Analysing the releases of January and February 2016

Feb 17 2016 5:17pm

The world of Hindi films keeps changing in content, marketing and promotions, business strategies, economics and so on. What remains constant, perhaps, is the much-maligned audience that at the end of the day, just wants a buffet spread of diverse entertainment worth the time and money they need to invest in a movie watched with family or friends.

This benign entity called audience, however, turns ruthless if someone tries to pull a fast one on them, tries taking them for granted or feels that they can be swayed by the media. For years now, ever since the multiplex boom made watching cinema a luxury rather than a weekly family outing, the audiences have sent clear-cut signals about what they want-and clearer signals on what they do not. 

In that respect, yes, they have changed. But at base level-as writer Rajat Aroraa wrote way back in 2011- it's still about entertainment, entertainment and entertainment. And whatever can be given to them within this haloed framework-fresh stories, superb music, a message, big stars, promising talent, multiple genres and sensibilities-in short, the works. 

So let us have a reality check on the films that released in 2016 (and a few set for an immediate release) and see the lessons each has taught us, come blockbuster, disaster or everything in- between. 

Wazir taught us that it has always been possible to fool some of the people all the time. A miniscule quantum of viewers were bowled over by the 'suspense', without realizing that the story (complete with some 'visible' elements from last year's disaster Roy) was not only unconvincing but completely absurd. 

For starters, how did Amitabh Bachchan know that Farhan Akhtar would visit (and when he would, if so!) his child's grave in pouring rain, almost shoot himself and then see a wallet in the darkness that Bachchan purposely dropped to get Farhan to visit him? 

Chalk'n'Duster taught us what Subhash Ghai said at his peak, "Ideas do not make films. Scripts do!" An important message, for the umpteenth time, was lost here because of a silly script that wasted senior artistes of calibre. 

Jugni and Chauranga taught us that the hyping of wrong elements (like individual songs being sung by A.R. Rahman and Vishal Bhardwaj in the first film, or all the accolades from Film Festivals on the posters of the second) could not make for success in small films when it never worked in bigger ones. Small films worked only on intrinsic merit. 

Airlift was the ultimate proof that stories of substance, if well-scripted and made, were sure-fire passports to great success. It taught us the importance of good music that was eminently suitable for the subject and indirectly that even superstars needed the power of great songs to attract the audience. And that the audience understood that subjects like these had to be crisp and concise, minus masala frills. It showed that single composers worked better than multiple ones, and it proved beyond doubt that honest marketing was vital as well. 

Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3 and Mastizaade taught us that no genre worked as a genre, especially when there was no novelty left in it, like with this adult comedy genre after Grand Masti. PJs and ancient jokes did not make for scripts, and nor was the audience so sexually deprived that they would lust after such movies with their badly-etched characters and scripts. Yes, the latter film just about recovered costs, and for that, the producers should thank Sunny Leone's draw! 

Saala Khadoos taught us that a brand like Rajkumar Hirani was not enough to make audiences accept a film, or even want to watch it. Star-less films, as we all know, need a permanent star called great music, come Rattan in 1944 or Aashiqui 2 in 2013! With no face-value, the absence of even a single good song killed all desire to watch the film. The wannabe Hirani-like feel imparted by the director, an unattractive and misplaced title and the consequent mixed reviews together became the last straw that broke the Khadoos' back. 

Sanam Teri Kasam, however, proved the reverse dictum-that music alone never made any film, if there was no other identifiable or relatable factor. There was lack of face-value here as well. 

Ghayal Once Again taught us that with some passion and effort, actors could reinvent the kind of movies they did, especially since, as in this case, the hero was also the director. Sunny Deol was a surprise factor here more as director than an actor sans the screaming 'dialoguebaazi'. The reason why the film did not do still better were evident: no female star with a draw of her own, GenY's rigid bias against Deol (based on his track-record from 2006) and the disappointment of a few rabid Deol-ites regarding the lack of wild fury. The lack of competition, touted as the main reason for its success, was but a small add-on factor, otherwise so many flops would have done well down the ages! 

