Sonu Nigam heading to online to be closer with his fans

Saying that internet is the future of entertainment, popular Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam has entered into a partnership with media and software company Cinsay to bring the star closer to his fans and consumers in the United States.

‘The Internet is clearly the future of entertainment, and I am very excited to be collaborating and working with such a progressive team as Cinsay,’ said Sonu Nigam announcing the partnership in New York City Tuesday.

‘In addition to creating original content which will help my fans see me in different situations than they are used to, Cinsay and I are working together to create a line of apparel and merchandise which reflects my passion for performing. I hope fans around the world will enjoy these new designs.’

In conjunction with Sonu Nigam’s latest US concert tour Explosion 2009, the content-to-commerce partnership enables Cinsay to bring access to exclusive performance, rehearsal and behind-the-scenes video footage, music videos and branded consumer products, including new clothing and merchandise line, to fans in the US and elsewhere.

The concert tour takes him to Washington, DC, Atlantic City, Los Angeles, Houston, Oakland, Denver and Orlando. The footage and the merchandise line will be available at http://www.cinsay.com/sonu.

The collaboration was facilitated by Music is Nirvana, a leading content aggregator of South Asian music and movies in the US.

As part of its joint venture with Cinsay, Music Is Nirvana will bring on board more South Asian talent to create music portals and merchandising opportunities.

‘The time has come for a huge explosion of Bollywood entertainment and merchandise to hit the US, thanks to the success of films like ‘Slumdog Millionaire,’ and stars like Sonu already have tremendous fan bases throughout the world,’ Matthew Papish, president and chief executive Officer of Cinsay

‘We are pleased to be working with Sonu to help bring his talent and passion to existing fans, as well as an entirely new audience through Cinsay’s hugly popular enterprise software platform ‘content-to-commerce’ and vast digital network,’ he said.

‘We are very committed to promoting South Asian talent on various platforms across America. With our partnership with Cinsay, we are very excited to promote Sonu’s merchandise and content and plan to sign on more leading artists,’ said Nick Rajsakha, CEO of Music Is Nivana.(IANS)

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Arnold Schwarzenegger invites ‘detained’ Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan to dinner

The actor turned politician has offered to meet Shah Rukh Khan on September 20 in Washington in a bid to diffuse what has become a slight diplomatic row.

Khan, 43, who is considered to be one of the icons of Indian cinema, was held up for almost two hours after falling foul of US border officials in a New York airport at the weekend.

Officials from the US Embassy in Delhi were asked by the Indian government to explain why the film-star was held for so long.

The actor, who has featured on Time Magazine’s ’50 Most Influential People’ list, was said to have found his experience at Newark Airport ’embarrassing’.

However, it is not clear whether the actor will accept the invitation.

Khan has recently signed a £125 million deal with Fox-Searchlight in the US to distribute his latest movie.

Ironically named ‘My Name is Khan’, the film charts racial tensions in the US following the 9/11 terror attacks.

Arriving back home to his Mumbai home, the star explained how the experience four days earlier had affected him.

“I am scared of authorities and rules, so I try to follow the rules of the country I travel to,” he said.

“Whenever I am in America, I have to report at least two hours in advance while travelling within the country for security reasons – they ask me to take off my clothes and shoes, and I do that. “But I never experienced this kind of treatment.”

Khan denied that the detention drama was a publicity stunt for his forthcoming movie: “I don’t think that I need publicity.”

“If you want to give a tit-for-tat policy to American actors, then call me to frisk Angelina Jolie and Megan Fox whenever they are visiting India,” he added.(Telegraph)

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Steven Spielberg’s Bollywood-Hollywood Deal Finalized

Steven Spielberg has finalized the $825 million funding deal of the Bollywood-Hollywood pact he signed with India’s Reliance on Monday.

Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group chairman, Anil Dhirubhai, funded $325 million in equity for the new DreamWorks Studios operated by principal partners Spielberg and Stacey Snider following more than a year of financial alliance.

The studios will make up to 21 movies over the next four years.

DreamWorks will keep the creative control over productions, while Walt Disney Company will handle distribution and marketing for the films internationally, except in India, where Reliance will remain the distributor.

The new deal was welcomed by acclaimed Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed, who said that the pact signaled India’s emergence as a rising force in Hollywood. He added that although Hollywood has the creative control in the productions of films in the deal, it would still showcase and stretch India’s global presence.

He argued that Indo-Americans would also like to see more Bollywood-Hollywood agreements, wherein Bollywood would have creative control over the films.(CNS)

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An interesting report on Shah Rukh Khan’s dentention in USA

Hello SunoMusic User’s,

Here is interesting piece on recent Shah Rukh’s tryst with American police reported by Australian Broadcasting Corporation Radio’s famous  Talk Show Host – Mark Colvin

MARK COLVIN: Fans of one of India’s best-known Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan have taken to the streets after US airport officials detained the actor for more than an hour.

He’s known in India and Pakistan as the “King of Bollywood” or just by his initials SRK.

But at a New Jersey airport immigration officials just saw Shah Rukh Khan as a potential threat because his name came up on a computer watch list.

His fans have been protesting and burning the American flag. Some are accusing US airport officials of targeting him because he’s a Muslim.

Carly Laird prepared this report.

(Sound of protest)

CARLY LAIRD: There was outrage on the streets of New Delhi over the weekend as the news broke that one of India’s biggest Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan had been detained in the United States.

INDIAN NEWS READER: Shah Rukh Khan has suffered deep humiliation at the hands of agents at a United States airport; in fact at the Newark airport in New Jersey. Shah Rukh Khan was detained at the Newark airport for two whole hours while he was in transit…

CARLY LAIRD: US officials confirmed they had questioned the actor but said it was a normal procedure for anyone requesting permission into the country.

They also said the claims he’d been held for two hours were wrong; that it was only for 66 minutes and even that delay was because his baggage had not arrived on the same flight as he did.

Nevertheless Shah Rukh Khan told CNN he was not impressed with the way he was treated.

SHAH RUKH KHAN: It wasn’t pleasant or nice but I also do respect the fact that it’s meant to be a procedure which needs to be followed if you want to enter America.

I understand a country has to be really careful, specifically you know with the things that have happened. But if it takes so long – and it’s not that I don’t have time and I’m anyone important – but I always got the feeling that it would be quite disturbing for people who don’t have access to resources that maybe I have.

And they kept telling me that you know it’s because your name is common and I was too polite to ask common to what?

And although he didn’t mention the incident when he appeared at the South Asian Carnival in Texas overnight, it was on the minds of some of his fans.

FAN: I think it’s ridiculous. I think it’s crazy because he’s such a big star and how could you mistake him for someone else? It’s kind of racist at the same time too.

FAN 2: What is the difference between Americans and Asian people? I think we are the same people. We are the same. I mean we eat food, we drink same water, and we have to respect each other.

FAN 3: I feel that the Americans do not respect the religion of the Indians and I don’t think that they respect the people. I really feel terrible about it. I’m very scandalised. And I’m an American.

CARLY LAIRD: Another Bollywood star, Priyanka Chopra, agrees.

PRIYANKA CHOPRA: It’s something that I feel terrible about. Shah Rukh Khan is probably one of the greatest, most famous known Indian celebrities ever in this generation. And without a reason I think it is unfortunate. It’s shocking and it’s very disgraceful.

CARLY LAIRD: There was similar uproar in India only a few weeks ago when the former president Abdul Kalam was frisked before boarding a flight to the US.

The Indian Information Minister Ambika Soni says the Government is considering introducing similar measures to India’s airports and searching visiting Americans.

AMBIKA SONI: Somebody will be again and again causing hurt to us as a nation then I think our Government should put in some kind of reciprocal arrangements.

CARLY LAIRD: The US Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer issued a statement saying that Shah Rukh Khan was always welcome in the US and many Americans love his films.

But the Bollywood actor thinks the US needs to be more welcoming.

SHAH RUKH KHAN: I mean I think this procedural thing needs to be finetuned and if it’s a country as advanced as America is, and with respect to the security issues they have, I think they need to just fine tune it so that it’s better for normal people to come across.

Everybody loves coming to America, everybody loves what America has to offer but I think it needs to offer a little more warmth and speed in its processes.

