Shah Rukh Khan's 'Chennai Express' posters spark debate; much ado about nothing?

Shah Rukh Khan's 'Chennai Express' posters spark debate; much ado about nothing?

Filmmaker Rohit Shetty has teamed up with Shah Rukh Khan for the first time in his career in 'Chennai Express'. The highly successful director is going to present Shah Rukh Khan in a new avatar, at least the initial posters suggest so. Shah Rukh Khan has avoided playing non-North Indian characters in his acting career, but a big turn came with 'RA.One' in which he played Shekhar Subramanium.
Shah Rukh's critics found his character a bit objectionable in 'RA.One' because of Shekhar Subramanium's personality traits. He ate with hands and cracked jokes about the lifestyle followed in South but some of them didn't go well with every section of the audiences. The film amassed good money but a huge budget restricted it from becoming a profitable venture.
Once again Shah Rukh Khan is ready to enthral the viewers with his forthcoming film 'Chennai Express'. One poster of the film features Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone in 'lungi' while another shows wrestler like people in the background. The posters seem a deliberate effort to give a South Indian touch to the name of the film. The responses to the posters are mixed. Some liked the posters for their appeal quotient while some find them 'not so cool'.

People took to Twitter to express their opinion about the posters, Sathya Narayanan tweets, "Both Chennai Express and 2 States (which is directed by Karan Johar) are releasing this year. Can't wait for all the Madrasi stereotypes."
Another twitterati wrote, "Beware of @iamsrk in Chennai Express. We all know what happened the last time he played a South Indian."
Stylish names are a part of popular Twitter trends, one such twitterati called Dhinchak Womaniya wrote, 'Chennai Express' poster tells me it's gonna be full of Tamilian stereotypes, nariyal paani jokes and at least 3 'Enna Rascala'-type dialogues."
Sreedhar Pillai says, "Just saw SRK- Rohit Shetty's Chennai Express posters. Typical Bollywood attitude stereotype absurd images of south Indians."
Some Twitter users expressed their high hopes from the film, Rajeev Dash says, "Chennai express might well be that movie which would SRK give confidence to experimney in other movies."
Another film enthusiast opined, "Now i think srk get right director rohit is superb director n i think chennai express will b too much entertaining."
The film has generated both kind of emotions and it would be interesting to see what kind of reaction sustains till the release of the film. The promoters of the film would be happy to see the film making initial buzz.

Rajinikanth goes on hunger strike, wants service tax exemption

Rajinikanth goes on hunger strike, wants service tax exemption

Chennai: The imposition of service tax on actors will induce tax evasion and create black money, said leading actors, directors, theatre owners and others here who are on hunger-strike demanding the tax be scrapped.
Tamil superstar Rajinikanth too joined the day-long protest fast Monday.
A certain section of the showbiz industry, including producers, exhibitors and distributors, has already been exempted from paying the tax.
Rajinikanth
Now members belonging to various film industry associations are on hunger strike demanding that actors, producers and choreographers too be exempt from 12.36 percent service tax.
“The government is coming out with several schemes to bring out black money. If taxes are increased, then black money would flourish. There should be strong law to punish tax evaders,” said Rajinikanth.
Echoing similar view, actor Satyaraj said the government should focus on bringing back the unaccounted money stashed away.
According to actor Radha Ravi, the union finance minister should consider their demand as he knows Tamil and the industry.
Referring to the 2014 general elections, Ravi said: “Only if the government meets our demand now, they can meet us one-and-half-year later.”
“There is a common perception that film actors are affluent and lead a well-off life but that may not be the case. There have been times when many companies involved in showbiz industry end up paying Rs.60 crore to Rs.70 crore when the entire turnover is Rs.25 crore,” R. Sarathkumar, president of South Indian Film Artistes Association, told NDTV 24X7.
“It is also difficult for small artists to pay because once you enter into an agreement, irrespective of whether the film or the serial is completed, you have to pay the service tax. Our demand is just like producers, exhibitors and theatre-owners, why not the entire industry be exempted from service tax,” he added.
Besides Rajinikanth, other leading lights of Tamil movie industry on hunger-strike are – Vijay, Prabhu, Satyaraj, Bhagyaraj, Sarathkumar, Radhikaa Sarathkumar, director K.S. Ravikumar and others.

Screening and shooting of films has been cancelled till evening

We don't treat women as commodities in our films: Mahesh Bhatt

We don't treat women as commodities in our films: Mahesh Bhatt 

The Bhatt camp may have delivered bold content in their movies like 'Murder', 'Jism', 'Raaz', but veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt insists they have never treated women as commodities in their films.
"I have never looked at women as commodities. Like in my film 'Arth' we showed a woman who deconstructs the institution of marriage. 'Zakhm' was about a woman who chose to stay
outside marriage," he told reporters.
"In 'Murder' it was about a woman who decides to fulfil her desires as her husband was not giving her what she was looking for," Bhatt said at an event where the first look of 'Murder 3' was launched.
The filmmaker maintained that they did not treat actress Mallika Sherawat (who featured in the first of the series) as a commodity.
"Our film 'Murder' has not treated women like commodities. Mallika Sherawat was the architect of her destination. Our new offering 'Murder 3' shows the women of today," the 63-year-old said.
The third instalment in the Murder series is directed by Mukesh Bhatt's son Vishesh. The film, starring Randeep Hooda and Aditi Rao Hydari in the lead, will release next month

