News (englisch) » September 2007 - News

Usual suspects.... - September 1, 2007

The premiere of Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag had all his usual suspects

— from the Big B to Riteish Deshmukh

— in attendance, except Urmila Matondkar and Ajay Devgan.

It’s strange how Devgan made it to the premiere of Vishal Bhardwaj’s Blue Umbrella but decided to give Aag a miss.

We’re left wondering ke is dosti mein aag kab lag gayee?

Quelle: http://www.mid-day.com/hitlist/2007/september/163322.htm

Remaking a film is a compliment

Amitabh Bachchan defends Ram Gopal Varma’s vision in Aag

He turns 65 next month, but Amitabh Bachchan is far from slowing down. In fact, he’s never been busier. Or experimental.

Here, he talks about trying out different characterisations, the year that was, Aishwarya Rai, and Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag.

You’re a month away from your 65th birthday. How do you look back on the year?
Well, I think every year has its positives and negatives.

It started with my son announcing his decision to get married.Then I got the Legion d’Honour from the French government. Then the marriage, and Aishwarya as the bahu in the house…. such wonderful things happening.

We won’t discuss the bad things.
Why not? They’re the flip side of the good and therefore essential. I don’t look at the lows as bad things. They’re a part of life. Yes, there has been political victimisation, court cases and so on.

The farmland controversy just goes on.
I’ve already announced my decision to relinquish the land, so I don’t know what they’re fighting for. Why do people go to court? When they’re in a dispute, right?

But when I’m saying, ‘Take the land’ where’s the dispute? When you’re a high-profile person, they like to hit out at you as much as they can.

What is it like to have a bahu in the house?
It’s fantastic! I feel I’ve got back my daughter.

Has Aishwarya taken Shweta’s place in your life?
No one can take Shweta’s place in my life. She’s my daughter. But yes, my bahu is like another daughter in the house. It’s wonderful to have her around. We’re extremely happy and I hope she’s happy too.

Did it feel different working with Ash in Sarkar Raj?
Not at all. We were all playing roles when the camera was switched on. Once it was off we were a family again.

Let’s talk about RGV’s Aag. Babban in Sholay is a very cartoonish villain…
Well, let me assure you that this villain is more ruthless in look, and he isn’t humorous at all. He’s a full-on villain.

Any fear of audiences recoiling from your villainous aspirations?
I looked upon it as a challenge. As an actor, I’ve the liberty to try as many characterisations as possible.

Earlier, the accusation against me was why I was only doing leading men’s roles. Now, when I’m doing something different, I’m being questioned for playing a villain.

Do you think you are liberated of a specific image?
Certainly. Because of my age I’m able to do character roles. But as an actor it’s very important for me to do something different.

Anthony Hopkins, who’s one of my favourite actors, and who normally plays sympathetic roles, plays a sadistic killer in Hannibal.

But we admire his craft. So the audience needs to be more tolerant of my need to experiment. At 65, these are the kind of roles I’m getting. If people want to see me doing such unexpected roles, I’m fine. Otherwise I’m out of a job.

Was there a sense of nostalgia in re-visiting Sholay?
No. That was Ramesh Sippy’s Sholay. This is Ram Gopal Varma’s film. I just did what he asked me to. Ramu’s craft is totally different from Ramesh Sippy’s.

Did the thought of playing Gabbar daunt you?
I don’t know why so much is being made out this. That someone decided to remake it is a great compliment to the original.

When Vishal Bhardwaj makes Maqbool or Omkara, he’s praised for how well he has adapted Shakespeare. Then why not Ramu, for re-interpreting Sholay?

Quelle: http://www.mid-day.com/hitlist/2007/september/163315.htm

Aag: Big B is upset with Ramu

Right from the time "Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag" was announced, Big B was presented as the main draw of the "Sholay" remake.

