Lokesh Dhakar comes to the rescue of people who can't order a cup of coffee
Deepa used to think being North Indian was cool
Great Bong caught General Musharraf flying full mast
Falstaff remembers his own tryst with destiny
eM wonders why those born with a uterus are put into a special category
Gawker hits out at razor blade manufacturers
Check out previous Blog Melas
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
Wanna get featured in next month's Blog Mela? Visit this blog in the first week of September for nomination guidelines
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
BLOG INTERVIEW - Will Bigham
Meet Will Bigham. The 31-year-old Texan triumphed over 12,000 other entrants to win the American reality show for filmmakers, On the Lot. The prize - a $1 million development deal with Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks Pictures.
Each week on the show, contestants created short films on a theme chosen by the producers. The finished films were then screened in front of a live studio audience while millions of television viewers voted for their favourite work.
Bigham, a great visual storyteller, was a formidable contender from the very beginning and beat 18 short-listed filmmakers, including Indian American Shalini Kantayya, to the grand prize.
The actor-turned-editor-turned-director loves Bollywood films and told Toe Knee Unplugged he wants to start work on a comedy.
What kind of feature film would you want to make now - a comedy, drama...?
Sona Mohapatra
Mahesh Dattani
Ruchi Narain
Shiva Keshavan
Ravi Godse
Each week on the show, contestants created short films on a theme chosen by the producers. The finished films were then screened in front of a live studio audience while millions of television viewers voted for their favourite work.
Bigham, a great visual storyteller, was a formidable contender from the very beginning and beat 18 short-listed filmmakers, including Indian American Shalini Kantayya, to the grand prize.
The actor-turned-editor-turned-director loves Bollywood films and told Toe Knee Unplugged he wants to start work on a comedy.
What kind of feature film would you want to make now - a comedy, drama...?
I love comedies, and with On the Lot, that was the genre I chose to show the public week after week. I think the first feature I direct is more than likely going to be some type of comedy.Which actors would you want to direct in the future? Would you continue acting as well?
There are several top actors that I would love to have a chance to work with. Too many to name. Coming from an acting background, I respect any actor who is willing to take a risk and make bold character choices. I would love to continue acting in the future, but for now, I'm going to focus on directing.Which of Shalini's On the Lot films did you like best?
I enjoyed Shalini's Dr. In-Law. I had a chance to work with her on the script, as we all helped each other from time to time. It was a very collaborative atmosphere. But I thought that Shalini was able to find some really funny moments.Have you watched a Bollywood film? Any thoughts on featuring Indian themes in your future projects?
I love Bollywood films. Visually, they are some of the best out there. I've never considered featuring Indian themes in my movies, but I would never rule it out. One of the greatest things about film making is that you can explore different aspects of this vast world in each of your projects. And everything you see (movies, art, architecture) informs the visual choices you make.Other Exclusive Interviews on this blog
Sona Mohapatra
Mahesh Dattani
Ruchi Narain
Shiva Keshavan
Ravi Godse
Friday, August 24, 2007
Bigham wins big on the Lot
Will Bigham is the last man left standing in the On the Lot reality show for filmmakers - winning a million dollar picture deal with Steven Spielberg's Dreamworks Pictures.
The 31-year-old American had been my favourite on the weekly show where TV audiences voted for the best short films made by contestants.
Bigham's Nerve Endings is my favourite film on the show this season. You can watch it and other On The Lot hits here. Meanwhile, I am keeping my fingers crossed for Bigham's first Hollywood blockbuster.
The 31-year-old American had been my favourite on the weekly show where TV audiences voted for the best short films made by contestants.
Bigham's Nerve Endings is my favourite film on the show this season. You can watch it and other On The Lot hits here. Meanwhile, I am keeping my fingers crossed for Bigham's first Hollywood blockbuster.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Why Chak De won't win an Oscar
Chak De India is a good film. Unfortunately, taking home an Oscar needs more than a good film. I may be treading dangerous ground here but fans of Shahrukh Khan are likely to be disappointed when Chak De doesn't make the Oscar shortlist.
Chak De is not your typical Bollywood kitsch. Granted. But there's nothing new about an underdog team striving against all odds to win a team championship. A bit like Remember the Titans and the dozens of the sports flicks before it.
Remember Lagaan? At least, it had the colonial angle. Here it's national integration and gender inequality.
Must say director Shimit Alam has taken advantage of a brilliant screenplay. Add some good acting by Khan and his pan-Indian wards. Plus a release date the week before Independence Day when patriotic fervour is likely to be at its peak. And you have a winner on your hands.
A well-made film that will do extremely well in multiplexes. But story and acting alone does not an Oscar-winning film make. There would be calls to make Chak De India India's official entry for the Oscars but it's a lost cause.
