Cheap Domains?

With all the competition from the domain name registrars and their affiliates, it is not very hard to find cheap domains these days. In fact, most registrars are boasting “lower-than-ever prices” and other great deals. Finding cheap domains is as simple as typing the term “cheap domain” into a search engine and choosing from a long list of online candidates.
As with any other commodity, when supply exceeds demand, prices tend to drop. The expansion of top-level domain extensions and second-level domain character space has created greater possibilities for domain names. It is now possible to choose any combination of 67 characters for a domain name. The original limit was 26 characters. Because of this, consumers are aware that domain names are not such a rare commodity and will search for companies who offer rock-bottom, cheap domain registration prices.
The good news is that cheap domains are not necessarily bad domains. Because there is a greater supply of available domain names, registrars are required to maintain a high level of service less the customer seek registration elsewhere. Cheap domains can be bought with comprehensive technical features and support. Some of the features offered include domain forwarding, domain locking, total DNS control, and twenty-four hour customer support.
Cheap domains vary in price depending on the top-level domain extension. Prices begin at $4.95 per year for an extension like .info. The .com, .net, and .org extension usually costs about $7.95 per year. They are slightly higher in price because they are the most popular and widely-used extensions. Registrars offer several different ways to register a cheap domain. You can register a new domain name or transfer a domain name to the registrar’s database. You may also backorder an active domain name. You will be advised of when it expires so that you can claim it at that time.
Cheap domains are just about everywhere you turn on the Internet. Compile a list of possible domain names, try several extensions and you will be on your way to owning a low-cost domain.

Free Domain

To be totally honest, there is no such thing as a free domain. Obtaining a domain is going to cost something. The cost may differ depending on the company, but you will ultimately have to pay something to receive a domain.
There are companies that offer domains that are free of monetary expenses. This may seem like it is absolutely, positively, no-strings-attached free, but it is not. Companies like these offer free websites, but they come with many stipulations for keeping the free website. One specific domain registration company, called DotTK, offers up to three free domain names. However, there must already be an established website for the domain to link to. You may not register the domain name and then create the website at a later date. Also, the domain must receive a minimum of twenty-five web visitors within the first ninety days. If this does not occur, DotTK will repossess the domain and then give it to some other user. While you are essentially getting a free domain, you are giving up all legal and transfer rights to the domain. Those rights stay with DotTK.
The other option when trying to get a free domain is to get it through a web hosting company. You need a web hosting company to provide space for your website. Otherwise, your website will not be posted online. Web hosting companies recognize this and try to make it more convenient for you to display a website online. They are aware that you must pay the web hosting fee. So, they offer free domain names to their customers. Therefore, you will pay a fee to have the sight hosted and you will seemingly have a free domain. However, many feel that the monthly web hosting fees include the domain fees.
The advantage of obtaining a free domain through a low-cost web hosting service is that it usually comes with additional freebies. Some bonus features include: domain forwarding, auto-responders, email forwarding, bulk domain registration options, tremendous disk space, website templates, and more. The majority of these services have excellent customer and technical support. Even though you are paying for the free domain, you are getting quality service. Remember, you get what you pay for. That has never ceased to be true.

Best Domain Hosting?

Web Hosting Inspector ranks domain hosting companies to help consumers decide which one is right for them. This investigative service rates the following features: webpage space, bandwidth, customer support, reliability, security, speed, and company stability. These features are then averaged to reveal an overall value score. Features were rated on a 10 point scale.
iPowerWeb received the award for Best Host Overall. It was the only host that averaged 10 points for overall value. Web Host Inspector tested the domain hosting company and found that they offer the largest selection of features. Customer testimonials also revealed that consumers were completely satisfied with the service. They felt that iPowerWeb by far surpassed the competition.
StartLogic was awarded Best New Web Host. It had a 9.5 overall value rating. The domain hosting technical service impressed the Web Host Inspector with fast, responsive customer care. The company even responded quickly to questions regarding 3 rd party software. The monthly charge is only $7.95 and the new company offers a tremendous amount of bonus features for no additional cost. One gig of space (1000 megs), unlimited emails, 40 gigs of transfer, a free domain name, free marketing package and free setup in the monthly fee. In addition to all this, there is a 30-day, money-back guarantee if you are not completely satisfied with the service.
The Jumpline domain hosting site won the Webmaster’s Choice award for two main reasons. First and foremost, the company will host up to six separate domains for you under one account. This makes it easier for you to control and keep track of various domains very easily. Secondly, there is a fast, efficient Site Builder tool for users to apply as a template for designing websites. The service is $14.95 per month. Web Host Inspector gave it a 9.2 rating.
The domain hosting service to obtain the Best Webspace award was Infinology. On a ten point scale, this company received a nine points. Infinology is the largest domain hosting company in the world and continues to provide great service. It has existed for many years and has always provided quality service. It’s especially admired for its reliable performance and exceptional customer service. Infinology’s overall value score was nine points.

Domain Registration

Names function as labels – ways of identifying things. They help us understand who or what we see and how they function. Once we are familiar with the names, we may even be able to locate people or things through association. Domain registration works in much the same way. It is a way to label your website, so that people can locate it through name association.
Each website has its own set of identifying numbers. These numbers are called IP addresses and allow computers to find the particular website. Most IP addresses are four sets of digits separated by periods. Therefore, an IP address might appear as 143.64.86.564 to identify a specific website. Domain registration creates a more simple way to access the IP address and ultimately the website. Think of how many websites we visit in a given week. Now imagine what it would be like to have to remember the IP addresses for each website. That would be very difficult. Domain registration assigns a domain name to each IP address, making websites easier to recall. This way, we only have to recall the website address as a name rather than a long series of numbers. It’s much more efficient for Internet users to visit www.mywebpage.com than trying to access the site by using 143.64.86.564.
The latest problem with domain registration is that most of the simple, unique, and catchy names are already taken. For example, www.mywebpage.com is a very clear, concise name for a website. However, many other people seek to have the same domain name. As an alternative, the domain name may be slightly modified to www.my-web-page.com or something similar. Even still, possibilities are limited. To combat this problem, new top level domains have been created, to allow for more possibilities. Some common top level domains are .org, .info, and .net. This adds flexibility in domain registration, but thousands of new websites are created daily. So, many countries are giving away or selling top level domain names for public use. For example, if you were to consider domain registration in Canada, the domain name would be www.mywebpage.ca.
While these different alternatives (modifications and top level domains) create more options, they do come with one major drawback. The popularity of the .com top level domain often overshadows the other top level domains. This may cause confusion for those trying to access the website. Many people enter .com out of habit. If they are searching for the domain registered in Canada, they will be directed to the wrong website. This is why domain registration takes a lot of consideration and research. The actual process of registering a domain name is not hard at all. It’s as simple as filling out a few electronic forms. The difficult part is finding a unique and concise domain name that is not already registered to someone else.
The best way to secure a name for domain registration is to compile a list of words and phrases related to the website. At least twenty different alternatives should be on the list. Put the words in various combinations to increase the number of selections. Then perform a free search of the master domain name database. If select a name that is already registered, you may offer to purchase it from the registrant. Sale prices may range from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars

Domain Name Web Hosting

There really is no one specific way to find the best domain name web hosting. This is because your web hosting needs depend on several factors. You must consider what you plan to do with your website. Is it for business or personal use? How much bandwidth will you need? Will it be a simple sight for viewing only or will it be highly interactive? People who need to promote products have entirely different needs from those who use the website to actually sell products. There are so many things to consider, but once you’ve considered these things you should be able to determine which type of domain name web hosting you need.
If you plan to create a fairly simple website for viewing text and pictures, you have two options. Those not familiar with html coding should choose a free domain name web hosting company like Yahoo! Geocities or Homestead. These companies and others like them offer templates with different layout and color options to choose from. You have some room for customization, but you will not be able to add any advanced features to the website. Those familiar with html coding may want to opt for a low cost shared host. There are similar restrictions, but knowledge of html allows for a slightly larger degree of customization.
Small to mid-size businesses must consider a few more things. Companies with low interactivity and low Internet traffic may use a shared host. However, more graphic intensive sites and sites with high Internet traffic should consider domain name web hosting on a virtual private server. A virtual private server is also a shared host, but your domain shares the server with far fewer domains. Therefore, the server can handle more features on your website.
Medium-sized and large companies will want domain name web hosting on a dedicated server. Extremely large corporations may need several dedicated servers. Dedicated servers ensure that only your domain is carried on a server. The server’s sole purpose is to support your website. You never have to worry about slow bandwidth or interruptions from unrelated domains.
If you plan to provide commercial transactions on your website, ask yourself two things. How much volume (number of products) do you plan to sell during a specified period of time? How many customers you will have? These factors will determine if you only need a simple PayPal interface or if you need more. If you expect high product and customer volume, you might need to add a shopping cart, online catalogue, credit-card interface, and security certificates.
Getting the best domain name web hosting totally depends on your needs as an individual or organization. Once you figure out what those needs are, finding a host should be fairly easy.