CARLY LAIRD: One of the reasons he was visiting the United States was to promote his new film called My Name is Khan. The film looks at issues surrounding racial profiling.

MARK COLVIN: Carly Laird.

Swine flu deaths halt Bollywood releases

The release of two high-profile Bollywood films has been postponed after swine flu forced the closure of cinemas in the Mumbai area, their producers said on Wednesday.

UTV Motion Pictures and Indian Films said “Kaminey” (Scoundrel) and “Life Partner” would not open as planned on Friday in Mumbai, two neighbouring districts or in the city of Pune because of rising swine flu cases.

Two people in Mumbai have died after catching the A(H1N1) virus, while Pune, 120 kilometres (75 miles) away, has had eight deaths — the largest number in India.

A total of 17 people with swine flu have died since August 3, the Press Trust of India news agency said.

The Maharashtra state government on Wednesday ordered cinemas to shut for three days to try to prevent further infections.

Schools and colleges have been told to close for a week.

UTV Motion Pictures chief executive Siddharth Roy Kapur, said in a statement that “Kaminey”, starring Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra, would open across India and the world as planned on Friday.

But he added: “This will not include the markets of Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai following the directive given by the government.

“We look forward to releasing the film in these regions as soon as the cinemas are given permission to re-open. Being a corporate we are fully insured for the two-day delay we are facing in these markets.”

The chief executive of Indian Films, Sandeep Bhargava, said they also planned to release “Life Partner” in the areas affected by the closures on Sunday, if the government granted permission.(AFP)

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Bollywood comes alive at Times Square

Bollywood actually took over Times Square in New York. Dancing girls, Bollywood starlets and Saturday Night Live veteran Chris Kattan made a surprise appearance at New York’s Times Square to promote a new series called Bollywood Hero.

Tourists at Times Square watched in delight with many even joining in to be a part of the typical Bollywod dance performance.

The mini-series, scheduled to air on American cable network, IFC, is the story of a great dance instructor who trawls India’s country side looking for his leading lady and falls in love with a stunning Indian woman.

Facing culture clashes, language barriers and complex dance moves, Chris will stop at nothing to conquer his destiny.

The series also stars former Miss India and Bollywood actress Neha Dhupia and former Miss India, USA Pooja Kumar.(NDTV)

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From Hollywood Babylon To ‘Bollywood Hero’

The Oscar-winning surprise hit Slumdog Millionaire was directed by a Brit, sure, but it was shot and set in Mumbai, India — and with its exuberant score and its tense plotting, it turned many Americans on to the flash and dazzle of Bollywood-style movies.

Hoping to capitalize on the resulting interest, television’s Independent Film Channel is premiering a three-night miniseries event called Bollywood Hero. Saturday Night Live veteran Chris Kattan, playing a fictionalized version of himself in the title role, leaves Hollywood for the Hindi-language movie capital because he’s offered his first chance to be a leading man.

Kattan says he jumped at the opportunity to do Bollywood Hero because Indian movies make him remember why he wanted to be a film actor.

“I had that dream of wanting to be in the movies that we used to make,” Kattan says. “You know, those great MGM musicals and those great action films, when movies were an escape and really, really, pure entertainment. Bollywood makes those kinds of films.”

In what might be a nod to his own frustrations, Kattan plays an actor who wants to break out of comedic roles, but who can’t get anyone in Hollywood to take him seriously. In the first installment, in fact, Kattan’s L.A. agent tells him he’s lucky to be getting cast as “the second male alien lead on a budding cable network TV show.” So when Kattan meets an Indian director and gets offered a role as a leading man in a Bollywood production called Peculiar Dancing Boy, he takes it.

A Movie Town Richer (And More Beloved) Than Hollywood

Kattan-the-character is surprised when he arrives in India and discovers a sophisticated industry; his director (Ali Fazal) takes him on a tour of a Bollywood studio, and Kattan is amazed at its size. Then the director mentions, gloatingly, that when Steven Spielberg needed financing for his latest deal, he came to India.

“This is in fact accurate,” says Temple University Professor Priya Joshi, who’s working on a book about Indian cinema. She says $500 million of Indian money was just poured into a DreamWorks joint venture.

But Indian cinema brings more to the table than money. It’s a moviemaking style that’s extremely popular around the world. Every year, more people buy tickets for Indian films than American movies.

Most American audiences are traditionally cool about foreign movies. But IFC executive Debbie DeMontro, who greenlit Bollywood Hero, thinks Americans will enjoy the series because it mixes a little West with its East.

“You are telling it through the eyes of an American character who American audiences are very familiar with,” DeMontro says. “I think it’s a really nice mix of an American story and an introduction to a different type of cinema.”

Even the big glitzy dance numbers mix East and West. In real life, Kattan struggled to learn how to do Indian dance — and that found its way into the plot of Bollywood Hero. When he finally gets the choreography down, he sets out to impress a Bollywood starlet, played by real-life Indian cinema goddess Neha Dhupia. He asks her to dance — and suddenly the two of them are decked out in bejeweled costumes, surrounded by a dozen dancers. That wouldn’t be out of place in a Bollywood hit, but here the music has a distinctly Western disco flavor.

oshi says she expects we’ll see more Indian-influenced movies in the U.S. But she worries, at the same time, that Americans are missing part of what makes Indian movies great.

“Some of us Western viewers, perhaps most, look at [Indian] cinema and say it’s the cinema of energy, it’s a cinema that’s very dynamic, it’s a cinema of song and dance,” she says.

But the lyrics are worth paying attention to as well, she says. They’re often written by respected poets, and they take on issues like class, poverty and politics — even topics as touchy as domestic terrorism.

“The songs and dances are a way of bringing to that frame certain political concerns that couldn’t be talked about otherwise,” Joshi says.

And that, unfortunately, is one part of Indian-style of moviemaking that Joshi thinks Bollywood Hero is missing.(NPR)

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A.R. Rahman’s six-year old son enters the music world

Famous Bollywood music director Oscar winner A. R. Rahman’s (Slumdog Millionaire) six-year-old son Alim has sung a complete song in upcoming Hollywood romantic comedy “Couples Retreat”.

Directed by Emmy nominated Peter Billingsly (The Sacred Fire), and releasing on October nine, it is about four couples who go to a tropical island for vacation.

Shot in Tahiti and USA, it stars MTV Award winner Vince Vaughn (Wedding Crashers), Golden Globe winner Jason Bateman (Arrested Development), Golden Globe nominated Kristin Davis (Sex and the City), Malin Akerman (Watchmen), Satellite Award winner Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars), etc.

Music maestro A. R. Rahman himself provides the music for this film. Alim wants to be a playback singer when he grows up and his parents are very proud of his debut performance.(Indian Express)

SunoMusic will bring it you as soon as it is available in the market.  Till enjoy other Bollywood music at www.SunoMusic.com

Hollywood spoofing Bollywood causes concern among Indo-Americans

Hollywood is spoofing Bollywood in “Bollywood Hero”, a three-night musical mini-series of  Independent Film Channel (IFC) airing on August 6-7-8.

Indo-Americans are concerned. Acclaimed Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that we were hoping that spoof stayed on Bollywood and did not spill out and become mockumentary on India’s culture, heritage, and traditions. Zed, who is chairperson of Indo-American Leadership Confederation, refused to comment any further till he watched the series.(Little About)

Story revolves around Chris Kattan, who after rejections in Hollywood accepts leading role in Bollywood film “Peculiar Dancing Boy”, where dancing is essential part, and goes through language barriers, complex dance moves, cultural clashes, unfamiliar challenges, fish out of water feeling, etc. Attempting to ride the wave of Bollywood global attention created by Oscar winner “Slumdog Millionaire”, this series is reportedly shot in/around Mumbai (India) and broad Los Angeles (USA) area.

Besides Kattan it stars Maya Rudolph (Idiocracy), Julian Sands (Ocean’s 13), Neha Dhupia (Singh is Kinng), Pooja Kumar (The Kiss), Ali Fazal (The Other End of the Line), Rachna Shah (The Last Monk), etc., while MTV Award winner Keanu Reeves (The Matrix), Teen Choice Awards winner Jennifer Coolidge (A Cinderella Story), and Venice Film Festival Award winner David Alan Grier (An American Carol) make guest appearances. Executive producers are Chris Kattan, Belisa Balaban (Tabloid Wars), and Ted Skillman (Thin).