Sanam Re taught us that smart marketing and well-promoted popular music could help a film garner a good opening vis-a-vis its face-value, a lesson that Saala Khadoos should have learnt to help its far superior story. But Monday on, merit will decide what happens. 

Fitoor taught us that overconfidence could kill any film, as happened with so many movies in the past. And that overconfidence went beyond the below-par marketing- to the dominance of form over content. When that could happen with the biggest stars and hit songs (Jaan-E-Mann and Guzaarish to mention just two films), what price this one? 

Finally, titles also are a key part of success or failure. What could possibly be attractive about Chalk'N'Dusteror Saala Khadoos? 

And then we have so much confusion in the small films: Sanam Teri Kasam and Sanam Re... released a week apart, Ishq Forever and Direct Ishq (both star-less movies) are coming on the same day, Loveshhuda andLove Shagun are spaced a week from each other! And how on earth and Uttar Pradesh does the title Aligarhrelate to homosexuality? Why not have titles that show what a film is about? Or, if not, at least look attractive on their own?end

"I want commerce to bow down to art" - Saurabh Turakhia

Feb 16 2016 4:37pm

The very name of 'Saurabh Turakhia' may not ring a bell, but, those who know him, his art and creativity, simply cannot stop swearing about his immense talents. He is an 'Artist' in the true sense of the word. His impeccable works can be seen in the form of an array of flawless hand paintings that he has created of Bollywood stars and even politicians. Besides being a painter, he also is an active blogger. By his own admission, he does not paint full time and does so only holidays and whenever he gets time. Although his Twitter handle introduces himself as 'Writer, artist amateur, short stories', he is much, much beyond and ahead of all these introductions. Saurabh Turakhia is someone who is young and is raring to go.

Satish Sundaresan of Bollywood HungamaIN met up with the extremely talented artiste 

Banned in China, Deadpool passed in India with 7 cuts

Feb 12 2016 1:30pm

Will they, won't they? There was a lot of nail-biting suspense over the fate of the new subversive superhero global blockbuster Deadpool, what with its content being panned and banned in several parts of the world including China where the film has been stopped.

Showing its newly-discovered liberal stance on Hollywood releases, the Censor Board Of Film Certification (CBFC) has passed Deadpool for an Indian release with 7 cuts. Says censor Chief Pahlaj Nihalani, "We have made very general cuts. If you look at what has happened to Deadpool in China, it was apparently banned because any number of cuts was seen to hamper the storyline of the film. I can assure you the cuts we've requested in no way affect the storytelling." 

Deadpool has been granted an 'Adults' certification with cuts. Says the censor chief, "We are very clear that films made for Adult viewing won't be cut if they do not contravene censorial guidelines."end

Ram Gopal Varma announces his short film Single X as a tribute to Censor Board

Feb 9 2016 12:51pm

Esha Gupta and Ileana D'Cruz in Akshay Kumar starrer Rustom

Feb 9 2016 12:44pm

After collaborating on Special 26 and Baby, filmmaker Neeraj Pandey announced yet another venture starring Akshay Kumar titled Rustom. While there have been several speculations about the casting of the film, now we finally hear that the actresses too have been finalized and it is none other than Barfiactress Ileana D'Cruz and Esha Gupta. 

Though the details of the film's plot are kept under wraps, it is being said that Rustom is set in the 50s and is inspired by true incidents. In fact, it has been learnt that the entire cast and crew have started shooting for the film at a renowned studio in Mumbai and recently, Akshay Kumar was spotted interacting with a fan during the schedule of the film. Keeping up with the era the film is set in the superstar was dressed in formal attire and also sported a moustache. 

On the other hand, we are yet to get the glimpses of the characters the actresses will portray inRustom. The romantic thriller directed by Tinu Desai will be shot in foreign locations which includes UK and other places in Europe. From what we hear, it will also have a separate London cast who will play important supporting characters in the film.

