Shah Rukh banned from Wankhede for 5 years

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) Friday slapped a five-year ban on actor Shah Rukh Khan from entering the Wankhede Stadium over his alleged misbehaviour at the ground Wednesday night.

Khan, co-owner of Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), had allegedly misbehaved with security personnel and MCA officials Wednesday night.

"The managing committee of MCA condemns the behaviour of Shah Rukh Khan. After his fight at the stadium Wednesday night, the actor has shown no regrets for his action and behaviour. In fact, he justified his actions. The managing committee is forced to ban Mr Shah Rukh Khan from the entering Wankhede Stadium," Deshmukh said after an emergency meeting of the MCA here.

He said nobody could support such behaviour, be it the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Indian Premier League (IPL) or the MCA.

"Our decision to ban Shah Rukh Khan was unanimous. There was a proposal of lifetime ban, but we want to send a message that this is not how one should behave," Deshmukh, the union minister for science and technology, said.

"This is a message for everyone. Anyone who misbehaves or breaks any rules shall face a similar ban," he added.

"We have already written to BCCI and have apprised them of the situation and the decision that might follow. We don't expect 

anybody to pressurise us to change our decision," he said.

Asked why no committee was set up to probe the incident, Deshmukh said that majority of members were present during the brawl and they were all witness to the incident.

"As most committee members were present during the brawl, they were all witness to the entire episode and hence there was no need to set up a committee to investigate the incident," he said.

According to the resolution passed by MCA after an hour-long meeting, Khan will not be able to enter Wankhede Stadium for five years "neither as a team owner not as a member of the audience".

Replying to allegations by the actor that his daughter was manhandled by MCA officials, Deshmukh said: "We have not received any complaint from Shah Rukh Khan yet. He is unapologetic and justified his actions."

"We will also genuinely look into the matter if Shah Rukh lodges a complaint regarding the same," he added.

"We have informed BCCI about the ban, but since this property belongs to MCA, we have decided on the ban," he added.

Deshmukh said a complaint has been registered in Mumbaia's Marine Drive Police Station by the MCA officials and that the police is investigating the matter.

On Thursday, Deshmukh had termed the event as grave and said a decision will be taken on the ban after going through the entire sequence of events.

Stating that the security personnel and officials from the MCA were equally rude, Khan had maintained that he will not apologise for his Wednesday night behaviour.

Khan allegedly misbehaved and pushed the security guard at the stadium and also abused officials of MCA when they tried to intervene late Wednesday night.

Sunny Leone was shy shooting lovemaking scene: Mahesh Bhatt

All that glitters is not gold and all porn stars are not bold, says the inimitable Mahesh Bhatt while revealing that Sunny Leone was shy and uncomfortable while filming the lovemaking scenes with Randeep Hooda in her Bollywood debut "Jism 2".

"I always knew that she is a very shy person. Just because she is a porn star doesn't mean that she has lost her feminine quality of being shy. During the lovemaking scene with Randeep she was finding it very difficult to do it comfortably," Bhatt, who is producing the film, told IANS over phone from Sri Lanka, where "Jism 2" is being shot.

" 'Jo nazar aata hai wo hota nahin hai'. All that glitters is not gold, all soldiers are not brave, all holy men are not holy and all porn stars are not bold. At times reality is different," added the filmmaker.

The Indo-Canadian adult star of Punjabi origin was finalised for the role by Bhatt during her stint in the reality show "Bigg Boss 5".

"Jism 2" is a sequel to 2003 film "Jism", in which Bipasha Basu's steamy scenes became the talk of the town.

Pooja Bhatt, who had produced the original, is directing part two.

Sunny surprised the entire crew with her shy behaviour.

"Everyone was surprised with her shyness, but I understood that it will be difficult for her. It's not easy to shoot a lovemaking scene; it is a very demanding thing. Those who believed that it would be a cakewalk for her will be shocked by this revelation," said Bhatt, who has also written the script of the film.

"Jism 2" will see Sunny as seductress Izna. The love triangle also features Arunoday Singh.

Randeep, who shot lovemaking scenes with Mahie Gill in "Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster", was equally uncomfortable while shooting the scenes.

"Even for Randeep it became very challenging although he has shot similar scenes before. One has to understand that it's not a fighting scene," Bhatt said.

Named by Maxim as one of the 12 top porn stars in 2010, Sunny, whose real name is Karen Malhotra, recently, celebrated her 31st birthday in Sri lanka.

Bhatt said Sunny wants to move on from being just a porn star and is looking forward to establishing herself as a part of tinsel town.

"Sunny is concerned how she will be perceived by the world as an actress because everybody knows her just as an adult star. She wants to be known for something more than that," he added.

Sunny's career seems to have taken off here. Apart from "Jism 2", she has also bagged a role in a sequel to "Ragini MMS". She has also endorsed a phone and a condom brand.

Bollywood careers to make or break this Friday

"Dangerous Ishhq" and "Ishaqzaade" - both films releasing this Friday - will play a pivotal role in the careers of their actors. While the former marks the comeback of Karisma Kapoor after a sabbatical of six years, the latter is the launchpad of filmmaker Boney Kapoor's son Arjun.

Directed by Vikram Bhatt, "Dangerous Ishhq" hits the screens in 3D format and features Rajniesh Duggall, Jimmy Sheirgill and Divya Dutta.

The film tells the story of supermodel Sanjana (Karisma) and her boyfriend Rohan (Rajniesh), son of one of the nation's biggest business tycoons. They are the most popular couple on the social circuit. However, their life takes a turn when Rohan gets kidnapped.

The high-profile kidnapping creates chaos in Sanjana's life. The kidnappers demand Rs.50 crore, but the police believe that even paying the ransom will not bring Rohan back.

In this extreme trauma, Sanjana discovers something extraordinary. She sees visions of them together, sometime in the past, in different eras. In her visions lie definitive clues that could lead her to save the love of her life. 

The suspense thriller will see Karisma's character going through a period of 500 years through past-life regression.

The 37-year-old actress has made sure she makes a flawless comeback and trained in five dialects for the film. She took various workshops to clear her diction for the demanding role, which will see her in different avatars.

Director Vikram Bhatt has rubbished reports that "Dangerous Ishq" is a horror film, and said it's a mystery set with the backdrop of reincarnation.

Last seen in "Mere Jeevan Saathi" in 2006, Karisma is eagerly looking forward to the release of the film as it would help decide her fate in the industry.

The fate of Arjun Kapoor's acting career also depends on this Friday with the release of his debut film "Ishaqzaade". The Yash Raj Films (YRF) project will also be a test for "Ladies v/s Ricky Bahl" actress Parineeti Chopra, for whom "Ishaqzaade" will be her first solo release.

