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It has been 10 years since Farah Khan’s brilliant film Om Shanti Om hit the big screen. Filled with incredible performances by Shah Rukh Khan, Arjun Rampal, Shreyas Talpade, Kirron Kher and Deepika Padukone in her first film, Om Shanti Om is a musical full of drama, action, comedy, and of course romance. Everything that makes a movie good!

To bring the musical sound of Om Shanti Om to life, Farah Khan chose the great duo Vishal-Shekhar with lyrics by Javed Akhtar. The soundtrack ranges from love songs, to a classic filmy tune, some disco, a haunting, poignant theme, a party song and an epic full on musical number – it truly is a soundtrack in the best of forms.

In an incredible and in-depth conversation Vishal Dadlani takes us inside the creation of the songs of Om Shanti Om.

What do you remember was your first thought when you heard...

Shemaroo Entertainment released Dastaan-E-Rafi, an award winning documentary film based on Mohd. Rafi’s Read More...

In the season where films have started doing well at the Box Office, Brothers has managed to find audience for itself over the weekend. If the start was good, if not phenomenal, there was some good escalation waiting to take place on the rest of the weekend. Saturday was always going to be the key for the film and the Karan Malhotra film managed to cross the 21 crore mark. Sunday didn’t see as many footfalls asSaturday but still did better than Friday, as a result of which around 53 crore* came in once the weekend was through.

In the process, Akshay Kumar has now managed to get his biggest opening weekend after since Rowdy Rathore (48 crore) while Sidharth Malhotra too has gone past his Ek Villain (51 crore) record. Also, records of Akshay’s own this year, Gabbar Is Back (40 crore) and Baby (36 crore – First three days, since it was released on Thursday) are history.

It takes patience and perseverance of unimaginable levels to come even somewhat close to what Gour Hari Das has accomplished. For the uninitiated, he fought a silent war for 32 long years against his own government to prove his patriotic association towards the nation. Finally, after three full decades, the government gave him a certificate recognising his work as a freedom fighter. As you might be aware, Ananth Mahadevan’s film Gour Hari Dastaan, inspired by his life is all set to release this Friday. Ask the freedom fighter how important is the film for him and he immediately says, “It’s not important for me, it’s important for the next generation. I hope whatever I have done is a source of inspiration for the new generation to do something for others and for society.” He goes on to add, “The difference between the youth of today and pre-independence is...

Exactly four weeks after Bajrangi Bhaijaan, a biggie is all set to be unveiled in theaters. Brothers, which has been in news ever since its inception a year ago, is the Big film this Independence Day weekend and is all set to enjoy a major haul.

Just about everything appears to be going right for the film. The promo has been accepted quite well. The lead cast of Akshay Kumar, Sidharth Malhotra and Jackie Shroff is superb. With Gabbar Is Back, Baby and Ek Villain behind them, Akshay and Sidharth are enjoying a good run. Karan Johar and Karan Malhotra have given a Superhit Agneepath together. The action is looking unique and fantastic. The emotional appeal is promising good footfalls from the family audience. And most importantly, audiences are interested in coming to theaters, as seen in the recent spate of Blockbusters.

All of this will ensure that Brothers takes...

Vinay Pathak is easily known for tickling our funny bones. His happy-go-lucky characters in films like Bheja Fry series, Chalo Dilli, Dasvidaniya, Khosla Ka Ghosla, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and others have always delighted us. But now shifting his gears, Vinay will be seen in an altogether different role. He plays a freedom fighter in Ananth Mahadevan directed biopic Gour Hari Dastaan.

Though it's quite surprising to see Vinay in such a role, Ananth feels this is a very significant film for the actor.

Ananth on choosing Vinay for his film, says, "Vinay always stays true to the subject. He is vulnerable and has great sense of humor. He is very intelligent and has strong persona. I wonder why he is not given enough roles. He is trying and performing best.. Vinay is sorted as comic actor but I think there's more to him which is unexplored. My film...

Besides the film fraternity, filmmaker Ananth Mahadevan wants to take his upcoming biopic Gour Hari Dastaan - The Freedom File to the government as well. He just doesn't want to limit it to movie buffs or the patrons, who are eager to check out the movie. According to him every Indian should watch this film.

Ananth, in fact, is trying his best to showcase it to Pmo and parliamentary MPs.

