Rihanna equals Elvis record with 5th UK Number 1

LONDON: R&B singer Rihanna took the pop music charts by storm this week with a number one single, album and two other songs in the charts.

The Official Charts Company said on Sunday the Barbadian singer had re-written the record books becoming first female solo artist in chart history to achieve five number one singles in consecutive years with “What’s My Name”.

The only other solo artist to equal this achievement was Elvis Presley in the 1950s, it said.

The 22-year-old singer knocked X Factor champion Matt Cardle’s “When We Collide” from the top spot to number two after three weeks at number one.

Her Album “Loud” held on to its number one slot beating off competition from British rapper Plan B’s “The Defamation of Strickland Banks” which had been ahead in the race for pole position last week.

Rani Mukherjee becomes crime reporter

MUMBAI: Bollywood actress Rani Mukherjee said she is playing a very dynamic and an inspiring role of a journalist in her upcoming film ”No One Killed Jessica”.

Releasing a song ”Aali Re” from her film here on Friday, Mukherjee said she plays a crime reporter and has played it with a lot of zest and fun.

“It”s basically more of a crime reporter. It”s someone who actually deals with a lot of danger in her everyday life because she is at places and situations which normally would be slightly uncomfortable for anybody to be in. So, it is a very dynamic role and obviously for me, to think of women to be in a situation like that, I think it”s really a salutation,” said Mukherjee.

“I have got great regard for the character and that”s why I have played it with so much of zest and so much of fun because I am really inspired by this character,” she added.

Directed by Rajkumar Gupta, the film is based on a true story of Jessica Lal”s murder case. The music director of the film is Amit Trivedi.

Mukherjee further said she likes the music of the film and is very proud to be a part of it.

“I am really proud to be a part of the film that he (Amit Trivedi) has composed. He has absolutely given such fantastic music for the film. It”s not only this track but I think the main track of Delhi, it”s a great track and then there are the songs which are going to follow after ”Aali Re”,” said Mukherjee.

“I think every track is just so wonderful and to create such songs in a film, which is actually a song-less film, you know, to create such songs, is brilliant,” she added.

The star cast of ”No One Killed Jessica” includes Vidya Balan along with Mukherjee.

The film is scheduled for release on January 7.

President Obama Daily Show

President Obama Daily Show: As we await the airing of Jon Stewart’s interview with President Barack Obama – the first time a sitting President has appeared on The Daily Show and the first time an interview lasted the whole show – here are some notes from an audience member.

• Stewart had to re-tape the opening because the Pres. Obama interview went long.

• Stewart took questions from the audience. He said that every other possible guest was “out campaigning” and Pres. Obama was the “last resort.

• To explain the absence of the usual Daily Show correspondents, Stewart said they were busy working in a soup kitchen.

• Songs played during commercial breaks: Springsteen’s “Born To Run” and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.”

Ravi Chopra to produce Chenab Gandhi

Every aspiring filmmaker looks up to his mentor to be at the helm of things when they start with their debut venture and so did Vibhu Puri, associate director and co-writer of Saawariya.

Puri was all set with his directorial venture Chenab Gandhi which was to be produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. But Bhansali made Puri wait for almost a year, something that wasn’t appreciated by the young filmmaker. Not wasting anymore time, Vibhu approached Ravi Chopra, who will now be producing the film. Though one would expect a lot of bad blood to run between Bhansali and Puri, but it isn’t so. In fact, Puri he has even penned four songs in Guzaarish. As for Chenab Gandhi, there is news that many couple of stars have been short listed for the cast, but their names are yet to be revealed.

Akshay Kumar will turn DJ tonight at Mumbai night club

It’s finally happening on Saturday Night (October 9). The retro-music-and-dance night at a suburban retro club where Akshay Kumar would be deejay and play all his favourite songs from the 1970s as part of the promotional campaign for Action Replayy.

