Anushka Shetty

The Warrior Among Women: A chat with Anushka Shetty

Saumesh Thimbath

When talking about Benedict Cumberbatch, the British actor, who played Sherlock Holmes in the BBC series ‘Sherlock’ and Julian Assange in ‘The Fifth Estate’, a commentator said that he has a face and aura that gives him a definitive edge in playing larger-than-life roles. The same holds true, in a way, for actress Anushka Shetty. The success of Anushka’s portrayal of brave and fiery women lies in a tactfully underplayed acting which has her tall figure to boot. The trend caught up with the unexpected success of ‘Arundhati’, which led to similar roles in movies like ‘Irandaam Ulagam’ (‘Varna’in Telugu). Anushka will be seen in warrior princess roles in two more films to be next year, S.S. Rajamouli’s ‘Bahubali’ and ‘Rudrammadevi 3D’.

She has also done movies like ‘Vedham’, which had an offbeat theme, were she acted as a prostitute which not many mainstream actresses would dare to do. But even while doing these movies, she portrayed typical eye-candy material in movies like ‘Singham 2’ where her importance shrank to the sounds of Surya’s intermittent roars. It makes it pretty hard to cast Anushka into any defined mould. So it was with these queries in mind that the Silly Monks team caught up with Anushka in Hyderabad where she had come to promote ‘Varna’, the Telugu version of ‘Irandaam Ulagam’.

Announcing on arrival that she is tired of answering standard and vague questions, she was ready for in-depth discussion of the movies that she worked on. As she has been part of three movies that had elements of fantasy and graphics, the discussion veered towards the Indian films aping Hollywood and the dearth of original fantasy stories in Indian movies.

Watch the full interview below.

Saif Zone - Bullet Raja

Saif Zone - Bullet Raja

Vinitha Kattungal

This ‘Thanksgiving Day’ admirers of Saif Ali Khan and Sonakshi Sinha in US and Canada can treat themselves not only to  traditional feast but also to the release of ‘Bullet Raja’ . Incidentally, the release in these countries would be a day before Indian release.

First love, then war. This season Bollywood is fascinated with ‘Goliya’. The stage is set for another release in the form of ‘Bullet Raja’. Directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia, rest assured, you’ll get to watch some intense drama. Saheb, Biwi aur Gangster & Saheb, Biwi aur Gangster - Returns is the proof and of course the masterpiece - Paan Singh Tomar, winning a national award for best feature film in 2012.

Bullet Raja, an action packed masala entertainment, is shot in real locations of UP, Kolkata and Panchvati in order to give realistic feel. The stylish Saif Ali Khan looks his rustic best as gun-toting, bike-riding gangster in the movie.  For a change we’d get to see Sonakshi Sinha minus Akshay.

The chemistry between the new pair looks promising in the promos. The romantic track ‘Saamne Hai Savera’ has been pictured against backdrop of a Victorian age Kolkata, complete with hand pulled rickshaws, signature Kolkata trams, lively colourful flower market and landmark  ‘Howrah Bridge’ covered with mist.  Sonakshi who took her first tram ride says it was a ‘surreal experience’.

This is a story with unexpected twists and turns and promises ‘an edge-of-the-seat’, paisa vassol entertainment.

This enterprise is fully loaded with Jimmy Shergill, Vidyut Jamwal, Raj Babbar, Gulshan Grover, Ravi Kishan and last not the least Chunky Pandey. Did you read Chunky Pandey…the funny man of Bollywood? For a change, he is mean and dangerous.

And not to miss the icing on cake - Mahie Gill’s sizzling item number.

Crowdfunding: Idea worthy

Crowdfunding: Idea worthy

Saumesh Thimbath

When everything from camera to projection to promotion went the digital way, filmmaking has become a lot easier and less troublesome. And gone are the days when a filmmaker had to run pillar to post to get financing for his/her project.