What is Domain Name Hosting?

You have created this eye-catching website with vivid graphics and animation bouncing off of the page. It looks absolutely stunning in Frontpage, DreamWeaver, or other web design program. Unfortunately, no one else will have the privilege of seeing it without domain name hosting. Until that happens, your website is a treasure hidden from the world in a distant and undiscovered cave. Domain name hosting puts your unseen work of art on a map, so that other intrigued Internet users can easily locate it and admire its splendor.
There are special servers that store and send information for other Internet users to view. When you place your files on the server, you are allowing someone else to host your website. It’s like renting space in a museum to display your artwork. It increases exposure, because people are invited to come in and view your work in a public arena. It would be much harder to get exposure for your website if you have no place to display it.
The technical way domain name hosting works is by attaching a registered domain name to a specific code. The file transfer protocol program usually creates this code automatically when you upload your data files onto the server. Web surfers type in the domain name and are immediately connected to your website through the host server.

Domain Registration and Hosting

There are two main processes that must be followed when placing a website on the Internet. The first task is to register a unique domain name on which to place the website. The second is to select a company to host the website. Both of these tasks are very important because they ensure that the website will be professional, memorable, and well-serviced. Instead of doing all this by oneself, registration and hosting companies provide a one-stop shop to handle all of this.
Domain registration and hosting sites walk users through all of the crucial steps of obtaining a unique domain name, Internet space, and services for their newly designed sites. Sites like these have domain name creation and search capabilities. A user can input a name in the search tool bar. The service will search the entire master domain name database to be certain that the inputted name is not already registered. If one is unsure of a domain name, the domain registration and hosting company will often create possible names for the user. The user would input key words and the service would generate several word combinations. For example, a florist wants to register a website that demonstrates that her company specializes in timely delivery of flowers. She could enter words like fast, reliable, and flowers. The registration service would then create possible domain names like flowersfast.com, reliableflowers.com, etc… In addition to creating and searching for new domain names, these dual-service sites will allow users to transfer previous domains to a single host account.
Once a domain name is registered, users must connect to a web server that gives them space to display their web pages. This is what hosting does. The domain registration and hosting company educate users on how to transfer their files onto the main server. It is a fairly simple process. Users will need to specify the host address or URL the files are being sent to, user ID, and password. They must also declare the initial remote directory (folder files will be placed in), initial local directory (folder where files are stored on hard drive), and host type which most file transfer protocol programs automatically detect. Some FTP programs also require that file types be specified. So, each text and media file should be carefully recorded.
When choosing a domain registration and hosting company, users should check to be sure that most of the following services are offered. Users will want to have access to a lot of space for text, pictures, animations, and other things. They should look for CGI-BIN in case they want to add a guestbook or other custom scripts. If the company doesn’t offer this, it should at least offer CGI email script. Users should avoid forms, because they usually entail knowing a great deal of code. For a professional look, the company should offer email forwarding. This allows emails to be sent to It makes the website seem much more authentic. These are the most basic and most ideal services to look for, but domain registration and hosting companies may offer many more features.
Depending on a users needs, he must consider the level of service he requires. Individuals or families who only want to post personal web pages or family blogs to post thoughts and pictures might only need low-level, and low cost service. These Internet users get a reasonable amount of space, basic features and access to customer service. Mid-level web hosting is ideal for don’t mind paying a bit more for additional web space and faster service. They will also avoid the clutter of low-level servers, because low-level servers profit from selling space in high volume. Large companies with lots of data to display on the Internet should choose dedicated servers. These servers offer maximum space, fool-proof security, and uninterrupted streams of data.
here is so much to do to establish an amazing website. Domain registration and hosting companies make the process efficient by offering the development and maintenance services at one place.

What is an Internet Domain Name?

Computers connect to and communicate with one another through a shared network or community. This shared network is comprised of host computers and client computers. Host computers allow client computers to perform tasks like sending email and browsing websites. There are numerous host computers on a network that contain all sorts of information and programs. Each host has its own distinctive Internet domain name which is the host computer’s online identity.
For example, the Microsoft Company owns a host computer that contains its website, email program, and much more. The Internet domain name is included in the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) www.msn.com. When broken down into parts, the URL basically means that a web browser uses the World Wide Web (www) to access the Microsoft host computer (msn) which is operated by a commercial entity (.com).
It is important for each organization to give its host computer a unique Internet domain name, because this is what separates this organization’s database from others. The Internet is so vast and expansive that there needs to be a navigation system for it. Without a distinctive identifying name, other computers would have no way to locate and access the organization’s host computer.
The concept of a home address demonstrates the importance of Internet domain names. To locate a specific home in a community in which all homes look the same, a person would need identifying characteristics such as street names and numerical addresses. Once the person enters the community, they must locate the street. After turning onto the correct street, they would identify the specific home by its numerical address.
The Internet works in a very similar way. For example, the Internal Revenue Service is a government organization with its own Internet domain name. In the community of the World Wide Web, the IRS is located on a particular “street”. While Microsoft is located on Commercial Street, the IRS is located on Government Street. The address of the Internal Revenue Service is the same as its abbreviation, IRS. Therefore, to locate the Internal Revenue Service on a street full of government entities, a person would find it at its Internet domain name (or address), irs.gov. The complete URL is www.irs.gov.
This explains why the Internet is often referred to as the information super-highway. Host computers connect with other computers to send and receive text, multimedia, and other data to one another. The data travels through various communities and streets until it finds the correct address or Internet domain name. A unique, yet simple Internet domain name assures that the host computer stands out on the street and is easy to find.

Domain Name Registration

Your domain name is the conduit to your website. It is the identity you give your web pages that allow surfers and customers to find you and engage in commerce with you. A catchy, memorable domain name will be your biggest asset in promoting your online enterprise.
Since the rise of the internet in the early nineties web masters and entrepreneurs have scrambled to transform the world wide web into a medium for commerce. Registering every possible product as a domain name from Toys.com and Books.com to CreditCards.com and 90DaysSameAsCash.com these savvy web masters have used up most of the valuable descriptive names and phrases.
If you are one of the lucky few to discover a virgin name then you will need an understanding of the Domain Name Registration process.
Domain Names are entries in a master data base called a registry. The domain name registry is used by computers to find other computers on the internet by cross referencing their locations or IP numbers. With the domain name registration you are entering data that relates your contact information and your host computer's IP numbers to a human friendly name that web surfers can use to find your website.
Although a once daunting task, domain name registration has become a matter of filling out online forms and entering payment information. You need to choose a registrar; registrars are the middle men responsible for tracking and maintaining the domain registry and collecting your money. There has been explosive growth in the domain name registration business since the US government deregulated the industry in 1999. Choose your registrar judiciously since he will be intrusted to safe guard your domain name.
NameSeek serves to simplify name selection and domain name registration. We have cataloged and evaluated some of the finest domain names on the internet and made them available to everyone. All NameSeek names are preregisterd so you can skip the domain name registration process all together. NameSeek names are rich in keywords and colorful phrases and are selected for maximum impact and imagery.
When your name matters most, get the best! Get it from NameSeek.

What is a Domain?

A Domain is where you hang out. If you hang out in New York City then NYC is your domain. In computer jargon a domain is the network where your computer hangs out, either a local subnet or on the internet.
A domain is a group of networked computers that contain a common communication address and share common resources. Domains are based on a hierarchical naming scheme or a tree structure called the Domain Namespace. In a namespace, names are used to represent other types of information such as IP Numbers.
Computers use IP or Internet Protocol numbers to find each other in a network. These numbers typically look like 192.168.122.244. To make it easy on humans the IP numbers are given friendly names known as Domain Names. Yahoo.com and Google.com are domain names and are much easier to remember than 216.109.112.135
Networks use a distributed data base known as the Domain Name System to translate the human friendly names into IP numbers computers can use. Computers will query other computers known as Name Servers to translate the domain names to numbers. The whole Domain Name System is designed to be transparent to the end user. The only thing the user has to remember is the Domain Name of the site they wish to visit.
NameSeek makes it easy for website owners and entrepreneurs to find exciting and memorable names that will bring business and traffic to your domain again and again.

