Cute Aishwarya with Hu

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Comment on this photo..... What Aamir is thinking?





It will be Akshay Kumar taking on Aamir Khan as the year comes to an end. Jumbo , which was earlier slated to release along with Rab Ne Banadi Jodi on December 12th, has now been postponed and will release with Ghajini on Christmas Day. Here is what the battleground looks like...

The Plot

Ghajini is a revenge story based on the super hit south film which was vaguely based on the Hollywood film Momemto.

Jumbo is an animated film where the protagonist, an elephant, sets out in search of his parents.


Cast

Ghajini will see Aamir in a refreshingly new avatar. With the eight packs abs and a completely fit body, he is looking younger like never before. South sensation Asin also makes her Hindi film debut with Ghajini.

The voice of the protagonist of the film is given by none other than Akshay ‘Kinng’ Kumar. Lara Dutta, Dimple Kapadia, Rajpal Yadav, Gulshan Grover and Asrani have also lent their voices to the other prominent animated characters in the film.

Cute Aishwarya with Hubby Abhishek .

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Cute Aish always..............

Pakistan cricket PCB gave me no independence - Abdul Qadir

by SADIA MAHA | 2:26 PM in | comments (0)

Pakistan cricket
PCB gave me no independence - Abdul Qadir

Having maintained a steady silence since he abruptly stepped down from his post as chief selector earlier this week, Abdul Qadir finally let loose on the reasons behind his decision, blaming primarily a lack of independence in his role. Qadir also said had it been his choice, Pakistan's Twenty20 side would not be led by Younis Khan and that Shoaib Malik would not be in the side at all.

In particular, Qadir launched an attack on Intikhab Alam, Pakistan's coach, and Yawar Saeed, the team's manager, blaming them for interfering in selections and rendering his selectors "a dummy" committee.

"Why did I resign? If you do not get the respect, the justice or independence in your job it is better to leave," Qadir "If the PCB does not honour its contract then what is the point? I was told I would be given independence and a free hand in selection but that has not been the case."

The spark for the differences seems to have emerged from the ambiguous parameters assigned to the chief selector. The board's policy, for home games, is that the selection committee decides on a playing XI, in consultation with coach and captain. According to Qadir, 'consultation' allowed, effectively, the team management to finalise the XI without any input from selectors.

"The contract says that if there is a dispute over the final XI for a home game, the selector decides in consultation with coach and captain," Qadir said. "Here, the coach and manager and captain were deciding the XI so the selectors were not doing anything. Even the players for the central contracts - we had no say in that. If guys like Yawar Saeed and Intikhab Alam are handling these things, interfering, then why have selectors?"

Several ideas of his, Qadir said, had not been considered. One was a suggestion on improving Pakistan's bench strength by organizing matches between four teams with all the best talent in Pakistan. Other ideas were more radical. Had he been given the independence he wanted, for example, Younis would not be the captain of Pakistan's Twenty20 side.

"When I first was appointed as selector I said then we should have two captains but they didn't listen to me. I would've asked Younis to step down from ODI and Twenty20 cricket and made Shahid Afridi captain in both formats. I would've kicked Shoaib Malik out of the side totally because I noticed in Dubai that he is conspiring and forming cliques against Younis."

Pakistan only recently made its selection committee a full-time, salaried one; Qadir was the second such head, after Salahuddin Ahmed, who stepped down last year. "I did not do this for the money. I kick the PCB's money. I did it to bring justice to Pakistan's real talent that goes unnoticed every day. The whole system has to change and men such as Yawar Saeed and Intikhab Alam have to be removed from it. Otherwise nothing will change. I have nothing against Ijaz Butt but the system must change."

The other two members of the committee, ex-Test cricketers Salim Jaffer and Shoaib Mohammad are still in place and no replacement has yet been sought for Qadir.

99

by SADIA MAHA | 2:23 PM in | comments (0)

99

Director: Krishna DK, Raj Nidimoru
Producer: Aditya Shastri, Anupam Mittal
Starring: Kunal Khemu, Cyrus Broacha, Boman Irani, Mahesh Manjrekar, Soha Ali Khan,Vinod Khanna, Simone Singh
Music Dir: Shamir Tandon



Many weeks without movies quite hurts the Indian cinegoers as Bollywood still forms core of our entertainment appetite. Finally, after a harrowing gap comes a flick, only to dismay the audiences. The release of the movie titled '99' is significant in Bollywod as the industry is in the throes of a strike by big producers against the exhibitors, especially multiplexes.