Some of the Slumdog’s crew collaborated on “Bollywood Hero”, including line producer Tabrez Noorani, first Assistant Director Raj Acharya. Longinus Fernandes, who choreographed renowned ‘Jai Ho’ dance sequence in Slumdog, created various dance numbers for this series, while Slumdog’s costume designer Riyaz Ali Merchant also designed its costumes.

Launched in 1994 and headquartered in New York (USA), IFC claims to be “the first and only network dedicated to independent film and related programming, 24 hours a day, uncut and uncensored”, which operates under the mantra ‘always, uncut’. It is owned by Rainbow Media Holdings, which in turn is subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation; a leading telecommunications, media and entertainment company with corporate in Bethpage (New York); whose chairman is Charles F. Dolan.

SunoMusic

Hangover now in Bollywood

“The Hangover” (Todd Phillips), comedy about a bachelor party in Las Vegas gone wrong, is going to Bollywood for a remake.

Zee nominated Annes Bazmee (No Entry) will direct and Firoz Nadiadwala (Awara Paagal Deewana) will produce the Bollywood version which is expected to go on the floor early next year.

Filmfare winner Abishek Bachchan (Bunty aur Babli), Katrina Kaif (Singh is Kinng), Filmfare winner Sanjay Dutt (Lage Raho Munna Bhai), Filmfare winner Paresh Rawal (Hera Pheri), and Screen winner Ritesh Deshmukh (Masti) are expected to star in the remake. This is said to be the first “legitimate” Hollywood remake for Bazmee though he is alleged to have lifted materials from Hollywood films in the past.

Critics are wondering how the Bollywood will catch the essence and comedy of a Hollywood hit and how to effectively translate some of its dialogues in Hindustani. But some say that it has a Bollywood feel.(duniyalive)

SunoMusic will bring its sound tracks once it is available in the market.

Till then Suno Music

Fox buys “My Name is Khan” distribution rights at record price

There’s a reason why they call him King Khan even today and when he teams up with longtime friend and Bollywood’s hottest producer-director Karan Johar it’s a formula for blockbusters.

And that’s reason enough for Fox Studio to put its money in what could arguably be the biggest Bollywood deal ever.

Fox is all set to acquire the worldwide rights of Karan Johar’s Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol starrer My Name is Khan for a record Rs 100 crore. That’s more than double the budget of the film.

“It will be a very big deal for Fox. It catapults them to the big league. It can’t get bigger than KJo, SRK in Bollywood,” said Komal Nahata, Film Trade Analyst.

Such a big buyout especially when many producers have failed to seal deals will certainly raise eyebrows and reiterate King Khan’s saleability factor in the box office.

Till date Aamir Khan’s Ghajini (Rs 90 crore0 has topped the buyout list, Om Shanti Om (Rs75 crore) stood second highest followed by Akshay Kumar’s Singh is Kinng (Rs 60 crore) and Welcome (Rs 40 crore).

But for Fox Star Studio that’s Fox’s Joint Venture with STAR is a high stakes game. After the runaway success of Slumdog Millonaire

, Fox clearly leads the pack compared to its global rivals Warner Bros and Sony whose Hindi productions Sawariya and Chandni Chowk To China have all bombed at the box office.

But experts say with SRK’s global popularity, My Name is Khan will be one of the highest grossers for the overseas Box Office. No wonder Fox is betting on a 2010 project of SRK despite the rather lukewarm response of his Billu and Rab Ne Bana De Jodi(NDTV.com)

Suriya to enter Bollywood with Ram Gopal Varma

Suriya, the current super star in Tamil is going to enter Bollywood.

Suriya’s  last film Ayan was extremely successful at the box office. The film, dubbed in Telugu, has received a good response from Tollywood too. The actor is currently the most wanted star in South Indian cinema as he has won the appreciation of the masses and the critics alike with his performance in Ghajini, Pithamagan and Vaaranam Aayiram.

Word is out that he has just been signed up by Ram Gopal Varma for a film titled Raktha Charithra. Ram Gopal Varma is known for films like Sarkar and Company which went on to be huge blockbusters! Suriya couldn’t ask for more as he has the best offers under his belt.

Suriya is currently shooting for Aadhavan directed by K.S. Ravikumar and will soon be working for Singam directed by Hari. In Raktha Charithra, Suriya plays a significant role; he said he was bowled over by the script! But is Suriya playing a character with negative shades? We may have to wait and watch for that!

The new face of Bollywood: Deepika Padukone says CNN

She’s only 23, but Deepika Padukone is already living a life millions would envy.

The model-turned-actress was spotted in a music video and then cast in one of the biggest grossing films in Bollywood history. She still only has three movies under her belt, but star status has already been bestowed upon her.

With no family connections to the film industry and not being from Mumbai, Padukone traveled a route to movie stardom millions could only dream of.

After deciding to become a model at the age of 16, she was picked out of a music video by acclaimed director Farah Khan and cast in her next film opposite Shahrukh Khan. “Om Shanti Om” went on to become not only a hit in India, but also gained wider acclaim among western audiences.

“I completely didn’t expect it. When I met Farah I thought she was joking. And at that point it seemed too good to be true. Shahrukh is someone who I’ve grown up watching, and I didn’t think that I deserve being a part of such a huge film. It’s only later, when I met Shahrukh and when things actually started happening, when I realized that this is for real,” she told CNN.

Despite her meteoric rise to fame and work on some big budget films she believes she’s learning the job of being an A-list Bollywood actress.

“I had great debut, a successful film, but after that…I would think it’s quite difficult to choose the right film. You never know what’s right and what’s wrong,” she said.

“Things for me changed quite overnight, actually. I remember a couple of months before the film release, not too many people knew me. In November 2007 when my film released and immediately after that I had to travel to New York, to Dubai and to London, and suddenly everyone on the streets started recognizing me, especially the Indians. That’s when I realized that things have changed.”

With the public attention has come the inevitable media spotlight on her private life. She says she never experienced the “casting couch” but is consistently romantically linked with other Bollywood stars, and there were rumors about a relationship with Indian cricketer MS Dhoni.

“As someone who didn’t know how to deal with it, yes it was really difficult for me initially to read about myself or to read about things that are untrue. But I think slowly you start learning to deal with these things.”

Padukone’s father was a professional badminton player, and she played too as a teenager, traveling across the country to compete in tournaments. But by her late teens she decided she wanted to be a model and got the full support of her parents.

“I trained, I lost some weight. I then got a portfolio done. I sent it to Bombay to a couple of agencies and waited for awhile. I think that period is really the most challenging. Because that’s really the time that one can really go wrong. The waiting period. You can really make some wrong decisions and go completely wrong,” she told CNN.

“I had the support of my family. I didn’t get carried away. I think I was patient enough to wait for the right assignment to come my way.”

As a model she appeared in commercials and music videos. Since her move into the movie business more commercial endorsements have come her way, but in an industry notorious for its high turnover of starlets she is aware that for actresses there is often a limited shelf-life.

“For me my life now is my work. But I know that at some point I will have to have a life beyond my work. And I know that today there’s me, tomorrow there will be someone else. Maybe I’ll be here for 5 years, maybe I’ll be here for many, many years.

“I’m definitely going to work hard and make sure that I can be here for as long as I can, but I’ll also make sure that people don’t get bored of me. And…yes, let’s see how it goes.” (CNN)

Stephan Spielberg and Reliance Deal signed

According to our sources, an $825-million deal has sealed a major joint venture between Anil Dhirubhai Ambani, chairman of Reliance ADAG, and Steven Spielberg of DreamWorks Studios: forming Reliance BIG Entertainment and DreamWorks.

As per our source, the initial phase of funding will include an equity investment from Reliance ADA Group, debt financing from a syndication of banks, as well as funding from Disney.

As per plans, DreamWorks will eventually make five to six films a year. The Walt Disney Company will handle marketing and distribution of the studio’s films around the world, except for India, where Reliance BIG Entertainment will retain distribution rights.

DreamWorks anticipates starting its first film for the new studio later this year. They have been actively acquiring properties and developing projects for release in 2010, an official release says.

“This venture with Reliance opens a new door to our future,” says Spielberg.