Yahoo Domain

Yahoo hosting is as little as $7/month -- throw in a free domain registration and this is an extremely good deal. These types of free registrations with hosting are a great way to buy additional descriptive and long tail keyword domains to point to your core business website. By throwing extra weight to your main site or domain name, you are setting yourself up for a very low cost marketing strategy of your brand. Also, by obtaining all of the domains that are similar to your core brand, you are eliminating the chance for any of your competitors to offer a confusingly similar product or service. Try Yahoo domains to increase and round out your online assets.
The well-known Internet portal Yahoo! has joined the domain name business. The company now offers domain name registration services through its Yahoo! Small Business division. This sector of Yahoo is devoted to helping entrepreneurs get their businesses up and running by providing assistance like recruiting services, marketing tools and web hosting. The next reasonable step is to offer branded Yahoo domain registration. It’s another tool which will help business establish an online presence.
PC Magazine reviewed Yahoo Domains and gave it the highly-coveted Editor’s Choice Award. The published review states that “domain registration through Yahoo! Small Business is the easiest.” The statement reflects the level of service that one receives through a Yahoo Domain. It offers great features like domain forwarding, email forwarding, control panel with DNS management, and the most popular top-level domains. Knowledgeable customer service is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week and the call is toll-free. In addition to this, one to five-year registration plans are available.
Yahoo! Domains also makes upgrading very easy for those who want to expand to other Yahoo! services. Customers may upgrade to receive a personal custom mailbox or business mail package which reflects the domain name. Users may also transfer their Yahoo! domain from another web host to Yahoo! Web Hosting. If the customer needs help creating an online store, they may summon the help of Merchant Solutions which is a program that will help them manage online sales.
PC Magazine said that a Yahoo Domain was the easiest. It is quite possible to claim that the service is one of the cheapest. It offers all of the aforementioned features for only $4.98 per year at the time of this writing. With so many wonderful features at such a low price, it is hard to overlook an offer like this one.

Top 5 dancing numbers of Madhuri Dixit

Madhuri Dixit, one of Bollywood’s greatest actresses will celebrate her 42^nd birthday on 15^th May. Madhuri Dixit is also considered by all to be the best dancer in Bollywood, trained in the Kathak style of Indian classic dance, she is also superb in modern choreography. Madhuri has shades of a truly great dancer and its treat to watch her dance. Here’s a look at the top five dancing numbers of Madhuri.
5. Key sara sara (Pukar):“Key sara sara” was choreographed by Prabhudeva, one of the best dancers and choreographers in the Indian film industry. The steps were western in style, and their performance shows what exceptional dancers he and Madhuri are. Madhuri took it as a challenge. Madhuri confessed that Prabhudeva kept her on toes, on knees, on head, on hands, everywhere. Chemistry of two great dancers was admired by everyone.















4. Maar Daala (Devdas): Maduri’s comeback and one of her best performances ever, so beautiful was her movements. It is just an awe-inspiring dance. As appreciated by director Sanjay Leela Bhansali “One can go mad just looking at her songs. This song had one of the biggest sets in Indian cinema and the way she performed was a dream. The first time she did the Mar Dala step I whistled and clapped in sheer excitement. It was an exercise in expressions. With every shot, Mar Dala had a different expression. I wished I could shoot the song for a year because I wouldn’t get tired of watching her dance.”
















3. Choli Ke Peeche (Khalnayak):  Lyric and choreography of this song stirred up some controversy but Madhuri had faith in choreographer Saroj Khan. Madhuri performed this number gracefully that people were not able to criticize much . Throughout the piece she has such a quality of movement and some of the steps she does are quite breathtaking.
















2. Akhiyan Milau (Raja): This time Madhuri’s eyes were sufficient to attract audience. One of her most popular dances and was a rage when it released. It is modern choreography and Madhuri shows she can dance that amazingly as well. Choreographer Saroj Khan wants whole thing with Madhuri’s eyes, not with her hands or her face. So the first line had to be emoted through my eyes. Madhuri did full justice with the song.













1. Ek do teen (Tezaab): Overnight, Madhuri was a star after this song.  This dance is considered one of her best performances and is listed on everyone’s favorite list. The energetic choreography is a mixture of modern and classical Indian steps, and Madhuri dances it effortlessly. It’s a memorable song for Madhuri as well as for choreographer Saroj Khan.

Bollywood for Beginners

Many of you, dear readers, are totally bollyobsessed and can name a film from just one line. However, some of you are just starting out discovering this magical world and so since I was once like you, and would have loved to have this article, I thought why not write it? So now we present Bollywood for Beginners.

When you first saw the word Bollywood you probably thought, “Bollywood”? What is that, a typo? But do not worry, you read correctly. The Indian (aka Hindi) Film Industry is more commonly known as “Bollywood”. Many of the big film production companies are based in Mumbai, India, formerly known as Bombay, and the “B” was borrowed along with an homage to Hollywood, and we have Bollywood! It is the largest film industry in the world, producing over 800 films a year, with ticket sales in the billions. Bollywood productions are mostly romantic musicals, much like the old Hollywood classics with absolutely beautiful costumes, photography and scenery. They have great stories, excellent performances, and the music and dance sequences are so wonderful to watch. But I am getting ahead of myself.

To share my love, some would call obsession, with Bollywood movies, I need to give you a bit of background on how I first learned about them. With a lot of time on my hands because of an illness, I was catching up on some movies I had missed and one of those was Bend It Like Beckham. After seeing and really enjoying it, I thought I would like to see other films by the director Gurinder Chadha. I went to the Internet and read that her next film was going to be a version of Pride and Prejudice, one of my absolute favorite books. The film, called Bride and Prejudice, is a musical Indian-infused version of the book. I rented it and within the first few moments I was entranced. About halfway through I was ready to start watching it again. (To me, that is a sign of a movie to go on my all-time-favorite-I-must-buy-now list!). The colors were gorgeous, the music wonderful, the story so well done. The songs enhanced the movie and made it so different from the many films I had seen. The film starred Aishwarya Rai and Martin Henderson. As a matter of interest, Aishwarya Rai is one of the biggest stars in Bollywood today. I loved it so much that I watched the DVD extras, and in “the making of” segment the director said that it was her tribute to Bollywood. Since I had never heard of Bollywood before I went to the Internet again to find out more information. To make a long story short, I found out that Netflix had just bought a Bollywood library so I logged on, searched for Bollywood, picked a film and the rest as they say is history.

That film was Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, and one of the reasons I chose it was that it said it is the longest running film in Bollywood history. In fact, it is still running in theaters today after debuting in 1995. Again, halfway through I was ready to start watching the film from the beginning - I called my husband and told him I had found the “perfect movie”. This gem is the epitome of what Bollywood films are, encompassing all that makes it great: brilliant actors, spectacular musical numbers, outstanding scenery and costumes and a wonderful moving story. The plot centers around the classic boy meets girl, girl hates boy, boy falls in love with girl and she does too but does not realize it storyline ... I would tell you more but I really want you to see this film and don’t want to give too much away. Let’s just say this film began my wonderful journey into the world of Bollywood and forever will be one of my favorite films.

But enough about me - let me whet your Bolly-appetite some more. Bollywood covers every genre: drama, comedy, action and, of course, romance. A single film can even have all of that rolled into one; in Bollywood that film is called a masala, which means, “spice mixture” in Hindi. (Yes, I have begun Hindi lessons.) Many stories revolve around forbidden relationships but can also be about crime, betrayal, friendship, war, fate and did I mention romance yet? Family and cultural traditions play an immense role in the films, especially in the older movies. In most of the films you will never see the boy and girl kiss, however times are a changing and in some of the newer films it is starting to happen more. These thoroughly entertaining movies can run anywhere from 2 hours to 4 hours, but no matter what the length, you always wish they did not end. Let me warn you, though many are happy endings, you do not find out if they end up together until the very last second: it is maddening!! The movies are filmed all around India, with frequent location shoots in Switzerland, England, Australia and, more recently, the United States. All the films are in Hindi but if seen on DVD or in a theater here in the States they will have subtitles. You will also notice that they do speak some “Hindlish”: a mixture of Hindi and English. For example, “Woh actor, Vivek Oberoi, bahut handsome hai!” (That actor is very handsome.)

An integral part of the films and what makes Bollywood, well, Bollywood, are the song and dance numbers. Most films will have 4 to 6 songs and the numbers fit perfectly within the movie; they serve both to entertain and to move the story along. The music encompasses every musical style, not only Indian, and in one album you can hear a ballad, a hip/hop song, a pure Punjabi Bhangra, and some songs even have a mix of all them. The music is brilliant, the singers incredible, and, as they would say, “it is just too good!” The soundtracks for the movies release a month or so before the films open in theaters, and sometimes the albums are more eagerly anticipated than the films. Even though I only understand a word or two, my iTunes and iPod are full of the songs - in fact it is about the only thing I listen to now.

A little fun fact that I did not find out until after watching a few films films is that the actors and actresses are not actually doing the singing: they are lip-synching to what are called “playback singers”. For the biggest stars, it can be the same playback singer for each film, but sometimes it is someone else, and it can seem odd when you have to match different voices to the same face. The singers, who you might expect to be uncredited, are actually famous in their own right in Bollywood, and after a bit you recognize when you hear a certain singer even if they are singing playback for different actors. Fans have their favorites as well, and at award shows there are categories for Best Song and Best Playback singer, male and female. Some of the more famous are Sonu Nigam and Sunidhi Chauhan.