Yet, Amitabh Bachchan seemed visibly upset after attending a special screening of the film at Adlabs preview theatre, situated in Film City , on Tuesday evening. As the movie wrapped up, the veteran actor left with daughter Shweta without speaking to anyone.

Bacchhan had reportedly only seen the previews of the movie before and was very excited to watch the final product.

A source present at the screening said: "Ram Gopal Varma and Big B had a tiff over something. There were some scenes which were shot but were missing in the movie. This did not go down well with the actor, and hence, he walked out without speaking to anyone.

He did not even exchange pleasantries and all his enthusiasm was gone. He was visibly upset over the issue."

The superstar has already signed Varma's forthcoming film "Sarkar Raj" which also stars son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya. Wonder whether the movie will materialize if things go really sour between the actor and director.

Quelle: http://www.santabanta.com/cinema.asp?pid=16698

Amitabh Bachchan upset with Ram Gopal Varma? - September 1, 2007

Right from the time Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag was announced, Bollywood mega superstar Amitabh Bachchan was presented as the main draw of the Sholay remake.

Yet, Bachchan seemed visibly upset after attending a special screening of the film at Adlabs preview theatre, situated in Film City, on Tuesday evening. As the movie wrapped up, the Big B left with daughter Shweta without speaking to anyone.

Bachchan had reportedly only seen the previews of the movie before and was very excited to watch the final product.

A source present at the screening said: " Ram Gopal Varma and Big B had a tiff over something. There were some scenes, which were shot but were missing in the movie. This did not go down well with the actor, and hence, he walked out without speaking to anyone.

He did not even exchange pleasantries and all his enthusiasm was gone. He was visibly upset over the issue."

Bachchan has already signed Varma's forthcoming film Sarkar Raj , which also stars son Abhishek Bachchan and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

Wonder whether the Sarkar sequel will materialize if things go really sour between the actor and director.

Quelle: http://www.apunkachoice.com/scoop/bollywood/20070901-1.html

Nepal Maoists pour water on Ram Gopal Varma's 'Aag' - September 1, 2007

"Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag", Bollywood director Ram Gopal Varma's much-talked about remake of the blockbuster Hindi film "Sholay", has come under fire from Maoists in Nepal, who say the film has obscene scenes that would pollute society.

The controversial remake, which was released in four cinemas in Kathmandu Valley Friday, has been especially taken to task for a sizzling dance number featuring Bollywood star Urmila Matondkar.

In her bid to outdo the "Mehbooba, mehbooba" number danced in the original film by Bollywood's former siren Helen, the scantily clad Urmila and her troupe go through a vigorous bump and grind routine in the best approved Bollywood tradition in "Aag".

The posters in Kathmandu's multiplexes advertising "Aag" show an image from the dance.

The number created a furore in Nepal's film censor board that was revamped last month to include a Maoist representative.

Chhintang, the Maoist man on the board who comes from the guerrillas' cultural brigade, objected to the "vulgar" gyrations and recommended that the film be screened either with cuts or with an 'A' certificate, that would keep away viewers under 18.

"We are now going to strictly censor scenes that promote obscenity," the Maoist censor reportedly told a Nepali tabloid. "No one can do whatever they want to now, as they could do in the past."

Another member of the censor board, producer Shyam Sapkota, also agreed with the Maoist member that the film had obscene scenes, the Naya Patrika daily said.

Despite the censorship, the valley's theatres however are yet to run the film under 'A' certificate to keep away minors.

One cinema said it had pasted a notice to that effect in the hall but it had been torn up. Others said they did not know about any censorship. The censors said they had "taken serious note" of the flouting of their instructions by the theatres.

The Maoist controversy may be just the thing Varma needs to perk up viewership of a remake that is bound to get unflattering comparisons with the original film.

On Saturday, the first review of "Aag" in Nepal panned it severely, saying "Varma proves one known fact - 'Sholay' cannot be remade."

"'Aag' is a disappointment," the Himalayan Times daily said. "It does not have the masala, action, hard-hitting acting, all-time favourite one-liners or the songs the original had."

