CitySaheli » Music & Film

Sizzling Movies For The Summer

citysaheli — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:15:55 +0000

Whether it’s symptoms of Global Warming, or just the fact that it’s summer, temperatures are definitely on the rise. What better way to cool off than an evening at the theatre, or on the couch with a good DVD? Here are some movies that will help pass these long hot summer days.

Eat Pray Love

Follow Julia Roberts as she Eats ice cream in Italy, Prays at ashrams in India, and finds Love in Bali. This movie comes out on 13^th August, and is based on a memoir written by Elizabeth Gilbert. So pick up a copy of the book, if you just can’t wait for the movie.

Did You Know: The movie was shot in India, and Julia Roberts’ 5-year-old daughter, Hazel, loved being in India so much that she wants to live there when she grows up!

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Speaking of books that got made into movies – haven’t had time to read Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy, and wondering what’s got everyone so excited? The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is based on the first book in the trilogy, and follows the story of Lisbeth Salander – hacker extraordinaire – as she teams up with a well-known journalist to solve a murder. This movie is already out, and you can catch it on Netflix Instant Watch! Warning: Not for the faint at heart.

Did You Know: The original Swedish title of this movie is ‘Män som hatar kvinnor’, which translates to ‘Men Who Hate Women’.

Inception

This movie, from the director of Dark Knight and Memento, will have your mind spinning for hours after watching it. Leonardo DiCaprio plays ‘Cobb’, a man with an unusual talent – he can break into people’s dreams as they sleep. And since it’s an action movie, your significant other will be more than happy to watch this with you.

Did You Know: Christopher Nolan spent ten years working on the screenplay for this movie – and the result is a wonderfully intricate and seamless puzzle!

Toy Story Marathon

You don’t have to be an eight-year-old to enjoy a Pixar movie, and Toy Story 3 definitely gets a CitySaheli vote. If you’ve already seen it and can’t get enough, then why not grab a copy of Toy Story 1 and 2 and gear up for an evening of nostalgia.

Did You Know: If you still can’t get enough, you can follow Toy Story 3 Director Lee Unkrich on Twitter – http://twitter.com/leeunkrich. Apparently, ‘Toy Story 3 has officially passed Finding Nemo to become Pixar’s all-time biggest hit in the United States.’

Greenberg

Do you love doing nothing on a lazy summer Sunday? Well, in this movie, Ben Stiller’s character makes ‘trying to do nothing’ a fulltime activity. The perfect movie for a Sunday afternoon, and it just came out on DVD!

Did You Know: Ben Stiller is known for playing the neurotic loser (There’s Something About Mary, Meet The Fockers) and claims that in real life he isn’t too different from his character in Greenberg.

I Hate Luv Storys

Looking for a Bollywood flick? I Hate Luv Storys, produced by Karan Johar and starring Imran Khan and Sonam Kapoor, is in the theaters this summer. Although it has received mixed reviews, if you’re in the mood for a simplistic romantic comedy it may be the summer getaway you need.

Did you know: Johar formally entered the film industry as an actor, portraying Raj’s (Shahrukh Khan) close friend in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. In addition, he selected Shahrukh Khan’s costumes, something he continued to do for Shahrukh Khan’s other movies like Dil To Pagal Hai, Duplicate, Mohabbatein, Main Hoon Na and Veer-Zaara and Om Shanti Om. Karan Johar costume-extraordinaire!

Movie Review – Tribeca Film Festival’s Road, Movie

citysaheli — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:50:37 +0000

Here at CitySaheli we love it when South Asian movies break out into the mainstream. So we were delighted when director Dev Benegal’s Road, Movie was selected for the Tribeca Film Festival this spring. There’s also some good news for those of you who missed the movie when it screened at Tribeca- the movie is available to watch through On Demand!

The film follows Vishnu (Abhay Deol) the restless son and heir to a struggling hair oil business. Vishnu’s disconnect from his family is severe and his longing to break away is palpable. He finally finds an escape when his uncle sells his ancient Chevy truck. Vishnu jumps at the opportunity to drive the truck across the country to its new owner. Armed with several crates of hair oil and his mother’s blessings, Vishnu sets off for his great adventure.