"There is full government support. We will have big premiere for the parliamentary MPs, other government officials. And I am sure they will take great interest. I hope they declare it as tax free. I have already called up Pmo office and the Bjp core member, Mr. Sunil Deodhar has actually taken it to the higher department and strongly recommended to Narendra Modiji," says the filmmaker

He further adds, "I hope every Indian connects with it. Every 4th person is...

No it's not just another promotional gig. Ananth Mahadevan truly believes that stories like Gour Hari Dastaan should be recognized and celebrated. On the occasion of upcoming Independence Day, the director plans on releasing a national anthem recognizing the heroes who are alive. In fact Anant plans to rope in people who have contributed to freedom struggle in some way or the other. The anthem will start with a tribute to the fan who designed the national flag of India followed by Gour Hari Dasji dedicating a message to all the unsung heroes. As for the film, Gour Hari Dastaan directed by Ananth Mahadevan is scheduled to release in India on August 14, 2015.

The festival returns this month for its sixth edition. Every year Liff aims to bring audiences some of the very best new Indian independent cinema, which includes features, documentaries and short films by both acclaimed and emerging filmmakers. This year’s line up promises to leave you entertained, informed, thought provoking and even in some cases leaving a screen shocked.

We now present the films that will be screened at this prestigious festival

Umrika | Opening Night | UK Premiere | cert 12A

Hindi with English subtitles | 98 min | India 2015 | Dir. Prashant Nair | with: Suraj Sharma, Tony Revolori, Adil Hussain, Smita Tambe, Prateik Babbar.

This year’s Sundance Audience Award winner is an uplifting, rights of passage tale about two brothers from a small village who have dreams of making it big in Umrika (America). Udai (Pratiek Babbar) is the eldest and adored by his hard-working mum. He leaves their hamlet on a bullock...

It seems Vinay Pathak is in a mood to shift gears!

We have seen him in the most whimsical roles (Dasvidaniya, Chalo Dilli, Bheja Fry series, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Mithya and many more) and throwing away some amazing dry humor punches, but of late the actor is treading the path of doing serious and soul shattering roles. Last he was seen in Varun Dhawan starrer Badlapur, a dark unflinching film, where he portrayed the character (Nawaz's partner in crime) with grey shades.

And now for the first time in his acting career Vinay Pathak will be seen in a biographic film. His next Gour Hari Dastaan - The Freedom File would have him playing a deep and intense character. Besides, he is also playing an 80-year old man for the first time on-screen.

Known for his comic timing and witty-humor roles, Vinay is pushing the envelope to challenge...

Elizabeth Ekadashi, directed by Paresh Mokashi, will screen as the opening Feature Film of the Indian Panorama section at the 45th International Film Festival of India 2014. The other highlights in the feature-film section include Kaushik Ganguly’s Chotoder Chobi, Rajat Kapoor’s Ankhon Dekhi, Rajeev Ravi’s Njan Steve Lopez, Shaji N. Karun’s Swapaanam and Avinash Arun’s Killa.

The Last Adieu by Shabnam Sukhdev has been chosen as the Opening Film of the Non-Feature Film section of Indian Panorama 2014.

Feature Films

Title of the Film Language Director Othello Assamese Hemanta Kumar Das Punashcha Bengali Souvik Mitra Chotoder Chobi Bengali Kaushik Ganguly Bodhon Bengali Ayananshu Banerjee Jodi Love Dile Na Praane Bengali Sudeshna Roy and Abhijit Guha Teenkahon Bengali Bauddhayan Mukherji Gour Hari Dastaan – The freedom File Hindi Ananth Narayan Mahadevan Ankhon Dekhi Hindi Rajat Kapoor 1-December Kannada P. Sheshadri Ri Khasi Pradip Kurbah 1983 Malayalam Abrid Shine North 24 Kaatham...

B. R. Chopra's Baghban (2003) was a super hit film and brought laurels to Amitabh Bachchan for his histrionics. However, do you know that B. R. Chopra had planned this movie way back in the 80s with Dilip Kumar in the lead? But destiny had something else in store for Chopra. In fact except Naya Daur (1957) whenever Dilip Kumar and B. R. Chopra came together the result was a failure. Remember Dastaan (1972) and Mazdoor (1983)? Hence, Amitabh Bachchan proved a right choice. Howeve...

Mumbai, July 12: Bollywood actor Vinay Pathak, known for his excellent comic timing, will be seen in Ananth Mahadevan directed biopic "Gaur Hari Dastaan".

The film is about Odisha's freedom fighter Gaur Hari Das, who joined the movement to end British rule in India.

