His tunes and tracks have popularised him across the world, but Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman says he doesn't want his compositions to be bigger than a film itself.

"I don't want my music to be bigger than the movies unless music is part of the narrative," Rahman said while addressing a session at Film Bazaar here.

With two Grammy Awards and two Academy Awards in his kitty, Rahman, also known by the sobriquet 'Mozart of Madras', has earned a respectable name in the music world.

He shared that he's always eager to work with new filmmakers as together they can find a "new zone".

However, the musician is apprehensive to take up small movies. "I feel I may pull down the film not because of the filmmaker, but by raising expectations".

Rahman started his journey by composing scores for documentaries and TV shows before he got his first movie break with 1992 release "Roja". Since then, he has composed soul-rendering music in films like "Rangeela", "Taal", "Dil Se", "Jodhaa Akbar", "Swades", "Rang De Basanti", "Rockstar", "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" and "Raanjhanaa".

He got his first international break when Andrew Lloyd Webber invited him to compose music for the Broadway musical "Bombay Dreams", which won him immense fame. He also composed for the stage adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord Of The Rings" that premiered in Canada in 2006 and in London in 2007. And who can forget his famous "Slumdog Millionaire", which won him an Oscar.

Talking about his experience of working in India and the West, he said: "In India I like narration of the movie rather than reading the script. But in Hollywood, I sometimes read. There, scripts are ready sometimes with sample music".

But Rahman admits he struggles with one thing - technology.

"There is a constant struggle with new technology. I need muscle memory to hit the right keys."

Media-inspired negativity is killing the country, filmmaker Priyadarshan said on Wednesday, in the wake of the row triggered by Bollywood star Aamir Khan's comments about intolerance.

"Media is killing the country. They like only negative things. Look at our newspapers, they are all about political fights and such stuff," Priyadarshan told the media on the sidelines of an event at the 46th International Film Festival of India.

The national award winning director of films like "Virasat" and "Hera Pheri" also accused the media of blowing random incidents out of proportion.

He said the media was least interested in developmental aspects of news.

Aamir Khan during an interview on Monday had said his wife Kiran Rao asked him whether they should move out of India. The actor on Wednesday issued another statement, saying he and his wife were proud to be Indians.

"Neither I, nor my wife Kiran, have any intention of leaving the country. We never did, and nor would we like to in the future," he said.

Actor Vivek Oberoi says he does not believe in censorship and feels people have to be liberal with content.

“Honestly, I'm not a fan of censorship and I do not believe in it. I believe we have to proceed and progress through the time. I was asked by some people from government (about it), and this is the opinion I gave them," he said at an event here.

The censor board has been in news of late as it snipped by half the length of a kiss in James Bond movie "Spectre".

“I'm not saying that tomorrow people are going to show porn in theatres, but yes of course there has to be more liberalism with time. It is not good that we're following the 1952 act, it is needed to upgrade. And that is a sign of a maturity,” he added.

Currently shooting for "Great Grand Masti", Vivek spoke about his future project "Bank Chor" with Yash Raj Films, and said: “I was happy when Adi (Aditya Chopra) called me for the film. The film is exciting... mad. The director, Bumpy is very young and edgy and I think the film going to surprise people.”

With "Bank Chor", Vivek is returning to Yash Raj Films several years after working with the banner in "Saathiya".

"Bank Chor" is a comic thriller that tells the story of three people trying to rob a bank, and what happens when everything goes wrong and they're accidentally caught in the crossfire of cops, industrialists and corrupt netas.

"Bank Chor" is directed by Bumpy and produced by Ashish Patil.

Filmmaker Prakash Jha, who is known for his socio-political films, is in favour of scrapping the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) as he questions “why should someone else have control over our morality and liking”.

Jha asserted that self-censorship should be the next step.

“I'm against censor. There should be no censor. People who want to see will see it anyway. There should be self-censorship. Why should someone else have control over our morality, understanding and liking,” Jha told IANS on the sidelines of Film Bazaar here.

The Indian censor board has often attracted flak from members of the film fraternity and society for its cuts and diktats. A recent example is the reduction in time of a kissing scene in Hollywood film “Spectre”.

The maker, known for “Gangaajal”, “Apaharan”, and “Raajneeti”, went on to add that vulgarity in cinema dies a natural death due to audience’s taste.