Rohan Shreshta's Hanami Japan Exhibition

Oh Revealed: Karan Johar, Ronnie Screwvala, Aamir Khan & Siddharth Roy Kapur's secret plans

Feb 6 2016 5:16pm

This is going to be the greatest merger-saga of Bollywood in recent times. Producer-director and owner of Dharma Productions Karan Johar is all set to join hands with Aamir Khan, Ronnie Screwvala (former founder of UTV), leading Mumbai distributor Anil Thadani and Siddharth Roy Kapur of UTV-Disney Films to combat what is secretly being referred to as the "multiplex monopoly."

A source very close to the development says, "The idea behind the conglomerate being formed by these five seasoned entrepreneurs is to combat the monopolistic stronghold of the big multiplexes that virtually lay down ground rules about the terms and conditions for the release of films. The merger will endeavour to break the multiplex monopoly, bring the smaller multiplex chains into the picture, construct new theatres, create a financially feasible alternate outlet chain to the big multiplex chains." 

The quintet has already worked out all the nitty-gritty of the partnership. A formal announcement will be made at "an appropriate time."

Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik, Rishi Kapoor: Actors who went unrecognised with make-up

Feb 4 2016 11:46pm

Rishi Kapoor's new octogenarian look from his upcoming movie 'Kapoor and Sons' had everyone staring at the picture. The actor looks completely unrecognisable in his new look and credit has to be given to the make-up artists who worked on the actor's face to give him the bald, old look. Other actors who were unrecognisable in their roles because of their make up were Hrithik Roshan in Dhoom 2 and Shah Rukh Khan's Fan avatar in his upcoming movie is something that we have never witnessed before. 

Rishi Kapoor's new look from Karan Johar's 'Kapoor and Sons' had everyone staring at the picture. The actor looks completely unrecognisable in his new look. Rishi recently shared his first look from the film on Twitter.

SRK in Fan: SRK will be seen playing the role of a die-hard fan Gaurav who idolises his screen idol, Aryan Khanna. SRK's make-up in the movie gives him the look and feel of a very young guy right from the way his hair is parted to the skin tone of his face. The star even underwent a digital 3D face scanning to get the right look for the movie.

Hrithik Roshan in Dhoom 2; This movie had Hrithik wearing many garbs. A London-based company called Hybrid was called in to dress Hrithik's looks and each disguise took 5-6 hours. The look which took the cake was the one where he dressed up like her majesty to steal the crown

"We have worked with superstars like Salman Khan and Kangna Ranaut but wanted newcomers for Sanam Teri Kasam" - Vinay Sapru

Feb 4 2016 7:50pm

Director duo of Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru is a known name in the industry. Other than directing the Salman Khan starrer Lucky-No Time for Love, they have also been a regular with the superstar when it comes to directing songs from his films (Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Dabangg, Dabangg 2, Jai Ho). While they run their own company which makes commercials, they are now getting ready with Sanam Teri Kasam. After working with Salman and other big names like Sunny Deol and Kangana Ranaut [I Love NY], they are working with a newcomer jodi [Harshvardhan Rane, Mawra Hocane] for the first time ever.

Over to Vinay Sapru.

You and Radhika certainly have a thing or two for sweet and simple love stories. Is that something that makes Sanam Teri Kasam special too?
See, our work is inspired by fairy tales and fables. Sanam Teri Kasam too is inspired in that sense, though it is set in Mumbai. The film has its base in a real life incident which happened in Radhika's building some time back. She lives at the seventh floor and one day she came across the Chairman and the Secretary of the society who were locking up the gates of the terrace. On asked, they told Radhika that youngsters from the building were sneaking up to the terrace in the night and getting intimate. They felt that it had to stop. This is where Radhika wondered that when it comes to lovers, how can you put locks on. 