Set largely in Rajasthan, Road, Movie is visually stunning. Vishnu quickly picks up a cast of dynamic characters along the way- a young urchin, and, when the truck continually breaks down, a mystical mechanic named Om played by the excellent Satish Kaushik. Om agrees to fix the truck on the condition that Vishnu drops him off at an elusive fair. As the trio fight each other and worry over their dwindling food and water resources the film takes an interesting and original twist. Don’t worry, we won’t reveal it here, but suffice it to say that the film turns unexpectedly, darkly comic.

After being held up by police in a remote Rajasthani village, Vishnu and Om discover that in addition to being an antique truck, the Chevy also served as a traveling cinema. Reel upon reel of the greatest movies in Hindi cinema are discovered in the truck and Benegal’s love for the Indian film industry is readily apparent in the way he presents clips and glimpses of the Bollywood film stars of years past. If you are like us, you will rush to YouTube and/or your local desi movie store so that you can watch these classic cinematic scenes again. A particularly memorable scene involves the song Sar Jo Tera Chakraye from the movie Pyaasa. You can listen to the new version of the song here.

The film’s most mysterious character is the nameless gypsy woman played by Tannishtha Chatterjee. She is the movie’s catalyst, as she is the only one who can reach out through Vishnu’s alienation. Chatterjee’s natural singing voice is also in full display as she sings a beautiful Rajasthani folk song. Deol also shines throughout and it is truly a delight to watch his caustic, bitter Vishnu finally evolve into a compassionate human being. It is also wonderful to see the career character actor Satish Kaushik get the rich role he so deeply deserved.

All in all, Road, Movie is one of the most inventive and fresh new Hindi movies we’ve seen in a while. The next time you want to curl up by the air conditioner and watch a film during this heat wave, check this one out.

Amar Is Back And Showing It Off

citysaheli — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:30:58 +0000

Glamorous singer and songwriter Amar is back on the music scene with her new and refreshing Indo-Pop album, Show it Off, where she sings exclusively in Hindi to a backdrop of urban R&B beats. CitySaheli had the opportunity to interview this hot pop star to find out more about her new album and her collaboration with the internationally acclaimed superstar – Timbaland!

Indeed, the British Indian pop singer is now known as Timbaland’s “Indian Muse.” She first worked with the producer when she lent her vocals to his song “Bombay” on the 2007 album Shock Value. Other collaborations followed and Amar is now signed to the Timbaland’s record label.

Amar distinctly remembers her first meeting with superstar producer Timbaland. “He’s amazing. He pulled out a bunch of old Hindi records and started to play them,” she recalled. “He’s a big fan of R.D. Burman and really into the Indian style of singing.” “That happened a few years ago. Now I am firmly placed in his orbit.”

It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Timbaland’s influence can be felt throughout Amar’s new album Show It Off. The album also marks something of a coming-of-age for Amar as she leaves behind what she calls the “teenage angst” of her previous work. The importance of her cultural identity is also vital on the new record. Entirely in Hindi, the album has a mix of dance, pop, and ballads.

“It is a very melting pot, second generation kind of album,” Amar explains. “It represents the second generation, those who didn’t grow up in India.”

Two of her favorite tracks are Bombay Billionaire, a duet with Sonu Nigam, and Sajana, which features Shankar Mahadevan of Shankar Ehsaan Loy.

Bombay Billionaire was recorded in (where else) Mumbai. “We were in a studio session and we managed to bag him,” said Amar of Sonu Nigam. “He was messing out with some beats and it gave me the same kind of feel as [the Missy Elliott and Timbaland hit] Get Ur Freak On. It’s a real back and forth between us.”

As for Mahadevan, Amar had been a fan of his work since hearing his song Breathless. “We managed to go meet with him,” said Amar, “And we ended up just singing. Within a few minutes, everyone was up and dancing.” The result was the track Sanjana.

The singer knows how tough it can be to create a unique identity in the South Asian community. The daughter of Punjabi singer Mangal Singh, Amar resisted emphasizing her family musical connections for years.

“I used to be quite firm, I wanted to make my name on my own,” she said. “You know how people get their success from their parents? I didn’t want that at all.”

Father and daughter have however begun working together on this album. Mangal Singh even appears on the track Deewana.

Amar was coy when asked what the future holds. “I’m taking it one day at a time,” she said. She did hint at the possibility of big things in the near future. “I have some mainstream projects coming up, but I don’t think I’m allowed to talk about them yet.”