Directed by Habib Faisal, "Ishaqzaade" narrates the tale of 22-year-old Parma (Arjun) an immature, short tempered bully, who idolises his grandfather and his twisted love story with Zoya (Parineeti).

Zoya is a twenty-something, boisterous girl from an affluent political family and she dreams of becoming an MLA. Parma and Zoya are born to hate, but destined to love.

Arjun had to shed 50 kg to get fit for the role he plays in the film, made at a budget of Rs.25 crore.

The actor is all praise for superstar Salman Khan, who prepared him to jump into the world of acting. Arjun credits Salman for being more than a mentor.

Who will win at the box office? Take your pick this Friday!

You cannot cheat today's audiences: Revathy

Actress Revathy, who has wielded the megaphone for films like "Mitr: My Friend" and "Phir Milenge", feels it's difficult to deceive the audience with poor content even though their attention span has decreased over the years.

"Audience's attention span is very less these days; so you need to give them a lot in a short time. You need to do a lot, work a lot," Revathy, who was here to attend the National Awards ceremony, told IANS in an interview.

"People today are well aware because they watch a lot of world cinema. It is interesting that now you cannot cheat the audience, you need to work in detail. That is one part of it, especially the urban audience, but for the other audience you need to tell a good story that would touch their hearts," she added.

The actress, a well-known name in the southern film industry, made her debut with Tamil movie "Mann Vasanai" (1983) and went on to become a name to reckon with in her profession.

Eight years later she made her Bollywood debut opposite Salman Khan in "Love". Other Hindi films that she has been part of are "Ab Tak Chhappan", "Darna Mana Hai" and "Dil Jo Bhi Kahe".

In 2002, the actress donned the director's hat with "Mitr: My Friend" and her second directorial venture was 2004 movie "Phir Milenge", which dealt with the issue of HIV. Revathy feels there has always to be a purpose for a film.

"Even as an actor I was very choosy about the films. There has to be a purpose to the film," said the 45-year-old, who has won a National Award for the short film "Red Building Where The Sun Sets", which shows how fights between parents affect children.

"So I think, when I became a director, the idea was just the combinations of certain causes that I work with and films that I want to make," she added.

Revathy calls her transition from an actress to a director "very natural".

"As an actor you just do one part of it in the film. But as a filmmaker, starting from the idea to making a story, working on the entire thing and making it as a feature film was interesting. I tried it with short films in the beginning; after that I thought this is what I want to do," said the actress.

After being in the Indian film industry for almost three decades, the actress-filmmaker feels the industry has evolved with society.

"The Indian film industry has evolved exactly like the society around. Just like we have changed from writing diaries to short notes in computers, the same way the industry has evolved in storymaking, storytelling and the technicalities. It caters to people with different perspectives," said the three-time National Award winner.

"I think Indian cinema is fantastic, especially the regional cinema, while in Hindi cinema you have few glimpses of very good films," she added.

Filmmakers line up biopics - with Bollywood twist

The commercial success of "The Dirty Picture" gave new life to biopics. Bollywood has now lined up a slew of real people's real stories, though filmmakers admit these are churned out with a dash of entertaining fiction.

"Paan Singh Tomar" closely followed "The Dirty Picture" and turned out to be a sleeper hit. Some upcoming biopics include "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag", "Rang Rasiya", "Shoot Out At Wadala", "Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai 2" and "Barfi".

But filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt told IANS: "Any biopic cannot be a pure biopic because one tends to add the entertainment quotient to the film to make space for commercial zone.

It is easier to say that you are making a biopic than to actually make a biopic.

"Many of them claim it to be a biopic and use it for the publicity. There is a lot of pain that goes into the research of the character and to do justice to the details of a person's journey. Just by claiming so, it doesn't become a biopic. You use a particular person, icon as a peg to launch your product," he said.

Usually Hollywood starts a trend and Bollywood follows. Hindi films, however, resisted biopics for a long time. But the success of "The Dirty Picture", about the life of southern sex icon Silk Smitha, seemed to alter the mindset.

Milan Luthria, director of "The Dirty Picture", starring Vidya Balan, feels there are no pure biopics.

"When my film did well, it gave more courage to others that biopics have the capacity to hit the commercial zone. So many real life stories are there, but they are not pure biopics as entertainment is added to facts. When you go for a pure biopic, then it might get a little boring," Luthria told IANS.

Making biopics is challenging as the stories are separated from history to fit into specific requirements of showbiz.

However, director Ketan Mehta feels many times fact is more astonishing than fiction. "In many cases fact is stranger than the fiction. Real life is more astonishing than a fictional story. Some of the biopics or their story is very fascinating," he told IANS.

Mehta has wielded the megaphone for biopics like "Sardar", on the country's first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel; "Mangal Pandey: The Rising", which told the story of one of the key leaders of 1857 Sepoy Mutiny; and his much delayed "Rang Rasiya", based on the life of 19th century painter Raja Ravi Varma.

Translating the real life story on celluloid requires a lot of research.

"I take up subjects that inspire me. A lot more research goes into making a period film where you don't have enough records or much evidence," Mehta told IANS.

"Unfortunately, India has not started the trend of biopics yet. If it happens in the near future, then it is wonderful," he added.

Luthria feels "in Hollywood, this is an old trend and they have been working on it for a long time".

Sometimes filmmakers are dragged into legal trouble too.

"It depends on what the family feels about it? What are the terms and conditions agreed upon between them? There are a lot of such things to be cleared," Ram Gopal Varma told IANS. He had made "Rakta Charitra", a bilingual film on slain Andhra Pradesh politician Paritala Ravindra.

"Many a time a director initially claims it to be a biopic and later says it has been inspired by a particular person. It happens because the formalities are not completed. You get excited when the maker or the director says it is based on someone. But when suddenly problems crop up, they might change the story," Verma added.

Bhatt said, "When you are exploring the human side to tell an untold story, one might get into trouble. At times the person's family members may not be happy with the way you are portraying a character."

He described his production venture "Woh Lamhe" as a final goodbye to the memories of actress Parveen Babi, whom he loved and lost.

The biopic virus is spreading so fast that after Vidya Balan and Irrfan Khan, even Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is likely to play hockey legend Dhyan Chand.

Protect your child against sexual abuse

The world is not a safe place for children anymore. There is danger in the form of strangers and even amongst the people you know and respect. Current episodes involving teachers molesting students have only brought this ghastly reality to the fore. We pay a serious look at what has now become of the world, while you as parents, should do your ultimate best to understand and care for your child.
 