Interesting! 
Bilkul. She felt that har umr ke pyaar ka ek tareeka hota hai; you can't and you should not bind it. She told me about this incident and it stayed in our mind. Then after a while, we were traveling to London for a shoot. We were at the Jane Austen museum and she is the woman behind classics like Pride & Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility etc. For us, she is a pretty much on the lines of Shakespeare. So there we were, inspired by the Mumbai incident and in the Jane Austen environment. Clubbing these two sensibilities, we had the starting point for Sanam Teri Kasam as there was this fairy tale element to our realistic love story. 

So how does this realistic love story play? 
Mumbai is a very cosmopolitan city. There are Gujarati people in Vile Parle. Then in Sion there is this big South Indian community. When you go to Five Gardens, there are Parsis. It is all bracketed into a lot of communities living together. Sanam Teri Kasam is set in King's Circle where a simple traditional South Indian girl lives. Then she meets this boy who comes from a criminal background. At the age of 14, he had committed a murder. With a dark past to him, it could well be an improbable love story. Hence, the clash comes in due to different cultures and different strata. It all turns out to be very strange for the lovers. 

Moreover, you have absolute newcomers for the lead pair. 
That is something making the film look really young. In the past we have worked with superstars like Salman Khan and then Sunny Deol and Kangana Ranaut. However, when we cracked the story of Sanam Teri Kasam, we knew that it had to be with newcomers. The film is about kids who are 21-22 year old. Unki abhi pyaar ki umar hai. There is adrenaline flowing in the body. When a girl touches you for the first time, it is a different kind of a sensation. This makes the love story really special. As directors we have worked with stars and they are available for us. However, we wanted to launch a new boy and girl this time around. 

Your last release I Love NY took ages to release though and later Kangana too was unhappy around its delayed release and was not available for promotion. That must have hurt you and Radhika. 
Kangana and we go back three-four years. We signed her before Tanu Weds Manu. We are a family. Yes, a director is like a parent to the film. However, I think ki har bachche ki ek destiny hoti hai. Kangana had different reasons not to promote the film. Otherwise she and Sunny went ahead and even dubbed it. In fact I remember Kangana telling us that how she wished I Love NY was her first film. She has always done these offbeat roles whereas our film was a classic love story. We tried for three years to release this film and never once did we even think of abandoning it. However, as I said, it had its own destiny. 

Guess it was destiny that got you the heroine for Sanam Teri Kasam, Mawra Hocane. 
Totally. We were shooting in Melbourne and then when we were in Sydney, we happened to meet Mawra's parents. They insisted that we meet her since she was interested in acting. Ab yeh destiny hi toh hai ki itne samundar paar kar ke hamein hamaari heroine Australia mein mili and that too who has Pakistani origin. It is all so ironical because she is exactly the girl who could be from Matunga or King's Circle. We had a certain image of a girl in mind and we found her all the way in Sydney. Then we saw her Pakistani shows and knew there and then that she was the right choice as the leading lady of Sanam Teri Kasam.end

"I take offence to counter opinion being labelled the truth, and our point of view labelled a lie" - Raja Krishna Menon

Feb 4 2016 7:44pm

Airlift released on the 22nd of Jan. The audience has been kind and seems to have given the film its love and support but I have also come across a few who have criticised the film as not being authentic enough and/or having not portrayed certain players in this true event in the correct light. I have tried to explain and share with these people my point of view about the film but it seems like this small tirade won't easily be laid to rest. This is why I feel it is important for me to put down my point of view so that it is available to anyone who is interested in reading it. 

Airlift is a project that I have lived with for over 12 years. It was some time in 2003 that I realised this story needed to be told. The logistical nightmare an evacuation this size would have been, the political will it took to carry it out, and the courage and human spirit of the businessmen who helped keep the Indians in Kuwait safe, were all desperately looking to be celebrated, but no one had told this story yet. I was baffled. 

