Nil Battey Sannata wins applause at BFI London Film Festival 2015

After receiving tremendous response at the Silk Road International Film Festival in China, the Swara Bhaskar starrer Nil Battey Sannata, produced by Aanand L Rai’s Colour Yellow Productions, Eros International and Jar Pictures and directed by debutant filmmaker Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, was screened at the BFI London Film Festival (LFF) on 11^th and 12^th October.

The three screenings which took place on 11^th and 12^th October were house full and the movie received wonderful response.Swara was unanimously applauded. The inspirational movie will also be screened at the on-going coveted International Rome Film Festival. 

The inspiring family film featuring Swara Bhaskar, Ratna Pathak Shah and Pankaj Tripathi is a charming tale of a poor single mother who comes up with an ingenious plan to convince her rebellious daughter to study. 

Nil Battey Sannata is the story of a mother battling to ensure her daughter has every opportunity in life, whether she wants it or not. Tiwari’s drama is a powerful account of motherly love and the often turbulent conflict that can exist between generations.

Says director Ashwiny, “I’m grateful to the people of London for the overwhelming response to Nil Battey Sannata and the love they showed to my debut movie.”

Aanand L Rai says, “It’s a proud feeing that Nil Battey Sannata has been creating waves at the coveted international film festivals including Silk Road film festival in China and the London Film Festival.”

Krishika Lulla says, “It is the ultimate honour for Nil Battey Sannata to have screened at the BFI London Film festival. It’s a simple, sweet and endearing story of a mother and her daughter. It’s a story that needs to be told and the subject has a universal appeal.”

Produced by Colour Yellow Productions and Jar Pictures directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Nil Battey Sannata stars Swara Bhaskar, Ratna Pathak Shah and Pankaj Tripathi. The Film will be distributed in India by Eros International.

Bombairiya - fabelesque ode to the city of Mumbai

With content-based cinema making waves in Bollywood, Producer Michael Ward looks forward with great anticipation as he reveals a glimpse of his film Bombairiya. Already touted as a fabelesque ode to the city of Mumbai, infused with comedy, the film brings together an immensely talented cast including Radhika Apte, Akshay Oberoi, Siddhanth Kapoor, Ravi Kishan and Shilpa Shukla. Jointly produced by Beautiful Bay Entertainment and Kreo Films of Dubai, the project has been helmed by debutant director Pia Sukanya and will release next year.

Radhika plays Meghna, a PR Agent in the film industry, and now really empathises with film PRs ”My character has to keep bad stuff from making news and make ugly truths disappear. It's about the worst day in her career as personal problems pile on top of professional problems. When her phone gets flicked, her tendency to lie draws her into a much bigger story where the lives of others and her own are at stake. I identify with Meghna's ability to cope with chaos, so much of her is coming straight from the heart!"

Adding to this, Akshay Oberoi who plays Abhishek, an IT Professional and Have-A-Go hero said. “It would be unfair to describe Abhishek as a Mummy's boy though he probably is the most positive and family oriented character I have played. His idealism tends to make matters worse for Meghna whom he is trying to help in spite of her rebuffing him and the knocks he has to take which are both physical and mental. He's a character I have loved playing and contrary to what Ms Apte might tell people, not at all like the real me!"

Siddhanth Kapoor who is known as the mysterious Biker in the film has already caught industry eyeballs with his inventive look, pink scooty and helmet:. “I like the fact that my character has no name. His job is to deliver a parcel, A to B, no questions asked. Could be anything. It's not his job to know. When the world suddenly comes after him, trying to catch him, seduce him, con him or kill him…he discovers what story he is really in. He's kind of streetwise and sees Meghna as a challenge." 

Director Pia Sukanya is thrilled with the job that the three lead actors have done and can't believe her luck in getting Ravi Kishan and Shilpa Shukla to do featured roles. Ravi plays fading superstar Karan Kapoor and Shilpa plays a powerful politician facing a moral dilemma. "It's the way their stories interweave with the mystery parcel and it's destination that I am really enjoying. I want Bombairiya to feel like a joyride in a ramshackle fairground where anything can happen given the wonkiness of each character."

Official Statement from Mr Amitabh Bachchan

"Ref; the announcement in the media today by the UP Govt for pension to YashBharati Award winners :

Whereas I respect the UP Govt’s honour of the Yash Bharati Award to members of my family, and their decision as per reports in the press, for providing pension of Rs 50, 000 per month to each recipient, I am requesting the UP Govt., with all humility, to redirect the entire amount designated for my family towards any noble charitable scheme or cause that benefits the poor and the needy.
I shall be writing to the Chief Minister in this regard, in a separate communication."
Amitabh Bachchan

Hogaya Dimaagh Ka Dahi gets a good opening

Fauzia Arshi's rip-roaring comedy has received a good opening along with Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2, reiterating the audience's faith in smart and comic movies.

The film takes laughter to its original form with five great comedians Om Puri, Sanjay Mishra, Raajpal Yadav, Razzaq Khan and the veteran Kader Khan coming together. Plus, it has an ensemble of songs by varied singers like Mika Singh, Kailash Kher, Kunal Ganjawala, Ritu Pathak and Fauzia Arshi herself, who has also composed the music.

In times of loud numbers, in a way, her music marks the return of melody, capturing the essence of rhythmical poetry, composed with mellifluous tunes. Moreover, with this movie, Mika Singh has become the first singer-caricature in a feature film to have an entire animated song to himself.

Bringing back memories of the time when comedies ruled Bollywood, the film is a rollercoaster ride that tickles and entertains on one hand, and brings forth the irony of the changing times on the other. It makes one laugh and think about life, without being preachy.

Produced by Santosh Bhartiya and Fauzia Arshi, it has story, dialogues and direction by Fauzia Arshi, who is set to embark on two new film projects. The enterprising filmmaker also has grand plans to set up a state-of-the-art post-production studio to boost film production business in the industry.

Shilpa Shetty Kundra encourages women to be financially independent by associating with Best Deal TV ‘s latest proposition

After achieving great success with her latest venture Best Deal TV- India’s first ever celebrity driven home shopping channel, Shilpa Shetty Kundra now proposes a business venture to give back to the society and empower women.  

The latest initiative of women empowerment in association with the channel, gives women an avenue to showcase their entrepreneurial skills.  

Keeping in mind, the growing response to home shopping in today’s fast moving world,the initiative invites women aspiring to be financially independent to enroll in their Direct Selling Agent Program. An aspiring entrant will be required to invest a minimum of Rs 10000 and will be provided the catalogs and demo videos.

Talking about the initiative Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Chairperson- Best Deal TV , “It gives me immense pleasure in announcing the launch of the Direct Selling Agents Program with Best Deal TV. The initiative aims to encourage today’s Indian women who are independent and self-sufficient to work at their own convenience without the need to be tied down to an organization. Women enrolling in this program can easily earn upto Rs 10 lac per annum with just an investment of Rs 10,000 and without the pressures of an organization.”