Quantcast
Channel: Movies + Television + Hollywood + Music + Fashion + Regional Cinema
Viewing all 9304 articles
Browse latest View live

Time for musical lessons for Sarah Jane

0
0

Taking her passion for music a step forward, actress-singer Sarah Jane Dias is learning the acoustic guitar to hone her musical skills.

“I always had a nag to learn an instrument since my childhood. However, I never got to do so… I believe that learning of any kind of music...be it instrumental or vocal... enhances your ability as an artist,” Sarah Jane said in a statement.

She is taking vocal lessons from Samantha Edward and instrument from a Parsi musician.

The former Miss India, who released her first single "Forgot to be me" on Valentine's Day this year, shared that she is an 'obedient student'.

“I'm very happy to have found someone who has learnt the art of acoustic guitar from the golden era of guitar. I'm an obedient student,” she added.

The “Game” actress has also got enrolled into music appreciation classes to learn more on her style of music.

Meanwhile, Sarah Jane will be travelling to Dubai in May to perform four shows across the UAE.

Social Publishing: 
lable_on

'Kai Raja Kai' a different film from Maruthi Talkies: Director

0
0

Debutant director Siva Ganesh says forthcoming Telugu crime-comedy "Kai Raja Kai" will be a different film from Maruthi Talkies banner, mostly known for making romantic and adult comedies.

"The fact that Maruthi Talkies hasn't produced a film in this genre makes 'Kai Raja Kai' different and special. We wanted to produce something fresh and unique from the banner. Producer Maruthi also felt that since I have a grip on this genre, he wanted me to give a different film," Ganesh told IANS.

"It was at the behest and encouragement of Maruthi sir, I developed an idea into a film. He was really interested in the idea and that's how 'Kai Raja Kai' was set in motion," he added.

The film is set against the backdrop of gambling theme.

"The gambling theme as the backdrop runs in the lives of the reel characters. Imagine what happens if the lead characters became players of a gambling game. It's a crime-comedy thriller treated commercially. The fun and thrill moments can be found in appropriate proportions," he said.

A hardcore fan of filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, "Kai Raja Kai" was born from Ganesh's desire to make a film in one of the genres Varma had explored.

The film features Ram Khanna, Maanas, Josh Ravi, Shravya and Shamili in the lead roles.

Talking about his actors, Ganesh said: "While most of them are newcomers, working with them was a treat. Some had worked earlier with producer Maruthi, and he suggested their names".

Ganesh also added that he couldn't have made the film without the support of Maruthi.

"I've worked with Maruthi as his associate on several films. When I expressed my interest to direct, he didn't even ask me for a story. I just narrated a line. He liked it and immediately asked me to make it the way I want to," he said.

"Kai Raja Kai" releases in cinemas on Friday alongside another crime-comedy "Dohchay". Ganesh says the films may belong to the same genre, but they'll be totally different.

Social Publishing: 
lable_on

Vijay's encouragement gave me confidence: Charandeep

0
0

Actor Charandeep, who has teamed up with Tamil superstar Vijay for the second time in the upcoming film "Puli", says the latter's encouragement on the sets gave him confidence to perform well.

"Vijay sir has no need to take the effort to help, but he did while working in 'Puli'. Despite being a superstar, he helped me with my lines. He explained patiently how differently and effectively I can mouth my dialogues," Charandeep, who had previously worked in last year's Tamil blockbuster "Jilla" with Vijay, told IANS.

"The way he encouraged gave me the confidence to perform well. I've worked with so many actors, but nobody has been as encouraging as him," he added.

In the movie, Charandeep plays an important role and even has a combination scene with Vijay and Shruti Haasan.

"He had been encouraging me since we worked on 'Jilla'. He had told me that I'd make a great villain in Tamil industry as there is dearth of local villains. And since I'm quite young; he wanted me to focus on doing more films in the language," he said.

According to Charandeep, "Puli" can be considered Tamil cinema's own "Baahubali".

"The movie will be a visual treat. The makers have spent lavishly on the sets and the production value is top notch," he said.

While remaining tight-lipped about his character, Charandeep said the audience will get to see a Vijay they haven't seen before.

"The movie will be totally different from what Vijay sir has done in his career. It will be as commercial as any of his films, but at the same time it will stand out as an experimental project," he added.

Charandeep shot his portion on a hill station called Vagamon in Kerala.

