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HINDI |
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1) Jodhaa Akbar
http://www.jodhaaakbar.com
Cast - Hrithik
Roshan (as Emperor Akbar), Aishwarya Rai (as Jodhabhai),
Sonu Sood, Suhasini Mulay, Abir Abrar, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Vishwa
Badola, Digvijay Purohit
Director -
Ashutosh Gowariker
Producer -
Ronnie Screwvala [UTV Motion Pictures], Ashutosh Gowariker [AGPPL]
Dialogues - K.P.Saxena
Cinematograher -
Kiran Deohans [Aks, Kabhi
Khushi Kabhie Gham]
Editor -
Ballu Saluja
Choreography - Vaibhavi
Merchant, Bosco-Ceaser, Raju
Khan, Saroj
Khan
Costumes -
Neeta Lulla
Lyrics - Javed Akhtar
-
FIRST LOOK
- 6 songs composed by
ARR.
- One song by Alka Yagnik. "I'm
also singing for 'Jodha-Akbar' - again for Aishwarya, though I
suspect this time the songs will be in the background."
- Alka. [Glamsham]
- One Qawwali by Sonu Nigam & Alka Yagnik.
[A.R.Rahman had talked about him recording a qawwali "Khwaja
Mere Khwaja" for a
forthcoming film. This could well be it!]
- Recent reports say that Reliance - Anil
Dhirubhai Ambani Group (R-ADAG) is negotiating with Gowariker for
financing the film.
-
Huge historical epic
about the romance between Mughal king Akbar and his Rajput wife
Jodhabai
- Jodhaa Akbar is a sixteenth century love story about a marriage of
alliance that gave birth to true love between a great Mughal
emperor, Akbar, and a Rajput princess, Jodhaa. Political success
knew no bounds for Emperor Akbar (Hrithik Roshan). After having
secured the Hindu Kush, he furthered his realm by conquest until his
empire extended from Afghanistan to the Bay of Bengal, and from the
Himalayas to the Godavari River. Through a shrewd blend of
tolerance, generosity, and force, Akbar won the allegiance of the
Rajputs, the most belligerent Hindus. But little did Akbar know that
when he married Jodhaa (Aishwarya Rai), a fiery Rajput princess, in
order to further strengthen his relations with the Rajputs, he would
in turn be embarking upon a new journey – the journey of true love.
The daughter of King Bharmal of Amer, Jodhaa resented being reduced
to a mere political pawn in this marriage of alliance, and Akbar’s
biggest challenge now did not merely lie in winning battles, but in
winning the love of Jodhaa – a love hidden deep below resentment and
extreme prejudice. Jodhaa-Akbar is their untold love story.
- "You could say I've
taken a historical decision to make a film called 'Jodha-Akbar'.
It'll be a romantic musical. Jodha-Akbar' is one of the two-three
scripts that I had in mind for quite a while. I finally zeroed in on
this. It won't go into the older days of the pair. It would show
them in the prime of their togetherness and probably end where 'Mughal-e-Azam'
begins.I just want to dwell on a little-known facet of Indian
history that hasn't been exposed in history books, let alone on
screen. I intend to appoint a research team of historians and
scholars from Delhi, Lucknow, Agra and Jaipur to guide me.
Jodha-Akbar' would be a full-on period film without props. It would
be expensive. But I'm not getting into highlighting the budget and
making that a USP of my project. For me the product will justify the
expenses." - Ashutosh Gowariker [Indiavarta]
- With this film, Hrithik gets a chance to
play a benevolent Mughal emperor who dared to love and marry a Hindu
princess. Says Hrithik, "It will have war, horses and swords. I will
play a very young and virile Akbar. It's a very real drama, not
theatrical at all. It's my first costume drama because I will wear a
costume. But that doesn't mean it will be excessively dramatic. I
have faith in Ashutosh Gowariker's abilities. His intelligent
perspective during his narrative convinced me he can never make an
actor look bad. He believes in the real and tries to capture the
real. He never constrains the actor, but allows them to be natural
on camera." [MumbaiMirror]
- Scholar Haider Ali Sahib is helping Ashutosh
with the research for Akbar-Jodha.