"I am playing Gaur Hari. It is a biopic. It is the story of a freedom fighter. It is a wonderful role and is fantastically directed. I am looking forward to it," said Vinay known for his rib-tickling performances in "Khosla Ka Ghosla" and "Bheja Fry".

The film also stars Konkona Sen Sharma as the freedom fighter's wife. Ranvir Shorey and Tannishtha Chatterjee.

Here is a good news for the movie lovers. Ranvir Shorey and Konkona Sen Sharma’s are back together as a happily married couple. The troubled in their paradise is a story of the past now. They have sorted out their differences and apparently moved into a new apartment together to lead a happy married life forever. They decided to reconcile for their two-year-old son Haroon. They earlier lived in a Garden Estate on Goregaon Link Road and now moved into to a new residential apartment in Versova “They had certain issues but they have sorted them out. A few months ago, they shot for Ananth Mahadevan’s ‘Gaur Hari Dastaan’ togeth...

Konkona Sen Sharma seems to be back to the grind of studios and shooting post her delivery. The actress, who gave birth to son Haroon last year, was recently spotted dubbing for her film Gour Hari Dastaan directed by Ananth Mahadevan. In the film starring Vinay Pathak, Konkona plays a character named Lakshmi Das. Konkona's hubby Ranvir Shorey also features in the film in the role of a journalist. Besides this film, Konkona is also there in Balaji and Vishal Bhardwaj's Emraan Hashmi starrer Ek Thi Daayan.

Actor Ranvir Shorey says his wife Konkona Sen Sharma, who took a sabbatical after their son Haroon.s birth, is back under arclights.The actress, who was last seen in a cameo in 2001 release .7 Khoon Maaf., will be seen in Anant Mahadevan.s .Gaur Hari Dastaan.. She plays Odisha.s freedom fighter Gaur Hari Das. wife in it..She is going to come out full guns blazing. That part we played quite well. I took six months off, she took two years off. Haroon came to the sets of .Gaur Hari Dastaan. when he was less than a year,. said Ranvir, who is making a special appearance in the film.Ranvir and Konkona tied the knot in September 2010 and had a son in 2011..Haroon.s birth really had a profound effect on me and I think it had on Konkona also. It is fabulous, it is the best thing that has happened to me.

Mumbai, April 26: Actor Ranvir Shorey says his wife Konkona Sen Sharma, who took a sabbatical after their son Haroon's birth, is back under arclights.

The actress, who was last seen in a cameo in 2001 release "7 Khoon Maaf", will be seen in Anant Mahadevan's "Gaur Hari Dastaan". She plays Odisha's freedom fighter Gaur Hari Das' wife in it.

"She is going to come out full guns blazing. That part we played quite well. I took six months off, she took two years off. Haroon came to the sets of 'Gaur Hari Dastaan' when he was less than a year," said Ranvir, who is making a special appearance in the film.

Ranvir.

For all those that missed the Bengali beauty, youcan rejoice as Konkona Sen Sharma has begun acting again after taking taking a break for maternity leave. The actress was hush hush about her marriage ceremony to long time beau Ranvir Sorey, but let her Twitter followers and the world know she’s back at work.

“First day of film shoot after a year and a half and a baby!” tweeted the award winning actress. And it’s not just her fans that are happy to see her back. Fellow actress and friend Diya Mirza replied to her tweet with “You will be super as always!!! Have a blast!” in response to the news and mimicked the feelings of the Mirch actress’ fans!

The only thing left to figure out was which film. While the actress didn’t mention the title of the film, Ananth Narayan Mahadevan’s “Gaur Hari Dastaan...

After having collected national awards and worldwide critical acclaim for his last biopic Mee Sindhutai Sapkal, Ananth Mahadevan and his producers Siddhivinayak Cine Vision have announced their next which is yet another biopic based on the life of Gour Hari Das, a freedom fighter from Orissa now living in Maharashtra.The film is called Gour Hari Dastaan and Vinay Pathak will play the title role. The film narrates the story of a freedom fighter's uphill struggle to seek his... Read More...

After having collected national awards and worldwide critical acclaim for his last biopic Mee Sindhutai Sapkal, Ananth Mahadevan and his producers Siddhivinayak Cine Vision have announced their next which is yet another biopic based on the life of Gour Hari Das, a freedom fighter from Orissa now living in Maharashtra.The film is called Gour Hari Dastaan and Vinay Pathak will play the title role. The film narrates the story of a freedom fighter's uphill struggle to seek his...