Silent romance 'TheArtist' won five Oscars

Silent romance 'The Artist' won five Oscars on Monday including best film, and Martin Scorsese's 'Hugo' also took five of the world's top movie honours on a night where stories about movies felt the love of Hollywood.

'The Artist,' a black-and-white tale of a fading star who finds redemption through romance in the era when silent movies were overtaken by talkies, added to its best film victory with Oscars for its French star Jean Dujardin and director Michel Hazanavicius, as well for musical score and costume design.

"I am the happiest director in the world right now. Thank you for that,"Hazanavicius told the audience of stars including George Clooney, Michelle Williams, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Dujardin was equally excited, exclaiming "I love this country" before thanking the Academy, fellow filmmakers and his wife and recalling silent actor Douglas Fairbanks as an inspiration.

Meryl Streep won for her role as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher who is slipping into dementia in 'The Iron Lady.' It was Streep's third Academy Award out of 17 nominations. She joked that the audience was probably tired of seeing her, then added, "whatever." But Streep couldn't hide her emotion as she choked up while thanking her husband and talking about her long career.

 

Director Martin Scorsese's 'Hugo, 'which tells of a boy lost in a train station and serves as an ode to early filmmaking, came into the night with a leading 11 nominations and picked up five wins for cinematography, art direction, sound editing and mixing and visual effects.

Veteran Plummer, a star of classic film 'The Sound of Music,' won his first ever Oscar for his portrayal of an elderly gay man who comes out to his family in 'Beginners,' making Oscar history becoming the oldest ever Academy Award winner at age 82.

"You're only two years older than me, darling. Where have you been all of my life," he said, looking at his golden Oscar, which was celebrating its 84th awards ceremony.

Spencer, a relative newcomer in contrast to Plummer, had to hold back tears as she accepted her trophy for her portrayal of a black, southern made in civil rights drama 'The Help.'

"Thank you Academy for putting me with the hottest guy in the room," she said holding her Oscar in her hand. She then went on to talk about her family in Alabama and could not hold back her tears as she joyously accepted her trophy.

In other major wins, the foreign language film award went to Iranian divorce drama 'A Separation.'

"I proudly offer this award to the people of my country, the people who respect all cultures and civilizations and despise hostility and resentment," said its director Ashgar Farhadi.

'The Artist' won five Academy Awards on Sunday including best picture, becoming the first silent film to triumph at Hollywood's highest honors since the original Oscar ceremony 83 years ago.
Among other prizes for the black-and-white comic melodrama were best actor for Jean Dujardin and director for Michel Hazanavicius.

The other top Oscars went to Meryl Streep as best actress for "The Iron Lady," Octavia Spencer as supporting actress for 'The Help' and Christopher Plummer as supporting actor for 'Beginners.'

'The Artist' is the first silent winner since the World War I saga 'Wings' was named outstanding picture at the first Oscars in 1929 had a silent film earned the top prize.

"I am the happiest director in the world," Havanavicius said, thanking the cast, crew and canine co-star Uggie. "I also want to thank the financier, the crazy person who put money in the movie."
The other wins for 'The Artist' were musical score and art direction. Martin Scorsese's Paris adventure 'Hugo' also won five Oscars, all in technical categories.

Streep's win was her first Oscar in 29 years, since she won best actress for 'Sophie's Choice.' She had lost 12 times in a row since then. Streep also has a supporting-actress Oscar for 1979's 'Kramer vs. Kramer.'

"When they called my name, I had this feeling I could hear half of America go, 'Oh, no, why her again?' But whatever," Streep said, laughing.

"I really understand I'll never be up here again. I really want to think all my colleagues, my friends. I look out here and I see my life before my eyes, my old friends, my new friends. Really, this is such a great honour but the think that counts the most with me is the friendship and the love and the sheer job we've shared making moves together," said Streep, the record-holder with 17 acting nominations. Streep is only the fifth performer to receive three Oscars. Jack Nicholson, Ingrid Bergman and Walter Brennan all earned three, while Katharine Hepburn won four.

