Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, (IANS) Indian missions in the Middle East may organise special screenings of the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer “Chak De! India” about a gritty women’s hockey team winning the world championships.

According to sources in the ministry of overseas Indian affairs, a proposal to send DVDs of the hit Bollywood movie to Indian missions in the Gulf region for special screenings to be watched by the diaspora was mooted at an informal discussion during the two-day conference of Indian ambassadors to 10 countries held in the national capital this week.

The envoys, who were excited at the proposal, encouraged the ministry to make the necessary arrangements immediately.

The conference was attended by Indian envoys to the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries as well as Malaysia, Jordan, Libya and Yemen.

Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Minister Prithviraj Chavan’s efforts to get Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to watch the super hit movie appears to have found result too.

According to sources, Manmohan Singh has agreed to watch the movie, which has been playing to packed houses with its message of gender empowerment, unity and patriotism.

Producers Yash Raj Films and Shah Rukh Khan, who plays the role of coach Kabir Khan in the film, might come to capital to organise a special screening for the prime minister.

“The prime minister, who was tense about the crisis over the (India-US) nuclear deal, is in a better mood after opinion polls suggested good prospects for his government and coalition. He has agreed to watch the movie as so much has been talked about it now,” said the source.

Shreyas Talpade is going through an interesting phase of his career. On one hand he has hardcore commercial flicks like Om Shanti Om and Aggar while on the other he works in middle-of-the-road cinema like Dil Dosti Etc., a Prakash Jha production directed by debutant Manish Tiwary, the film also stars Imaad Shah in a full fledged parallel lead after a small role in Yun Hota To Kya Hota. Ditto for Nikita Anand who debuts in main lead after making her presence felt in Life Mein Kabhi Kabhi opposite Dino Morea.

The film also marks the debut of Ishita Sharma in the film which also stars Smriti Mishra and has music by Siddharth-Suhas [who had earlier composed for ‘The Film’] and band ‘Agnee’. With expectations of hearing something unusual (especially due to the film’s title) one plays on Dil Dosti Etc. In the end, it turns out to be a pleasant surprise indeed.

With the sound of guitar marking an opening of ‘Dum Laga’, the stage is set for a campus track with a group of guys coming together to sing a number which creates a hostel room setting. There is an authenticity in this Siddharth-Suhas composed number which has them coming along with Suraj Jagan (who recently crooned the terrific title track of Johnny Gaddaar) and Hamza (whose title track of Aggar is currently in air) behind the mike.

A rhythmic number that is narrated from the point of view of college students who are hardly interested in studies, have been jilted in love and love watching blue films while gossiping around spicy tales and happenings in the college, this Raam Goutam, Prashant Pandey, Siddharth and Suhas written track is situational though it would be easily identified by the students community. Pretty much expected since the song ends with the mention of FOSLA - Frustrated One Sided Lover’s Association!

With a few additional dialogues interspersed into the song comes the remix version of ‘Dum Laga’ done by DJ Phat. After hearing the song multiple times, one in fact ends up settling down to the tune and starts enjoying it as a track which truly reminds one of the college days.

Coming from Agnee, ‘Lamha Ye Jayega Kahan’ is sung by K Mohan who does quite well in creating just the right feel of this journey song. One is instantly reminded of the kind of numbers which Lucky Ali specializes in as the song centered on a solitary moment makes for a soulful hearing. With meaningful lyrics by Prashant Pandey making ‘Lamha’a number that deserves repeat hearing, the song moves at a decent pace and is truly non-filmy in it’s appeal. Hear it if you are a lover of pop music. Read the rest of this entry »

Women are taking the field with renewed zeal, thanks to ‘Chak De’

“Yeh chakki-belan chalane wali Bharatiya nari hai. Yeh kabhi knicker wicker pahan ke hockey ke maidan par utar sakti hai kya?”
The ’sports administrator’, who spoke these infamous words on screen, had to eat his words in the end when the ‘Chak De’ girls came home triumphant with the hockey world cup. The movie, it seems, didn’t just end up with the usual feel good factor and a tax-free tag. The SRK reel effect in ‘Chak De’ seems to have rubbed off on the real as more and more girls seem to be taking up active sports.

Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Chak De India’ has got the goody girls hooked on to sports. “It’s a revolution,” says Anjali Shah of Premier Indian Football Academy (PIFA), adding, “The number of inquiries and enrolment of girls in the game has gone up by 50 per cent this year. In fact for the very first time, women above 20 years also want to learn the game and play for the country.” PIFA is all set to form a woman’s football team after four women insisted on learning the game and forming a woman’s team. PIFAis on the lookout for 15 women to complete their women’s football team. And as far as hockey is concerned, the sport has suddenly received a huge momentum. Ignatius D’Souza, sub coach of the Bombay Hockey Women’s Association informs that four Mumbai schools namely St Paul Convent High School at Dadar, Pawar Public School in Bhandup, Canossa Convent in Andheri and St Teresa’s Convent in Santacruz have introduced hockey in their sports curriculum.

Even colleges are fast catching up with the game. Nisha Nair, the girl who plays Soi Moi in ‘Chak De India’ is an ace hockey player in real life as well. She along with Ranjan Negi, the one who taught Chak De girls to play hockey, encouraged the Poddar College girls to form their own team. Nisha says, “I felt great when Poddar College actually formed a girls’ hockey team. Things are changing. Everybody around me seem to have suddenly grown fond of sports. It feels great.”
Source: DnaINDIA

By IndiaFM News Bureau, September 12, 2007 - 11:33 IST
Abdul Sulaiman Nadiadwala, father of film producer Sajid Nadiadwala, breathed his last yesterday. He had been pale and constantly complained of chest pain since last week, hence was admitted in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Criticare hospital. He passed away on Tuesday morning.

The who’s who of Bollywood were present for the funeral at the kabrastan in Yari Road to pay him respects; including the likes of Salman Khan, Sajid Khan, Boney Kapoor.

Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment has been in the industry for over 50 years now. Suleman Nadiadwala had produced over 200 films starting from as early as 1955. Later Suleman Nadiadwala’s son, Sajid Nadiadwala, took over the administration of the family run production house and gave hits like Jeet, Judwa, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi and Heyy Babyy.

Eros International, the leading integrated company within the Indian media and entertainment sector, announced the forthcoming worldwide release of one of the biggest anticipated blockbusters this year, Shah Rukh Khan’s OM SHANTI OM, produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and directed by Farah Khan on 9th November 2007. Eros is expected to release the film across an unprecedented 2000 plus screens worldwide.

OM SHANTI OM stars Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone in pivotal roles. The magic combination of Shah Rukh Khan - Farah Khan comes together again after the huge success of MAIN HOON NAA. The film’s score and soundtrack has been composed by the musical duo, Vishal-Shekhar with lyrics by Javed Akhtar. Cinematography for the movie is by V. Manikandan whilst editing is handled by Shirish Kunder. Read the rest of this entry »