Crowdfunding – pooling in finances from interested parties – got a fillip with social media expanding at an unimaginable pace. One bunch who finds themselves on the benefitting end are the indie filmmakers, who are ‘independent’ because they try to say things that a majority of producers wouldn’t even care to listen to. That is when social media comes in to the indie filmmakers help with support from people who might be geographically detached but closer in sensibility.

The trend is catching up in India too and one of the early examples has been Onir’s ‘I Am’, where the director raised the entire budget of the movie, which was 3 crores, from friends and online contacts. ‘I Am’ went on to win two national awards.

In 2013, irked with production houses, Kannada filmmaker Pawan Kumar, called for contributions for his next venture ‘Lucia’ through his Facebook account and blog. ‘Lucia’ was screened at the London Indian Film Festival and left behind a trail of good critical and audience reviews. Indie filmmaker in Malayalam, Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s new film, ‘Oralpokkam’ which stars Tamil poet Meena Kandasamy in a lead role, has raised the budget of 30 lakhs through social media sites. The shooting of ‘Oralpokkam’ is underway in Kedarnath.

Owing to the novelty of the method, many filmmakers look at crowd funding skeptically. Some sense a threat to their ideas and for others the lack of any established models is source of concern. But these fears, in all probability, are borne out of the unfamiliarity with a novel platform. One factor behind the success of the digital and social media platforms has been its mutual reinforcement and support. Moreover, the lack of any established models make it a fertile field for creative experimentation. As far as the entertainment industry is concerned, this looks like the way forward.

 

Charming her way into our hearts

Charming her way into our hearts

Saumesh Thimbath

Not many actresses in the film industries in the country get to be around for over a decade. If they don’t get married and sail off to oblivion, they stay back to play mothers and sister-in-laws. Charmee Kaur has been around for a decade and is in no mood to call it a day. Charmee was active in the South Indian films, especially Telugu, since 2002 when she was 14. She has had her share of hits, of which some piggy-backed solely on her charm and performance (Mantra and Anukokunda Oka Roju).

When the Sillymonks team met her, she was on the sets of another heroine-oriented film, Pratighatana. She invited us into her caravan and was very warm. Her attitude was a far cry from the arrogant picture that the industry sources usually portray and faced the questions on camera without any qualms at one go.

Below is the links to the interview. 

Gori Tere Pyaar Mein

Gori Tere Pyaar Mein

Vinitha Kattungal

This week Gori Tere Pyaar Mein is going to scramble for its share of audience in the vibgyor hued, beautifully narrated Ram-Leela, released last week. Err, it’s Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela. Being politically correct.  

Gori Tere Pyaar Mein (romantic comedy) produced by Dharma production is kind of trying too hard with Imran and Kareena Kapoor Khan to deliver a hit. Remember the forgettable ‘Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu’? Trade pundits declared it a hit. When? Where? How? 

What could you expect from this Karan Johar produced enterprise? Boy meets girl, bindaas in life, does not value relationship, and when it is too late realises his love for the girl.  Imran's character follows his girlfriend, played by Kareena, to a village called Jhumi in Gujarat where she works as a social worker. Will Imran be able to win back his love? Essentially, story of a boy who keeps refining his pick up moves until eventually his lady love falls for him.

Did we see Shraddha Kapoor in the song/trailer/promo too?  Looking forward to a syrup-lacquered rom-com with loads of quirky narrative smarts.

Hits Ki Rasaleela ‘Deepika’-leela

Hits Ki Rasaleela ‘Deepika’-leela

Saumesh Thimbath 

In another one month’s time, when the charts of the highest-grossers of the year are prepared a name and a dimpled smile will be at the top, not once but thrice. Three of the highest-grossers of Bollywood in 2013, Yeh Jawaani Hai Diwaani, Chennai Express and Goliyon Ka Rasaleela Ramleela (which is racing fast to the top spot) will have one factor in common – Deepika Padukone.  After a stellar debut in Om Shanti Om, Deepika’s onscreen acts haven’t garnered her much attention, but she was in the limelight, nevertheless, for her much hyped romantic affairs with Ranbir Kapoor and Siddharth Mallya. The dull phase set in soon and the film pundit’s sadist hobby, ‘writing off’, was to follow. But luckily for Deepika, Cocktail happened and she was on a roll ever since. 

