2013 Audio Songs
All songs →Related News
More news →Amala Paul is reportedly the heroine in Rajini-Ranjith's next
The announcement about Superstar Rajini’s next film last night (29th August) with director Pa.Ranjith again, under the production of Dhanush’s Wunderbar Films has sent the movie buffs into a tizzy. The open ending of Kabali’s climax had led to the speculation that it could be Kabali 2. But sources tell behindwoods that it is not so and that Ranjith is likely to try a different subject this time. There are also reports that suggest that Rajinikanth had liked Ranjith’s oneliner which had resulted in this combo again. On the other hand, sources also suggest that Amala Paul may play the lady lead in this flick. The Myna girl is known to have a good rapport with Dhanush's Wunderbar Films and has done two films under his production banner viz. Velai Illa Pattadhari and Amma Kanakku. She is also a part of his ongoing Vada Chennai. Meanwhile, Ranjith’s past three films always had a surprise factor in terms of the heroine. Therefore, would we get to see Amala Paul in this venture too? If yes, what kind of characterization would Ranjith etch for the Deiva Thirumagal girl?
Sierra Leone burial crews reportedly on strike, leaving Ebola victims in the street
Burial teams in Sierra Leone reportedly went on strike over lack of hazard pay this week, leaving the bodies of victims of the Ebola outbreak in the country's streets. The Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation first reported the strike Wednesday. Sidie Yahya Tunis, a spokesman for the country's health ministry, described the situation to The Associated Press as "very embarrassing" and insisted that money was available to pay the crews. He promised to provide more information later Wednesday. Speaking on a radio breakfast program Wednesday, deputy health minister Madina Rahman said the strike had been "resolved," though organizers could not immediately be reached to confirm it was over. Rahman said the dispute centered on a one-week backlog for hazard pay that had been deposited in the bank but was not given to burial teams on time. "The health ministry is going to investigate the delay in the health workers not receiving their money," Rahman said. Tunis said the burial teams make up a total of 600 workers organized in groups of 12. The government was already facing criticism this week over a shipping container filled with medical gear and mattresses that has been held up at the port for more than a month. Sierra Leone is one of three West African countries, along with Liberia and Sierra Leone, hit hardest by the outbreak. The official number of confirmed Ebola cases is 2,100, with more than 600 dead, though global health officials say that the real number of both cases and deaths is likely far higher. In all, more than 3,400 people have died since the outbreak was first reported in March. In the current outbreak, burial teams in West Africa are being asked to retrieve the bodies of people who die from Ebola in their homes and in the streets as opposed to in hospitals. They do their job clad in multiple layers of clothing, along with goggles, boots, gloves, and head coverings in order to prevent infection. Meanwhile, in Spain, officials said a second nursing assistant has been placed under observation for Ebola in a Madrid hospital where a colleague became infected after working with two Spanish missionary priests who contracted the disease in West Africa and later died at the center. It was not known whether the second assistant also treated the two priests. The infected nursing assistant is the first person known to catch the disease outside the outbreak zone in West Africa during the current epidemic. She was said to be in stable condition Wednesday. The woman's husband is also under observation in the Carlos III hospital while two others, a nurse and a Spanish engineer who had traveled to Nigeria, have been given the all -clear after testing negative for the virus. Spanish authorities are investigating how the nursing assistant became infected. They are also monitoring some 50 people who came into contact with her or also tended the two priests that died. Health authorities in Madrid have faced accusations of not following protocol and poorly preparing health care workers for dealing with Ebola.
"The Last Monk" being screened at MAMI
Plexus Films and Access Entertainment's maiden feature film in English, "The Last Monk", which was acclaimed at the Rotterdam film festival recently, is now being screened at the forthcoming MAMI film festival in Mumbai on 24th March. "The Last Monk" has been directed by Sudipto Sen, assistant to legendary filmmaker G.Aravindan. He has made many documentaries including "The Other Wealth", which won National Award for Best Environmental Film in 1995. It was also screened at all the major international film festivals. "The Last Monk" is a maiden venture marking his debut as a feature film director. This unique venture in the midst of contemporary Indian cinema scenario is slated to be the beginning of a new genre. As an Indian feature film in English, "The Last Monk" ventures into the hitherto uncharted territories of cultural Buddhism through breath-taking landscape of Ladakh on Indo-Tibetan plateau and a radical understanding of male-female relationship, sexuality and beyond. "The Last Monk" is the story of Swapna. Swapna's role is enacted by Rachna Shah, who has already worked in many prestigious films including Sonu Sisupal's "Kaalachakram" (Tamil), Susant Mishra's "Dharini" (Hindi), Santosh Sivan's ""Navrasa" (Tamil) and Ashok Vishwanathan's Andhkaroor Shabd - Sounds of Darkness (Bengali). Well known theatre actor and model Jimeesh Gandhi plays Pushkar, the material strength of Swapna. Sonam Stobgias Gorky, from NSD, plays Sonik, the main protagonist of the film.
The real star of '36 China Town'?
