Sonakshi is the chosen one for item number in Joker

Makers of Joker won’t have to look anymore for Katrina Kaif or other A-league actresses for performing an item number in Joker. They have found one pretty much in-house, what with Sonakshi Sinha herself stepping in for a slot that was available for grabs. This well-thought of decision was taken last week by Shirish Kunder and Farah Khan who felt that there was no harm in getting their own leading lady gyrate to the tune of this ‘desi’ number that is expected to spice up the narrative of this Akshay Kumar starrer.

“This item number was recorded many months back but the hunt was on for the item girl. Though there was no one in particular who was sent any feelers since there are still a few more days to go before the song goes on floors, Shirish started looking at Sonakshi as a big option that was available right in front of them”, says a source from the film.

For the uninitiated, a few months back there were also talks of Katrina Kaif and Salman Khan being approached for the song. Since Katrina owes her biggest chartbuster ever, ‘Sheila Ki Jawaani’ (Tees Maar Khan) to Farah and Salman too has worked with Shirish in Jaan-E-Mann (and also done an item number ‘Wallah Wallah’ in Tees Maar Khan), everyone felt that this would be a cakewalk. However, once Katrina denied doing any such song, the hunt intensified to look for another big name.

“Yeah, everyone felt that Sonakshi herself could be groomed for this item number”, the source continues, “She has anyways done quite well in another song from the film, ‘Dance Kar Le English Mein’, where she has gyrated to a ‘desi’ tune and impressed everyone with her moves. Shirish and Farah felt that it would be good to continue the momentum by making their leading lady do the quintessential item number as well.”

On contacted, Shirish did confirm that Sonakshi was doing the item number. However he denied that this was an after thought and instead stated that options were always open for the coveted slot. “No one else had been approached and in any case this song was always supposed to be shot in our later schedules. Sonakshi is the best fit for the song and we would be beginning the shoot soon”, says Shirish.

There are some who are surprised though. After all, it wasn’t too long ago when he had supposedly asked Sonakshi to reduce weight for her further scenes in the film. One wonders what led to a change in mind.

“What change of mind”, Shirish gets a tad irritated here, “We took Sonakshi in the film for what she is. She looks absolutely fine and there is no change needed in her. Whatever you heard are just rumours.”

When told that this decision seemed impromptu and just a measure to soothe Ms. Sinha who is pretty peeved with the suggestions, Shirish responded stating, “That’s rubbish. People should stop imagining.”

Deepika’s first item number in ‘Dum maro dum’

MUMBAI: In the upcoming film of Abhishek bachchan ‘Dum maro dum’ ,actress Deepika Padukone will be performing an item song.

It will the first item number of deepika. Film dum maro dum has abhishek and bipasha in the lead role. Its not bips, but Deepika who was selected for the song. The song will be a promotional number.

Deepika wasn’t even in talks with Rohan regarding the ‘Dum Maro Dum’ item song. Rohan Sippy was considering other names then Deepika was suggested. She was selected unanimously.

The song will be a scintillating item number having have a contemporary and extremely urban feel in it. Pritam is remixing the song. The song will be shot next week.

Dum maro dum is a remake of Amitabh’s famous zanzeer film. Rohan sippy is the director of the film. Its a 2011 release.

Deepika’s ‘Dum Maaro Dum’ song to be used in rave-party sequence

Deepika Padukone is getting into shape to shoot the sizzling ‘Dum Maaro Dum’ track for Rohan Sippy’s film of that title, at Yash Raj Studios on Tuesday. The Anand Bakshi-penned song re-written by Jaideep Sahni (who has scripted Yash Raj’s Chak De and Rocket Singh – Salesman Of The Year) and re-composed by Pritam Chakraborty will be choreographed by Bosco-Caesar. The song will be shot in utter secrecy.

And now in the film’s leading lady Bipasha Basu’s absence (she’s in Australia shooting for Roland Joffe’s Singularity) the song is all set to sizzle with Deepika dazzling on the dance floor, her second item song. The first was with Shah Rukh Khan in Billu. This time she go-goes it alone.

Says a source from the crew, “It’s a rave-party song. Deepika will be seen dancing to ‘Dum Maaro Dum’ at the party. At the end of the song, cop Abhishek Bachchan will raid the rave party. So even he can’t be part of the song.”

Adds the source, “‘Dum Maaro Dum’ could never have been filmed on Bipasha. Her character cannot be present during the time when the song happens.”

However, that’s not the impression Bipasha had been given.

The song is being shot in a great rush. Apparently, composer Pritam Chakraborty has not even decided on the voice to be used to sing ‘Dum Maaro Dum’.