Inside Zee Cine Awards 2013

Inside Zee Cine Awards 2013 

It was a star studded night in Mumbai yesterday, where Bollywood A-listers stepped out in their best outfits to be a part of the Zee Cine Awards- the first big award show of the year. Bollywood biggies like- newly married couple Vidya Balan and Siddharth Roy Kapoor, beautiful Sridevi along with husband Booney Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, newcomer Huma Qureshi and many more were in full attendance.
The event which finally returned to India after being held at Singapore, London, Mauritius, Dubai and Macao in the past, was held at the Yash Raj Studios in Mumbai. For the first time the awards were hosted by Abhishek Bachchan, along with actor Riteish Deshmukh.
Actor Ranbir Kapoor who got a lot of critical acclaim for his role in Anurag Basu's 'Barfi', got the Best Actor (Popular) award for the film.
Actor Hrithik Roshan got critics thumbs up for his performance in 'Agneepath' by winning Best Actor (Critics) award. Actress Sridevi who made her comeback with Gauri Shinde's 'English Vinglish', also left critics impressed and won Best Actress (Critics) award for her performance.
Actress Priyanka Chopra who played an autistic girl, Jhilmil in 'Barfi', was awarded Best Actress (Popular) award for her performance in the film.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role was won by Nawazuddin Siddiqui for 'Talaash', while Anushka Sharma bagged Best Actress in a Supporting Role for 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan.'
Other big winners: Best Choreographer- Ganesh Acharya (Chikni Chameli).Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Nawazuddin Siddiqui (Talaash). Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Anushka Sharma (Jab Tak Hai Jaan).  Best Debutant Director – Gauri Shinde (English Vinglish). Best Singer Male – Sonu Nigam – Abhi Mujh Main Kahin (Agneepath). Best Singer Female – Shreya Ghosal – Saans (Jab Tak Hai Jaan). Best Music – Pritam (Cocktail). Best Background Score – Ajay-Atul (Agneepath).International Icon Award (Male) – Shah Rukh Khan. International Icon Award (Female) – Katrina Kaif.Song of the year – Radha (Student Of The Year). Best Story – Sujoy Ghosh (Kahaani).

'Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola' gets U/A certificate

'Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola' gets U/A certificate 

Vishal Bhardwaj's upcoming romantic comedy 'Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola' has been given U/A certificate from the Censor Board of Film Certification.
Produced by Bhardwaj along with Fox Star Studios, this is the first film of the filmmaker which has got the U/A rating, making the movie fit for family audiences, including those
under 18.
All the 47-year-old director's previous hits '7 Khoon Maaf', 'Ishqiya' and 'Kaminey' had got the A certificate.
"I've always wanted my films to reach out to a wider audience. Finally with MKBKM, not restricted by the 'A' rating, I'll be able to do so. I'd like to thank the CBFC for giving this rating as it's a bright and happy film," Bhardwaj  said in a statement.
The film had initially run into trouble with Pankaj Kapur's character Pancho, which the CBFC felt, sounded like a Hindi expletive.
The film, which is set in a village of Haryana, also stars Anushka Sharma and Imran Khan in lead roles. The film hits theatres on January 11.

Kamal Haasan lodges police complaint

Kamal Haasan lodges police complaint 

Amid stiff opposition to the release of his movie "Vishwaroopam" on DTH format, actor Kamal Haasan yesterday complained to police he has been receiving threats that the movie would be pirated and power supply to the cinemas screening it will be suspended.
"I have been receiving threats that the film will be pirated and electricity supply to the theatres which have decided to telecast it will be suspended. Since these are against the law, I preferred to lodge a complaint with ADGP (Law and Order) (T K Rajendran)", Haasan told reporters here.
The 58-year-old actor, also the movie's director, sought the State government's help and met State Home Secretary R Rajagopal, sources said.
The Rs 90 crore movie landed in controversy after the actor decided to release it on Direct-To-Home (DTH) platform on January 10, a day ahead of its release in cinemas.
Though several theatre associations, including Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners Association and Madurai-Ramanathapuram United Film Distributors, threatened not to screen the movie, Haasan said the film will be released across 390 theatres.
He described the move as an "evolutionary growth" and insisted it was the "way to go forward"

Big B to donate Rs 11 lakh to Maharashtra Police Welfare Fund

Big B to donate Rs 11 lakh to Maharashtra Police Welfare Fund 

Bollywood mega-star Amitabh Bachchan yesterday announced a donation of Rs 11 lakh to Maharashtra Police Welfare Fund.
The actor was in the city to participate in a function as a part of Road Safety campaign organised by the Thane police, where he made the announcement.
The actor presented awards to the winners of 'Road Safety Competition. In his speech, Bachchan thanked the police for ensuring smooth flow of traffic day after day.
The actor also said he was ready to contribute to a documentary on road safety.
Saying that everyone must follow the traffic rules, Bachchan said whenever he spots someone breaking the traffic rules, he stop and requests the person to follow the rules.
Thane Police Commissioner K P Raghuvanshi and senior police officers were present on the occasion. PTI