I started researching the story in 2003, and realised there was very little documented evidence available so I started speaking to the people involved. I found some reports that had been filed by some bureaucrats too. Years of research led me to believe that the best way to tell this story in an interesting way would be to tell it from the point of view of the people who were stuck in Kuwait. It was their story first and foremost. 

Airlift became a story of the victory of the human spirit. 

I have for some time felt that we in India have become cynical. We blame the government for being inactive, for not doing enough and use that as an excuse to do nothing ourselves. I wanted to make a film that showed us that the Indian government can and does achieve the incredible. It manages feats that seem impossible, to take care of her citizens. I wanted to try and get the youth to feel a sense of pride towards their country. I wanted every Indian to remember that India had stood by her people when it mattered most.

The film opened to a heartening response. Indians and non-Indians alike, all over the world, loved the film and reactions poured in that made me feel proud and humbled at the same time. I felt vindicated by the feeling of patriotism that the film seemed to ignite in the people who watched it. 

At the same time, there have been counter opinions to how some people have been depicted in Airlift. It saddens me that instead of focusing on this great victory in terms of the actual evacuation, the impact the film is having, and the patriotic feeling and pride that it seems to be kindling in people, some are interested in focusing on the portrayal of one part of the story. I wanted to shout out to these people that they were missing the point. 

To research this very limitedly documented event, we spoke to hundreds of survivors, people who were stuck in Kuwait and then evacuated, pilots and air staff who flew the rescue missions, the businessmen and their families who are celebrated in the film, and many others. Artistic license was indeed taken to tell the story in a way that would make for good cinema. 

Opinion and counter opinion make for healthy debate, but I take offence to counter opinion being labelled the truth while our point of view is labelled a lie. 

The story we have told is a fiction based on true events. Others involved may perhaps have other narratives but our narrative is one that we arrived at from the stories of the many we interviewed. It is from these stories that I know without a shadow of doubt that what we have depicted in the film might well be taking artistic liberties but is in essence the truth. 

We tried to make a film where one can be proud of being Indian without having to fight an enemy, to celebrate the perseverance and persistence of the Indian people, the bureacracy and Air India to carve a success out of the near impossible, but suddenly I find myself in the middle of a controversy I do not understand. I believed I was celebrating one of India's greatest achievements post-Independence, an achievement of the Indian bureaucracy really, but somehow it seems that, that very sentiment of mine has been turned around by a few people, into something I never intended. 

Sometimes I ask myself why I even attempted to bring this story out. Maybe it was better buried and uncelebrated as it has been for over 25 years. 

But I know that is not true, and, I and everyone involved with Airlift are proud to have made this film. Amongst the countless great heroes who were involved in this phenomenal achievement, I do believe most are happy that the story has been told, that someone is finally celebrating them. 

Raja Krishna Menon end

Exclusive: Nishikant Kamat to play the villain in Rocky Handsome

Feb 2 2016 8:42pm

Readers may recall that Bollywood Hungama had reported about the ace director Nishikant Kamath teaming up with the hunky John Abraham for Rocky Handsome. Besides John Abraham, the film also stars Shruti Haasan, Nathalia Kaur amongst others. 

Besides the aforementioned starcast, there is a surprise element about the film that had been kept under the wraps for so long. And Bollywood Hungama just did the needful by spilling the beans. News is that, besides directing the film, Nishikant Kamath will also be seen playing the role of the villain in the film. 

Speaking exclusively to Bollywood Hungama, Nishkant Kamath told about how he 'bagged' the role. He said, "I have this habit of tonsuring my head after every film of mine. And when Rocky Handsomewas being made Lai Bhaari had just released. It so happened that the person who was supposed to play the villain in Rocky Handsome developed cold feet at the eleventh hour and he backed out of the film. One of my assistants saw me and told "Sir, aapka look perfect hai". (Sir, your look is perfect for the role). After a lot of thought process, I agreed to do the villain's role. My character's name is Kevin Pereira and given the fact that I look like a Goan in real life, I got away with the role." 