The fantastic choreography encompasses all types of dance including: classical Indian dance, jazz/hip hop, modern and sometimes a fusion of all these styles. Often there is also one number called an “item number” which has a special guest appearance of a star, usually doing a very sexy number. Like in many stylized films, sometimes you have to suspend reality a bit - during some songs, the city-bound hero and heroine are suddenly in the snow on a mountain in Switzerland, bounding through blooming sunflower fields, or riding on the top of a bus surrounded with singing people (you will see this kind of thing a lot). Just go with it, enjoy it, and hey, if you can escape into another world, that is one of the joys of watching movies hai na? (Hindi: Right?) Though not a part of what we are used to in Hollywood films, the song and dance sequences are one of my favorite things. They enrich the film and make the movies even better. I know you will love them!

On to movie recommendations. I will just list a few here, but believe me I have many many more favorite films. For your first Bollywoodish film I would definitely recommend Bride and Prejudice (2005, dir. Gurinder Chadha). The language is English, but will give you a taste of what Bollywood is like. It is not a “true Bollywood film”, and many of my Indian friends and fellow bolly buffs would gasp at me suggesting this but watching this movie is what hooked me and made me want to see more!!

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995, dir. Aditya Chopra, lit. “The Brave Heart Will Take the Bride”) is another must-see. Starring two of the superstars of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, it is everything that makes a Bollywood film wonderful. Remember the lead pair’s names if you continue on your journey, because you will be seeing them a lot. In fact, another great film with the two of them is Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998, dir. Karan Johar, lit. “Something Is Happening”): add that to your list of Bollywood movies to see.

Parineeta (2005, dir, Pradeep Sarkar, lit. “The Married Woman”) is one of my top-of-the-list favorites. It is another love story, but old-fashioned, based on a classic Indian novel. The hero and heroine are brilliant in their roles as Shekhar and Lolita (not that Lolita!). The music for this film is also one of my very favorites. It is a good “introduction to Bollywood” film and, at only just under 2 hours, it’s a good one to get used to reading subtitles!

Two of my favorite actors, Rani Mukerji and Vivek Oberoi, starred opposite each other in a film called Saathiya (2002, dir. Shaad Ali, lit. “Partner”). This is an intriguing film from a Bollywood perspective, because it takes the couple-in-love beyond marriage and into the rough waters beyond. Definitely add this one to your list. Doesn’t hurt that they are both absolutely gorgeous!

Chori Chori (2003, dir. Milan Luthria, lit. “Stealthily Stealthily”) is a remake of the film Hollywood film Housesitter, which starred Goldie Hawn and Steve Martin. I think Chori Chori is the better film, although I enjoyed both, because it adds in the music and a few extra facets to the story. A great performance by the lead pair, Rani Mukerji and Ajay Devgan, makes the movie really enjoyable. Have watched this one many times!

Mujhse Dosti Karoge (2003, dir. Kunal Kohli, lit. “Will you be my friend”) is another favorite film of mine, starring the gorgeous Hrithik Roshan, Rani Mukerji and Kareena Kapoor. I have watched this movie over and over again and never tire of it. If you like him (which I am sure you will) he was also in India’s first ever Superhero movie, Krrish (2006, dir. Rakesh Roshan, name of character) A great film, that is full of romance, action and coolness. One of 2006 biggest hits!

Jab We Met (2007, dir. Imtiaz Ali, lit. “When We Met”) just came out last year and it was one of the most popular movies of 2007. The lead actress Kareena Kapoor won a Filmfare award (along the same lines as an Oscar) for her portrayal as Geet and her co-star Shahid Kapoor was also nominated! Brilliant romantic fun film!

If you love dance then a must see is Aaja Nachle, (2007, dir. Anil Mehta, lit. “Come Dance with Me”). It is my personal favorite film of 2007. This one has an ensemble cast, with each actor portraying their role perfectly. A dancer makes it in America, but comes home to India to save her teacher’s school. The highlight of the film is the 30-minute play at the end, put on by the townspeople; brilliant, stunning and lots of other adjectives!

I have many more to recommend but I will stop there...oh wait you must see Bunty aur Babli (2005, dir, Shaad Ali, lit. Bunty and Babli are the names of the two main characters) which is a Bonnie-and-Clyde-with-hearts-of-gold comedy that has disguises, cons, music, a cool, neck-cracking cop, one of the best item numbers ever done, and, of course, love.

Those should get you started for the romances; there are also a few dramas that will show you the depth and outstanding talent of these actors.

Black (2005, dir. Sanjay Leela Bhansali), pure art. I sat stunned at the end of this movie; the actors’ performances are some of the best I have ever seen in any film.

Veer Zaara (2004, dir. Yash Chopra, Veer and Zaara are the names of the hero and heroine), is another love story but not in the classic sense, just one you really should experience. (It is my husband’s favorite Bollywood movie.)

Devdas (2002, dir. Sanjay Leela Bhansali, name of title character) a sad but brilliant film again based on a classic Indian novel.

Rang De Basanti’s (2006, dir. Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra, lit. “Paint it Saffron”) ensemble cast is incredible, released in 2006 this film was India’s entry for both the Oscars and the Golden Globes. This movie tops the list of many people’s Must See Bollywood films.

Jodhaa Akbar (2008, dir. Ashutosh Gowariker, names of lead characters) is an epic along the lines of Cleopatra. It stars two of the biggest names in Bollywood, the gorgeous Hrithik Roshan and the beautiful Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The majesty of the film is truly amazing and the performances WAH! (Bravo!) This one has to go on your I must see this film list!

Again, I have many many more recommendations; these will just give you a taste. Ooh I have to mention that when this film comes out on DVD it is a MUST see Taare Zameen Par (2007, dir. Aamir Khan, lit. “Stars on Earth”).

So how can you see one of these films? Netflix has a full library - they have all of the films I have recommended to you and the many more I would if I could go on and on and on. I believe Blockbuster is getting more and more titles as well. A visit to your friendly neighborhood or perhaps across town Indian grocery store will surely have films to rent. If you follow in my footsteps and come to love these films you will begin to eagerly await new releases, and fortunately many of Bollywood’s new releases are now being shown in movie theaters all over the US and the world. However, if you can’t get to the theater, or if like me you live in a small town, Netflix usually gets them a few weeks after they release on DVD so you can get your fix!

I could praise Bollywood for many more pages but I hope I have given you a glimpse into this exciting genre of movies. If you want a night of really good entertainment I can highly recommend getting lost in a Bollywood film! If you love unique stories, colorful pageantry, real human emotion, music, seeing and learning about other cultures, and great films containing some of the best actors and actresses in the world, then be sure to GO BOLLYWOOD!

Raavan Music Review

Mani Ratnam's upcoming bilingual venture Raavan hardly needs an introduction. Nor does the composer of the album, A R Rahman. The name conjures expectations in the highest amount possible. Not to mention, every time the cinematic genius and the music maestro join hands for a venture nothing short of 'amazing' is the end product, be it Dil Se, Yuva or Bombay. So, does Raavan's soundtrack live up to its enormous expectations? Read on to find out.

Beera
Vijay Prakash, Mustafa Kutoane and Keerthi Sagathia commence the album with a track that can be described as being supremely rich. 'Beera' is rich in its vocals, its instruments and its melody. Rahman is known to experiment with a range of instruments. In 'Beera', he keeps up this unique style of his and uses a variety of peculiar percussion to give an almost tribal feel to the song. This use of percussion is a highlight of the album. Point to note is that one of the most celebrated musical maestros of the nation, the Late RD Burman, was well known for his use of odd instruments in attaining the sound he envisioned, a sign of a musical genius perhaps. Along with the peculiar percussion, there is the presence of the classic acoustics which create a great blend with the other instruments. Lyrics are given by Gulzar, who is perhaps the only lyricists in the industry at present who can match up to the brilliance of Rahman's composition. The moment you hear the song you know that it's describing the inherent qualities of Raavan (who guessing by the lyrics has been renamed 'Beera') that we've heard from Valmiki's Ramayan such as his ten heads/ten foreheads and his character defining ego. One doesn't expect a song describing the villain of all villains, Raavan, to be so enjoyable and catchy but the magic of Rahman makes the impossible possible. This one you'll be singing along with just seconds into the song!