- Hrithik and Aishwarya
underwent lessons in horse riding and sword fighting for the film,
in Oct 06.
CURRENT STATUS -
Shooting started
in Jaipur with a Mahurat shot on Nov 1st 2006. The shooting took place
in Agra, Delhi, Jaipur and interiors of Rajasthan. Movie release
slated for 25th Jan, 2008. Audio release expected in mid-Dec.
2) Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
Cast
-
Imran Khan (Aamir Khan's nephew),
Genelia D'Souza, Manjari Phadnis, Special
Appearances by Naseeruddin Shah, his wife Ratna Pathak, Paresh Rawal, Arshad Warsi
and Arbaaz Khan.
Director - Abbas
Tyrewala
Story, Screenplay, Dialogues - Abbas
Tyrewala [Munnabhai
MBBS, Maqbool, Asoka, Main Hoon Na]
Producer
- Aamir Khan [Aamir Khan Productions Pvt Ltd],
PVR Pictures Limited
Distribution
-
PVR Pictures Limited
Budget
-
INR 8 crore
- ARR has
completed recording all the songs for this film.
- This is a campus based romantic comedy with new comers.
- The film launches Imran Khan, son of Aamir Khan's cousin Nuzhat Khan.
CURRENT STATUS -
Shooting complete,
post-production in progress. The film is expected to
release on 8th Feb 2008.
3)
Untitled [Ghajini
remake]
Cast
-
Aamir Khan, Asin, Jiah
Khan, Mohit Ahlawat
Director -
A.R.Murugadoss
Producer
- Allu Aravind [Geeta Arts], Aamir Khan [Aamir Khan Productions Pvt
Ltd]
Distribution (Overseas)
- A dlabs
Cinematography -
Ravi K Chandran
Editor
- Antony
Lyrics -
Prasoon Joshi
Sound Design -
Rassul Pookutty
Audio Rights -
T-Series
- Remake of Surya starrer
Tamil film Ghajini, which itself was inspired from Hollywood flick
Memento
- One song picturized in Dead Pan,
Namibia and choreographed by Ahmed Khan. This peppy song has Aamir
dancing along with 80+ dancers.
- One song picturized in
Cape Town, South Africa.
CURRENT STATUS
-
Shooting schedules over in
Namibia, Cape Town (South Africa) & Bangalore. Shooting in progress in
Mumbai currently. Expected to release by May/June 2008.
4) Yuvraaj
Cast
-
Salman Khan,
Anil Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Zayed Khan, Boman Irani
Director -
Subhash Ghai
Producer
- Subhash Ghai [Mukta Arts Entertainment Pvt Ltd]
Screenplay -
Subhash Ghai, Sachin Bowmik (Krrish), Kamlesh Pandey (Rang
De Basanti)
Cinematography -
Kabir Lal
Production Design
- Umang Kumar
Audiography
- Rakesh Ranjan
Choreography -
Shiamak Davar
Lyrics - Gulzar
Audio Rights -
T-Series
- One song picturized in Khandala,
featuring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif.
-
"The most complicated song I have ever sung,
is the song that we recently recorded for the Subhash Ghai movie.
Rahman ji has used some 3-4 raagas and it is so amazing!!". -
Madhushree [Aahaa FM (91.9 FM) - Chennai] [Info courtesy -
Aravind AM, ARRYFG]
-
According to
Subhash
Ghai, the film is about the
arrogance and overconfidence of contemporary youth. "Everyone wants
to be a rock star, regardless of whether they have the morals to go
with the appellation.". 'Main Yuvraj' means 'I am the prince' and it
hasn't been revealed yet who the prince is; it could be either
Salman, Anil, or Zayed.