“Their visionary step has given us a new set of dreams to work toward. Stacey Snider (CEO, DreamWorks) and I thank them for their faith in us and their faith in the movie business.”

Ambani added: “We are delighted to partner with such uniquely talented individuals as Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider. Ever since we looked at their business plan, I never doubted that we would succeed in providing them with the financial muscle required to realise their dreams.” (Debashine Thangevelo)

Enoy, Suno Music

U.S.A to test Twenty20 cricket

The United States wants to launch an elite Twenty20 cricket tournament inside two years along the lines of the lucrative Indian Premier League featuring big-name players.

The USA Cricket Association hopes “top-class international cricket” will finally take root in the country by launching the first professional competition, the USA Premier League.

The first steps were taken on Thursday by inviting proposals from potential organizers, sponsors and broadcasters.

The USACA wants to unlock the sport’s potential in a “massive market” and use the revenues from the new league to help spread cricket across the U.S. and form a competitive international team.

“With the proliferation of Twenty20 cricket worldwide we feel an American audience is more adept at accepting that format rather than the longer more classical version of the game,” said USACA executive secretary John Aaron. Twenty20 matches can be played in hours as opposed to the days-long matches of traditional cricket.

He said the league will start “no later than 2011.” Discussions have already begun with leading sports broadcaster ESPN, which has channels in the U.S. and throughout the world.

It is owned by The Walt Disney Co. and the USACA hopes Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, will help to attract cricket fans to the country’s only international standard ground, which is in the state.

“We want to make it a family thing,” Aaron said.

The IPL has taken cricket-mad India by storm and attracted top players from around the world, although the second edition of the six-week competition was moved to South Africa in April after organizers failed to obtain security clearance.

The IPL’s city franchises offer big paychecks to attract big-name Indian and foreign stars, paying England duo Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff record salaries of US$1.55 million each at the last player auction.

They are the same sort of players coveted by the USAPL.

“With the commercialization of the game there would be enough funds to attract some of the best players in the world,” Aaron said.

Rushmans, an international sports event management company based in England, has been appointed as commercial adviser.

“This process will enable us to consider all the proposals on the table and select the ideas and form the partnerships which are most beneficial to USACA, to the development of cricket in the USA and to the partners themselves,” commercial adviser Nigel Rushman said.

Rushman said the United States is the world’s second biggest Internet cricket market, with the 2007 World Cup attracting 1.15 billion hits, just behind India.

“With the right partners, the USA can host a world-class Premier League which will fill grounds and attract massive television and online audiences,” Rushman said. Potential partners, corporate sponsors, strategy experts, broadcasters and merchandise retailers must make formal proposals by Aug. 7.

It is a great news for Bollywood also as lots of its players are deeply involved in Twenty 20.  So we could expect larger participation and  mutation of cricket and Bollywood

Enjoy Suno Music

Bollywood stars follow West and goes online

Taking a lead from their Hollywood counterparts, India’s Hindi-language film stars are getting online, using the Internet to get closer to their fans.

Whereas only a few years ago, Bollywood stars were still responding to fan mail, signing photographs of themselves and sending them across India by post, the industry’s biggest names are now keeping followers up to date via the web.

Actresses from Shilpa Shetty and Celina Jaitley to actors Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Amitabh Bachchan are posting photos, videos and their thoughts on films and life on personal websites.

Social networking sites like Facebook and its Indian equivalent Orkut are also a preferred medium to keep fans up to date with new releases and events.

And although no Bollywood star has yet to surpass US actor Ashton Kutcher’s massive 2.75 million followers on Twitter, Bollywood is also taking to the micro-blogging site to interact with fans without traditional media filters.

Leading star Priyanka Chopra says writing is therapeutic and that she is now hooked on Twitter.

“It started as a lark, a quest of discovery, and now I find my fingers twitching for my Nokia or my laptop wherever something interesting happens,” she told The Hindustan Times last week.

“I have great fun interacting with my ‘Tweeps’. At least they believe it’s the real me, unlike some of you guys, who still aren’t sure that it’s me reading your mails.”

Chopra’s Twitter feed — www.twitter.com/priyankachopra — reveals her recent thoughts on everything from Michael Jackson’s death to updates about her shooting schedule and even the monsoon rains.

Sonam Kapoor follows a similar line, “tweeting” on the banal, like her favourite television shows, to her next film project, “Aisha”, based on English author Jane Austen’s 1815 novel “Emma”.

Mayank Shekhar, national cultural editor at The Hindustan Times, said the switch to technology — despite the low Internet penetration in India — makes perfect sense given the growing hunger for Bollywood news.

“There’s been an increase in the number of newspapers and television stations that are after the same five people. Most newspapers have five to 10 pages (on Bollywood) every day,” he told AFP.

“Editors want the story as it ups circulation. There’s so much written about these guys’ lives on a daily basis that’s not true, with blogs they can set the record straight.”

Electronic marketing also cuts down costs and avoids time-consuming news conferences, he added.

Bachchan, for example, updates his blog bigb.bigadda.com daily, musing at length on life and responding personally to his many fans’ comments. He also picks apart every news item written about him, giving his own response.

Most recently, the 66-year-old has been giving updates on his health after a recurring stomach complaint.

“Reporters got the entire story from his blog. All the information was in his post that day. It was as good as the reporter having spoken to him,” said Shekhar.

In a sign of the Internet’s influence as a source of Bollywood news, Bachchan courted controversy over remarks he made about the Oscar-winning film “Slumdog Millionaire”.

Media took his comments that the film showed India’s “third-world underbelly” as a slight on British director Danny Boyle, although Bachchan denied he was being critical of the movie’s success.

Actor-producer-director Aamir Khan also flew into a storm after writing on his website www.aamirkhan.com that he had named one of his dogs “Shahrukh”, fuelling the rivalry between him and his namesake Shahrukh Khan.

But mostly, new technology is used to maintain a strong fan base.

“People find it awesome that a movie star writes to them,” said Shekhar.

Bollywood stars try their hand behind the camera

Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan makes his debut as a producer this month, marking a growing trend for stars in India’s Hindi-language film industry to get more involved behind the camera. ‘Love Aaj Kal’, a drama featuring Khan and actress Deepika Padukone, hits screens on July 31. It is the first venture by Illuminati Films, which he set up earlier this year. “I have worked in the industry for the last 18 years. Now I want to do something different and therefore I am producing films,” said the 38-year-old. “I want to be creatively satisfied as an actor, therefore I am putting in my money in projects that I believe in.”
Now others are following suit. Anil Kapoor, recently seen as the quizmaster in the Oscar-winning film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, has produced ‘Short Kut: The Con is On’ through his company Anil Kapoor Films. Katrina Kaif is meanwhile said to be negotiating to buy the rights of a French film she plans to produce while comic actor Arshad Warsi is working on his own project after failing to secure mainstream backing. “When I went to producers nobody was willing to touch it,” said Warsi. “Some were ready but they wanted to change a bit of it and commercialise it. So, I felt it was better to produce my own film and act in it.”
Bollywood has traditionally been a family affair, with directors and producers, actors, musicians and singers, all tending to come from powerful dynasties. But that – and those filmmakers with links to the city’s underworld in the 1980s and 1990s – is increasingly a thing of the past, as big business looks to get a greater share of the lucrative 2.1-billion-dollar-a-year industry. With new corporate practices in place, Bollywood is moving away from its traditional song and dance masala roots and experimenting with new styles and subjects.
“The industry has gone through a sea change,” said Saif. “There are not many single producers left in the industry. So, we too need to branch out and do things which we believe in and I hope to continue by making more films in the future,” said Saif Ali Khan.
The days of the actor-producer-director began in 2000, when Khan’s namesake Shahrukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment produced ‘Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani’. The film was not a success but in 2007 he hit the jackpot with ‘Om Shanti Om’, which took nearly two billion rupees and became one of the biggest Bollywood films of all time. Aamir Khan set up Aamir Khan Productions to make the film ‘Lagaan’, which hinges on the outcome of a cricket match between a group of Indian villagers and their colonial British masters.
‘Taare Zameen Par’ tells the story of a child with dyslexia and is unlikely to have been touched by more mainstream producers. Both films were a critical and commercial success and entered for an Oscar in the best foreign language film category. “My family line is of film producers,” said Aamir Khan. “They suffered huge losses in the mid-80s and when I was growing up I consciously decided I will never produce a film even if I became a successful actor. But things changed because I felt I need to do films which I believe in and nobody was willing to put their money into such projects.” afp and Daily Times

Western producers and stars trooping in to Bollywood: report

As Hollywood is fighting off a deep recession, more and more western producers and stars are trooping in to Bollywood film industry which is booming.

