63rd Cannes Film Festival

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has planned to change the face of Indian Cinema at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival, which is going to held on May 13-24 .The Ministry has joined with the Association Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Industry of India for the enlistment of ‘Official India Pavilion’ in village picturesque.


India Pavilion 2010, it will give chance to film fraternity, for there achievements. This year theme would be India: destination of Creative and Production Out sourcing and India: emerging global capital of Animation and Special effects.

Kamal Hassan icon of Indian Cinema

An icon in Indian cinema, Kamal Hassan has holds the record for being the actor who has won the most number of National Film Awards, three for best actor and one for best child artist. He has won 19 Filmfare Awards. He said he didn’t went to any film school, to learn acting techniques. But he has worked under some master, even they have not taught anything, he learnt by his own interest.

He even visited the post production facilities at the National Film Development Corporation (Finas). He also revealed that he and MDeC are both in discussions with Barrie M. Osborne who was an executive producer for Hollywood films such as the Lords of the Rings trilogy and The Matrix.

There is a dream project, which first time in media Kamal has shared, it is a Tamil film called Marudhanayagam. He has worked on this project since 1997. In fact, Queen Elizabeth launched the film during her visit to India in 1997.

Kerala State Film Awards

The Kerala State film awards for 2009 were announced and the period film ‘Pazhassi Raja' led from the front with eight awards in various categories, including awards for the best director, best actors and best scriptwriter. M.T. Vasudevan Nair, Hariharan and Mammootty had swept the awards with their ‘Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha.' The same film had also annexed the National awards then.


However, ‘Pazhassi Raja' was surprisingly left out in the cold when it came to the International Film Festival of India. The eight State awards must certainly be a shot in the arm for the team that made the epic. Moreover, ‘Pazhassi Raja' also won the best director award for Hariharan; the one that he had missed for ‘Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha.'

One of the main reasons for the film's success was the apt casting – be it Mammootty in the title role, or Sarath Kumar, Manoj K. Jayan and Padmapriya, as the king's bravest warriors. With Manoj and Padmapriya too having won the State awards – for the second best actor and actress – the director's casting coup is all too clear.

Padma Bhushan award by President of India

Chatwal, Padma award to whom was contested by political parties and against which court cases were filed, looked elated when receiving the award from President Pratibha Patil at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Famous music composer Ilaiyaraaja was awarded Padma Bhushan in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Vice-President Hamid Ansari and other dignitaries at the Ashoka Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan.



A suave-looking Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, wearing off-white sherwani, was conferred with Padma Shri. The evergreen beauty of Indian cinema Rekha was also awarded the Padma Shri for her contribution to the film industry. In a career spanning over 40 years, she has acted in nearly 200 movies.

Oscar winning sound engineer Resul Pookutty received Padma Shri for his contribution to sound mixing in the film industry and abroad. Olympian boxer Vijender Singh was also conferred with Padma Shri for his contribution to the field of sports.

Also, India's first Formula One driver Narain Karthikeyan was conferred with Padma Shri.

Change in the titles of Bollywood Movies

Over the Hindi cinema has gone a radical change in terms of taste, color, appeal and treatment. There is a great change in movie titles. From the titles Do Aankhen Barah Haath, Do Bigha Zameen and many more. Today’s movies have titles mile My Name is Khan, Karthik Calling Karthik, 3 Idiots, Wanted and lot more.

National award-winning film-maker Ujjvwal Chatterjee, who made the controversial movie Escape From Taliban starring Manisha Koirala, says, “English or Hinglish titles are given to enhance the appeal of the film.

Film-maker Sudhir Mishra has the final word. He says, “This trend has a lot to do with film-makers who think in English and, somewhere down the line, it has become their first language.

World Fest Houston International Film Festival

This year 43rd World Fest Houston International Film Festival will see three Indian films, competing for Remi Award in the Feature Film Category. The names of the three films that are nominated for receiving the coveted Remi award in are, ‘Bodhisattva’ directed by San Banarje, Nikhil Bhat’s ‘Saluun’ and ‘Ek Tho Chance’ directed by Saeed Akhtar Mirza.


This film feat was started in 1961, and dedicated to independent features and the short films which is open to all fans, students or industry experts.

43rd Annual World Fest

Three Indian films, San Banerje`s `Bodhisattva`, Saeed Mirza`s `Ek Tho Chance` and Nikhil Bhat`s `Saluun`, will compete for top honours at the 43rd Annual World Fest. The films have been nominated to receive the prestigious Remi awards at the festival. "Earlier in 2004, our movie `Jhankaar Beats` won the Remi award. Later in 2007, `Pyaar Ke Side Effects`, a romantic comedy starring Mallika Sherawat and Rahul Bose won the Silver Remi Award for `Best Comedy Feature`.

Nikhil Bhat`s `Saluun`, revolves around the life of Asok, a small-town simpleton, who gets entangled in the web of corrupt government machinery when his road side salon is burned down by the local municipality. San Banarje`s `Bodhisattva` is the story of Maya (Trisha Ray) and her father, Bodhisattva (Soumitra Chatterjee) and the evolution of their relationship.