-
Zayed Khan plays the youngest and most spoilt of all brothers.
CURRENT STATUS -
Shooting started from 12th Sep with a song shoot in Khandala. After
this, the crew will move to Europe for a
21 days schedule.
5)
Delhi 6
Cast
- Abhishek Bachchan, Asin, Om Puri, Atul
Kulkarni, Shefali Shah
Director -
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Producer
-
Ronnie Screwvala [UTV Motion Pictures]
Screenplay -
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Kamlesh Pandey (Rang
De Basanti), Renzil D'Silva, Syd Fields
Cinematography -
Ravi K Chandran
Editor
- P.S.Bharati
-
Atul Kulkarni has shaved off his
moustache for this film.
-
Delhi 6
is reportedly based on Mehra's growing up years in
Chandni
Chowk area of
Old Delhi.
- "My
next film will be
Delhi 6
(as in pincode 6). It is about old Delhi. Cities such as Hyderabad,
Lucknow and even Bangalore - that have an old city - that have been
left behind in the urban progress, will connect well. In these
places, the tiniest of shacks have a colour television but that’s
the only change we see in their lives in the last 60 years. I have
lived in old Delhi, so I draw from my experience. It is my first
attempt at dark comedy. We will begin shooting in November." - Mehra
[TOI]
CURRENT STATUS -
Shooting starts in December.
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TAMIL |
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1) Sakkarakatti
Cast -
Shanthnoo Bhagyaraj [Son of K.Bhagyaraj],
Shibi, Ishita, Vedika
Director - Kala Prabu [Son of
Kalaipuli S. Dhanu]
Producer - Kalaipuli S. Dhanu
[V Creations]
Cinematographer -
Andrew
Art Director -
Jackson
Lyrics - Pa. Vijay,
Na. Muthukumar
Action - 'Stunt' Shiva
- "Jhalak
Jhalak Un Nenjil" - Song picturised on
Shantanu and Ishita Sharma, in MGR Film City.
- Rahman has appreciated Kala Prabhu
and said, ”He reminds him of director Shankar in his early days. The
way in which the songs are canned by Kala Prabhu has surprised me.
He has immense potential”. [IndiaGlitz]
- This is a love story
with a campus backdrop. Songs are reportedly peppy youthful numbers.
-
A rich girl falls in love with a boy belonging
to middle class family. What happens after that - is the story of
‘Sakkarakatti.’
- Sidharth Iyer of ARRYG says that the film is
inspired from John Travolta starrer Grease.
LINK
- “My maiden venture Sakkarakatti is
shaping up well. I am confident that it would take me close to the
masses”. - Shantanu [IndiaGlitz]
CURRENT STATUS -
Pooja held in AVM Studios on 30th April 2006.
Shooting being finished currently. SS Music aired
a Diwali special "Making of Sakkarakkati" program in Oct
2006. Movie release expected in the later half of 2007. Yet to have
a formal annoucement regarding the audio/movie release dates.
2)
Sultan -
The Warrior
http://www.sultanthefilm.com
Director -
Soundarya Rajinikanth
Producer -
Adlabs, Soundarya Rajinikanth [Ocher Films]
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Animation film based on Superstar Rajinikanth.
-
Adlabs, in
association with Chennai-based Ocher Studios, is experimenting in
its own way by trying to cash in on the hysteria surrounding the
Tamil super-star Rajnikanth. “We’ve used the motion-capture
technology to portray Rajnikanth’s persona in our forthcoming film
Sultan the warrior,” says Sidhartha Jain, Head of Animation, Adlabs.
The film will be directed by his daughter Soundarya and will release
by early 2009. Industry sources say that the movie will have a
budget of around Rs 40- 50 crore.