At issue is the share of revenue between the two. So, it sounded like welcome relief also to movie buffs who could escape the scorching heat of the summer sun to take solace in cinema. Its been six weeks of a lull since the release of '8X10 Tasveer.' Early reactions to producer Anupam Mittal's much-awaited '99' starring Soha Ali Khan and Kunal Khemu sounds like a bit of disappointment. But, then, maybe it's too early to tell.

A first reaction for me was that 99 falls well short of worthwhile content for an eager audience. Perhaps, that's the problem. Never have we been so dry so long. The effort can be said to be praiseworthy, or, put it this way that the intention is right. Scattered plot and juxtaposed scenes just don't connect that well.

But, I might be marred by contextual, especially from Hollywood, structured filmmaking where one expects the movie flow from the beginning to the end. The significant scene is set in 1999 - so that's why the name - when match-fixing scandal reached its prosperity peak.

Justice Chandrachud Commission was to probe the alleged controversy. Unfortunately, the commission deliberated without conclusive evidence to point a finger at corruption by cricketers. Flash back to 1999; India needed six of the last over to win in one of the matches. Close-up - late Hansie Cronje. You wonder why Mohammed Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja were targeted!

Let's get to the crux of the story. In the flick, two directors - Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK - try to make sense. No understanding between the two, say batsmen, and we get a comedy of errors in trying to run each other out! One would give thumbs up for a good cast and experienced actors.

There's Boman Irani, a compulsive gambler and a firm believer in borrowing money with total disregard for consequences. Rest of the stars that shine includes Cyrus Broacha and Kunal Khemu - two friends who create duplicate sim cards.

Lady luck doesn't help and they run into Mahesh Manjrekar, a bookie, who uses them as collection agents! Leading the females is the beautiful and versatile Soha Ali Khan playing a lobby manager in a five star hotel in Delhi. And, Simone Singh plays Boman's love interest with the usual endearing performance. Veteran Vinod Khanna is the brain behind match fixing.

Some shots are okay, but the scenes aren't planned or executed well at all. Poor Amit Mistry is so wasted in lackluster scenes. One recollects Amit delivering a decent performance in 'Bad Luck Govind.' Cyrus Broacha of the famous MTV Bakra act is shown much as his confused standing on the TV shows. Kunal Khemu might have proved his credentials. Boman could impress the audience with his acting skill but the movie is devoid of content.

The movie seems to enjoy symptoms of not doing well. First, perhaps a lackadaisical approach in writing a proper script that conjugates the movie. Second, the lack of publicity that has kept the halls empty. Sometimes the saving grace for Bollywood movies is their songs and music.

But this one has hardly any scope because of it genre. Overall, the movie bags a 5 out of 10 to give credit for the release that broke the strike. It might still make the financial cut as the movie opened for public in all the major multiplexes and single screen theatres.


Ek Se Bure Do

by SADIA MAHA | 2:22 PM in | comments (0)

Ek Se Bure Do

Director: Tarique Khan
Producer: Suresh Sheth
Starring: Arshad Warsi, Natassha, Rajpal Yadav, Tusha, Govind Namdeo, Yashpal Sharma, Virendra Saxena, Vijay Raaz, Snehal
Razzak Khan




Time and again one comes across a statement that 'this film has been made for single screen audiences in smaller towns and cities'. Well, no audience should be subjected to a movie like this.

Simply put, 'Ek Se Bure Do' is a terrible movie. Arshad Warsi and Rajpal Yadav are the two 'bure log' (bad people) in the film and honestly, it must have been embarrassing for them to be a part of a movie which doesn't make any sense whatsoever from the first to the last frame.

The film is said to be a comedy but there is not even a single scene that makes you laugh.

Problems with 'Ek Se Bure Do' are aplenty with the biggest being that there is no storyline whatsoever. The director would struggle if asked to give a two line synopsis of the film.

The film has a treasure hunt as the central theme but not once in the film does one see anyone going after the treasure.

Arshad Warsi and Rajpal Yadav are visibly uncomfortable with the terrible state that they must have been in while working in the film - something which reflects in practically each of their scenes.

The film tries to be an amalgamation of quite a few films and in the end the mishmash that is served is so tasteless that you begin wondering who approved the script in the first place.