Akshay Kumar-starer ‘Kambakht Ishq’, is the latest example in which Hollywood’s leading stars have appeared alongside their Indian counterparts.

Filmed at Universal Studios in Los Angeles and starring Sylvester Stallone and Denise Richards, ‘Kambakht Ishq’ is an example of the growing desire among western actors, companies and financiers for a piece of India’s multi-billion pound entertainment industry, ‘The Observer’ reported today.

For Akshay, who has worked in over 100 films to date, collaborations between the film industries of the west and the east are set to accelerate. “I presume they must be seeing what is happening in India. It (Bollywood) has grown a lot and it has the capacity and capability to grow much more.

“If this collaboration works, then things will start moving towards Hollywood and Bollywood coming together again and again,” the actor said.

Indian film industry, which has around 3.6 billion fans across the world, employs more than 6 million people. More than 70,000 Indian films have been produced since the advent of talkies in 1931. And, Bollywood films contribute over 200 million pounds to the UK’s economy each year, the report said.(PTI)

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MJ was reading Tagore in his last days and was planning to work with A.R.Rehman

Michael Jackson, who considered India his “special love”, was planning a collaboration with double Oscar-winning musician A R Rahman and reading Rabindra Nath Tagore’s poetry during his last days.

The pop icon was writing a song about the need for environmental conversation during his last days and reading Tagore, reported Contactmusic online.

Jackson was also planning to collaborate with Rahman for a unity anthem that the ‘Thriller’ hitmaker planned to use in his planned O2 concert series, said the report.

“He was praising the chord progression of Jai Ho’s chorus. He asked me to compose a unity anthem on the lines of ‘We are the World’ for him. I nodded in awe,” Rahman wrote on his blog while paying tribute to the pop icon.

Jackson, who had come to India in 1996 for a concert in Mumbai had left a poignant message to his fans on his pillow cover.

“India, all my life I have longed to see your face. I met you and your people and fell in love with you. Now my heart is filled with sorrow and despair for I have to leave, but I promise I shall return to love you and caress you again.

“Your kindness has overwhelmed me, your spiritual awareness has moved me, and your children have truly touched my heart. They are the face of God. I truly love and adore you India. Forever, continue to love, heal and educate the children, the future shines on them. You are my special love, India. Forever, may God always bless you,” wrote Jackson(PTI)

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Bengali sisters give Germany a taste of Bollywood

The two teenage NRI sisters, who had caused ripples back home after reaching the finals of a popular reality show in Germany, have lost, but not before providing the audience there a taste of Bollywood.

In the finals of ‘Germany’s next Showstars’ contest broadcast on the European country’s Pro Sieben channel late last night, Debarati Mandal, 18, and Nabaneeta Mandal, 14, could not make it to the top three.

But, before making their exit, the Bengali siblings did create a fan base for Bollywood songs and dance there.

“Oh, my God! India was never so near to us, super sexy, full of mystery, exact, professional and your smiles reach us high up,” DJ Bobo, one of the jury members exhilarated after their performance.

“Everyone, including the jury, was ecstatic after our performance. Although we didn’t win the contest, we didn’t lose either,” Debarati told PTI over phone from Frankfurt.

She said, “They (Germans) had heard about Bollywood, but had no idea how entertaining it can be. Our hip swings, which is so common in India, left the judges so fascinated that all of them came to the dancing stage and asked us to teach them the steps.”

“We had never felt like celebrities here before. But now people recognise us everywhere. The old and young stop us midway in open crowded places and ask us for our autographs.

The rest of them whisper among themselves: “Look, there go the two Showstar Finalist sisters,” Debarati exulted.

Altogether 585 groups competed in the preliminary stage of the talent hunt show which began on May 4. Ten of them managed to get into the finals, which was won by Energetrix group.

The teenagers, who had named their group ‘Indian Rhythms’, gave a two-minute performance on hit Bollywood numbers — “Dheem Ta Na Na” and “Mera Mahi Bada Sona Hain”.

During their performance, the stage was decorated in a typical Indian style with two large stands carrying 105 candles, a garlanded Natraj statue and statues of elephants with flowers spread all over the stage. A curtain carrying the Taj Mahal filled the background.

“Immediately, after our performance, a German couple tossed elephant-dolls to us on the stage as a token of love and respect for our performance. The jury asked us about the significance of lighting so many candles.

“I explained that the light symbolises brightness, prosperity and happiness and in India, we dont blow off the candles, rather we allow them to light up the occasion,” Debarati said.(PTI)

Enjoy, Suno Music

Gorgeous Denise Richards makes Bollywood debut

Hollywood stunner Denise Richards has been making her first Bollywood movie – and has been enjoying kissing her hunky co-star Akshay Kumar perhaps a bit more than the job required.

The former Bond Girl been filming Kambakkht Ishq in with Akshay – recently voted the sexiest man alive by People magazine on the sub-Continent – in Los Angeles and said she’s quite smitten with him.

She said: “Akshay was so down to earth and very genuine. He made me feel very comfortable, plus he’s a good kisser. I can see why he’s India’s sexiest actor!”

The film is the first to pair major Hollywood stars with Indian counterpart in a big budget Bollywood movie and also stars Sylvester Stallone and Brandon Routh.

Denise added: “I loved working on my first Bollywood movie. I couldn’t believe how kind everyone was and they were so passionate about the film.

“All the actors were very sweet and gorgeous. They helped translate when I needed to understand something. I had a great experience and hope to do another Bollywood movie, it was an honor to be part of this film.”

The film hits cinemas on July 3.(Mirror UK)

Click here for Denise Richards video

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Financial drama hits Bollywood as accountants go on set

Bollywood’s recent financial growth has been as dizzying as the swirling dancers, colorful costumes and pulsating music that typify the industry’s films.

Foreign money has poured into Mumbai’s flamboyant Hindi-language film industry, which churns out more than 1,000 films each year. Twice as many films as Hollywood — and for a fraction of the cost.

But a financial drama has arrived on the movie sets and production suites of India’s largest city courtesy of the world economic downturn and a producer’s strike — fewer films are being made; less tickets are being sold and money is suddenly tight.

“It’s become more difficult now to green light films; to be able to think of developing films,” Nikhil Advani of People Tree Films who works as both a producer and a director told CNN.

“Today you think twice how you’re going to be able to put that thing together before you commit any money to it.”

It’s the new reality: Money that was gushing into the market from abroad to finance films a year and a half ago is now just trickling in.

Production of Bollywood movies has only just resumed, having ground to a halt for seven weeks due to a producer’s strike. The strike is finally over, but money is still tight and this is affecting the number of films going into production.

“The number of movie projects has come down by almost 30 percent,” Farokh Balsara, a partner at business consultants Ernst & Young told CNN. Balsara heads Ernst & Young’s media and entertainment division in Mumbai and looks at trends in the market.

What’s more, after several years of fast-rising film revenues due to India’s exploding middle classes who were willing to spend, Bollywood finds itself back on a budget.

If you don’t have a solid financial plan these days, getting funding for a film is nearly impossible. Throwing around a known filmmaking family name and getting a star signed up won’t cut it anymore. “The easy finance is a thing of the past,” Balsara told CNN.

Some producers are asking big name talent to take a cut in their pay or at least get paid on the “backend.” In other words, waiting until the movie releases — if it does well you get a piece of the pie; if not, you eat it.

In some cases, accountants are actually on movie sets crunching numbers daily to make sure the budget is on target. “They are getting into daily audits,” Balsara said. The thought of an accountant on set might make some producers shudder, but many believe the slowdown has done Bollywood a favor.

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” says Advani of the changes the slowdown has forced on the way he produces upcoming films. “I think it’s a very good [thing].”

He currently has several in the works: an animated film in post-production called “Ab Dilli Door Nahin” and a gritty action-packed thriller “Basra,” named after the Mumbai street term for heroin.

The slowdown has made Bollywood focus on making better, not more movies, according to Advani: “I don’t call it a credit crunch, I call it a credit correction.