When asked to describe his look in the film, Nishikant Kamath summed it up stating "menacing". 

Rocky Handsome is being readied for March 25, 2016 release.end

RGV's next is on underworld rivalry titled Government

Feb 1 2016 5:50pm

After his latest (regional) release titled Killing Veerappan, the maverick film maker Ram Gopal Varma (RGV), who has been out of the Bollywood scene for some time now, is all set to direct his next Hindi movie titled Government. The film is based on the (infamous) rivalry between the dreaded gangsters Chota Rajan and Dawood Ibrahim.

The film will revolve around the after effects of the split between Chota Rajan and Dawood Ibrahim and the unexpected rise of yet another gangster Abu Salem. RGV took to social media to make the announcement by stating "Government" will portray Dawood Ibrahim, Chota Shakeel, Abu Salem and others as realistically as I portrayed Veerappan". 

RGV also gave out 'other details' of the film by stating that Government "will touch upon the reinvention of Chota Rajan as a patriotic don who started serving his own justice to all the D company members who escaped the Indian justice system and above all it will show the ultra-delicate and immensely complex relationship between a criminal organisation and a Government organisation which recently got exposed in the Chota Rajan capture". 

He also added that, his film Government "will venture into areas where no other underworld film has ever dared to enter which will include the actual truth behind the Underworld/Bollywood nexus, the politico-police-underworld relationships, the cut throat betrayals among both the gangs and the Government agents and it will differentiate between an underworld Don doing crime as a duty and the government doing a crime for duty".end

MSG 2 The Messenger beats Bahubali's poster record

Jan 29 2016 11:40pm

Usually we hear of films breaking box office records; however it isn't every day that we hear of a film breaking a World record. Well the film by Saint Dr. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan; MSG 2 The Messenger has done just that. In fact as per the makers the film which has been having a stellar run at cinemas has received the Guinness World Record for the "Largest Poster". The poster that was created on September 9, 2015, covered 5,969.61 square meters (64,258.47 sq ft), essentially breaking the previous record that was established with the film Bahubali whose size was 51598.2 sq. ft.

Apart from this, MSG 2 has also created records for, the largest number of people in a selfie, most number of people dancing together, and the largest greeting card mosaic that comprised of 19,412 greeting cards used to create a 56 ft. x 76 ft. mosaic covering the area of 4256 sq. ft.end

why Saala Khadoos looks like a winner 10 Reasons

Jan 29 2016 11:21am

1. Suddenly this year, boxers and wrestlers are out to have a field day in the ring. After Madhavan in Saala Khadoos, it's Randeep Hooda playing a boxer in Do Lafzon Ki Kahani. Salman Khan in Sultan and Aamir Khan in Dangal play wrestlers. Last year it was Akshay Kumar as a boxer in Brothers.

2. No major stars except Madhavan in Saala Khadoos, the Tamil-Hindi actor who was sidelined for his understated layered performance in Raj Kumar Hirani's historical hit 3 Idiots and as a wounded spouse in the two Tanu-Manu movies. In Saala Khadoos (SK) Maddy takes center stage for a change. And how! 

3. Complete makeover of the artiste: Madhavan took two years off from acting to bulk and beef up for his role as the Adi Tomar, the burnt-out raging wrestler who gets one more unexpected shot at glory. Not only did Maddy transform himself physically he entered the mind of the embittered boxer to occupy his character's heart and soul. The dedication shows.

4. Real-life lady-champ jumps into the ring: Real-life boxer Ritika Singh is the promising boxer whom Maddy mentors. Ritika unlearnt all her boxing skills in front of the camera to look convincing as Maddy's pupil. 

5. Getting Raj Kumar Hirani on board as co-producer for the Hindi version was a masterstroke. Potential viewers began to see SK as a 'Hirani type of cinema' In other words, as motivational and engaging. Hirani has gone all-out to back support and promote the film. 