-
Soundarya Rajinikanth
talks about the film and music - "It is indeed a big film. It is the
first in many ways. It’s the first time a live action actor is
getting animated in a full length feature film. It’s the first
animation feature for A R Rahman. We are targeting on reaching 90%
realism with the 3D characters and the look and feel of the film. In
terms of cost, I would say the budget of the film is close to that
of a big budget live action flick. I will be using few star voices
for the characters in the movie apart from my father who is lending
his voice for his part. The film has
four full length songs
which will be choreographed by prominent choreographers, typical
Indian style. We are having
an English title track which will feature a main stream English
music star.
It is a mythological fictitious flick. It is not a story already
told nor is it an excerpt from an epic. It’s my father’s story. We
are planning 12-14 mainstream world languages, including English. It
is an hour and 30 mins film, which I’m working very hard on
completing on a record time of less than 2 years! Animation features
take close to 4 -5 years production time for completion."
3) Marmayogi
Cast -
Kamal Haasan
Director - Kamal
Haasan
Producer -
Adlabs, Kamal Haasan [Rajkamal Films]
-
Kamal Hassan has started pre-production work on his new film
Marmayogi, which he is directing and producing, on first copy basis
for the corporate Reliance Adlabs. Kamal's Marmayogi, is said to be
a historical adventure romantic film with an 'A' list of actors. He
has already contacted Bollywood actress Kajol, to play the heroine
in this film, which will have music by A.R.Rahman. The others
including technicians are being worked out. [Sify]
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TELUGU |
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1) Puli
Cast
-
Pawan Kalyan
Director -
S.J.Suryah
Producer -
Singamala Ramesh Babu [Kanakaratna
Movies]
Cinematograher - Ravi K. Chandran
- A.R.Rahman is reportedly being paid a whopping 2 crore for this
film.
CURRENT STATUS
-
This film will
go to floors after completion of Pawan Kalyan’s film in the
direction of Trivikram.
2)
Satyagrahi
http://www.satyagrahi.com
Director -
Pawan Kalyan
Producer - A.M.Ratnam [Sri Surya
Movies]
Story -
Patrick Biswas
Screenplay -
Pawan Kalyan
Cinematography - P.C.Sriram
- Filming started on March
25, 2006
- Recent report say that
Pawan's brother Megastar Chiranjeevi and Balakrishna (Balayya) will be
donning roles in this film [PawanFans]
- This film seems stalled
for the moment as Pawan has moved to Annavaram and Trivikram's directorial venture. More details awaited.
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INTERNATIONAL |
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1) The Golden
Age : Elizabeth - II
http://www.elizabeththegoldenage.net
Cast - Cate Blanchett
(as Queen Elizabeth),
Clive Owen (as
Sir Walter Raleigh), Samantha Morton
(as Mary,Queen of Scot),
Geoffrey Rush (as Sir Francis Walsingham)
Director - Shekhar Kapur
Producers -
Working Title (now owned by Universal Pictures)
Distribution -
Universal Pictures
Writer -
Michael Hirst, William Nicholson
Cinematography - Remi
Adefarasin
Casting - Fiona Weir
Production Design - Guy Dyas
Art Direction - David Allday, Jason Knox-Johnston, Phil Simms,
Andy Thomson, Frank Walsh
Set Decoration - Richard Roberts
Makeup - Loulia Sheppard
Production Management - Tania Windsor Blunden
- A.R.Rahman is co-composing
with Craig Armstrong ['Moulin Rouge!']