Sahelis can follow Amar on Twitter @amarmusiconline or visit her official website here.

Preview Bombay Billionaire and Sajana here.

Hrithik Roshan And Barbara Modi Attend NY Premiere Of Kites

citysaheli — Wed, 19 May 2010 12:00:34 +0000

Superstar Hrithik Roshan and his co-star, Bollywood newcomer Barbara Modi, were in Manhattan this weekend to promote their much-anticipated new film. Kites, which had its star-studded New York premiere on Sunday, is the story of a wanted man who is on a quest to find his one true love. With dialogue in Hindi, English and Spanish, and a story that takes the protagonist on an adventure through Mexico, Las Vegas and Los Angeles, the film, according to Roshan, is unlike anything he’s done before.

Roshan says that he always knew his film Kites was special. “I just knew at the time there was just a destiny for this film,” Roshan explained.

He reflected, “I think that whatever you create, it is just a reflection of who you are.”

Wearing jeans and a leather jacket over a red shirt, Roshan and his co-star Barbara Modi were in good spirits when they met with reporters on Friday. The Ecuadorian-born Modi, who looked dashing in a sleeveless black blouse with white ruffles and a black skirt, said she loved the script. “I got touched by the story,” she said. “Two human beings who fall in love even though they don’t speak the same language.”

She noted, “it’s my first English movie, my first action movie, my first Bollywood movie, and big budget movie so there’s a difference between this movie and what I have done before.” Referring to her fan base in her adopted country of Mexico she said, “I think they will love it because in Mexico we love action and love stories and I think Kites has a little bit of everything.”

Modi, who spoke little English at the start of filming, seemed comfortable conversing in the language. Roshan was solicitous of her opinion throughout, often pausing to ask his costar’s opinion and nodding and interjecting supportive words throughout.

“My job is a little overrated, because I just captured their on-screen chemistry,” director Anurag Basu said of his two stars.

Like most of Roshan’s films in recent years, Kites was very much a family affair. His father Rakesh Roshan is the movie’s producer and his uncle Rajesh Roshan composed the music. Rakesh Roshan was quick to say that he took care not to step on the toes of the film’s director, Anurag Basu. “I am also a film maker, so I know what a film maker requires… I said [to Anurag] I am behind you like a rock.”

Rakesh also spoke about his and Hrithik’s working relationship. “It is not difficult [to work with him] at all. He’s the one who just gives himself to the director.”

He continued, “When we are home, we are like father and son. The moment we are on set, he is an actor to me.”

Rajesh Roshan concurred, saying it was quite easy to work as a family. “What I am thinking he [Rakesh] is thinking, what he is thinking. It’s like sailing in the same boat.”

The film’s soundtrack features a notable first- the debut of Hrithik Roshan’s singing career with the song “Kites in the Sky”. “Hrithik has worked very hard, it is a very hard song to sing,” noted Rajesh Roshan as he described preparing Hrithik for the track, which he described as beautiful.

One unusual and somewhat controversial fact about the film, is the fact that there are two versions of the film being released. While the Indian version is directed by Basu, the international “remix” of the film was cut by American filmmaker Brett Ratner (Rush Hour, X-Men:The Last Stand) “The international version is the same film, but some sequences are cut differently,” Rakesh Roshan explained.

“I wanted to go global. Korea has made it [in the international market], China has made it. India is left behind. I thought, let me make a global film.”

Basu, the director, agreed. “In India everything else is becoming global, why not cinema?”

The First Hindi Film At The Tribeca Film Festival

citysaheli — Sun, 16 May 2010 13:30:22 +0000

Director Dev Benegal’s Road, Movie became the first Hindi film to ever be shown at the Tribeca Film Festival last month. Established in 2002, this festival’s mission is to enable the international film community and the general public to experience the power of film by redefining the film festival experience.

Road, Movie follows the restless heir of a hair oil business (Abhay Deol) as he drives a battered old truck through Rajasthan. Along the way he picks up a sarcastic runaway child, a wise entertainer, and a mysterious gypsy woman. As the group battles the heat, their conflicting self-interests, and a local waterlord, Vishnu is taken on a journey of self-discovery. In the festival’s program notes, Director of Programming, David Kwok, described the movie thusly: “Benegal injects such freshness into the film that it transcends the genre. Deol and the rest of the cast are splendid to watch as they navigate the breathtaking terrain of India, making Road, Movie both entertaining and touching.”