Directed by Chimbu Devan, the film is currently in its final leg of shooting in Thalakonam, a place near Tirupati.

The film also features Hansika Motwani and Sridevi in important roles.

Social Publishing: 
lable_on

37 years of 'Don' makes Big B nostalgic

0
0

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, whose memorable film "Don" completed 37 years of its release on Tuesday, is glad that the "incredible" journey of the film "still continues"

The movie is an action-thriller, which revolves around a powerful gangster named Don played by Amitabh, who was seen in a double role in the film.

"37 years of 'DON’ today (Tuesday). A film made by that gentle giant Nariman Irani, the DOP of extreme excellence,” Big B wrote on his blog.

The 72-year-old is ecstatic about the film's journey and he even took to his micro-blogging website Twitter to express his happiness with his fans and well-wishers.

"37 years of DON .. today!! Incredible! A journey that still continues," he tweeted.

The actor also shared anecdotes from the set of the film -- especially one when producer Nariman A. Irani saved a child at the Rajkamal Studios, while he was shooting for a film there.

"Ran (Irani) to save the child. He did. But injured himself in the effort. Broke his femur, was hospitalised, went into surgery and came out well. Few days later complications set in and he passed away," Big B wrote.

Also reminiscing the iconic song "Khaike paan Benares waala", he said it was shot in second shifts at Mehboob Studios from 2 to 10 p.m.

"During the action scene, I had hurt my feet and had huge burn boils on the palm of my feet. Could not wear shoes, or walk. The song was bare foot...so...took pain killer injections on my feet before each shot and completed the song and the scene," Big B wrote on his blog.

The actor was congratulated for the song by then writer duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar. The duo saw the rushes of the film and sent a telegram to Srinagar where the megastar was shooting.

"Salim-Javed saw the rushes of the film... more importantly, the rushes of the paan eating duplicate DON, and sent me a telegram, in Srinagar where I was shooting for another film congratulating me," Amitabh wrote.

"It was a most encouraging moment for me I remember. I still remember the room in the Palace Hotel, when I received the message, and my inner feeling of great joy on its contents," he added.

A remake and sequel of the film were released in October 2006 and December 2011, respectively which starred Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

Directed by Chandra Barot, "Don" is considered to be one of the most iconic movies of Bollywood.

The megastar was last seen in "Shamitabh" and will soon be seen in Shoojit Sircar's "Piku" and Bejoy Nambiar's "Wazir".

Social Publishing: 
lable_on

Bharat Jadhav returns to Bollywood in 'P Se PM Tak'

0
0

Marathi actor Bharat Jadhav, who ventured into Bollywood with Sanjay Jha's "Praan Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye" 12 years ago, is all set to come back to Hindi filmdom with Kundan Shah's next film "P Se PM Tak".

The actor turned down several Hindi film offers after his debut before finally giving his nod to "P Se PM Tak" even before he heard the entire script, only because Shah was helming it.

"I have been getting many offers from Bollywood, but none of the roles offered intrigued me. I belong to theatre and working on this film was like a workshop. On top of it all, it was Kundan Shah's film, I had to say 'yes'. I have always heard about his working style, but experiencing it was beyond amazing," Bharat said in a statement.

Bharat's past works include "Pachadlela", "Khabardar", "Jatra", "Namdeo Ghotale" and "Kshanbhar Vishranti".

Talking about his character in "P Se PM Tak", Bharat said he liked the character he would be playing in the film.

"When I was approached for 'P Se PM Tak', I really liked the character, it was different and hence the age factor was not a point of concern," he added.

"P Se PM Tak" is slated to release on May 29. It also features Meenakshi Dixit, Indrajeet Soni, Yashpal Sharma, Aanjjan Srivastav, Deepak Shirke, Akhilendra Mishra, Mushtaq Khan, Aanand Kale, Vedish, Prerna Wanvari, Chinmay Jadhav, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Virendra Saxena, Upasana Singh, Pandharinath Kamble and Sanjay Dadhich.

Social Publishing: 
lable_on

DD to share archival content as educational DVDs

0
0

Public service broadcaster Doordarshan on Tuesday tied up with the National Council Of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to share and disseminate its archival content in the form of educational DVDs to promote arts education in schools.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the two organisations to initiate the process.

The project aims to bring forth a "Teachers Handbook in Dance, Music and Theatre" which will be supported by multi-media packages and DVDs," said a statement.