Behne Do
The next track is equally impressive and innovative. 'Behne Do' features Karthik in a totally divine avatar as usual. The singer has been hiding down South for way too long, so its great to see his talent finally getting more exposure. Additional vocals are given by Mohamed Irfan. The creating of a fusion with two vocals is quite impressive and enhances the track immensely. The beauty of the song is its ability to transform in various genres. From soft contemporary, it changes to rock beat at the chorus - the ability to transform compositions in this way has always been a strong trait of Rahman's. Lyrics are once again by Gulzaar and are the highlight of this one. The lyricist uses the most creative ways to describe mad love, love that simply cannot be contained anymore. This song is likely to be used to set the scene of Raavan's attraction. It's a beautiful number that surely will bring a lot of acclaim for all those involved.

Thok De Killi
Sukhwinder Singh enters next with Am'Nico in a fusion rock number and once again Rahman uses a variety of percussion to create the track's desired feel. Rahman creates a track that is loud without being noisy. It's loud, but with a distinct melody, which 99% of composers fail to do these days. Gulzar's lyrics are specific to the situation in which this song will be picturised, so you'll surely be eager to see how this song is shown onscreen. It's shame that we have been accustomed to such poorly crafted lyrics in recent times that a song like 'Thok De Killi' leaves us baffled because of the calibre of writing of Gulzar's lyrics. When a lyricist gives us such profound words we struggle to understand - perhaps following the lyrics written in the album handouts will bring more clarity and understanding of the song. Sukhwinder Singh and Am'Nico are the highlight of this track because their distinct voices are the essential ingredients in creating a number like this. Another flawless number on the album.

Ranjha Ranjha
At last a lady enters the album, Rekha Bhardwaj of 'Genda Phool' (Delhi 6) fame, and along with her is Javed Ali. This is another track that cannot be put in a specific genre. It strongly boasts of techno styled beats throughout the track, but at the same time it makes full use of electric guitars and has a melody and vocals that is very Indian. Gulzar's lyrics are Punjabi predominantly - Punjabi perhaps because the song uses the story of Heer and Ranjha as its foundation. What's most interesting about this number is that it seems to be a different rendition to 'Pal Pal' from Swades in that it also is conversation between Sita and Raavan in which Sita is waiting for Ram to rescue her and Raavan keeps intercepting her pleas to say that she should accept him instead. 'Ranjha Ranjha' is a brilliantly crafted song - this conversation is so engrossing you simply get sucked into their world. Rekha and Javed are outstanding to say the least!

Khilli Re
Reena Bhardwaj ('Yeh Rishta', 'Meenaxi' & 'Main Vari Vari' - Mangal Pandey) brings in the one and only solo female track of the album, 'Khilli Re'. This one is a traditional classical Indian track that makes full use of a variety of Indian instruments. Reena, despite being so underused, is nothing less than singers like Shreya Ghosal. Composers really have no reason to not use her more often. It's been a while since we heard an out and out classical Indian number from Rahman, so this one is a nice change. Of course, this genre is one that is established and not a fusion of, which is what the rest of the tracks in the album are and in that way it's the lesser innovative of the other tracks. Gulzar'd elaborate Hindi is perfect for the genre.

Katta Katta
After the very gentle and soft 'Khilli Re' brace yourself for 'Katta Katta', which is along the lines 'Beera' as it is also another track that has that tribal feel. 'Katta Katta' is no doubt a celebratory number in Raavan's kingdom when he successfully abducts Sita. The track is loads of fun to listen to because Gulzaar's lyrics are just so innovative and truly give you an insight into the world of Raavan. The way the words describe Sita are especially intriguing - in particular the line "hawaayan pe chalti hai yeh chori parron se bhi halki hai" steals your attention as it seem to be saying to Raavan in a creative way "what a catch you've gotten". Goes to show that the power of this beautiful language is so great to give a poetic take on the simplest of emotions. Now if only more of our lyricists wake up to this fact music in Indian cinema would be far more impressive. Give this one multiple listens as it's got many things to discover in each listen.

The Verdict
Reviewing Raavan's soundtrack almost seems pointless because honestly the review should just be one word "Brilliant". Music lovers who've been pining for quality music, your prayers have been answered. It's also relieving to know that because the film is being handled by a name such as Mani Ratnam, the songs will be done justice to on-screen. There's nothing more hurtful than seeing a brilliant soundtrack destroyed in a film. Go buy this album with full confidence that it'll be worth more than anything you can ever pay for it. It rises above any expectations you could have possibly set for it.

"Rohan is the boy your mother warned you about and yet secretly wants to date herself" - Kavi Shastri

Rohan Mehra, the character of Sony TV's show, Rishta.com needs no introduction for avid viewers of the show. Those that don't follow the show are missing out on a real treat. Born and bred in London, the extremely talented Kavi Shastri, who plays the role of Mehra, developed an almost instant fan following from the very first episode. Rishta.com is about a matrimonial service set up by two college friends and the goings-on within this business. Shastri, who also starred in Love Aaj Kal before making his Indian television debut, has seen his popularity sore to unforeseen heights. He also has done work on UK television programmes like The Bill and Holby City. BollySpice speaks to Kavi about his journey from London to India and his experiences in Bollywood and Rishta.com...

Did you always want to become an actor?

I always wanted to be a lawyer; acting is something that happened to me. I started acting and dancing after watching Michael Jackson on TV. I was a little hyperactive (little being an understatement, I was like a child who injected himself with E numbers every morning). So, I fell into acting. Also academically I was not sound enough, but found my mind was more motivated and better used in the arts.

Why do you love acting?

I am a child at heart. For me it's almost like playing cops and robbers as a child. Your imagination runs wild as you play with your friends, and you imagine you are the cop or robber, and you believe. That's what I do every day. I love it!

What, in particular, attracts you to a role?

It really depends. I don't really look at it in any other way than, if it excites me, I'm game!

Love Aaj Kal

How did you land the role in Love Aaj Kal? What was it like working with Saif Ali Khan on his first home production?

It happened by fluke. I headed home to London after spending 3 months in India and when I turned my phone on, I received a call from my agent. She told me in a very British accent 'a Mr Imtiaz Ali would like to meet you'. I went from the airport to the audition and 2 months later, there I was. Saif was brilliant to work with. It was his first production and my first Hindi feature so we both learnt on the job so to say.

What did you learn?

Patience is the key to success. I also picked up various things from Imtiaz as well.

Did you have to change your style of acting shooting on a Bollywood film like Love Aaj Kal, in comparison to working in UK television programmes like The Bill and Holby City?

You do have to change slightly. Really depends on you role. For me, I think I jus gelled with Imtiaz so I was able to be myself within my character, Jatt!

Rishta.com

When you first got the role of Rohan Mehra in the serial, did you anticipate that the show and your character would be as popular as it is?

I never did. After reading Rohan I honestly thought he would be loved, but not in such a huge way as he has. He has been written very well, so I don't have to do much, the dialogue seals his every move.

How much are you like Rohan?

There's a little bit of me. I think his blunt and yet compassionate side is me in reality. His Casanova side, is not me at all. I'm not too hot with that side of life. He is the boy your mother warned you about and yet secretly wants to date herself. I think there are bits of both in him.

What, in your eyes, is the most appealing aspect of a show like Rishta.com?

The dialogue is just so fresh. It doesn't leave room for anything else. I love the lines, the humour, it's very British.

What are your plans now that you've finished shooting for the first season?

First I need a holiday, then off to look for something else to sink my teeth into.

Are you going to be doing a second season?

At this moment nothing has been decided. Will keep you posted.

I Hate Love Stories

Tell us about your experience working on the film.

I would love to say it was fantastic but I can't, as I have no idea. I'm not in the film, it's a rumour. Kavin Dave (aka Husiefa Ali in Rishta.com) is in the film. According to Kavin and Imran its a blast to work on.

Do you have any funny stories that you can share?

Yes I do, I'm not in it.

How much do you now feel part of the industry coming into Bollywood from another culture?

I feel very much a part of and attached to the Indian film and television industry here. I think back in the UK we are generally exposed to the industry through various media. It's almost as if you know everyone before you even get here. It is a very small family here, so you never feel like an outsider.

What do you miss most about London?

Other than my family and Tesco, I think a good chip shop. Or a nice dirty kebab! Oh and of course the weather.

Which country do you now count as home: England or India?

They are both my homes. You make your home where ever you are in the world. When I'm in London, Mumbai is my holiday home and vice-versa.

The future

What kinds of projects will we be seeing you in next?

At the moment nothing is planned. I'm out looking for something fresh, so it's another waiting game.

Finally, is there anything you would like to say to your many fans?

I don't think I can say anything to even justify the love I have been given by my fans. I think ill just work harder for them, and try and deliver the best I can always.

Well, Kavi Shastri may have been known as the "new" heartthrob of Indian television but with his immense acting talent, humbleness, down-to-earth attitude and luring star quality are sure to guarantee that he is here to stay. We wish Kavi well with his forthcoming projects and hope that he will grace our screens for a long time to come - in TV or films.