Arshad-Rajpal antics are straight out of 'Jodi No. 1′ while the Govind Namdeo double role act reminds one of 'Andaz Apna Apna' where Paresh Rawal was seen in a similar role. Then there is this quintessential 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron' climax, this time with 'Mughal-e-Azam' being underway on stage. If Kundan Shah sees these five minutes of the film, he may just get a heart attack.

The film was in the making for five years, something that reflects in each and every frame. Not only does it look dated with extremely poor cinematography adding insult to injury, it also seems clearly disjointed.

Also, you can sense that the director didn't have any control over the proceedings and shot scenes randomly depending upon availability of any actor, whether lead or supporting. No wonder, 'Ek Se Bure Do' turns out to be an extremely poor film.

Team - The Force

by SADIA MAHA | 2:21 PM in | comments (0)

Team - The Force

Director: Ajay Chandok
Starring: Sohail Khan, Amrita Arora, Aarti Chhabria, Yash Tonk, Vrajesh Hirjee, Mushtaq Khan, Pankaj Berry, Sayaji Shinde, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Shahbaaz Khan, Vindu Dara Singh, Adi Irani
Music Dir: Daboo Malik
Lyricist: Praveen Bharadwaj


The movie watchers have to bear with films like 'Team - The Force' in the absence of new big releases. But, no more as the row between the producers and the multiplex owners has ended. They should be ready to watch their long-awaited Vasu Bhagnani's 'Kal Kisne Dekha' and 'Mithun Chakravorty's 'Zor Lag Ke Haiya' next Friday, June 12th.

Let's review 'Team - The Force' directed by Ajay Chandhok and made long, long ago. The movie starring Sohail Khan and Malaika Arora Khan has miserably failed, as they were part of team B of Bollywood at that time of making this movie. Their acting is mediocre. So, we wonder if they would like to lend their name to the movie. However, the fact stays that they acted in this flop movie.

The movie is about three aspiring musicians Raj played by Sohail Khan, Yash played by Yash Tonk and Jassi played by Rajesh Hirjee. All the three aspire to be big in the music industry though the trio was poverty stricken.

They stay at the bungalow of Babe played by Kulbhushan Kharbanda and his family, as paying guests. They don't do very well in spite of their best. After Babe then tells them to launch their own Video Album by sending them to Goa to work on their project.

Later, the story moves slowly and Babe gets an extortion call from an Underworld don Raman Shetty played by Sayaji Shinde. The don threatens to take over Kharbanda's Bungalow.

Thus, the three boys come to the rescue of their patron from the threat of the Don. This explains the movie's title ' Team - The Force'. We may inform you that Sohail Khan had then changed the earlier title of the movie. Again, it has been lying canned for years and could see the daylight during the fight between the two vital parts of the movie industry - the producers and the multiplex owners.

Wonder if it would have remained canned had the film industry row ended last Friday.

Overall, the movie lacks in all respects. Both the script as well as the direction are amateurish. The script is too poor for the actors to do justice to their parts. The director lacks the ability to give it a right direction.

Acting-wise, it has no meat though the cast comprises Sohail Khan, Yash and Rajesh. After all, then they were not stars. Amrita Arora is wasted as she is introduced only to provide a skin show. The pretty Aarti Chhabaria disappoints too.

Sayaji Shinde's interaction with his wife is often funny. Sorry that the director fails to provide good music though the story revolves around the music minded actors. Did the director aim at making this movie a comedy.

The Hangover

by SADIA MAHA | 2:20 PM in | comments (0)

The Hangover

Two days before his wedding, Doug and his three friends drive to Las Vegas for a blow-out bachelor party they'll never forget. But, in fact, when the three groomsmen wake up the next morning, they can't remember a thing. For some reason, they find a tiger in the bathroom and a six-month-old baby in the closet of their suite at Caesars Palace. The one thing they can't find is Doug. With no clue as to what transpired and little time to spare, the trio must retrace their hazy steps and all their bad decisions in order to figure out where things went wrong and hopefully get Doug back to L.A. in time to walk down the aisle.

