amritha rao's interview

Post Vivah , Amrita Rao is one actress who is making all the news and bagging the best projects. She also made her debut in South Indian films with Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu’s Athidhi . The film released and became an instant hit. Happy by the response, Amrita now wants to be cautious in selecting films. For last six months, she has been put up in Hyderabad working for Athidhi and Shyam Benegal’s film. She talks to Indiatimes.com about her career plans for regional films and more.Your first foray into regional films with Athidhi , which has been received well and people in Andhra are going gaga over your looks.

How is the experience?
I am really happy to know that Athidhi has been lapped up by Telugu people. Everyone is enjoying it from masses to college students. I saw the film on the first day first show in Sudarshan, a 70mm theatre and it was an experience I will never forget. I saw people literally celebrating the film. They came with tons of paper and threw it across the screens in joy. Mere Liye Woh Bahut Yadgaar Pal Tha . I felt greater responsibility as an actress.

What was the prime reason for selecting this film as your debut in Telugu?
The first thing that I liked about Athidhi is that my character name in the film is Amrita – my real name. In Bollywood, I played lot of roles but never was I called Amirta in those films. In some movies, I was called Payal, Poonam and in some Sanjana. Apart from this, I liked the characterization of my role in the movie. I like the whole fictitious character coming out of me, which was designed like the female lead in Matrix and trying to do what she probably can’t do.

Will you like to do more such fantasy characters in Bollywood?

Yes, I would love to. Actually, I am already talking about this characterization to people in Bollywood. Playing characters like Carrie-Anne Moss in Matrix was real fun. It is like doing a dream character that I have always wanted to do.

Are you happy with the girl-next-door image?
I want to encash on this image. It is always better for an actor/actress to connect with one’s audiences. People find me in their daughter, sister or the girl they always knew in their neighborhood. It is important for an actress to be identified by the audiences. I am happy with this image

.Are’t you worried it’ll typecast you?
From the beginning, I have been doing a variety of films and roles. In Main Hoon Na , I did a modern college girl. While I did a period film ( The Legend of Bhagat Singh ), on other hand, I also played a traditional Indian girl in Shikar. Ishq Vishq and Vivah are all different from each other. I am picking up a variety of roles despite this image.

You seem so anorexic!
(laughs) Really? Well, being petite works for me to sustain in the film world. But I never starve to be slim. I take healthy food and believe I have appropriate weight.

Tell us about Shyam Benegal’s film
This film is going to be one of the milestones in my film journey. I have already shot for the film for one month in Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad and the whole experience was enriching. Shyamji is one of the directors, I respect and he is an internally known filmmaker. His cinema has always been sensible and good. This time he is doing a satirical comedy and has commercial elements too. Shyam ji is going to surprise lots of people with this film.

What next?
My film with director Niwas – My Name Anthony Is Gonsalves , is going to be released early next year. Then there is Anil Kapoor’s home production, Short Cut , starring Akshaye Khanna and Arshad Warsi. Some films are still in the pipeline

venkatesh's interview

After Lakshmi and Aadavari Matalaku Ardhale Verule, Venkatesh is back, to woo the family audiences of Andhra. Facing a pleasant portrait of Bhagwan Ramana Maharshi in his private room at Ramanaidu Studios, Venkatesh speaks about the film, his career and spiritualism.

Tell us about Thulasi?
Thulasi is yet another emotional family drama. It has all the ingredients to satisfy my fans. (Smiles) Unlike Lakshmi, Thulasi, will have an extra dose of action and sentiment. The entire movie is shot in an interesting manner with specially conceived sequences. It has high-voltage of action, romance and sentiments. The major highlight of the movie is the music by Devi Sri Prasad, which has already become a chartbuster. All the numbers are situational and will give a pleasant experience to the audience. Choreography and the locations are also special in Thulasi.The editing is very slick.

Why do you prefer titles like Lakshmi and now Thulasi?
Not intentional at all. The title of the film has relevance to the story. I play the role of Tulasi Ram. Moreover, it has sentimental value attached to the sacred Thulasi plant. I think there is nothing wrong or abnormal in this title.
What about the characterization of Tulasi Ram?
Tulasi Ram is a blend of violence and silence. He hails from Palnadu and hence holds a lineage of his own. He falls in love with a girl – call her a mix of modernity and tradition. She is both glamorous and homely. Tulasi is an architect. But the story is about love and other family drama elements. There is also the angle of factionist cult attached to Tulasi.