"This endeavour is directed towards teachers and students and will serve as multi-dimensional tool to disseminate arts in schools in an organised and effective manner," it added.

The MoU will initially be for a period of three years and could also be extended by mutual consent.

The initial phase of the project would cover theatres, national symbols, Indian classical music (vocal and instrumental) and folk music and dance.

Social Publishing: 
lable_on

Hope people accept me in a man's role: Sunil Grover

0
0

Stand-up comedian Sunil Grover, best known for his drag act as Guthhi in "Comedy Nights With Kapil", hopes the audience accepts him in a man's role in the movie "Gabbar Is Back".

In the Akshay Kumar-starrer, Sunil will be seen as a policeman -- a role he thoroughly enjoyed.

"I hope people accept me in this film as I am very nervous. I hope people accept me in a man's role. I am playing a policeman in the film and it's not a negative role," Sunil told IANS.

He has made audiences laugh away with his jokes on "Comedy Nights With Kapil" on the small screen, but Sunil says he's not too comfortable with the idea of doing a sex comedy on the big screen.

"I am not yet comfortable, unless it is made aesthetically. I am not comfortable using double meaning words... I don't know why. I have tried to convince myself... I have been offered (such projects) also, but I don't know about future. Right now I am unable to do it," he said.

Sunil also said that while he does share "non-vegetarian" jokes with his friends, "maybe my Indian upbringing is stopping me from doing a sex comedy".

His film "Gabbar Is Back" is directed by famous director Krish and produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Viacom 18 Motion Pictures. Featuring Akshay and Shruti Haasan, the film is slated to release on May 1, 2015.

Social Publishing: 
lable_on

'Avengers: Age of Ultron' gets record brand association in India

0
0

As Indian fans eagerly await the release of "Avengers: Age of Ultron" on Friday, a week before it hits screens in the US, Marvel has collaborated with 50 brands across various categories -- touted to be the highest brand association for any film in India -- to take the theatrical experience a notch higher.

It comes as an effort to give the fans an opportunity to own products of Marvel Super Heroes - The Avengers.

Disney India's Consumer Products business has associated with brands in categories like apparel, accessories, toys, home and more to bring alive the Marvel Super Hero action.

Some of the brands include Amazon, Myntra, Funskool, Liberty, Hero Cycles, Pantaloons, Tupperware, Kinder Joy, Hamleys and Landmark.

Abhishek Maheshwari, vice president and head, Consumer Products, Disney India, told IANS: "Post the success of the first movie -- Marvel's 'The Avengers', the popularity of the franchise has grown exponentially in the country amongst kids and adults alike.

"At Disney, we have visibility of our Marvel movies till 2019 and it is this long-term vision that our partners value, which translates into-deep rooted associations. Given the anticipation around 'Avengers: Age of Ultron', brands see a lot of demand around Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America and Thor-branded products.

"This year, we have over 50 brands on board for Avengers, which is by far the highest for any Hollywood or a Bollywood film in the country."

Shah Rukh Khan's mega-budget project "Ra.One" was last promoted heavily with over 25 tie-ups across myriad categories.

As far as "Avengers: Age of Ultron" is concerned, they have on board Amazon.in, which has created a special Avengers Store, a one-stop-shop for all products inspired by the Avengers Super Heroes. The products listed will cut across ages and across categories -- toys, consumer electronics, apparel, accessories, fashion, stationery, publishing, home and DVDs.

Then there's also Myntra.com for a range of Avengers branded adult fashion range; Liberty, which is doing a footwear range of 50 styles for children; Kinder Joy, which has introduced a limited edition of surprise toys; Mountain Dew, which has Avengers branded packs; Subway, offering two limited period Subs titled 'The Earth's mightiest Subs'; Hamleys, for a special promotion in six cities -- Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune and Ahmedabad; and more.

Marvel's "The Avengers" was introduced to the world in 2012 on the big screen. Now with the sequel, the Studio is geared up to make the release widespread in the country, by releasing it in double the screens than "The Avengers" in 2012.

"Avengers: Age of Ultron", the eleventh movie in the Avengers franchise, will be released in over 1500 screens.

With the promising high-impact action in the film, there is also a huge demand for regional dubbed version and fans will be able to enjoy the movie across multiple languages - English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

The previous titles in the franchise were "Iron Man", "Iron Man 2", "Iron Man 3", "Captain America: The First Avenger", "Captain America: The Winter Soldier", "The Avengers", "Thor", "Thor: The Dark World", "Hulk" and "The Incredible Hulk".

