakira posted a blog and pictures of the incident, which happened last weekend during her holiday in Cape Town, South Africa.

'This afternoon I happened to see some sea lions and seals. I thought how cute they were so decided to get closer than all of the other tourists and went down to a rock. Suddenly, one jumped out of the water so fast that it got about one foot away from me, looked me in the eye, roared in fury and tried to bite me.

'Everyone there screamed, including me. I was paralysed by fear and couldn't move, I just kept eye contact with it while my brother 'Super Tony' jumped over me and literally saved my life, taking me away from the beast. We both got our hands and legs scratched by the rocks while trying to protect ourselves.

'I believe it confused the reflection of the BlackBerry phone I was taking pics with, with some sort of fish. It thought I was teasing it with food.'

Shakira later posted a picture of her with some penguins.

She wrote: 'Today with the penguins! Definitely friendlier!'

K G Markose reach Kerala from Damam

Damam: Popular Malayalam singer K.G.Markose, who was detained in Saudi and spent 2 days in jail, will reach Kerala on Wednesday morning by the Jet Airways.

The Saudi police arrested Markose on February 10 for want of proper documents. When the singer was proceeding to AL-Qatif near Damamm after having performed in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, he was arrested. He was on a visit to stage a programme celebrating India's Republic Day organised by a Kerala group there.

The reason behind his arrest was that a notice with Markose's picture in Malayalam was being circulated and this is against the kingdom's laws. Also, the organisers of the musical programme too did not take the required sanction.

Markose spent 2 days in jail and 2 more days out on bail in Damam. Markose told Mathrubhumi that the Saudi police behaved well with him in jail.

Shah Rukh agrees to be West Bengal brand ambassador

Kolkata: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has formally accepted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's proposal to become the state's brand ambassador.

This was disclosed by Banerjee at the state secretariat Writers' Buildings Monday.

Sources said Shah Rukh's acceptance came in the form of a letter to the chief minister.

Banerjee had put the request to the movie icon during a tete-a-tete after the inauguration of the 17th Kolkata film Festival last November.

Shah Rukh had then verbally agreed to the chief minister's appeal.

Priyanka Chopra attends Grammys in white gown

Los Angeles: Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra wore a white Gauri and Nayanika gown for her debut outing at the Grammy Awards this year. The 29-year-old actress tweeted a picture of herself just before music industry's biggest awards night at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles.'A special behind the scenes pic only 4 U (sic). On my way to the Grammys. In a Gauri Nainika original! What say guys?'Priyanka's earlier tweets reflect that the actress was in a hurry to reach the awards venue and was worried about making it to the red carpet. 'I know it's started... Don't think I'll make red carpet.. Just landed! Will make the show tho (sic)! Better planning next time,' she said in a post.

Her style was in sync with the fashion at this year's Grammys as artists and celebrities walking down the red carpet kept their fashion a more understated affair than usual with the death of Whitney Houston on their minds.The multiple Grammy winning singer, 48, died on the eve of music industry's biggest night. Colors were more subdued at the Grammys and there were
quite a few women wearing black. The night's big winner Adele was as usual dressed in a black beaded gown, debuting her
newly dyed blonde hair instead of her fiery red mane. Rihanna, known to turn heads with her stunning fashion choices, kept her look simple with a black revealing Armani number. Singer Alicia Keys was also spotted in a black dress. Lady Gaga, who has earned a name in wearing outrageous outfits, shunned the red carpet but attended the show in a black and gold plastic dominatrix-style corset over a black mesh bodysuit.

Pop star Katy Perry arrived with blue hair that complemented a full-length baby blue sparkly gown with plunging back, while rapper Nicki Minaj sported a red Versace couture hooded cape and arrived on the arm of an escort dressed in a pope outfit.

Adele triumphs at Grammys with six wins Adele triumphs at Grammys with six wins Adele triumphs at Grammys with six wins

Los Angeles: British soul singer Adele won four early Grammys on Monday, including song of the year for her smash hit 'Rolling in the Deep,' in a show that began on a somber note with a prayer for late pop superstar Whitney Houston.

Adele, whose album '21' was among the smash hits of 2011, took the stage and thanked her doctors, who performed surgery on her throat in 2011. 'Seeing as it's a vocal performance I need to thank my doctors, I suppose, who brought my voice back,' she said.

