Roshni, andhere mein

Seldom do we celebrate ad films, or commercials. But I'd love to give a shoutout to a really special one, since it celebrates movies, rather the movie watching experience in theaters. 

"Iss andhere mein bahut roshni hai (there's light in this darkness)" - the poem by Vineet Panchhi, featured in the PVR ad is something that connects with me - with all of us cinema lovers, I'm sure - on a subliminal level. It has been filmed to celebrate the completion of 25 years of the PVR Cinema chain in India, and stars Aamir Khan, our favorite.

The emotions that the audience in a darkened auditorium traverses, as the magic of movies unfolds on the big screen, the bonding with cinema, escaping to a fantasy world, when the lights go down.... all these have been brilliantly conveyed in this short film, in the voiceover by Aamir Khan. 

After having watched it across social media, I had to watch it on the big screen (at PVR, where else) as I was told by my good friend Sayantan that it was showing before the screening of 'Laal Singh Chaddha', starring Aamir Khan (which I rushed to watch for the second time, essentially for that promotional), and it brought such joy! Kudos to the makers! 

I need to mention here that I was also reminded of the unforgettable Tom Cruise speech at the 2002 Oscars which celebrated the movie watching experience. People's habits have changed, cinema has evolved, watching movies is no longer the same (nor is it expected to remain the same over the years), but the thrill and the joy at the movies can always be cherished, the PVR ad does bring back the memories of all the good times.

Aamir -- Happy Birthday!

He is one of his kind.
He is a class apart.
he does not hesitate to speak his mind.
He walks the least trodden path.
He dares to listen to his heart... and his heart alone, when in doubt.
He is extraordinarily interesting as a person.....
though he can be simultaneously in conflict and at peace.
My his charisma continue.... may we stay enamored with him forever.
After all, he has shown the way, has been a guide, to many of us.
He is Aamir Khan.
And, mind you, the words above aren't mine alone.....
I collated the thoughts and expressions of so many of my dear ones.
We all are Aamir-lovers! Absolutely. Unabashedly.
Here's sending loads of love and good wishes on his birthday.
Quoting one of his greatest fans: May this be the dawn of a new beginning for Aamir.

AK in and as PK

Never has a film's teaser and the subsequent trailer captured our imagination as much as Rajkumar Hirani's 'P.K.'. There have been all kinds of speculations prior to the release of the first trailer, and quite naturally, as the makers had their film's content strictly under wraps.
All we got to know was this: "A stranger in the city asks questions no one has asked before. Known only by his initials, P.K.'s innocent questions and childlike curiosity will take him on a journey of love, laughter and letting-go."
That's P.K.... in a nutshell.... and here is A.K. in and as 'P.K.' (or should I say 'pk'?)
How much the audience would accept him, only time will tell.

Happy Birthday, Dear Aamir!

Dear Aamir.......
This is an open letter to you.
Nothing too personal.
It's some thoughts that I want to share with all.
All of us have dreams. And many of us try to eke out a living by pursuing our dreams, and even selling dreams to millions. A few are successful in pursuing those dreams. But a fewer still are successful in selling dreams that millions don't just hold on to as ideals but also believe in the possibility of their fruition no matter how impossible that may be, judging by the parameters of reality.
You have not just successfully spun dreams on the celluloid for years, but have been a true inspiration for several more than the blind followers of a hero's antics on the big screen choosing to stay mesmerized within the darkened theaters where unreal is real all in the name of entertainment..... you have helped people sit up and take note of the hardcore realities, of the unsavory truths, and have made people genuinely charged up and energized to contribute towards positive changes in the society. You have helped people break barriers, overcome limitations and inhibitions, and continue to do so as the second season of your reality show Satyamev Jayate continues its glorious run on television.
I can't help but shun my acerbic apprehensions regarding tv-philanthropy and feel all zesty and optimistic.
May your goodness rub off on us, and may our society be blessed with more of your kind.
Here's wishing you a Very Happy Birthday!

a collage of film-stills

the many moods

'Ghajini'

an early photo-shoot

It's the time to DHOOM!

"Dhoom machale dhoom machale dhoom.....!"
The lovers of the 'Dhoom' franchise have been going crazy ever since the project was announced, and the fans of Aamir Khan were too thrilled to know that the ace perfectionist had finally given his nod for the role of the anti-hero, it being obvious to all that a lot of convincing by the makers was called for.
Well, the film is finally here, the year is about to end and the makers have been screaming loud and clear that Dhoom 3 will be the movie that the loyal followers of the cult desi action series had been eagerly waiting for all this while, with its usual dose of masala, and more.

