Rann Movie Review

Rann could’ve been a good film if it was technically sound, if the script did not have gaping holes, if the characters were well etched, if plot was well researched and if, on the whole the story was not so idealistically predictable. Rating: 2.5/5

Ram Gopal Verma’s Rann is all about a good media baron, who is the pillar of journalistic values and integrity, fighting the bad ones who sensationalize news at the expense of truth to fill their own pockets. What happens in the end? Well,the good guy Harshvardhan Malik (Amitabh Bachchan), who has oft lost the TRP battle to his rival Amrish (Mohnish Behl), unearths the conspiracy between mediaand politics, delivers a smashing 8-minute soliloquy on integrity and social responsibility and voila! All’s well that ends well!

Like Madhur Bhandarkar, the only striking revelation Ram Gopal Verma makes through his film is – politics heavily influences media and misuses it and mediapeople succumb to it because of their moral weakness. To throw in a bit of reality, they have peppered in a sting operation, and of course the RGV signature cinematography of dark and dingy frames, the lingering close-up shots and the haunting background score.

By the time all the characters are established you know exactly where the film is heading to, because every character is so flat and either black or white, that there is hardly anything left to expect out of the film.

Performances were good, Amitabh Bachchan deserves a pat on his back for pulling of the performance well, but it doesn’t seem any big deal for him to give performances like these. His character was so flat that he almost sleepwalks through it. We all know, at that age, with that experience and expertise, AB can definitely do much better in a well written role.

Rann could’ve been a good film if it was technically sound, if the script did not have gaping holes, if the characters were well etched, if plot was well researched and if, on the whole the story was not so idealistically predictable.

Can do better RGV! Keep trying!

Shiv Sena brands Aamir and SRK as 2 Idiots

Both Shahrukh Khan and Aamir Khan have come under the ire of Political group Shiv Sena after they voiced their anger against the exclusion of Pakistani cricketers in IPL.

Branding them as 2 Idiots, a party spokesperson says in their tabloid Dopahar Ka Saamna, “In real life, Aamir and Shah Rukh have been proved as ‘2 Idiots’ as both are making stupid statements supporting the cause of Pakistani cricketers.”

“On the one hand, while SRK is openly displaying his love for Pakistani players, Aamir has even put nationalistic sentiments in his utterances on this issue.”

Shiv Sena’s comments are also accompanied by a photo from 3 Idiots where Madhavan face is replaced by SRK’s pouty face.

Earlier on SRK’s comments on wanting Pakistani players in IPL, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut had said, “he could go play his matches in Lahore, not in India”.

Folks who do you think is correct? Shiv Sena or Aamir-SRK?

Aishwarya angry at Rann Premiere

Aishwarya Rai looked stunning in a Sabyasachi black anarkali at Rann Premiere, however her happiness was shortlived when her ex-boyfriend Vivek Oberoi came in for the premiere.

As soon as Vivek made an entry, Aishwarya looked very angry, to avoid any bad moments the organziers shifted Vivek to another auditorium. When Vivek came out of the auditorium to go to loo, media asked him whether he was invited and he said, “The Movie is still on, Mr. Bachchan is fantastic.”

Aishwarya looked very displeased and was seen talking to Abhi loudly in a miffed voice saying, “Who is leading us upstairs, are you taking us?” and forced Abhi towards the auditorium by the hand.

Aishwarya’s displeasure continued after the flick, as she avoided talking with guests, that’s when Abhi held her by shoulders and said “Baby” and made her talk to director Ram Gopal Varma.

Ramu did not had any clue about Vivek’s presence at the movie.

SRK feels lonely inside

The Superstar of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan has his own lonely moments and there are times when he gets paranoid on small issues like his socks.

SRK says, “I have a strange attachment to socks. They should feel right. I could be missing a flight, but if my socks are wrong, I have to take them off… I won’t wear nylon socks with sneakers. The only time I get disturbed during shooting is over my socks. I hate brown socks and different-coloured socks.”

SRK talks about his loneliness, he says, “I can come across as a user, manipulator, disinterested, weird, reclusive, strange, arrogant from the outside. But the people involved know the truth…there are days I feel lonely on the inside. I guess that’s the way I am. I’ve never gotten into relationships because I’m scared to. I have a shield. I’ve lost my parents, so now I don’t like to lose relationships. I have to admit that at 44 I am socially and emotionally inept.”

SRK will be next seen in Karan Johar’s My Name is Khan.

SRK sizzles on GQ

SRK sizzles on the cover of GQ magazine looking smoking hot and comes clean on factors like sex, rivals and kinks. Like?

Aishwarya’s L’Oreal Total Repair 5 advert

Check out the print advertisement of L’Oreal Total Repair 5 featuring Aishwarya Rai. She looks stunning in the advert? Ain’t she?