Aside from surgery, the British singer has enjoyed a stellar year. Her sophomore album '21' has sold more than 6.3 million copies in the US and broken many sales records, including spending 19 weeks at number 1 on the Billboard album chart.

She has thrilled fans singing about personal heartbreak in a raw, soulful manner in singles including 'Rolling in the Deep,' 'Someone Like You,' which earned her a second Grammy for best solo pop performance, and 'Set Fire to the Rain.'

Adele also sang for the first time in front of a public audience since her operation, belting out a rendition of 'Rolling In the Deep.' She earned a standing ovation and basked in the limelight.

Rockers Foo Fighters were the other big winners early in the show, picking up five Grammys in rock music categories, including best rock performance for their hit 'Walk.'

'This is a great honor because this record was a special record for our band. Rather than go to the best studio ... we made this one in my garage with some microphones and a tape machine,' said frontman Dave Grohl. 'It shows that the human element of making music is what's most important.'

But as jubilant as the audiences was for Adele and as much as Foo Fighters rocked the house, the Grammys audience was equally serious about the death of Houston on Saturday in a Beverly Hills hotel room.

Rockers Foo Fighters were the other big winners, picking up five Grammys including best rock performance for the hit 'Walk.'

'This is a great honor because this record was a special record for our band. Rather than go to the best studio ... we made this one in my garage with some microphones and a tape machine,' said frontman Dave Grohl. 'It shows that the human element of making music is what's most important.'

Host LL Cool J took the stage and offered a prayer for Houston, her fans and her family. 'Although she is gone too soon, we remain truly blessed by her musical spirit,' he said.

Organizers played a video of Houston performing her hit 'I Will Always Love You' from a previous Grammy show. Later, actress and singer Jennifer Hudson, who won an Oscar for her role in movie musical 'Dreamgirls,' is expected to perform the same song in a tribute to the singer.

MANY WINNERS

Grammy organizers give out awards in more than 75 categories and many early winners mentioned Houston. Singer Melanie Fiona, who won with Cee Lo Green for traditional R&B performance for 'Fool For You,' said she was inspired by Houston.

'Whitney Houston, I would not be standing up here if not for you,' Fiona said. Backstage, she told reporters her mother had rocked her in the cradle to Houston's songs when she was a baby.

Major winners included Jay-Z and Kanye West for best rap performance with their song, 'Otis' from the album 'Watch the Throne,' but they failed to show up to claim their prize. Chris Brown won the Grammy for best R&B album 'F.A.M.E.', and Lady Antebellum took home best country album with 'Own the Night.'

Rousing performances came from Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Chris Brown, Coldplay and Rihanna, Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson, and Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt sang a duet of 'A Sunday Kind of Love' from Etta James, who also died in 2012.

Country singer Taylor Swift picked up two awards for her song 'Mean,' about people she felt had wronged her, and DJ Skrillex won two Grammys for best dance recording and top dance/electronica album with 'Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites.'

Rapper Kanye West earned seven nominations, but was shut out of the top categories, paving the way for Adele to be the night's big winner - or surprise loser if she fails to overcome competition. Along with his rap performance trophy, West won a second award for best rap album with 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.'

Still to come were top awards including best album where Adele's '21' faces rockers Foo Fighters and their hit 'Wasting Light,' Lady Gaga with 'Born This Way,' Bruno Mars and his 'Doo-Wops & Hooligans,' and pop star Rihanna with 'Loud.'

Adele also figures prominently among nominees for record of the year where 'Rolling in the Deep' squares off against rockers Bon Iver and 'Holocene,' Bruno Mars for 'Grenade,' Mumford and Sons with 'The Cave,' and Katy Perry for 'Firework.'

One poignant moment came early in the day when Mitch and Janis Winehouse, parents of late singer Amy Winehouse who died of excessive drinking in 2011, accepted the award for best pop duo or group performance - Amy and Tony Bennett - 'Body and Soul.'