'Ship of Theseus': Cinema at its very best

'Ship of Theseus' has finally arrived in Indian cinemas, in a wide-yet-limited release, nothing short of a mean feat because it is cinema at its very best, in its purest, a celebration of cinema from the land of escapist romances. Its being backed by Kiran Rao, more widely known as the better half of Aamir Khan, has made its sailing somewhat smooth, as it is not just a film without compromises of the basest kind, but is also what can be labelled niche cinema, one that uses multiple languages (and hence, mandatorily, subtitles), represents multiple ethnicities, weaves hard-core issues in a somewhat loosely-structured narrative, is bereft of saleable names in its list of cast-members, and explores a philosophical paradox.

This multi-layered film energizes and challenges the viewer like few other films have done in the recent past. There are so many ideas (in fact, too many to be honest) that have been packed in, that it may baffle and bewilder the complacent viewer. But look deep, or stay patient, and the film starts to converse with its use of cinematic idioms. It stimulates intellectually, and positively, and it does that even to the ones in whom the appreciative spirit for all good things (like good cinema or good music) may have apparently been hibernating for long.

It is difficult for me not to wax eloquent about a film like 'Ship of Theseus', however hard I may try. Suffice to say that if this happens to be cinema, then what we keep going gaga about most of the times are nothing but cinema of a lesser kind. Superlatives have been showered on the film and all its major aspects at many a forum, national and international, so I am not going to go on and on, I just ask all cinema-lovers to embrace it in their own way.
Let the film engage you in a conversation, maybe with just your own self, after you have experienced it. Fractured lives, segmented narratives have rarely seemed so whole, so harmonious. Watch 'Ship of Theseus' and join me in thanking writer-director Anand Gandhi, producer Sohum Shah, and presenter Kiran Rao (these three most of all) for making us truly proud about our cinema.

India's Biggest Feminist

Happy Birthday, Aamir Khan!
He turns 48, but he is a living proof of the adage that age is just a number.
He is evergreen, and his spirit is ever-buoyant.
Incidentally, just a few days back, he has acquired
yet another tag..... Femina has featured him on
the cover of its special Women's Day issue,
calling him India's Biggest Feminist!
We are not surprised.

A journey.... a dream..... a revolution

Satyamev Jayate has become the television series responsible for changing not only the history of Indian television, but also bringing about changes amidst us, and in our selves. A reality series need not be scoffed at henceforth, not if it has the best intentions to usher positive social change, not even if it is aired on Sunday mornings in the slot which used to be referred to as the graveyard shift.
Aamir Khan has not just made a television series, he has helped us Indians envision a dream. Countless Indians have embarked on a journey that promises not to end with the culmination of the show (the series - many are already calling it the Season 1, expecting a Season 2 very soon - has just concluded a fortnight back), rather Aamir himself has said that it is the very beginning of the journey. Miles to go in the direction of total upliftment, equity and progress; the hurdles are too many, but the will to tackle them all has received a huge impetus. We are all passionate about our country, about the dream to make India a nation to be truly proud of; it would be a feat for us all to see the tears wiped off for good, to have teeming millions smiling for a better today and a promising tomorrow.
I would say that the show has revolutionized Indian television. I had been hugely apprehensive of the impact that the uniquely formatted show could have. So what if the show had a powerhouse anchor like Aamir Khan who was having his TV debut...... who expected masses to be awakened from their slumber to sit up and take note of the serious problems confronted by the citizens across the length and breadth of the country! I am pleasantly surprised to see the landmark response and the appeal generated by the same. People have not only been moved, charged by the vigor to harbinger positive changes, but opinions have been mobilized like never before! Unprecedented success has been garnered by the series, for which one must recognize the contribution of (apart from Aamir himself, the key-figure) the production house (Aamir Khan Productions Pvt. Ltd.), its entire team, especially the fabulous and in-depth research carried out by the research team, and, of course, the vision and perseverance of director Satyajit Bhatkal.

May the journey continue, may the dream reach fruition in the best possible way, may this revolution to make India a better nation in every way gain momentum each day - that is what I pray as we celebrate the 65th Independence Day of India.

Happy Birthday, Aamir!

It's that special day........

yeah, you guessed it right......

it's Aamir Khan's birthday!

Aamir is busy giving the perfectionist's touches

to a project that's close to his heart......

Satyamev Jayate, his foray into television.

Also eagerly awaited is his next big screen release

Talaash - The Answer Lies Within.

Here's wishing him a very Happy Birthday

and all the best for all his forthcoming ventures.

'Delhi Belly'

DELHI BELLY
A film that dares to be irreverent & funny..........


