Movie Review: My Brother Nikhil

Cast: Sanjay Suri, Juhi Chawla, Victor Bannerjee, Lillete Dubey, Purab Kohli, Shyan Munshi, Dipannita Sharma, Shweta Kawaatre
Direction: Onirban
Producers: Raj Kaushal, Vicky Tejwani, Sanjay Suri and Onir
Rating: 3/5

After Madhur Bhandarkar’s “Page 3″ and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Black”, there’s something strange, stirring, exciting and path-breaking in Hindi cinema this year.

“My Brother…Nikhil” is an intimate, and yet, far-reaching study of family ties, social castigation and resilience in the face of AIDS.

Like many of the new avant-garde directors, Onirban uses the Brechtian distancing device - whereby the characters speak directly into the camera about the protagonist. (more…)

Partho Ghosh makes a comeback with Kyun

Slated as the comeback film for acclaimed director Partho Ghosh, ‘Why……Kyun’ is a thriller and comedy. The film traces the untoward incidents that happen with Jatin Grewal, who is playing the lead role in the film along with actress Heena Rehman. Partho had virtually disappeared after his last film, “100 Days” and “Agnisakshi” few years back.

Now-a-days, he is quite busy shooting his forthcoming film “Why…Kyun” here in Bollywood. The film’s characters are grey and shady with Jatin playing the role of a guy from north India and Heena playing a south Indian girl.

Because of a language barrier, they can’t understand each other and this situation gives a comical story to the film. (more…)

Tanushree Dutta set to make her Bollywood debut

Even before making her first splash, Femina Miss India 2004 Tanushree Dutta has three films in her kitty.

Her latest catch is Pahlaj Nihlani’s “I Love You Boss” to be directed by Deepak Shivdasani. She says, “It’s the role of a young, bubbly girl who circumstantially becomes mature very quickly in life. She goes through many phases of life in a short duration of time. It’s basically an emotional love story.”

The balance cast of “I Love You Boss” is under finalization. Dutta is also doing “Chocolate”, produced by the never-say-die Spice Team (their first two attempts “Kaun Hai Jo Sapno Mein Aaya” and “Shukriya” sank without a trace) of Ragini and Vibha. Besides Dutta, “Chocolate” stars Anil Kapoor, Suniel Shetty, Irrfan Khan, Arshad Warsi, Emraan Hashmi and Sushma Reddy.

Vivek Agnihotri, who has directed a number of television programs, makes his big screen directorial debut with this film.

Jackie stars in Runway

Jackie Shroff is quite excited about working in Tanuja Chandra’s RUNWAY, not so much for the role, as the experience of working with the director. “I am not so well-informed about the role yet, though Tanuja roughly told me the story line. I lost out on four opportunities of working with her earlier, when she approached me and my dates were committed to other projects but now it just seems the right time,” Jackie reveals.

As for Tanuja Chandra, she is clearly in awe of Jackie’s ability to enact characters with a lot of pathos. “He has this strong penchant for roles which are tragedy-driven with a lot of pathos. I specifically wanted him for this particular role,” she says.

In the film, Jackie plays the role of a school crafts teacher who is a silent admirer of the protagonist, Resham. The emotionally intense film is based on the true story of a woman called Resham, staying on the Gujarat border, who braved the 1977 war.

Nana-Akshay-Ajay in Santoshi’s next

Another strong upbeat film launched being directed by none other than the versatile filmmaker Raj Kumar Santoshi under the banner of Sunrise productions for producer Mr. Abdul Samee A Siddiqui.

He is one of the few directors who dare to defy the stereotype. This untitled venture is going on floor early next month with a power pack star-cast headed by Nana Patekar, Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgan.

Santoshi says, “I am thrilled to start my next venture; I am passionate about this subject and believe in lacing entertainment with a social message. This is a very challenging and contemporary story and I am sure this will make an immense impact in today’s cinema.”

Vidhu teams with Sanjay in Parineeta

After the blockbuster ‘Munna Bhai MBBS’, filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra has teamed up yet again with Sanjay Dutt, this time for ‘Parineeta - The Married Woman’.

The film is an adaptation of a Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyaya’s original classic, a love story about the difference in a man and woman’s perception of love and commitment.

‘Parineeta - The Married Woman’ also stars Saif Ali Khan, Vidya Balan and Raima Sen. The movie has been shot in the hills of Darjeeling and Kolkata. Shooting has been completed in hectic 50 days, and the film is getting some finishing touches. (more…)

Mira Nair reveals name of the actress in Namesake

After months of speculation by all sections of the media about the cast of Mira Nairs screen adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiris The Namesake’, it will be Jacinda Barrett and not Kate Hudson playing Maxine, the protagonists American girlfriend.

Besides Hudson, names of Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukherjee also cropped up as being part of the cast.

One of People magazine’s 50 beautiful people, Barrett, a closet lesbian in Bridget Jones II, will star in the film with Irrfan Khan, Tabu and Kal Penn.