“I think what has happened is it’s corrected itself, because I think Bollywood or the Indian film industry was going absolutely crazy last year.”(CNN)

While the crisis continues in production stages, go ahead and enjoy Bollywood music for free in www.SunoMusic.com

Bollywood fashion

Bollywood actress Dia Mirza displays a creation by designer Manav Gangwani at the Fashion Extravaganza during the 10th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) weekend in Macau here

Peter Andre coming to Bollywood..

It seems Peter Andre struck the right chord during his performance at the 10th IIFA award gala as the singer has reportedly signed a million-pound Bollywood movie deal.

After a standing ovation at the awards in Macau, China on Saturday, the singer is said to have been offered 1.1 million pound to appear in a new film, the Mirror online reported.

He will play a fictional musician and perform two songs and his part to be shot here.

“The deal has really lifted his spirits,” a source told the publication.(PTI)

Music of Yash Raj Films’s New York Release

After the stupendous success of the music of ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’, the music of NEW YORK is the latest offering from YRF Music. The movie releases on 26^th June in theatres worldwide.

The film stars John Abraham, Katrina Kaif, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Irrfan and is directed by Kabir Khan. The first hearing of the music provides ample evidence that the talented music director Pritam, is all set to capture people’s hearts. The music of New York is young and has inspiring lyrics with melodic compositions and makes a fine new addition to the YRF Music label.

Read the rest of the story from www.SouthAsianObserver.com here

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Now the box-office bonanza:UAE looks forward to the new movies

The recent dispute between film producers and cinema groups which led to a dearth of Bollywood movies in the UAE has reignited the public’s thirst for Indian films, a veteran producer said yesterday.

Read the rest from The National here

Till the new movies come out, enjoy Bollywood music for free at www.SunoMusic.com

Top Bollywood team in Chicago

Hello SunoMusic users,

We hear from the promoters that a top Bollywood team lead by Shahrukh Khan is coming to Chicago on August 15th and 16th.

For more details click here

Team SunoMusic, where Bollywood music never sleeps!!!

New Bollywood movie line up after the strike is over….

Hindi movie buffs have quite a few reasons to cheer after a literally dry summer at the box office. As soon as the strike by film producers ends, there will be an array of big budget Bollywood films on offer – from Vishal Bharadwaj’s “Kaminey” and Yash Raj Films’ “New York” to Sajid Nadiadwala’s “Kambhakkht Ishq” and Saif Ali Khan’s “Love Aaj Kal”.

The row between producers and multiplex owners over revenue sharing began in February. As a result, producers and distributors decided not to push any new releases in multiplexes after April 4.

So films that were due to release in May and June were pushed back. Industry sources now say that the tussle might end soon and, therefore, films with big star casts and huge budgets will release in close succession.

One of the much-awaited films is Bharadwaj’s “Kaminey”, which narrates the story of identical twins and their journey to fulfil their dreams. The film will see Shahid Kapur playing a double role for the first time and also stars Priyanka Chopra.

Shahid fans will get a double treat with “Paathshaala”, which is also likely to release around the same time. There were reports that Shahid’s character in the film is similar to Aamir Khan’s in “Taare Zameen Par”, but the film’s producer Ahmed Khan dismisses them.

“There is no similarity between Shahid’s role in the film and Aamir’s character in ‘Taare Zameen Par’. In his film, Aamir was dealing with one child who was dyslexic, but Shahid deals with many kids and basically with the whole education system in ‘Paathshaala’,” Ahmed Khan had told IANS.

Director Kabir Khan’s “New York” is a romantic thriller based on international terrorism. It is a contemporary story of three friends — John Abraham, Katrina Kaif, Neil Nitin Mukesh — and how their lives are turned upside down in New York.

Then Sajid Nadiadwala’s $20 million “Kambhakkht Ishq” will see Akshay Kumar playing a stuntman in Hollywood and Kareena Kapoor will play his lady love. The highlight of the film is the presence of Hollywood stars Sylvester Stallone, Brandon Routh and Denise Richards.

Also in the line are a few debuts.

Saif Ali Khan debuts as a producer with his film “Love Aaj Kal”, which is being directed by Imtiaz Ali. Saif has teamed up with Deepika Padukone in his home production.

Apart from this, southern superstar Kamal Haasan’s daughter Shruti Haasan will foray into Bollywood with “Luck” opposite Imraan Khan. The film also stars Sanjay Dutt and Mithun Chakraborty.

Another pair of newcomers making their debut will be producer Vashu Bhagnani’s son, Jackky Bhagnani and model Vaishali Desai in “Kal Kissne Dekha”.

Movie afficionados will also get their share of comedy with Subhash Ghai’s “Paying Guests”, which stars Shreyas Talpade, Celina Jaitley and Neha Dhupia.

“‘Paying Guest’ is an out-and-out comedy based on a play of the same name and directed by Paritosh Painter. It ran for two years in the US, Britian and the UAE. Now the movie too is being directed by the director of the play,” said Ghai.

“Paritosh has done an equally good job as the director of the film. It will sure be a blockbuster…,” he added.

The multi-starrer revolves around five friends looking for an accommodation in Dubai.

Others that will fight for attention once the strike is over are Bipasha Basu-starrer “Pankh”, director Satish Kaushik’s bold film on teen pregnancy “Tere Sang”, which stars Sheena Shahabadi and Ruslaan Mumtaz, and “Phirr” among others.

But Delhi-based distributor Joginder Mahajan says the dry spell notwithstanding, people will come to the cinema halls only for good films.

“Audiences are very intelligent. Even if it has been a while since there has been a regular flow of films due to the strike, people will not throng cinema halls just for any film. The movie would have to be promising, maybe big budget or big star cast. Only then people will be lured,” he said.(IANS)

Until we get the audios of the new movies and films hit the theatre, enjoy other Bollywood movie songs in www.SunoMusic.com for free.

Bollywood may ban Oz fears Herald Sun from Australia

Bollywood producers may join tourists, students and consumers ready to snub Australia unless more is done to stop escalating violence against Indians says Herald Sun, Australia.

And the boycott may cost the nation billions of dollars as the fallout from attacks continues.

Yesterday, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees, a Mumbai-based film industry union, called on Hindi filmmakers to “avoid kangaroo country” until the crisis was sorted out.

Read the rest of the article from Herald Sun here

While the strike continues and new movies are stuck in the studios, enjoy the old Hindi movie songs at www.SunoMusic.com

Dan Boyle and Aamir Khan together?

After the stupendous success of Slumdog Millionaire, rumours are rife that Dan Boyle has started thinking about  another Bollywood movie.  And story goes that  Aamir Khan could be in the lead.

Boyle first expressed a desire to work with Aamir during the premiere of Slumdog Millionaire in India and now he has approached him to work in his prospective film, reports said.

We at SunoMusic, sincerely hope that the project materializes as it will be beneficial  for Bollywood in general.

Till we bring more stories, enjoy Slumdog Millionaire and other Bollywood movie songs for free in www.SunoMusic.com.

Bollywood standoff may end before June 12th

Millions of fans of Hindi movies will soon be able to watch their favourite Bollywood films in multiplexes, with highly-placed sources in the film production and exhibition business saying a resolution is expected before June 12 to the two-month dispute over revenue-sharing between producers, distributors and multiplex owners.

“Big Cinemas and a few other multiplex chains have reacted positively to a number of our demands. They are keen to release the new Bollywood films across India. An announcement is expected in a day or two,” said a source representing the Bollywood producers and distributors forum.

Senior executives of the United Producers and Distributors Forum, the Bollywood producers’ lobby, confirmed that the multiplexes had agreed to most of their demands, including a revenue-sharing formula for impending Bollywood and Hollywood films and agreements on who gets the right to control the distribution of films including their locations.

An early resolution to the dispute has also gained momentum because the first major Hindi release, Kal Kissne Dekha, co-produced by a leading Bollywood film producer Vashu Bhagnani and Anil Ambani-promoted Reliance Big Pictures, is set to be released on June 12, after being postponed twice in the recent past.

“If Big Cinema takes a lead in resolving the matter, it will put pressure on the other national-level multiplex chains like PVR Cinems, Inox Leisure, Fun Cinema and Cinemax that have stood united in their negotiations with the Bollywood producers,” the source said.