It was a night that went as expected, with front-runners claiming key prizes. Streep's triumph provided a bit of drama, since she had been in a two-woman race with Viola Davis for "The Help."

The biggest surprise may have been the length of the show, which clocked in at about three hours and 10 minutes, brisk for a ceremony that has run well over four hours some years. The 82-year-old Plummer became the oldest acting winner ever for his role as an elderly widower who comes out as gay in 'Beginners.' The previous oldest winner was best-actress recipient Jessica Tandyfor 'Driving Miss Daisy,' at age 80.

Completing an awards-season blitz that took her from Hollywood bit player to star, Spencer won for her role in 'The Help' as a headstrong black maid whose willful ways continually land her in trouble with white employers in 1960s Mississippi.

Spencer wept throughout her breathless speech, in which she apologized between laughing and crying for running a bit long on her time limit.

"Thank you, academy, for putting me with the hottest guy in the room," Spencer said, referring to last year's supporting-actor winner Christian Bale, who presented her Oscar.

Dujardin became the first Frenchman to win an acting Oscar. French actresses have won before, including Marion Cotillard and Juliette Binoche.

The win is even more impressive given the type of film Hazanavicius made, a black-and-white silent movie that was a throwback to the early decades of cinema. Other than Charles Chaplin, who continued to make silent films into the 1930s, and Mel Brooks, who scored a hit with the 1976 comedy 'Silent Movie,' few people have tried it since talking pictures took over in the late 1920s.

The only other filmmaker from France to win the directing Oscar is 'The Pianist' creator Roman Polanski, who was born in France, moved to Poland as a child and has lived in France since fleeing Hollywood in the 1970s on charges he had sex with a 13-year-old girl.

Hazanavicius, known in his home country for the 'OSS 117' spy comedies but virtually unheard of in Hollywood previously, won a prize that eluded half a dozen of France's most-esteemed filmmakers, including Jean Renoir, Francois Truffaut and Louis Malle, who all were nominated for directing Oscars but never won.

The visual-effects prize had been the last chance for the 'Harry Potter' franchise to win an Oscar. The finale, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,' had been nominated for visual effects and two other Oscars but lost all three. Previous 'Harry Potter' installments had lost on all nine of their nominations.

"And yet they only paid 14 percent income tax," Oscar host Billy Crystal joked about the 'Potter' franchise. Another beloved big-screen bunch, the Muppets, finally got their due at the Oscars. 'The Muppets' earned the best-song award for "Man or Muppet," the sweet comic duet sung by Jason Segel and his Muppet brother in the film, the first big- screen adventure in 12 years for Kermit the frog and company.

Earlier Muppet flicks had been nominated for four music Oscars but lost each time, including the song prize for 'The Rainbow Connection,' Kermit's signature tune from 1979's 'The Muppet Movie.' "I grew up in New Zealand watching the Muppets on TV. I never dreamed I'd get to work with them," said "Man or Muppet" writer Bret McKenzie of the musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords," who joked about meeting Kermit for the first time. "Like many stars here tonight, he's a lot shorter in real life."

Filmmaker Alexander Payne picked up his second writing Oscar, sharing the adapted-screenplay prize for the Hawaiian family drama 'The Descendants' with co-writers Nat Faxon and Jim Rash. Payne, who also directed "The Descendants," previously won the same award for "Sideways."

Woody Allen earned his first Oscar in 25 years, winning for original screenplay for the romantic fantasy 'Midnight in Paris,' his biggest hit in decades. It's the fourth Oscar for Allen, who won for directing and screenplay on his 1977 best-picture winner 'Annie Hall' and for screenplay on 1986's 'Hannah and Her Sisters.' Allen also is the record-holder for writing nominations with 15, and his three writing Oscars ties the record shared by Charles Brackett, Paddy Chayefsky, Francis Ford Coppola and Billy Wilder.

No fan of awards shows, Allen predictably skipped Sunday's ceremony, where he also was up for best director and 'Midnight in Paris' was competing in vain for best picture.
'Rango,' with Johnny Depp providing the voice of a desert lizard that becomes a hero to a parched Western town, won for best animated feature.