P.S. For those who watched the film, don't you think the fight sequence at McDonalds was a bit over the top?
Chak De is not your typical Bollywood kitsch. Granted. But there's nothing new about an underdog team striving against all odds to win a team championship. A bit like Remember the Titans and the dozens of the sports flicks before it.
Remember Lagaan? At least, it had the colonial angle. Here it's national integration and gender inequality.
Must say director Shimit Alam has taken advantage of a brilliant screenplay. Add some good acting by Khan and his pan-Indian wards. Plus a release date the week before Independence Day when patriotic fervour is likely to be at its peak. And you have a winner on your hands.
A well-made film that will do extremely well in multiplexes. But story and acting alone does not an Oscar-winning film make. There would be calls to make Chak De India India's official entry for the Oscars but it's a lost cause.
P.S. For those who watched the film, don't you think the fight sequence at McDonalds was a bit over the top?
Friday, August 17, 2007
Vishal Bharadwaj: Leery of Lear?
Will it be King Lear or Hamlet? After Maqbool (Macbeth) and Omkara (Othello), fans are wondering which Shakespearean play will filmmaker Vishal Bharadwaj attempt next.
Speculation had been rife that the Indian filmmaker would choose King Lear as the basis for the third and final film of his Shakespeare trilogy. But Bharadwaj told Toe Knee Unplugged he hasn't decided yet.
Perhaps, Bharadwaj should stick to his original plan - that of making Julius Caesar. He had even thought of having Sanjay Dutt and Irrfan Khan play the pivotal roles of Caesar and Mark Antony. But with Dutt's incarceration, that plan seems to have fizzled out.
For now, Bharadwaj is revelling in the success of his award-winning children's film The Blue Umbrella and busy working on his next film - a docudrama.
So is the Bard of Avon on hold for now? Yes, but you guys can help Bharadwaj out. Should he go in for a Shakespearean tragedy, comedy or tragi-comedy?
Speculation had been rife that the Indian filmmaker would choose King Lear as the basis for the third and final film of his Shakespeare trilogy. But Bharadwaj told Toe Knee Unplugged he hasn't decided yet.
"I do have to complete my trilogy but many filmmakers are making films on Shakespeare's plays so I haven't decided yet."Was Bharadwaj referring to Rituparno Ghosh's take on King Lear? Ghosh's The Last Lear has Amitabh Bachchan playing a failed and ageing Shakespearean actor. The film premieres at the Toronto film festival in September.
Perhaps, Bharadwaj should stick to his original plan - that of making Julius Caesar. He had even thought of having Sanjay Dutt and Irrfan Khan play the pivotal roles of Caesar and Mark Antony. But with Dutt's incarceration, that plan seems to have fizzled out.
For now, Bharadwaj is revelling in the success of his award-winning children's film The Blue Umbrella and busy working on his next film - a docudrama.
So is the Bard of Avon on hold for now? Yes, but you guys can help Bharadwaj out. Should he go in for a Shakespearean tragedy, comedy or tragi-comedy?
Monday, August 13, 2007
REVIEW: There's no myth about Mithya
If you thought Bheja Fry was excellent, wait till you watch Mithya (The Imposter Who Wasn't). This time around, Rajat Kapoor wields the director's baton in a satire set in the Mumbai underworld.
Funny man Ranvir Shorey plays an aspiring actor who has an uncanny resemblance to a don. This gives rival gangster Naseeruddin Shah a brainwave. Kill the original and replace him with the reluctant imposter.
Shorey is forced to accept the role of a lifetime - no Oscar for him though. His lone friend in the world is Naseer's moll Neha Dhupia. Things go wrong when the imposter loses his memory in an accident and starts believing he actually is a don. How will he get out of this mess?
Reminds you of Don, doesn't it? Well, the story line may not be original, but Kapoor's treatment leaves viewers rolling in the aisles. If you always thought of Shorey as that VJ dude, he's going to surprise you in this film. The guy can really act the part of an endearing loser.
Shorey can't hog all the credit though. Kapoor and Saurabh Shukla's gripping screenplay does the trick, ably supported by superb performances by Naseer, Vinay Pathak and Ikhlaque Khan.
Neha Dhupia can't act though but who cares? She fits well into her role as a flop actress and gangster Naseer's companion.
Rajat Kapoor reveals that the script of Mithya had been lying with him for 9 years with no producer willing to take the risk. Were it not for multiplex culture, films like Bheja Fry and Mithya would never have been made, he says.
The good news is that Kapoor's tribute to Hollywood gangster films generated some good vibes at last month's Osian's-Cinefan film festival and this bodes well for its September 2007 release.
Verdict: **** A worthy successor to the Bheja Fry genre of films
Exclusive Coverage of Osian's-Cinefan 2007 film festival
Funny man Ranvir Shorey plays an aspiring actor who has an uncanny resemblance to a don. This gives rival gangster Naseeruddin Shah a brainwave. Kill the original and replace him with the reluctant imposter.