Social Publishing: 
lable_on

'Online streaming has opened up music industry'

0
0

American Electronic Dance Music artist Doctor P, aka Shaun Brockhurst, who performed in Mumbai earlier this month, says online streaming services have helped talented musicians self-release their works, thereby opening up the music industry for creative minds across the globe.

If you're a die-hard Electronic Dance Music (EDM) fan, you would know of Doctor P's credentials as a music artiste who redefined the bass drops in dubstep and created his own fusion of house music with raggaeton.

The 29-year-old dubstep producer has been in love with electronic music ever since he was 12, when he knew nothing about music or the genre, and now, his tracks like "Tetris" and "Big boss" have garnered millions of views on YouTube.

"The industry has changed a lot since I was young. I used to buy all my music on tape, then it changed to CD, then digital download, and now it's all changed to online streaming. I actually really like online streaming.

"I think streaming music has allowed artists to self-release music without the need to pay a record label. It’s really opened up the music industry to allow talent to rise to the top more easily," talking about the change in the music industry he has noticed over the years, Doctor P told IANS in an interview from Mumbai, where he performed as part of the MTV Bloc Party.

It was his first performance in Asia, and he was excited about it.

Doctor P says he was always trying to produce music that sounded like that his favourite artists.

"I’ve always loved electronic music since I first discovered it around age 12. My whole career has been based on me attempting to sound like all my favourite electronic artists. I also got into hip-hop and metal when I was a teenager, and that has been a big inspiration to me as well.

"I remember being around age 12 or 13 and deciding that I wanted to be a musician. At that time, I had no musical experience, but I was really interested in learning everything. I never actually wanted to be famous, my goal was always just to be really good at making music," he said.

Sharing how an old phone lead to his stage name Picto -- a nickname by his friends, he said: "On old Nokia phones, typing my real name (Shaun) would auto-correct to 'Picto', so my friends would jokingly call me Picto. When I was trying to think of a DJ name my friend suggested Picto, so I just went with it.

"When I changed up my style from drum and bass to dubstep I wanted a new name, so I kept the 'P' from Picto and decided on Doctor P."

Treating every track in a different way is how he makes sure he doesn't "get stuck doing the same thing over and over again".

"When I'm making a track, I try to take out anything that sounds like other tracks or producers. That way every track I make ends up being quite unique," he explained.

He sees a growing scope for the EDM genre and all its sub-genres in India.

"I’ve heard India mentioned a few times in the last couple of years, so I think bass music is really catching on."

Social Publishing: 
lable_on

'Kangaroo' a clean family entertainer: Director Samy

0
0

Known usually for making gutsy films that get embroiled in controversies, director Samy has played it safe this time. He says his forthcoming Tamil drama "Kangaroo" will be a clean family entertainer.

"The common feedback that I had received for my previous films is that they are unfit for women. My mother asked once why I can't make a film sans any controversy. Hence, I decided to make 'Kangaroo', which deals about the relationship between a brother and sister," Samy told IANS.

"All my films so far were passed with an A certificate. But this time I've got a clean U certificate for this film. It's a clean family entertainer and I've focussed on drama and emotions. It will cater to all audiences," he said.

The film features Arjuna and Varsha Aswathi in the lead.

Scheduled to release in cinemas on Friday, the film is produced by Suresh Kamatchi.

Samy says the result of his latest film at the box office will decide his future.

"Based on the response to 'Kangaroo', I'll decide what kind of films I'll make next. If it doesn't do well, I'd have to start making commercial films. But if it's accepted wholeheartedly, I'll continue making films that will be unique and realistic," he said.

Social Publishing: 
lable_on

Had 'Dohchay' in mind even before 'Swamy Ra Ra': Sudheer Varma

0
0

Director Sudheer Varma, who is awaiting the release of Telugu con-comedy "Dohchay" on Friday, says he had the project in mind even before he made his first film "Swamy Ra Ra".

The film stars Naga Chaitanya and Kriti Sanon in the lead roles.

"'Dohchay' was a script I had in mind even before 'Swamy Ra Ra'. I wanted it to be my first film but I didn't want to make an unsuccessful debut and tried to make a safe film on a low budget, because it was important for me that my producer doesn't lose money on my film," Sudheer told IANS.