“There was a time when suddenly there were many vulgar, double meaning songs being made and they started becoming a hit. But they died a very quick and natural death because people stopped listening to it. There is inherent goodness (in people) for clean entertainment,” he said, adding that “So why do we have to give it in someone else's hands”.

Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's forthcoming magnum opus "Bajirao Mastani", which releases in cinemas worldwide on December 18, will also be dubbed and released in Tamil and Telugu.

"'Bajirao Mastani' has been a story I have been yearning to tell and I am glad that cine goers in the south regions will get to watch the film in their own language. This is a dream I have lived with for several years and I'm looking forward to audiences across markets living my dream with me," Bhansali said in a statement.

While lyricist Madhan Karky will take care of the film's dubbed Tamil version, his senior counterpart Ramajogayya Sastry will handle the Telugu version.

Starring Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra among others, "Bajirao Mastani" has been a longstanding dream of the filmmaker which is finally being realized, transporting audiences to a land of love, war and signature opulence.

The film is jointly produced by Eros International and Bhansali.

Actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha has dismissed those who have called India "intolerant", and said the country is "inherently and essentially peace loving".

The "Kalicharan" actor's comment has come at a time when Aamir's comment on "despondency" and "disquiet" in the country, drew criticism.

Shatrughan tweeted: "I am fond of Aamir Khan and family. But wholeheartedly disapprove of the idea of India being labelled intolerant by him and others too. Our vast motherland is inherently and essentially peace loving and respectful of every caste, creed, religion and celebrates communal harmony."

The 69-year-old also said that the fact that Aamir's film "PK", which questioned religious discord and people's blind faith in godmen, was a success, shows there's tolerance.

"'PK', where Hindu gods and goddess were made fun of in no uncertain terms would not have seen such success if India was intolerant," he said.

India is going through tough times and we need a person who can ask questions, director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra said here on Friday, while defending actor Aamir Khan for his comments on intolerance.

Speaking to reporters after an event at the 46th edition of the International Film Festival of India, Mehra, director of well-known blockbuster films like 'Bhag Milha Bhag' and 'Rang De Basanti', also said one has to work to make a country perfect and that running away from issues like intolerance do not help.

"In such a tough time for the country, we need a person who can ask questions... He (Aamir) is the true son of the soil. Nobody can question him nor does he have to prove it to anybody. Besides being a dear friend, I know him very closely. He is the same person who made 'Sarfarosh', 'Mangal Pandey', 'Fanaa', 'Rang De Basanti' and 'Satyameva Jayate'," Mehra said.

He said every earnest citizen has a right to question a country, its people and the administration.

"When we give the country so much, it is our right to question the country, ask people, ask administration. If we feel there is a problem, we should ask about it. A person who is quiet is also a culprit," Mehra said.

Questioned about intolerance, Mehra said the phenomenon of intolerance dates back to thousands of years not just in India, but across the world.

"But that doesn't mean we can quit and run away crying intolerance and hide in our homes. We have to make the country perfect and for that we will have to work, stay together and keep trying," Mehra said.

At an event in New Delhi on Monday, Aamir said: "When I sit at home and talk to Kiran, for the first time she said, 'Should we move out of India?' Now that's a very disastrous and a big comment to make to me."

He was widely criticised for his comments.

'Award Wapsi' is not his cup of tea, says filmmaker Prakash Jha, who claims his next movie "Jai Gangaajal" is his way of raising his voice against the situation in the country.

Asked about the 'Award Wapsi' campaign, Jha told IANS: "It is their (other artistes') way to protest. But I will not return my awards ever. I have ten National Awards, but did you even hear my voice during the 'Award Wapsi' movement by filmmakers?"

A host of filmmakers, including Dibakar Banerjee and Anand Patwardhan, returned various government awards and honours, as a mark of protest against lack of freedom of speech and expression in the country.

Jha, who is known for framing the political and social environment of the country into his films “Satyagraha”, “Aarakshan” and “Gangaajal”, said he turns to his camera to register his protest.

He said: “I have a different way of protesting. I have made 'Jai Gangaajal'. It will release on March 4 and the world will come to know.”

With Priyanka Chopra in the lead role of a female police officer, “Jai Gangaajal” is a sequel of 2003 film “Gangaajal”. The film aims to examine the society-police relationship on the big screen. In fact, Jha will also be seen playing the role of a police officer in his directorial.