-
The movie is a
sequel to Elizabeth and will follow the story of Queen Elizabeth and
her relationship with Sir Walter Raleigh
-
“A.R.Rahman will compose the music
for The Golden Age. I opted for him as he has the required range and
dimension for an international challenge.” - Shekhar Kapur
- "A R Rahman had written the most
beautiful piece for Divinity. I had asked him to do me a piece that
felt like yearning for Absoluteness, both sad and full of hope and
divinity at the same time. He sent a piece that had everyone in tears
as they listened to it for the first time. In my interpretation, or
rather in Samantha Morton's interpretation of Mary of Scotts, she
finally found peace and Divinity in Death. Something that Elizabeth
was aspiring to, Mary found in Martyrdom. So instead of filming the
execution of Mary as something horrific as described in the history
books, we saw it as her going to the final alter. Her final marriage.
and we shot it to Rahman's music. But of course in the film, Elizabeth
has to find Divinity not in death, but in life. That was her great
achievement." - Shekhar Kapur in his blog [LINK]
-
Golden Age will unfold, like its predecessor, against the
increasing and bloody schism between Protestants and Catholics in
England. Tim Bevan who, along with partner Eric Fellner, signed Kapur
to direct Elizabeth after seeing his impressive Bandit Queen,
describes the new film as a drama about religious tolerance.
- Shekhar Kapur's blog on the film -
Golden Age Diary
CURRENT STATUS -
Movie was premiered at the
Toronto Internal Film Festival on Sep 10th. Worldwide release on 2nd Nov 2007, on Universal Pictures banner. Soundtrack
release on Oct 9th on UNIVERSAL MUSIC label.
2) Bombil and
Beatrice
http://www.bombilandbeatrice.com
Cast - Prashant
Narayanan, Katie McGuinness, Piyush Mishra
Director - Kaizad Gustad
Producers -
Quest Films Limited & Crossover Joint Ventures in association with
Medient Corp and TFK Films
Cinematography -
Trevor Forrest
Editor - Steve Mercer, Robert Wallace
Production Design - Ayesha Shroff
Art Direction - Narendra Rahurikar
-
One
hundred years ago, a beautiful young English woman named Beatrice
promised a young Indian man named Vilas that she would wait One
hundred years ago, a beautiful young English woman named Beatrice
promised a young Indian man named Vilas that she would wait for him.
For a hundred years, if need be. At the height of the British Raj,
these star crossed-lovers shared a love that defied both their
worlds. On the night of New Year's Eve, Beatrice escapes from her
family and elopes to her lover. But tragedy strikes instead.........
One hundred years later, in the urban slums of today's Mumbai, Beatrice
tracks down the reincarnation of her lover from a century ago. Vilas
is now Bombil, the hitman, and she has a job for him. At the
appointed hour, at the appointed time, one hundred years after
destiny struck, what will he do? Can he redeem himself in this
lifetime for promises made in the last? Can he kill the very thing
he loved? Bombil and Beatrice. Love Doesn't Die.
3) Orchestral piece for CBSO [City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra]
http://www.cbso.co.uk
Here's a picture of
A.R.Rahman in the conductor's podium at the Birmingham Symphony Hall
on April 10, 2003.
CLICK HERE
- The orchestral work will be based on
The Conference of the Birds,
a 12th century Persian poem by Farid Uddin Attar from Nishapur.
-
Rahman will also conduct an autumn concert for the CBSO featuring
his Bollywood film music.
-
A.R.Rahman : "It was while I was at the Birmingham Film and
Television Festival 2000 that I met people involved in the music
industry in Birmingham and was encouraged to write a piece with the
CBSO. I love the different cultures that Birmingham has and this
collaboration provides a bridge between the East and West nations at
an important time in history. I chose Birmingham because of its rich
diversity and the friendly people. I would very much like to see
Birmingham become Capital of Culture - it seems to be the only place
in Britain where different cultures live happily alongside each
other. Art is the only way to transcend our different cultures and I
am very excited to be involved in this project. I will be composing
the piece over the next six months between Birmingham, New York -
where Bombay Dreams goes to Broadway - and my present home in
Madras." [ Birmingham
Post]
CURRENT STATUS
- Advanced Booking had been
opened
from July 7, 2003. World premiere in July 2004. First
part of the concerts held on March 5th
and 6th, 2004. Second part based on
The Conference of the Birds
will be held sometime later this year.