The retro Saturday night would be sadly incomplete without Akshay’s leading lady Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Aishwarya has gone to the Pusan Film Festival, leaving Akshay to his own musical devices on Saturday night.

Vipul explains his leading lady’s absence on this important night. “The retro-music night was to happen on September 30. But that turned out to be the date for the verdict on Ayodhya. When now Aishwarya has committed her time for such an important international festival I can’t expect her to set aside her plans. And she has promised she would try to fly back to Mumbai for the evening and then return to Pusan.”

Akshay, however, is reconciled to his solitary star appearance as a deejay for one night. He will now be accompanied by Aditya Roy Kapoor, the VJ turned actor, who plays Akshay and Aishwarya’s son in Action Replayy.

Akshay has already selected his favourite 1970′s songs which he says he is not willing to reveal.

Vipul will say this much about Akshay’s unique role as a deejay on Saturday evening: “A lot of the songs Akshay has selected are from Rajesh Khanna films. So we can expect a lot of R.D. Burman tracks.”

Further probing reveals that Akshay has zeroed in on O Mere Dil Ke Chayan (Mere Jeevan Saathi), Roop Tera Mastana (Aradhana), Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai (Kati Patang) and Yeh Kya Hua (Amar Prem) as his top-of-the-line dance tracks for the evening.

Akshay has been calling up the deejays at two of the most prominent night-places in Mumbai to understand how to conduct himself that evening. Wife Twinkle Khanna would be looking into Akshay’s look and wardrobe for the evening. Akshay will dress in 1970s’ retro style.

Says Akshay, “I don’t think any Indian actor or any actor anywhere has been a deejay at a night spot before. I’m quite excited.”

The doors at the club will be opened to all initially. But closed after the place fills up.

Says Vipul, “After all not too many youngsters would’ve the chance to get Akshay to play deejay while they dance. I suspect after a while there will be a stampede in there.”

Rahman gets his act together, juggles American concerts with background score

For the first time in his illustrious career A R Rahman is making a concerted effort to get over his habitually leisurely pace of work. At this very moment he is recording the much-delayed background score for Abbas Tyrewala’s Jhootha Hi Sahi while performing live in the US.

Driven into a corner by the constant criticism about the slow pace of his work Rahman is for the first combining studio recording with his stage concerts. Earlier he had said to me, “I will be off for my world tour for a major part of 2010. I hope to complete all my studio work by then.”

Last week, Rahman delivered the songs of Jhootha Hi Sahi after much pursuit. And the team heaved a sigh of relief. The formal music launch of Jhootha Hi Sahi has now been locked in. Last week, Tyrewala flew to Los Angeles to get the music done. Tyrewala has flown to cities in three continents to get the music of Jhootha Hi Sahi into place.

Says a source close to Jhootha Hi Sahi, “Abbas had to go to LA for the background music. There was no choice. After recording the songs Rahman left for his concerts in the US. If you want the best, you’ve to make an effort for it. It’s normal procedure for filmmakers with Rahman to go wherever he calls them. He is very busy and we’ve to be where his work takes him. We’ve recorded the songs in London and Chennai. Now we’re recording the background music in LA.”

Abbas Tyrewala confirms from LA that Rahman is indeed moonlighting with music. “Rahman’s concerts in the US were postponed because of technical glitches. They were pushed to September. Rahman had no choice but to leave. And since my film is on the verge of release, I’m here in LA to get the background music.”

Talk about killing one bird with two tones.

Rahman gets his act together, juggles American concerts with background score

For the first time in his illustrious career A R Rahman is making a concerted effort to get over his habitually leisurely pace of work. At this very moment he is recording the much-delayed background score for Abbas Tyrewala’s Jhootha Hi Sahi while performing live in the US.

Driven into a corner by the constant criticism about the slow pace of his work Rahman is for the first combining studio recording with his stage concerts. Earlier he had said to me, “I will be off for my world tour for a major part of 2010. I hope to complete all my studio work by then.”