Modern Mums of Bollywood

They're just as normal as any other moms around the world with a single exception; they are popular Bollywood actresses. But this doesn't make them any different. In fact, our Bollywood moms are as normal as they get. They stay up late nights tending to their sick children, turn up at school events and even read them bedtime stories. Some of them are more modern moms and others prefer the traditional methods of upbringing. Whichever way they come, they are Maa's. On the beautiful occasion of Mother's Day, we salute and honor all Mother's around the world. Here's taking a look at some of our favorite Bollywood Moms.

Kajol: Already mom to the very cute Nysa, Kajol will be adding to her family by the end of the year. The award-winning mom has a number of films in the pipeline but has repeatedly claimed she prefers being a mom over any role in her life.

Mahima: Mahima Choudhary indulged in marriage rather quietly and gave birth even more silently. The Pardes actress has disappeared from the Bollywood scene as she is rather happy playing mom to her daughter, Aryana.

Karisma Kapoor: The Kapur nee Kapoor girl is mom to two beautiful children, Samaira and Kiaan Raj Kapoor. While Karisma plays the role of Mom incredibly well, we do hope she finally gets back to acting soon.

Madhuri Dixit: Madhuri Dixit moved to the States and gave birth to two adorable sons, Arin and Rayaan. The dancing queen's career may not have taken off post marriage, but her sons simply adore their famous mom.

Sridevi: Sridevi simply loves her two daughters, Jhanavi and Khushi. In fact, the family production house has used the girl's names in a number of films. It may take some time before we actually see the veteran actress on screen again but until then, she is quite the pretty mom!

Juhi Chawla: The giggly Juhi Chawla is probably one fun mom! She has a son, Arjun and a daughter, Jhanvi, both of whom she dotes on. The actress never completely gave up her career for a domestic lifestyle but has stated numerous times that her children come first!

Malaika Arora Khan: She has been officially crowned as India's yummiest mummy and there is no doubt about it. The svelte and sexy actress is mom to a very cute Arhaan and has declared that she is what she is because she is a hands-on mom.

Sushmita Sen: Unconventional, intelligent and sexy. One can only hope Sushmita Sen bestows the same traits to her own girls, Renee and Alisa, when they grow up. This ex-Miss Universe had no bones in adopting her girls and plays mom to them ever so beautifully.

Raveena Tandon: The mast-mast actress' post marriage may have not really kick-started but she has managed to stay fit and fine. Her daughter Rasha too possesses similar traits including owning a beautiful smile and this mom couldn't be happier.

Pooja Bedi: She has called herself a more "gypsy-like" mom and allows her children to just be. Aalia and Omar are both known as very bright children and Bedi loves playing mom to both of them.

Sonali Bendre: Sonali Bendre is known for being a doting mom to her son, Ranvir . In fact she has been named the most "Perfect Mom" within the fraternity.

Twinkle Khanna: Akshay Kumar's wife ensures that if she is a good mom, Akshay must be a better father. However, while Twinkle is the stricter of the two, son Aarav is said to be super attached to his mom.

Rahat Hi Rahat: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Concert Review

The singer,Rahat Fateh Ali Khan grew up around his uncle Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and with that heritage it basically puts immense pressure to perform and outdo himself every time. He was all of eleven when the singer toured with his uncle in the U.K. and from then on, there was no turning back. Rahat became a singer in the Qawwali, Ghazal and Classical music. It was in 2004 that he became immensely popular in Bollywood when he sang for Pooja Bhatt's film Paap. His song, 'Mann Ki Lagan' became an instant hit bringing Rahat to fame. From then on there was no looking back for this singer. Additional international accomplishments include working with Pearl Jam and Rahat was also heard in a number of Hollywood feature films including Mel Gibson's Apocalypto and Dead Man Walking.

Over the last few years, Rahat's unique and incredibly intense vocals have become popular amongst his fans locally and abroad. I, for one am a huge fan. The Bay Area in the U.S. was honored with a night of singer's outstanding music during a recent tour and you can bet your last dollar I was there. The extremely humble singer began his concert seeking blessings from his late uncle and sang his late Uncle's "Allahu" which bought the audiences to their feet as he filled the Oracle Arena with his intense singing. We were then blessed to hear him croon to yet another one of his hits, 'O Re Piya' from Aaja Nachle. As he switched between a song of his Uncles and one of his own, the crowd gained more and more momentum. His literally heavenly voice jutted out a number of the audiences’ favorites, 'Naina' from Omkara, 'Jiya Dhadak Dhadak' from Kalyug, 'Mann Ki Lagan' from Paap, 'Bol Na Halke Halke' from Jhoom Barabar Jhoom,'Jag Soona Soona Lage' from Om Shanti Om, 'Main Jahaan Rahoon' from Namaste London, 'Teri Ore' from Singh is Kinng, 'Ajj Din Chadheya' from Love Aaj Kal,'Surili Akhiyon Wale' from Veer, 'Sajda' from My Name is Khan and finally, 'Dil To Bachcha Hai Ji' from Ishqiya. The more he sang, the louder his fans seemed to get to the extent that they shooed away the promoters of the show with a thunderous noise demanding to hear more from the next maestro.

However, the highlight of the show came when the singer indulged in a jugalbandi with himself as he collaborated a medley of his Uncles most popular tracks, 'Tumhein Dillagi Bhool Jaani Paregi', 'Akhiyan Udeek Diyan' and 'Yeh Jo Halka Halka Suroor Hai.' Wow was the word as his singing simply took over your soul and stopped your breath. If you ever missed the senior maestro Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, he was definitely the hall, spirit and soul, looking at the audiences dancing and throwing money at his nephew. He was honored in the most grand of ways possible.

Breathtaking was the exact adjective to describe the four-hour concert and you were simply left asking for more. The singer was in great spirits and delivered just what he had promised, a concert of a lifetime. His incredibly soft and humble nature was expressed through his dignified and unique deliverance with his music. As an artist, Rahat is clearly one who understands the sentiments of his audiences who ranged ages; no one left dissatisfied.

Just like his name, which means "relief", Rahat left you feeling a sense of respite when listening to him singing. It was a break from the usual useless meaningless music that is normally heard. Instead, you were treated to some intense music filled with thought provoking lyrics which made you laugh, cry, feel pain, reminisce and even dance. Definitely a concert of a lifetime and one not worth missing. If Rahat Fateh Ali Khan ever visits your city in the U.S. yet, I recommend you catch him in concert; it's worth every penny.

Shahid tweets on Mausam

Shahid Kapoor, just coming off the high of the success of Badmaash Company, is getting ready to start shooting his next film, Mausam. The film is the directorial debut of Shahid’s father and well-known actor Pankaj Kapoor and starring opposite Shahid is Sonam Kapoor. Not a lot is known about the story of the film, only that it is a love story and that Shahid plays an air force officer.

About his role in the film Shahid has said, “The script is such that as an actor, I have to dedicate all my time and presence to it. It’s more to do with the subject and the character than anything else and you’ll see it for yourself once the film releases.”

Though they are not saying much in the press, Shahid has given some insight into the pre-production and his feelings about the film in his posts on Twitter.

He tweeted, “first round of look tests underway for mausam ...... papa is always right people ..lesson number 1” Adding later, “whats up all looong day lots happening on the mausam prep trying to help dad out whenever i can gotta b an actor n son both on this one trying to figure how to balance both”

The film begins shooting in Scotland in June and Shahid is very enthusiastic about the film and being directed by his father. “Will be off soon to Scotland...very excited about shooting under dad's direction...a year of learning this will be."

He writes he is very excited to be starting the film, “Hellooooo all wassup prepping for mausam in full swing I'm excited as hell …” But also wrote that he is nervous, “actually the day when i am not nervous befor a film will be the scariest day cause that would mean that somewhere i have become complacent.”

This tweet may or may not be about his character in the film, but since he is only working on Mausam we would say yes, “its that time which im sure most actors go through where u r struggling to find your character sometimes too many thoughts n sometimes just blank ..…”
 
He also let fans know that it will be Pritam who will be composing the songs for the OST, “pritam gave a beautiful antra for the first song today v happy with the song".

About working with his father his tweets have been nothing but complimentary, "sitting alone thinking about the year ahead .. cant help feeling a bit nervous .. been so busy that have had no time to register how fortunate i am to be working under dad n how blessed we are that as a family we will be doing this film together..." Also writing, "My father is like a volcano of brilliance humbling being around him".

Finally, just yesterday he wrote, "i feel mausam is going to be a huge chapter in my life ..... dont know y just an instinct".

We will be following not only Shahid's tweets, but all the news about Mausam so stay tuned for more!

Sanjay Dutt to revive his production house

Three years ago Sanjay Dutt launched his production house Sanjay Dutt Productions Pvt Ltd, but his pending commitments prevented him from starting work on his home productions. “My election campaigning delayed my pending shoots. I thought I should complete those projects first — and they were all multi-star, big budget films (Blue, All The Best, No Problem, Knock Out, Lamhaa). So I had to put my plans for home productions on hold. It would have been unfair to start at the cost of other producers.”