Actor Emraan Hashmi, who was once tagged as Bollywood's 'serial kisser', says censorship of films in India seems like it's "going to the dark ages".

"I feel that it's going back to the dark ages. We're not taking steps forward," Emraan said at the launch of a single "Main Rahoon Ya Na Rahoon", starring him and Esha Gupta.

"Our society is evolving, the kind of cinema we're exposed to these days...There are international films, Hollywood films on television... All that is progressing, but we're making sure that Bollywood regresses. I feel it's very detrimental for our industry.

"If you have a law for censorship, you should give an A-certificate to that kind of film (with any questionable content), but don't snip out things for the sake of snipping it out. I don't understand that logic," he added.

The "Murder" star responded to a question regarding the Central Board of Film Certification's decision to shorten a kissing scene in the James Bond film "Spectre".

Emraan said his much-anticipated biopic "Azhar" will also have kissing scenes, but he hopes it doesn't run into issues with the censor board.

"We'll get to know when my film eventually goes for censorship... there will obviously be a debate on it. But before that, numerous films are going to release. So hopefully, it (the policies) will be revised in the next couple of months and we get into some kind of a positive reform," he added.

Staying up all night is filmmaker Karan Johar's mantra to get a dose of reality.

Karan took to Twitter to share his late night fundas. He posted: “Late night thoughts are your reality check.”

Meanwhile, the filmmaker is busy with his next project "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" which stars Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Anushka Sharma and Ranbir Kapoor. The film will release on June 3, next year.

Actor Ayushmann Khurrana has heaped praise over "Tamasha" and says the film is a “spiritual” journey to discover oneself.

The actor had special compliments for the stars of the film. He calls Ranbir Kapoor his “best superstar ever”, Deepika Padukone a “lover”, while he also appreciated director Imtiaz Ali for infusing life into the script.

“Discover yourself in #Tamasha. For me this guy is the best superstar ever. Spiritual. The director is such a lifer. The girl is such a lover (sic),” Ayushmann tweeted.

“Tamasha” narrates a story of internal conflict. It is about two individuals, who meet while on a holiday and decide to make-pretend during the trip, but problems erupt when they return to their real life.

Largely, the movie is the love saga of a storyteller who falls in love with a girl who helps him to rediscover his lost self. It released on Friday.

Actress Kalki Koechlin, who starred in the Shonali Bose directorial “Margarita With A Straw” in which she plays the role of a girl with cerebral palsy, believes that disability needs visibility in our country.

With her film being screened at the first edition of the three-day International Film Festival for Persons with Disabilities (IFFPD) 2015 on Tuesday at Siri Fort, Kalki is "thrilled" and happy with the support from the government.

"I'm so thrilled that this is happening, with the support of government and with exciting films from everywhere. Disability needs visibility in our country. So sad I can't be there this time,” the 31-year-old said in a statement.

“Margarita With A Straw” had its world premiere on September 8 last year as part of the Contemporary World Cinema Programme at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

The movie was later screened at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia, BFI London Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) and the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Director Kabir Khan says that he is looking forward to his "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" actor Salman Khan's next film "Sultan".

"Of course, 'Sultan' is Salman's film and the person directing it is Ali Abbas Zafar, who is a very close friend of mine. He used to be my first assistant on 'New York', he is like a brother to me. So, I am looking forward to 'Sultan'," Kabir said at the screening of Pan Nalin's "Angry Indian Goddesses" here.

"The look is very good, I have seen all that has been shot and it's looking excellent," he added.

"Sultan" is produced by Yash Raj Films, the production house which gave Kabir the opportunity to evolve from a documentary filmmaker to a commercial filmmaker with "Kabul Express". He later went on to make two other films, "New York" and "Ek Tha Tiger".

The first audio teaser of "Sultan" reveals that Salman will be essaying the role of a wrestler.

He is also seen sporting a stubble and a crew cut for the film.

The first look of the film, too, saw him with a handlebar moustache, which had generated enough curiosity among his loyal fans.

"Sultan" will be releasing on Eid next year and the lead actress for the film is yet to be finalised.

After making his acting debut with "Bombay velvet", filmmaker Karan Johar has asked Anurag Kashyap to write another role for him.

Karan was seen in a negative role in the film that starred Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma.