What kind of sentiments is there in the film?
There is a father-son sentiment and the boy – Athulith has done a wonderful performance. I can repeatedly say that he is cute, wonderful and great. I felt at home working with him. The audience will cry during a few scenes. The relationship will sound realistic and not at all dramatic. This child sentiment can be called the lifeline of the film.

Action, sentiment or romance.Which one you felt more difficult to enact?
I did all the departments with passion. But, it was with the child sentiment that I worked hard and felt the weight on my nerves. Anyways, I liked it most.Tell us about Nayantara
Going by the story, the heroine should look both glamorous and traditional. I already said that. Nayantara was the right choice. And she has done a great job.

How you felt working with Boyapati?
It was team work. Boyapati worked for my films Pavitra Bandham and Pelli Chesukundam as an assistant director. When he narrated the story, I instantly liked it. He is one technician who could mix commercial element with realism with perfect ease. You will see that in Thulasi.

Why don't you prefer acting in big budget mass films?
I don't really mean it. For me, there is nothing like a budget movie or small budget movie. After all, everybody works for money. I should know what my audiences prefer. If not, it will become a risky proposition. Producers should get back their money (smiles)

They say that you are turning spiritual. Please comment
Yes. I have completely surrendered to God. He will take care of me. I have experienced that God is within us. Most of us are not inviting him into our heart. Once you invite him wholeheartedly, you will experience bliss

One more hero is coming from your family. How do you feel?
Yes. Rana (son of Suresh Babu) wants to be an actor. He will come at the right time.

Your future projects?
At present I want to take a break.

S. P. Balasubramaniam:A legend

150 selected songs of S. P. Balasubramaniam DOWNLOAD HERE


(బాల సుబ్రమణ్యం) is a prolific Indian singer,Actor,Dubbing artist,Music director. He is also known as S.P.B. and Baalu in the media.
Besides playback singing, Balasubramaniam is also the chairman of Kodandapani Audio Labs, Chennai.

His Full name is Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubramaniam

Singer

Balasubramaniam made his debut in film music as a singer in 1966 with Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna, a film scored by his mentor Kodandapani. He has sung more than 39,000 songs [2]since in more than 5 different Indian languages including Telugu, Tamil,Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam. He holds the Guinness record for having sung the most number of song recordings by any single male singer (the corresponding record for a female singer is held by Lata Mangeshkar).

A gifted singer, he is highly regarded for his incredible vocal range, deep rich voice, and mastery of style, technique and control. These qualities allowed him expression across various genres of Indian music, and he has been highly sought after by many of India's film music composers. His approach to singing is methodical; he perseveres to understand the full meaning of the songs that he sings (many of which are very poetic) and the settings in which these songs are couched in order to most effectively match their requirements with his vocal delivery.

SPB is fairly well-versed in the Hindi language, but has also sung in various other less familiar languages such as Bengali, Tulu and Oriya. He feels that vocal gimmickry cannot mask incorrect accents, and while he concedes that his accent and diction in Hindi are not perfect, insists that accent is secondary to singing within the context of the proper emotions required of the lyrics and moods. He welcomes modern technology in music making as it enhances both speed and results.

He has performed both the popular and classical music of India. For example, the songs he performed in the films Sankarabharanam, Sagara Sangamam, Rudra Veena were based on Carnatic classical music, and the song Umandu Ghumandu in the movie Ganayogi Panchakshari Gavayi was based on Hindustani classical music.

SPB virtually monopolised playback singing for more than 15 years in the Telugu, Kannada and Tamil cinema. He hosts a popular TV show called Paadutha Theeyaga on E-Tv, Paadalani Undi on MAA-TV and Ede Thumbi Haaduvenu on 'E-Tv Kannada'.