"Someone asked me if this film was for kids, and I don't know. But it was certainly created by a bunch of grown-ups acting like children," said "Rango" director Gore Verbinski, who made the first three of Depp's "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies. Crystal got the show off to a lively start with a star-laden montage in which he hangs out with Justin Bieber and gets a nice wet kiss from George Clooney. Back as Oscar host for the first time in eight years, Crystal also did his signature introduction of the best- picture nominees with a goofy song medley.

Crystal's return as host seemed appropriate on a night that had Hollywood looking back fondly on more than a century of cinema history.

Review: Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol

Movie: Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol Critic's Rating****
Cast: Tom Cruise, Paula Patton, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Michael Nyqvist, Anil Kapoor
Direction: Brad Bird
Genre: Action
Duration: 2 hours 13 minutes


Story: The high profile IMF is falsely accused of bombing the Kremlin and agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his teammates are forced to become rogue agents, with the government declaring a ghost protocol (no protection) against them. In a race against time, they must clear their name and save the world from armageddon, as a deadly megalomaniac, Cobalt (Michael Nyqvist) wants to start a nuclear war.

Movie Review: Action has always been the high point of the Mission Impossible series. But this kind of action: Wow!

The new film is essentially a relentless roller-coaster ride that doesn't give you a moment to sit back and keeps the adrenalin pumping to dizzy heights as Tom Cruise gets on his regular mission of saving the world, one more time. And once again, he has nothing on his side, not even his government, other than his physical prowess, his ability to perform the most death- defying stunts and an abundance of sheer luck which redefines the word 'impossible' as 'possible'.

This time however, he isn't working as the lone ranger but has a close knit crack team comprising agent carter ( Paula Patton), Brandt ( Jeremy Renner) and Benji ( Simon Pegg). While Carter adds the glamour quotient, apart from being a female action hero, Benji takes care of the humour element even as he manages the techie stuff and the funky gadgetry and Brandt, the analyst, remains unpredictable and mysterious with a deadly secret. It's a winning team, despite the individual differences and the foursome end up as an endearing family with each character having a substantial role to play.

But essentially it is the exquisite stunts and the high- decibel action set pieces which create magic on screen. The mission basically entails four main tasks: stealing a missing file, getting hold of the Cold War nuclear codes, infiltrating a satellite and finally, defusing a nuclear warhead before it strikes its target and decimates the world.

But before the task is executed you get to witness some genre-defining action sequences which include a daring prison break in Russia, the infiltration of the Kremlin, Cruise's high-rise leaps and jumps followed by his awesome ascent over Dubai's tallest tower, Patton's cat fight with the blonde assassin, Brandt's satellite entry and the final confrontation in Mumbai's multi-level car parking. Performance-wise, Cruise is in total command of the drama which boasts of several engaging twists and turns.

A word about Anil Kapoor: he plays playboy Brij Nath with a penchant for pretty girls and shady deals, in a comic vein. It is just a bit more than a blink- and-you'll-miss role as Patton unleashes her charms on him.

Nizami Brothers qawwali in Jamia Millia Islamia

Nizami Brothers qawwali in Jamia Millia Islamia singing Kun Faya Kun from Rockstar

Movie review: Only Ranbir Kapoor rocks Rockstar

Director: Imtiaz Ali
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Nargis Fakhri
In the film Rockstar, Ranbir Kapoor is advised that to be a true-blue artist and a real rockstar he has to experience pain, which will come through heartbreak. If we go by this theory, most audiences of  his film will walk out of the hall as rockstars, since the movie will largely leave them heartbroken.
But for heartbreak, it is imperative to fall in love first and that's exactly what director Imtiaz Ali does. He starts off the film on a promising note and just when you fall in love with the amazing first half,  he narrative nosedives with a stagnant second half.
So you have the naive Janardhan Jakhar (Ranbir Kapoor) who aspires to be a rockstar like Jim Morrison. His yearning for heartbreak gets him close to Heer (Nargis Fakhri), as they bond over soft-
porn cinema and country liquor. Soon after, the girl is arried off to some NRI, the oy is thrown out of his house, he seeks solace in a dargah and next you know he's a singing sensation rechristened as
Jordan.
A foreign tour reunites him with Heer and their passive passion rekindles until Jordan is obsessed with her. What follows is another tribute to Devdas or rather Dev.D with the neurotic, lovelorn protagonist unable to get over his mixed emotions and confused definition of love. But that's not all as the plot meanders to culminate into an undesired arena of Erich Segal's Love Story.
Imtiaz Ali is known for his old- wine-in-new-bottle brand of cinema. Rockstar is very much engaging as far as it is in that familiar territory, where the director adds a refreshing touch to the regular romance drama. The casual chemistry that he induces between the lead pair through their wacky and eventful escapades has its moments of charm. The passion-play between them when they reunite after years is spontaneous, smoldering and yet tastefully achieved.