'Long live Whitney Houston. Long live Amy Winehouse and long live Etta James,' referring to the 'At Last' singer who died earlier this year. 'There's a beautiful girl band up there.'Reuters

Ban on Nitya Menon again

Kochi: Nitya Menon was issued a ban again. Following the ban by the Producers Association, the Film Distributors Association too imposed the ban this time. The Association has issued a circular not to distribute the films in which Nitya Menon had acted. General secretary of the Distributors Association Jose C Mundadan issued the circular to the members.

The recent ban is on Nitya's films Ustad Hotel and Bachelor party. She had earned the wrath of the producers association when a senior producer approached her on the sets of the movie Thalsamayam Penkutty in Thiruvananthapuram to sign her for his movie. However, Nithya was reportedly busy with the shoot and refused to meet the producer and forwarded him to her manager. The irate producer lodged a complaint with KFPA following which a ban was imposed on her.

Central Pictures, which has the distribution rights of Ustad Hotel, and the Exhibitors Federation affirmed that the movie would be released on time.

The Artist named Best Picture at the British Academy Film Awards

Silent movie The Artist had a night to shout about Sunday, winning seven prizes including Best Picture at the British Academy Film Awards.

Britain's equivalent of the Oscars rewarded the French homage to old Hollywood over a homegrown favorite, espionage thriller Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

The Artist, a black-and-white picture that has charmed audiences around the world since its Cannes debut in May, was named best film, and its rubber-limbed star Jean Dujardin took the male acting prize. Its filmmaker, Michel Hazanavicius, won prizes for directing and his original screenplay.

Dujardin said it was 'incroyable' -- incredible -- to win a prize in the homeland of acting titan Laurence Olivier, William Webb Ellis -- the inventor of rugby -- 'and Benny Hill.'

Hazanavicius thanked presenter Brad Pitt for pronouncing his name correctly -- and academy voters for recognizing that his silent film even had a screenplay.

'So many people thought there was no script because there was no dialogue,' he said.

Another homage to early cinema, Martin Scorsese's Parisian fantasy Hugo, took prizes for sound and production design.

John le Carre adaptation Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy went into the ceremony with 11 nominations compared to 12 for The Artist, but won just two prizes, for British film and for adapted screenplay.

Writer Peter Straughan dedicated the screenplay award to his wife and co-writer Bridget O'Connor, who died of cancer before the film was completed.

'She wrote all the good bits and I made this coffee,' Straughan said. 'So, Bridget -- I love you, I miss you. This is for you.'

The British prizes, known as BAFTAs, are considered a strong indicator of likely success at Hollywood's Academy Awards, to be held on February 26.

The trophies give more momentum to The Artist, which has already won three Golden Globes, and has 10 Oscar nominations.

Dujardin, who plays a silent screen icon eclipsed by the talkies, said the appeal of The Artist lay in its accessibility.

'It's a simple story,' he said. 'It's a love story. It's universal. And there's a cute dog' -- Jack Russell terrier Uggie, who almost steals the film from his two-legged co-stars.

The Artist also won prizes for cinematography, costume design and for Ludovic Bource's sprightly musical score.

As predicted, Meryl Streep was named best actress for her depiction of Margaret Thatcher, Britain's first female prime minister, in The Iron Lady. The film also won a well-deserved prize for hair and makeup.

'The ambition of this film was to look at the life of the Iron Lady from the inside out, and to locate something real -- maybe hidden but truthful -- in the life of someone we've all decided we know everything about already,' Streep said.

The supporting actor prize went to Christopher Plummer, as an academic who makes a new start late in life in Beginners. Octavia Spencer was named best supporting actress for her turn as a fiery maid in Deep South drama The Help. Spencer said The Help had been called 'an American movie about American problems and American history.'

'I am so grateful to you for seeing past that,' she said. 'Because surely oppression knows no gender, no sexual orientation, no country.'

George Clooney, Pitt, Jessica Chastain, Penelope Cruz, Colin Firth and Judi Dench were among the stars who braved the London cold and bouts of sleet to walk the red carpet before a televised ceremony, hosted by comedian, writer and actor Stephen Fry, at the Royal Opera House.

Many of the frocks were in muted or pastel tones, though The Help star Viola Davis, a best-actress nominee, arrived in a pink Valentino 'eco gown' made from recycled plastic bottles.