Suppose your 14 year old daughter told you that she was led to an empty classroom by a male teacher who 'accidentally' brushed his hand against her breast while he was opening her notebook. Would you take this seriously? Or would you tell her that she must be imagining things? The latter response is most common among parents in India, who typically dismiss their children's complaints about abusive behaviour, especially if this is attributed to trusted people in their school or home environment.

According to a study conducted by the women and child welfare (WCD) ministry in 2007, more than half the children in the country have been victims of abuse. A shocking 53 percent of an estimated 420 million children below 18 years have undergone some form of sexual victimisation.

"Sexual abuse is a huge stigma in India and most parents don't want to acknowledge it or take action," Dr Deepali Batra, senior child psychologist, Batra Hospital, says. The fear that they will not be believed and shame are the reasons that sexually exploited children fail to disclose abuse.

Sexual abusers may also actively cultivate these fears in their victims' minds to make disclosure less likely. "Children lack the vocabulary to tell their parents about the abuse. They try to share it in various ways, but if parents react with disbelief, children stop communicating," Nancy Veronica, programme manager, Tulir, a centre for the prevention and healing of child sexual abuse, says.

So if your child does tell you that she is being abused, don't make disclosure more difficult for her by assuming her story is untrue. "Parents should not blame their child in such a situation and try to be protective instead by expressing confidence in their child's account," Dr Batra says. Your child may even tell you that she was abused months or even years after the episode. This doesn't mean she is concocting the story: the fact is that it may take a victim some time - even some years - to come forward with a disclosure of abuse.

Children who are being sexually abused manifest several emotional and behavioural difficulties, and parents should be on the alert for these. Disturbances in sleep and eating patterns, mood changes, unusual anxiety, and a reluctance to go to school are a few. Of course, the conclusion that these are linked to sexual abuse must be drawn only after collecting more information since these signs are ambiguous and other stressors in life can produce similar symptoms.

Finally, parents must provide their children with the information needed to protect themselves against abuse. "Children should be made familiar and comfortable with their private parts by the age of two," says Veronica. "Along with the personal hygiene, age- appropriate information about their genitals should be provided by parents to help kids overcome shyness that prevents many from reporting abuse." Every schoolgoing child should be prepared to recognise and tackle unwanted sexual advances. "Children should be taught to say 'No' when they feel confused about somebody's touch or when somebody tries to see or touch their private parts," she emphasises.

Symptoms that will tell you something is wrong:

Unusual irritation or aggression- If a child shows unnecessarily brash behaviour and is angry very easily, then something is tugging at her internally. Make an effort to find out and be subtle as you need to be a friend, not an opponent while trying to discover the problem.

Reduced appetite-If your child suddenly starts to eat less, you should try and figure out what the matter is. It is not necessarily abuse as less appetite is an ambiguous symptom. Instead, probe to find more information.

Stomach ache- This can be for a variety of factors. However, if it has something to do with abuse, you will soon know as the pain is of a little different kind and your child will be unwilling to share much.

Pain, itching or bleeding during urination- This is a sign that you have to demand to see once the first few symptoms have made you alarmed enough. Complaining of pain while urinating or having a bowel movement, or exhibiting symptoms of genital infections such as offensive odors are a sure way to know your child has been hurt physically and psychologically.

Reluctance to go to school- Once a child faces abuse, it prefers to withdraw completely. Suddenly school and other activities are something they want to be alienated from on their own. They develop an unusual fear of a certain place or location.

Retreat into a fantasy world- Cooking up stories and fictional characters are not always comical. Sometimes, that is an escape the child opts for after having faced something brutal. Talk to your child and probe into the fiction world deeply to know about the reality.

Sexually promiscuous behaviour- Masturbating excessively is a sign that can totally give away the situation. Inappropriate sexual play with self, peers or toys are more signs you can look out for.

Nightmares and bedwetting- Children often regress to behaviors too young for the stage of development they have already achieved.

It is a truth that has shocked the world. Principals and teachers, the very people who carve a path in a child's life are the ones who are today twisting the future into a morbid, psychologically doomed reality for the child. While some are intent upon bringing shame to this profession, there are others who are still standing strong and doing the right thing at times like these: condemning the evil.

The act of rape is heinous, whether the man behind it is a school principal or not. Still, the fact that the rapist is a school principal makes it worse as he is supposed to be looking after his students. The question of the law doesn't arise in this case as certain things are just not done. A rape is one of those acts that is not acceptable, and can't be brushed under the carpet. It is not like corporal punishment, which used to be the 'norm' at one point of time but is not so now.

Rape was never the norm. It is an act that no person can condone, or defend on the ground that the victim had led the perpetrator on. A school can't expect to get away from the condemnation that is due by blaming the victim and accusing her of having 'loose morals'. And let's not romanticise the issue by expressing shock, exclaiming, "Oh my God! The rapist is a principal!" Would it have been okay if the rapist weren't a principal? No, it wouldn't.

This is a black and white issue - a rape is a rape and it can never be accepted by any society. By expressing shock over the rapist's professional identity, we are taking the focus away from the horrendous act. We should also not draw any inferences on what this act, specifically in the case of a principal raping a student, reflects on our society. A rapist, no matter who he is, must not be allowed to get away.

The media has a big role to play in building public opinion against such heinous crimes. Take the example of honour killings. What are honour killings? They are nothing but planned, cold- blooded murders. Why can't the media just call them murders? Does it have the strength of conviction to do so? It's the romanticisation of such acts under misleading labels that makes my blood boil. The media must expose rape for what it is, and honour killings for what they are.

Arun Kapur is the director of Vasant Valley School


The alleged rape of a student by her school principal in Hyderabad is a shocking revelation, but it isn't a reflection of the education system at large, feel schools in Delhi.

Generating awareness is a school's best bet against the menace of sexual abuse on campus. Institutions in the Capital are, evidently, pulling out all stops to ensure this happens via counselling and workshops. The ubiquitous (also mandatory) presence of counsellors in schools is a strong testimony to that.

"Schools today are better prepared to prevent such a situation on campus as our communication channels have never been more open. Counsellors constantly try to instil awareness ( about good and bad touch) in the children. They also establish a comfortable rapport with the students through counselling sessions," Abha Sahgal, principal of Sanskriti School at Chanakyapuri, said.

"But parents need to advise their children to develop an attitude to stand up for their dignity and this can be reinforced by the school," Sehgal added.

Awareness initiatives, however, are not just directed at students but target teachers, too. "In Tagore International School, teachers, too, are trained to identify a child showing behavioural changes which could then be brought to the notice of the counsellor," Arti Raghuvanshi, a clinical psychologist and a consultant with Tagore International School at Vasant Vihar, said.