Awards and titles

Titles

* 1999 Doctorate from Pottisreeramulu University (A.P). Presented by Governor Rangarajan.
* 2001 Padma Sri Award from the President of India K.R. Narayanan..
National awards

* 1979 Sankarabharanam - Telugu
* 1981 Ek Duje Ke Liye - Hindi
* 1983 Sagara Sangamam - Telugu
* 1988 Rudraveena - Telugu
* 1995 Ganayogi Panchakshari Gavayi - Kannada
* 1996 Minsaara Kanavu - Tamil

State awards

* The Kalaimamani by Tamil Nadu Government in 1981
* Andhra Pradesh Government Nandi Award for Best Male Playback Singer - received 18 times.
* Tamil Nadu Government Award - received 3 times
* Film Fans' Association (Madras) Award (oldest association in the country) - received 20 times

Other awards

* September 1, 2002 Life time Achievement Award "Play back King", conferred during TVS Victor Aalaapana Music Awards function for the years 2001 & 2002, at Hyderabad
* August 5, 2002 "Dr. Bezawada Gopala Reddy Award", given during a function in Nellore
* April 7, 2002 Delhi Telugu Academy's 'Rashtriya Vikas Shiromani Award (Life time)' in 2002 on the occasion of 'Ugadi 2002', held in New Delhi.
* 2002 Swaralaya-Kairali-Yesudas award
* 2001 Sangeeta Ganga award
* 1990 Film Fare Award for the film 'Maine Pyar Kiya'
* 2006 Raja-Lakshmi Award from Sri Raja-Lakshmi Foundation, Chennai
* 2006 Best Playback Singer from Vijay TV, Reliance Mobile Vijay awards
* Mia Tansen Award Sur Singar Sanjad (Bombay) for best classical rendition of a song from 'Tere Payal Mere Geeth' composed by Naushad Sab
* Innumerable Awards from Magazines & Associations fostering films
Achievements

* Has recorded over 39,000 plus songs in a span of 40 years, which include film songs and devotional numbers recorded by various recording companies of the country. It's a world record which will be soon entering into the Guinness Book of World Records.
* Has recorded 21 songs in Kannada for the composer Upendra Kumar in Bangalore from 9.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. on February 8, 1981 which is a record.
* Has recorded 19 songs in Tamil in a day, and 16 songs in Hindi in a day, which is a notable achievement.

It's far tougher doing an ad: Abhishek

Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, who is the new brand ambassador of Flying Machine jeans and all set to shoot for its ad films, says it is anything but easy to work in ad films.

'I think it's far tougher doing an ad. Within two minutes one has to say what one gets to say in nearly three hours in movies. So, yes, I enjoy doing ads,' he said.

'Flying Machine is a special challenge because here I'm going to be instrumental in taking the product ahead of where it is. Hopefully, far ahead,' Abhishek told IANS.

Abhishek, who unveiled a new collection of the brand, said that the brainstorming was now on for the first Flying Machine ad.

'I'm, of course, in the loop. I'm taken into confidence as to who would shoot the ad and other details. It's so gratifying to work with these young ad makers, many of whom finally come into making movies... Pradeep Sarkar, with whom I've done ads and now a film called Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, and Balkrishnan being the latest examples of ad makers-turned-feature film makers. These guys are really talented.'

So does the brand intend to make Abhishek the global face of Flying Machine?

'They do. And I feel good about it. Because I'm furthering the cause of a product I truly believe in,' he said, adding that he won't endorse products he doesn't believe in.

Rakhi sawant's interview

Bollywood elites don't like mingling with her, others make fun of her, but the popularity of bold and 'bindaas' Rakhi Sawant is growing by leaps and bounds.

Post Sony TV's Bigg Boss, she managed to appear on Karan Johar's swish chat show Koffee with Karan and now she is doing an item number in Rakesh Roshan's Krazy 4.

'Look at my good fortune, I've been signed by Rakesh Roshanji to do an item song in Krazy 4. I had tears in my eyes when Rakesh Roshanji called,' said Rakhi, who was seen in bit roles in Chura Liya Hai Tumne and Mumbai Express.

Commenting upon the discrimination she faces in filmdom, Rakhi told IANS: 'Earlier, I didn't get any respect from within the film industry. Now even if I do get respect it is done in a very grudging way. I'm considered a bechari.

'The heroines are specially reluctant to acknowledge my stardom. Yeah, some like Rani Mukerji, Bipasha Basu and Ayesha Takia have been kind. On the whole, I'm not given the respect I deserve.'

She gives credit to the media and her hard work for her newfound fame in showbiz.

'I'm the darling of the media. I'm media-made. They felt I spoke my heart, that I was bindaas. The media shows both my good and bad deeds. Somewhere they feel I've got my act right.'