Presenting the award for special effects, Cuba Gooding Jr. paid tribute to singer Whitney Houston, who was found dead in a Beverly Hills hotel on Saturday.

'Whitney, I will always love you,' he said -- a reference to one of her best-known songs.

The effects prize went to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2, the final film in the magical franchise and the top-grossing British movie of the year.

Actor-turned-director Paddy Considine and producer Diarmid Scrimshaw took the best British debut prize for the wrenching domestic drama Tyrannosaur.

Kidulthood actor Adam Deacon won the rising star prize, the only category selected by public vote.

Senna, a portrait of the short, sensational life of race car driver Ayrton Senna, was named best documentary and also won the editing prize.

Scorsese received the BAFTA Fellowship, a lifetime achievement prize, for his 'outstanding and exceptional' contribution to cinema in films including Taxi Driver and Raging Bull.

Veteran British actor John Hurt was given an honor for outstanding British contribution to cinema for a career that includes memorable roles in Elephant Man, The Naked Civil Servant and Alien.

Hurt said his advice to young people would be the same as Noel Coward gave to him when he was an aspiring actor: 'Press on.'

'Press on, and don't let anybody get in the way of your instincts,' Hurt said.

In recent years, the British awards have helped underdog films gain momentum for Hollywood success.

In 2010, Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire won seven BAFTAs, including best film; it went on to take eight Oscars. Last year The King's Speech won seven BAFTAs and four Oscars, including best picture.

Popular Kerala singer detained, freed by Saudi police

Thiruvananthapuram: Popular Malayalam singer K.G.Markose was first detained and then released by Saudi Islamic police Saturday while on a tour of Saudi Arabia to hold a stage programme celebrating India's Republic Day.

'The incident occured Friday evening at 7.30 p.m when the singer was proceeding to AL-Qatif near Damamm after having performed in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. He was on a visit to stage a programme celebrating India's Republic Day organised by a Kerala group there,' said an official from Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy's office to IANS.

He added: 'The reason behind his arrest, as being told to us, is that a notice with Markose's picture in Malayalam was being circulated and this is against the kingdom's laws. What we are given to understand is that the organisers of the musical programme also did not take the required sanction.'

Markose also spoke to IANS over telephone.

'Right now, I am in a police station in Dammam and they are verifying my papers and so far there has been no arrest. They have found out that I am on a visit visa and am sure that very soon I would be asked to leave the station. The officials are very nice to me and I have no problems here at all. I have been told that this programme did not have the required permission from authorities,' said Markose.

After efforts by various non-resident Malayalis in the Gulf and Oomen Chandy's office, Markose was finally released late Saturday evening.
Markose, who has been a professional singer for the past three decades is a very popular devotional singer and has also sung in Malayalam films.

No free time for Riteish, Genelia until March

Chennai: They got married in a lavish Maharashtrian style wedding just a week ago, and the newlywed couple Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D'Souza are back to work ever since. The actor says it's only in March he would get some free time.

'Yes it has been hectic and tomorrow (Feb 12) I start promoting my film, which is releasing very soon. I think I'll get a break in March and then would only think of doing other things,' Riteish told IANS on the sidelines of the semi-finals of Celebrity Cricket League held here Saturday.

Riteish will soon be seen in Ramesh Taurani's 'Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya', which releases Feb 17. This would be Riteish and Genelia first movie after marriage.

The couple, who tied the knot in Feb 3 in Mumbai, were dating each other for the past eight years. They met on the sets of 2003 film 'Tuzhe Meri Kasam'.

However, unlike others, Riteish and Genelia weren't involved in unnecessary PDA (Public Display of Affection) during the match and behaved quite normally with each other, though she did enthusiastically cheer for her husband everytime he bowled or bat on the pitch.