"When I made 'Swamy Ra Ra', I was of the mindset that irrespective of this film's result, my producer shouldn't lose money. When it turned out to be successful, I approached Naga Chaitanya with 'Dohchay', and he really liked it," he said.

While "Dohchay" and "Swamy Ra Ra" belong to the same genre, Sudheer assures the films will be different.

"I feel the con genre is my strength and I don't see the need to try making a film in other genre I'm uncomfortable with. It's better to concentrate on what you're good at instead of trying something else," said Sudheer, who doesn't mind being typecast.

"The success of my second film is as important as my first because it will prove that the success of 'Swamy Ra Ra' was not a fluke. I'm playing it safe. I strongly believe that no matter which genre you're making a film in, it's important you give audiences a good film," he added.

Sudheer's first film was made on a low budget, and while he has taken a big leap with 'Dohchay' from all perspectives, there was absolutely no pressure.

"I had complete freedom to make the film. I've known the producer for a long time, so there was absolutely no pressure from the production side. After Chaitanya heard the story, he left everything to me. He liked 'Swamy Ra Ra', and the way I made the film, so he trusted me completely," he said.

Although Sudheer had all the resources, he didn't spend it lavishly.

"We spent only where it was absolutely necessary. For instance, I didn't want to compromise on the action sequences, so we spent little extra here. We hired Peter Hein for a car chase sequence for which we need a driver who could do drifts, so we hired one from Paris," he said.

"I didn't want to waste the resources just because I was making a film with a star hero," said Sudheer, who added that one of the highlights of the movie will be the action.

Social Publishing: 
lable_on

Mohan Babu invites PM Modi to son's wedding

0
0

Actor-politician Manchu Mohan Babu, along with his family, visited Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Parliament House here on Tuesday to invite him for the wedding of his second son Manchu Manoj.

Mohan Babu was accompanied by his sons Vishnu, Manoj and daughter Lakshmi.

"The family had visited Modi ji to invite him for the wedding of Manoj. Modi ji happily accepted the invitation and was fascinated by its design and art work. The card was designed by renowned painter Ramesh Gurazada," a source close to Manchu family told IANS.

"PM Modi, who was really touched by the family's gesture to invite him, said that he will try to attend the wedding if it doesn't clash with his China trip," the source added.

Manoj, a popular Telugu actor, will tie the knot to Pranathi in Hyderabad on May 20.

The Manchu family clicked selfies with Modi and shared them on social media sites.

Social Publishing: 
lable_on

Rajinikanth and Shankar may team up for third time

0
0

If industry sources are to be believed, superstar Rajinikanth and filmmaker S. Shankar are most likely to team up for the third time in a yet-untitled Tamil project, which is currently in discussion phase.

The makers of recent Tamil blockbuster "Kaththi" are expected to support the project financially.

"It is not known whether Rajinikanth and Shankar are teaming up for 'Enthiran 2', but they are likely to come together for a project soon. Lyca, the producers of 'Kaththi' will produce this project," a source told IANS.

Apparently, Shankar had approached actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan to be part of the project as well.

"Kamal sir was approached but he turned down the offer for unknown reasons. He was even narrated the story," the source said.

Shankar now plans to rope in actor Vikram instead.

Rajinikanth and Shankar had previously worked in two blockbusters, "Sivaji" and "Enthiran".

Social Publishing: 
lable_on

Documentary pays tribute to Ray, revisits 50 years of Feluda

0
0

Fifty years after ace detective Feluda burst on to the Indian crime fiction scene, a documentary revisits the highly successful series created by auteur Satyajit Ray.

It also sheds light on the legendary filmmaker's multi-talented personality that helped shape the legacy of the famous sleuth.

Since the first Feluda whodunit, 'Feludar Goyendagiri' (Feluda's investigation)) in December 1965 in 'Sandesh' magazine, the series have been translated into four Indian languages besides English, French, Italian, Swedish, German and Japanese.

The books have spawned hit films, animations and comics and the character has attained a cult status among the young and the old alike.

Revolving around the 27-year-old athletic Pradosh Chandra Mitter, nicknamed Feluda, the novellas showcase the private eye's superb analytical and observational skills to dig out clues that ultimately lead to the solution of the mysteries - be it murders, smuggling, theft or kidnapping.

