What’s the big deal in skin show of Maxim? - Neetu Chandra

January 15th, 2009

Now who’s that girl? That’s a question on everyone’s lips ever since Neetu Chandra decided to don a new avatar beginning 2009. She has made sure that the winter of 2009 begins on a RED HOT note with the dare bare shoot that she has just done for the magazine MAXIM. Never ceasing to surprise month after month, Neetu Chandra shows the other side of herself (well literally!) as she confidently poses for the camera in a never seen before avatar. From the track suits and sarees of her last release ‘Oye Lucky Lucky Oye’, she has come up with some absolutely stunning poses for the magazine Maxim.

Answer this honestly, when you entered the industry, were you willing to get into such dare-bare mode?
I don’t know why am I asked this question repeatedly? Even in my first film ‘Garam Masala’, Priyadarshan chose me over the the other two girls for wearing a swimming costume. He asked all of us to get into the costume and did the look test. After that he gave me a go ahead to wear it for a song shoot. When I could do that 3 years back, what’s the big deal in doing it today?

Weren’t you worried about how your family back there would react after they see you in this new dare-n-bare skin show avatar?
In fact I didn’t even have to inform them before I posed for the camera. My mom and everyone else in the family blindly trust me and always say that whatever you would do, it would only be after giving it some good thought. When your parents and people close to you say something like that, you become even more conscious. You end up saying to yourself that ‘I don’t have to take any wrong step that would disappoint them’.

Reputation of the magazine would have played a major role in going ahead with the shoot, right?
Yes, it did play a big role in it. Maxim is known to be a sensuous magazine. People out there are quite chilled out and I didn’t see any hassles in walking in for the shoot.

So is Neetu going to be a hot siren in future films?
Siren may be a too big a word but yes, in Vipul Shah’s next film as a producer, I do play a hot-n-sexy girl.

Apart from Vipul Shah’s film, in 2009 Neetu Chandra will also be seen in ‘Flat No. 13B’ and ‘Ksarprasad Ka Bhoot’.

Caravan-E-Ghazal by Talat Aziz

January 15th, 2009

Saregama India Ltd, India’s foremost music company launched its new album “Caravan-E-Ghazal” at St. Andrews Auditorium, Mumbai.

The event was attended by an august gathering of eminent artistes, journalists and dignitaries.

Speaking at the launch of his album Talat Aziz said “This album is a culmination of a lot of love and hard work. I have tried to keep the compositions traditional keeping the great poets of Urdu and their poetry in mind, yet embellished the music with contemporary treatment. I was greatly helped in this by Jeetu Shankar who has arranged the music. And the highlight is the ghazal Sonu Niigaam has sung with me adding a new dimension to this album. I pray that everyone who listens to it likes it and hope that apart from the traditional lovers of the ghazal we manage to rope in new listeners to this CARAVAN .”

Sonu Niigaam, who has partnered with Talat Aziz for one of the tracks in the album shared his experience while recording the album and said, “I always wanted to sing ghazals, and ever since I got to know Talatji, it’s been my privilage to work with him.”

Atul Churamani, Vice President – Saregama India Limited said “It’s an honour for us to be associated with this project. There is a dire need for music today to have good poetry and “Caravan-E-Ghazal” is the epitome of that. It is the work of nine of the greatest poets set to some memorable music by Talat. The track with Sonu Niigaam ‘Qurbaton Mein Bhi…’ is the icing on the cake.”

Caravan-E-Ghazal is an anthology of Ghazals, which weaves together a selection from master poets of the Urdu language. An insightful selection, it puts in perspective the evolution of this extremely popular form for our contemporary audiences/listeners. The compositions and music has embellished this unique album with a rare ability to relate with the uninitiated new enthusiasts of Ghazal listeners as well as provide the connoisseur of Urdu poetry with a modern musical interpretation of the great Masters.

Talat Aziz has specially composed these ghazals in a way that transports the listeners into a melodious world.

Subhash Ghai and Anurag Sinha get standing ovation at PIFF

January 15th, 2009

Subhash Ghai was overwhelmed when his film ‘ Black n White’ got a standing ovation after the screening at E-Square at the Pune International Film festiaval on the 10th Jan 09.

Many of the film delegates from all over the world expressed their full admiration for the bold and thoughtful subject on terrorism dealt by Subhash Ghai. ‘Its a universal subject of today and deserves to be seen by every nation ; said an Israeli director at the festival. The Chairman of International film festival, Suresh Kalmadi during the press conference on 11th Jan said..” This is the finest hindi film I have seen after a very long time which has so much to say to the young ones and Subhash Ghai deserves all the kudos …! Jabbar Patel, the director of film festival spoke very highly about the new actor Anuraag Sinha the lead actor of the film and said “We can see a huge star of tomorrow here after watching his outstanding performance in ‘Black n White’.”

It was a press conference on ‘CINEMA N TERRORISM “where Mr Ghai talked about that how cinema can mobilize the thinking of hard liners.”

Deepika Padukone - Yahoo India Most Searched

January 15th, 2009

Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone has emerged the most searched celebrity on Yahoo India search. Indian Railways and the Sixth Pay Commission are other hot searches on Yahoo India during 2008.

Deepika was also ranked first among the top people searches, along with Shilpa Shetty and Aishwarya Rai.

Priyanka and Harman - Did They Really Split ?

January 15th, 2009

According to highly placed sources, Priyanka Chopra and Harman Baweja has finally split. The pair had differences in couple of issues in the past and they ultimately result in break-up and have decided to stay friends.

The couple even celebrated New Year bash individually. Priyanka chose to be in Manali with her family for the New Year, while Harman brought it in with friends.

According to India Times report, Priyanka and Harman both remained unavailable for comment.

January 15th, 2009

The trailer of Arya’s upcoming Sarvam was officially released yesterday and also screened in many theatres.

Vishnu Vardhan is making Sarvam for Ayngaran International. Arya does the maile lead and Trisha does the female lead .
Vishnu’s Sarvam has his regular technical team of cameraman Nirav Shah, editor Sreekar Prasad, and music director Yuvan Shankar Raja.

K J Yesudas Musical Campaign “Music For Peace” - Sangeetha Yatra

January 15th, 2009

Singer K.J. Yesudas began a cross-country musical campaign against terrorism in Thiruvananthapuram, with the motto “Music For Peace“.

He started “Music For Peace” in the presence of Kavita Karkare, widow of Maharashta Police’s Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare, who was killed in the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Kavita Karkare handed over the torch to Yesudas to mark the launch of the ‘Sangeetha Yatra‘.

Sangeetha Yatra will cover major cities, including Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru. As a part of his musical campaign, Yesudas will hold music programmes in various centres in Kerala.