Earlier this year, the Maoists' women wing waged war on Nepal's best known beauty contest, Miss Nepal sponsored by Dabur Nepal, on the ground that it promoted women as a commodity and made them show skin.

However, despite vigorous protests that were also taken up by some rights groups, the Maoist minister for information and culture did not order the state-run television station to stop broadcasting the pageant live.

This is probably the first time that a Hindi film has come under censors' scissors in Nepal for obscenity.

Other films banned or censored in the past were done so due to political reasons.

Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan's films were banned for some time after violence erupted in Nepal in 2000 over anti-Nepal statements wrongly attributed to him.

Last year, Manisha Koirala's films and posters were "banned" by the Maoists for supporting the controversial municipal election held by King Gyanendra that was boycotted by all major parties.

Quelle: http://nowrunning.com/news/news.asp?it=11836

Remake of Sholay evokes mixed reactions

Bollywood director Ram Gopal Varma's controversial remake of the cult 1975 film Sholay has opened to a mixed response from audiences, who said they found it hard to relate to the contemporary version of the original.

Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag, was released late on Friday. It has almost the same storyline as Sholay which told the story of two reformed crooks who save a village from a bloodthirsty bandit.

In Varma's movie, the two men arrive in Mumbai in search of a job and unknowingly begin working for a gangster.

They get arrested and are then recruited by a former policeman to catch the city's most notorious criminal.

The strong characters in Sholay became cinematic legends. The movie was such a success that it ran in cinemas for years and became arguably one of Bollywood's greatest-ever films.

Varma's version lacks the script of the original, but there are hints of the old movie in its music.

The film, which opened to average bookings, failed to impressed many.

"His (Varma's) remake is not as half as good as the original," said Nishant Singh, a college student. "It has got a poor cast."

For many, the only striking thing in the remake is top Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan's portrayal of the foul-mouthed bandit, Gabbar Singh.

Bachchan's evil appearance and portrayal of the neurotic and merciless villain was received well.

"Amitabh is the best thing in the movie," said Ruchi Malhotra after watching the film.

"He has really done a great job of playing the role of Gabbar. He is in fact the only one who stands out in the entire movie."

Quelle: http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/...mixed+reactions

Ram Gopal Varma Se Bhaag

The most-awaited part at the premiere of Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag was er… the interval. We say so because most of the action (off screen) called it quits during intermission time. The filmi janta made a beeline for the exit doors, and what's more, most of them did not return when the film resumed.

RGV wanted to create history. Well, he surely has. At no other premiere has the cast and crew simply walked out from the theatre in the past. Here's a lowdown:

Amitabh Bachchan, head lowered, left looking reasonably upset during the interval. He made it a point to look past inquisitive media persons waiting for bytes on his over-hyped film, Aag. RGV's Radha, Sushmita Sen preened on the red carpet. (Of course, she hadn't seen her film yet.) She refused to get pictures clicked, saying, "My make-up is not right!"

Debutant Prashant Raj, the most spirited of the lot, was seen going from screen-to-screen with his girl friend, to check out audience responses. Sadly enough, after the interval there was nobody left for him to ask for feedback.

Thank God, Hema Malini wasn't present at the premiere. Nisha Kothari aka Ghungroo, whose role is closely modeled on Basanti's in Sholay would've surely embarrassed her. She seemed very happy though. When has she cared about the content of her films anyway?

Pooja Shetty of Adlabs films, the producers, left after just 20 minutes.

Urmila's ample bosom on screen, apparently, was the one thing that grabbed most of the attention.

Ritesh Deshmukh and RGV loyalist E Niwas waited until the very end. But the stress did show on their faces.

Bh-aag!

Ram Gopal Verma, seen right next to the dustbin in the picture, chose his place after a lot of thinking, it seems. Bh-aag was everyone's mantra at the premiere of his Aag. The director asked a former assistant director if he liked the film. He found an answer in the blank look that he received.