The assurance of confidentiality is the glue that holds the preparedness mechanism together, counsellors say. "We involve only the principal if and only if the case is big. Not even the class teacher is told and hence this assurance goes a long way in instilling confidence in the child," Raghuvanshi said.

"Revelation of identity is a strong deterrent for children who could have been abused sexually. A complaint box on the campus, which allows one to lodge complaints anonymously, is helpful," Shubha Chandrashekhar, counsellor with DPS Rohini said.

Haven't asked Miley out formally yet: Liam Hemsworth (Interview)

Liam Hemsworth has had an on-off relationship with singer-actress Miley Cyrus. The Australian actor admits they are fond of each other but says he is yet to ask her out formally.

"We are very fond of each other and like each other's company. I haven't asked her out formally yet but, yes, we are pretty serious about each other," Hemsworth told IANS in an email interaction from Los Angeles.

The couple met on the sets of their previous film "The Last Song" and have been together since then. They parted ways briefly but reconciled later.

"She's a wonderful person ever since I have known her while shooting for 'The Last Song'. The changes are not many in particular, but it's just that we like to spend more time together and make the most out of it," he added.

After "The Last Song", the 22-year-old actor is looking forward to the release of sci-fi film "Hunger Games", which also features Elizabeth Banks, Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence.

Directed by Gary Ross, the film is based on the trilogy of novels of the same name, written by Suzanne Collins. It releases March 23.

"The story of the film goes like each year in the ruins of what was once North America, the Capitol of the nation of Panem, forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl, between the ages of 12 and 18, to compete in 'The Hunger Games'," said Hemsworth, who has previously worked in films like "Knowing" and "Triangle".

"I play the character of Gale in the movie who is mostly paired with Katness who is played by Jennifer Lawrence and we play the 'Hunger Games' together against all odds," Hemsworth added.

The actor is all praise for all his co-stars.

"Everyone was great. I didn't get to shoot much with Josh but I knew him before the film and he's awesome.

"He's a really, really good guy and a great actor. Most of my stuff was with Jennifer.

"She's great, a really fun person; easygoing, down to earth. She's very professional, but at the same time she keeps things fun. It was great, a really good time," he said.

After giving his fans a glimpse into his romantic side in "The Last Song", Hemsworth will be seen doing a lot of action sequences in the "Hunger Games".

"A lot of stunts from me on this one. The physicality for me was losing weight. I trained for a few weeks before we started shooting to lose a bunch of weight and was eating a lot less than I would usually eat. I wanted to look hungry," he said.

Hemsworth haven't been to India but says he has heard a lot about the nation and its multi-billion dollar film industry.

"I haven't been there but have heard loads about India. It's the next movie hub according to me. Bollywood it is, yes, have heard about a few of them (actors) but cannot recollect any name right now. But if I see them it will be easier to recognise," he said.

'Osama' on stage in Kolkata

Osama Bin Laden has been resurrected in Kolkata! One of the most controversial characters of world history is now being portrayed on the popular stage theatre of Bengal.

The play, christened 'Osama', revolves round the main protagonist Charles the crook, who considers himself an artist and believes that a man can do anything good or evil for his existence and that a human being has the right to trade himself or others for the sake of existence.

Charles sells various villainous ideas to corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and influential people. His notorious ideas range from innovative tricks to deceive people to that of spreading terror and, in a bid to sell the ideas of violence, he takes the guise of the posterboy of terrorism - Osama.

The Saudi Arabia-born Osama was hunted down by US special operation forces in a midnight raid at a 'safe house' in the Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad in May 2011.

"It is a satirical take on society where a person by his evil ideas tries to win over the world. He sells the idea of terrorism under the guise of Osama, but when his bluff is caught he flees," Gautam Haldar, director and lead actor playing the character of 'Osama', told IANS.

Haldar, a seasoned stage actor with over two decades of experience behind him, said the play was inspired by French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre's play 'Nekrassov' (1955) - a satirical take on the anti-communist propaganda.

"The idea of this play 'Osama' came two years back. But the play is inspired by 'Nekrassov'. The idea of Osama terrorizing the entire world came to my mind in a satirical way," the 40-year-old actor and director said.

The 150-minute play, a full-on entertainment, was first staged March 14 and is receiving rave reviews.

In order to make the character of Osama more lively, Haldar went through extensive homework sessions, including Hindi-Urdu lessons and close monitoring of television footages of Osama.

"Though it's a Bengali play, for several months I had taken Hindi lessons. I have learnt a bit of Urdu too. I have used a few Urdu and Hindi dialogues in the play. For the body language, I closely monitored TV footage of Osama," he said.

Charles, the crook, however, has a human heart and never cheats the poor. But ironically he is made to do several things which hit the poor. The crook with a human heart finds himself in the mesh of profiteers and political overlords.

The character of Charles has shades of a serial killer of the 20th century, Charles Sobhraj.

"I have deliberately not used the name Sobhraj but it is for the audience to decide. But it does have shades of Sobhraj in it," he said.

Irrfan says his work fetched him Spiderman

One of the most versatile actors in Bollywood, Irrfan Khan, who is part of upcoming American film "The Amazing Spider-Man", says his work has helped him in getting international projects and not any PR work.

"It just happened. I still don't have a PR. International films didn't come to me because of PRs. It came to me because of my work. It came to me because I was destined to work there," Irrfan told IANS.

The 49-year-old became a known name in the international film circuit with his first ever full-fledged movie role in Asif Kapadia's "The Warrior". The 2001 film was shown at the international film festivals and Irrfan carved a niche for himself.

In 2003, he again impressd the global audience with writer-director Asvin Kumar's short film "Road to Ladakh" and earned rave reviews for his performance in the 2003 release.

"My limitation is that I don't know how to do my PR (promote) myself. As an actor, you must know how to do your PR, which I consider as my limitation. When I tried to work on it, it didn't work for me," said the actor who also featured in international projects "A Mighty Heart" and "The Darjeeling Limited" and American HBO show "In Treatment".

Then came the Oscar winning film "Slumdog Millionaire", in which he played a police officer. 

Post the humungous success of "Slumdog Millionaire", Irrfan bagged director Marc Webb's superhero film "The Amazing Spider-Man", based on the comic book of the same name.

"It was wonderful working with Marc Webb in the film. He is a fabulous director. Adapting a costume was not difficult but the way he approached me, the respect he showered on me is very rarely seen," said Irrfan, who will be seen as Dr. Ratha in the movie. 

Irfan said he doesn't have to rely on the box office to bag films. His performance justifies the character, which helps him to get films. 