“They’re going ahead to shoot the dance with a scratch recording,” whispers the source. Let’s hope Bipasha doesn’t raid Deepika’s rave party before Abhishek does.

Dev Anand allows Rohan Sippy to use the song ‘Dum Maaro Dum’

Dev Anand has always been extra possessive about his films and songs. Not exactly forthcoming about any kind of remake that one might want to make. But even Dev Anand knows where his work would be respectably recreated as he has finally given his blessings to the team of Dum Maaro Dum when Rohan Sippy approached him with the proposal.

Once he realised, what Rohan Sippy, the director of the film, wanted to do with
his cult song ‘Dum Maaro Dum’, which we remember for the retro look and the then-popular-culture of drugs, he was more than happy to give Rohan Sippy the rights to remake it.

The movie Dum Maaro Dum, starring Abhishek Bachchan, Bipasha Basu and Rana Daggubatti, will now have the remixed version of the cult classic of the yesteryears. The remixed version of the song, is supposed to be young and contemporary, so that today’s generation too can relate to it.

But the big question is who will fill the big shoes of Zeenat Aman who looked stunning in the original version of the song, and carried it with such punch. Lips are sealed and no one is divulging any names. Insider sources claim that some of the top most actresses like Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone and Sonam Kapoor are being considered.

The remix of the song is being done by Pritam, and he is presently working quite hard on it. Insiders claim that this song is going to be a scorcher, and is going to be the hottest song of the coming year.

Legal notice issued to Balaji Telefilms for OUATIM

It’s been three months since Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai had it’s release and did good business but the fire hasn’t died down yet. While Ekta Kapoor is looking at future projects, she is embroiled in a controversy involving her previous film.

It is said that a company called Movie Tee Vee Enterprises is taking Balaji Telefilms to court for using the remixed version of the song ‘Duniya Mein Logon Ko’ in Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai. The original song is from the Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz starrer film Apna Desh (1972).

Balaji claims that they have taken the rights of the said song from Sa Re Ga Ma for remaking it; while on the other hand, Movie Tee Vee Enterprises claims that Sa Re Ga Ma cannot rightfully give the rights for a remix of the song, as they own the negative rights. Currently, Balaji’s legal department is looking into the issue.

Mahie Gill’s item number edited out from Knock Out

The much talked-about item song in Mani Shankar’s Knock Out has been knocked out of film just days before its release.

Touted as the next ‘Munni Badnaam’ in the charts, the number was shot recently by the film’s producers and apparently without the director’s consent. On hearing about the embellishment director Mani Shankar was horrified.

Says a source, “Mani immediately got in touch with his producer Sohail Maklai asking why material was added to the film without his consent. Sohail tried to explain to him that it was to enhance the massy element. Mani had no choice but to allow the song to be shot. But when he incorporated it into the film he immediately felt it was not working. He removed the song just days before the prints went out.”

Apparently, the producers had decided to do all the promotional footage on their own without the director’s active participation. Says the source, “Mani was opposed to cutting the promos highlighting shots that resembled Phone Booth. If the producers had listened to him the trouble with 20th Century Fox over plagiarism allegations could’ve been avoided since Knock Out has nothing to do with Phone Booth.”

This time Mani Shankar stood his ground. He would not allow the item song into his narrative especially since the director apparently found the movements given to Mahie to be vulgar.

When contacted Mani admits he opposed the inclusion of the song and removed it from his film. “My film is a political thriller that moves in real time. A break for an item song was just not needed. We removed Mahie Gill’s number after shooting it. As for whether I approved of her movements, that question has no relevance since the number is no longer in my film.”

Mahie Gill appears surprised to know that her number has been knocked out of Knock Out.

Trying to hide her disappointment the actress says, “Nobody has informed me! Has my number really been edited out? Maybe after shooting it they realized it didn’t jell with the narrative. I had fun shooting the number with Ganesh Acharya. Now I’ve shot an item song for Vinay Shukla’s Mirchi with the legendary choreographer Saroj Khan.”

Hopefully, Mahie’s item number in Mirchi would have a better fate.

Neha Dhupia turns singer

Neha Dhupia would be doing what actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Govinda and Kareena Kapoor have done in the past. In case you are wondering what we are talking about, well, Neha would be singing a song in her forthcoming film Phas Gaya Re Obama, thereby following in the footsteps of some of the names mentioned above.

Neha plays a female gangster in the film which also stars Rajat Kapoor and Amole Gupte and is directed by Subhash Kapoor. Considering that the song is based on her character, director Subhash Kapoor felt that it was best that she sing the song herself.

While Neha was reluctant initially, she finally agreed and the song was recorded last weekend.