Njanum Ente Familyum: a done to death theme

Indian cinema has always forgiven men who have had extramarital relationships since their wives have always accepted the illegitimate child born out of the liaison. In most cases the wives were lucky to get a son without undergoing the pain of childbirth! Balu Mahendra's 1982 movie 'Olangal' and Shekhar Kapoor's 1983 flick 'Masoom' had the same story line which was broadly based on Erich Segal's 'Man, woman and child'. 'Pavakkooth', 'Sindhubhairavi' 'Chanchattam', and 'Arthana' are a few among a long list of movies based on this particular theme with slight variations. Still K K Rajeev thought this to be a novel theme for his directorial debut. Rajeev ushered in a change in the world of mega serials with his innovative themes and presentation skills giving the audience a handful of quality serials like 'Peythozhiyathe', 'Avicharitham', 'Swapnam' etc. He had used the complications of an extramarital relationship in his 'Avicharitham' and he uses the same theme for his first venture on celluloid. In 'Avicharitham' it was the man who dies (the same idea was repeated in Shaji Kailas' movie segment 'Lalitham Hiranmayam' in Kerala Café, a theme Kieslovsky perfected in his 1993 movie 'Three Colours: Blue') and the film differs in this aspect.

'Njanu ente familyum' is the story of a doctor couple (Jayaram and Mamta Mohandas) with strong family ties. The husband is a dedicated and proficient cardio thoracic surgeon who on one of his missions learns that the patient (Manoj K Jayan) he was to operate is the husband of his college love (Mythili). The death of the patient and the loneliness of the wife lead to an extramarital relationship. The rain-enhanced-physical-proximity leads to an easy pregnancy, as old as the history of Indian cinema! What follows is the dilemma of the family man. Finally all is forgiven and the son born outside the wedlock is accepted by the lawful wife into her family of two daughters! All is well!

The stolen kisses and the bedroom scenes seemed so worn out and simulated, similarly the scene involving Jagathy giving counselling to a couple interspersed with his personal life with a domineering wife arouses nothing but disgust, for this is the umpteenth time the theme gets repeated on screen. Everybody seems to take sides with the doctor; the humiliation and hurt of the betrayed wife never surfaces on screen. The final scene freezing on the jubilation of the three men (Jayaram, Jagathy and Nedumudi Venu) on the acceptance of the illegitimate son into the family was the last nail on the coffin, propagating the age old notion of everything being permissive for men.

The visual grammar of cinema is totally different from that of tear jerker soaps. The small screen calls for more close ups or medium close ups and Rajeev being used to that medium adhere to that format in his first venture on the silver screen. Jarring music foregrounds performance to create a dramatic effect as in serials. The wife waiting anxiously outside the operation theatre in a designer sari is another cut-from-the-soaps scene. The script of Cheriyan Kalpakavadi couldn't get anything out of a veteran actor like Jagathy, nor from Mamta Mohandas whose character is poorly etched, her pathos completely underplayed. The director could have remembered that this is not yet another tele-serial by him.

Filmmaker O P Dutta passes away

Mumbai: Veteran Bollywood writer-filmmaker O P Dutta died here following a bout pneumonia at the Kokilaben Hospital in suburban Andheri.

The end came last night around 9.30 pm.

According to Dr Ram Narain, COO, Kokilaben Hospital, Dutta was admitted to the hospital on February 7 and he
succumbed to complications of pneumonia yesterday.

The filmmaker, who was in his late 80s, began his career as a director with 'Pyaar Ki Jeet' in 1948, followed by
'Surajmukhi' (1950), 'Ek Nazar' (1951), 'Malkin' (1953), 'Aangan' (1959) and others, later he turned writer for his son
J P Dutta with films like 'Ghulami' (1985), 'Hathyar' (1989), 'Border' (1997), 'Refugee' (2000), 'LOC Kargil' (2003) and his
last film as a writer was 'Umrao Jaan' (2006).

Actor Abhishek Bachchan, who worked with him for 'Umrao Jaan', expressed grief over his demise.

'As soon as I get off the stage, I receive the terrible news of the passing of Mr O P Dutta. Father to J P Dutta. The
director who launched me.. O P ji was J P saab's writer and dialogue writer. He penned my very first words that I ever
said on screen. Such a loving man,' Abhishek wrote on Twitter. 'Full of zest, positivity and compassion. Had a great
sense of humor and so rich in experience. He taught me one of my greatest lessons in life...'jab bura apni burayi na chode,
phir achcha apni achchayi kyun chode?' (if the bad does not stop being bad, then why... should the good stop being good),'
he said.

Hema malini's daughter Esha to get engaged to boyfriend Bhara

Mumbai : Veteran actress Hema Malini and Dharmendra's daughter Esha Deol would be getting engaged to her businessman boyfriend Bharat Takhtani this Sunday.