Their reunion is also faintly reminiscent of the Jab We Met reunion, where the character-conduct is reversed with the burbling boy now trying to make the gloomy girl's life more exciting. And like Love Aaj Kal, Imtiaz Ali kick-starts the film with a montage song highlighting select significant sequences from the entire film.

But beyond that when the director ventures into uncharted zone, the narrative loses track. While one can still overlook the Dev.D influenced intoxicating attitude of the proceedings (which you can somehow attribute to the convoluted rockstar protagonist), the subsequent terminal illness conflict takes the film towards an unwelcome and undefined end. After an interesting graph to the narrative in the first half, the story almost turns stationary in the second half.
The screenplay seems stretched and gets monotonous with repetitive media-bashing scenes and flashback shots of what has been already served to you.
Another problem with the plot is that it is neither a standalone story about the rise-of-an-underdog who becomes the biggest rockstar nor is it merely a love story with a rockstar backdrop. The director somewhere attempts to correlate the rockstar's rise with his romance but isn't able to achieve that impeccably. In fact the original one-liner plot with which the movie starts (a painful heartbreak gets out the real artist inside you) goes for a complete toss by the end.

One can never clearly perceive when Jordan's heart is broken in the assorted scheme of events and that's where the film loses objectivity.
The storytelling pattern of the film is needlessly intricate for a simple romance-drama genre.

While it is very much linear, the frequent use of multiple montages can have you confused. Initially the montages aid brisk storytelling but subsequently there are so much of them that it gets puzzling. Editing the film would surely have been a difficult task. Anil Mehta's cinematography is brilliant as he captures the beauty of Kashmir, Italy and Delhi with panache. AR Rahman's wide range of music has numbers which are instantly infectious (Sadda Haq) and others that take time to grow on you.

If Rockstar keeps you engaged even after you have given up on the story by the end, it is only because of Ranbir Kapoor.
From his innocence in the opening reels to his arrogance in the climax, Ranbir breathes life into Jordan and keeps you riveted. Whether he adlibs his songs, gives a dance-tribute to Shammi Kapoor or dictates the concert crowd, Ranbir gives cent percent to his character.
How much ever you try to ignore, but Nargis Fakhri fervently reminds of Katrina Kaif through her looks, acting, lip movements (and seemingly also has the same voice dubbing artist). Nevertheless she is likeable and shares good chemistry with Ranbir. Kumud Mishra as Jordan's advisor-turned anager is impressive.

Aditi Rao Hydari is confident but marred by a short-lived character. Piyush Mishra makes for an animated-yet- interesting negative lead. And it's pleasing to see Shammi Kapoor is his last decent cameo.
Rockstar rocks you but only partially thanks to the star called Ranbir Kapoor.

SRK gifts luxury cars to Arjun, Rajini and Anubhav

G.One might have failed to become a successful superhero,but he still is a super 'friend'. Shah Rukh Khan, who is known for his generous gifting, has recently ordered five brand new BMW 7 series sedans for those who helped him make RA.One.

According to sources, the list of lucky recipients of this extremely expensive gift includes Arjun Rampal, who played the title role, director Anubhav Sinha and the south Indian superstar Rajinikanth, who made a cameo appearance in the film.

