AATA JUNIORS BANNED-S.H.R.C

 

 

Anchor Omkar’s "AATA" reality show which is telecasted in Zee telugu was banned by the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC).Commissioner said to the media that the ban will be imposed with immediate effect.
 

In fact, the Human Rights Commission (HRC) on Saturday directed the city police commissioner to ban the telecast of the Aata reality show, on the grounds of violating child rights. Further, the commission called for a public hearing on July 3 to debate and fix the norms pertaining to entertainment programmes.
 

One month back HRC received a complaint that in Aata show small chidren are made to dance like Item girls in movies and also the costumes used in the show are appropriate.
 
Commission investigated on the issue and has imposed ban on the show today.The commissioner said that in future if realty shows like this are telecasted or made again there will be serious action taken on them.

I wanted to do a romantic entertainer like 'Kalisundaam Ra' - Gopichand

Action film lovers in Andhra Pradesh would love to watch Gopichand holding a sword knife or a handgun. This ferocious villain turned hero who is climbing in step-by-step process, also proved to be a hero in real life by adopting 10 students for providing education. On the eve of his birthday on June 12, Gopichand, who is currently enjoying the success of his latest release ‘Golimaar’ shares a few moments with the media. Here are some excerpts:

What is the specialty of this birthday?
I do not believe in the culture of celebrating birthdays.  According to me any happy moment in life is a celebration time.  Infact, there were occasions when my sister would remind me of my birthday by wishing me.  Now that you have asked, I would say that the specialty of this birthday is thesuccess of my latest release ‘Golimaar’.  My fans are celebrating the success and most importantly my producer as well as the distributors is very happy with the box office results.  I’m glad to say that my wish to work with Jagan is fulfilled and that our combination also became a successful one.

Are you involved in any social service?

Yes!  Three years ago I adopted 10 students from World Vision in Vishakapatnam.  I want to do my best in providing the educational facilities to these children. 

You are branded as an action hero.  When can we see you doing complete romantic films?

All the films that I’ve worked so far, right from ‘Yagnam’, ‘Ranam’ ‘Lakshyam’ to the recent ‘Golimaar’ have action, romance and drama. I always wanted to do a romantic family entertainer like ‘Kalisundaam Ra’.  If any director or producer is interested, then I’m ready for the deal.

Are you looking to work with any specific director?

I would say working with Jagan not only gave me a complete job satisfaction but also gave me more new ideas to build my skills further.  So given a chance I would like to act with him again.  I am also looking forward to work with SS Rajamouli and VV Vinayak.

As an actor, which of your movies gave you the most satisfaction?
‘Okkadunnadu’ tops the list. I also liked ‘Yagnam’, ‘Andrudu’ and ‘Ranam’ because I portrayed different characters in these films as well.
  
Do you have any specific roles in mind which you crave to do?
I do not want to experiment with others’ hard earned money.  When I’m doing a film I see to it that it is well received by the audience and at the same time also wish to see my producers and distributors being happy.

What are your efforts to retain and expand your market?

I was introduced to Tamil audience as a villain through ‘Jayam’.  There also the film was a huge success.  Post Jayam’s success, I got many offers from Tamil producers but did not accept any.  I’m just waiting for the right offer to come my way.  I might also do ‘Golimaar’ in Hindi. 

What are your on going projects?
Presently I’m involved in two projects, one with Nallamalapu Bujji and the other with Bhavya Creations banner.

What is your interest in the present trend of twitters and face book?
Most of my interactions are on phone.  Therefore except to check my emails I usually don’t go online. 

Can we expect news about your marriage this year?

(Laughs) I can't say that now.

Gamyam & Vedam Journey of krish in his words....

 
One cannot become a director just because he or she makes a film. A director should set out to make a film that had never seen before. And yes! Krish is one such director whose enthusiasm is to make real films and pass social messages to the society. That is one reason why his films are the way they are, very different from other films. Yesterday it was ‘Gamyam’ and today it is ‘Vedam’. What next? Arka Media Times’ ‘Vedam’ starring Allu Arjun, Manchu Manoj Kumar, Anushka, Manoj Bajpai and Balayya in central roles, was released on June 4th. Enjoying the successful run in theaters, director Krish aka Jagarlamudi Radhakrishna shared his views on the film. Here are some excerpts: Expressing his happiness about the response of the film Krish said, “Response for ‘Vedam’ is very heartening and quite positive.  I’m very happy that the audiences are very involved emotionally through out the film.  This movie will entertain all types of audience, be it class or mass.  Among the international centers, particularly USA will top the box-office collection.”

Describing the film he said, “The scene involving an old man walking with a little kid haunted me even before I directed ‘Gamyam’.  That scene indicates one should live for tomorrow which is the main theme of ‘Vedam’.  And the film ends with the same scene after the old man frees his grandson from slavery. I wanted to narrate five different characters who hail from five different segments in the society.  In this line I created Vivek Chakravarthy, the rock star belonging to high society, Raheemuddin Kureshi from a middle class background, Cable Raju from lower middle class family, Ramulu, a hard working weaver and Saroja, a prostitute who is not acceptable by the society.  How the life journey of these five characters will come to an end and how it turns out to be when all of them meet at one point is all the film ‘Vedam’ about. So I created five personalities with different emotions.”

