Australian filmmakers looking financial partners In India

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International interest in India’s Rs.100 billion ($2 billion) film industry is surging. After Hollywood giants, Australian filmmakers in search of innovative stories and financial partners are looking to India .

They have already launched a bunch of India-centric movies like ’The Waiting City’, ’An Indian Summer’ and ’Bollywood Down Under’.

’We are looking at India-centric, good Australian stories as these category storylines will aid in world marketing,’ Anupam Sharma, founder and director of Australian production house Films and Casting Temple, told IANS via email.

Sharma clarified that he wasn’t investing in Indian movies, but added that Australian filmmakers would surely be interested in co-productions with Indian producers as well.

’We are not investing in Indian films. We are developing India-centric international films for the global market. We are hoping to utilise the combination producer offset available in Australia with the 18 percent growth in Indian film market and the worldwide popularity currently being enjoyed by India-centric films. So we are definitely aiming for co-production projects with our Indian counterparts,’ said Sharma, who is also a filmmaker.

That British filmmaker Danny Boyle’s India-centric ’Slumdog Millionaire’ went on to win eight Oscars is also one of the reasons for increasing international interest in India.

Australian collaborative films centred on India are in various stages of development, including projects by leading Australian producers like Bill Bennett, Anupam Sharma, John Winter, Jim McElroy and David Wood.

’The Waiting City’ by Claire McCarthy, about an Australian couple adopting an Indian, is the first Australian film shot wholly in India and is set to release later this year, reported Australian Financial Review.

Sharma is working on quite a few India-centric ventures.

’I’m co-producing director Bill Bennett’s film, which is an on-the-edge thriller set in the dusty, parched canvas of north India. I’m also working on other co-productions with India-centric stories like ’An Indian Summer’, ’Family Unit’, ’Bollywood Down Under’ and a feature-length documentary titled ’Bollywood Bazaar’,’ said Sharma.

Australian producers are also keen to establish a co-production treaty with India to enable co-investment from each country to happen more easily, said Geoffrey Brown, executive director of Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA).

’In this regard, there is some good news. Our Foreign Minister Stephen Smith announced last week that he had approved the opening of negotiations for a co-production treaty between our two countries,’ Brown told IANS in an email interview.

But unlike Hollywood firms, which have co-produced Bollywood  films like ’Chandni Chowk To China’ and ’Saawariya’, Australian filmmakers are not keen on investing in typical Indian movies.

’Australians are very unlikely to invest in Indian films without some Australian component. Our producers are looking to make films with stories that work for both the countries in all genres. Comedies, social issue films, masala, romance and thrillers seem the most likely genres to begin with. There are also some wonderful documentary series to be made in India also,’ Brown explained.

Last year, a delegation of Australian producers attended the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) to discuss future co-productions.

Nina Lath Gupta, managing director of India’s National Film Development Corporation, said over phone from Mumbai: ’This primarily was to establish contacts ... They didn’t come with any projects. They just wanted to explore Indian markets.’

Australian filmmakers haven’t set a cap on the budget for proposed co-productions with Indian filmmakers as of now.

’No set budgets, but we would always have to be mindful of attracting an audience that could ensure recovery of the film’s budget for all investors,’ said Brown.

The Australian Financial Review also stressed in an article in February that a major impediment to filmmaking in India is the absence of a co-production treaty.

’There is very little government handouts in India, which has been the argument against it,’ Winter, who is producing two Indian-centric films, was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Lath Gupta said: ’In foreign countries, governments give grants but in India, a vast majority of films are being made by private producers. As far as a co-production treaty is concerned, I can’t say anything as it falls under the ministry.’

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Actor Feroz Khan passed away at his farmhouse

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Bollywood actor Feroz Khan on Monday lost his battle with cancer and passed away at his farmhouse in Bangalore.

The 69-year-old actor-filmmaker died at 1:30 am at his farmhouse, family sources said. Khan is survived by actor-son Fardeen Khan and daughter Laila Khan.

He was diagnosed with cancer and was being treated at a Mumbai hospital for a long time. His funeral will take place later in the day in Bangalore, sources said.

The actor was born and brought up in Bangalore. The Bollywood actor of yesteryear was known for his hit films of the 70s and 80s which include ’Dharmatama’, ’Qurbani’ and ’Jaanbaz’.

The latest film he featured in was the blockbuster hit Welcome in 2007.

