24 luglio 2013

Priyanka Chopra: Exotic

Priyanka Chopra è sempre più determinata a sfondare nella scena pop internazionale. L'11 luglio 2013 è stato presentato in rete il video di Exotic, il nuovo brano realizzato con il contributo di Pitbull. Ad oggi, il filmato è stato visualizzato quasi sette milioni di volte. 
 
Video Exotic
 
Priyanka Chopra e Pitbull
 

Onir: Don't censor my views

Vi segnalo un contributo significativo del regista Onir, pubblicato da Hindustan Times il 19 luglio 2013. Don’t censor my views:

'The gay man in Hindi cinema has been primarily represented as an overtly feminine and sexed-up man. There is nothing wrong in the feminine portrayal of the gay man but it becomes problematic when it becomes the only representation and a representation that is not respected and is constantly subjected to mockery. The other so-called non-stereotype portrayal too is problematic. (...) The same story of the gay man being a home-breaker who cannot be trusted. (...) Queer characters do not necessarily have to be ‘good’ but the narrative remains the same over and over again. Having said that one cannot take away the fact that the biggest contribution of the film [Bombay Talkies] is that you see an actor, who is a macho icon (Randeep Hooda), kiss another man. It shakes up an audience and some of them will accept that ‘this too is normal’. That is precious more so because it is a widely seen film. However, we should be cautious before perceiving that Bombay Talkies getting a wider release is a reflection of overall society becoming more open. The answer will lie when another non-studio film with queer content is made. Will it find the support system? Or will it be turned away by the film certification board with the excuse that two men looking at each other romantically cannot be shown on satellite television as it sends a wrong signal to children? (...) In Dostana (...) the mother at one point is willing to accept the character played by John Abraham as her son’s partner. I think showing acceptance by family is a great signal to give to a community that often lacks the courage to confide in their family'.

Irrfan Khan: I tried being a star but it did not work for me

Vi segnalo una lunga intervista concessa da Irrfan Khan a The Indian Express, pubblicata il 16 giugno 2013. I tried being a star but it did not work for me:

Vidya Prabhu: If there is one film you wish you had not done?
Chocolate. I couldn't watch it. I was only given the first half of the script. The second part I did not get even after the movie was over. (...)
Dipanita Nath: Why is it that unlike in the West actors in Bollywood are seen so rarely in the theatre? Do you miss the stage?
We don't have a culture of theatre. In America, theatre is alive. People are writing plays. Here when we do theatre, we either borrow scripts from abroad or there are few writers who are writing for a particular audience. So theatre movement itself is not so vibrant here. There are a few genuine people like Naseeruddin Shah who are doing theatre and doing it for the right reason. Sometimes, I do miss it but not in a way that I will leave cinema and start doing theatre. (...)
Suanshu Khurana: What were your growing-up years in Rajasthan like?
My father was from a feudal family and my mother was also from a reputed family. But our fortunes were on a downslide. So those were the days when they were trying to make their own identity but also holding on to their values. They looked down upon films, ditto for sports. They only wanted us to focus on studies. I would go to school at 6 am and come home at 6 pm. I would long for the time when this school business would end and I'd grow up and lead my own life. My father was a hunter, so I can never forget those nights when I accompanied him. They have left a strong impression on my mind. Whenever I get time, I look for jungles where I can go see animals at night. It's the most exciting moment for me.
Shiny Varghese: When you are shooting a film over a long period of time, how do you bring rigour into your work?
That's the nature of the profession. When you work with a story and shoot it for 5-6 months, sometimes you do half a scene today and half the scene four months later. In such cases, you learn as an actor, you pick up the skills. You are driven by both passion and skill and when the passion is gone, the skill takes over. But yes, when only the skills are working, then you are dead, the profession is dead to you and there's no fun.
Smita Nair: Are you stubborn as an actor?
Earlier, I used to be. But now I consider it a collaboration. It's more of a discussion and exploration together. It can't be either my way or his way, because then there is no fun making a movie. We both are there to tell a story, and bring our own elements to it. Like in Life of Pi, (director) Ang Lee had a particular design: he told me that for a particular dialogue, I need to turn and say it in a certain way. Very precise. Five years ago, it would have been very difficult for me. But now, I know how to adapt to that design and make it my own. That's also the function of an actor, to make a certain thing your own. (...)
P. Vaidyanathan Iyer: What do you do when you're not working?
When I do have time, I try to go away from the city, to a place where there are no people and just me. I also try to spend time with my kids. I watch documentaries. It takes time for me to get engaged by fiction.
Sagnik Chowdhury: You are an actor who gives a lot of importance to the craft of acting and filmmaking. Do you foresee a time when you would get into filmmaking yourself?
I dabbled in direction once when I was in television, but I did it because at that point, I was bored of acting. But direction doesn't come naturally to me. I'll definitely direct if a story becomes so compelling that I cannot live without sharing it. I wish I could do it. I wish I could write so that I could make films, because this is the best time to tell stories. The audience is ready to listen to stories, so it is the best time for a director. But I'd love to direct and act. Because as an actor, you have to wait for stories and present the other person's point of view'.

Company su Rai Movie

Non capita spesso che un canale televisivo italiano si prenda la briga di commissionare il doppiaggio e di proporre uno dei capolavori della cinematografia popolare in lingua hindi. Non solo: sino ad ora non era mai capitato che un canale televisivo italiano presentasse un film del geniale regista Ram Gopal Varma. Per cui, signore e signori, in piedi ad applaudire Rai Movie: sabato 27 luglio 2013, alle ore 21.10, è in programmazione il magnifico, oscuro Company, celebrato gangster movie del 2002 con Ajay Devgan, Vivek Oberoi, Manisha Koirala e la superstar del cinema in lingua malayalam Mohanlal. Alla sua distribuzione, Company conquistò critica e pubblico. Alcuni lo giudicarono persino superiore al mitico Satya. Ajay Devgan regala un'interpretazione indimenticabile, Vivek Oberoi un debutto clamoroso, Manisha Koirala un ruolo femminile malinconico e pieno di glamour. Company include sequenze ambientate in location straniere, scelta insolita nella filmografia di Varma. Speriamo solo che i dialoghi italiani non siano piatti ed esangui, e che il doppiaggio sia all'altezza del cast, della pellicola e della regia.