Esha has been dating the Bandra based businessman for quite some time now. The couple will exchange rings just two
days before the Valentine's Day, on February 12.

'The engagement is happening this Sunday. We are very happy that my daughter is getting engaged. He (Bharat) is a
lovely boy and we all like him. It is a very happy moment not only for her (Esha) but for the entire family,' Hema told PTI.

Rumors mills were abuzz that Esha's engagement would take place soon after the release of her comeback film, 'Tell Me Oh
Khhuda' (2011), directed by her mother.

On the marriage plans, she said, 'It is a very happy occasion so we will have to do it on a proper date...a good
day. We shall announce it as soon as we zero down on any date,' she said.

Reportedly, Esha always maintained that she would not go for an arranged marriage but fall in love instead. She had
also said that her parents' approval is of utmost importance to her.

'Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu' a chilled-out romcom

Film: 'Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu'; Starring: Kareena Kapoor, Imran Khan; Directed by: Shakun Batra; Rating: *** 1/2

She is fun, feisty and ….well, full-on. He needs to loosen up. Urgently!! Son of two stuffed-up high-society mannequins Rahul Kapoor is a repressed child going into depressive manhood. Since this is a rom-com, and one sparkling with vigour with warmth and what-have-youth, you know Rahul will meet Ms Fun-Feisty-Full-On before Reel 1 is done.

'Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu'(EMAET) comprises a series of elegantly-written, confident but never in-your-face scenes about what happens when two opposites meet in a city as all-embracing as Las Vegas. Of course, sparks fly.

But neither Kareena Kapoor nor Imran Khan is in a hurry to set off a combustive fire. There is a whole lot of tranquility in the way the relationship between the firebrand and the nerd is built. The rough edges are largely sacrificed on the editing table. The progression of the relationship is seamless and smooth.

Unlike, say, Siddharth Anand's 'Anjaana Anjaani' where the on-screen rapport between the protagonists suffered because one of the actors was constantly trying to steal scenes from the other, here neither Kareena nor Imran is in a hurry to hijack a single moment from one another. This is one of the most immaculately cast romantic comedies in recent times.

Sure, Kareena has an edge. Her character is less passive than Imran's and she has some of the film's best lines. The actress, back in form after two marginalized mammoth odes to machismo ('Bodyguard', 'Ra.One') turns in a perfectly-modulated performance. Her character is not so much a portrait of warmth and radiance as it is an illustration of perfect asymmetry. Here's a woman who enjoys the chaos that she creates in her universe. She lives by her own rules. And before the film is done she teaches Imran Khan's character how to tell your parents to buzz off before it's too late. Rules be stuffed down the toilet.

Imran is good at playing the attentive, obedient, faithful boyfriend. He did the invisible-halo act effectively in 'Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na', 'Break Ke Baad' and 'Mere Brother Ki Dulhan'. He does it even better here, probably because of the company he keeps in this film.

There are episodes in this boy-meets-girl, girl-tweaks-boy's-life saga that leave you smiling for a very long time. Indeed EMAET is a high-concept ever-grin mellow-drama. You just can't stop grinning at the sparkling warmth and the cute quips shared by the lead pair.

Curiously, debutant director Shakun Batra opts for an open ending. Finally we only know that some day Rahul might win the feisty Rihana over. But here's the glimmer of hope. Even if he doesn't win her over he gets to keep her company for as long as they share a common ground.

Here is a film that doesn't score high on ground-breaking ideas on romantic relationships. Instead it weaves itself into commonplace ideas on love romance and commitment and comes up with vignettes of terrific sincerity. A lot of the film's gently persuasive energy comes from the discernible respect that the lead pair has for each other's space as actors. No one-upmanship here, thank you. Boman Irani and Ratna Pathak Shah too are delightful as Imran's la-di-dah parents. They reminded me of Pran and Sonia Sahni in Raj Kapoor's 'Bobby'. In comparison Kareena's Catholic family comes across as too casual to be real.

Within two weeks Dharma Productions has given us two diametrically opposite genres of cinema from two debutant directors. If Karan Malhotra's 'Agneepath' took us back to the grand formulistic revenge drama of the 1970s EMAET takes us into the future of Bollywood where actors don't have to sing. They don't have to act. They just have to be as normal as people in love tend to be.