Excerpts:

Q: How does it feel to be Rakhi Sawant?
A: Shall I tell you something? I'm doing dance competition Nach Baliye 3 with my boyfriend Abhishek. Today he's not as well-known as I am. Just like John Abraham and Bipasha Basu earlier. It's said John got a lot of roles because of Bipasha. I want Abhishek to become a star. I'm working on it.

Q: How's the experience of participating in another contest?
A: Every time I enter the sets, the other contestants say they want their money back and drop out. They feel if I'm participating with my boyfriend, they don't stand a chance. Everyone feels I'm going to win for sure. I feel good about winning. But do I want to win at the cost of offending others? Am I overconfident or are the other girls around me insecure?

Q: Maybe they grudge you your success?
A: Do they know how hard I work? I'm rehearsing day and night for 'Nach Baliye' and look at my good fortune. Do you know I've been signed by Rakesh Roshanji to do an item song in Krazy 4? I had tears my eyes when Rakesh Roshanji called. I wept in front of god, wondering what kind of a miracle this is.

Q: But Rakesh Roshan has only given you an item song?
A: So what? It's a big banner.

Q: Did you ever dream of being mobbed like a 22-carat star?
A: Yes, I did. I always knew there was something very special about me. I struggled for eight years to get where I am today.

Q: Your stardom is a freak case.
A: You can say that again. Lots of strugglers and aspirants get tired and give up. But I kept at it. I started by doing item songs and bit roles. I chose to do small roles instead of sitting at home. I wasn't a star-daughter with a producer-father willing to gamble tens of millions on me. Nobody big came to sign me at the start. Nobody knew me.

Q: Are the heroines nice to you?
A: The heroines are especially reluctant to acknowledge my stardom. Yeah, some like Rani Mukerji, Bipasha and Ayesha Takia have been kind. Shilpa Shetty loves me like anything. When she came to do a show for television, she came to my set and sat there and watched me dance. She told me she was encouraged to go on Big Brother after watching me on Bigg Boss. But on the whole I'm not given the respect I deserve.

Q: For the promotional campaign of your film Buddha Mar Gaya, you were mobbed the most, above stalwarts like Om Puri and Anupam Kher. Do you feel vindicated?
A: If that's true, then I'm thankful to god. I'm the darling of the media. I'm media-made. They felt I spoke my heart, that I was bindaas. The media shows both my good and bad deeds. Somewhere they feel I've got my act right.

Q: Today your popularity equals that of any big star.
A: True. Earlier I didn't get any respect from within the film industry. Now even if I do get respect it is done in a very grudging way. I'm considered a bechari. I'm a self-made girl. I wanted to be successful on my own terms, no matter how bindaas and bold I had to be to achieve this. In this industry no one gives you bread for nothing. One has to earn it.

Cricket could show way for hockey, other sports: Shah Rukh Khan

Shah Rukh Khan 's brilliant acting in Chak De India as the coach of the
women's hockey team, who helps them lift the World Cup, has won him rave
reviews with many in the film-critic circles pitching for making him the
new ambassador for the game of sticks in the country.

The movie has become a new anthem for sports in the country.

However, for SRK, portrayal of Kabir Khan's character was just another role and not
an advocacy on his part to promote the game.

''It's not for me to decide who's going to
do what. I am in the profession of acting and filmmaking. And I very, very clearly do my job keeping in mind
certain criteria...beyond that everybody else knows their job,'' he said adding, ''the sponsors, corporates and
film associations, and the sports associations-- they all know their job. I am nobody to turn around and say - ok
from today onwards, hockey is going to be the new cricket now!''

''I am just glad that I could comment about the sport that I love. I don't know whether the film will do well or
not... So, let alone whether hockey will change or not,'' King Khan said in an interview to NDTV 24X7 Saturday
night.

SRK, however, expressed the hope that success of cricket could pave the way for other sports like hockey in the
country. ''I think we should take a cue from cricket.''

Asked whether he had expected the movie to do as well as it did, SRK said, ''I don't do any film which I don't
think is going to do well. When I think of a movie doing well, I don't think in terms of money. I think of getting
something new to do. The team was wonderful. Jaideep, Shimit and Sudeepa who shot the film are my friends and I
really like them.''

SRK was also thankful to the producer Aditya Chopra and director Shimit Amin for giving a role he had not done
earlier.