4)
Solo pop album for UK-based pop singer, Karen David
http://www.karendavid.com
- ARR
has composed 2 songs for this album.
- "Shillong
Shillong"
- "Carry Me Home"
[See
official website to hear 30 second song clips]
- The album will also feature a
lot of compositions that Karen made with other co-writers and
producers. The ARR collaboration will be available next
year - when Karen has signed a new record deal. Carry Me Home will
be available as a limited edition independent release soon - watch
the
website for more details coming soon. [Info courtesy - Gopal,
ARRYG]
TRIVIA
- Karen David has previously sung for Rahman in the title song of
Bombay Dreams.
CURRENT STATUS
- Karen David is releasing this album sometime soon. The album
will feature the above 2 songs, as well as Provoked song "Alive".
5) The Heart of India (IMAX)
http://www.tajmahalfilm.com
Cast - Aishwarya
Rai
Director -
Bharat Bala
Script Writer - Michael Caulfield
Producer - TriColor Films and
MacGillivray Freeman Films
Executive Producer - Sushil Tyagi
(President of Tricolor Films)
Associate Director, Editor - Kanika
Myer
Director Of Photography - Reed
Smoot
Historical Consultant - Martand
Singh
Production Designer - Dashrath Patel
- This is India's first IMAX film. Other working titles for the film
are Journey Across India and Taj Mahal: The Great Indian
Experience
- This movie adheres to the 40- to
45-minute giant screen format.
- 4 songs complete ( 2 Hindi ; 2 English) ; English songs written by
Don Black.
- The movie takes
a journey across India, through its ancient cities, mountain passages,
and vast desert kingdoms. Follow the history behind the Taj Mahal, a
testament to the timeless art and culture of India, and a monument to
love for the entire world.
CURRENT STATUS
- Shooting 50% complete.
Expected to release
in 2008.
6) Ekam Satyam (single with Michael
Jackson)
Lyrics -
A.R.Parthasarathy (Sanskrit), Kanika Myer (English)
Choreographer - Raju Sundaram
Singers - A.R.Rahman (Sanskrit), Michael Jackson (English)
Audio Rights - SONY
MUSIC
*
On stage at Munich - A.R.Rahman, Michael Jackson, Prabhu Deva,
Shobhana and 30 German dancers.
- The song was recorded with MJ in September 1999.
- Performed at "Michael
Jackson and Friends: What More Can I Give?" concert in Munich, Germany
on June 1999.
LINK
- Michael Jackson appeared on stage with folded hands wearing a white
outfit designed by Indian fashion designer Manish Malhotra.
- The concert proceeds went to charities and aid agencies and a
children's fund set up by former South African President Nelson
Mandela.
CURRENT STATUS
- No idea regarding the fate of this one, especially after Michael
Jackson's split with Sony Music last year. We can only keep our
fingers crossed and hope that we will get to hear the song soon.
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OTHER PROBABLES |
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GO TO TOP
1) Rajeev Menon's film
Cast - Vivek
Oberoi, Abhishek Bachchan
Production - IDreams
Production
Script - Anjum Rajabali
[The
Legend of Bhagat Singh, Ghulam]
- Rajeev Menon's Hindi debut, this one is
reportedly based on father-son story.
- As per reports in Tamil media,
Rajeev Menon's next is going to be in Tamil (LINK)
2) Bajirao Mastani
Cast -
Abhishek Bachchan [as Bajirao], Kareena Kapoor [as Mastani], Rani Mukherji [as
Bajirao's wife Kashibai],
Rekha
Director - Sanjay
Leela Bhansali
Cinematographer - Ravi
K.Chandran
Art Direction - Nitin
Desai
- Epic love story of Maratha
Peshwa Bajirao and his mistress Mastani.
- More details awaited.