About the characters in ‘Vedam’ he said, “I wanted to bring out the reasons behind the recent suicides of weavers in Sirisilla village and that is the result of the character Ramulu.  Now cable Raju is one such character where we see atleast one in our daily routine.  That’s why I created this mass character that is naughty, rebel and carefree.  Though it has shades of ‘Gaali Seenu’ in ‘Gamyam’, cable Raju’s character is much deeper.  I created Saroja after inspired by a character in Balagangadhar Tilak’s ‘Oori Chivari Illu’. One must have the real guts to do such roles and I appreciateAnushka for doing it with great ease inspite of her star status.”

Talking about the commercial value attached to the film Krish opined, “Of late the producers are not trying anything new due to fear of the commercial failures. So they try to play it safe by sticking to formulaic films in search of minimum guarantee at box-office.  But I portrayed the stories in ‘Vedam’ that are not common with other films.  Though the movie is different from a conventional one I’ve ensured enoughcommercial values also through these characters. For eg: The rock star provides the relevant entertainment to people of that taste.  Similarly Allu Arjun’s lively character itself is a source of entertainment.”

While speaking about the reactions of his colleagues he said, “I’ve received very encouraging comments from fellow directors after their watching the movie.  One vowed to make one such movie in his life while the other said everydirector should attempt to do such movies for the betterment of the society.  Director Rajamouli, known for his large and successful socio-fantasy films was very simple in his words saying ‘it cleansed my soul’ on watching this movie.  Veterandirector Raghavendra Rao was so much touched about the movie that he said he remained silent for a few moments after watching the movie.  What else can I ask for?”

When he was questioned about his experience between ‘Vedam’ and ‘Gamyam’ he answered, ‘Gamyam’ being my first film, I struggled a lot due to larger responsibility that included production also.  But that is not the case while working for ‘Vedam’ where I concentrated only on direction and that has paid dividends.”

About the music, “After I narrated my characters to Keeravani, so much was his involvement that at times while composing the music he played keyboard himself and violin also during re-recording.  The maestro, who completed 200 films in rendering musical scores, did work hard as much as he did for his first film and scored the music for ‘Vedam’ with an undisputed urge of presenting the best music.”

“Lastly, though came from the small screen, the producers of ‘Arka Media Times’ had real guts to do one such film in their first production venture and they are considering it as their life time film.  My next film is also under the same banner”, Krish concluded.

WHAT’S IN A MOVIE NAME?

THE TREND OF USING PHRASES FROM HIT SONGS AS TITLES IS BACK .

FUTURE PROJECTS WITH PHRASES FROM SONGS AS TITLES Thenmerku Paruvakaatru Chikku Bukku Inidhu Inidhu Maalai Pozhudhin Mayakathiley Mayilu

Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya got its title from the song Vennilave vennilave vinnaithaandi varuvaaya...from Minsara Kanavu

Mundhinam Partheney was named after the song Mundhinam Partheney...from Vaaranam Aayiram

Saroja was titled after the song Saroja saamaan nikaalo... from Chennai 600028

Theeratha Vilayattu Pillaiwas titled after the Bharathiyar song Theeratha vilayattu pillai...from the film Vethala Ulagam.

 

  What’s common to Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, Mundhinam Partheney and the upcoming flick Thenmerku Paruvakaatru? Well, all three films are named after hit songs —
Vennilave vennilave vinnaithaandi varuvaayaa… from Minsara Kanavu, Mundhinam partheney… from Vaaranam Aayiram and Thenmerku paruvakaatru… from Karuthamma respectively. With a series of films in recent times—Aayirathil Oruvan, Satrumun Kidaitha Thagaval, Theeratha Vilayattu Pillai, Rajathi Raja, Manjal Veyil, Ninaithale Inikkum— deriving their names from the lines of hit songs, it looks like the trend is catching like fire in Kollywood, again!
    “Naming films after hit songs was quite a rage in the 80s and 90s. For example, my father, director Gangai Amaran’s Enga Ooru Paattukkaran had a hit song, Shenbagame shenbagame.... Since the song was a chartbuster, another Ramarajan film was titled Shenbagame Shenbagame to cash in on the popularity of the song. Everything comes a full circle and it’s the same with this trend,” says director Venkat Prabhu, who made the superhit film Saroja. In fact, Venkat named his second venture Saroja after the song Saroja saamaan nikaalo… in his directorial debut Chennai 600028 turned out to be a chartbuster. “The lines had a great recall value and I was pretty sure that it would appeal to the audience.” For director Magilzh Thirumeni, who directed the romantic fare Mundhinam Partheney, his film’s title was a tribute to his mentor, Gautham Vasudev Menon. “I had worked as an associate director with Gautham and I wanted to thank him through one of my films. And when I got the opportunity to do Mundhinam Partheney, I couldn’t think of a better title for the film. It was not only the opening line of a hit number from Vaaranam Aayiram directed by Gautham, but it also suited the storyline perfectly. Titles like these help people remember the names of films easily as the songs have already got registered in their minds,” he says.
    Seconding him is director Thiru of Theeratha Vilayattu Pillai (TVP) fame. “I named my film TVP for two reasons.
    Firstly, it was a famous song of
    Mahakavi Bharathi which every Tamilian could relate to. Secondly, my hero in the film was a playboy who loved the company of women. This title gave the essence of the film and at the same time, was
    appealing.”
    But is the dearth of titles
    forcing directors to rely on catchy lyrics from hit numbers? “I do not buy that theory. Films are great entertainers and they will be made with the same passion in future too. Earlier, a number of plays were adapted into films and when directors used the same titles, the audience could instantly relate to them. Similarly, when film titles based on hit numbers do well at the box office, it not only reaches the audience easily but also inspires other directors to use such titles,” explains Thiru.
    Director Thirumeni, who says that this trend doesn’t indicate a dearth of titles, sums it up, “This is just another trend. But every story has a potential title hidden in its storyline. Once a filmmaker discovers it, there can be no better title for his film.”