"Had I only relied on box office, then as an actor I wouldn't have got enough films. There are few films which recover their money in certain span of time while some keep running for a longer period that has its own value addition. Among all my films, few have bombed at the box office while some have worked as well," said Irrfan, who is known for his work in "Maqbool" and "Life…In A Metro".

Currently, Irrfan is busy promoting "Paan Singh Tomar", about an athlete who became a dacoit. Directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia, the film, which was stuck for quite some time, will finally hit the screens March 2.

'The Artist', 'Hugo' in tie with five Oscars each (Oscar Roundup)

French silent film "The Artist" and period film "Hugo" became the big winners at the star-studded 84th Academy Awards ceremony here as they walked away with five honours each. "The Artist" was named the best picture and also won the best actor and best director's trophy for Jean Dujardin and Michel Hazanavicius respectively.

"The Artist", a black and white film about a silent movie star who fears his downfall after the arrival of talkies, also won in the best costume and best original score categories. The movie is said to be the second silent film to have ever won an Oscar -- the first being 1927 film "Wings", which was awarded at the first Academy Awards in 1929.

"Hugo", directed by Martin Scorsese, won more in the techical categories. Set in 1930s Paris, it is a 3D adventure drama about a boy embroiled in the mystery of his father's death and an automaton. The film took away the honours in best cinematography, best art direction, best sound editing, best sound mixing and visual effects categories.

Veteran actress Meryl Streep received her third Oscar at the glittering ceremony at the Kodak Theatre here Sunday night. She won the best actress award for her portrayal of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady", which won the best makeup award too.

American actress Octavia Spencer was left in tears as she was awarded the best supporting actress trophy for Reliance DreamWorks' "The Help", in which she essayed the role of a big-mouthed maid named Minny. The best actor in a supporting role award went to Christopher Plummer for "Beginners". At at 82, he is said to be the oldest winner of the golden statuette.

Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash were awarded for the best adapted screenplay of "The Descendants", which has been translated to screen from Kaui Hart Hemmings' eponymous novel, while Woody Allen won the best original screenplay for romantic comedy "Midnight in Paris".

"Rango", a movie about a chameleon, was named the best animated feature film, and "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr.Morris Lessmore" took away the best animated short trophy at the awards gala.

The best foreign film award was given to Iranian film "A Separation", which also won the Golden Globe trophy in the same category this year. India's official entry in the category -- Malayalam film "Adaminte Makan Abu", had even failed to make it to the top nine shortlist.

Pakistani documentary film "Saving Face", which uncovers the story of hundreds of people, mostly women who become acid attack victims, received the best documentary (short) title, while "Undefeated" won the award in the best documentary (feature) category.

The Oscar for original song went to "Man and Muppets" from "The Muppets". The number was composed by Bret McKenzie. 

The best film editing award was bagged by Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall for David Fincher's "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", and the best live action short film went to "The Shore".

Bollywood very friendly, accepting: Aditi Rao Hydari

She started off with supporting roles and now with "London, Paris, New York", Aditi Rao Hydari is set for her first lead role. The actress says she is humbled to see how accepting and friendly Bollywood is.

"When you look from outside, it looks like a dream. But at the same time, there is fear as you hear mysterious stories like people are mean, the industry is very competitive. However, I don't think that Bollywood is such a jungle as it is made out to be," Aditi told IANS in an interview.

"People are very friendly and accepting. It is true that they judge you, but a lot depends upon how you take it onto yourself. I have no connection with the film world, but the fact that I got here and my work is being appreciated makes me feel humbled," she added.

The actress made her Bollywood debut with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's "Delhi 6" and later featured in supporting roles in films like Sudhir Mishra's "Yeh Saali Zindagi" and Imtiaz Ali's "Rockstar". The roles may have been short, but she took them head on.

"I am not from the film industry and when I was getting these parts, I didn't think of them as supporting roles. I just saw the director, my role and the film," said Aditi.

"In the west also, actresses like Natalie Portman and Julia Roberts started off with supporting parts, and then came as main lead. I think it's just a natural progression. The industry is expanding and opening up... so I can only work hard," she added.

But isn't it easy to get stereotyped in the industry? Aditi agrees.

"I did face a problem initially because an image of simple, innocent girl was created in the minds of people. But I am glad to see that people saw me differently and felt I can do different roles also," she said.

Asked how she takes to criticism, Aditi said: "Criticism is important for every artist. When criticism comes from the place of love, you should listen to it and try and rectify it. When it comes from the place of hatred, you shouldn't care about it because it can ruin you and make you a negative person and that's not worth it."

The actress is now looking forward to the release of her new film "London, Paris, New York" opposite Pakistani actor-singer Ali Zafar.

"In the film I play the role of Lalita Krishnan, a girl from Chembur. Chembur is a place where a lot of south Indians live. She comes from a traditional home, where parents encourage education. She is very idealistic, wants to study politics. She wants to change the world. 

"In the film, the character goes through three phases, how she evolves and fall in love is what the film is about," she said.

"In London, she works to create her own identity; in Paris, she is rebellious and is discovering freedom and New York will see her settling down," she added.

Shah Rukh the sexy ambassador of Berlin

You can relive the thrills of "Don 2" by retracing the trail left by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan during the shooting of the sleek actioner here. And this new tour in Berlin, one of Europe's top destinations, has earned the actor the title of "sexy ambassador" for the city.

This is one of the surprises that await SRK fans when they flock here Feb 11 to watch "Don 2: The King Is Back" in the company of the man himself.

Berlin is already one of the three top destinations in Europe after London and Paris and the city is said to have become increasingly popular with Indian tourists after Shah Rukh spent 50 days in the German capital along with a crew of 70 people in 2010 to shoot for "Don 2 - The King Is Back".

Since then, the number of Indian visitors to the German capital increased by 42.8 percent. Kirsten Niehuus, managing director, Medienboard, the Berlin offices responsible for funding films, finds Shah Rukh "a sexy ambassador" for the city.

"After this film, many Indian tourists will want to discover the city on the track of 'Don 2'," says Niehuus.

So in a special tour titled - "On the Trail of Don 2" - fans will walk the German capital in the footsteps of Don, the character played by Shah Rukh in the film.

Fans will be armed with a map marked by locations where "Don 2" was shot, including the swanky Mandala Hotel on Potsdamer Platz. Here Shah Rukh had special permission to smoke in room number 1107 in a city where smoking is banned in all public places.

Those not inclined to walk can drive in open air tourist buses.

Countless Shah Rukh fans from different parts of Europe are expected at the Berlinale, the 10-day film fest that opens in the city Feb 9 to get another glimpse on the red carpet of the Bollywood actor.