This is a perceptibly urbane love story, told in a style shorn of gimmicks. There is no attempt to capture our attention. The narrative gets us watching without getting sweaty with anxiety.

A very chilled-out romcom indeed.

Bachchan to undergo abdominal surgery

Mumbai: Megastar Amitabh Bachchan would be undergoing an abdominal surgery today at the Seven Hills hospital in suburban Andheri. On February 9, Bachchan had revealed about the operation on his blog. The actor had said he will get a CT scan done on Friday, but did not reveal the hospital he will be treated at. However, sources told PTI that he is to undergo the surgery at Seven Hills hospital today. 'He was admitted to the hospital late last night,' they said. Seven Hills is the same hospital where his daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan delivered a baby girl last year. Big B, who has a history of stomach ailments, had written on his blog, 'A surgery that I shall be undergoing on the 11th morning and the surgery they say is not too complicated.' He had suffered a near fatal intestinal injury while filming a fight scene in 1982 movie 'Coolie' following which he remained in hospital for many months with fans praying for his well being.

'My stomach which has already been the bed of many complicated battles in the past, shall have to entertain this as well,' Bachchan said. The veteran also thanked his well wishers and fans ahead of the surgery on his blog early this morning.
'I wish to thank all those that have most graciously sent in their concern and greetings for a speedy recovery. Your prayers shall go a long way in bringing me back to normal and for this I am always eternally grateful,' he wrote.

Nobody thought I was pretty: Bipasha

Given her svelte frame and bold image, Bipasha Basu is surely a head-turner, but she says in her younger days, she wasn't considered pretty due to her dusky complexion.

'I was never meant to be beautiful. I was a short, dark and round girl. Nobody thought I was pretty at all. Cruel jokes have been made about it. I think most people were surprised by the way I looked,' Bipasha said on an upcoming episode of Big CBS Love's 'India's Glam Diva'.

The show brings together women from the entertainment and sports industry to compete as India's final choice of the most glamorous diva. Those in the competition include Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra, Vidya Balan, Aishwarya Rai, Katrina Kaif, Sonam Kapoor, Sunidhi Chauhan, Ekta Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Sania Mirza, Freida Pinto, Shruti Haasan and Bipasha.

The episode featuring Bipasha will be aired Sunday. A few facts about the actress were unveiled during the shoot.

The 33-year-old actually wanted to be a doctor, but gave up the plan after she fainted while attempting to dissect rats. She went on to be a successful model, and entered filmdom in 2001 with 'Ajnabee'.

She was recently seen in 'Players', and is now gearing up for the release of romantic comedy 'Jodi Breakers'.

'3' will be dubbed in Hindi: Dhanush

New Delhi: 'Kolaveri Di' hitmaker Dhanush says that his upcoming Tamil film '3' will be dubbed in Hindi.

Dhanush, 28, who is the son-in-law of superstar Rajinikanth, said there will be some delay to the film's release because they are planning a global release.

''3' will be released in Hindi dubbed, Telugu dubbed and Tamil with English subtitle all over d world. It will hit the screens March end or April .. Since its a national release its taking time(sic),' he posted on Twitter.

Directed by wife and debut director Aishwarya Dhanush, the film stars Dhanush and Shruti Haasan in the lead roles.PTI

How could you be youth role model, daughter asks SRK

His fans look up to him as an idol, but superstar Shah Rukh Khan's daughter Suhana believes her father isn't the perfect youth icon as he smokes a lot.

'Daughter just reprimanded me... how can u be the HT survey youth role model if you smoke. So to all the youths out there... please don't smoke!!' tweeted Shah Rukh.

'Big reprimand for smoking from my strict little atom bomb of a daughter!!!' he added.

The 46-year-old is said to be a chain-smoker but has admitted smoking is the 'worst habit'.

Rajini's shivathandavam

The first look of superstar Rajinikanth in his next venture Kochadaiyaan was released. Rajini is making his first appearance in this movie after his recovery.

