Filmmakers offer an interesting palette of films during IPL

Mumbai: Bollywood filmmakers have put up a brave act this year by lining up a string of big and small budget films for release in the next two months even as the cricket fever kicks off from April 4, with IPL season 5. This year, films which will face the IPL, mainly include Sajid Khan's multi starrer comic caper, 'Housefull 2' (April 6), actor John Abraham's maiden home production 'Vicky Donor' (April 20), Viacom 18 Motion Pictures' 'Bittoo Boss' (April 20) and Vidhu Vinod Chopra's 'Ferrai Ki Sawari' (April 27). On the risk of releasing a film during IPL, Sajid Khan told PTI, 'Its OK to release a film during IPL..its a myth not to release a film during that time. IPL will also do well andeven 'Housefull 2' will be a superhit film.'

According to actor-turned-producer John Abraham, 'the IPL opens very strong and dips in the middle after the first fortnight, and that is when we have decided to release the film. Because we know there is going to be a fatigue factor somewhere in the middle and we are going to cash in on that.' 'It is not a social film (Vicky Donor)..its a commercial one. The concept of sperm donation is first of its kind, we needed it to be treated with care. We know that our target audience is mainly colleges. We will market this film effectively,' he said.

Priyadarshan's action-thriller 'Tezz' (April 27), Emraan Hashmi-starrer 'Jannat 2' (May 4), Karisma Kapoor's comeback film 'Dangerous Ishq' (May 11), Yash Raj Films 'Ishaqzaade' (May 18) and Ram Gopal Varma's 'Department' (May 18) are other releases. 'This time around we have a fantastic variety of films lined up for release during IPL. Its great that filmmakers are
not afraid of IPL anymore. Usually it is vacation time, summer holidays..so everyone wants to relax.. have a good time, so
what better than a good dose of entertainment through movies,' Trade Analyst Taran Adarsh told PTI.
'This is a great trend as a mix of both big and small
films are releasing during this time. Films should release
whether IPL or no IPL,' he said.
Now its wait and watch on who scores high on audience
attention -- cricket or films.

Vidya had to undergo more than 60 tests to bag Parineeta

She is one of the most sought after actresses today but her journey in filmdom wasn't a cake walk.

Vidya Balan had to give over 60 screen tests for her debut Bollywood film, Parineeta.

After appearing in several ad films and music videos, she made her debut in B-town with Vidhu Vinod Chopra's home production in 2005.

'I was doing ad films and I had signed quite a few South films but then I went through a phase of being called jinxed because my first South film was stopped midway and then other directors threw me out of their films. I started doing music videos but Dada (director Pradeep Sarkar) had told me he would make a film with me,' Vidya told reporters here, last night at the Vidhu Vinod Chopra festival.

'He (Pradeep Sarkar) went to Chopra (Producer) with the script and Chopra wanted a bigger star but he also said if I am able to show that I can do the role then they will take me. I gave over 60 tests right from Indian look, western look, curly hair, straight hair, song, emotional scene, etc. I kept doing it but later I was fed up as I was not aware if they were really going to take me or not,' Vidya said.

'And the moment I gave up was the time when I got the film,' 34-year-old actress recalled.

Producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra made her undergo gruelling tests for the role of Lalita, till she got it right.

'We tested her 60-65 times. After a few tests I saw her looking at the camera and abusing me. The fact that she was desperate to do the film, it showed in those 60-65 tests. But when she did not give a damn was the time when she performed. If you are desperate for something you won't get it,' Chopra said.

'Vidya became Vidya Balan when she stopped caring. I am happy that she sustained those 65 odd tests and did not give up and look where she is today,' he said.

The Dirty Picture star also revealed that even director Pradeep Sarkar, made her do 28 takes to capture an emotional moment in the song Raat Humari Toh.

Parineeta besides Vidya, also starred Saif Ali Khan and Sanjay Dutt in pivotal roles and was a hit at the box office.

PVR Cinemas, in association with Chopra has organized a first of its kind retrospective of his films as a tribute to mark his completion of 30 years in the film industry.

On the second day of the fest when Parineeta was screened, those present on the occasion included Vidya, Raima Sen, Pradeep Sarkar, cinematographer Natarajan Subramaniam and music director Shantanu Moitra among others.

'Peepli' goes without power as film unit 'fails' to pay up

The power supply to Badwai village in Raisen district where Aamir Khan's much acclaimed Peepli Live was shot has been discontinued due to alleged non-payment of dues of over Rs 3.5 lakh by the film unit and the village has been without electricity for the last fortnight.





The matter was raised on Friday in the Madhya Pradesh assembly during the Zero Hour by Arif Aqueel of Congress.


Aqeel alleged that villagers were forced to live without electricity as the film unit had failed to pay the power dues.


The film unit allegedly owes Rs 3.5 lakh to the state utility. Some villagers, including Masterji, Gaya Prasad (who featured in the film) were also among the defaulters, the power supply company sources said.