Aamir Khan's Delhi Belly is all set for worldwide release on July 1st, 2011.
And, already, there's a huge interest about the film among the critics as well as his fans.
The theatrical teaser promo of Delhi Belly premiered on January 21st, accompanying the screenings of "Dhobi Ghat - Mumbai Diaries", which too was Aamir's home production, and was directed by his wife, Kiran Rao.
With the release date approaching momentum has gathered on the makers' part as well. The film's first look, poster and music have already captured our imagination in the last few days. Delhi Belly is directed by Abhinay Deo, and has been scripted by Akshat Verma. The film has in its cast Imran Khan, Vir Das, Poorna Jagannathan, Kunal Roy Kapoor, Shenaz Treasurywala, Vijay Raaz, and Rahul Pendkalkar.
The music for the film has been scored by Ram Sampat and the lyrics have been penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya.
The cast and the crew have been rather tight-lipped about the film while the filming was on, and post-production work on it continued. Speculations were rife on the content, believed to be catering to the adult audience instead of the conventional family audience.
Originally, the film was supposed to be directed by the Swedish director Robert Nylund, but things didn't quite work out, and then entered Abhinay Deo, who has been associated with numerous ads of repute. Ranbir Kapoor was pencilled in at first, but that too did not work out, and Imran, Aamir's nephew was shortlisted as a cast member.
The film is till date the boldest one that has been produced by Aamir Khan, and Imran himself has said that his character is quite 'colorful' and he'll be seen diving his attention between Poorna Jagannathan and Shehnaz Treasurywala.
It is an irreverent comedy indeed, but Aamir Khan has refuted the claims made by some sections of the media that Delhi Belly is a sex comedy.
In fact, the character played by Imran does not only indulge in two-timing, but his teenage fanbase might be shocked to know that he swears, drinks, has several addictions and is totally lewd and despicable.

The grunge-rock song 'Bhaag D. K. Bose' from the soundtrack of the film has already become a sensation of sorts.

It has caught on with the youth as the latest anthem of rebellion & irreverence.

The song is surely has surely catchy, plus it has weirdly and cleverly twisted a common Bengali name into an expletive. Quite a stunt, I must say!

Happy Birthday, Aamir 'Babloo' Khan!

Happy Birthday to you, Aamir!
This time, you are rocking the small screen with your latest commercial for Tata Sky, where you have become Babloo - the cricket fan who watches cricket in HD clarity and does what can be described as 'remote umpiring'. It is a hilarious of yours, once again. And the commercial is a big hit not only on telly, aired along with the ICC Cricket World Cup telecast, but also on Youtube.

More power to you, Aamir-da...... keep rocking!
Here's wishing you a prosperous year ahead - you are surely going to be busy with your new films - and I wish you all the success for the years to come.

'Dhobi Ghat' [Mumbai Diaries]

It is the story of four lives, four characters, and more.... a story that is woven in Mumbai - a city of ever-changing dynamics, yet a city that charms and enthralls all with its unique character, a city that is a mute witness to the harmony and turmoil that binds the people who inhabit or just set foot on its terrains..... and, hence, Mumbai itself is the fifth character in the story.
Shai is an NRI banker who comes to Mumbai to pursue her passion for photography with little focus and understanding of the dynamics of the city. Her path crosses briefly with Arun, a reclusive painter who pushes her away the moment they begin to get close. The two are connected by their dhobi (washerman), Munna, who toils away with the hopes of becoming an actor. And, then, there is Yasmin, the recently married Muslim girl who records her life in Mumbai for her brother back home.






Eagerly waiting for the release of the film.....
For the uninitiated, 'Dhobi Ghat' marks the directorial debut of Kiran Rao, wife of Aamir Khan, and is produced under the prestigious banner of Aamir Khan Productions. It has received rave reviews already, after having been screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and the BFI London Film Festival this year. 'Dhobi Ghat' features Pratiek Babbar, alongside Aamir Khan, Monica Dogra, Kriti Malhotra, Danish Hussain, Jehan Manekshaw, Kitu Gidwani, Ashok Varma, Sanjivani Oagle, Aasha Pawar, Babita Sehgal, Rohit Tiwari, Jitendra Shinde, Nafisa Amin Khan and others.
The film's brilliant images have been captured by the promising cinematographer Tushar Kanti Ray, and the film boasts of an original musical score by Oscar-winning Argentine composer Gustavo Santaolalla.
First it was expected to be released in India this winter, however, the release date had then been relegated to the 25th of February, next year. Now, it is likely that the film will release a tad earlier than that, possibly on January 21st, before the cricket World Cup begins. Till then, all us fans have to just make do with catching up on the buzz generated, and feasting our eyes on the scenes. Happy viewing, folks!




aamir khan
presents
dhobi
ghat
(mumbai diaries)
a kiran rao film


munna
loves
shai

shai
loves
arun

arun
loves
yasmin

yasmin
loves
mumbai

munna
shai
arun
love
mumbai

Releasing January 21, 2011

[Pics & promotional material courtesy: Aamir Khan Productions Pvt. Ltd.]