Tracking Down: Miss Universe 2007

Prithwish

India's dream of winning another Miss Universe crown was dashed when the sassy Miss India Puja Gupta's name was not called out from the list of the final five gorgeous women.

Though Puja looked ravishing than ever on the ramp (seemed like the training and make-up men had toiled very hard!!) and eased through the final fifteen and final ten stages, she failed to make the cut for the top 5 which saw Japan, Brazil, Korea, Venezuela and USA battle it out for the 2007 Miss Universe crown!

Though it was great to see a contestant from Asia win but I'm sure that had Miss USA (she's got a fantastic smile, body and charisma) not slipped during the evening gown round, she could have been the next Miss Universe.

But tonight is 20-year-old Miss Japan Riyo Mori's (she loves to dance and has been dancing since she was 4!!) night. She was buoyant and confident and was personality personified throughout the contest!

Congrats Riyo! You deserved to win!

Check out the links below to know more about the finalists:

Top 15 contestents were : http://www.missuniverse.com/mainevent/top15.html
Top 10 contestents were: http://www.missuniverse.com/mainevent/top10.html
Top 5 contestants were: http://www.missuniverse.com/mainevent/top5.html
Miss Photogenic : http://www.missuniverse.com/mainevent/photogenic.html
Miss Congeniality: http://www.missuniverse.com/mainevent/congeniality.html
Riyo Mori's Photo Courtesy: http://www.missuniverse.com/missuniverse/index.html

Konkona getting a raw deal, eh?

Toe Knee

Poor Konkona Sen Sharma. Why are directors hell-bent on making her fall in love with a gay colleague? As if Page 3 wasn't enough, Metro sees Konkona walking in on a none-too-brotherly encounter.

But she still gets off lightly. In a city where extra-marital affairs are passe and cool dude Sharman Joshi makes money by renting out his apartment for scheduled sexcapades. Which reminds me, is the similarity with The Apartment (1960) purely coincidental?

Shilpa Shetty, in her first film since winning British hearts in 'Celebrity Big Brother', plays the wronged wife to perfection. Hubby Kay Kay Menon is spending too much time in office meetings, or rather massaging Kangana Ranaut. And leaves a lonely Shilpa to find solace in the arms of theatre artist Shiney Ahuja.

As if that wasn't enough, director Anurag Basu brings in an ageing Dharmendra and Nafisa Ali to spice things up for older viewers. Despite this odd couple, Basu still manages to hold the film together with some tight editing and some spectacular scenes - go watch the movie, you will know which ones I'm talking about.

And I haven't even talked about the surprise package yet - Irrfan Khan is the soul of the film. He mouths the funniest and the most philosophical lines. Leaving those of the hamming variety in Shiney's kitty. By the way, I hated Shiney's theatre scene.

Nevertheless, Life in a ...Metro is eminently watchable. Be it for Irrfan Khan. Or Pritam's soul-stirring music. Or Kay Kay Menon's ogre husband bit. Or even Shilpa Shetty's return to stardom. Take your pick.

Rating: ****

NEWS: Mallika charges 15 million rupees from Himesh for a song appearance

Prithwish

Bollywood's maverick music director and singer Himesh Reshamiiya has roped in the sultry Mallika Sherawat to shoot a song titled 'Mehbooba' for his movie "Aap Kaa Surroor".

The song is set to be shot from May 29 and grapevine says that Mallika has charged 15 million rupees for the 10-minute sequence!

Good luck Himesh, hope the returns from the box-office are good!

Photo courtesy: http://im.rediff.com/movies/2005/sep/22poster.jpg

LOOKOUT: Miss Universe Contest

Prithwish

Come May 28 and India may win another Miss Universe title.

Meet Puja Gupta, 23, born and brought up in Delhi and currently toiling it out in Mexico City to achieve success at the biggest stage!

Though history says winning a Miss Universe/Miss World title is only a step closer to fulfilling one's Bollywood dream. We have to wait and watch if Puja takes the same course!