The power supply to the main water source, a borewell, has also been disconnected.


Javed Khan, a resident of Badwai, said while villagers owed petty amounts, the film unit's bill was hefty and it was not possible for the villagers to pay it.


Power Distribution Company's Gauharganj Junior Engineer, Rajkumar said that total dues from Badwai and nearby villages stood at nearly Rs 4.5 lakh.


'Even if a small part of dues are paid, the electricity supply will be restored,' he said.

'3' neither joyous love story nor serious movie

Film: '3'; Cast: Dhanush, Shruti Haasan, Sundar, Prabhu, Bhanupriya, Rohini, Sivakarthikeyan and others; Director: Aishwarya R. Dhanush; Producer: Kastoori Raja; Composer: Anirudh; Rating: ** 1/2

The film '3' is the maiden directorial venture of Aishwarya, daughter of Tamil movie icon Rajinikanth. Interestingly the film about three stages in the protagonists' lives begins with a funeral shot, but the identity of the dead person is not clear initially.

The following scenes gradually reveal that it is misery struck Janani's (Shruti) husband Ram (Dhanush) who is dead.

The stories continues with Janani's memories opening up.

Ram, a class 12th student, falls in love with Janani whom he meets on the road. Janani hails from a middle-class family and they are going through a financial crunch, while Ram is the son of a successful businessman.

Janani tries to avoid Ram, given her family background and natural reaction of a teenage girl. Ram, however, follows her undeterred and finally wins her love. This flashback constitutes phase one of the movie.

Janani disregards her parents' wishes and their dream of settling in the US after her college education to be with Ram. Gradually their parents accept their love and the two get married. Ram's father buys a posh apartment for the young couple to live in. This is phase two.

After marriage, it is revealed that Ram suffers from bi-polar disorder. Ram's friend Senthil (Sunder) finds out about his mental illness.

The doctor says that because of his illness Ram could be dangerous at times. So the friend decides to protect Janani from his unexpected emotional upheaval. They hide it from her. Senthil tries hard to cure his friend, while Janani struggles to cope up with Ram's inexplicable behaviour. This is stage three of their lives.

What transpires later forms the crux of the story.

The first half is full of romance in scenes where Ram follows Janani, their midnight's adventure romance on terrace, meetings at each other's home in the absence of parents.

But there are many scenes that don't go down well. For instance, a school girl going to bed with full makeup is not convincing. There are many such scenes, but they do not reduce the charm of the movie's first half.

Excellent cinematography, Anirudh's youthful background scores, Dhanush and Shruti's chemistry and Aishwarya's dialogues carry the movie forward.

The drama and emotion that ensues at Janani's home after her parents oppose her relationship with Ram are beautifully portrayed.

But the movie falls flat in the second half.

It is an unwritten rule in Tamil cinema that if lovers are united before the interval, then in the later part either one of them dies or suffers from some disease. 'Vazhve Mayam' and 'Varanam Ayiram' are some of the examples.

Aishwarys's '3' is no exception. The hero suffers from a disease, but no valid explanation is given for that.

Hiding Ram's illness from Janani is justified, but one wonders why Senthil didn't approach Ram's father who would've arranged for his treatment.

Post-interval, the movie never gets a chance to rise.

Dhanush and Shruti have performed well, both in romantic and emotional scenes. But their efforts have gone futile as audiences refuse to tolerate the same drama that they have already seen umpteen times.

Shruti looks beautiful. Dhanush was not playing a mentally disturbed person for the first time in '3', and his acting has matured a lot.

Rohini has performed well. Sundar's performance as Dhanush's friend shows refinement.

More than Anirudh's massive hit 'Why this Kolvaeri', 'Kannazhaga' pleases our ears more.

The picturisation of the song 'Kolaveri', which went viral on the internet when released in November last year, doesn't match up to its popularity.

Background music sounds good. Velraj's cinematography has added a glow to the movie.

The director has attempted to show '3' phases of life. Because of the pitfalls in the third phase, the movie falls apart.

Neither a joyous love story nor a serious movie, '3' actually stands in between.

Jackie Shroff in Rajini's Kochadaiyaan

Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff will be seen in Tamil superstar Rajinikanth-starrer Tamil film Kochadaiyaan.

Kochadaiyaan, a period film, is directed by Rajini's daughter Soundarya.

'I am doing Rajinikanth's film Kochadaiyaan. I play the role of a Raja (king), beyond this I cannot talk much as I am not allowed to do so,' Jackie told reporters at the festival of Vidhu Vinod Chopra's films.

The film, also featuring R Sarathkumar, Vijayakumar and Deepika Padukone, will be released in Telugu, English, Hindi and Japanese too. It is expected to hit the theatres this year.

Talking about his experience of working with Rajinikanth, Jackie said, 'It was excellent working with him. He is superstar of India...we had great time.'

Jackie and Rajini have earlier worked together in Subhash Ghai's Uttar Dakshin