''I am very humbled and thankful to all these guys for giving me a chance to do a film like this, because
sometimes stardom comes in my way of being able to perform the way I like to.''

There are few films where the makers have the guts to say let's take SRK but not make it an in-your-face
commercial film and give him the freedom to what he does, he added.

''I am thankful to the audience for understanding the ideology behind this film. And I am thankful to
Shimit for making me act well,'' SRK said.

A.R.Rehman says.......

You have always come up with exceptional scores for Mani Rathnam. Do you personally think that you've given your best for him?
See, the main thing is the concept that the director has. He (Mani Rathnam) has always given me things which I have not done before. He has been quite an important person in my career, and he always wants me to excel, whether they are for his films or others' films. When challenging things are given to you, then you devote all your energy to it. He never tells you that 'I want a song like this or that,' but he always has a fresh idea. That's the reason why different scores come up for his films.

Andrew Lloyd Webber thinks that Chaiyya chaiyya is a great number, one of the greatest songs he has ever heard. What do you think about it?
He said it's one of the greatest numbers, yes. I think it's a very commercial song. He (Webber) finds the whole genre of music -- the production, picturisation of the song in Dil Se -- very interesting. Hopefully, we'll do more exciting stuff now.

When we talk about film music, we talk chiefly about how the masses appreciate it. Now, do you think your music will be more critically examined, simply because it will be heard by a different strata of society?

See, I always live with a song, sometimes for a week, sometimes for six months, to try and fix whatever is wrong with it. Because, if I don't like something, people will not like it either. I've gone by that rule and so far, it's been working. God was kind. That's how I'm going to do this (Bombay Dreams) also. I'm not going to try something I don't know about. I assume they will like it.

Is there going to be something elitist about a musical?

The only difference is that it's going to be in English. I'm yet to know (laughs) -- about any other differences, because this is a completely new direction for me. But on the whole, I think -- hopefully, God-willing -- it will be successful.

Are you looking at Hollywood as well?

Not now. I don't have the energy to do too many things at the same time. I'll probably finish this first...

But you are taking a sabbatical from Hindi and regional films, aren't you?
I've done my homework on the films which are yet to be released. So there's not going to be a vacuum. It's not like you are not going to hear A R Rahman's music for one year. I've almost completed Lagaan, Zubeida, Kandu Konden..., alai ptyuthey Rhythm. All these films will be coming now, filling up the gap.

And you are not accepting any other offers right now?
Not yet. I'm just holding them, so that I get some space.

Taal was a very big hit. How come you aren't working with Subhash Ghai again for his new film, Yaadein?
I was supposed to, but then this project came up. So I told him about it and we agreed that we'll find time in future and work together.


There's this allegation that you are a composer who has mastered the gadgets -- how do you react to this?
I think it's just an extra attribute or whatever (laughs). But it's not the only thing. Because without tunes, without happening tunes, it will not work. Only if you have a happening tune, then everything else can support it. Knowing the computer actually helps to perfect things. If somebody has gone off-key but delivered a good line with the right feel, you don't have to sacrifice the take. You can just cut it at the pitch and use it. These are what I have learnt to make things easier, to get the best out of an artiste.

Some people have accused you of being repetitive...

I don't think they will say that now, because I have been into too many wild things. Hopefully, they won't say it again in future.

But was there a phase when you felt you were being repetitive?

Well, yes. Following the success of Kadalan (or Hum Se Muqabla in Hindi), a kind of dance culture developed. Suddenly, there were proposals with Prabhu Deva and me together, because that helped sell the films. I was forced to do only dance music. But then I got out of it and accepted films which demanded melody. You know sometimes, you kind of get into it... without realising.

Do you have some idea about the kind of music you will be doing for Bombay Dreams?
Yes, we do have some scratches ready. If I tell you more about it, then there won't be any surprise left. But it is going to be Indian. It should be exciting, that's all I can say now.

Will there be Indian singers involved in the production?
There will be Asian singers, since part of the cast will be Asian.

A lot has been said about Chaiyya chaiyya. People attribute the song to you, but it has been inspired by something else... what made you choose this song?
Yeah, it's a Sufi song. Any great love song, when attributed to a divine source, gets an extra dimension. People say any love which is immortal is divine love. Chaiyya chaiyya is something like that. The inspiration, therefore, is a divine one.