Asked about the development, Amit Khanna, chairman, Reliance Big Entertainment that runs Big Cinemas and Big Pictures among other film-related businesses, said: “We are all working towards an early resolution and I am hopeful that we will be able to resolve the matter very soon.” Khanna, however, said no solution had been reached yet.

According to sources in the film exhibition business, the multiplexes have agreed on sharing revenue of all movie ticket sales for the first week on a 50:50 ratio, 42.5:57.5 in the second week, 37.5:62.5 in the third week and 30:70 in the fourth week, with the higher percentage going to the multiplexes.

The earlier revenue-sharing agreement was also skewed in favour of multiplexes, with the first-week ratio at 52:48, gradually rising to 70:30 by the fifth week.

On the issue of who gets a final say in the distribution of a new film, the matter will be decided on a case-to-case basis and in consultation with the multiplexes, sources said.

As a result, as many as 35 new Hindi films entailing investments of over Rs 200 crore of investments will now be able to hit screens soon. These include Yashraj Film’s New York starring Katrina Kaif and John Abraham, Kaminay (Shahid Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra), Kambakht Ishq, Life Partner and Sikander, among others.

No new Hindi film has been released in the multiplexes since April 4, causing film exhibitors and distributors a loss of Rs 350 crore. As a result, almost half of the 900-multiplex screens across the country have been closed by the multiplex chains in order to control their costs. Bollywood producers also incurred losses running into hundred of crores.

At a centre of the dispute is the Rs 3,500 crore annual box-office market for Bollywood films from multiplexes. There are about 900 multiplex screens in the country and Bollywood films generate 60 to 65 per cent of their revenue from these multiplexes, industry sources say. (There are over 8,500 single-screen theatres but they generate only about 35 per cent of the overall annual box-office collections for films released in the country.)

Both sides have been at loggerhead for the past two months over who gets a bigger pie in the revenue generated at the box office. Before the tussle, the multiplexes commanded the bigger share in the box office revenues. They also had the final say on how many movie prints were required a Hindi film was released.

Apart from this, there were issues over delayed payments or minimum guarantee by both parties and financial matters pertaining to entertainment tax adjustments in the revenue sharing formula.(Business Standard)

Until the standoff is over, enjoy Bollywood music for free at www.SunoMusic.com

Miss IPL Bollywood crowned

East London’s Dune Kossatz has been crowned Miss IPL Bollywood South Africa at a glittering event at the Monte Casino entertainment complex here in the wee hours on Sunday.

The 34-year-old actor and model outvoted the other 15 finalists, who were selected from among the contestants chosen during each Indian Premier League game at various venues.

The 24-year-old Business Marketing graduate Genna Cloud was named First Princess, while Dunay Nortje was adjudged the Second Princess.

Kossatz received a specially made crown with gold, silver and diamonds encrusted on it with other precious stones from former Miss Universe Michelle McLean of South Africa.

“I think it’s really great! I think we should all stick together and love one another and be respectful and tolerant of each other,” said Kossatz, who expressed her desire to learn Hindi, after winning the crown.

Kossatz, who represented the Chennai Super Kings, said she was disappointed with her team losing in the semi-final against Royal Challengers Bangalore. (PTI)

Shilpa, Katrina to crown Miss Bollywood IPL South Africa

Johannesburg: Bollywood actresses Shilpa Shetty and Katrina Kaif will help decide which of 16 South African hopefuls follow in their footsteps when the Miss Bollywood IPL South Africa is crowned at the prestigious Montecasino entertainment complex here Saturday evening.
Shilpa and Katrina will join former Miss Universe Michelle McLean and former Miss South Africa Joanne Strauss, now a TV presenter, as the finalists vie for a prize package that could also feature an audition for a Bollywood role.
Providing a gender balance to the panel of celebrity judges will be Fashion TV owner Michele Adam and Francois Pienaar, who led the South African side to victory in the Rugby World Cup some years ago. Pienaar has also played an instrumental role in the marketing campaign that made the Indian Premier League (IPL) so popular in South Africa for the past five weeks.
The 16 finalists were chosen by Internet votes and include models, actresses, professionals and students. They were chosen from the 48 who were selected from the crowds at each of the IPL games played across the country.
The prize package includes a cash prize of 50,000 rands, a trip to India, and a guided tour of Bollywood, including the possibility of an audition there.(IANS)

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Bollywood’s independent women

Bollywood’s women often walk the tight-rope between being radical and being outright conservative when it comes to a question of their career after marriage.

Here is a look at the career path of some leading Bollywood ladies, post-marriage we found in NDTVMovies.com

Starting from Suzanne Khan Roshan who had reportedly walked out on her husband Hrithik Roshan on hearing about his alleged infidelity with co-star Barbara Mori.

Read the rest here….

And enjoy Hindi music in www.SunoMusic.com

Sir Ben Kingsley returns to India in Bollywood thriller

Twenty-seven years after Gandhi brought him to the attention of Hollywood, Sir Ben Kingsley is returning to India – this time as a star of Bollywood.

The Oscar-winning actor will appear opposite Amitabh Bachchan, the elder statesman of Indian cinema, in Teen Patti, a thriller about a reclusive maths genius who becomes involved in the world of gambling. The name is a reference to a popular game of three-card poker.

The film represents a milestone in the melding of Bollywood with Western cinema, the first release intended as a crossover feature with appeal to both audiences. It is also the first Indian movie to feature a Western actor in a lead role.

Making a Bollywood film has been in Sir Ben’s mind since he starred as Mahatma Gandhi in Sir Richard Attenborough’s classic 1982 film, which was garlanded with eight Oscars including best picture and best actor.

“Ever since I left India after filming Gandhi, I wanted to participate,” he said. “I can’t go back to India as a tourist. I can’t do it. I need to be creating or doing or telling a story in India.”

The project takes the actor back to his roots on the subcontinent. He was born Krishna Pandit Bhanji, the son of a Kenyan Indian doctor who moved to Britain and married an English woman. He anglicised his name at the beginning of his career.

In Teen Patti he plays Perci Trachtenberg, regarded as the world’s greatest living mathematician, who befriends Bachchan, a shy fellow academic. The independent film is a far cry from the all-singing, all-dancing fare usually associated with Bollywood.

Sir Ben was promoting the film in Cannes, where a Bollywood blockbuster featuring a cameo from Sylvester Stallone is also being touted along the Croisette. The thriving Indian film industry made a revenue of $2.27 billion last year, up 13 per cent on 2007. Bollywood is increasingly bankrolling Hollywood productions, and Sir Ben said Western cinema would benefit from being “Indian-ised”.

“This year we will find that a great deal of financing for big films will come out of India and will involve some artistic control on the part of Indian producers, which is only right and will be extremely welcome and necessary. We need that injection into our films in the West – that originality and lack of cynicism.

“India has the ability to combine ancient tradition and mythology with something that is absolutely modern – that is effortless in India, and that’s what I find attractive.”

The extraordinary success of Slumdog Millionaire proved that global audiences love films with an Indian heart, an antidote to the hackneyed fare often produced by Hollywood.

“Because the economic climate is so terrifying, we are going for the soft and safe option which tends to be a copy of what’s gone before,” Sir Ben said. “You end up with a copy of a copy of a copy and it loses its surprise and its integrity.

“Slumdog Millionaire is a story about connection and memory. It’s beautiful. Pitch that idea and you’d have heard, ‘Next!’ But it won the Academy Award.

“When I was on my way to film in India a long time ago, somebody said if you stand on the corner of Connaught Place [in Delhi] for two minutes you will see the whole world pass by. Every form of human life is there. You stand on the corner of anywhere in LA or New York or Paris or London and you will see more of the same pass by.”

The film is from the production company of Ambika Hinduja, daughter of Ashok P Hinduja, the youngest of the four brothers who make up the family of business moguls. She was born in Mumbai and studied at the London International Film School.

She said: “Most Indian film production houses make films that appeal to an Indian audience. Our ambition is to make films that appeal not only to an Indian audience but also to global audiences.” (Telegraph UK)

Bollywood film shooting in Singapore – A nice story

Folks, have you ever been to a Bollywood movie shooting ?

It is lot of  fun if you have patience and time.  A very fascinating thing to look at how “stars” and people move around.  And what fame and money can change people.