"@anuragkashyap72 in london! About to start filming soon! Write another role fast for me! The actor in me is exploding," Karan tweeted on Tuesday.

Set in the 1960s, "Bombay Velvet" brought back the retro days. The movie was a large screen adaptation of Gyan Prakash's "Mumbai Fables".

The story is about a man with big dreams and the extent he is willing to go to be successful. But its box office performance was disappointing.

Meanwhile, Karan is busy with his next project "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil", which stars Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Anushka and Ranbir.

The film will release on June 3 next year.

"Rang De Basanti" fame actor Kunal Kapoor is looking forward to filming his first action movie down south soon.

"I will start shooting for a film soon in a month's time. It's an action film which is exciting for me as I have never done action. It's not a multi-starrer and we will be shooting down south," Kunal told IANS at the Van Heusen + GQ Fashion Nights on Tuesday here.

While action is one genre that he is excited about, he shared that he doesn't want to restrict himself to one role or a film and that he would like to experiment before he decides what he loves or doesn't.

He is also working on a "couple of scripts".

"They will go into production soon. I am excited about that. I will act in them as well. They will give me a chance to experiment and write roles for myself. I think nobody else knows you better than you on what you are capable of," said the actor, who has also featured in films "Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana".

"I have three scripts right now and all are different genres. One is a romantic film, the other one is a comedy. The third film is an action film again. I've pitched them to a couple of people and have producers on board for two of them," he added.

What about producing films like his fellow actors?

"Producing films is not something on my mind right now. But if I find a great script that is not finding any backers, then I would of course consider it," said the actor, who walked in a tuxedo with hair neat ly tied up and a hat in hand as a showstopper for Van Heusen at the fashion event that provides a tailored platform for menswear fashion in the country.

As Vani Kannan, head of design, Van Heusen, shared, the collection which had geometric prints and used different shades of pink all over was made with the 1920s in mind.

Kunal certainly enjoyed sporting the retro look.

"It was nice to go back to the 1920s when people dressed up well. Now, it's mostly about a pair of jeans and a tee... It's slightly boring," said the actor.

Asked about his personal choice, he shared that there's "no defined rule that I follow when it comes to fashion".

"Whatever catches my fancy... It can be jeans and a tee or a tuxedo. I don't have a particular mindset when it comes to fashion. I enjoy experimenting," he added.

He agrees that denims are a staple in everybody's wardrobe, but it 's great fun to dress up.

Whom does he consider to be the most stylish man in the industry?

"I think Mr. Amitabh Bachchan. He is in his 70s now and yes, he is a relative, but besides that he is trendy and fashionable. Even when you look at him now, the clothes that he wears and the stuff that he carries off, I don't think anybody else can," said Kunal, who is married to the megastar's niece Naina.

With the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) demanding as many as 16 cuts in Pan Nalin's "Angry Indian Goddesses", the filmmaker says he is "super sad and hurt" with the decision.

The film reportedly invoked the wrath of the censor board, headed by Pahlaj Nihalani who was also in news for cutting short kissing scenes in James Bond film "Spectre", for showing images of Hindu goddesses and for using certain words like "adivasi", "sarkar" and "Indian figure".

"I am super sad and hurt because we have used completely respectful images of Kali in the film, but we had to blur them out. I have grown up watching gods and goddesses all my life in films... We cut people's head in the films, and suddenly we have to remove images of the goddesses," Nalin said during a visit to the IANS office here with the cast of the film.

"Angry Indian Goddesses", which is touted as India's first 'female buddy' film, features an ensemble cast of Sarah-Jane Dias, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Anushka Manchanda, Sandhya Mridul, Rajshri Deshpande and Adil Hussain among others.

Singer and former VJ Anushka, who is making her acting debut with film, said that "we don't live in a democracy, but we live in a hypocrisy".

"It holds true for many things, not just the censor board. It's the way we run this country. We are more worried about what other people think rather than living our own lives. It's not 'jiyo or jeeno do (live and let live)'. In our country, it is not like that. It's really unfair... Even the whole situation with us, we have really worked hard on the film, our soul is into it," Anushka added.

Nalin confidently said that even if the film was not released in India, it would still find its way here due to the international acclaim it has already garnered.

"This is such a feminine force from India, which is like Kali, the shakti. Even if the film was never released here, it would find its way to come as it's releasing in so many countries, almost everywhere in the world, uncut. They are all commercial releases," he said.