Sin City inspiration for Allah Ke Banday

There is Hollywood inspiration for Bollywood’s very own Allah Ke Banday which is aiming for a late October release. Since the film is a gritty tale of children taking to crime, it required an edgy narrative for itself. While debutant writer-director-actor Faruk Kabir promises that and a lot more in his dramatic affair, he has also created a graphic music video to lend out the right mood and feel of the film. The song is titled ‘Maula’ and has been self confessedly designed on the same lines as Hollywood’s graphic tale Sin City (2005).

“‘Maula’ is a visual interpretation of reality and through this song, I am giving a visual treat to my audience”, says Faruk who has patiently waited for a while before his debut flick became a reality by itself, “My target audience is youth and being a 28 year old myself, I am a part of this generation. I am making a contemporary film about today and for that I have lend an edgy hardcore energy to it. The music video of ‘Maula’ has a lot of attitude to it and for that the graphic tone of Sin City came in handy.”

When released, Sin City had met with instant diverse reactions due to the graphic nature of violence and sex. The film, though carrying a comic undertone to it, was mainly for the adult segment of audience and went on to become a cult flick over a period of time. In fact it stands amongst one of the most studied movies of all times and had led to quite a few cheap imitations globally with far lesser success.

“Ours is a tribute to that genre though”, Faruk is quick to add, “You would see a distinct (Quentin) Tarantino touch to it, something which was a conscious approach. Of course the video is quite real and disturbing so it has to be seen with caution. I don’t mind that though; after all it was intentional.”

Making of this video was a challenge in itself for Faruk and his team, more so because Faruk is playing the double role of a director and actor here.

“The whole video has been shot on croma where we have created the entire backdrop pretty meticulously”, informs Faruk, “The video features Sharman and myself. Technically, it was a very challenging exercise and the song took around six months to be totally ready. While three months went into pre-production, the same amount of time went into post production as well.”

While Chirantan Bhatt has scored music for this song, Sarim Momin has written the lyrics. However, this is not the only music video that Faruk has shot for his flick. “That’s right”, says Faruk, “We have shot another music video with Kailash Kher. It is an association with UNICEF. This one took its own time to be done since it features children.”

Whoever said that it was a child’s play to make a film!

Rahman reworks on Common Wealth Games Anthem

Rahman’s much awaited theme song for the CWG – ‘Jiyo Utho Badho Jeeto’ – when released was showered with criticism from every quarter whatsoever. Even the CWG committee didn’t spare it. Rahman was then asked to be rework on the track. The good news is that the tweaking and layering has been done.

When asked by the committee to rework on the song, Mehboob who penned the words for the anthem, took the criticism to heart. He went all out to defend his work as he exclaimed that it was an anthem and not some Bollywood song. He also made a point in telling everyone that Rahman’s songs take time to catch on. Mehboob and Rahman worked on the anthem for almost six months before its first release.

To give the anthem a fresher perspective, Rahman has now added layers to it along with some folk instruments making it more peppy, short and tight. This time on, a music video will also be released featuring some of the famed Indian sports stars showcasing the achievements of India as a country.

Hope the new version of the song does the trick.

Rahman’s CWG Anthem gets thumbs down from fans and organisers

Enough has been said about the Common Wealth Games this year to be held in Delhi. Right from corruption to shady jobs and sportsmen backing out, many hurdles have come in the organising of the whole show. However, one thing that everyone was positively looking forward to was the motivational and energetic Common Wealth Theme song to be composed by the revered A R Rahman.

The conference where the song was to be launched, well, didn’t have the song but the details about it. The reason was that back then the CWG committee wanted the song to be tweaked and releasing it without the necessary changes would’ve been foolhardy. Despite all this, everyone was expecting a highly inspiring anthem from Rahman, given his current status in world music.

However, after the song came out on the internet, the response was far from encouraging. Rahman fans weren’t just disappointed, they were actually shocked. The comments ranged from “this song got no vibe…I mean you should be getting Goosebumps for some event like this. It was supposed to be more like an epic song” to “CWG Organizing Committee should be made to listen to this song 10,000 times as a punishment.”

Some supporters feel that the song will grow on people and with enough marketing people will like it, while some others feel that the lyrics lack the punch, still others from the music industry are of the opinion that with a wide range of Indian instruments that Rahman could’ve used, his song lacks Indian-ness and the sporting spirit of this event.

The theme song hasn’t gone down well with the CWG committee as well who feel that the song is nowhere worth the price (Rs. 5 crore) demanded by the music composer. They are insisting for the track to be recomposed, while others on board can’t understand why Rahman was given the sole responsibility for the composition and that too for six months.

Though Rahman’s die hard fans stand by him and insist that listening to this song over and over again would help and some others demand for a whole new song, one really wonders if any damage control can be done when we’re so close to the Common Wealth Games.

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