RGV was also trying to gauge audience response to his film. He was watching people who were giving bytes to the media.

Kya line hai!

We couldn't help eavesdrop at some clever lines that audiences came up with. Here are the gems:

A disappointed viewer asked the General Manager of the multiplex: "Sir, popcorn ke saath zeher bhi milta hai kya? (Can we get poison along with popcorn?)

People booed at Abhishek Bachchan's entry in the Mehbooba song, "Baap Kam tha kya, jo tu bhi aa gaya?" (Wasn't your father enough!)

Quelle: http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper....44477186a534e98

Eros Intl acquires GOD TUSSI GREAT HO & MEHBOOBA - September 1, 2007

Eros International, leading Media and Entertainment Company has acquired the overseas distribution rights of GOD TUSSI GREAT HO and MEHBOOBA.

Eros announced the acquisition of romantic comedy GOD TUSSI GREAT HO directed by Rumi Jaffrey starring Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Amitabh Bachchan and Sohail Khan. Packed with style-flicks, great music and comedy, the film is expected to be another big release of the year. Another acquisition announced is MEHBOOBA, another romantic comedy directed by Afzal Khan and starring Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan and Manisha Koirala.

Quelle: http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/07...ooba_090708.asp

Watching RGV's Aag is like committing sooocide - September 3, 2007

There is no beating around the bush when it comes to the verdict on Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag.

“It’s the worst film I have seen in my entire life,” says a moviegoer outside a Delhi theater.

To start with, the rustic locales of Ramgarh which gave a sense of realism to the setting of the 1975 blockbuster has now been transported into suburban Mumbai with most of the film shot on film sets with artificial lighting – stylish but still leaves one feeling claustrophobic.

Though, the storyline of director Ram Gopal Varma's film is a spin-off of the original, the lack of characterisation proves to be the jarring difference between the classic and this forgettable flick.

Sample this – the most famous villain Gabbar Singh is now Babban Singh, never mind the name, but the evergreen dialogues of Gabbar like ‘Kitne aadmi the’ is now poorly compensated with Babban's facial contortions.

Even the friendship of Raj and Heero is shallow – forget about the Yeh Dosti bonding that one could die for. This 21st Century Jai and Veeru remain strangers till the very end and same goes for the chemistry or rather the lack of it between Raj and Durga.

Speaking of the leading ladies, Nisha Kothari as the vivacious Basanti or Ghungroo in this case, is a tapori with a bidi hanging from her lip, who also happens to be a Rajinikanth fan.

She struts around town in her auto personified as ‘laila’ but all through we just wait for her to light her bidi and actually smoke one! So, much like the movie – this aag too just doesn't light up.

With critics and fans trashing the movie, it looks like watching this one would be pure sooocide.

Quelle: http://www.ibnlive.com/news/watching-rgv...de/47937-8.html

Amitabh was first person to see AAG failure - September 2, 2007

Yes, it is true… Amitabh Bachchan was the first person to see for himself that AAG was rubbish.

The Bollywood superstar arrived to Film City, last week, in anticipation to what he thought would be another feather in his acting cap. However, after the screening of AAG, he was one of the first people to leave as quickly as possible. He didn’t give any interviews or talked with anyone. Onlookers were amazed by this action from Bachchan, someone who never misses a chance to promote his movies.

All we can think of is that Amitabh saw the film, was very upset with the end result, and made a quick escape before he had to lie and defend the film.

Quelle: http://www.radiosargam.com/films/archive...ag-failure.html

Ajay burnt by Aag!

Ajay Devgan is bust completing the last schedule of U Me Aur Hum (and hiding from the debacle that is Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag).

While the entire world is talking about how Ramu gave Nisha Kothari and the Big B’s roles prominence, Devgan prefers to quietly finish the shooting of his directorial debut.