Genres: Comedy
Running Time: 1 hr. 39 min.
Release Date: June 5th, 2009 (wide)
MPAA Rating: R for pervasive language, sexual content including nudity, and some drug material.
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution

Cast And Credits
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Heather Graham, Justin Bartha
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Produced by: Scott Budnick, Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni

The immaturity of ostensibly grown-up American men is an inexhaustible subject, or at least one that has yet to exhaust American movie audiences and the well-paid guys who cater to their entertainment needs. Todd Phillips, the director of “Old School,” “Road Trip” and an HBO documentary called “Frat House” as well as a writer of “Borat,” has shown himself to be an adept and tireless connoisseur of male boorishness and stupidity, though the crude humor he dispenses is frequently leavened by nuggets of inventiveness and wit.

So I should say up front that “The Hangover,” Mr. Phillips’s new movie (written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, who contributed to the shockingly nonterrible script of “Four Christmases” and wrote the less surprisingly dreadful script of “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past”) is often very funny. This is partly thanks to the three principal actors, Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis, who incarnate familiar masculine stereotypes in ways that manage to be moderately fresh as well as soothingly familiar.

Mr. Helms is the anxious, nerdy dude — a dentist only because making him an accountant would deprive the film of a choice tooth-extraction gag — who lives in cowering terror of his bossy, judgmental girlfriend (Rachel Harris). Mr. Galifianakis is the childlike loser whose borderline-creepy non sequiturs are more hilarious the less sense they make. But it is Mr. Cooper who offers the most interesting variation on an old standard, playing his aggressive, cocky frat boy with a snarl of rage that masks an anxiety as hard to account for as it is to miss.

These three — Stu (Mr. Helms), Phil (Mr. Cooper) and Alan (Mr. Galifianakis) — drive to Las Vegas from Los Angeles with another buddy, Doug (Justin Bartha), who seems much better adjusted than the others, which is to say blander and duller, and who mercifully vanishes for most of the picture. Doug is about to get married, and a wild bachelor weekend spins out of control.

Phil, Stu and Alan wake up to find their luxury suite at Caesars Palace a shambles, with a tiger in the bathroom, a baby in the closet and a chicken scratching around the detritus of what looks to have been quite a bacchanal. Stu has a missing incisor, Phil has a hospital bracelet around his wrist, and Doug is nowhere to be found. What on earth could have happened?

In answering that question “The Hangover” peaks early and runs out of steam long before the end. This is probably inevitable, since even the craziest stuff has a way of becoming less so in the course of being explained. Still, there are some moments of dizzying, demented lunacy, most of them immune to being spoiled by mere verbal description. (The verbal jokes I will leave for you to discover and repeat with your co-workers in the break room.)

Mike Tyson shows up to sing along with a Phil Collins song. Mr. Galifianakis is tasered. So are the other two. By schoolchildren on a field trip. Have I ruined anything? No, I’ve just whetted your appetite.

But true to its title, “The Hangover” goes down smoothly enough and then kicks you in the head later on, when you start to examine the sources of your laughter. There’s the easy, lazy trafficking in broad ethnic caricature — Mike Epps as a black drug dealer, Ken Jeong as a prancing, lisping Asian gangster known as Mr. Chow — which is decked out in flimsy air quotes to make it seem as if the movie is making fun of racism.

And the movie, for all its queasiness about male bodies and the thin line between friendship and, you know, other stuff, can’t be called homophobic either. It is much more panicked by the idea of heterosexuality, from whose terrors and traps the whole Vegas adventure is an escape. The city itself is not a place of sin but rather, for Stu, Phil and Alan, an Eden of the narcissistic, infantile id.

Alan, in spite of his heavy beard, is almost literally a giant baby, his soft-bellied body appearing swaddled in a sheet and, most memorably, in a jockstrap that looks like a badly applied diaper. Until the end credits — which shuffle through still photographs from a harder-edged, more nastily and candidly adult movie — the on-screen nudity consists of male buttocks and a woman’s breast in the mouth of a nursing infant. This pretty much sums up the movie’s psychosexual condition, which old-school Freudians might identify as pregenital, more preoccupied with eating and elimination than with, you know, other stuff.

The tiny handful of women who have speaking roles in “Hangover” may at first seem to be conventional figures in the straight-male imaginary — the sweet and patient bride; the emasculating, hypocritical shrew; the friendly prostitute (a sunny Heather Graham) — but they are all really incarnations of mommy. There is a bad mommy who won’t let you play, a good mommy who cleans up your mess and kisses your boo-boos and an extra special mommy who offers you her nipple even when you don’t pay for it as most of the other kids do. What hangover? This movie is safe as milk.

“The Hangover” is rated R (Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian). Bad words and naughty stuff no child would be dumb enough to try.

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