Her next outing after Cocktail was in Yeh Jawaani Hai Diwani, were she was paired with her ex-boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor, against whom she had leveled accusations of infidelity only months earlier. The pairing created enough hype as the audience was not used to watching a separated couple laughing and celebrating, either onscreen or offscreen. Deepika and Ranbir laughed their way into the top grosser charts.

Like the Scorpios in Rohit Shetty movies, the collections for her next movie Chennai Express, co-starring SRK, shot up high and became the highest grossing Bollywood movie ever. Though her accent attracted criticism from many quarters, nobody was in doubt about her charm and attitude. And now Goliyon Ka Rasaleela Ramleela has already crossed the 50 crore mark in the first three days and could break a few records on the way up. She was paired with her beau, Ranveer Singh, in the movie and made the smart decision of keeping her love-life away from the media. There could be one more blockbuster to her credit this year if Rajnikanth’s Kochadaiiyaan lives up to the hype that is created.

One aspect of Deepika’s personality that stands out is her resilience and determination which she imbibed on the badminton courts she was training hard in her younger days. This ‘sportswoman spirit’ is what makes us stop and take notice of her. Match point.

Aamir to play Sachin in biopic?

Aamir to play Sachin in biopic?

By Saumesh Thimbath

All eyes are set on one big event this week, an event that makes even the best in bollywood leave their priorities and jump off to Wankhede. Sachin’s retirement from cricket has created a buzz like no other with stars like Aamir Khan and Hritik Roshan finding a place among the crowds that has come to watch the maestro’s parting streak.

Aamir Khan was full of praise for the Little Master and postponed the audio launch of his upcoming movie, Dhoom 3, as he wants to watch Sachin bat. And at the stadium, the actor was even spotted wearing the blue t-shirt which he considers lucky. Aamir has reportedly made public his wish to play Sachin if a biopic is ever made. If these are anything to go by, it wouldn’t be too long before one sees Aamir playing Sachin onscreen.

Well, what are the odds? Aamir has height on his side but not age, as the cricketer is eight years younger than him. 

We don’t usually find an elder actor playing a younger character at least in biopics (but this is irrelevant if Aamir draws enough inspiration from some superstars down south!) Both Sachin and Aamir are known to be ‘intelligent’ gentlemen in their respective fields, which could work in Aamir’s favour. What would the makers title it? How about ‘Taare Pitch Par’ or ‘Stumps Se Stumps Thak’?

The Super Hero Returns - Krrish 3 Review

Krrish, India’s Original Super hero is going to satisfy audience globally, especially the children, with a Spectacular and Sparkling Entrance. The trilogy that began with the super hit Sci-Fi movie Koi…Mil Gaya is in its third installment. Roshan Sr, in doing so crafted a successful allegoric film and franchise designed to attract kids. The expectation from Krrish-3 is high with Hrithik’s real stunts, unstoppable speed with his Black Mask and suit. You will not be disappointed, Hrithik Roshan is truly the superhero of the film with muscles of Steel and heart of Gold.

This time Krrish is charmed not only by a human (Priyanka Chopra), but also smitten by Mutants ( especially Kangana Ranaut). The Mutant Kangana is sizzling in a full body latex suit which resembles the Cat Woman outfit in Batman minus the mask and a whip, with hairstyles varying from Spikes to a Braid. Mutant Kangana is also romancing Hrithik while crooning ‘Dil Tu Hi Bataa...’, How Cool is that?? 

 Last but not the least, how can one ignore Vivek Oberoi who essays the role of Kaal, an Evil Genius. A Caveat here if you are true Batman Fan. While you watch him deck up as a Villian, at the back of your mind, you may find similarities with Mr Freeze from Batman Begins.

To sum it up, Krrish 3 is a Visually Riveting and an Emotionally Stimulating Movie.

 If you've already watched the movie, Share your Experience with us!! 

Article by Vinitha Kattungal.