A source informed, "Shah Rukh has decided to gift one of the five BMW to Anubhav Sinha. One car will go to Arjun Rampal. Since Rajinikanth flew down to Mumbai to shoot specially for his cameo in the film, he'll get one car."

"There are two more people on the gift list. However, no one is aware of SRK's plans. The cars have already been booked with a local dealer. Once the delivery comes rough, the gifts will be on their way," added the source.

Talking about the actor's previous generous gifts, the source said, "Shah Rukh has always been a generous friend.

Earlier, he had gifted Farah Khan a Hyundai Terracan during the making if Main Hoon Na. He even gifted her a Mercedes during Om Shanti Om."

Meanwhile... Anubhav Sinha, who will very soon be the lucky owner of a BMW 7 series sedan, currently needs a phone more than a car. The filmmaker, while travelling in os Angeles, lost his mobile.

What's worse, the man who as found Sinha's phone is hatting to all the contacts on is list posing to be the ilmmaker.

Not too happy with the situation, Anubhav Sinha said, I was in LA for the screening f RA.One and I stayed back ince I wanted a break. While i vsiting a friend's place, I left my phone in the cab. After I returned to India, I was talking to this friend who told me that he had been chatting with me all this while. Which was impossible since I did not have my phone."

"On Wednesday, Shah Rukh told me that he spoke to me on chat. I was shocked. I don't know what to do about it now.

I don't know who the guy is. There are so many actors on my chat list. I just hope this person doesn't do anything stupid using my name," added the filmmaker.

50 Hollywood Movies you can’t afford to miss

50 Hollywood movies you can’t afford to miss

1. The Skeleton Key. TR
2. Minority Report. AD,SF
3. Troy EP, DR
4. Behind Enemy Lines WB
5. Déjà Vu SF, AD
6. Gladiator EP, DR
7. Rat Race CD
8. Mirrors HR
9. Mr. and Mrs. Smith CD
10. 300 EP, WB
11. Shutter Island TR
12. Euro Trip CD
13. Apocalypto AD
14. Bedazzled CD
15. Mummy AD, TR
16. Case 39 TR
17. The pursuit of happiness DR
18. Signs AD, TR
19. Pay Cheque SF, TR
20. Transporter AT
21. Ice-Age AN
22. Up AN
23. Home Alone CD
24. Batman Begins DR, AD
25. The Dark Knight DR, AD
26. Pearl Harbor WB, DR
27. The Terminal DR
28. Cast Away DR
29. Spider Man-1,2,3 AD,SF
30. Prince of Persia WB
31. 50 First Dates DR
32. The Ring HR
33. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl AD
34. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest AD
35. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End AD
36. A Beautiful Mind DR
37. The Sixth Sense DR
38. Green Mile DR
39. Vantage Point AD,TR
40. The Hangover CD
41. Night at the Museum CD
42. Madagascar AN
43. House of Wax TR,HR
44. X-Men TR,SF
45. The Grudge HR
46. National Treasure AD
47. WALL-E AN
48. Constantine HR,TR
49. Exorcist: The Beginning TR
50. Mission Impossible AT
----------------------------------------
Adventure-AD
Thriller-TR
Comedy-CD
Sci-Fi-SF
Drama-DR
Horror-HR
Epic-EP
War Based-WB
Action-AT
Animated-AN
Romantic-RM

Salman Khan prefers Karan Johar over Shah Rukh Khan

Reliance's plans of releasing the Don 2 first trailer with Salman Khan's Bodyguard have been squashed. Thanks to lead actor Salman. The dabangg Khan refused to share screen space with his archrival Shah Rukh Khan in any way.

However, when it came to sharing the spotlight with Hrithik Roshan and Sanjay Dutt, Salman did not seem to have a problem. In fact, Sallu insisted on having Karan Johar's Agneepath trailer as a part of his forthcoming Eid release.

Salman had asked Reliance not to include the Don 2 trailer in Bodyguard. In fact, when the producers tried to reason things out with the actor, telling him that both films (Bodyguard and Don 2) belonged to Reliance, he retorted, "Bodyguard is my film as well."

