Sanjay Dutt goes back to Jail

Sanjay Dutt returns to Yerawada Jail, Pune after a 2 month freedom. His freedom ended when he was handed a copy of the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case judgment by the TADA court.

Sanjay Dutt's acting skill will take a back seat for a while. His new skill which he is acquiring while in jail is cane furniture making. (Sources: BBC, Mid-Day)

Here's a Google Maps View of Sanjay Dutt's new home (Yerawada Prison - Pune, India)

Aishwarya Rai to star as Mumtaz Mahal

BBC is reporting that Aishwarya Rai will play the role of Mumtaz Mahal in a major movie on Taj Mahal. Oscar winning actor Sir Ben Kingsley who is the producer of this movie will play the role of Shah Jahan.

Bipasha Basu will be playing the role of Shah Jahan's daughter, Jahanara.

This film is scheduled to be shot in India in 2008. (more at BBC)

Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag being pulled out of cinemas in India

Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag (remake of Sholay) has been dubbed as "Biggest flop of our generation." It is estimated that the filmmakers will lose about $3 million.

The Distributors have decided that instead of paying rent to the theater owners and getting nothing in return its better to pull the movie out of the theater (yes just after a week of it being released). (Source: BBC)

So have you seen Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag. Is it that bad?. I have not seen it yet. Will wait and watch it on video.

Note: In Michigan Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag is being screened at SR Movies, Novi. For show times check out MIMANTRA

Sonu Nigam in a "Sexual Favor" controversy

Sonu Nigam who will be here in Detroit on September 7th, 2007 has leveled serious charges against a prominent film critic, Subhash K Jha. Sonu Nigam alleges that Mr. Jha has a grudge against Sonu Nigam because Sonu Nigam refused Mr. Jha's sexual advances.

So what prompted Sonu Nigam to come out with this accusation? It so happens that Mr. Jha wrote a article in Times of India asking Sonu Nigam not to be jealous or whine about Himesh Reshammiya's success. This ticked Sonu Nigam off and Sonu Nigam decided to spill the beans.

यह मामला कोम्प्लिकातेद है - आप खुद ही यहाँ क्लिक करके स्टोरी परिये (This is complicated. So click here for more details)

Himesh Reshammiya enters a mosque wearing a Burqa

Himesh Reshammiya visits a famous muslim shrine of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Hassan Chishti which is located in Ajmer, India to pray that his upcoming movie Aap Ka Surroor does well at the Box Office. Nothing wrong with that. That's great. The Bizarre thing about this prayer visit is that Himesh wore a Burqa so as to avoid being recognized. But someone did recognize him and the word spread. Some people were offended. (read more at BBC).

For all Himesh Reshammiya fans in Michigan: Aap Ka Surroor is all set to be shown on the big screen (starting June 29th) at SR Movies, Novi, MI. Check out MIMANTRA for showtimes.

Shootout at Lokhandwala coming to SR Movies, Novi, MI

Shootout at Lokhandwala a Bollywood Hindi Movie comes to SR Movies, Novi on May 25th. Check out MIMANTRA for showtimes. Starring in Lead Roles are Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Vivek Oberoi, Abhishek Bachchan, Arbaaz Khan, Tusshar Kapoor, Sunil Shetty.

The film is based on Aftab Ahmad Khan's encounter with five members of Dawood Ibrahim's underworld gang and the true story behind these events

Bollywood's one hit wonder

Couple of weeks back I asked Michigan's legendary Indian Radio Host - Subhash Kelkar as to who he thinks can be categorized as "Bollywood's One Hit Wonder". He came up with the name - Nazia Hasan who sang "Aap Jaisa Koi...." from Qurbani. Here's a video clip of that song. Do you know of any other Desi "One Hit Wonders".

Related: Non-Desi One Hit Wonders on Google Maps

Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan at 30,000 ft

Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan high above at 30,000 ft in Mr. Ambani's private jet.





Looks like we need a little more head room here.

An Evening dedicated to Talat Mahmood

एक शाम तलत महमूद के नाम. Mark your calendars. Khalid Mahmood son of legendary bollywood singer Talat Mahmood will be performing on Friday May 4th at University of Michigan, Social Sciences Building (Room SSB-1500), 4901 Evergreen Road, Dearborn, MI 48128 (map). The program begins sharp at 7.15.

This event bought to you by Federation of Aligarh Alumni Associations of America. Entire proceeds will support Girls education in India. (more at MIINDIA)

You just might be lucky enough to hear "Jalte Hain Jiske Liye"

Richard Gere - "Wanted" in land of Kama Sutra

A court in Jaipur, India has issued a arrest warrant for Richard Gere for kissing Shilpa Shetty on the cheeks. The court calls the kiss "an obscene act" (Source BBC).

So does the court consider this obscene? (Sadhus at Kumbh Mela)

Aishwarya and Abhishek at Tirupati

Bollywood couple Aishwarya and Abhishek visit Tirupati after their marriage. Here are couple of pictures (via Hindustan Times)
Google Maps view of Tirupati

Ta Ra Rum Pum comes to Novi, Michigan

Ta Ra Rum Pum a Bollywood Hindi Movie starring Saif Ali Khan and the gorgeous Rani Mukherjee comes to SR Movies, Novi, MI on April 27th. Check out MIMANTRA for showtimes.