Yes, '36 China Town' is indeed special for number of reasons. On one side there is the director duo of Abbas Mustan returning with what they are best at - thrills and chills, while on the other hand real life couple of Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor aim at erasing the forgettable 'Fida' behind them. To add to the fun here is Upen Patel igniting the screens while Himesh Reshammiya's music too is much talked about. To top it all, production values are bound to be great since the film comes from Subash Ghai's Mukta Arts. But guess who is the real star of the movie that makes it a must watch? None other than Akshaye Khanna who plays an investigating cop in the film with an attire that suits his personality to the T. Enacting the role of an intelligent no-nonsense cop, he adds on the intrigue in the film and is believed to have come up with an extremely convincing performance. No doubt, the film becomes extra special due to the presence of this versatile actor!
The Big B' in romantic mood
The ultimate Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan never seems to stop growing. The older he grows, the better he becomes as an actor. And he still seems to be romantic at heart. Hold your breath, he is going to romance a girl 36 years younger to him in his next film. Ram Gopal Varma has announced his next project titled 'Nishabd', leaving his ambitious project 'Sholay' behind. It will be based on Vladimir Nakobov's novel 'Lolita'. In the film, Amitabh Bachchan will play the lead role of a 54-year old married man, who falls in love with a young girl. Interestingly, the girl will be 36 years younger to him according to the story of the film. The makers of the film have decided to cast newcomer Jia to play Amitabh's love interest so as to bring shade of reality to the film. Amitabh Bachchan is excited to be a part of the project. It is said that Varma has been thinking of doing this film for quite a while now. He said that love has nothing to do with age, as people fall in love irrespective of age. Nakobov's novel is about a 44-year old man fantasizing a 14-year-old girl but 'Nishabd' is said to be a complete love story. The film is likely to go to the floors by May 1. The makers of the film are planning to complete the whole shooting in a single schedule.
The Magical Realism of The Mistress of Spices
For the ultimate curtain raiser to The Mistress Of Spices, including the storyline and an insightful backgrounder on it, which especially highlights the Magical Realism used in the forthcoming Ash starrer from Gurinder Chaddha, read on! Also, info on the cast and technical crew, in detail. A story of Magical Realism: 'The Mistress of Spices' is an enchanting and sensual fable about the romantic and personal conflicts that face TILO, a beautiful young woman, trained in the ancient and magical art of spices. Ordained with special powers to help those that come to her, Tilo can sense people's problems with a startling ability to see into their past and future. Tilo works in a small San Francisco store called the 'SPICE BAZAAR', where, with the guidance of her spices, she finds the perfect remedy for anyone who walks through her door. For her powers to work she must obey three simple but strict rules, she must only use the spices to help others, she must not touch another human's skin and she must never leave her store. When DOUG, a handsome, enigmatic architect crashes his Harley Davison outside her San Francisco store, she has to tend to his wounds and her life is changed forever. For the first time Tilo's own desires are stirred - is there more to life than helping others? Tilo knows the rules and her spices warn her to stay away. But Doug doesn't have any spices telling him what to do and soon returns with flowers to ask her on a date. No matter how hard she resists him, his persistence, honesty and friendship draws them closer and closer to each other. When they accidentally touch, another rule is broken and the spices are enraged. The spices are in no mood for either leniency or romance but Tilo is captivated by the force of love and agrees to go on a date leaving her spices behind. The spices begin to punish her - the more she falls in love and defies the rules, the more her customers suffer. All Tilo wants to do is carry on her work helping others and fall in love as well, but she is forced into a painful dilemma. If she turns her back on her way of life, all the people that she has helped will suffer, but if she doesn't, she will lose Doug forever! Tilo must now confront her past, her friends, her desires and ultimately the spices to decide if she can fight for a new life of her choosing or must return to the old one. The biggest USP of the storyline: Magical Realism One of the key and unique elements to the Mistress of Spices is the use of Magical Realism, a literary technique that explores how different cultures perceive reality. Magical realism is found within in a variety of literature, and as literary professor Jane Anderson Jones explains, "What is absolutely 'real' to one culture, is 'magical' to the other culture. From a 'Western' viewpoint, the other culture's reality is often described as superstition, witchcraft or nonsense; from another cultures viewpoint (Native American, Eastern, African etc) western logic and science are viewed as "magic" or disconnected from the spiritual world. The intersect of these different world views is Magical Realism." In The Mistress of Spices the intersect occurs between the traditions of India and the modernity of America . From the very outset of the film, it is clear that Tilo lives strictly by the rules of the spices. 1. Never think about your own desires, only use the spices to help others. 2. Do not touch anyone else and 3. Do not leave the store. To begin with Tilo keeps within the restrictions of these rules and the literal boundaries of the shop. She soon realizes however, that it is not going to be easy to adhere to these traditions within the environment of modern America where free will is the more dominant force. When Doug walks into her store and awakens a passion within her, the chilli's become aggravated and warn her against the dangers of abandoning her traditions. When she steps outside the store to explore the world of San Francisco and her blossoming desires for Doug, the spices are furious, they stop working as they should and all sense of order is lost. Tilo is torn between these conflicting desires and eventually submits herself back into the burning chilli's asking the spices to decide her fate. By the end however, Tilo manages to find a balance, she holds on the backbone of her traditions and respect for her spices whilst also embracing her personal desires for love and human affection. She truly can, have it all.