Singapore based journalist Sheela Narayan talks vividly about a story….

THE Mission: Be a fly on the wall on the set of Priyadarshan Nair’s De Dana Dan and hopefully not get swatted by the producer, director or the two hot film stars – Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif – for being too nosy.  Read the rest of the story here

Enjoy and listen to Bollywood music at www.SunoMusic.com

Japanese Mastercard commercial – Indian Musical

Check out this Mastercard commercial in Japan based on Indian music…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM29PKS4YsA&feature=related

Enjoy and Suno Music

Magic of Bollywood

BOLLYWOOD made headlines in Hollywood after Slumdog Millionaires won the Oscars at the Academy Awards. And the excitement continues…

Here is the nice a article on how Bollywood is growing in South East Asia from Sun2Surf….

Check out SunoMusic and enjoy Bollywood music for free

Bollywood seeks higher profile

Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan said he hopes an upcoming Indian film conference in the southern Chinese gambling enclave of Macau will help boost the industry’s profile in the country.  Read the rest of the story here from Strait Times, Singapore

While we get new stories, enjoy Bollywood music in www.SunMusic.com for free

Funny Bollywood condom video

Watch here the hilarious condom video we found in YouTube

Enjoy Bollywood music @ www.SunoMusic.com

Internatonal coverage on Bollywood stars casting their vote

Here are  couple of interesting blogs from the world on Bollywood stars casting their votes…

Digital Spy, USA and UK

NineMSN, Australia

Bilde, Germany

France 24, France

Yahoo, Canada

Lots of common news and pictures, perhaps.   But we are  happy about bollywood  stars getting more attention world over.

Until we get more stories, enjoy SunoMusic, free online Bollywood music

All eyes on Bollywood royalty at IPL matches

ALL eyes will be on the pavilions at the Sahara Oval St George‘s grounds during the next week to catch a glimpse of Bollywood‘s rich and famous as cricket fans soak up two weekends of Indian Premier League (IPL) action in Nelson Mandela Bay.

Some of Bollywood‘s A-list celebrities are expected to fly into Port Elizabeth and support their teams with the Bay fortunate enough to be hosting two consecutive IPL games tomorrow and on Monday, Freedom Day, and then another two clashes next weekend .

Bollywood-mad spectators will be scanning the St George‘s stands for a glimpse of heartthrob actor-producer Shahrukh Khan as well as glamorous actress Juhi Chawla who are expected to support the team they co-own, the Kolkata Knight Riders, in their clash with the Mumbai Indians on Monday.

Chawla is expected to be accompanied by her husband, businessman Jai Mehta, also a co-owner of the team.

Meanwhile, billionaire businessman Mukesh Ambani is also expected to be in town to support his team, the Mumbai Indians.

Ben Tippett, a representative of sports, entertainment and media company IMG World which co-ordinates the teams‘ logistics, said Khan had watched his team play in other South African cities during the IPL tournament but wasn‘t sure yet if he would be in Port Elizabeth for the long weekend.

Next Saturday, celeb-watchers will be on the lookout for stunning actress Shilpa Shetty, co-owner of the Rajasthan Royals, for that team‘s fixture against the Deccan Chargers at St George‘s.

On Sunday next week, the Kings XI Punjab play the Knight Riders in the Bay.

Billionaire Vijay Mallya of the UB Group – owner of the Royal Challengers Bangalore which face up to the Delhi Daredevils at St George‘s tomorrow – will miss the clash because he is attending the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Bahrain tomorrow.

More than 6000 tickets have already been snapped up for tomorrow‘s game and 4000 have been sold for Monday‘s encounter.

But IPL fans need not panic as there are still tickets available at the gates on both days.

Thousands of loyal Indian IPL fans have flown to South Africa and are busy following their teams during the IPL with a staggering 40000 hotel rooms countrywide said to have been booked.

IPL chief executive Lalit Modi said about 10000 Indian fans were expected to fly in during the course of the tournament.(Weekend Post)

Enjoy, Suno Music

So You Think You Can Dance Bollywood edition – new video

Folks, click here to see the ‘So You Think You Can Dance’  episode that features a  Bollywood dance !!!

Really Bollywood is going main stream in North America, eh?

Check it out

Enjoy, Suno Music

Katrina Kaif – First Indian to be the face of Barbie

After six months of negotiations, toy company Mattel announced that its latest Indian doll would be modeled on actress Katrina Kaif and not Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. “I’d call it a fun honor,” said Kaif. “To have your face on dolls that you’ve played with from childhood is quite flattering.”

Just in time for the 50th anniversary celebrations of the iconic doll, Kaif walked the ramp at Lakme Fashion Week Mar. 27 decked out in full Barbie regalia: a short, puffy-skirted pink dress and tiara that the doll itself will wear when it’s released in September.

“Contrary to what people believe, my Barbie is not an Indian counterpart of the international brand,” Kaif said in an interview in the Times of India. “I’m the first Indian to be the face of Barbie. I’ll be dressed the way the Barbie is all over the world.”

With the Barbie image coming to the surface, Kaif is worried about the bubbly image that she’d like to change . “So much for my attempts to move to maturer level as an actor,” she said. “I guess Prakash Jha’s ‘Rajneeti’ will take care of that. But I’m very happy being the clean healthy Barbie-girl next door.”

Katrina’s movie songs from Yuvvraj, Sing Is King ,Race, Welcome etc are free to listen in SunoMusic.

Enjoy, Suno Music

Hollywood stars begining to love Bollywood and Bollywood music

Here is an article I saw in IndiaTimes about Hollywood’s flirtation with Bollywood

http://movies.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4430077.cms

Enjoy, Suno Music

Next AR Rahman and Mick Jagger together? Bollywood music coming of age

We at SunoMusic hear that on A R Rahman is that he is going to meet Mick Jagger, the Golden-Globe-and-Grammy-Award-winning English singer-songwriter, rock musician and occasional actor, best known for his work as lead vocalist of The Rolling Stones.
It seems that Rahman will have a jamming session with Jagger. In fact, this could be their second jamming session. The two had a trial jamming session when Rahman was in the US for the Oscars last month.

If that happens, two different music personalities are going to meet and let’s hope the union produces great music.

Enoy, Suno Music

The Pussycat Dolls – Jai Ho Video

Hi folks,

Here is the link we found for the famous Pussycat Dolls – Jai Ho Video in the Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrVlBrooxcM.  You could watch the video by clicking on the link or pasting the same on http://www.SunoMusic.com video player.

A.R.Rehman also sings  in the song.  It is makes the video great.

Rehman’s compositions for other Hindi films as well as Slumdog Millioanire are available in SunoMusic.

Enjoy, Suno Music

Miss India 09 photos

Hello SunoMusic lovers,

here is the link we found for seeing the Miss India 09 photo’s

http://photogallery.indiatimes.com/

Enjoy, Suno Music

All about A.R.Rehman. A new site has it all

Do you like A.R.Rehman’s music compositions?

Do you love his music like us?

If so, then read on…

Today I chanced upon the following site that as lots of Rehman stuff on it.

http://www.arrahman.com/v2/

The site claims it is the official website of ARR.   I could not verify the authenticity.  But thought will share the news with SunoMusic users . Maybe somebody among us can tell us about it. Check it out..

And enjoy Suno Music

Suresh Krishnan

A.R.Rehman’s next concert

It’s not Mumbai, nor is it Delhi, Bangalore or any other metro cities. Kozhikode more prominently known as Calicut in Kerala will witness A.R. Rahman performing for the first time in India post his twin Oscar win. As ARR will be working in U.S.A for six months, Rahman has rejected several offers for music concerts in India.

The reason why Rahman nodded a “yes” for the show in Kozhikode is mainly for the purpose for which it is being conducted. The concert titled “Jai Ho” that is being organised by the NGO Global Kerala initiative- “Keraleeyam” is for the rehabilitation of HIV positive orphaned children.

Speaking to the media, Rahman said “Discrimination has no end between states, religions and between nations. That is the main curse. I am moved by the cause”.

The composer also added that he was looking out for an apt opportunity to perform in Kerala for the past 15 years.

Rahman will be joined by around 50 musicians for the concert on May 3.(India Glitz)

Till then, enjoy SunoMusic