Anushka Sharma graces Femina

Anushka Sharma is the latest cover girl for Femina’s upcoming issue. The leggy lass is given a goth look for the cover. Doesn’t she look similar to Sonam Kapoor on the cover? Like?

Ranbir Kapoor: The new John Player

While Hrithik switched from John Player to Provogue, Ranbir Kapoor has been roped as the new ambassador for John Players. Do you think he makes a good replacement against Hrithik?

Katrina to don a Bikini for Dostana 2

After her debacle Boom days where she exposed the most, Katrina has refrained from wearing a bikini onscreen, however the lanky actress is all set to wear a bikini in Dostana’s sequel.

In Dostana Priyanka Chopra wore a golden bikini and set hearts on fire, for Dostana 2 Manish Malhotra is designing Katrina’s beach wear and selecting the colors that suits her the most.

A source says, “Dostana 2 plans to take the fun quotient to another level and also have lots of sex appeal. Katrina has one of the best bodies in the industry and having her sport beach wear will be a huge attraction for the film.”

Katrina will look super hot in Dostana 2, the source adds, “She hasn’t sported the sexy look for a while. In Dostana 2, she will be seen in clothes that make her look more sexy than cute.”

Ready to see Katrina flaunt a bikini?

Big B and family at Rann premiere

Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai posed for the shutter bugs during the premiere of his movie Rann. Both men wore crisp suits and Aishwarya wore a golden and black anarkali.

Big B got emotional during the premiere when he recived great applause from the audience during the screening of the movie.

Big B wrote on his blog,”I cannot remember it happening to me in recent times, nor in times past, an audience applause in the middle of my film, at the end of a scene or dialogue. But it happened tonight at the premier of Rann.”

“A thunderous and prolonged applause at the end of a scene that I perform towards the end of the film, moved me to tears.”

Looks like Rann has turned out to be a great movie.

Ishqiya Movie Premiere

Lead actors Vidya Balan and Arshad Warsi walked hand in hand on the red carpet during the premiere of Ishqiya last night. Vidya looked dazzling in a rust colored Sabyasachi saree.

Celina Jaitely and Celina Jaitely walk the ramp

Recently actresses Celina Jaitely and Monica Bedi were seen sashaying down the ramp. While Celina Jaitely walked for Archana Kocchar, Monica Bedi walked for Nisha Sagar. Who looks better?

First Look: Well Done Abba

Check out the first look poster of Minissha Lamba and Boman Irani starrer Well Done Abba. Like?

Katrina: Salman looked after me when I was young

Katrina Kaif who is the next guest on Karan Johar’s Celebrity chat show Lift Kara De and she talks about Sallu and her struggling days.

Katrina reveals that she was only 19 years old when she shifted to Mumbai and did not know much about the living in Mumbai.

She says, ‘Salman Khan, his family and friends looked after me’.

When Karan asked her about her relationship status, she said, “I believe that until you are married you are single!”

Well now that’s a very diplomatic answer.

No moon crater for SRK

Well this could be a sad news for all overwhelmed SRK fans, who were on moon when a crater on moon was named after their idol, because the UN Outer Space Treaty does not allow anybody to claim celestial lands because they belong to the whole mankind.

Tanja Masson-Zwaan talking about the recent trend of celebrity craters on moon says, “The trouble is that, legally, nobody can own the moon or anything else in space, for that matter.”

Talking about the Lunar Embassy – Hope that sells people craters and land spaces on Moon, Masson says, “What Lunar Embassy is doing does not give people buying pieces of paper the right to ownership of the moon.”

International Astronomical Union on its website says, “As an international scientific organization, the IAU dissociates itself entirely from the commercial practice of “selling” fictitious star names or “real estate” on other planets or moons in the Solar System. Accordingly, the IAU maintains no list of the (several competing) enterprises in this business in individual countries of the world.”

Now that’s a steep fall from moon. Welcome back to gravity!!!

Celebs talk about Phir Mile Sur

All the Bollywood celebrities involved in the making of Phir Mile Sur talk about their wonderful experience and also about the original Mile Sur Mere Tumhara.