While the film festival ended last week, don’t fret about missing it. You can now watch Road, Movie from the comfort of your living room. Through a partnership between Tribeca Film and sponsor American Express, movie fans across the country can now access the film through Tribeca Film on Demand.

Click here for further instructions on how to access the film on your television.

Also, get a sneak peak and check out the trailer below.

Mixing It Up With Kayper

citysaheli — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:55:28 +0000

DJ Kayper is one of the hottest female DJs in the club scene and is spinning in NYC tonight! British-born Kayper, aka Kajaal Bakrania, effortlessly melds together hip-hop with bhangra, house with Bollywood, and always makes a room go crazy. Native of South London, Kayper has been heavily influenced by reggae music. In 2004, DJ Kayper broke barriers by becoming the first female to win the Vestax Juice DJ Competition and in 2006 BBC approached her to host her own radio show, called the DJ Kayper Show.

Kayper discovered her talent while using equipment that her brother had bought for himself. She recalls, “My older brother bought some turntables but hardly used them, so when he would go out, I would hook up the turntables and play random stuff I found around the house. One day my brother came home and found me practicing and asked, ‘Who taught you how to do that?’ I had taught myself.” She first performed at the age of 15 and ever since has take the musical world by storm.

DJ Kayper recently released her new mixtape, Futurebox. The 60-minute mixtape features a mix of electro, UK funky, dubstep and house music, and showcases the turntablist’s looping skills. “The music I’ve been working on and making is going in the direction of this music,” she says. “In a U.K. club you can go through four different genres in one night, which is not something you could do before.” This mixtape can be downloaded at Kayper’s blog.

As a club DJ, Kayper has headlined at some of the worlds most renowned nightclubs including London’s Ministry of Sound and Bar Rumba, New York’s SOB’s and the Kitting Factory, Malaysia’s Zouk Club, Johannesburg’s Coca Cola Dome, Ibiza’s El Divino and Mumbai’s largest Prive.

You can hear DJ Kayper tonight, September, 17^th, as she spins with DJ Jazzy Jeff at M2 Ultra Lounge. Can’t see her tonight? She will also be playing in Houston and Boston over the next few weeks. Also, stay tuned as CitySaheli will get the scoop from Kayper herself on being a hot South Asian female DJ.

Thursday, 9/17 – New York (M2 Ultra Lounge)
Friday, 9/18 – Houston (House of Blues)
Saturday, 9/19 – Houston (Private)
Thursday, 9/24 – Boston (Wonder Bar)
Friday, 9/25 – Boston (Sanctuary)
Saturday, 9/26 – Boston (Greatest Bar)

Listen live or back to The DJ Kayper show at www.bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork/djkayper.

For more on DJ Kayper, visit www.djkayper.co.uk or www.myspace.com/djkayper.

I View Film Festival 2009

citysaheli — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:55:40 +0000

Walk down the red carpet with Bollywood stars this weekend at the Engendered’s I View Film Festival, which will be held at Lincoln Center and the Asia Society in New York. Engendered is an annual New York based festival that explores gender, sexuality, ritual and religion in South Asia. The purpose of the festival is to raise awareness and break silence on these issues. The theme for this year’s three day festival is the role of cinema in sexuality and gender inequality in modern South Asia.

The event opens this Friday August 28^th with the film “Dostana” and closes Sunday with “Luck By Chance,” two Bollywood blockbusters that expose sexuality and gender inequality issues. In addition to major movies, independent Bollywood and Hollywood films touching upon these social issues will be shown and discussed.

Celebrities, academics and journalists will discuss the role of cinema in overcoming gender and sexuality issues. Speakers during the event include Mira Nair, John Abraham, Farhan Akhtar, Zoya Ahktar, Parvez Sharma, Kirron Kher, Tarun Mansukhani, and Boman Irani.

Opening night will take place in Lincoln Center and will be followed by an after party with special musical guest Nadia Ali, a Pakistani-American singer and the voice of new generation in house music. It will be party not to miss!

Click here for more information or to book your tickets online.