T-towners think big!

BIG PLANS: (Clockwise from left) NTR Jr, Allu Arjun and Siddharth.

Stepping into ‘larger-than-life’ roles seems to be the ticket to stardom for T-town’s young brigade.

     Prompted by the success of Ram Charan Tej in Magadheera and Balakrishna in Simha, a bunch of T-town rising stars are set to shrug off their ‘boy-next-door’ image to don larger-than-life roles. Besides expanding their fan base, what seems the topmost thing on the youngsters’ minds is to get closer to the coveted superstar tag.
    The Telugu audience are known for their star worship. Actors like NTR, Krishna, Chiranjeevi and Balakrishna were bestowed with a demi-god status by their fans, thanks to the mythological roles that were a hit with the moviebesotted public.
    Taking a cue from his predecessors, NTR Jr, took up the mantle early in his career and churned out roaring hits like Aadhi and Simhadri to join the big league. “Initially, I was a bit apprehensive but gradually I could fit into those roles with ease,” say the actor who will be essaying an authorbacked role in big budget extravaganza Shakti. “Yes. NTR is playing a larger-than-life role but I can’t reveal much,” says producer Priyanka Dutt.
    Now NTR Jr’s colleagues – Allu Arjun, Siddharth and Rana are set to go for the big catch. Famed lover boy Allu Arjun vouches for the transition in his career. “I have done enough of boy-nextdoor roles, so it’s high time I move on to another level. Larger-than-life roles are one good option since it offers bigger span and grandeur, besides reaching out to a wider section of the audience,” says the actor, who will appear in a new avatar in his upcoming film Badrinath. His buddy and colleague Ram Charan Tej is also giving the genre another shot with Merupu. “I am fortunate to get such a powerful role so quickly after Magadheera,” he said.
    Onscreen lover boy Siddharth is also going for a complete revamp of his image with his upcoming untitled film. “Siddharth will be seen in a new avatar and will grab the audience attention as an endearing and lovable warrior,” says producer Devineni Prasad. Not to be left behind, even one-film old Rana is trying to dabble with a heroic role in his upcoming film with director Selvaraghavan and has hit the gym to get the right look to fit into the role of a valiant tribal lad. “It has a tribal backdrop and it will be a powerful star-centric film,” says thespian Ramanaidu.
    Filmmaker Boyapati Srinu, who tasted success with Simha, justifies big stars donning heroic roles. “Audience and fans will have huge expectations, so we need to cater to them by designing roles that would befit the star’s established images,” he reasons.
    Agreed that superstars make larger-than-life roles believable but most of the starcentric movies haven’t been able to spin BO magic. “Old wine in new bottle, seldom works. Besides an invincible protagonist, we need to pick a solid plot and give equal footage to the heroine and antagonist to make a well-knitted screenplay. It worked for me. I know that the industry is loaded in favour of hero-oriented roles but in the end, only a good story will grab audience attention,” says MS Raju, filmmaker who made superstars out of stars like Mahesh and Prabhas with Okkadu and Varsham.

 

Raajneeti - Bollywood Movie Review-By Rajasri..

Courtesy:rajasri.com

'Raajneeti' is a Royal Hit!

The film industry is rejoicing and it has every reason to. RAAJNEETI has infused oxygen in the lungs of an ailing industry. What a relief!

Only goes to prove that the magic of the big screen still works and how! The terrific start of MY NAME IS KHAN, HOUSE FULL, KITES and now RAAJNEETI proves that big-budget films, made by reputed names, can draw viewers in hordes. The Day 1 numbers of all four biggies underline this fact. In the case of KITES, of course, the film slipped considerably on Day 2 [Saturday] and crashed completely after Monday, but its poor content is responsible for that.

RAAJNEETI continues to rock the box-office and its super-success proves, yet again, that you can’t read the viewer’s mind. People within the industry have this misconception that only entertainment-driven films lure viewers to cineplexes. RAAJNEETI, in their opinion, is a dry film, which was expected to appeal to the audience in the Hindi belt only, not the multiplex junta or viewers in metros. But all calculations have gone for a toss, as RAAJNEETI continues to gallop and how!

RAAJNEETI is expected to have approx. 55 cr. to 56 cr. nett Week 1, which is next to 3 IDIOTS and GHAJINI. Also, the film should enjoy a bountiful Week 2, since there’s no major opposition this Friday.

What does one attribute its super-success to? Plenty of reasons. The massive star cast attracted viewers in hordes, the superb promotion proved sone pe suhaaga, but most importantly, for a film to sustain after its opening weekend, it ought to have solid content and RAAJNEETI is, without doubt, a superior product. Besides, I think the Ranbir-Katrina pairing played a big role in luring a big chunk of the junta. Especially Ranbir, who, I strongly feel, is the Pied Piper of the box-office.