Now Sanjay is all set to revive his banner. He has signed David Dhawan, Rohit Jugraj, Soham Shah, Milan Luthria and Apoorva Lakhia for five films to be made in the next few years. However, we won't know about these films because he doesn’t want to give away details about the first film yet. “That will be a big announcement. I don’t want to talk about it now.” But he is open for every genre: “I have a passion for acting and filmmaking. I have worked in all sorts of movies: action, romance, comedy. I want to make good commercial cinema, never mind the genre. Maybe even parallel cinema, the kind my father used to love.”

Sanjay takes his role as a producer very seriously. Talking about his new production office, he said, “We have a fixed staff, headed by Dharam Oberoi, while the rest are change from production to production. We have a professional team for every department; considering today’s market, I know I need a strong business team and not just a creative one.”

So how do his home productions fit into Sanjay’s already now very busy schedule? “I will complete my pending commitments and then adjust dates for my banner. I have been doing three to four movies a year. From this year onward, I will reduce one outside production and start doing one of my home productions instead.”

One of these outside productions might be a film with JP Dutta with whom Sanjay has worked before including the fabulous Hathyar (1989), Kshatriya and LOC Kargil. At a recent meeting Sanjay decided spontaneously to work with JP again. “When I met him I saw the same fire that I’d had seen in him earlier. I know we’ll make a great film together. We don’t have filmmakers like him any more. My father and I were together in JP’s Kshatriya. I can never forget that.”

First Look: I Hate Luv Storys

The buzz surrounding Dharma Productions next film, I Hate Luv Storys starring Imran Khan and Sonam Kapoor is getting louder every day. From the first teaser to the curtain raisers fans are really excited about this film and cannot wait until July 2nd.

We have the synopsis and some fabulous stills for I Hate Luv Storys, so get your first look at the film everyone is clamoring about!

Synposis: 'I hate luv storys' is the maxim Jay lives by. But as an assistant director to Veer, the most famous romantic filmmaker of Indian Film Industry, Jay has little option but to live with larger than life, glossy, cinematic love on an everyday basis. Things only get worse when he is made to work under the new production designer on the film... Simran, with whom he shares the strangest first encounter!

Simran loves luv storys; So much so that even her life has begun to resemble one. With her ideal job and the perfect boyfriend, Raj, she lives a blissful, dreamy life; One that is rudely interrupted by Jay's cynicism.

The turmoil's of Jay and Simran's life, is ironically inter-weaved with the Luv Story that they are working on.... But will Jay and Simran ever find their own Luv Story - go find it out in a theatre near you on 2nd July???

Check out these stills!

"Now, with any story, any script I can see Hrithik in it" - Anurag Basu

Director Anurag Basu is known for working outside the Bollywood mainstream. Films like Gangster: A Love Story and Life in A Metro combined an honest look at life with the soulfulness of classic Bollywood. With Kites, Anurag is taking his realness and applying it to the big budget magic of a Rakesh Roshan production. He was in New York City to talk about his work and Bollyspice was there at the roundtable discussion to get all the news firsthand!

After a few jokes about the whereabouts of Kangana ("Actually, she's shooting today"), the dapper director settled in to talk Kites. Anurag speaks quickly and with great enthusiasm, often tripping over his words in an attempt to get his thoughts out.

He started off speaking about making his first big budget film, "I don't think it was a huge challenge. Smaller films are more difficult because when you have a shoestring budget, you have to manage in that budget and make your film look good. Most of the time when I was writing small films, I was doing my production, too. 'I should write this scene - no it will cost you money chuck it out and write some other scene.' But this time I had a free hand. I just started to write and Rakesh-ji told me, 'Don't think about the budget, just write.' So I just wrote the film."

Fear didn't enter the equation. Anurag added, "I knew Mr. Rakesh Roshan is an experienced producer at making huge movies, so I was very relaxed. I know nothing will go wrong when he's there."

Working with a superstar like Hrithik was much easier than Anurag had expected. He didn't need to change his style at all. "I was doing the same, [Hrithik] had to change, actually. I was the same person I was writing the same way. And last interview, Barbara complained about me, that I was messy, so I think I was the same person." He continues. "You know sometimes our Bollywood acting becomes little loud and over the top, so now to be very real and organic that's what we did in the film. When you're working with a superstar in a movie you see that superstar from the first frame to last frame, you don't a character in it. But in this film, in 5 minutes you forget Hrithik Roshan and you start seeing the character and I think that is a good thing."

Anurag adds, "Now, with any story, any script I can see Hrithik in it because he's such a versatile actor. Any story, any script, any character you can see Hrithik in it. I was very apprehensive working with a big star. I always avoided it because I think you lose your independence as a filmmaker and I heard stories about superstar behavior. But Hrithik is completely different. He's a complete team man and he knows his medium very well. There's a bit of director inside of him a bit of cameraman. He has a film brain."

That's high praise, indeed, from the award winning director.

The Roshans wanted an entire new direction for Kites, which is where Brett Ratner and the English remix version came in, but Brett wasn't involved in the film from the beginning. Anurag explains, "No, the film came to [Ratner] much later. In fact, when we started making the film we never knew it was going to go this big although there was a hidden agenda. We knew that if we make [it] good, this film will cross boundaries but we never knew it was going to become so big."

While they may have trusted in the film, Western audiences expect something different. "See when we write the screenplay of Indian movies we structure it differently because there is this pre-interval/post-interval. Everywhere else in the world they follow a different structure of writing. So [for Indian movies] you have to do an interval and they will go, get disconnected with your film. They come back in and again you have to start from zero."

Brett Ratner helped transition from this way of thinking to an international one, explains Anurag. "Brett was right that you have to edit it differently for an English version. He was given the job and the fact that he was doing it - he is a busy man - he must have genuinely felt passionate about the film." He continues, "I've enjoyed his films, I'll not list them as my favorites but I've loved all his films."

With Brett Ratner editing a separate version, it would be understandable if Anurag felt that he the international version was no longer his, but that isn't the case. "It's still my film, I shot it. Most of the [Ratner] edited version of the film is my version." But he does have one complaint. "Some places, I think the background music ... it's very subjective. The background music is what I didn't like in the English version, that's it. Everything else is perfect."

Music has always been one of the touchstones of Anurag's films and Kites is no different. "I always write the film with iPod on and the music happening simultaneously. So, when you are hearing a certain kind of music and you are recreating it, just taking it out of your head becomes difficult. That's what happened. You know I have been living with those background pieces while shooting, while writing and while watching."

He continues, "You can't do away with the music, music is a very special part of our movies, you have to use music differently every time and that's a challenge how you use it differently."

The dancing in Kites is something new for him, too, although Anurag isn't opposed to dancing in films in theory. "I'm not saying it's bad. I really love watching those kinds of dance but when I have to direct it, I can't do it." Song and dance is an integral part of Bollywood and even a global oriented film will keep them in. And make no mistake, Anurag wants to go global.

He says, "So why not? In India everything else is becoming global, why not cinema? And we can do it, why not? For example China and Korea - we make ten times more movies than them, but they make ten times more money than us because their audiences are global audiences. Not in our case. We are concentrating too much on our own market making movies and satisfying and making money on business. It's a very difficult thing to crack. I'm not saying Kites will change everything but if it works then it will be a step towards that so next time when we make a movie it will be a more aggressive approach towards pushing envelope towards global market."

And the global market is ready for Kites. The film releases May 21st.

Hrithik Roshan on Kites

It's raining Kites in Bollywood this month and everywhere you go, you're bound to see kites in the air and Hrithik Roshan flying them too. The actor was missing in action all of 2009 and the reason was Kites. However, he is back and how! The Greek-God lookalike's next film is all set to release this month with his family backing and the very beautiful Mexican Barbara Mori in tow, Kites is ready to fly high. In an exclusive interview, Hrithik spoke at length about his experience with director Anurag Basu and co-star Barbara Mori. Check it out!

Kites in his words:
The story of Kites is my fathers, so I did know the basic concept but I wasn't too clear about it. Kites is not the kind of film my father has been making. So I was little skeptical about it. But my father told me that he had involved Anurag [Basu] in it. He told me to wait for the final script. If I did not like it he was willing to take another hero for it. Me and my father don't have any ego hassle, which is why together we give our best shot. Anurag Basu reacted positive on the story and he went to work on it for a month. When he came back we had a joint meeting - Anurag, Me and my father. When I heard his take on it I was completely blown out. After waiting for two years and sitting idle because of lack of good script, I had a story that I fell in love with. I actually jumped up from my chair and danced around in my room shouting with joy.