Though rumours have it that offers are already pouring in, Puja hasn't revealed anything about her Bollywood plans and in fact this gorgeous gal has been sizzling in Mexico. (Check out the link below!!!) But we'll keep our eyes and ears open for Puja's entry to the world of latkas and jhatkas!

All the best Puja.. Win the Universe!

Catch Puja at Miss Universe 2007's official website:
http://www.missuniverse.com/delegates/2007/files/IN.html

Photo Courtesy: http://www.daijiworld.com/images1/miss_040907-4.jpg

NEWS: Miss Britain to act in Bollywood movie

Prithwish

Twenty-five-year-old 2006 Miss Britain, Preeti Desai, is willing to act in Bollywood films, an Indian news agency reported on Thursday.

"I hadn't thought about acting before, but some movie producers have approached me and I am going to meet them," the svelte model was quoted as saying. " It would be silly not to take up an opportunity like that."

"I've had a fantastic time as Miss Great Britain but now you might end up seeing me in Bollywood," she said.

Photo Courtesy: www.nriinternet.com

NEWS: Gere-Shetty kiss case suspended

Prithwish

India's apex court -- the Supreme Court -- has suspended all legal proceedings against Big Brother famed svelte Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, who was facing charges for not resisting repeated kisses by Hollywood actor Richard Gere on her cheek during an anti-AIDS promotion event held in New Delhi aimed at raising awareness of the truckdrivers about the virus.

HUMOUR: Spider-Man 3 Bhojpuri Dialogues

Prithwish

'' Hum Makar Manaw Hain, Ud kar aayab aur tohar tetua daba deb". -- Spidey's dialogue.
"Humka Tohar Phikar Ba" -- Mary Jane to Spidey.
"Hum Tohar Baap Ko Nahin Mare Hain". -- Spidey to Harry.

If you know of any more dialogues from Spider-Man 3's Bhojpuri version. Please post it at our comments section.
Cheers and Enjoy!!

NEWS: Shilpa Shetty moves Supreme Court

Prithwish

Shilpa Shetty on Monday urged the Supreme Court to stay the criminal proceedings against her in connection with her kissing incident involving Richard Gere during an AIDS awareness programme held last month for truck drivers in New Delhi, an Indian news agency ANI reported.
Three criminal cases were registered against Shilpa after the event were publicised widely by the Indian media specially the television channels, which for the entire day, ran pictures of Gere wooing Shetty and then grabbing her by his arms and repeatedly kissing her on one cheek much to the delight of thousands of truckers who cheered for Gere during the incident.
An arrest warrant was also issued for Gere.

NEWS: Bollywood's Golden Age Is Now - Paresh Rawal

Prithwish

He're a comment that can start a fresh new debate about Bollywood. Fifty-six-year-old Paresh Rawal, best known for his comic antics, feels that Bollywood is in it's golden age now.
'The newcomers are really good and they have such wonderful new ideas. I think Hindi cinema is in its golden period. The work culture is changing, it is becoming more corporate and the mindset of the audience is also changing," he was quoted as saying in an interview.
It is interesting to read his comment cos as far the newcomers are concerned -- be it be directors or actors -- they are either producing mediocre scripts or are second-rate actors who are failing to even create a ripple. Young director Siddharth Anand or the svelte actress Kangana Ranaut and actor Shiney Ahuja are some of the colts who are doing well to stay in the competetion but the others haven't scripted any big success stories recently.
We can justify this by tracing box-office earnings this year. Only films like "Guru" -- starring Abhiash and to some extent "Ta Ra Rum Pum" -- starring Saif and Rani have been able to make a mark and earn some money not only at home but also abroad.
2007 seems to be a weak year ahead as far as making money is concerned with very few scripts in line which can create magic. Let's see if "Metro" can make the box-office sing!
Moreover, the films made in 1970-80's were much better than the ones made today.
Paresh has many movies set for release this year which includes "Cheeni Kum" -- starring Amitabh Bachchan and Tabu and John Abraham starrer "No Smoking". He'll also amuse the audience through his ribtickling acts in "Good Boy, Bad Boy", "Fauj Mein Mauj", "Fool and Final" and "Bhool Bhulaiya".

