The Hindu : Kerala News : Good news for Bollywood fans

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 26, 2006
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Kerala

Kerala

Good news for Bollywood fans

Aishwarya Rai in `Umrao Jaan,' one of the year's many big Bollywood films.

The last time she appeared on the Indian silver screen, she set it on fire. Aishwarya Rai was full of grace when she danced to Alisha Chinoy's sensuous rendering of "Kajrare kajrare... " in `Bunty Aur Babli'. And she was there in the film just for that item number. It has been well over a year since the film was released.

Ash finally returns to the big screens across the country on November 3, donning the title role in `Umrao Jaan,' directed by J.P. Dutta. Later in the month, she will be seen, in an entirely different role, in Sanjay Gadhvi's `Dhoom 2.' For Bollywood, there probably has never been a year like 2006 - it has seen many big films right through the year. A slew of blockbusters are lined up for release over the next few weeks. And remember, the year has already seen `Krrish,' `Lage Raho Munna Bhai,' `Rang De Basanti,' `Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna' and `Fanaa' - all big hits. And right now, `Don' and `Jaaneman' are playing at cinemas near you.

"I can't remember a year like this for Hindi cinema at all," says A.R. Vinod, proprietor, Crown Theatre, Kozhikode. "Many Hindi films have done well all over Kerala this year," says Sajan, manager, Saraswati Films, Kochi, which has distributed blockbusters such as `Krrish' and `Dhoom' (Part I). "Krrish ran for four weeks in Kochi and completed 50 days in Thiruvananthapuram. At least some of the forthcoming films should do very well in Kerala."

Among them, it is `Dhoom 2' that most people, especially the youngsters (who form the majority of the audience for Hindi films in Kerala) are eagerly looking forward to. "It should be an exciting film. I saw the first part four times," says Siddharth Saboo, B.Com Second Year student at Farook College, Kozhikode.

"In my list of must-see films is Don," says Jasmine Trivedi, who is doing her B.Com Second Year at St. Joseph's College, Devagiri. "And `Dhoom 2' of course."

Her friend and college-mate, Devaki Phanse, an avid follower of Bollywood, too cannot wait to see the action flick. "I liked the film's promos on television very much," she says. Ash indeed looks slimmer and snazzier than ever before in her miniskirts. In complete contrast to the 19th century courtesan she is playing in `Umrao Jaan,' a role made immortal by Rekha in the 1981 version of the film directed by Muzaffar Ali. Rekha. Rekha had won the national award for the best actress for that role. Though nobody can recreate Asha Bhosle gems such as "In aankhon ki masti... " and "Justuju jiski... ," Anu Malik has done an excellent job for J.P. Dutta's `Umrao Jaan'.

Abhishek Bachchan is paired opposite Ash in the film, and the duo will also be seen in Mani Ratnam's `Guru,' which is likely to be released later in the year. Expectations are also high about Sangeeth Sivan's comedy `Apna Sapna Money Money,' which will hit the cinemas on November 10. The film's highlight is believed to be a splendid performance by the promising Riteish Deshmukh. Releasing on the same day will be Sooraj Barjatya's `Vivah,' starring Shahid Kapur and Amrita Rao.

There is indeed plenty to look forward to for Bollywood fans. And people like Vinod and Sajan are hoping they will flock the cinemas.

P. K. AJITH KUMAR

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