Ta Ra Rum Pum is a story of Rajveer Singh (Saif Ali Khan) a race car driver and Radhika (Rani Mukherjee) a music student. The two fall in love and get married and are blessed with 2 children.

Rajveer is soaring new heights as he becomes one of the best race car drivers. Then one day he gets into an accident in the racing circuit and is hospitalized. He recovers months later, but because of the mental scars he is not able to perform like before. After a string of failures, financial woes set in. Rajveer and Radhika are forced to auction off their house and move into a run down neighborhood.

Got to see the movie to find out how Rajveer and Radhika try to make the best out of a bad situation.

Shilpa Shetty in a Kiss Controversy

Shilpa Shetty and Richard Gere were preaching safe sex to truck drivers in India. Then in the midst of the preaching, Richard Gere swooped on to Shilpa Shetty and kissed her on the cheeks. That cheeky kiss was good enough reason for some in India to react by burning Shilpa Shetty's poster.

Miss Shetty said the reaction to the kiss made India look 'regressive'. (source DailyMail)

Lord Tirupati invited to Aishwarya-Abhishek wedding

Amitabh Bachchan visits Tirupati Temple to offer prayers and hand out the 1st wedding invitation card to Abhishek-Aishwarya wedding. In addition Mr. Amitabh Bachchan donated Rs. 51 lakh to the temple. (Source ZeeNews)

Related: Aishwarya-Abhishek's wedding location on Google Maps

Congratulations to Subhash Kelkar on the 30th Anniversary of his Indian Radio Show in Michigan

Last week was the 30th Anniversay of Subhash Kelkar's Geetanjali Radio Show which is heard every Saturday from 9 AM to 10 AM on WPON 1460 AM. Last Week on his show Subhash Kelkar played the 10 best bollywood songs from the past 30 years.

I asked Mr. Kelkar to email me the list of the 10 best songs. He was kind enough to email me the list. Here is the list:

Years
77-78-79    Dafliwale, dafli baja - Sargam (Video)
80-81-82    Tere mere beech mein - Ek Duuje Ke Liye (Video)
83-84-85    Sun Sahiba sun   -   Ram, Teri Ganga Maili
86-87-88    Ek do teen        -   Tezaab
89-90-91    Dekha hai pehli baar  - Saajan (Video)
92-93-94    Ek ladki ko dekha   -  1942, a love story (Video)
95-96-97    Tujhe dekha to ye jaana  - 
            Dilwale dulhaniya le jaayenge
98-99-00    Chhaiyan chhaiyan  - Dil Se
01-02-03    Mitwa, sun mitwa    -  Lagaan
04-05-06    Kajrare kajrare - Bunty aur Babli

एक लडकी को देखा (Ek Ladki ko Dekha)

One of the many songs Subhash Kelkar played this morning on his Michigan Indian Radio Show at WPON 1460.

Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan to wed on April 20th, 2007

Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan are all set to get married on April 20th at Amitabh Bachchan's House in Mumbai, India (Google Maps View). (more at Rediff)



Google Maps View of Amitabh's House

Rani Mukherjee: Happy 29th Birthday

Rani Mukherjee one the most gorgeous and successful Bollywood Actress celebrates her 29th Birthday today (Born: March 21st 1978).

नमस्ते London - Bollywood Hindi Movie comes to Novi, MI

नमस्ते London - a Bollywood Hindi Movie comes to SR Movies, Novi, MI on March 23rd. For showtimes check MIMANTRA.

Starring in lead roles are Akshay Kumar (as Arjun) and Katrina Kaif (as Jasmeet Singh).

Arjun is a Punjabi dude from Punjab and Jasmeet is a transplanted desi girl in London. Jasmeet loves everything western but her dad (Rishi Kapoor as Manmohan Singh) forces her to marry Arjun the desi dude. (Read more here).

Nishabd - A Desi Lolita comes to Michigan

Nishabd a love story between a 60 year old man(Amitabh Bachchan) and a 18 year old girl (Jiah Khan) is scheduled to be shown at SR Movies, Novi, MI from March 2nd thru March 8th.

Story sounds somewhat similar to Vladimir Nobokov's novel Lolita

For showtimes visit MIMANTRA

Hrithik Roshan and Kajol - Bollywood's Best (2006)

Hrithik Roshan got the best actor award for Dhoom 2 and Kajol got the best for Fanaa. The awards were given at the 52nd annual Filmfare awards held at Mumbai (02/24/07).

Best Picture award went to Rang De Basanti.

Related: Bollywood's Filmfare awards History.

Bollywood's Filmfare award history

The 52nd Filmfare Awards will be held on February 25th, 2007.

Here's a Google Maps Mashup of the Best Actors and Actresses from 1953 to present day. There's also YouTube video clips embedded in the Map for some of the actors and actresses.

OP Nayyar - Bollywood Music Director Passes Away

Bollywood Music Director OP Nayyar dies of Heart Attack today at his home in Thane, India. He was 81. (more at Hindu).

OP Nayyar was born on January 16th, 1926 in Lahore.

Here is a video clip of one of OP Nayyar Classic from Bollywood film Naya Daur.

Amitabh Bachchan or Shahrukh Khan - who does a better job?

Here's a look at "Khaike Paan" song from the original DON and the new DON.

The Legendary Amitabh Bachchan:


The Badshah of Bollywood Shahrukh Khan