Said to have been modelled on Sherlock Holmes, the cigarette-smoking and martial art-trained Feluda is accompanied in his sleuthing pursuits by cousin, Tapesh Ranjan Mitra or Topshe who is the narrator of the stories and may have been loosely based on character of Dr John Watson. Ray also brings in a character from his sixth novella onward called Jatayu (lal Mohon Ganguly), a writer of thriller novels who provides a much-loved comic relief.

Feluda possesses a .32 Colt revolver but rarely uses it.

In the documentary "Feluda: The Sleuth's Story", filmmaker Sagnik Chatterjee delves deep into what made the detective stories so endearing.

"Ray made films like 'Nayak' on the one hand and 'Feluda' on the other and the latter is a hit with both young and old alike. He could do films and write for both children and adults," says Chatterjee.

His documentary, he says, explores Ray's prowess in filmmaking and more than that it shows his expertise in story-telling, illustration and graphic designing among other talents. "It is a tribute to Ray who gave Indians a superhero called Feluda," Chatterjee told IANS. April 23 marks the 23rd death anniversary of Ray.

Ray filmed the first Feluda movie "Sonar Kella" (The Golden Fortress) in 1974 in Rajasthan (Jaisalmer). His second Feluda outing set in Varanasi was in 1979 with "Joy Baba Felunath" (The Elephant God).

Actors Soumitra Chatterjee, Santosh Dutta and Siddartha Chatterjee essayed the three key characters while Kushal Chakravarty played the child who is able to remember events of his previous life in "Sonar Kella".

The subsequent novels were adapted on screen by Ray's son Sandip.

After Soumitra, actors Sabyasachi Chakaraborty and Abir Chatterjee were brought in to play the detective.

Chatterjee's documentary also includes portions on the changing actors and Ray's team that was involved with the franchise, including his cinematographer Soumendu Ray.

However, Chatterjee emphasises, Feluda is mainly about the books.

"Feluda films are just the contributing factors. Feluda continued to live in the books till 1992 which remain vital to the enduring legacy of Feluda and this will come across in my documentary strongly," Chatterjee said.

Through artefacts and memorabilia associated with Feluda series, contributed by Sandip and the Ray Society, the 90 to 100 mins documentary will be an "entertaining" experience, promised Chatterjee, who had assisted Sandip in directing the newer Feluda films.

The documentary will have a theatrical release around December. "Since Feluda means entertainment, the film will do justice to that factor," Chatterjee said.

Social Publishing: 
lable_on

High-street fashion, pret-a-porter takes over PSFW 2015 runway

0
0

Street art, twinkling stars, Mughal royalty and facets of human soul -- with myriad inspirations, high-street fashion and pret-a-porter trends were seen in full glory on the concluding day of the PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week (PSFW) 2015 as a string of designers came forward to present colourful creations.

Taking PFDC's (Pakistan Fashion Design Council) commitment to sustainability and discipline within the business of fashion and the facilitation of Pakistan’s retail industry forward, the gala, from April 18-21, endeavoured to define and present trends for 2015, focussing specifically on fashion for the region's long hot summer months.

PFDC chairperson Sehyr Saigol even announced plans to establish Pakistan’s first ever craft based Design District, a multi-purpose specialised facility that would assist in developing and enhancing the arts and crafts industries, which are an integral part of Pakistan’s rich cultural legacy.

In addition to being a centre for skill improvement and capacity building, the Design District would also house a first-of-its-kind Textile Museum.

The official spokesperson of the PFDC, Sara Shahid of Sublime by Sara also announced the official dates for the Council’s next fashion week, PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week 2015 which is scheduled to be held from September 15-17.

Meanwhile, the fourth day of PSFW on Tuesday featured high-street fashion shows by the House of Arsalan Iqbal, Erum Khan, Chinyere and Hassan Riaz and designer pret-a-porter shows by Sana Safinaz, Republic by Omar Farooq, Syeda Amera, Huma & Amir Adnan, Sania Maskatiya and HSY.

The celebrity quotient was added by Pakistani musician Goher Mumtaz and his wife Anam Ahmed, and popular actor Fawad Khan, who walked the ramp as showstoppers for debutant Erum Khan and Republic by Omar Farooq, respectively.

Leading fashion brand The House of Arsalan Iqbal showcased a collection titled ‘Devolution Chic’, inspired by global street art. Along with menswear pieces, the collection also included in-house footwear and jewellery made in collaboration with pioneering Karachi-based street artist SANKI.