- Sanjay Leela Bhansali,
when asked about his future project 'Bajirao Mastani' & the rumours
about A.R.Rahman doing the film, said: "Thats the little secret I've
kept for myself. I'll announce it when the time is right. But I'm
really keen to work with ARR, he's a genius! Its a mutual
understanding between us that we'll work together some day." [Film
Fare, Aug 2003]
CURRENT STATUS -
Official announcement yet to be made. The original cast and crew
will be known only after that. Film will commence shooting only by
late 2006 as per latest reports. Sanjay Leela Bhansali has started
another film in the meantime, 'Saanwariya' with Monty Sharma as MD.
3) Religious Album - Based on Kunnakudi Mastan Saheb's poems
- Rahman is producing a religious album, based
on the poems of Kunnakudi Mastan Saheb, which will be released on KM
Music banner. Rahman is working with his guru Dakshinamoorthy Swamy
for this album, which is expected to release before the end of the
year. A.R.R. is his Aug 15 SUN TV interview expressed his wish to sing
in the album.
- "It has
a tamil touch with a carnatic base" - A.R.Rahman [LINK]
NOTE : This ain't an ARR album in
the true sense, as he wont be scoring for the album. He is producing
the album under KM Music banner, and in all probability, sould be
singing in the album.
4) Selvaraghavan's Hindi
Directorial Debut
Cast - Vivek
Oberoi
Director -
Selvaraghavan
Producer -
UTV Motion Pictures, Radhika Sharathkumar [Radaan Media]
- A.R.Rahman in Aug 18 2006 edition of Ananda
Vikatan, has confirmed that he will be scoring music for
Selvaraghavan's directorial debut in Hindi. Selvaraghavan, who
has directed Tamil hits like Thulluvatho Ilamai, Kadhal Konden, 7/G Rainbow
Colony and Puthupettai, always talked about A.R.Rahman as his favourite Music composer.
- This is said to be a remake of
Selvaraghavan's 7G Rainbow Colony, which was a blockbuster in both
Tamil and Telugu.
CURRENT STATUS -
Official announcement and more details
awaited.
Anyway, this project would take of once Selvaraghavan completes his
Ayirathil Oruvan, which features Karthi and Reema Sen in lead roles.
5) London Dreams
Cast
-
Ajay Devgan, Salman Khan, Priyanka
Chopra, Urmila Matondkar, Rani Mukherji
Director - Raj
Kumar Santoshi
Screenplay -
Sridhar Raghavan [Bluffmaster, Khakee, Family]
-
London Dreams could be Santoshi’s most
expensive film to date and could try to replicate the flamboyance of
Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge. Says the director, “Right now I’m
am busy completing ‘Family’. After Family I’d immediately like
to go into my next film Samna which has Ajay Devgan, Aishwarya
Rai, Akshay Kumar and Nana Patekar. London Dreams will come
only after Samna. So I wouldn’t like to say much about it
right now. But yes, Ajay Devgan and Salman Khan have been signed for
it. And Rahman will do the music.” [DNA
India]
CURRENT STATUS - Film stalled after half
way through with shooting. Rajkumar Santoshi in the meantime is back in
Mumbai and has started a quick film. Reason for the stalemate
apparently being RKS's fallout with Priyanka Chopra, and his trying
for Vidya Balan to be her replacement, whereas Salman is reportedly
pitching for Katrina Kaif. Oct 06 issue of Filmfare says that this
film has been dropped. So, till we hear anything positive on this,
London Dreams will be put under "OTHER PROBABLES".
- In his recent interview to Hindustan Times,
Rajkumar Santoshi talked about this film being made in 2007, with a
new Producer (K Sera Sera seems a strong probable) and a changed
title.
- Latest reports say that Vipul Shah has taken over the directorial
reins at the behest of Salman Khan. Confirmation awaited.