Says a source close to the actor, “Ajay hasn’t seen Aag or Cash (his last two releases).

However, he has seen Raj Kumar Santoshi’s Halla Bol, where he plays a superstar who turns morally corrupt, and is very excited about it. It’s apparently turned out fantastic.”

We hope so. We certainly expect quality from a two-time National Award-winning actor.

Quelle: http://www.mid-day.com/hitlist/2007/september/163425.htm (fast ganz unten)

Even pirates don't want this Bollywood movie - September 3, 2007

The pirated master print of Ram Gopal Verma Ki Aag sold for a record low of Rs 50,000. In comparison, the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Chak De India sold for Rs 10 lakh. Then again, Heyy Babyy went for Rs 6 lakh and Victoria No 203 for Rs 1 lakh.

Shakeel Ahmed, a dealer in pirated film prints, says, “The disastrous reports sent the bid for the film’s master print tumbling from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 50,000.

The …Aag DVD will have two other movies in it, so the sales don’t suffer because of the poor demand for the film.”

Added M M Satish, president of the Anti Piracy Cell for T Series, who have the audio and video rights to the film, “We have received some tips and have laid traps across the country. No matter how the film fares, we will curb piracy and seize the master prints.”

Quelle: http://www.indiafm.com/news/2007/09/03/10045/index.html

I'm not upset with RGV: Big B

Why did Amitabh Bachchan leave the premiere of "Ram Gopal Varma ki Aag" midway? The superstar has refuted the rumour that he is unhappy with the "Sholay" remake and clarified that he went back to be with his ailing mother.

Reacting to a report in a section of the press, Bachchan said: "Kya Karen (What can I do)? People will talk. I can't live my life in accordance with wagging tongues.

"Yes, I did leave the 'Aag' premiere early. But not because I didn't like the film. My mother's health has taken a turn for the worse. And I'm trying to spend as much time with her as possible," Bachchan told over the phone.

"Since I had already seen 'Aag' I left the premiere early. Even now as I talk to you I am at the hospital with my mother."

The entire family is spending as much time as possible with Teji Bachchan. The Big B is dividing his time between shooting at Yashraj Films and rushing to the hospital.

Quelle: http://www.santabanta.com/cinema.asp?pid=16718

Nepal Maoists pour water on Ram Gopal Varma's 'Aag' - September 3, 2007

"Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag", Bollywood director Ram Gopal Varma's much-talked about remake of the blockbuster Hindi film "Sholay", has come under fire from Maoists in Nepal, who say the film has obscene scenes that would pollute society.

The controversial remake, which was released in four cinemas in Kathmandu Valley Friday, has been especially taken to task for a sizzling dance number featuring Bollywood star Urmila Matondkar.

In her bid to outdo the "Mehbooba, mehbooba" number danced in the original film by Bollywood's former siren Helen, the scantily clad Urmila and her troupe go through a vigorous bump and grind routine in the best approved Bollywood tradition in "Aag".

The posters in Kathmandu's multiplexes advertising "Aag" show an image from the dance.

The number created a furore in Nepal's film censor board that was revamped last month to include a Maoist representative.

Chhintang, the Maoist man on the board who comes from the guerrillas' cultural brigade, objected to the "vulgar" gyrations and recommended that the film be screened either with cuts or with an 'A' certificate, that would keep away viewers under 18.

"We are now going to strictly censor scenes that promote obscenity," the Maoist censor reportedly told a Nepali tabloid. "No one can do whatever they want to now, as they could do in the past."

Another member of the censor board, producer Shyam Sapkota, also agreed with the Maoist member that the film had obscene scenes, the Naya Patrika daily said.

Despite the censorship, the valley's theatres however are yet to run the film under 'A' certificate to keep away minors.

One cinema said it had pasted a notice to that effect in the hall but it had been torn up. Others said they did not know about any censorship. The censors said they had "taken serious note" of the flouting of their instructions by the theatres.

