Ultimate Bollywood Divas: January 2011

Sunday, 30 January 2011

Filmfare Awards 2011: Winners List

So finally the biggie of the year was held last night. It was as usual a star studded event. Let's take a look at the winners:

UDAAN:
Best Film-Critics Choice: Anurag Kashyap, Sanjay Singh, Ronnie Screwvala
Best Story: Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane
Best Supporting Actor: Ronit Roy
Best Background Score: Amit Trivedi
Best Cinematography: Mahendra Shetty
Best Sound Design: Kunal Sharma

DABANNG
Best Film: Arbaaz Khan
Best Music: Sajid-Wajid and Lalit Pandit
Best Female Debut: Sonakshi Sinha
Best Action: Vijayan Master
Best Female Playback Singer: Mamta Sharma "Munni Badnaam Hui"

MY NAME IS KHAN
Best Director: Karan Johar
Best Actor: Shah Rukh Khan
Best Actress: Kajol

BAND BAAJA BAARAAT
Best Male Debut: Ranveer Singh
Best Debut Director: Maneesh Sharma
Best Dialogue: Habib Faisal

DO DOONI CHAR
Best Actor-Critics Choice: Rishi Kapoor
Best Costume Design: Varsha Shilpa
Best Production Design: Mukund Gupta

ISHQIYA
Best Actress-Critics: Vidya Balan
Best Lyrics: Gulzar "Dil Toh Bachcha Hai"
Best Male Playback Singer: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan "Dil Toh Bachcha Hai"

LOVE SEX AUR DHOKHA
Best Editing: Namrata Rao
Best Sound Design: Pritam Das
R.D. Burman Music Award: Sneha Khanwalkar

TEES MAAR KHAN
Best Choreography: Farah Khan "Sheila Ki Jawani"
Best Female Playback Singer: Sunidhi Chauhan "Sheila Ki Jawani"

WE ARE FAMILY
Best Supporting Actress: Kareena Kapoor

GOLMAAL 3
Best Scene Of The Year

A huge congratulations to Kajol who now becomes the actress with the most Filmfare Best Actress Awards of all time with 5 - joint with none other than her maternal aunt, the legendary Nutan.

Congrats also to Kareena who bagged her first Best Supporting Actress Award, which is a unique win for her as she now holds 5 different Filmfare titles, the others being: Best Debut, Best Actress, Best Critics Actress and Best Performance.

Well done also to Sunidhi Chauhan who finally wins her second award for 'Female Playback Singer', alongside the equally deserving Mamta Sharma.

I'm glad Vidya also won for 'Ishqiya'.

Friday, 28 January 2011

Movie Review: Dhobi Ghat

Preview: The film has 5 main characters. Munna (Prateik Babbar) is a dhobi cum aspiring actor, the beautiful American photographer Shai (Monica Dogra), the quiet painter Arun (Aamir Khan), the pretty young video-diary blogger Yasmin (Kriti) and of course the beautiful city that is Mumbai, which we see through each of their eyes.

Full Review Coming Soon

UBD's Bollywood-Bytes 28-Jan-2011

Kareena Kapoor
Move over Sheila, it's time for "Chamak Challo"! Kareena has said that her new song will be the biggest hit of 2011. The song is expected to create a huge buzz ala "Munni Badnaam" and "Sheila Ki Jawani". It's taken from her upcoming release with Shah Rukh Khan 'Ra.One' with music by Akon.

Deepika Padukone
Speculations have arisen over her choice in films lately. Her career was going so well, but it seems she is feeling insecure about signing meaty projects because the likes of Sonam and Anushka are breathing down her neck with their success last year in commercial films, whereas Deepi had 1 solid hit out of 5 in 2010, 3 of which she hoped would fetch her critical acclaim. Apparently Deepika refused to meet with the critically acclaimed director Kalpana Lajmi.

Priyanka Chopra
If reports are to be believed, Piggy Chops will kill one of her seven husbands with viagra in '7 Khoon Maaf'. But which one will it be?

Preity Zinta
Preetam-Singh as I love to call her is all set to hit the small screen. The 'Veer-Zaara' actress has signed up to host the Indian version of 'Guiness World Records'. The show is set to launch later in the year.

Kajol
The ultimate diva has been awarded the coveted Padma Shri prize this year. The lady is currently taking a career-break to raise her second child. She had her busiest year last year since 1999, with 3 releases. All the best for the Filmfare Awards girl!

Sridevi
The former queen of bollywood is all set to make a comeback in the sequel to one of her biggest hits, 1987's 'Mr. India'. Earlier it was reported that the film would star also star Sonam Kapoor as well as Salman Khan playing a villain, however nothing is confirmed yet.

Tuesday, 25 January 2011

UBD's Bollywood-Bytes 25-Jan-2011

Madhuri Dixit
Riding high on the huge success of her dance show judging skills, La Dixit is tipped to appear on 'Koffee With Karan' for a second coming. But the question is: who will appear alongside her? Last time we saw Rani Mukerji blush and gush over her - rumour has it this time it will be new UBD Sonakshi Sinha.

Katrina Kaif

It is rumoured that Katty will be starring in the 1972 classic 'Seeta Aur Geeta'. That's right folks, Kaif will essay the role that won Hema Malini her first and only Filmfare Best Actress award. The story is about identical twins who are separated at birth.

Deepika Padukone
Working with Shah Rukh Khan again? The 25 year old announced on her Facebook page that she is set to work with King Khan once again after her 2007 debut opposite him in Farah Khan's directorial debut 'Om Shanti Om'. The paid also appeared in a song from 'Billu' in 2009.