Erum Khan's debut show at PSFW was titled ‘The Untainted Shine’, which took inspiration from the sparkle of twinkling stars and a walk on pearl dew in the morning; fashion brand Chinyere showcased ‘Mizaj-e-Shahana’, an ode to the era of the
Mughal royalty and their imperial aesthetic; while Hassan Riaz's ‘Contained Shadows’ collection was inspired by the diverse facets of the human soul.

Among the designer showcases in the evening, there was Sana Safinaz, whose works were inspired by monochromatic structured looks with pops of colour.

Menswear brand Republic by Omar Farooq showcased a collection titled ‘Que Sera, Sera!’, and a high point of the show was Fawad, who was later seen seated in the front row with his wife.

The third pret show was presented by designer Syeda Amera, who made her ramp debut with ‘The World of Sea’, inspired by love for the enchanting underwater.

A special show was by husband and wife duo Huma and Amir Adnan, who showcased a joint collection for the first time at a fashion exhibition. Both Huma and Amir feel that as a couple they share their lives and draw synergies, and so, their collection was aptly titled ‘Symphony’.

Thereafter, designer Sania Maskatiya took audiences on a fashion journey to ‘Paristan’ - a fairytale place; and couturier HSY presented the finale show ‘INK’, a collection inspired by Asia and specifically HSY’s journeys to The Land of the Rising Sun.

Social Publishing: 
lable_on

'Aligarh' not out-of-the-box story: Rajkummar Rao

0
0

Actor Rajkummar Rao, who will be seen in a key role in Hansal Mehta's forthcoming film "Aligarh", says the film does not have an "out-of-the-box" story to tell, but it entails a social cause.

"It's not a different story, but has a message of a social cause in it. It is a human drama with an emotional element," the actor said here on Tuesday at the Dadasaheb Phalke Film Foundation Awards.

"It is not an 'out-of-the box' story but it is a beautiful story and I feel lucky to be a part of it," he added.

"Aligarh" is reportedly based on the real life incident of Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras, a doctor who was terminated from his job because of his sexuality.

In the film, actor Manoj Bajpayee plays Siras, and Rakummar says he had a "great experience" working with him.

"It was a great experience. He (Manoj Bajpayee) is great artist and a great human being as well. I have always looked up to him," the National Award winner said.

For Rajkummar, Bajpayee's work has been a learning experience.

"His work has always been a learning process for me and now that we are working together, I'm learning a lot from him."

Social Publishing: 
lable_on

'Main Hoon (Part-Time) Killer' to clash with 'Bombay Velvet'

0
0

Filmmaker Faisal Saif's "Main Hoon (Part-Time) Killer", which was earlier titled "Main Hoon Rajinikanth", will now release alongside Anurag Kashyap's much-awaited movie "Bombay Velvet" on May 15.

"Main Hoon (Part-Time) Killer" was earlier slated to release on April 24.

It is the same movie against the release of which superstar Rajinikanth had petitioned the Madras High Court for a stay last year, as he had felt the entertainer might defame him and upset his large fan base.

Talking about the new release date, Saif told IANS: "May 15 is the best possible date we can come up with as there are no other movies apart from 'Bombay Velvet'. After May 15, there is a long waiting line for lots of films and our distributors Dimension Pictures mutually took this decision with us."

The Central Board of Film Certification has allotted a re-Censor certificate with 'A' rating, along with seven major cuts to "Main Hoon (Part-Time) Killer".

As far as the risk factor is concerned, Saif added: "Every week there will be some film. I personally pray for all the films to get successful and do good business. 'Bombay Velvet' is a different film, and my film is different. So, I don't see any risk factor here."

The film stars Adithya Menon, Kavita Radheshyam, Smita Gondkar, Sunil Pal, Ganesh Yadav, Reema Lagoo and Shakti Kapoor.

Social Publishing: 
lable_on

Big B's farmland in UP survives unseasonal rains, yields 200 quintals of wheat

0
0

At a time when lakhs of acres of standing wheat crop in Uttar Pradesh has been devastated due to unseasonal rains leaving farmers in throes of an unprecedented despair, the owner of a 24-bigha (six hectares) farm at the outskirts of this state capital is neither deterred nor perturbed by the vagaries of the inclement weather.