The Maoist controversy may be just the thing Varma needs to perk up viewership of a remake that is bound to get unflattering comparisons with the original film.

On Saturday, the first review of "Aag" in Nepal panned it severely, saying "Varma proves one known fact - 'Sholay' cannot be remade."

"'Aag' is a disappointment," the Himalayan Times daily said. "It does not have the masala, action, hard-hitting acting, all-time favourite one-liners or the songs the original had."

Earlier this year, the Maoists' women wing waged war on Nepal's best known beauty contest, Miss Nepal sponsored by Dabur Nepal, on the ground that it promoted women as a commodity and made them show skin.

However, despite vigorous protests that were also taken up by some rights groups, the Maoist minister for information and culture did not order the state-run television station to stop broadcasting the pageant live.

This is probably the first time that a Hindi film has come under censors' scissors in Nepal for obscenity.

Other films banned or censored in the past were done so due to political reasons.

Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan's films were banned for some time after violence erupted in Nepal in 2000 over anti-Nepal statements wrongly attributed to him.

Last year, Manisha Koirala's films and posters were "banned" by the Maoists for supporting the controversial municipal election held by King Gyanendra that was boycotted by all major parties.

Quelle: http://sify.com/movies/bollywood/fullstory.php?id=14520729

No sholay in Ram Gopal Varma’s Aag

Aadhe idhar jao, aadhe udhar jao, baki Ram Gopal ki Aag ke saath jao. Call it deja vu minus all the good parts. That’s the risk one takes while updating a legend like Sholay. Ram Gopal Varma took that risk and it’s official now: Aag is a flop with expected losses to the tune of a whopping Rs 40 crore. With everybody and their Thakur measuring up Aag with Ramesh Sippy ke Sholay, it was always going to be an armless battle at the box-office. Working the phone for an RGV reaction was useless. The director went incommunicado after the scorching reviews that followed Friday’s release. But the news is that one call did go through, with Ramu answering the question, “How do you feel?” with a monosyllabic “Dead” before hanging up.

Varma first talked about trying his hand at remaking the 1975 epic in the last quarter of 2005. Soon after the announcement, Amitabh Bachchan, who was roped in to play Babban (read: Gabbar) Singh had a surgery, which stalled the film for almost three months. When Varma did pick up the project in mid-2006, Sascha Sippy, the grandson of GP Sippy, who produced the original, legally restrained the director from using ‘Sholay’ in the title of the ‘remake’, claiming that it would be an infringement of trademark and copyright. But even after the film was renamed Ram Gopal Varma ki Aag, you didn’t have to be a genius to realise what the film was about.

A total of 101 prints have been distributed across Delhi, the NCR region and UP. But with not one of the single-screen theatres buying the print, it will be the multiplexes — apart from RGV, that is — who will get badly hit. “It’s a huge disappointment,” said Deepak Saluja, VP-Operations, Delhi and NCR, Fun Cinemas. “To begin with, there was no advance booking. On the first two days of its release, it could only register an occupancy of less than 20 per cent.”

That’s a fate as bad as Kaliya.

PVR and Satyam Cinemas confirm the bad news. “The film had an average opening,” says Ashish Saxena, chief operation officer, film cell, PVR Cinemas. According to Munish Sharma, Satyam Cinemas marketing head, the coming week will be crucial for the film. “With Chak De…India (tax-free) and Heyy Babyy going strong, Aag will have a major fall.” Saluja also hopes for a mid-week turnaround. “Going by the current response, chances are Monday onwards, Aag will be shown on even fewer screens.”

Manmohan Shetty, Adlabs Managing Director and the presenter of Aag is more dire in his predictions. “Audiences have declined the film. As a viewer, even I am with them. The verdict is clear and there’s nothing to look forward to.” He added he has learnt a lesson: “Don’t copy a classic. Period.”

Ab tera kya hoga, Ramu?

Quelle: http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/...%99s+EMAag%2fEM