Let’s hope the box-office keeps smiling, an air of optimism continues to prevail in the industry and viewers continue to throng cineplexes in multitudes in weeks to come. Only then will the industry limp back to normalcy!

NAGA CHAITANYA AND SUKUMAR NEW MOVIE TEASERS.

The 25 Best Movie Remakes of All Time.

Let's face it, Hollywood is full of unoriginal ideas; just look at the disproportionate number of films based on books, plays, TV shows and even Broadway musicals that were themselves based on movies. But every now and then, that most unoriginal of green-lit ideas, the remake of a popular or critically acclaimed movie -- like current releases 'Clash of the Titans,' 'Death at a Funeral' and the upcoming 'Nightmare on Elm Street' reload -- can yield a film that equals, or in rare cases, surpasses the original.

After navigating tricky waters and narrowing down the definition of a remake to a movie clearly based on another feature-length film (and not, say, yet another adaptation of a classic text like a Shakespearean play or a Jane Austen novel), here is our list of the 25 best. That means you won't find adaptations like 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,' shorts-based films a la '12 Monkeys,' or reinterpretations like 'Clueless' or 'Moulin Rouge.'

What you will find on this list is the Moviefone staff's highly subjective picks for the best remakes in movie history -- a crop of films worth watching even if you're completely unfamiliar with the originals.

25. 'The Thomas Crown Affair' (1999)
Based On: Norman Jewison's heist thriller, 'The Thomas Crown Affair' (1968)
Pierce Brosnan, a master of playing suave and sophisticated types, was the perfect choice to play the titular role that had belonged to Steve McQueen in 1968. What makes John McTiernan's remake even more memorable than the original is the electrifying chemistry between Brosnan's art thief and co-star Rene Russo's knowing insurance investigator. Not only are they worthy heist-flick adversaries, they steam up the screen with their magnetic attraction.

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24. 'Ransom' (1996)
Based On: Alex Segal's hostage drama, 'Ransom!' (1956)
Rene Russo also starred, this time opposite Mel Gibson, in Ron Howard's thriller about a rich businessman whose son is kidnapped in an elaborate ransom scheme. Whether or not you're a Gibson fan, there's no denying he's the king of conquering fathers and husbands in full-blown revenge mode. With a fabulous ensemble cast -- Gary Sinise, Liev Schreiber and Lili Taylor as villains, and Delroy Lindo as a sympathetic FBI Agent -- this remake's taut, twisty and surprisingly touching.

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23. 'Nosferatu the Vampyre' (1979)
Based On: F.W. Murnau's legendary vampire film, 'Nosferatu' (1922)
Two vampire movies more than 50 years apart are still among the standard bearers of the genre (sorry, Twihards!). German director Werner Herzog's stylized rendering of his countryman's original focuses on the dread and loneliness the Count (played by Herzog's frequent collaborator Klaus Kinski ) experiences, as he yearns for love but is ultimately doomed. Slow and deliberate and devoid of graphic blood and sex, this is a beautiful, cerebral 'Dracula.'

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22. 'Insomnia' (2002)
Based On: Eric Skjoldbjærg's Norwegian psychological drama, 'Insomnia' (1997)
Christopher Nolan followed up his brilliantly enigmatic 'Memento' with this straightforward remake. Al Pacino is a troubled homicide detective stuck on assignment in Alaska, and the world-weary intensity he evokes is palpable. Nolan's most noticeable improvement for American audiences is the shocking casting of Robin Williams as the meticulous killer Pacino's trying to trap; their unique cat-and-mouse game in the unceasing daytime-fog of the Far North is creepily delicious.

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21. '3:10 to Yuma' (2007)
Based On: Delmer Daves' Western '3:10 to Yuma' (1957)
James Mangold's thrilling tribute to the golden Westerns of half a century ago is propelled by the amazing duo of Russell Crowe, who kicks ass as notorious 19th-century outlaw Ben Wade, and Christian Bale, who plays a conflicted, crippled war hero paid to escort Wade to his prison train. The action is gripping, but the dialogue between the two men, who are far deeper and more complicated then they seem, makes this remake even better than Daves' original.

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20. 'True Lies' (1994)
Based On: Claude Zidi's French spy comedy 'La Totale!' (1991)
Like most of James Cameron's canon, this was, in it's day, the most expensive movie ever made. Cameron and star Arnold Schwarzenegger's gift for effects-heavy action theatrics plus Jamie Lee Curtis' crack comic timing as Arnold's on-screen wife was a formula for box office success. Considering most audiences had never heard of the French comedy on which it's based, 'True Lies' is clearly one of those rare remakes that replaced the original as the "default" version.

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19. 'Dawn of the Dead' (2004)
Based On: George Romero's zombie flick, 'Dawn of the Dead' (1978)
Redoing the Grandfather of Zombie's cult classic must've been a daunting task for first-time director Zack Snyder, but the unknown commercial and music-video vet managed to do Romero's legendary zombie film justice with a faithful (in spirit, if not in details) homage that earned him real fanboy cred. It also helped that Snyder had a talented and diverse ensemble featuring Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Mekhi Phifer and Jake Weber. Did it unseat the original? No, but it came pretty close.