Thanks to advanced tractors, threshers and other equipment this 'farmer' has not only been able to save the crop from devastation by the rains and hail but has alaso managed to get a yield of 200 quintals of wheat from the land. The farmer is none other than mega film star Amitabh Bachchan who owns this land in Muzaffarnagar Palia (Chowdhrikheda) village.

Rajendra Kumar Singh, the ageing caretaker of the farm told IANS that the crop was not hit by the unseasonal rains as it had been cut at the right time and put into threshers and subsequently stocked well in advance.

"The crop was ready for cutting much before the March 15-16 rains and due to mechanized farming here work was made easy," says Singh.

Villagers in the neigbouring fields too say that Big B's farm uses highly-advanced techniques of growing crops and is well-managed.

The caretaker, however, says that due to the rains earlier, the crop yield has suffered "minor setback" and is down by 20 percent over the past year. The local 'lekhpal' (revenue officer), Nattha Ram, says while the area has witnessed 30-40 percent crop damage, Big B's farmland has been spared and hence no compensation has been sought.

Big B got the farmer tag in 2010 when he bought the land in Muzzaffarnagar village of Kakori, 23 km from here for Rs.3.03 crore ($482,000). The Uttar Pradesh Seed Corporation then registered the iconic film actor as a farmer-member and provided him with a hybrid seed programme for his newly-acquired land.

Social Publishing: 
lable_on

Sarah Jane doles out tips for bikini body

0
0

Actress-singer Sarah Jane Dias, who looks fit and fabulous, has shared tips to help you attain a perfect bikini body.

The former Miss India has given out the following tips:

* Eat right: Cutting out major calories from the diet begins with picking on good flavours and seasonal foods. Fruits and vegetables contain the perfect amount of nutrients required.

* Half an hour workout everyday: When it comes to sculpting your best body, the right diet will only take you so far. A mix of cardio and strength training is your best bet for improving strength, flexibility, endurance, and muscle tone -- not to mention outward physical appearance.

* The smaller the merrier: Smaller, more frequent meals will help increase your metabolism. Aim for three meals a day, with small snacks in between. Make sure you get lean protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats each time.

* App to lose weight: Be it for watching movies or shopping, we have applications installed in our phones to help us out. Even for weight and calorie watch, there are applications that can help you to attain body shape of your choice.

* Sleep, eat, and repeat: Sleep for at least seven hours a day. It rejuvenates you.

Social Publishing: 
lable_on

Sooperfly: To empower Asia's digital video market

0
0

In a move aimed at redefining the creation and distribution of digital video, India's The 120 Media Collective and Britain-based Diagonal View on Wednesday announced their Sooperfly joint venture.

The companies have come together to create a platform for talent and publishers to enter the world of video creation, distribution and monetisation. As part of this, The 120 Media Collective will package professional content and substantial audiences to drive premium ad sales and brand integrations.

Explaining the concept further, Roopak Saluja, founder and CEO, The 120 Media Collective, said in a statement: "Sooperfly is The 120 Media Collective's digital video distribution arm that gives us the capability to build content brands direct-to-audiences."

"Diagonal View as the global leader in audience development and channel management is the ultimate partner to join forces with in taking Sooperfly to a position of leadership in empowering digital video across Asia," Saluja added.

The company will have a three-pronged approach to empowering the entire digital video ecosystem. Firstly, it will bring new and existing talent into the digital ecosystem by breaking down barriers and providing an entire suite of services including development, production, channel management and audience building.

Secondly, it will tap into large publishers and curate, manage and monetise their existing content; and thirdly, Sooperfly will also empower and enable brands to turn publishers with the creation of video-led properties around the talent pool.

As per plans, Sooperfly will forge 200 partnerships during 2015, across individuals, publishers and content collectives, who will co-produce content across a range of genres including lifestyle, beauty, fashion, comedy, sports, education, technology, the performing arts and more.

The network already boasts names such as media personality Vir Sanghvi, chat show host Tara Sharma and stand-up comic Radhika Vaz, while collectives such as Shalom Films and The Rolling Garaari bring in a variety of topical and serial content.

“The market for professional video is global, and through local partners we have had great success throughout the US, Europe and the Middle East. We see huge potential in the Asia Pacific market, and believe this partnership and its unique skill sets will deliver professional video to substantial audiences”, said Matt Heiman, founder, Diagonal View.

Social Publishing: 
lable_on
Viewing all 9304 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images