6) Mahabharata trilogy
Director - Mani Ratnam
Producer -
Crossover Films [Bobby Bedi, Mani Ratnam]
- The Mahabharata. Hindu mythology's greatest epic might just become
Bollywood's biggest ever cinematic venture. The magic of this
powerful epic is currently being recreated by producer Bobby Bedi
into a trilogy with a budget of Rs 300 crore. ''The trilogy will
capture the battles, intrigues, spiritual complexity and cultural
aesthetics of India, 4,000 years ago. This will be my big project
for the next three years,'' says Bedi, adding that he discovered the
power of the Mahabharata's storyline after reading Girish Karnad's
script for Agnivarsha. What will bring the superstar touch to the
Mahabharata is the cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan (together on the
screen for the first time)and Rani Mukherji. ''While Rani will play
Draupadi, Shah Rukh and Aamir will play Karan and Arjun, but I can't
reveal who's who. I hope to make a historic movie series in the
manner of The Lord Of The Rings. My Mahabharata will have the same
imagination, special effects and creativity of Peter Jackson's
trilogy. In fact, we've asked The Lord Of The Rings' team to work
with us on this project. Mani Ratnam will direct the trilogy, which
will roll soon,''says Bedi. [Hyderabad Times, July 5th 2005 edition]
7) Film on Mozart
- A.R.Rahman is likely to compose a
part of the track for an unusual international film project being
planned to coincide with the 250th birth anniversary of Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart.
The brainchild of Salzburg-based
Austrian music composer and violinmaker Winrich Sturies, the film has
been in the works for over six months. "It will roll very soon," says
Sturies. "The release of the film is planned for mid 2006."
The Indian partner in the film
venture, Sanjay Kaushik of the Paramount group of companies, says the
details are all in place. "The script is ready, talks are on with
Rahman and the process of casting will be completed before we set a
firm date for the shoot to begin."
"The film," asserts Kaushik, "will
be a full-fledged international production that will have substantial
Indian participation. The link between the West and India will be
organic and natural, not forced as is usually the case with such film
projects."
Sturies has lined up a series of
concerts all around Europe under the rubric Project Planet-Mozart.
The film, scripted by Sturies
himself, is an extension of that celebration of the work of one of the
finest music composers the world has ever known.
"One of the key characters
in the proposed film is an Indian," reveals Sturies.
"The storyline is set in
two eras - Mozart's own and that of a fictional 17-year-old new
millennium boy, Nicholas. The two men meet and play together. A key
subplot in the film has Nicholas falling in love with an Indian girl
and travelling to this part of the world." [Link]
8)
ARR's collaboration with a world renowned Guitarist
- "There
are plans to collaborate with a very big international guitarist whose
name I cannot divulge right now." - A.R.Rahman [BollywoodCountry.com]
arr4music GUESS -
John McLaughlin [Watch out this spaces for official confirmation.
Till then, keep guessing :-) ]
9) Exclusion
Cast -
Amitabh Bachchan, John Abraham,
Seema Biswas, Kabir Bedi and well-known British actor, Terence Stamp ['Billy
Budd', 'Adventures Of Priscilla Queen Of The Deserts']
Director - Deepa Mehta
Story, Screenplay - Deepa
Mehta
Producer - David Hamlton
[David Hamilton Productions]
Editor
- Colin Monie
Cinematography - Gilens
Nuttgens
Lyrics -
Javed Akhtar
- The
movie depicts the Komagata Maru incident, one of the most notorious
"incidents" in the history of exclusion laws in Canada and the United
States designed to keep out immigrants of Asian origin. The movie is
set to go on floors in 2006.
10) Aezhumalai
v/s Chitra (A/C)
Cast
-
S imbu (as Aezhumalai), Asin
(as Chitra)
Director -
S.J.Suryah
Producer -
S.S.Chakravarthy, NIC Arts
Cinematography - Jeeva
Choreography - Raju Sundaram
- Another section of media reports A/C as Aezhumalai Chidambaram,
denoting the names of the dual characters that Simbu is playing in
the film.
CURRENT STATUS - Might go on floors in early 2007. Still
awaiting some concrete news on this.
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