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18. 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' (1988)
Based On: Ralph Levy's con-men comedy, 'Bedtime Story' (1964)
Conning unsuspecting rich women along the French Riviera doesn't sound like a funny premise, but add in Steve Martin and Michael Caine as competing high-class hustlers, and Frank Oz's remake suddenly sounds potentially hilarious. Caine's suave, elegant approach versus Martin's perfect physical comedy make the object of their scheme -- Glenne Headly -- almost superfluous until the surprise ending, which is a tricky delight.

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17. 'The Italian Job' (2003)
Based On: Peter Collinson's British caper, 'The Italian Job' (1969)
It's hard to compete with the swingin' original (Michael Caine, Noël Coward, comedy genius Benny Hill, that awesome Mini Cooper chase sequence), but F. Gary Gray's go at the quintessentially English heist flick is -- no matter what your British friends say -- a bloody satisfying treat starring Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron and Ed Norton, and some souped-up Minis for the mandatory car chase -- this time through Los Angeles.

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16. 'The Champ' (1979)
Based On: King Vidor's award-winning boxing drama, 'The Champ' (1931)
Although Jon Voight didn't win an Oscar like Wallace Beery for starring in Franco Zeffirelli's tear-jerker remake, he and his adorable on-screen son Ricky Schroder made one of those emotional sports dramas that make men to cry. Critics overwhelmingly favored Vidor's poignant but harder-hitting tale over Zeffirelli's treacly re-conception, but audiences (us included) didn't mind spilling a few tears during the comeback drama.

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15. 'Little Shop of Horrors' (1986)
Based On: Roger Corman's horror comedy, 'Little Shop of Horrors' (1960)
Director Frank Oz's second film on the list is this hilariously twisted musical comedy starring Rick Moranis and Ellen Greene. Between the singing, flesh-eating plant Audrey II (voiced by the lead singer of the Four Tops, Levi Stubbs), Steve Martin as a deliciously sadistic dentist, and the doo-wop chorus girls, this is a freaky but fun musical. We dare you to not catch yourself singing "Little shop/Little shop of horrors" after watching the quirky and campy remake.

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14. 'The Ring' (2002)
Based On: Hideo Nakata's horror flick, 'Ringu' (1998)
Gore Verbinski's gothic American take on the outrageously popular Japanese original doesn't have the "best of horror" credentials of 'The Exorcist' or 'The Thing,' but it's chilling enough to elicit audience-wide yelps from even genre aficionados. Without a crazy body count or masked murderers, this is the epitome of scary minus the gore. Naomi Watts is unforgettable as a mom who will stop at nothing to uncover the seemingly unknowable mystery surrounding a killer VHS tape.

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13. 'Father of the Bride' (1991)
Based On: Vincente Minnelli's wedding comedy 'Father of the Bride' (1950)
If you learn anything from this list, it's this: when in doubt, enlist Steve Martin to star in a comedy remake. Director Charles Shyer (who's also responsible for the remakes 'Alfie,' 'The Parent Trap' and the recently announced 'Private Benjamin') cast Martin in Spencer Tracy's iconic role as the titular father, and the result is a terrifically sweet performance (with help from fellow comedy masters like Diane Keaton and Martin Short).

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12. 'Heaven Can Wait' (1978)
Based On: Alexander Hall's supernatural comedy, 'Here Comes Mr. Jordan' (1941)
Writer-director-star Warren Beatty changed the profession from boxer to quarterback, but the plot's are essentially the same -- an angel accidentally kills off a star athlete several decades too early, so he's reincarnated in the body of a womanizing billionaire (that should answer the question of why Beatty chose to redo this story). A screwball comedy with a subtly biting '70s edge, Beatty's remake is still a charmer 30-plus years later.

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11. 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' (1978)
Based On: Don Siegel's alien-horror classic, 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' (1956)
Horror devotees still debate, three decades after the remake's release, whether Philip Kaufman's special-effects-aided version is as good as (or better!) than its predecessor. We'll leave it to the genre experts to decide, but one thing's for sure, both are masterpieces compared to the two subsequent remakes. Smart, suspenseful and socially conscious, this is the kind of crafty psychological thriller that even horror-sci-fi naysayers could love.

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10. 'A Star is Born' (1954)
Based On: William Wellman's showbiz drama, 'A Star is Born' (1937)
Director George Cukor revived a fading Judy Garland's career with the comeback role of a lifetime. Playing a talented rising star who falls for James Mason's controlling, alcoholic singer (James Mason), Garland gave the performance of her career and cemented the unforgettable Ira Gershwin-Harold Arlen-produced standard 'The Man That Got Away' into her repertoire. Yes, it was made specifically to prop up Garland, but she delivered the movie equivalent of an amazing one-woman show .

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9. 'Ocean's 11' (2001)
Based On: Lewis Milestone's heist flick, 'Ocean's 11' (1960)
Steven Soderbergh's remake of the Vegas-set caper stars a much more diverse group of actors than the A-list best friends who headlined the original, but the ensemble's collective energy is so infectious, it's easy to believe Clooney, Pitt, Damon, Cheadle and co. are a Hollywood reincarnation of the celebrated Rat Pack. Even the villainous casino owner, played by Andy Garcia, is likable -- so much so that he, along with Ocean's entire crew, returned for two sequels.

