NOT ALL IN SANDALWOOD ARE SINGING JAI HO

Sandalwood reacted in mixed voices to the success of the movie Slumdog Millionaire at the Oscars. Some had opinions about the movie though they were yet to watch it. Some were even averse to watching it. But there were others who were gung-ho at the Slumdog’s field day at the Oscars.

“It is a success for Rahman’s music and a failure for Indian culture. We know the Oscar awards are given for the hype and strategy of those lobbying rather than for the talent of those involved. It was the strategy of projecting the poverty of India that won Slumdog Millionaire Oscars,” said Kannada music director Hamsalekha, who is yet to watch the movie.

Kannada Director Nagathihalli Chandrashekar felt the Oscars were an important landmark but added that the film was not entirely Indian. “It gives incomplete happiness. Though the film is based in India most of those associated with it are foreigners. World cinema should be competing in India. We need an Indian Oscars, which is sadly lacking,” he said. Music composer K Kalyan is yet to catch up with the film. “I am yet to watch it and hope it is worth all the hype. There is no doubt that Rahman is a genius and he deserves it,” he said.

Information Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu said, “I have not yet watched it and in my busy schedule. Not sure when I will be able to see the movie.” Regional Censor Officer Chandrashekar, whose job demands him to watch all Kannada films before their release, is yet to view the Oscar winner. “I was busy with the wedding of my daughter and now am busy clearing films at office. I am planning to watch it in a day or two,” he said.

Before Slumdog Millionaire won eight of the 10 Academy Awards it was nominated for, it also pocketed five Critics’ Choice Awards, four Golden Globes, and seven BAFTA Awards. The hype has smitten celebrities. Many of them promise to queue up before theatres in a day or two.

GOOD, GREAT, BEST


But there are quite a few who feel the film deserves every bit of its adulation. “The film’s story is a success formula. The concept of an underdog winning is very Indian. It is one of the best films I have watched. I hope to meet Rahman soon and congratulate him personally,” said actor-director Ramesh Arvind.

Music composer Gurukiran was a little apprehensive about Slumdog’s prospects. “I watched the film on the second day of its release. I felt it had great direction and music. I had great expectations for Lagaan. But it did not win and so I was a little app r e h e n s i v e about Slumdog Millionaire winning. But it has proved me wrong and I am happy about it,” he said.

WHEN A R RAHMAN CROONED IN KANNADA

Lyricist and music composer K Kalyan wrote the Kannada lyrics for Rahman’s ‘One Love’ album. Kalyan stayed in Chennai with Rahman for one day to pen the song. “He came on the same flight to Bangalore with me and said he would be singing the song two days later in Canada! So the Kannada song written and composed in Chennai was sung in Canada,” recalls Kalyan. The song Rutugalu bandu hogutide, yugagalu bandu hogutide is the only Kannada song in Rahman’s voice.

SLUMDOG IS TEMPTING EVEN VATAL
Kannada activist and former MLA Vatal Nagaraj started his pro-Kannada movement by urging people on Kempe Gowda road to watch Kannada films. “I watched my last English film 40 years ago. I watched war films and those by Alfred Hitchcock like ‘Birds’ and ‘Psycho’ in BRV military parade grounds. Those were great films and such films are not being made today. I am tempted to watch Slumdog Millionaire and will watch it very soon,” he said.

MALAYALIS TO HONOUR POOKUTTY
Malayalis in Bangalore are in celebration mode with Resul Pookutty becoming the first Malayali to win an Oscar. He got the award for best sound mixing for the film Slumdog Millionaire. The Bangalore Kerala Samajam is planning to felicitate him in Bangalore, besides distributing sweets and putting up hoardings to congratulate him. The Kerala Samajam in Dhooravani Nagar is meeting tomorrow to chalk out plans to celebrate Pookutty’s Oscar.

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Kannada Movie Review - Venkata In Sankata

The fun starts now

DIRECTOR: Ramesh Aravind
ACTORS: Ramesh Aravind, Devdas,Kapikad, Sharmila Mandre



Finally, a kannada film that can be confidently categorised as wholesome entertainer. Kannada actor and director Ramesh wins hands down as a director, actor and for bringing together the perfect cast for a non-stop laugh riot. This Pink Panther style police comedy manages to depict believable characters.

Venkata (Ramesh Aravind) is a daredevil cop but one who is always unlucky in getting the credit for his good work . His junior (Devdas as Laddu) snags the promotions while Venkata is demoted, each time. One day, Venkata gets a chance to prove his mettle against a terrorist group which is sourcing lethal chemicals from a college. He poses as a student to uncover the goings-on and that results in some unusual, funny incidents.

Then there are the made-tomake you-laugh characters like the gluttonous old woman played by veteran kannda comedian Umesh, a fake godman, a group of naughty students and fumbling lecturers who are in perfect sync with the story. The highlights of the film are the quirky dialogues and the swift narrative.