"Salman and SRK are not friends. It was obvious that Salman will not want the trailer of Shah Rukh Khan's film attached to Bodyguard. Salman would have said 'No' even if he had a guest appearance in the film. His war with SRK is far from over," said a source close to the Sallu starrer.

The SRK-Salman war started on July 16, 2008 at Katrina Kaif's 24th birthday bash in a suburban nightspot.

A small argument turned ugly when SRK allegedly commented on Salman's ex-girlfriend Aishwarya Rai.

While SRK's Don 2 trailer has been left out from Bodyguard, his good friend Karan Johar's Agneepath promo has been included. And again, it was Salman who took the call. "It would have made more sense for Reliance to include the promo of Don 2, since it releases this December as opposed to Agneepath that releases in 2012. but since Salman wanted it, the producers couldn't refuse," revealed a source.

Explaining why Salman chose Agneepath over Don 2, a source said, "Salman has been bonding with Karan Johar of late.

According to industry insiders, the actor will work in the Dharma Productions venture to be directed by Rensil D'Silva. Also, Agneepath stars Hrithik Roshan and Sanjay Dutt, two actors who had once had a spat with Salman but are now close to him."

The final print of Bodyguard that releases this Eid will now have trailers of Agneepath, Luv U Soniyo and Hollywood film Real Steel. "There is neither a trailer or a promo of Don 2 in Bodyguard. Salman did not want any mention of the SRK starrer in his film," confirmed a source close to Sallu's film.

Movie Review: Singham is for Ajay Devgn fans only

Ratings:

Aseem Chabbra feels that the real star of the film Singham is its sound team.

In Rohit Shetty's mass-masala movie Singham, Ajay Devgn plays an upright, honest and do-gooder cop who goes way beyond the training and duties of a regular Indian Police Service officer.

He will stop to push a cart if its wheel is stuck in the mud; play with little kids; become a part time no-interest loan financier to settle a dispute between two people in his village, especially if someone is about to get married and it is their 'izzat ka sawal'.

Devgn's Bajirao Singham is almost the village panchayat, who is blessed by hundreds of drum beating men. His ritual bath in the village pond at night is accompanied with a beautiful display of floating lit lamps, and people dressed in red costumes praying, perhaps for his well-being.

After the bath, Singham walks bare-chested with mysterious smoke rising behind him, subtle dramatic lighting, to the beat of drums and what sounds like Hindu shlokas. He sometimes walks in slow-motion -- that means he is cool. And sometimes leaps at the bad guys -- that means he has lion blood flowing throwing his veins.
Singham is followed by a continuous soundtrack -- mostly the melody of the title song sung by Sukhwinder Singh. But in the second half of the film, when he decides to finally take on the evil Jaykant Shikre (a very loud and over-the-top Prakash Raj), Singham's personal soundtrack changes to religious shlokas -- as if his forthcoming actions, beyond what is allowed by the laws of the land and his training at the IPS academy, are justified and sanctioned by something above everything else -- God, Hinduism, its texts and its hymns.

Remake of a hit 2010 Tamil film, Singham is critical of the Indian politics and society. Time and again, the film's characters make observations against India's flawed and corrupt system.

The film's three writers: Hari, Yunus Sajawal and Farhad Sajid seem to be disappointed with the way India has shaped out to be. They have little faith in the law. Most cops in the film, baring Singham and a couple of his subordinates when he is posted to Goa, are shown to be corrupt or at least have an attitude that do they not give a damn.

The politicians are the guilty party. As Shikre says toward the end of the film -- from 1947 to 2011 no minister has been arrested in India for crime and corruption.
The film makes it very clear -- without the existence of Singham, the good cop, India has no hope. I wonder why no has thought of making him the president or the prime minister of the country!
The film opens with the big dramatic dance sequence celebrating our hero -- it feels like it is Holi, but it is not, as Devgn and the backup dancers strike a pose with as their hands becoming the claws of tigers.

The first half of the film takes its time in establishing Singham's character, his world, his romance with Kaavya Bhosle (Kajal Agarwal, a chirpy, but weak actress, who has a bad habit of rushing through her lines and strangely enough bears a slight resemblance to Devgn's wife Kajol).