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8. 'A Fistful of Dollars' (1964)
Based On: Akira Kurosawa's samurai drama, 'Yojimbo' (1961)
Sergio Leone's first Spaghetti Western is more important for introducing the world to Clint Eastwood's infamous Man With No Name, than for being an unofficial Kurosawa remake. With his air of mystery, narrowed eyes and cool aloofness, Eastwood's lawless character was so engrossing that Leone's violent retelling spawned two 'Dollar' sequels starring Eastwood's "Stranger." Not bad for a relatively unknown director and a star trying to break free from his TV persona.

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7. 'The Fly' (1986)
Based On: Kurt Neumann's horror classic, 'The Fly' (1958)
Jeff Goldblum has starred in bigger blockbusters ('Jurassic Park,' 'Independence Day'), but to us, he'll forever be remembered for his very first performance as an eccentric scientist in David Cronenberg's excellent (and very different) remake. Part graphic horror, part graphic romance (it is a Cronenberg movie, after all) co-starring Geena Davis, the movie was both a commercial and critical success that completely transcended the campy original.

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6. 'The Departed' (2006)
Based On: Andrew Lau and Alan Mak's Hong Kong crime-thriller 'Infernal Affairs' (2002)
Who would've thought that Martin Scorsese would finally score Oscar gold for a story not about the New York City mob, but the Irish gangsters up in Boston. Scorsese's mind-blowing drama about cops, criminals and those who secretly cross the line between both worlds, is nothing short of extraordinary. Starring most of the best actors in Hollywood (Nicholson, DiCaprio, Damon, Baldwin, Sheen, Wahlberg, Farmiga), it's nearly Shakespearean in scope and scale.

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5. 'The Magnificent Seven' (1960)
Based On: Akira Kurosawa's epic 'The Seven Samurai' (1954)
Kurosawa's samurai films obviously spoke to American directors, and John Sturges doesn't disappoint with his brilliant Westernization featuring seven gunmen hired to protect a besieged Mexican village. The seven spectacular action stars alone make this worth watching (Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Robert Vaughn and Horst Buchholz -- all of whom truly are magnificent), not to mention the epic gunfight sequences.

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4. 'Cape Fear' (1991)
Based On: J. Lee Thompson's stalker thriller, 'Cape Fear' (1962)
Martin Scorsese's second remake in the top 10 is his modernization of Thompson's infamous 1962 crime thriller. Robert De Niro is frighteningly menacing and seductive as Max Cady, the ex-con out for revenge who Robert Mitchum immortalized. Nick Nolte holds his own as the attorney Cady is threatening, but it's a teenage Juliette Lewis who steals the show as the object of Cady's creepy obsession. The squeamish should stick to the excellent original, but this is one of Scorsese's best.

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3. 'The Man Who Knew Too Much' (1956)
Based On: Alfred Hitchcock's first 'The Man Who Knew Too Much' (1934)
This is the only entry of a director remaking his own film (although plenty of other filmmakers have done it). Hitchcock kept the basic premise of his early thriller: a family on vacation stumbles upon top-secret information that leads to their child's kidnapping, but he updated the setting, shot in color and cast bonafide Hollywood sweethearts James Stewart and Doris Day in the subsequent film. Hitchcock himself proclaimed it the superior version, and who are we to argue with his genius?

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2. 'Scarface' (1983)
Based On: Howard Hawks' gangland drama, 'Scarface' (1932)
Brian De Palma's remake is a cultural phenomenon -- the kind of movie that nearly 30 years later is still regularly referenced. The genius behind De Palma and screenwriter Oliver Stone's update is switching from the Italian mob to the Cuban cartels in Miami's cocaine-fueled drug boom. Al Pacino's machine-gun-wielding kingpin Tony Montana is as iconic as Michael Corleone, with even more quotable lines, like, "Say hello to my little friend," or "In this country, you gotta make the money first..."

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1. 'The Thing' (1982)
Based On: Howard Hawks' 'The Thing' (1952)
Considering this list could've been comprised solely of horror films -- there are just that many remakes in the genre -- it should come as no surprise that John Carpenter's horror gem is No. 1. A known master of paranoia and suspense, Carpenter's take on a parasitic alien that can shape-shift into any thing or any body is both bloody disgusting and bloody brilliant. Never has working in a remote outpost seemed scarier, and never has an awesomely bearded Kurt Russell been this good.

Neha Hinge and Ashima Jain realised their dream of becoming Bollywood Divas at PFMI 2010 .

BOLLYWOOD DIVAS: Ashima Jain and Neha Hinge, the PFMI beauties set to join films.

Aishwarya Rai, Priyanka Chopra, Lara Dutta, Dia Mirza and now... Neha Hinge and Ashima Jain! That’s right, Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2010 has revealed the names of the two contestants who are going to follow the path of these beauty queens, as they make their foray into Bollywood. Neha from Pune and Ashima from Delhi are the two lucky Bollywood Divas who have been given this prestigious platform by eminent filmmakers Madhur Bhandarkar and Vipul Amrutlal Shah, respectively. And the two girls are naturally thrilled!
    Neha and Ashima, who’ve become good friends in the course of their stint at PFMI 2010, can’t help but laugh at the irony of being chosen. “I’d told Ashima at the beginning that we have no chance because of our heights, as Bollywood heroes are generally short,” recalls Neha with a laugh. Towering at 5’10’’ and 5’11’ respectively, Neha and Ashima now feel their heights will work to their advantage. “Ultimately it’s the character that’s important and technology can take care of the rest,” winks Ashima.
    The Delhi girl adds that she ‘absolutely loves’ the kind of cinema Vipul makes, especially his Namastey London and Waqt. “He’s worked with Miss Indias like Priyanka and Aishwarya, so I consider myself lucky,” she says. As for Neha, the realistic characters that Madhur has in his movies are exactly what she wants to portray. “Konkona Sensharma in Page 3 did a brilliant job and that’s the kind of role I would like to play,” says Neha, who also won the PFMI International 2010 title.
    But both the girls are realistic enough to realise that there’s a long way to go for them before they make their foray into Hindi films. “I don’t want to go half prepared,” admits Ashima, who says that she would be enrolling for grooming and acting classes soon. Neha, too, wants to join Anupam Kher’s acting classes.
    It’s a ‘dream come true’ for both the girls as they take their baby steps towards Bollywood. “I don’t regret not winning the crown now. This is where I ultimately wanted to be,” concludes Ashima happily. B-town will certainly be glad to to welcome two more beauties!

