SRK to star in Anurag Basu's next?

Anurag Basu’s Kites, starring Hrithik Roshan may have bombed at the box office, but he sure hasn’t given up and is already working on his next film Silence with Ranbir Kapoor. What’s more! If sources are to be believed the director may next be working with King Khan.
According to a source, the two share common interests and have discussed cinema at length. SRK is believed to have liked Basu’s work and his different takes on cinema and is even open to experimenting.
“Both have shown keen interest in working together. Finally, a proper meeting was arranged between the two and they have finalised a script,” revealed the source to Mumbai Mirror.
Although Khan is currently busy with his film Ra.One and Basu with Silence, the two are said to be working on their next venture’s script already. Ra.One is a special effects film, unlike SRK’s usual genre and Basu is still looking for a replacement for the role Katrina Kaif opted out of.
After he is done with Silence and Shah Rukh finishes Ra.One, they will get going with their project,” adds the source. It is believed that SRK’s company Red Chillies Entertainment will be producing the film.

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A grand opera or Kati Patang? KITES!

A film like Kites can really be reviewed at two levels. Is it indeed a crossover film that strikes most of the right notes, or is it mushy 3 penny romance masquerading as a grand opera? The film was two years in the making and came to us carrying HUGE expectations. Hrithik was on an all time high, not having had a misstep since 2002 (Mujhse Dosti Karoge). I think one can discount Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon (2003) as he also had a mammoth Koi Mil Gaya that year. But the law of averages looks to have finally caught up with him. In an attempt to create a cross-over film, the Roshan combine has created something that is neither chalk nor cheese and is dull and boring into the bargain.

How does one review Kites? Should I talk about the fact that a film that is supposed to be foreign pasta and not desi biriyani, fails to take into account the fact that Las Vegas is a desert and it almost never rains there, that there is no ocean with reefs withing any reasonable radius of the city, the Mexico is FAR FAR away, that it is OK for movies like Singh is KINGG to show Melbourne being run by the Sikh mafia, but a crossover film should not show a family of Indian origin running a city and state in the US in a mafia like hold? I could go on and on, but that would be cruel to a film like Kites. It really does not stand up to such scrutiny. So what is Kites then? Is it a breathless frothy romantic actioner? Is it a desi/bidesi Romancing the Stone or even a slicker Dhoom 2? I really wish that were the case. I wish the film was a fun filled romp that kept me entertained and engaged so I did not have to start analyzing the inane plot and the slow pace.

What are the positives then?

1. Barbara Mori does come out as a surprise, I did not expect acting competence but there is that in decent measure (though her ultra toothy smile got on my nerves after a while).

2. The cinematography was really superb, slick and sophisticated, and world class, We expect that with people like Santosh Sivan and Ravi Chandran, but this was Ayananka Bose, a job well done.

3. Hrithik's FIRE dance sequence starts out very 90s but the spin on his head is gold. Why a Salsa teacher does break dancing in a competition is anyone's guess. He is sincere and tries very hard in the film, so marks for effort.

What does not work at all:

1. The Las Vegas mafia is laughable, and the Reservoir Dogs moment is shoddy. In fact the film lifts many moments from many films, but then you never expect an original product from director Anurag Basu.

2. The chases are interminable and laughable, the one on the big rig is particularly bad, as the cop cars wait for car after car to crash into them, and they never move to the next lane (I am not even going to talk about the oblivious big-rig driver).

3. Hrithik and Barbara chemistry is okayish, but one never warms up to it, as we have no idea why they even fell in love.

4. The villain is laughably bad, and really drags down the film. And I do not mean cult bad in a Mogambo-ish way, but plain bad.

Read more HERE

Kites Boxoffice - opens well, but rapidly heads South

Kites Falls On Saturday But Accumulates Big Weekend
Kites collected a huge 30.50-31 crore nett over its first weekend including paid previews. The film dropped on Saturday but it was mainly single screens showing 40-50% drop while big city multiplexes only dropped around 10-15%. Business on Sunday was good but despite having good weekend numbers there is not much hope for the film as reports are bad and Monday is likely to see very big drops.

The first week should finish around the 40 crore nett range and the film may struggle to cross the 50 crore nett lifetime mark. Kites has been totally rejected by the single screen audience and Monday multiplex business will determine where the film is heading at multiplexes.

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For a film reportedly priced at 127 crores this is disastrous business. The US box-office was very lukewarm and Kites managed about 1 million dollars in the opening weekend. Perhaps the Ratner Remix will fire - we should find out by Friday.

Komal Nahta with Anurag Basu

'I AM' First Look

Round-up of news for the day!

Anushka Sharma out of Rockstar

We all know that Imtiaz Ali first conceptualised Rockstar with John Abraham. Then, the reworked script worked in favour of Ranbir Kapoor. Well, after John Abraham, it’s Anushka Sharma who gets the axe we hear. The poor girl, who just loves Ranbir by the way, was distraught by the latest developments. The buzz is that Imtiaz wants to cast an unknown girl for the role. Watch this space for more.

This is sad news indeed. Hope Imtiaz is not thinking of foisting another Giselle type on us!


We all knew Jackie Chan was not in Ra.one..
But now we hear that SRK has signed a lesser known martial arts hero from China but presently his name is being kept under wraps.

So we should expect martial arts to play a big part in the film!