In a long fight sequence, Singham beats up a fat bad guy who has snatched Kaavya's green dupatta. And she is so shamed by the dishonour that she wraps herself in a black dupatta.
There is the parallel story about Shikre, who makes money kidnapping rich people and has the protection of the Goa's top cops and politicians. But Singham and Shikre's path do not cross, until almost the intermission.
In the second half, Singham is posted to Goa -- as a punishment, where he is now in the world run by Shikre. He is frustrated and almost gives up hope. But just when he decides to leave, a depressed and overweight kid looks at Singham and begs him to stay back. "Uncle aap nahin hongey to yeh mummy ko marengey," the kid pleads with Singham.

The kid's mummy is Megha Kadam (Sonali Kulkarni), whose husband committed suicide in the opening sequences of the film, but all of that is too complicated to explain here.
Finally, Singham walks up to what looks like the entire Goa police force gathered with their families for a reception. He asks each of those cops to look into the eyes of their family members. Burdened with a sufficient sense of guilt, the reformed cops take off on 'mardon wallah kaam' to deal with Shikre, who by now has been elected for the political office. The method they chose to deal with Shikre may be unethical according to the Indian laws, but then it goes fine with the film's near anarchist attitude.
The dialogues are often hilarious, sometimes unintentionally. Singham to Shikre: "Tu corruption sey paiday hua gandi nalee ka keeda hai."

Shikre to Singham: "Yahan mera music system bajta hai!"

A jaded junior cop to Singham: "Main bhi yahan angry young man ban key aya tha. Lekin in logon ne mujhey Gandhi Ji ka bandar bana diya - na dekho, na bolo, na suno!"

The performances have Bollywood written all over them. Devgn is mostly a caricature of an action hero. His best moments are when he is really angry, gritting his teeth and cracking his knuckles as he gets ready to beat up the bad guys.
The real star of the film is the sound team. Singham is packed with a lot of bone crunching sounds, and loud action moments. Gone are the days when Bollywood films just featured dhishum-dhishum in the fight scenes. Now there is every possible jarring loud sound one hears, as Singham whips up the bad guys with his belts and smashes their bodies on the ground, against walls,.

The fights are long, painful and yet fun to watch. But I never understood why with all the beating they take from one man, none of the bad guys are even slightly injured. There is no bone broken, no cut, not even a bruise. There is violence and yet no after affect of violence. And I am sure that is fine for the Indian censors.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 smashes boxoffice records

The final Harry Potter film was set to smash box office records on both sides of the Atlantic this weekend after reports that US ticket sales on Friday were the biggest in the history of Hollywood.

In the final, climactic confrontation between the forces of good and evil in the world of wizardry, there was already one clear victor – the studio, Warner Bros.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 opened just after midnight on Friday in both Britain and America. It made more than £9 million in its first day in British cinemas, easily eclipsing the previous record of £5.9 million made by the first instalment of Deathly Hallows.

It will almost certainly overtake the British record for an opening weekend – also held by the first Deathly Hallows film, which earned £18.3 million in its first three days last November. The new film is expected to make more than £20 million over its opening weekend.

Deathly Hallows Part 2 is also on course to surpass the British box office record set by the film adaptation of the musical Mamma Mia!, starring Meryl Streep, which made £69 million throughout its run. In the US, the film took $43.5 million (£27 million) for midnight showings and an estimated further $40 million during the day on Friday. That put the total one-day earnings at more than $80 million, comfortably above the previous US one-day record, set by Twilight Saga: New Moon with $72 million.

Earnings were bolstered by higher ticket prices for the movie's 3D version. "Records will fly out of the window this weekend," a studio executive said. "All 3D theatres sold out to excellent reactions." In the US, there were predictions that the film – the eighth and last in the Harry Potter series – would earn $180 million by tonight, far exceeding the previous record for an opening three-day weekend, held by Dark Knight, the 2008 Batman movie, which grossed $158 million.