 

Little is Left after Mamata .stunning victory in WEST BENGAL muncipal elections.

Trinamool Congress sweeps West Bengal civic elections; leaves the Left trounced in its bastions and the Congress red-faced in the aftermath civic bodies, including th CONGRESS HUMBLED Reacting, Pranab Mukherjee said, "I will like to congratulate Mamata Banerjee for her excellent performance both in Kolkata and also in the districts. I accept the failure of the Congress." LEFT ADMITS DEFEAT Senior state CPM leader Md Salim said that the CPM has admitted defeat. The Left Front fared badly in many municipalities considered Red Bastions ­ North 24 Parganas, Bankura and Purulia
THE Trinamool Congress has wrested control of the prestigious Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). The party also bagged the adjoining Salt Lake (Bidhannaar) Municipality and some other municipalities across the state from the Left Front and Congress. The results of the 81 municipalities and municipal corporations were declared on Wednesday. Elections to the civic bodies, held on May 30, was crucial and considered the semifinals before next year's Assembly elections.
The poll results are a huge blow to the Left Front, which had been in control of 54 of the 81 civic bodies, including the KMC. e KMC.
Trinamool Congress won 95 seats, a gain of 53 seats from the previous election, while the Left Front won 33 seats, a loss of 42 seats. The Congress won 10 seats, which was 5 less than the last time. Others captured three.
Apart from KMC, in 80 other municipalities and municipal corporations, Trinamool Congress got absolute majority in 26 civic bodies, Left Front in 18 and Cong ress got absolute majority in 7.
The results of the rest of the civic bod ies are hung and the Trinamool Congress cannot form the board without the support of the Congress.
Reacting to the results of the civic polls, Mamata Banerjee said, "It is a historic victory of the ma-mati-manush (mother, land and the people). They have given a verdict in favour of political change in the state. I salute the people."
Mamata Banerjee also demanded that Assembly elections should be held sooner than scheduled. "This results shows that the Left Front Government has lost the right to be in power as the verdict goes against them," she said.
This is the first major election in the state where Trinamool Congress fought it alone after their seat understanding with the Congress failed. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said, "I accept the verdict of the people with all humility." Mamata Banerjee's runaway victory in the Kolkata municipal elections has shown that her hunch that the Trinamool Congress is now the number one party in West Bengal was right. This assessment has also been confirmed by her party's success in a larger number of municipalities than the Left in the rest of the state. The fact that the communists are not too far behind the Trinamool outside Kolkata also indicates that they retain a modicum of support.
However, if, in her hubris, Mamata Banerjee hadn't snapped her ties with the Congress and fought the elections jointly, the communists would undoubtedly have been in deep trouble.
The results suggest that if the Congress and the Trinamool Congress rebuild their alliance, the Left will suffer huge reverses in next year's Assembly elections. But given the railway minister's whimsical ways, no one can say for certain whether the alliance can be revived. Since the Congress has been relegated to the third position in the state, it has hardly any bargaining power left. Considering that its demands for a greater number of seats were rejected by Mamata Banerjee before the latest polls, the Congress can expect similar treatment when the time comes for seat adjustments before the Assembly polls -if at all the ties are restored.
What is more, now that she is the unchallenged numero uno in her state, the Trinamool leader may begin to act even more casually with regard to attending Cabinet meetings and her office in Delhi. Such behaviour may have affected her image in New Delhi, but the West Bengal electorate is apparently too intent on needling the comrades to bother about what is happening in distant Delhi. The Congress at the Centre, therefore, may have to quietly swallow her tantrums because her present position is stronger than the DMK's because the latter has to run a government in alliance with the Congress in Chennai.
In contrast, the Congress in West Bengal will be happy even if it is grudgingly accepted as very much a junior partner by Mamata Banerjee before the Assembly elections.
The beleaguered and besieged Left, to quote Prakash Karat's reported comments to Eric Hobsbawm, is evidently staring defeat in the face unless a miracle happens with Mamata Banerjee committing an egregious blunder. Its downslide, which began with the 2008 panchayat polls and continued through last year's parliamentary elections, shows no signs of stopping.

Anjali And Magesh.THe HAT TRICK tamil jodi.