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Exclusive Mahatma Gandhi In Bollywood Movies

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Mahatma Gandhi’s name comes at the first position when speaking about India’s freedom struggle.Mahatma Gandhi is undoubtedly the most popular personality in the Indian history and his name comes at the first position when speaking about India’s freedom struggle. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, as was his complete name, is not just a famous figure in India but across the globe. His wax statue at the Madam Tussauds is a clear testimony to the fact.

Gandhi has been an important part of Hindi films as well. Any film on Indian independence is incomplete without the mention of Gandhiji. Today, on the eve of Gandhiji’s birthday Oct 2, we list down some of the best portrayed Gandhiji on the Indian screen.

Ben Kingsley in Gandhi

The list has to start with Richard Attenborough’s film Gandhi (1982) which is by far considered to be the best biographical take on Mahatma Gandhi. Ironically it took a foreign filmmaker (Richard Attenborough) and a foreign actor Ben Kingsley to come up with the best film on Indian independence and the Indian freedom fighter.

The international project was shot in India in English language and starred several then smalltime Indian actors like Amrish Puri, Om Puri and Saeed Jaffrey. Rohini Hattangadi played Kasturi Gandhi, Mahatma’s wife. Ben Kingsley went on to win an Oscar for the film and his performance in Gandhi is considered to be the best till date.

Surendra Rajan in Veer Savarkar, Legend of Bhagat Singh, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

Whenever Gandhi was needed in a small bit in films, character artist Surendra Rajan came handy. He played Gandhi in biographies of Savarkar, Bhagat Singh and Bose.Interestingly all the films showed Gandhi in a negative light with his philosophies contradicting with those of other freedom fighters.

Rajit Kapoor in Making of Mahatma

Shyam Benegal’s favourite actor Rajit Kapoor played Gandhi in Benegal’s bilingual biography title The Making of Mahatma in English and Gandhi Se Mahatma Tak in Hindi. The film had a different outlook on Gandhi as it showed the progression of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi from being a barrister in South Africa to becoming the Mahatma.Rajit Kapoor came up with an inspiring act of Gandhiji.

Mohan Gokhale in Babasaheb Ambedkar

In 2000s filmmakers became more open on historical biographies and went on to show more than what was documented in the history curriculum textbooks. Jabber Patel’s biography on Babasaheb Ambedkar was one of the first films to show Gandhi in grey shades. It was a shocker to audiences to see Gandhi in a negative light. Mohan Gokhale played Gandhi’s character in the film and the director showed how Gandhi used his non-cooperation policy and fasting strategies to emotionally blackmail and get things done as per his demands.South actor Mamoothy played Ambedkar in the film and won a National Award for his performance.

Naseeruddin Shah in Hey Ram

After Babasaheb Ambedkar, Mohan Gokhale was again signed for playing Gandhi in Kamal Hassan’s Hey Ram. Unfortunately for his untimely demise, Kamal Hassan had to opt for another actor to play Gandhi. Naseeruddin Shah played Gandhi in the film and did a splendid job at it. He was amongst the first actors to get Gandhiji’s Gujarati accent and body language right.Hey Ram are the last words uttered by Gandhiji before his death and mainly revolved around Gandhi’s influence on a common man played by Kamal Hassan. The film, again, showed Gandhi in a negative light till the climax where things change to his favour and his image is resurrected.

Dilip Prabhavalkar in Lagey Raho Munnabhai

One of the most popular and entertaining Gandhiji played in recent times was by Marathi actor Dilip Prabhavalkar in Lagey Raho Munnabhai. This was the first film had showed Gandhi in a contemporary setting and was not a take on his freedom fight.The film very smartly used Gandhiji’s teachings and adapted it to modern day world thereby introducing the concept of Gandhigiri.

Darshan Zariwala in Gandhi My Father

The last Gandhi played onscreen so far, Darshan Zariwala played Bapu in Anil Kapoor produced Gandhi My Father. The film had the most unique take on Gandhiji as it focused on his personal life more than the political one and showed how despite being the ‘Father of nation’, Gandhiji couldn’t be a good father to his son Harilal Gandhi.The film met with mixed response wherein some liked Darshan’s portrayal while others did not.

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The concept of Bollywood merchandising has come a long way since then.