Mallika Sherawat
The sexy siren will be seen seducing Akshay Kumar via an item number in his upcoming film 'Thank You' - which also stars our favourite fashionista Sonam Kapoor.

Prachi Desai

The former TV actress is lighting the red carpet on fire this year - she has been seen at every award show, and she is always one of the best dressed. Is she trying to revamp her image? Me thinks so. Maybe she wants to be cast in a chic romantic comedy type film. K-jo... are you listening!

Lara Duta
The soon to be married comedy queen will be launching her own range of high-end designer shoeware. The line is set to go on sale by the end of this year. Lara is currently working on 'Don 2' with Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra and Arjun Rampal.

Friday, 21 January 2011

Movie Review: No One Killed Jessica

'No One Killed Jessica' is a film packed with powerhouse performances, superb dialogue & characterisation, and to top it all off a thrilling soundtrack & background score.

It's fair to say that the makers have done an astonishing job with the marketing of this film. Ever since the trailer was released back in November, not only did Rani's popularity surge into the stratosphere like a NASA rocket; at the same time it enticed movie-goers with a film to look forward to in the new year. The buzz around the film grew in abundance. Credit must also be given to Amit Trivedi for the musical aspect of this promotion - but more on that later.

Time and time again trailers are released, they create hype, we flock to the theatre on release date, and we come back disappointed. So what was it about NOKJ that was different? Well not only did they have a great story on hand, but the makers excelled on a technical level. Take for example the film's lighting. You might not have particularly noticed it, but the lighting on this film was nothing short of enriching and it totally enhanced the whole experience of watching the film. Massive brownie points to cinematographer Anay Goswamy and the entire camera and lighting crew for their brilliant effort.

Another plus point of the film was the dialogue and characterisation. I have never been to Delhi but Raj Kumar Gupta created a world which the characters brought alive and it was at the same time inviting and provoking.

Now onto the stars of the film. Vidya Balan is par excellence. Making her debut in 2005's 'Parineeta' she wowed udienceds and hasn't looked back since. She had a few mis-steps in her career ('Kismat Konnection'; by her own admission) but ever since her award winning performances in 2009's 'Paa' and 2010's 'Ishqiya' she is on a winning streak. Her character goes on a journey. She plays her part with heartfelt subtlety yet with full on emotions.

It has to be said that by far the most outstanding thing about NOKJ is: RANI MUKERJI. The diva is back! Not only does she kick arse in every frame, but she leaves you with a lasting impression, and of course wanting more. The more I say about Rani's work in NOKJ, the less it seems worthy. You just have to check it out for yourself.

Other cast members that stood out were of course Myra Karn who played the role of Jessica very aptly; Neil Bhoopalam who played Vikram, the friend who got bribed, and Samara Chopra who played Naina. However I must say that other certain members of the supporting cast were terrible. Namely Geeta Sudan who played Jessica's mother - but that could be due to the fact of badly timed dubbing. Spcial mention goes to the girl who played Promila - her one line "Kutti" kills me and my friend Vishi-pie every time. LOL

Amit Trivedi has composed an astonishing soundtrack and background score. The music really brings to life the story and adds to the drama. It's simply incredible. Stand-out tracks include the theme which is played throughout: 'Dilli'; the angsty-rock Vidya Balan tune 'Aitbaar'; and the feisty-fun-in-your-face Rani Mukerji theme 'Aali Re'.

There is however a downside to the movie and that is it's pace. It could have worked better if it was edited more tightly, more in line with how the trailer was - keeping a thrilling theme throughout. But despite this minor glitch, I would recommend the film as it is entertaining but also an important social film that deserves a wide audience.

I think it's safe to say that in a year's time, we will be congratulating Rani, Vidya, Raj Kumar, Amit Trivedi and others during the award season for their stupendous effort in 'No One Killed Jessica'.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Monday, 17 January 2011

UBD's Bollywood-Bytes 17-Jan-2011

Lara Dutta
The former Miss India/Universe is all set to tie the knot next month in Goa. The lucky man is tennis ace Mahesh Bhupatti. Lara has invited fellow UBDs Kareena Kapoor and Bipasha Basu. Catch Lara and new beau on 'Koffee With Karan' which aired last night!

Kangana Ranaut
The diva has said recently that she will only perform in lead roles from now on. She was seen in 2 multi-starrers last year: the critically acclaimed 'Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai', and the universally panned 'No Problem'. Her new film with R Madhavan is out soon titled 'Tanu Weds Manu'.

Kareena Kapoor
Bebo was seen at a book launch event recently and gave the press a field day with quotes such as "Jinko nahin milna chahiye unko award mil raha hai, jinko milna chahiye woh bechaare ghar par baith kar pizza kha rahe hain". Well I wonder who she is talking about, any guesses?

Priyanka Chopra
La Chopra has bagged herself a role in Kunal Kohli's next opposite beau Shahid Kapoor. The lady has beaten tough competition from the likes of Asin and Katrina Kaif. It is rumoured that she will be essaying 3 roles in the film. Kunal's previous films include 'Mujhse Dosti Karoge' [2002], 'Hum Tum' [2004], 'Fanaa' [2006], 'Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic' [2008].

Katrina Kaif
The leggy beauty has bagged herself a role with none other than Shah Rukh Khan according to reports doing the rounds. The film will be directed by Karan Johar and begin shooting at the end of the year.

Anushka Sharma
The hot 22 year old has said that she doesn't like wearing branded goods because she thinks it's a waste of money. Well girl, let me tell you, I totally agree. Primark over Gucci anyday!