My-Gujarat Movies

Jodhaa Akbar stopped at theaters in Ahmedabad

2008-02-17T21:46:00.001+05:30

Screening of Ashutosh Gowariker's latest film, Jodhaa Akbar has been stopped at theaters in Gujarat following protests from a group of Hindu community.

The film starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Bachchan has been in the controversy even before the film's release.

Protestors who belong to the Rajput community attacked theaters in Ahmedabad where the film was being screened.

Following threats of more attacks, screening of the film was temporarily stopped in multiplexes across the city.

The protest was against the film for not depicting historical facts correctly.
--MP

Anti-Modi remarks haunts Aamir Khan before release of 'Taare Zameen Par' in Gujarat

2007-12-20T11:13:00.001+05:30

Vadodara, Dec 19 (ANI): Several political activists in Gujarat today protested against the screening of Bollywood star Aamir Khan's upcoming film 'Taare Zameen Par', and demanded an apology from him for his anti-Narmada dam remarks and criticism of the Narendra Modi Government.

'Taare Zameen Par', which marks Khan's debut as director, is all set to hit cinema halls this Friday.

Aamir's remarks against Chief Minister Narendra Modi as well as his opposition to the Narmada dam had evoked violent protests across the state last year.

The activists of the Sardar Patel group protested outside PVR and INOX theatres in Vadodara and tore up posters of the movie.

"We won't allow the movie to be screened unless the actor apologises to the people of Gujarat for his remarks," said Manish Sangani, head of the Sardar Patel Group.

Two other Aamir Khan starrer 'Rang De Basanti' and 'Fanaa' also faced similar protests.

In 2006, when Aamir Khan starrer 'Fanaa' was released, the Supreme Court passed an order stating that film exhibitors in the state were free to seek security if they wanted to screen the movie 'Fanaa'.

Pushpendra Singh, manager operation INOX theatres has decided to boycott the screening of the movie.

"We don't want to screen the film because we are with the people of Gujarat and don't want to hurt them," said Pushpendra Singh, manager operation INOX theatres. (ANI)
--MP

Ahmedabad, Aurangabad and Amritsar get new FM station

2007-10-29T20:14:00.001+05:30

Ahmedabad, Aurangabad and Amritsar will each have one more FM station to tune into. Private FM radio players have been quite regularly announcing the launch of their new stations in the Phase II of FM licensing in various cities. The three cities now have a new entrant in the form of Radio City, Radio Mirchi and My FM, respectively. Radio City launched its ninth station in the country in Ahmedabad last week. Apurva Purohit, CEO, Radio City, noted that Ahmedabad was a very important market for the radio player.

Three-year-old prodigy captivates music lovers in Rajkot

2007-10-29T20:13:00.000+05:30

Rajkot, Sept 23 (ANI): At a tender age of three years, Shivam Singh of Gujarat’s Rajkot District is a little wonder. The child prodigy sings melodiously and plays traditional Indian musical instruments with as much ease and aptness as he recites his nursery rhymes. His expertise in music is evident in the effortless manner with which he renders both melodious hymns and classical music, and taps apt rhythms on tabla and plays harmonium. The only son of Ashwin Singh, a music teacher at the city's SNK School and Madhuri Singh a housewife with immense interest in classical music, Shivam is creating waves in Rajkot with his talent. "I am a grown up now. I sing, play the tabla and also the harmonium. Thank you very much," says Shivam. Recognising this talent, Akashvani (All India Radio) recently aired a special programme to project his artistry. "He used to listen to us as even as a month old child when we used to practise. I feel his interest in music started from there itself. At a sub-conscious level, he had music in his system ever since then," says Ashwin, Shivam's father. His mother maintains that it is not practically possible to teach a child at this age, and they have never made any conscious effort to do so. She says the child is a quick learner. Often regarded as miracles of the nature, child prodigies intrigue the ordinary and tease scientists, who are keen to decode the mystery surrounding their capabilities. "He has an excellent genetic pool to learn music. Also, he has got a very conducive environment that is congenial for his hereditary talent. His parents encourage him if he sings or plays with musical instrument. While other kids recite Baa Baa Black Sheep, he sings religious hymns," said Shruti Hemani, a child specialist. There are numerous prodigies in India like P. Hari Krishna, the country's youngest-ever chess grandmaster; the Mysore brothers, Nagaraj and Manjunath, who gave their first violin concerts at the ages of 10 and 9 respectively. Human calculator Shakuntala Devi was also a child prodigy as was Srinivasa Ramanujan (1887-1920), who had mastered trigonometry at the age of twelve. Shivam appears as the next to join this long list of luminaries. (ANI)

1st Gollywood sequel

2007-10-29T20:07:00.001+05:30

The ever growing trend in Bollywood, now seems to have caught up with Gollywood too, as shooting begins for a sequel to the runaway hit ‘Maiyarma Manadu Nathi Lagtu’ (MMNL), that will be the first Dhoom 2, Phir Hera Pheri or Lage Raho Munnabhai of Gujarati movies. The movie already had many firsts to its credit in Gollywood. It was the first Gujarati film to be shot and dubbed in digital Dolby sound and also had appealing camerawork and choreography. It was touted to be made at a budget of around Rs 1.5 crore, much higher than the Gujarati film industry standards. Buoyed by the success of MMNL, Gangani is all set to make a sequel. In 2001, the film swept the first Gujarati Screen and Stage Awards with nine awards, including those for the best film, best director, best actor, best actress, best story, best music director, best lyrics, best editor and best comedian (male).