Shorey is forced to accept the role of a lifetime - no Oscar for him though. His lone friend in the world is Naseer's moll Neha Dhupia. Things go wrong when the imposter loses his memory in an accident and starts believing he actually is a don. How will he get out of this mess?
Reminds you of Don, doesn't it? Well, the story line may not be original, but Kapoor's treatment leaves viewers rolling in the aisles. If you always thought of Shorey as that VJ dude, he's going to surprise you in this film. The guy can really act the part of an endearing loser.
Shorey can't hog all the credit though. Kapoor and Saurabh Shukla's gripping screenplay does the trick, ably supported by superb performances by Naseer, Vinay Pathak and Ikhlaque Khan.
Neha Dhupia can't act though but who cares? She fits well into her role as a flop actress and gangster Naseer's companion.
Rajat Kapoor reveals that the script of Mithya had been lying with him for 9 years with no producer willing to take the risk. Were it not for multiplex culture, films like Bheja Fry and Mithya would never have been made, he says.
The good news is that Kapoor's tribute to Hollywood gangster films generated some good vibes at last month's Osian's-Cinefan film festival and this bodes well for its September 2007 release.
Verdict: **** A worthy successor to the Bheja Fry genre of films
Exclusive Coverage of Osian's-Cinefan 2007 film festival
Sunday, August 12, 2007
August 2007 Blog Mela: Nominate Now
Did you just come across a quirky, interesting or something-that-tugs-at-your-heartstrings blog? If yes, feel free to nominate it for the August Blog Mela being hosted here on August 26
Blog Mela Rules
- Posts must have been written by Indians or have an Indian angle
- Only posts published between 1-22 August, 2007 would be accepted
- If possible, please nominate individual posts, not the whole blog
- Feel free to nominate something you have written. Immodesty appreciated
- You can nominate as many blog posts as you like - provided you really like them
- Only nominations received before midnight on August 22 will be featured
- No, you don't get any moolah for nominating or getting featured in the Blog Mela. That could change once I am a millionaire but for now you'll just have to bear with me
- Yours truly reserves the right to nominate good posts which you ignore
How to Nominate
- Leave a comment on this post OR better still - Mail me at toeknee (at) gmail (dot) com
Check out previous Blog Melas
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
Blog Mela Rules
- Posts must have been written by Indians or have an Indian angle
- Only posts published between 1-22 August, 2007 would be accepted
- If possible, please nominate individual posts, not the whole blog
- Feel free to nominate something you have written. Immodesty appreciated
- You can nominate as many blog posts as you like - provided you really like them
- Only nominations received before midnight on August 22 will be featured
- No, you don't get any moolah for nominating or getting featured in the Blog Mela. That could change once I am a millionaire but for now you'll just have to bear with me
- Yours truly reserves the right to nominate good posts which you ignore
How to Nominate
- Leave a comment on this post OR better still - Mail me at toeknee (at) gmail (dot) com
Check out previous Blog Melas
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
Friday, August 10, 2007
Is Aishwarya Rai pregnant?
Can't say for sure. And even if Abhishek Bachchan is indeed becoming a daddy, shouldn't that be the Bachchans' private affair. The media, as expected, is lapping up the news.
Sample this news item in The Times of India - "Aishwarya Bachchan, is reportedly expecting and Abhishek is gonna be a dad. Amitabh Bachchan, meanwhile, is going to be the grand-daddy of them all!"
But this headline in the South Asian Women's Forum takes the cake - "Aishwarya carrying Bachchan bun in the oven?" Could you get any cruder than that?
Bollywood's most famous family may be denying the rumours but I am sure they wouldn't take too kindly to the headline on The Spoof - "New Aishwarya Rai wax statue shows her four months pregnant".
And guess what The Spoof has done to my story on a Casablanca adaptation being shot in India - "Bollywood Casablanca Remake To Star That Mohit Bloke". And do check out the photo of Aishwarya in that story.
Sample this news item in The Times of India - "Aishwarya Bachchan, is reportedly expecting and Abhishek is gonna be a dad. Amitabh Bachchan, meanwhile, is going to be the grand-daddy of them all!"
But this headline in the South Asian Women's Forum takes the cake - "Aishwarya carrying Bachchan bun in the oven?" Could you get any cruder than that?
Bollywood's most famous family may be denying the rumours but I am sure they wouldn't take too kindly to the headline on The Spoof - "New Aishwarya Rai wax statue shows her four months pregnant".
And guess what The Spoof has done to my story on a Casablanca adaptation being shot in India - "Bollywood Casablanca Remake To Star That Mohit Bloke". And do check out the photo of Aishwarya in that story.
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