On Barbara Mori:
When we met Barbara and understood her world and her approach to the acting, everything just fit in very very good and right way, because she is completely spontaneous. She prepares a lot but all the preparation is like the lava forming in volcano but when it busts, when it's an action time, she just explodes. She does care where it's falling and how; there is no control over the explosion. You just fill up yourself with that energy when it action time. And that's how we are started doing with this with right from the first day of shooting.


On the English factor in Kites:
Basically we had the script of Hindi film but when I started doing first takes with Barbara, I realized that there is kind of disbalance in the equation. My dialogues were in Hindi and she was speaking in Spanish. What was bothering me, was that I am playing a guy who was born in Las Vegas and who knows English. Any person who knows English and goes to [a] foreign land, he will first try and communicate in universal language. He won't use his mother tongue to communicate. Since it was looking unnatural, we decided to use English.

On Singing for Kites:
I enjoy singing. But then there are so many people who enjoy singing even though they can't sing. Everyone likes to sing, it's something natural in all of us. I have been singing myself to sleep whenever I am stressed out. I just sing any song like a broken record and keep going till I feel some relief. Then I go to sleep. After listening to this entire story Anurag Basu has sort of shown in to the world.

The Kites Experience:
Isme actually ulta hua hain (With this film, the opposite has happened), in this film I had to unlearn. In Kites the training was to forget all my trainings. That was the most difficult thing that I had to go through. Because, coming from where I come from, I know how to face the camera. I know how to turn, I know how to walk. I know how to say I love you in the most endearing way, I know all that. Here I had to forget that there was a camera. I had to get lost in the character and not care whether my hair was ok or my make up was ok or my clothes were okay. I did not see the video assist even once in the whole film. I did not check my hair after every take. I had instructed Anurag Basu and my make-up man, I had instructed Barbara that anyone catches me looking at myself please stop. So there were these restrictions which were self-inflicted to keep a check on myself that I don't want to have any safety measurements in this. I don't want to rely on myself and say "arrey yaar, I could have done this." So all I was left was to after the take got over, my only check was my heart. I used to look inside and say was I completely honest. Yes I was and that was my take.

On the Stunts in Kites:
I didn't see it as risk. Having worked in action films, I have sort of cultivated a knack of understanding for action scenes. I knew what kind of safety requirements I needed. And once you have a good check on that and have a detailed examination of exactly what you want to do and you are stable and balanced in your mind, your body sort of speaks to you and tells it can be done it or not. Every time my body has told me that yes I can do it I do the action scenes myself. I cannot allow fear to overcome me. I have done a film like Krishh where I have cable snap falling from 45 feet. But you have to learn to trust your own instincts and people you work with.

On Kites Going International:
Kites is like taking an emotion and allowing it to take shape on screen. An emotion cannot be tied down with boundaries and language. So its left free, and will be able to touch everybody with open arms. For the first time I think the emotion is completely devoid of those external influences. This is the film which is completely honest from the word go. I feel the grammar of the film is completely different.

On High Expectations:
One fear I still have is that this film should not have an interval, because there is no interval point in the film. And it is only in India that we consider every film as two films. You come out of the theatre and say the first half is good but the second half I didn't like that much or the second half is damn good but the first half is weak. But, when you come out of an English film, you see it as one film. You never talk about it first half or second half. Which is what Kites is about. It is like one film. So there is no interval point. Now when I see it with the interval, I can see the audience going, "Interval ho gayi, kuch hua hi nahi. Aisa kyun...isme toh kuch hain hi nahin." So that break of 10 minutes is bothering me.

Kites is set to fly high and release on the 21st of May. Be sure to catch it and enjoy Hrithik Roshan at his best.

The day Anurag didn't call the action director for Kites shoot

Kites, a love story packed with some dangerous action sequences, all of which have been done by Hrithik Roshan and Barbara Mori themselves. After shooting sequences where actors climbed on moving hot air balloon and hung from moving trucks, chased tumbling fire cars and many such... breaking a piece of glass appeared a small job to Anurag Basu...not knowing what the end result would be!

So the day when Hrithik was scheduled to shoot the scene of breaking a glass, Anurag discussed this with him who also agreed confidently do this by himself and the action director wasn't summoned that day.

"We had done so many sequences without any injuries and there was a small scene where Hrithik had to break a glass and I didn't call any action director. I like to do most action scenes myself. So I cracked the glass and kept it for Hrithik to break, but when he broke the glass a big piece pierced into his wrist," says Anurag.


Hrithik had to then be rushed to the hospital which left Anurag feeling highly guilty. "Hrithik got stitches in his hand and I couldn't stop blaming myself for it, I was shaken up," he admits.

Subhash K Jha: Bumm Bumm Bole doesn't forget to be an entertaining story

Majid Majidi's Children Of Heaven comes down to earth in an endearing spiral of the spellbinding and the sensitive.

Let's not get unnecessarily and unjustly nostalgic about the original Iranian film. This remake, done up in shades of terrorism in the idyllic North-east (region unspecified) is so lyrically lush in its visuals and so gently evocative in treatment that the original material is forgotten ten minutes into the narrative.

A great deal of the credit for the film's immense intense but toned-down impact must go to the children, Darsheel Safary no longer the pouty buck-teethed moppet from Taare Zameen Par, and little Ziyah Vastani who's quite easily the most delightful new discovery of the year. Ziyah in fact steals many scenes from under her brilliant co-star's nose. If he minds it, he doesn't show it.

Darsheel and little Ziyah create an intangible and secret world of hushed wonderment and discovery that takes the narrative far beyond the precincts of the original fable about an impoverished pair of siblings's desperate but disarming attempt to share a pair of shoes.

Yup, Bumm Bumm Bole is quite a 'shoe' stopper. The fable is expanded to accommodate a world filled with pain pleasure and other emotions that emerge in the journey from innocence to awareness. Unlike Vishal Bhardwaj's The Blue Umbrella or Majid Majidi's Children Of Heaven, Bumm Bumm Bole doesn't try to be wise at the children's expense. Frequently you feel Priyadarshan allowed the children to instinctively empathize with if not fully understand the political complications underlining the social issues of poverty and socio-communal solidarity in times of stress and longing.

Unlike other recent parables on children, innocence and violence set in idyllic sports like Santosh Sivan's Tahaan and Piyush Jha's Sikandar, Bumm Bumm Bole doesn't forget to be an entertaining story. Priyadrashan, fresh from the triumph of his other socially relevant drama Kanchivaram imbues the pale but passionate dusky light of the mountainous locales with oodles of warmth and emotion.

The kids don't take over the show. They just slip into the proceedings like two scoops of ice cream into a ready steady cone. Darsheel shows a definite and reassuring progress as an actor since his debut. His rapport with his screen-sister jumps out of the screen and pervades our senses unconditionally. You just want to steal little Ziyah from the screen and take her home.

The two kids are amazingly good. The ever-dependable Atul Kulkarni puts in a supremely credible turn as the harried father who doesn't forget to smile when the kids are around.

Like other fabulous or farcical creations by Priyadarshan, this one too is shot on picture-postcard locations with the cinematographer (Selvi) and the art director (Sabu Cyril) adding that extra bit of lyricism to every frame without showing off.

Bumm Bumm Bole is a gentle but persuasive piece of work, not just for children though certainly about children who learn fast about the harsh realities of life.

Fardeen Khan to Get into Production

The actor has been out of the news lately but is slowly making a return to the headlines with his recent decision to try his hand at production. Fardeen Khan, who’s been brought up in a filmi family, says he’s always been interested in cinema in every shape and form and thus the decision of producing shouldn't come as a surprise to all those who are familiar with him.

“I have grown up in that environment when Dad and I used to discuss the nitty-gritties of film making. The craze of wanting to try my hand at production, therefore, was always there. I waited all these years because I wanted to give myself some more time and gain a bit of experience about how the industry functions. So I started as an actor. But a person has to move ahead,” said the actor to a leading tabloid.

Of course whilst we’re all rejoicing the news of Fardeen taking his career more seriously, we can’t help but be a tad bit worried about the fate of his acting career. “I have been thinking about it for some time now, and I would’ve entered into production last year itself, but I got busy with Dulha Mil Gaya. Last year was a good year for me in terms of films. But this year, I was determined to take production seriously, face some challenges and go ahead with some dream projects that I have been toying with.”

Now the million dollar question is what will happen to the sequel of Qurbani we’ve been hearing about so much, “A sequel to Qurbani was my dad’s dream, and is surely on my priority list. It is something that he wanted to do, so I’ll definitely complete it.”

Well with that big news out of the way, Fardeen can finally put his head down and accept this challenge straight on. With the advent of multiplexes, hunger for small budget films and forever changing audience tastes of the 21st century one can surely agree with him that production will be no walk in the park. Here’s wishing the actor all the very best in this new career path.