"Even Egypt is releasing it uncut, so you can imagine. They see strength in the film, they know people will watch it, it will entertain and inspire," he added.

Sandhya, who was last seen on the silver screen in "Ragini MMS 2", said that they are not maligning or disrespecting anyone by calling women "goddesses" in the film.

"We are just having a conversation, we are not maligning anyone or disrespecting. We are just having a conversation about goddesses. Just like how Goddess Durga gets angry... Even Facebook has an app, 'Which goddess are you?'" Sandhya opined.

Nalin, who is known for films like "Samsara" and "Valley of Flowers" that have focused on spirituality and religion, said: "All the objection is not to associate Indian women with goddesses."

"Since Independence, every politician has addressed people as 'deviyon and sajjano (goddesses and gentlemen)," he said, pointing out at the dichotomy that exists in the society.

"Even if you look at our mythology, it is strange the gods do nothing, it's the goddesses who do it. There are only goddesses doing everything."

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, known for his outspoken ways, says it was "Talibanistic" when a Muslim family was forced to leave a theatre after they did not stand up when the national anthem was played before a film's screening here.

"Respect has to come from within and cannot be enforced.. It's downright talibanistic to beat up people for not standing for national anthem," Varma posted on Twitter on Wednesday.

The filmmaker, who has helmed movies like "Shool", "Sarkar" and "The Attacks of 26/11", also said the act was the "upper limit of height of intolerance".

"Beating up people for not standing up in the theatre while national anthem is being played is the upper limit of height of intolerance."

Versatile actor Sanjay Mishra, who has been lauded for his work in both mainstream and art-house cinema, says he is not "career-oriented" as acting is just a "part of his life".

Asked how his life has changed after "Masaan", Sanjay told IANS: "My life after 'Masaan' is the same like it was before. I am not very career-oriented. I have a life and a career. I am not at all career-oriented".

The 52-year-old actor says he believes in living blissfully as his career is just a part of his life.

"Career is a part of my life... But my life is main for me, I want to die in peace... by making people laugh and cry. I mean everything should be very good in this life. So that is why I am not very career-oriented," the "Golmaal" actor said.

Sanjay will next be seen in Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol starrer "Dilwale", which is slated to hit the theatres on December 18.

The film is directed by Rohit Shetty and also stars Varun Dhawan, Kriti Sanon, Boman Irani and Johnny Lever.

Singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan will pay tribute to Swami Chinmayananda at charity concert, 'Spirit of India', a part of the Chinmaya Ananda Utsav which is dedicated to the late spiritual leader.

Titled "Spirit of India", the concert will take place on December 13 at Sri Shanmukhananda Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi Auditorium here and bring together under one roof youth, corporates, industrialists, acharyas, members and trustees of various Chinmaya Mission Trusts and businessmen who are followers of the mission.

"Chinmaya Mission has been a very strong part of my life since childhood. I have been associated with Chinmaya Mission since primary school days where I was part of group singing and bhajans in the Bal Vihar classes,” Mahadevan told IANS.

“I am honoured to offer my tribute to Swami Chinmayananda in his birth centenary year," he added.

"The concept of the show is to spread love and peace in the city and amongst people across all age groups through a fusion of bhajans, contemporary songs and patriotic numbers. Let's come together and celebrate the spirit of India,” he added.

The Chinmaya Ananda Utsav will be held from December 13-20.

Tamil star Dhanush's song “Kolaveri di” became a sleeper blockbuster in 2011 and it continues to have its victorious run in the virtual world. The song has surpassed 100 million views on Youtube since its release.

“Kolaveri Di”, which was released by Sony Music on November 16, 2011, crossed the benchmark on Wednesday, read a statement.

Sung and written by Dhanush, "Kolaveri di" captured people’s imaginations with its music and colloquial lyrics and immediately became a song of the people.

Composed by 18-year-old Anirudh Ravichander, the song with funny lyrics is sung in an unconventional manner by Dhanush himself and was a part of his film “3”, which was directed by his wife Aishwarya. The film also stars Shruthi Haasan.

The video had a raw feel to it, similar to an unplugged recording, making it extremely relatable for the viewers.

“Kolaveri” a highly popular slang among Tamil youth, normally used to silence a cranky person in a group. It is among several Tamil words which youngsters use between themselves without implying actual meaning.