6. The director has been with the project for 6 years. Sudha Kongara Prasad has lived through every moment of the script before putting it on screen. She isn't faking the conflicts. Every character and every moment in the script is based on actuality. 

7. The fights and the conflicts look real and not staged. Since both the protagonists in the film are boxer, the other trained to look like one, the fights go for the kill. Mary Kom, move over. 

8. It's been a while since we had a rugged no-holds-barred film with a sporty background. Lagaan, Chak Deand Mary Kom are the only names that come to mind. No sports film worth talking about since then. 

9. Saala Khadoos releases a week after Airlift. Both are motivational inspirational stories with the same theme-faith can move mountains-running through them. Moreover, SK opens alongside Mastizaade which has its own mountains to climb. 

10. SK will release in 2 versions. In Hindi and Tamil. The Tamil version entitled Irudhi Suttru is tonally and even content-wise different from the Hindi version. Two interpretations of the same plot is an interesting way to reserve audiences' attention across a broad bandwidth.end

"I am disgusted and angry" - Hansal Mehta on Aligarh promo getting 'A' certificate

Jan 29 2016 11:18am

Censor board has given an 'A' certificate to the 3 minute promo of Aligarh. This translates into the fact that the promo can be screened in only those theater screens where another 'A' certificate film is being played. This isn't all as number of music and entertainment channels can't play the promo either on prime time. This leaves the film only a digital platform to make its presence felt.

"And that, when there is not even a single shot of nudity or any cuss word in the promo," says a source attached to the film, "How absurd can it get? Though there hasn't been a reason stated for an 'A' certificate been given to the promo, it is but obvious that the bold theme of film, which centers on homosexuality, has caught Censor Board's attention." 

The film tells the real life story of a professor from Aligarh who was ostracized when found in a compromising position with another man at his house. It is suspected that just a couple of words like 'gay' and 'sex' with undertones of the leading man's sexual orientation have bothered the Censor Board. 

Since the makers of Aligarh wanted to get going with the promotion and didn't really have bandwidth to fight it out prior to the launch, they took the decision with a pinch of salt. However, the man of the moment, director Hansal Mehta, is understandably upset. 

"I am disgusted and angry. The trailer has nothing to warrant an 'A' certificate. I am constrained to smell a conspiracy in this absurd action by CBFC. This is Homophobia for you. Sex is fine, sexuality isn't! I believe that our mindsets towards sexuality won't change irrespective of Sec. 377," Mehta fires away. 

Starring Manoj Bajpayee and Rajkummar Rao in pivotal roles, the film is already gaining rave reviews in international film festivals. However closer home in India, the film would have to fight it out for gaining mainstream visibility en route release. 

"I will protest and raise a stink," Mehta is unwilling to let go, "They are sabotaging our attempts to promote this film and are severely paralyzing us and our freedom of expression. But I will battle them and not give up the fight." 

That should be interesting, and much looked forward to as well.end

Saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan is now a Doctor

Jan 29 2016 11:15am

With a lineup of talents like spiritual saint and philanthropist, versatile singer, agricultural scientist and engineer, sportsperson, music composer, director, lyricist and many more, Saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan is now has one more title added to this list, that of 'Doctor'. An honorary Doctorate Degree has been conferred upon him for being a multi-talented all-rounder, by World Records University, London. 

World Records University London is the only University offering an honorary Doctorate to Record Holders Community. The Degree is awarded to those who have demonstrated Honoris Causa, or cause to be honored. According to the University, Saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan or MSG holds the records for largest tree plantations across the globe, most people in a selfie, largest number of people dancing on a film launch, largest blood donation camps and largest eye camp. University Co-Chancellor Mr. Jai Kishan Sharma, in view of about 30 million fans, presented the doctorate degree to Saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan amidst cheers, hoots & applause at Dera Sacha Sauda's HQ in Sirsa Hryana.