John and Tabu's UTV films in trouble
Just heard that UTV has decided to shelve the Tabu-Shreyas Talpade starrer Season’s Greetings, despite it being 80 per cent complete. Earlier, we heard that they decided to disassociate themselves from David Dhawan’s jailhouse comedy Hook Ya Crook. It’s rumoured that the film’s star John Abraham and David Dhawan will now produce the film themselves. The film is allegedly 90 per cent complete. Dhawan wants some scenes with Indian cricketers but the IPL season has kept them busy.

This is a pity - Tabu needs to be seen more in films, such a fine talent!


The English version of 'Kites' will release one week later

Now here's vital info. While everyone knows that the much-awaited KITES will be released worldwide on May 21, its international cut - in English language - will be released one week later, on May 28. It means, the American audiences will get to watch the two versions [Hindi and English] in two consecutive weeks. While the Hindi version, targeted at the Indian diaspora with a running time of 2 hours, will arrive on May 21, the English version, with a running of 90 minutes, will arrive at select venues on May 28.

Here's more on KITES! More than a week ago, a reputed newspaper had done a 'Spoiler Alert' and had revealed the climax of this keenly anticipated film. Expectedly, the news-report sent shock waves across the length and breadth of the film fraternity, since an expose of this kind, much before its release, usually harms the film in question.

While the newspaper tendered an apology the very next morning, KITES director Anurag Basu couldn't hide his anger while talking about it. "The climax mentioned in the news-report is false and fabricated. The sad part about the whole thing is, even if I say it's wrong, people might assume that's how the film actually ends," Basu sounds hurt.

This supremely talented director likes to stay away from the media glare, even though he's helmed one of the biggest movies of this year. Ask him if he had differences with producer Rakesh Roshan and he jokes, "Thankfully, we didn't come to blows." But he gets serious soon enough, "Actually, it took us time to adjust to each other's pattern of working. There were no hiccups once we understood each other," he says.

So will he work with the Roshans again? "You should ask them whether they would like to work with me again," he laughs.

This could be a smart move - Hrithik has enough hard-core fans who might go and see both versions in theaters overseas!!

Anurag Basu admits differences with producer Rakesh Roshan

Anurag Basu, director of the upcoming Hrithik Roshan-starrer "Kites", has admitted for the first time there were differences with producer Rakesh Roshan. 

"I wouldn't call them creative differences. Because we were both creating the same film and moving in the same direction. But yes, Rakeshji's vision of cinema is quite different from mine," said Basu. 

There were constant arguments between the producer and the director about how the film was to be shot. 

"See, Rakeshji was not just the producer of 'Kites'. He's also a very big director with a vast experience as filmmaker behind him. He naturally had very strong opinions on how the film should be shot. It's all fine now. Over and done with. I just hope all the hard work is worth the effort," he said. 

The makers are planning to release "Kites" that also stars Kangna Ranaut and Mexican actress Barbara Mori, May 21, but Basu says he has no inkling when the film is releasing. 

"I'm just a technician on the film, just like the cinematographer or editor. I know as much as any one else who has worked on 'Kites'. But I've heard the film is being released on May 14 or May 21, I don't know which date it actually is. But I'm happy it's finally being released," he said. 

"Kites" was taken away from Basu and given to Hollywood director Brett Ratner for editing. Significantly, the director doesn't feature in any of the publicity and marketing of "Kites". 

Read more HERE.

News of the day - Ranbir deaf and mute?

Ranbir Kapoor exercised his vocal chords for Anjaana Anjaani. Music directors Vishal-Shekhar have been deliriously happy with Ranbir's singing abilities and plan to rope in Priyanka Chopra to playback in the film as well. Meanwhile, we have heard that Ranbir is playing a deaf and mute character in the yet untitled project helmed by Anurag Basu.

http://www.filmfare.com/articles/ranbir-goes-deaf-and-dumb-for-anurag-basu-369.html
OUR TAKE - why Ranbir? Why the DVD xeroxing Anurag Basu?

Akshay-Suniel-Paresh out of Hera Pheri 4
This may come as a shocker but sources reveal that director Anees Bazmee has decided to do away with the original cast of Hera Pheri. Instead of Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal of the original Priyadarshan venture, the film will now have Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor and Nana Patekar anchoring the roles.

http://www.filmfare.com/articles/akshaysunielparesh-out-of-hera-pheri-4-370.html
OUR TAKE - maybe it will not be so stale anymore?


Rahman and I share a silence, an ehsaas
So Sonu deliberately ‘hiked’ his price to distance himself. “Instead of doing 50 songs a month I decided to do just two songs. The rest of the time I wanted to spend in silence and in seeking who I am,” he says adding, “Music composers today have understood that money lies in events. So they have either started singing songs themselves or giving songs to
those who will perform in their shows. The entire game has changed. Composers come to me only for special songs, barring a few like Sajid-Wajid, Shantanu Moitra and A R Rahman with whom I have worked consistently.” Interestingly, Sonu and Rahman, both dubbed as soul-searchers, are not really comrades in conversation. “We share a silence of sorts. He knows that I know what he knows. He is quite like me — detached from things. We meet each other cordially, we do the song and I leave. We don’t connect via emails or talk on the phone. I think it’s good this way. Rahman and I just share an ehsaas (feeling),” Sonu decodes the equation.

http://www.filmfare.com/articles/sonu-niigam-rahman-and-i-share-an-ehsaas-371.html
OUR TAKE - stop trying to be a rock star Sonu, and just sing!!


http://www.filmfare.com/articles/sneak-peek-rann-374.html
MOST INTERESTING PICTURES! Can Ramu prevent it from spinning out of control?