AMITABH BACHCHAN
I’m honoured that there’s been a gap of almost 23 years and still the makers of this wonderful commercial Mile Sur want to include me. Though circumstances may have changed, the words and the feelings of the song still remain the same. I feel good about it. Times of India has always been involved in many such nationalist, social, moral movements and I have had the great honour to being a part of it. I thank ZOOM for making me such a part once again.
SHAH RUKH KHAN
The first time I heard Mile Sur Mera Tumhara, I was around 20, yet the first thing that caught my eye was the visual appeal. It was more of a non preachy, personal patriotic song. It has a great secular feel and people are moved by it even now. I’m glad to be associated with this subtle yet powerful movement to be at secular equality with each other and stand united.
PRIYANKA CHOPRA
Mile Sur is as patriotic and moving as a song can get. It’s a brilliant initiative and I’m glad to be part of it. It was something I really admired and I used to look forward to watching it. I say we should sing it every morning when we wake up.
AISHWARYA BACHCHAN
I remember watching Mile Sur on TV and listening to the track. It was so inspirational. I was a kid in school and it was just overwhelming and impactful. It gave me gooseflesh; I remember it till this day.
ABHISHEK BACHCHAN
I used to look forward to it to see all these luminaries and celebrities of the country. Almost towards the end, Dad used to be on it and I would excitedly look forward. I remember growing up thinking how cool it’d be to be a part of it one day. Today, it’s even more wonderful, because I get to be part of Phir Mile Sur with my wife.
RANBIR KAPOOR
Mile Sur is like an anthem for every child who grew up watching DD. This song speaks about oneness; it’s been an important part of our country’s history, it’s feel-good, it’s emotional, it’s cathartic, and even after 20 years if you listen
to the song its will have same impact.
ANOUSHKA SHANKAR
Mile Sur is such an iconic piece of music. I’m 28 now and this is something I’ve grown up listening to and watching on TV. After seeing all those musical greats and then, specially being a part of this, as a musician, is such an incredible experience.
S H A N K A R – EHSAAN-LOY
We’re happy that Zoom and Times of India have taken this iconic song and redone it to suit today’s tastes, because no one can do it better than them.
SHAHID KAPUR
Mile Sur drew a sense of patriotism out of me; a sense of secularism and a reminder that we’re all the same. It was one of the more prestigious videos that came out; with the most eminent of personalities were in it.
SALMAN KHAN
It’s a brilliant concept that shows us how to get everybody on board and how to get everybody together. This song also underlines that we’re all on the same plane; that no one’s richer or poorer in emotion. No religion, caste, creed or colour is greater than the nation and the individuals of that nation. This song is like almost like a second anthem!
DEEPIKA PADUKONE
I remember Mile Sur being one of the first commercial message films my Dad shot for. When I got a call to be a part of the new version I was thrilled and called my parents, who were like ‘You MUST be part of it!’ I think it’s a great unifying thought for our diverse country.

Ranbir-Priyanka shoot for Anjaana Anjaani

Check out stills from Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra starrer Anjaana Anjaani. They are shooting together for the flick in New York. Like?

Zarine talks about her weighty issues

Zarine Khan has made critics wake up and take notice of her with her performance as Princess Yashodhara in Veer, however very few know that Zarine weighed more than 100kgs during her teenage years.

Zarine says, “I’m the only earning member of my family,.My father left uswhen I was 18 and I took to eating and binging to keep away the pain. But I hit the gym and knocked off those kgs when I decided to get into modelling.”

“Salman always says that I am destiny’s child and that is why I was chosen for this film. I was thin when walked into this film, but then I was told to go on a chocolate diet and gain weight, because princesses in those days were never skinny.”

Well Zarine needs to shed off her weight immediately as people have started to call her FATRINA (Fat Katrina).

Aamir, A.R Rahman and Saif receive Padma Bhushan and Shri Awards

Nations most prestigious award Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri award was awarded to Bollywood celebrities and actors. While actor Aamir Khan and Oscar winning composer A.R Rahman were awarded with Padma Bhushan, Saif Ali Khanwas conferred with Padma Shri.

Reacting to the good news, Aamir said, “I am so happy to receive this unique honour. The first thing that comes to my mind is my mother’s smiling face. Indeed this has been a good day for me. First my film Peepli Live gets a superb response here at the Sundance Film Festival, and then I receive this wonderful news of receiving the Padma Bhushan. I only wish I was back home right now. I would like to thank God for these happy moments, and all my fans and well wishers for their love, support and good wishes. All izzzz well!!! “

Saif was also elated to get the award and said, ‘I am very proud and honoured to have received this honour. I would like to thank my family and loved ones who have been there for me and the industry for supporting me. I would particularly like to thank Imtiaz Ali, Aditya Chopra, Karan Johar, Ramesh Taurani, Farhan Akhtar, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Siddharth Anand, Kunal Kohli and Vishal Bhardwaj for having faith in me and making me who I am today.’

Congratulations folks:)

Abhi-Ash attend Boman Irani’s Wedding Anniversary

Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai attended Boman Irani’s 25th wedding anniversary bash. Boman served very delectable parsi food at the party which left our Bollywood celebrities asking for more and more.