Last week, Rahman delivered the songs of Jhootha Hi Sahi after much pursuit. And the team heaved a sigh of relief. The formal music launch of Jhootha Hi Sahi has now been locked in. Last week, Tyrewala flew to Los Angeles to get the music done. Tyrewala has flown to cities in three continents to get the music of Jhootha Hi Sahi into place.

Says a source close to Jhootha Hi Sahi, “Abbas had to go to LA for the background music. There was no choice. After recording the songs Rahman left for his concerts in the US. If you want the best, you’ve to make an effort for it. It’s normal procedure for filmmakers with Rahman to go wherever he calls them. He is very busy and we’ve to be where his work takes him. We’ve recorded the songs in London and Chennai. Now we’re recording the background music in LA.”

Abbas Tyrewala confirms from LA that Rahman is indeed moonlighting with music. “Rahman’s concerts in the US were postponed because of technical glitches. They were pushed to September. Rahman had no choice but to leave. And since my film is on the verge of release, I’m here in LA to get the background music.”

Talk about killing one bird with two tones.

Anand Raj Anand composes two songs for CWG

It was hot news that renowned music composer A R Rahman composed the anthem for the soon to be held Common Wealth Games; however, the song failed to impress. Now we hear that music composer and singer Anand Raj Anand will also be composing two songs for the CWG.

If what we hear is anything to go by then the two songs titled – ‘Invitation’ and ‘Celebration’ – have a common slogan – Come out and play, with the first being a heart warming track and the second is said to be a foot tapping peppy number. Both the songs are said to have a thick Punjabi flavour with loads of energy.

What’s more, Anand will also be performing the songs at the opening ceremony of the games. Two music videos will be released on September 24, while the audio CD will be released by Times Music.

Saradaga Kasepu Movie Review

Saradaga Kasepu is a comedy of love which is directed by Vamsi and in the film, Allari Naresh Madhurima appear in the leading roles. The film, produced by ML Kumar Chowdary Padma, it offers a love story with a lot of fun and entertainment.

A Saradaga Kasepu all set to release today and the film lovers who are waiting impatiently for it. The film was the last Vamsi Gopi Gopika Godavari and now Saradaga Kasepu here to achieve the aspirations of moviegoers again. Today the film Nuvve Uday also hit theaters and stars Aksha in the lead role and Chaitanya Krishna is also made a guest appearance in the film.

Saradaga Kasepu was filmed on the banks of the Godavari and Avasarala Srinivas plays an important role in the film. The Saradaga Kasepu music and music lovers Chakri are already enjoying the songs. It’s a weekend full of entertainment and fun movie fans are ready to enjoy the treatment.

The story revolves around three main characters in the film. Now it depends on moviegoers that the rate of how the film if they were interested in the time he hit movie and if they say no then it would be considered as an average or a flop film. It’s a story Ranga Babu, a driver and was trading with Sreenu place because he wants to see and understand his wife in the future. But later Sreenu change his mind and come forward as the true bridegroom.

Is Karan directing portions of SRK’s home-production?

Is Karan Johar directing portions of RA.ONE? Ever since Shah Rukh Khan tweeted that Karan visited him on the sets of his film in U.K., the rumour mills have been working overtime. There were reports in a section of the media that Karan was directing portions of the film and had also consented to direct the songs. There was talk that SRK and Anubhav Sinha had agreed to take Karan on board as the second unit director of the film.

So what’s the truth? The truth is that Karan was present on the sets of the film, but in the capacity of a friend, as a good luck charm. Also, all talk of Karan being the second unit director is absolutely false, for the project is SRK and Anubhav Sinha’s baby entirely. They have worked very hard on it and it would be unfair to SRK and Sinha both if news like this is taken seriously. In fact, Karan was in his hotel room almost every single day, which wouldn’t be the case if he was co-directing the film.

Also, the talk about Karan ‘directing’ the songs of the film is equally baseless. Sure, Karan is a multi-faceted personality, but not a choreographer. At least not yet!

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