The hit pair of , Anjali and Magesh are com ing together for the third time. They were earlier signed by the same Angadi Theru banner Ayngaran for another film. Now Shakthi Chidambaram who is doing an action film with Arjun has signed the couple to play the young leads in the film. Shakthi Chidambaram's new film is titled Adi and is about a hero who takes on the deputy chief minister of the state for his misdeeds and plays a godfather to a young couple which is Anjali­Magesh.
There is also another important character of a female police officer for which Shakthi Chidambaran had spoken to Andrea. However Andrea has not decided yet.

Hollywood actress Katherine heigl misses her daughter.

KATHERINE HEIGL.

Katherine heigl says she is missing her newly adopted daughter while working away from home for her upcoming movie"life as we know it".the actress adopted naleigh last september.

Aravind Swamy files for divorce .

THE hero of Roja, the evergreen Tamil feature film which portrayed the true love between husband and wife, has applied for divorce.
Aravind Swamy got married to Gayathri in 1994.
They have a son and a daughter.
They have applied for divorce before the principal family court, and the presiding officer adjourned it or further hearing on their petition to December 1.
Meanwhile, Gopi, an assistant producer and hus band of actor Vindhya, applied for divorce before the family court on Tuesday . Gopi married Vindhya in 2008.
But, the couple were living separately due to some mis understanding. However, Vindhya filed an application seeking restoration of conjugal rights. They participated a counselling session held at the mediation cen tre here on Tuesday . The judge has adjourned the matter till July 7.

Lava Kusa to floor you this summer .

A A sneak preview of the much awaited 2D film, Lava Kusa, the Warrior Twins, was presented to students of animation courses from various institutes to attract them into the exciting world of animation, on Tuesday.
Noting that Avatar had revolutionised the moviegoers’ experience, thereby opening doors for animation movies in India, the makers of the film explained that Lava Kusa would be released in 200 theatres across the country on June 25. The national release for the film is also to ensure that it is not just multiplex moviegoers but
rural audiences too get a slice of animation films. This movie has been made with a budget of Rs 25 crores. Arena Animation, who are into animation education along with Rayudu Vision Media Ltd, the creators of the movie Lava Kusa, elaborated on the future of animation and its career prospects in the country.
Shravan Cheryala, technical director of this film, said there were offers aplenty in this field. "We need trained manpower, which is not easy to find now. I advise the students to get their fundamentals strong, and have handson training. There are no short-cuts to refinement."
Talking about the making of the film, Tiru, the background-painting supervisor for the film, said, "This film is the work of four years and 450 professionals. The talent required to make this movie was not found in one place and we had to bring them together from different places." Tiru was nominated for the Oscars for his work in the animation film, The Legend of Buddha.
Rajesh, an animation student who watched the preview, said, " The quality of output is really good for Indian standards."
The filmmakers are confident of the film's success in the country, given its story, which many Indians have grown up listening to.

picture of the day.

Tanya Singh — The new hottie on B-town block .

SUPER HOT: Tanya Singh 

 sweet things are out, bold and beautiful is in! Bootylicious babe Tanya Singh seems to have it all — good looks, good body, great intellect and more than anything else, great guts to voice her opinion! What’s more, she isn’t among the newcomers who sign up anything and everything in the name of a film. Ask her about her step by step upscale in the tinsel town and she says, “I was offered Tashan by the YRF guys where I was supposed to play a Sita type role opposite Akshay Kumar but I refused.” And the reason she blatantly reveals, “I’d rather begin my innings with an intimate scene with Akshay than play a Sita opposite him!” So what’s kept the leggy lass busy till now? “So far I’m content with the way my career is going. I began with theatre and went onto doing a Kannada film with Southern superstar Ambarish. I have also done many prints ads and a music album with T-Series. But my real claim to fame is my international project The Genius Of Beauty. It’s an outrageous, comedy with lots of gorgeous women written by William Gentry and directed by Aarin Mehta. The film has been in the Cannes this year and was also screened at the Hong Kong film festival. It will be screened at the Korea film festival the next month for which I’m gearing up now.” Talk of the kind of roles she wants and she quips, “Bollywood has had enough of girl-next-doors, I’d want to take up something bold, blunt and challenging!” 

raajneeti movie poster.

Rome wasn’t built in a day .

The Colosseum:
This structure certainly speaks for itself! Colosseum can be found at the bottom of the Palatine Hills and the purpose of the Colosseum was to host large shows of gladiators for entertainment of the crowds. After this period, the Colosseum ceased to be used but evolved as a tourist site.
Spanish Steps: One of the most fashionable areas of Rome, the Spanish Steps are located in a beautiful Piazza leading up to the famous
church ‘Trinità dei Monti’. In the actual square at the bottom of the staircase, there are boutiques and shops where people indulge in some exclusive designer wear and dine at speciality restaurants.
Basilica of St John:
On the top of the Basilica, there are 15 statues of saints about 7 metres high. The imposing face of the Basilica tends to protrude over the Piazza di Porta San Giovanni. The inside of the Basilica has a beautiful gold ceiling and holds many great artefacts including the remaining fragments of fresco of Giotto.
Piazza Navona: Ah! The beautiful square of Piazza Navona is located near the Pantheon and just across the street from Campo dei Fiori. Outdoor eating is popular in this square. Located in the centre of the Piazza, tourists often get their instant portraits drawn by artists.
Via Del Corso: This lengthy street is perfect for shopping. Particularly bustling on Saturdays, it’s a shoppers delight.

GURGLING: A gigantic fountain

TOURIST HUB: A bustling street near Piazza Navona