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Well, the 1973 Rishi-Dimple starrer has a distinction to its credit. It was perhaps the first film to start merchandising its products the hair clips and pins worn by Dimple Kapadia could be bought by fans.

The concept of Bollywood merchandising has come a long way since then. The latest film to have marketed its products is Ashutosh Gowariker’s magnum opus Jodhaa Akbar whose main characters would be reproduced as toys by a leading toy maker. Besides toys, other merchandise includes jewellery, coffee mugs, sports items, stationery, curios, mobile ring tones, vehicles, food, beauty products, toiletries, bath items and apparel.

The movie credited with popularising merchandising is Sooraj Barjatya’s Maine Pyar Kiya (1989) - the ‘Friend’ cap featured in it sold like hot pancakes. Another Barjatya blockbuster, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun also did brisk business, with Madhuri Dixit’s purple sari becoming a craze. Films that have merchandised successfully of late include Bhoot, Fanaa, Goal, Hum Tum, Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon, Saawariya, Om Shanti Om, Na Tum Jaano Na Hum, Koi Mil Gaya and Krrish.

So, why are filmmakers increasingly venturing into merchandising? Firstly, it adds up to the profits. Also, by flooding the market with movie-centric products, the movie gets more visibility. As Ram Kamal Mukherjee, VP, Pritish Nandy Communications explains, “Merchandising is a tool for the filmmaker to keep his film alive in public memory. It’s all about providing something different, a unique product to the customer.

Bollywood memorabilia or merchandising has a lot to do with how retail functions. Till now, it was marginalised. There were thousands of outlets and negotiating with them was a very tedious process. Now, with major retail outlets replacing the numerous others, distribution and placement becomes easier,” says Ravi Gupta from a premier production house.

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Desi beauties in Hollywood avatars!

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L’Officiel magazine, which is celebrating its sixth anniversary in its April edition will show our desi beauties in striking resemblances with international divas. Starting with Amisha Patel, she looks as graceful and sultry giving striking resemblance to JLO. Then we have ‘Nishabd’ babe Jiah Khan in the perfect Merlyn Monroe act and again, Sonam Kapoor decked up as the legendary Coco Chanel of her young days. Picture perfect Jaya Bachchan appears in an outfit by her favouriter designer duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla.

Check the pics out for yourself!

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Are the car numbers of some our celebs good enough ?

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Are the car numbers of some our celebs good enough ?

With a rising number of people believing in numerology ( the science of numbers ),those in the business are becoming busier by the day.

Not just the common man, but even film stars are falling prey to these professionals before deciding on any aspect of their lives.While a layman can add just the digits on a number plate, it is the entire number plate ( including alphabets ) which is to be considered before arriving at the final lucky number.

Owning a luxurious car is always a style statement and before buying such highly expensive machines, most stars play it safe by consulting numerologists to decide for their lucky numbers.

Astro Numerologist Bhavikk Sangghvi gives an insight :

1) Amitabh Bachchan ( Car No. MH02 JA 2 ) : Born on 11th October 1942, Big B is a Libran ruled by Number 6 ( Venus ). No wonder his car number also adds on to the same number ( 15 = 1 + 5 = 6 ).
Tip : Mr.Bachchan should strictly avoid using or driving a black car.

2) Shah Rukh Khan ( Car No. MH02 AU 555 ) : Born on 2nd November 1965, SRK’s car number adds up to Number 33 ( 3 + 3 = 6 ). It is one of his best numbers as his name also vibrates on the same number ( 42 = 4 + 2 = 6 ).
Tip : Using a creamish white coloured car can prove lucky for him.

3) Aishwarya Rai Bachchan ( Car No. MH02 YA 500 ) : Born on 1st November 1973, the beauty queen’s car number adds up to Number 18 ( 1 + 8 = 9 ). Although Number 9 is one of her good numbers ( she is a Scorpion ruled by Number 9 of Mars ), the meaning of Number 18 as per numerological texts is not at all good. It indicates struggle, war, revolution and cautions the concerned person from fire and explosions.
Tip : Since she is prone to accidents, she should avoid driving at all times.

4) Saif Ali Khan ( Car No. MH02 JP 10 ) : Born on 16th August 1970, chhote nawab’s car number adds up to Number 30. Jupiter ruled Number 3 is definitely not one of his lucky numbers and this car might actually give him some or the other trouble.
Tip : He should either replace the car or possibly opt for Thane registration ( MH04 ).

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