In anticipation, city authorities are wiping away the last speck of dust at the actual locations where "Don 2" was shot, including the historic Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Cathedral, State Opera House, the Olympic Stadium and the high rise hotel on Alexanderplatz from where a Shah Rukh double is shown taking that breathtaking plunge.

The idea of Bollywood in Berlin follows Hollywood in Berlin, an older city tour that has already taken countless visitors to sights where both modern and classic films starring Hollywood divas like Marlene Dietrich and Liza Minnelli were shot.

"On the Trail of Don 2" is the first tour organised in the city after the German capital featured as an integral part of the narrative.

"We wait for spring to arrive...when Indian tourists are expected in larger numbers in Berlin," Nina Zantout, supervisor of the "Don 2" trail at the tourism offices of Visit Berlin, told IANS.

The love affair between "Don 2" and Berlin is mutual. While filming in the German capital, Shah Rukh had celebrated his 45th birthday Nov 2 last year and had invited wife Gauri and two children to join him for the party.

Once the shoot of "Don 2" was over, Shah Rukh wrote in the Golden Book at the city's imposing Town Hall that he loved Berlin like a second home now. He thanked the city for making all of them feel as if they were in their own home.

This will be SRK's third visit to the Berlinale. Shah Rukh first attended the film festival in 2008 with "Om Shanti Om" and in 2010 with "My Name Is Khan". This time round he will spend only one day in Berlin, addressing the media and attending the premier of "Don 2".

A repeat screening of "Don 2" is also scheduled after which there will be the film's release in German cinemas on Feb 16.

Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra and Farhan Akhtar, the director of "Don 2", are expected in Berlin as well.

Rishi Kapoor glad for trusting Karan's for Agneepath role

Rishi Kapoor's villainous turn in "Agneepath" is getting him unprecedented encomium, but he was not convinced about playing the role and says that other than his wife, actress Bhagyashree urged him to take the offer.

"Besides my wife there was only one actress who urged me to play Rauf Lala. And that was Bhagyashree. I want to thank her for advising me to do this role. In my entire career I've never received such a positive response, and that too for a negative role. Both the Karans (producer Karan Johar and director Karan Malhotra) are like my sons. I am glad I finally trusted them," said Rishi.

Before before the release of the film, Rishi had a spat with director Karan Malhotra for editing out his scenes and also doing the last minute re-dubbing. The actor sheepishly admits he was wrong to lose his cool considering how much praise he has come in for.

"I never expected this kind of a response. To begin with I didn't want to play the despicable character Rauf Lala. I kept asking, 'Why me?' Hats off to the two Karans for imagining me in such a evil character's skin when all my career I've played sweet romantic lover-boy roles," said Rishi.

"Yeah, I did play a villain in (Vashu Bhagnani's) 'Kal Kissne Dekha'. But that wasn't well accepted by the audience. I was completely unsure of 'Agneepath'. I wonder what made them think of me," he added.

Rishi's scenes were cut on the editing table and so disillusioned was the actor with the final length of his role that he demanded to be billed for a 'special appearance' in the film. The director, however, insisted he would give Rishi top billing, ahead of Sanjay Dutt and Hrithik Roshan, instead.

"When I went for dubbing, I saw some of my best scenes were missing. When I asked Karan Malhotra about them, he said they were edited. I got upset. Karan kept assuring me that my part has emerged pivotal to the plot. But I was unconvinced," said Rishi.

"Poor Karan. I know him from the time he was a child. I've done four films including the super hit musical 'Khel Khel Mein' with my wife Neetu, with Karan Malhotra's father Ravi Malhotra. I've seen him running around in shorts on his father's sets. He kept ensuring me about my role. But I was unconvinced," he added.

To compound his woes, Rishi had to re-dub some of the objectionable dialogues given to his flesh trader's character regarding women.

"One major sequence where my character talks of women and goats in the same breath was censored, and rightly so. The censor board also objected to some of my dialogues where my character talks explicitly about women's anatomy. I had to re-dub those scenes at the last minute. We had to find suitably alternate dialogues for the ones that were censored. So the pre-release time was tough for me," said the 59-year-old

Rishi expects a flood of bad-man roles after "Agneepath". "But no thanks. I am not cut out to be a villain….unless it's something really special. Who knows about tomorrow?"

'Where goddesses are worshipped, women are treated badly'

Television actress Sriti Jha, who plays the female lead in "Dil Se Di Dua...Saubhagyavati Bhava", says domestic violence is one of the most shameful things prevalent in a country like India where goddesses are worshipped.

Produced by UTV , ".... Saubhagyavati Bhava", which comes on Life OK, shows the stigma of domestic violence with Karanvir Bohra in the role of abusive husband and Sriti as his wife and the victim.

"I was very excited when I got the offer to play such a challenging role but when the shoot started, I was shocked to see the trauma which a woman undergoes while going through such an abusive relationship. This role is quite different from the ones I've done so far. It deals with bubbly girl Jhanvi's life that takes a different turn owing to the domestic rigors post marriage," the 26-year-old told IANS.

"I am glad I am doing such a challenging role and sometimes I feel proud to be the voice of all those women who are going through such a bad phase. I feel sad that in a country like India where goddesses are worshiped, women are treated so badly. It's actually a shame for the society," she added.

Sriti also feels that sometimes women don't show courage to get out of an abusive relationship because of social and family obligations.

"It's the responsibility of family, especially parents, to understand their daughter's feelings and motivate her to speak out. Girls usually feel that talking or discussing can affect their family's reputation, but it needs to be stopped for the sake of their lives. Also, in the hope that world will change for her, they tolerate everything but don't forget that the world can change but not the person's behaviour. There are chances that things can get worse," she said.

Sriti, who was born in Darbhanga, Bihar, made her television debut with "Dhoom Machaao Dhoom" and then featured in "Shaurya Aur Suhani", "Jiya Jale", "Rakt Sambandh" and "Jyoti".

In "Rakt Sambandh", she played a blind girl whereas in "Jyoti" she featured as a girl with a split personality. Sriti feels she is fortunate enough to play strong roles in today's time when most of the series are dominated by saas-bahu themes.

"I find myself extremely lucky to play powerful roles and known for playing something different from usual saas-bahu sagas. From 'Dhoom...' to '...Saubhagyavati Bhava', every role of mine has been different and at the same time challenging too. This is what I want to continue doing in future too," she said.

Like many television stars, Sriti too dreams about Bollywood but is not in a hurry to join the brigade.

"Today, most of the channels are targeting Indian women and that is why roles for actresses are more challenging and vast compared to male actors. Bollywood is definitely on my list, but I don't want to make a hurried decision. Let the right offer and right time come, I will happily grab it," she concluded.

