Amitabh Bachchan Tagged Articles at Cinematical
'Slumdog Millionaire' Hailed and Slammed in India
Filed under: Drama », Foreign Language », Independent », Fox Searchlight », Newsstand », Cinematical Indie »
The "love it or hate it" movie of the month is going home, and it's already causing divisions. By winning a Golden Globe for Slumdog Millionaire, Bollywood music composer A. R. Rahman has heartened the entire Indian film community, according to the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS; via Yahoo! India Movies). Rahman is the first Indian to win the award. "By winning it, competing with composers from around the world," says fellow composer Anu Malik, "Rahman has not only proved his worth, but has also conveyed to the world that, given a chance, an Indian music director can deservedly vie with any composer in the world." Rahman also composed the rockin' score for the insanely entertaining Ghajini, which is still playing in selected theaters in the US.
Not everyone is in love with Slumdog Millionaire, however. As Eric D. Snider recently ranted about, a backlash has been building, and the film, which opens in India next week (January 23), was just slammed by 66-year-old Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan on his blog (via The India Times): "If Slumdog Millionaire projects India as Third World dirty underbelly developing nation and causes pain and disgust among nationalists and patriots, let it be known that a murky underbelly exists and thrives even in the most developed nations."
I'm not positive that's a total "slam" at the movie so much as an acknowledgement that it's true to a degree (though perhaps unfair for painting India with a broad brush), but, in any case, that's the headline attached to the IANS wire service story, which has been picked up by more than a thousand news outlets worldwide. I can't wait to see the reaction when the movie actually opens there.
TIFF Review: The Last Lear
Filed under: Drama », Theatrical Reviews », Festival Reports », Toronto International Film Festival », Cinematical Indie »
Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight? I am mightily abused. I should e'en die with pity, to see another thus. I know not what to say. King Lear
It is Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights -- a day that celebrates good triumphing over evil. On this night, a film called The Mask is premiering, festival-be-damned. But it soon becomes clear that there is more behind this cinematic premiere than an ill-conceived schedule. Those involved are terse and on edge -- the film's star, Harish Mishra (Amitabh Bachchan), is notably absent, bedridden for unknown reasons. Shabnam (Preity Zinta), the film's co-star, is also absent, having fled the untrusting eyes and accusations of her husband to be at Harry's side. Director Siddarth (Arjun Rampal) refuses interviews, and rigidly, stoically stares off into space. Meanwhile, Vandana (Shefali Shetty), is boiling with anger that her companion, Harry, has been injured and tossed aside by those he gave everything for.
If it sounds a bit confusing, that's because it is. With The Last Lear (adapted from a play by Utpal Dutt), writer/director Rituparno Ghosh has crafted a slow-to-accelerate film that begins in confusion, but saves itself by weaving into an intriguing story about the dedication of passion, whether it be theatrical, cinematic, romantic, or personal. Present moments are mixed with yellow-toned memories as the director shows two sides of the story -- that of the women, Shabnam, Vandana, and a nurse named Ivy (Divya Dutta), as well as that of the men, as told through journalist Journo Gautam (Jishu Sengupta), who brought Harry and Siddarth together.
Deepa Mehta's Next Film is a Canadian 'Exclusion'
Filed under: Drama », Foreign Language », Independent », Casting », DIY/Filmmaking », Oscar Watch », Cinematical Indie »
There are only a few days left until we find out if Deepa Mehta's latest film and cinematic achievement, Water, will be able to upset Pan's Labyrinth* at the Academy Awards. As you may remember me sharing earlier this month, the director went through all sorts of hell to finish the feature, falling prey to terrible threats of violence and huge wrenches in production. However, with the fate of Water not yet sealed, she is already gearing up for her next film -- Exclusion. Now that the script has been finalized and is preparing to film at the end of the year, she's spoken to Reuters about it. Like her previous features, this movie will also explore heavy topics -- specifically a true incident about a ship full of Indian passengers hoping to immigrate to Canada in 1914. When they got to their destination, they were turned around by Canadian authorities because of exclusion laws meant to keep Asian immigrants away. The ship was then forced to go to Hong Kong and Kolkata, where some passengers were killed by British colonial police during a protest.
As with her other projects, Mehta was drawn to the story because of their fight for dignity: "Most of my films are about human dignity, be it Fire or Water. Exclusion also tells about a 58-year-old Sikh revolutionary with a very strong sense of dignity." This role has already been cast, as Mehta has picked Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan for the part. According to the director, he was chosen for his ability to "show power without screaming" -- because, as she explains, a threat to dignity is not a screaming anger. Coming from a woman who believes in the old adage that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, the role seems a bit like a reflection of herself.
*Thanks to Elizabeth for noting the error.
Is Taylor Lautner Our Next Superhero?
100 Greatest Films Beyond the Canon
'Entourage' Movie in the Works?
Spielberg Backs Out of 'Harvey'
Discuss: Should Gay Actors Stay in the Closet?
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg)