Soundariya Ashwin's debutant directorial Kochadaiyaan, a 3D film, showcases Rajinikanth as a king, who is a devotee of lord Shiva. Rajini is doing Shivathandavam on the top of mountains for the blessings of god. Deepika Padukone will be the heroine and Shobana, Sarath Kumar, Nassar, Jackie Shroff, Sneha and Aadhi will be doing important roles.

Script is by K.S.Ravikumar and Rajiv Menon cranks the camera, A.R.Rahman is composing the music and Sunil Lulla will be producing under Eros Entertainment.

Aishwarya Sakhuja is new Cadbury girl

Mumbai: Keeping in tune with its family bonding theme Cadbury has roped in TV actress Aishwarya Sakhuja as the face for its upcoming ad campaigns.Aishwarya, who is being loved by young and old alike for her portrayal of the sweet and understanding daughter-in-law Toasty in Sony's popular show 'Saas Bina Sasural' seemed to the be the most apt choice.In the family drama, the actress is seen as a homemaker and not a home breaker.
'To reach out to the target audience one requires a celebrity face with whom the target audience can relate to, and Aishwarya seems to have the right brand value,' said a statement.

Aamir bowled over by snake boat on Kerala visit

Kochi: Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan was spellbound seeing the famous snake boat used during the boat races in Kerala here today. Khan, 46, who is on a three day visit to Kerala in connection with the promo shoot of 'Bharat Dharshan' - a project being planned by Aamir Khan productions, saw the snake

boat with 120 rowers and Pulinkunnu in Alapuzha this morning.

'Seeing school children in a small fishing craft, Aamir got into a similar boat and was very excited,' T M Rafeeq, of Pakka Pakka Ad films, which is doing the promo shoot, told PTI.

Khan was experimenting with a new project and its test shoot was going on now with the actor, he said. The project is reportedly about the life of people in various states in India.

The '3 Idiots' star also examined the Chinese fishing nets in Fort Kochi near Kochi, which are in use for the last 500 years, and tried his hand at operating them, sources said.

These famed nets are fast vanishing from the Kochi coastline due to huge maintenance cost and poor catch. Called 'Cheena Vala' in local parlance, the huge cantilevered fishing nets are believed to have been brought by Portuguese from Macau, once a Portuguese colony.

'Keralites are very friendly people,' said the actor, who is visiting the state for the second time.

Seeing the huge crowd of spectators at Fort Kochi and Alapuzha, he said he did not know he had so many fans in the state.

Khan, who arrived here yesterday, shot for a while at the Alapuzha beach. He played cricket with kids at the beach as part of the shoot. Seeing a huge crowd, he waived at people and obliged the autograph hunters.

Briefly interacting with media personnel at Alapuzha, he said would love to do Malayalam films. 'I would love to if the role is such that the person does not know the language,' Khan quipped

Fox Star to distribute `Second Show' outside Kerala

Kozhikode: Fox Star Studio was given the exclusive distribution rights outside Kerala for `Second Show' in which Mammooty's son Dulqar Salman made his debut. Fox Star Studios is an movie production and distribution company, a joint venture between Twentieth Century Fox and STAR, both owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation.

It is for the first time that Fox Star, which started functioning in India in 2008, is taken up the distribution rights of a Malayalam movie. Fox Star Studios has released many Hollywood blockbusters in India and has also produced films which have collaborated with Indian production companies, and have been released in International markets.

The movie, made under the banner of AOPL entertainment, said that the tie up will not only benefit Second Show but the whole Malayalam industry. Second Show will be released outside Kerala on February 10 in as many as 50 theatres.

Singer S Janaki slips, sustains head injuries

Tirupati: Veteran playback singer S Janaki slipped in her bathroom at a hotel this morning and sustained head injuries.

The hotel staff immediately rushed her to the Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences in the town where doctors treated her and kept under observation.

'There is no need to worry,' the doctors said adding she had seven stitches to her head.

Asked if there would be any need for surgery, the doctors said there was no need and the singer would recover.

Janaki's hypertension and diabetes were well within limits, they said. Janki, who is in her seventies, is maintaining excellent health and has been actively attending various music programmes in Andhra Pradesh on the request of various organisations.

She came here to participate in a music programme.

The noted singer is likely to be discharged later this evening, the doctors said. (UNI)