There are a few unconvincing situations like the one where the Prime Minister attends a college’s anniversary celebrations in what looks like a television show set. But, in the mad rush of comic situations these are easily excused. Forget everything and join the fun.

Kannada actors Valentine’s Day

They run around trees and sing duets in the Alps. SandlewoodBUZZ asks the people who do it all on screen about their off-screen plans on Valentine’s Day.


GANESH: I did have big plans for Valentine’s Day, but unfortunately, I’m shooting in Hyderabad. But yes, I have some surprises in store for my wife, Shilpa.



RAMYA: Since I don’t have a Valentine, I’m going to send Mutalik roses.



POOJA GANDHI: I don’t believe in Valentine’s Day. Not because I’m single but because I believe that you don’t need a special day to express love. I’m going to be shooting all day and if I feel like it, I might just gift myself something.

KIRAN SRINIVAS: I’m not doing anything this time. I’m going to be home and plan a huge celebration for the next year. I don’t mind getting gifts though — dinner at a fivestar, some champagne and a chocolate hamper, perhaps.



AINDRITA RAY:
My girl friends and I will be going out for dinner and will celebrate our ‘singledom’! And just for kicks we might attend one of those Valentine balls in the city. But I have to admit that it’s nice to see all those red hearts and balloons hanging in all the malls. It’s a nice feeling.

Kannada Movie Review - Junglee

JUNGLEE
DIRECTOR: Suri
ACTORS: Vijay, Aindrita Ray, Rangayana Raghu, Adi Lokesh, Suresh Chandra



The camera work perhaps cannot get any better; Satya Hegde seems to be at his peak. The art work by Shashidar Adapa beats the best in the business. Kannada music director Harikrishna’s music is not great but good enough. Kannada actor Vijay dishes out another good performance. But it’s the film that is the problem. It has no story, too many dialogues for Rangayana Raghu and innumerable killings to keep count. In the least, the film promises a headache.

Prabhakar aka Junglee (Vijay) wants to be a screen villain. He comes to the city with his mentor Gudde Narashima (Rangayana Raghu) who has made good friends with the underworld. Half the film is tapori talk between these two characters. The censor board may be too decent to understand the vulgarity in this street talk. There is not much else in the film except for a couple of good songs and mass murders. But kannda hot actress andrita ray looks cute.

Suri, it seems, gathers all his information from watching films in bars. So, there are more than a dozen references to scenes from other films, and if not carrying a gun or sword, then the characters hold glasses or alcohol bottles. Free download kannada film songs here.

You have been warned, watch the songs on TV and save money.

Kannada actor PUNEET is now pirated!

The Kannada actor does a Johnny Depp act in the upcoming Raj... The Showman



THIS time, ee role nijvaglu ‘different’ aagide. Because namma kannada hero Puneet Rajkumar will be reprising Johnny Depp’s look in Pirates of the Caribbean in his forthcoming Raj... The Showman, directed by Prem. Namma Appu sports this look in a song, Kuch Kuch Dil Antide, shot across north India — the dunes of Jaisalmer, the Qutb Minar and the Taj Mahal.

“I conceived this image during the scripting stage and had no doubt that Puneet would be able to carry it off. We also tried out the look digitally before we went ahead with it. I’m sure Appu fans will go into a tizzy after watching him in this film,” promises kannada director Prem.

A team of make-up and hair experts from Mumbai and Chennai helped give the look a professional touch. “We spent Rs 4.5 lakh on the costumes for Puneet and the heroine Nisha Kothari for this sequence,” says Prem.

Choreographed by Nagesh, the lyrics for the track have also been written by kannada director Prem. “While Puneet will be seen in this get-up throughout the song, Nisha will sport five different looks — she’ll be featured as a princess of five places, including Egypt and Arabia. Appu plays her saviour in this sequence,” he tells us. The song will have lots of computer graphics, reveals Prem. “We only see this kind of digital imagery in Shankar’s films. So, I thought we could introduce it in our films too. After all, the Kannada market is also growing and our audience loves to see innovation on screen,” he says. Meanwhile, we hear that while the song was being shot, Puneet attracted so much attention that even firangs wanted to take pictures with him. “And when we shot at the Taj Mahal, the photographers took kannada power star Puneet’s pictures and started selling them for Rs 100 to tourists!” laughs Prem.

KANNADA ACTOR VISHNU’S DOUBLE CENTURY

The veteran kannada actor becomes the third lead actor in Kannada to do 200 films.



After Rajkumar and Ambarish, Vishnuvardhan has become the third lead actor in Kannada to reach the 200th film mark.The landmark film will be a sequel to Apthamitra, and is titled Aptharakshaka. Rajkumar’s 200th film was Devatha Manushya, while Ambarish’s was Gowdru. P Vasu who directed Apthamitra, will be directing Aptharakshaka too. Though many character artistes have acted in more number of films, only these three have managed 200 films as lead actors.



The shooting for the film will start on March 10 in Palani (Tamil Nadu). Palani was chosen because the script demanded the background of an old mansion which Vasu found there.