Proud to be Indian, tweets Bollywood

Bollywood celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini and Bipasha Basu used the Republic Day Thursday to assert how proud they are to be Indians.

They took to microblogging site Twitter to share their sentiments.

Amitabh Bachchan: Happy Republic Day to all.

Hema Malini: Wishing everyone happy 63rd Republic Day... May our nation prosper and shine like the brightest star ever... Jai Hind!

Anupam Kher: Happy Republic Day to all. Hope we keep the fire in us alive and burning for a better India.

Juhi Chawla: Watching the Republic Day parade with my kids!!! Feel so proud to see the diversity and vibrancy of our country and culture! Jai hind!!

R. Madhavan: Happy Republic Day all. PROUD to Be an INDIAN... Saare jaahan se accha hindustan hamara.

Bipasha Basu: This Republic Day, I want my country to be "saare jahaan se achchaa" in true sense! Wish for a peaceful, healthy, literate nation. Happy Republic Day!

Divya Dutta: A very happy Republic Day, dearies! Can hear patriotic songs on speakers... miss watching the parade in Delhi. Remember in school we used to rehearse a month earlier to be in our school batch parading for Republic Day! Ab bhag daur... par one thing unchanged! Proud to be Indian!

Arjan Bajwa: Let's not forget the sacrifice and dedication of those who made it possible for India. Simply singing patriotic songs won't be enough, we need to follow every bit of our constitution, to make India a better place... JAI HIND!

Lara Dutta: Wishing all Indian twitter friends a very Happy Republic Day!

Madhur Bhandarkar: Wishing all a HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY, Jai Hind, Vande Mataram!!

Madhuri Dixit: Happy Republic Day!

Priyanka Chopra: Happy Republic Day everyone!

Abhishek Bachchan: Happy Republic day to all of you.

Vivek Oberoi: Happy Republic Day guys! Not just today but every day let's remember our rights, respect our country & its people and be proud to be INDIAN!

Farhan Akhtar: Wish all Indian tweeples a Happy Republic Day! Jai Hind.

Shreyas Talpade: A very happy Republic Day to all the lovely people.

Shreya Ghoshal: Wish you all a very happy Republic Day!

Shekhar Ravjiani: Happy Republic Day.

Working in 55-year-old government structure not easy: Nandita

Nandita Das describes her two-and-half year stint at the Children's Film Society India (CFSI) as a "challenging experience", but adds that working in a 55-year-old government structure is not easy.

While her three-year tenure with the CFSI as its chairperson will come to an end in August this year, she doesn't mind working harder in the remaining time. 

"It is an honorary position. You do it for the love of it. The more problems that you see, the more you want to solve them. You keep getting involved," Nandita told IANS on the sidelines of a function here Monday.

"It has been a challenging experience. Working in a government structure which has been in existence for 55 years is not easy. You get to produce quality cinema. But you have limited funds and then you have the responsibility of using public money at the end of the day," added the 42-year-old actress.

Since Nandita took up this role, the CSFI has undergone a lot many positive changes. For instance, Gulzar, Vishal Bhardwaj, Mohan Agashe and other prominent cinema and theatre personalities have joined the executive council of the CFSI on her persuasion so that this autonomous body under ministry of information and broadcasting benefits from their expertise. 

However, Nandita feels that systemic changes are more important than person-related changes.

"I am trying to bring systematic changes. We are making rules and regulations more contemporary, more thoughtful. The next chairperson will bring in new ideas. I think they'll have certain things in place to take it to the next level," she said.

An acclaimed artist for her performances in "Fire", "Bawandar" and "Maati Maay", Nandita says working for the CFSI came naturally to her. 

"I love being with kids. It is always so refreshing. They have the kind of honesty and purity that you crave for in today's world and children have it in abundance," said the actress, married to Subodh Maskara and who together have a son, Vivaan. 

Being critical of the cartoons that are fed to children these days, she said: "We all know the standard of stuff that we import from outside, dub it and show. CFSI cannot control that but at least we can provide them with an alternative. That is what we are trying to do."

It's tough to convince me: Shweta Tiwari (Interview)

As Prerna of "Kasautii Zindagii Kay", TV actress Shweta Tiwari played so many shades of a woman's personality that she now finds it hard to accept most roles offered to her.

"I did so much in 'Kasautii...', and played so many shades of a woman in that one show, that when someone offers me a role, I feel I have already done it in 'Kasautii...'. So it is very difficult to convince me for a role," Shweta told IANS.

However, the 31-year-old admits it was an instant decision to give a nod to Sony's "Parvarish", in which she plays a simple mother.

"When I got the script, and read it, I was ready to do the show. It is such a simple, true-to-life story, and I am sure this show will be a trendsetter for many such shows for future," she said.

Shweta earlier featured in fiction shows like "Jaane Kya Baat Hui" and "Naaginn", as well as reality shows like "Nach Baliye 2" and "Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao". She even participated in "Bigg Boss 4", and went on to become the first woman participant to win the show.

The actress, who is also active in the Bhojpuri film industry, is also keeping herself busy on the movie front.

Recently she sizzled in an item number "Dil ka achar" in Bollywood film "Bin Bulaye Baraati" and is set to feature in more films too. She says involving herself into so many different things is what keeps her creativity on the go.

"This is called doing different characters. This is called working in this industry. If you keep doing the same thing again and again, then it's like you are doing a nine-to-five job.

"I wanted to do different things, that's why I took part in dancing reality shows, singing reality shows, comedy reality show...that's why I did 'Kasautii...', 'Jaane Kya Baat Hui', I played a negative role in 'NaaginN'...and now I am playing this simple, non-glamorous mother in 'Parvarish'," said Shweta, who raises an 11-year-old daughter Palak, single-handedly.

She says money is important, but not at the cost of the quality of her work.

"I have tried everything in my life. Yes, I am an actor, I want to earn money, I want to have a particular budget coming home. But just to earn that money, I can't keep doing the same thing again and again.

"I start getting frustrated and irritated soon. So I have to accept something which is close to my heart, and I enjoy working in. That's why I keep doing different things," she said.

Among Shweta's big screen projects is Indo-Pak movie "Sultanat" and she is also doing "Married to America" and "Gopal My Bro". In "Gopal My Bro", she will feature alongside actor Karanvir Bohra, who played her son in "Kasautii...".

Luke Kenny plans two Sequels before the release of his movie

Luke Kenny, who was seen last in Farhan Akhtar's "Rock On!!", is all set with his second directorial venture "Zombie?" and says he has planned two sequels even before the release of the movie.

"I am confident about the story. It is a story which has to be said in three parts. It has all the potential of a trilogy," Luke told reporters at the launch of his film here. This is his second film as a director after the 2006 release "13th Floor". 