REVIEW: Spider-Man 3 - Second half sucks

Toe Knee

"Spidey kisses classmate, MJ upset
MJ kisses Harry, Spidey upset"

Reminds you of millions of Bollywood films, doesn't it? If only director Sam Raimi had sought the services of Karan Johar, Spider-Man 3 would have been an emotional rollercoaster.

Alas! Spider-Man 3 suffers from surfeit. Love triangle apart, two new villains, their sob stories and a mysterious symbiote that flies in from outer space (how or why is never explained).

All Raimi can do is desperately try to salvage the different threads. The Spidey-Mary Jane love track stumbles (over MJ's botched debut on Broadway and an upside-down kiss), foe-turned-friend-turned-foe-turns-friend (Goblin junior Harry has selective amnesia), photographer Eddie wants revenge on Spidey for humiliating him and 'stealing' his girlfriend Gwen.

As for the villains (that would be too harsh a word coz all Spider-Man villains are nice at heart and victims of circumstance), the real killer of Ben Parker falls into a radioactive sandpit and turns into a Ruthless Sandman who robs banks to save his daughter's life.

Meanwhile, oozy symbiote turns Spidey into bad guy for a while. His slimy suit falls on Eddie transforming the latter into Venom. No more spoilers. Go watch the movie.

The big winner (and of course the reason why the third instalment in the series is breaking box-office records) are the special effects. They are good. Seriously. The chase sequences, how Franco turns Sandman, Harry vs Spidey are all top-notch edge-of-your-seat stuff.

The problem is the second half. The emotions are there but the emote-ing ones are not. Some bad acting by Tobey (can't really cry), Kirsten does her falling-from-skyscraper bit (again!), the symbiote can't really stand the sound of bells (blasted ear-drums I presume) and some bad attempts at Travoltaesque dancing (Tobey again)

You desperately wait for the film to end and on at least two occasions, I guarantee you will make the mistake of thinking it's over.

If not for the special effects and a certain scene in a French restaurant, the movie would have been a dud. I hear they will be making Spider-Man 4. Mr Raimi, please hire Karan Johar for that one. He'll teach you a thing or two about emotions.

Rating: ***

P.S. If you haven't watched Spider-Man or Spider-Man 2 before reading this review, am sorry you won't understand a thing

LOOKOUT: Clooney comes calling

Prithwish

Bollywood's foot-tapping songs have now caught the ear of none other than the veteran Hollywood A-list actor George Clooney. Clooney is not only all praise for Hindi music but also says he will not back away from acting in a Bollywood movie -- in which song and dance routines are an integral part -- if he gets a chance.

"I'd love to. There are some filmmakers whose films when you see (them) you say, 'That could be an interesting story to tell.' I was watching a film the other day and the music was just amazing. It's become such a huge industry," the 45-year-old actor was quoted as saying.

Clooney won an Oscar (Best Supporting Actor) for his brilliant performance in Syriana (2005) and has not only been a huge commercial success but is also a critics delight. His inspiring performances include Good Night, and Good Luck (2005), The Good German (2006), The Perfect Storm (2002), Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002), etc.

DID YOU KNOW: They worked together as kids

Toe Knee

Recognise this cherubic pair from the timeless Complan ad?

'I am a Complan boy'
'I am a Complan girl'

Years after they first worked together as kids, Shahid Kapoor and Ayesha Takia made it big in Bollywood. The two were paired in the forgettable flick Dil Maange More some time ago but will be seen in action once again in Fool N Final.

FACTOID: Taxing Brand Bachchan

Prithwish

Amitabh Bachchan - 155.9 million rupees ($3.78 million) - more than the tax paid by actors Hrithik Roshan and Shah Rukh Khan

Abhishek Bachchan - 47.5 million rupees ($1.15 million)

Aishwarya Bachchan - 50 million rupees ($1.2 million)

Total Tax for Brand Bachchan - 253 million rupees ($6.15 million)