After the huge success of "Rock On!!", which was released in 2008, Luke has not only decided to direct but be a part of other creative roles. 

Coincidentally, Saif Ali Khan's "Go Goa Gone" and Ekta Kapoor's "Rock The Shaadi" are Zombie comedies and they are expected to come out this year only. 

As far as competition is concerned, Luke is unperturbed and says: "Tthere is no completion unless we all are releasing our films on the same day."

Was it a conscious decision to launch the film in a college?

"Yes, at the end of the day we do not have money and face. So we want to do it differently. Rather than launching in a five-star hotel, we have launched it in a Juhu college (Ritambhara College). It was our conscious effort to try and set us apart from others," said Luke.

He assures that the film will neither be a Zombie comedy nor a Zombie survival series, rather it will be the journey of transformation and origin of Zombie genre. 

"The film is a Zombie origin film. Indian audience will empathise with the journey of a human being as he is faced with a seemingly insurmountable predicament," said the actor-director who plays a photographer in the movie.

He is targeting both Indian and international audience with "Zombie?", which he plans to wrap up in 25 to 30 days. Some parts of the film will be shot here and some in the jungles of North India. 

"Zombie?" also stars "Shaitan" fame Kirti Kulhari in the lead along with Luke. 

The film is scheduled for a monsoon release.

Reliance Mediaworks' image-processing technique bags Oscar

Members of Reliance Mediaworks' Global Imaging Technology Centre will receive the prestigious Academy plaques at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences's Scientific and Technical Awards 2012, to be held Feb 11.

The technique for which the award is being given is for the development of "Lowry Process" -- a system for the reduction of noise and other disturbances, thereby providing high quality images required by the filmmaking process.

The award will be received at the ceremony by John Lowry, Ian Caven, Kimball Thurston, Ian Godin and Tim Connolly. 

Reliance Mediaworks, the film and media services firm of the Reliance Group, has used the processing technique for restoration projects like the "James Bond" franchise, "Rashomon", "The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp", as well as to new films like James Cameron's "Avatar" and David Fincher's "Social Network".

"Being selected for this award is a very rigorous process, which proves that the technology that started well over 10 years ago has become a powerful tool in the movie making space, and that our peers and customers in Hollywood respect the technology as a unique offering," Thurston, lead scientist at the Burbank-based Technology Centre, said in a press statement.

"I am extremely proud to have helped create this technology and be honoured with an award, and also proud of the rest of the team at RMW Burbank who continue to move the bar forward," he added.

Anil Arjun, CEO, Reliance MediaWorks said: "We are extremely proud of the team and their invaluable contribution towards the development of the proprietary image processing technology.

"Technology and innovation has been the cornerstone of our strategy and it is a great honour for the company to have its technology and members receive this prestigious recognition from the Academy."

Trash Talk: Episode 3: The Darkest Hour, Disaster Movies and Happy Newyear

Movie Buff signed in

Popcorn Lover signed in

MB: Hi and Welcome to our New Year Eve episode of Trash Talk. 

PL: Welcome to the show. MB, What’s your resolution for 2012?

MB: We have around 8 hours (?) left in 2011 and I still have 2 items pending on my 2011 checklist. Hmmm, Lets see if I can carry it forward. What’s yours?

PL:  More Traveling, More Writing and definitely putting a filter on watching movies!

MB: A filter eh? 

PL: I am so pissed right now coz I just witnessed the dumbest disaster movie event of the year! 

MB: Don’t tell me that you saw ‘The Darkest Hour’.

PL: Yes, I did. ‘THE’ darkest hour! 

MB: Explain it to me. Justify your decision.

PL: Well, I kind’a liked the trailer. 

MB: It was so dumb and had a warning watermark all over it!

PL: You know I am huge fan of Alien disaster movies. But I made too many mistakes this year and still didn’t learn. ‘Skyline’, ‘Battle Los Angeles’, ‘Vanishing on 7th street’. 

MB: ‘Skyline’ was so bad! 

PL: ‘Battle Los Angeles’ was bad as well. But it had Aaron Eckhart.

MB: He is good but what was the deal with the shaky camera!

PL: It was overdone and was horrible!

MB: I didn’t see ‘Vanishing on 7th street’ but I believe the premise was very similar to that of ‘The Darkest Hour’.

PL: ‘The Darkest Hour’ didn’t even have Hayden Christensen. But yeah, the plot might seem similar. A group of survivors in the dark afraid of and fighting the unknown. 

MB: hmm, for those who haven’t seen it yet, lets roll ‘The Darkest Hour’ Trailer here.

PL: So ‘The Darkest Hour’ is the story of five young people who find themselves stranded in Moscow, fighting to survive in the wake of a devastating alien attack. The movie opens up pretty decently but fails terribly, from the moment they show the alien attacks. It looks like a Microsoft Windows 3D Screensaver came out of the screen and is electrocuting people! That’s exactly how the alien looks like. A mass of electrical waves, I assume. And the worst part is that, there isn’t even a punch in the climax that I was hoping so badly, to make me feel better! I would say, Stay away from this one. BTW what’s your plan for the evening?

MB: Every New Year eve, I have this strange routine of watching an End-of-the –world movie. So this year, I am gonna watch ‘I am Legend’ on Blu Ray!

PL: That’s awesome, but it’s a Post-apocalyptic movie than an actual EOTW. Still Awesome! I was thinking of doing a Disaster Marathon tonight. What are your suggestions?

MB: ‘The Terminator’ (I would say the whole trilogy and not the ‘Salvation’), ‘On the Beach’ (1959 movie starring Gregory Peck), ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’, ‘12 Monkeys’ and ‘Miracle Mile’.

PL: Haven’t heard about the ‘Miracle Mile’.

MB: Its fun. Anthony Edwards plays a poor sap that stumbles across information that a nuclear war has erupted and he only has 70 minutes before a missile hits Los Angeles. He spends those 70 minutes frantically searching for the girl he's fallen in love with so they can escape the city together. Watch the trailer here.

PL: I guess that’s enough of disaster talk for the year. Lets wrap the night with your DVD Pick of the week.

MB: I am picking the 1991 movie ‘Life Stinks’ directed by Mel Brooks. A filthy rich businessman bets a corporate rival that he can live on the streets of L.A. without the comforts of home or money, which proves to be tougher than he thought. It’s a very feel-good-lazy-sunday-morning kinda movie. Take a look at the trailer here.

PL: Ok. Time to go. Wish you guys a wonderful year ahead!

MB: Happy Newyear folks! See you next year with a brand new episode of Trash Talk.

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