Even before this phenomenal opening, the first seven films based on the books by JK Rowling were the largest-grossing franchise in history, with worldwide box office takings of $6.4 billion. The film's premiere in London on July 7 drew crowds from around the world, with fans queuing for more than 24 hours in the rain to catch a glimpse of the film's stars, Daniel Radcliffe, a tearful Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint (all pictured above) at their final promotion of the franchise.

Josh Berger, the president and managing director of Warner Brothers UK, said: "This is completely unchartered territory. The books and films are so beloved and have such broad appeal. Because this is the final chapter, it seems to be attracting even more fans than ever before."

Movie Review: Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (U/A)
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Katrina Kaif, Kalki Koechlin, Abhay Deol
Director: Zoya Akhtar
Rating: ***

"Seize the day, my friend," blurts the stunning deep-sea diving instructor Laila (Kaif), on a long walk with an uptight financial broker Arjun (Roshan). Arjun hasn't lived much, nor have his friends -- the apparently spineless Kabir (Deol) and jovial, closet poet Imran (Farhan). The adage pretty much sums up ZNMD.

It's a long, boring advertisement for Spain Tourism, warned a colleague whose "sources" had these precious words about ZNMD. I can safely say, it's a little more than that.

How do they land in Spain? Well, the boys had made a certain pact that each would suggest an adventure sport and the other two would have to follow. Screenplay writers Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar (also director) bring to the table a very beautifully captured Spain, by cinematographer Carlos Catalan. No no, that's not all. Along with Spain, they bring relationships of their protagonists with themselves and each other.

Undercurrents unleashed by emotional turmoil, friendship, and finally the unloading of mental baggage, so as to emerge victorious in the truest sense.

For all this, the storywriters use heavy doses of symbolism. Deep-sea diving at Costa Brava, sky-diving in Sevilla and the San Fermin bull run in Pamplona, not to forget the Tomatina festival in Bunyol, where Arjun finally lets go. Fears are drowned, let open in the sky and finally at the mercy of raging bulls.

Performances are honest and telling across the board, yet Farhan stands out (Warning: Some bias may be at play here). Roshan, Deol and Farhan stick to their briefs by Zoya, often contained, and true to their characters, and never over-the-top. They let the characters' intrinsic qualities do the talking.

Similarly with Koechlin, whose prim and proper Natasha is, admittedly, not much like her real life persona. They're all easy- going, playing their parts and enjoying while in the act. Kaif's "tumhari zindagi badalnewali hai" made me cringe, but overall her effort to make Laila believable cannot be undermined. You wish you could have a life like hers, jetting off to a part of the world for three months of daredevilry and loads of fun.

Witty dialogue (credited to Farhan himself), playful chitchat and the camaraderie between the friends personify ZNMD.

However, the lack of chemistry among them in the first hour cannot be ignored. ZNMD has so many silent moments, it's likely to put you to sleep. The editing tools could have been sharper to give this coming-of-age romantic drama a facelift. Restlessness is the unwelcome guest on this road, much like Kabir's fiancée Natasha.

Sounds uncannily similar to Farhan's directorial debut Dil Chahta Hai, right? Now if you take DCH as the benchmark, it's up to you how slow/polished/boring/ unnecessary/pretty you find ZNMD.

Your heart is likely to be set upon the beats of ZNMD, from the free-spirited Ik Junnon to the mellow Khwabon Ke Parindey, not to forget the unforgettable Senorita. And Farhan's poetry infused in the narrative needs special mention. True Akhtar blood must say!

The writers exploit luxury and frankly, ZNMD set anywhere else could be as true to character. They didn't really have to go to Spain.

For those (which, I assume, is a lot of us), who may not be able to afford a holiday in Spain for any time soon, go catch ZNMD for good performances, music, Spain and of course, Farhan Akhtar in his element.

Movie Review: Don 2 looks seriously slick

It's a bit perplexing to see just how young, fit and fresh Shah Rukh Khan looks in the promos of his films.

We saw the glaring gulf between the way he looked in the Ra One promo earlier this year and the way he looked on TV with Karan Johar or supporting his IPL team, and now we see him again, looking lethal in the first trailer for Don 2. Maybe those who do makeup and CGI for Rajnikanth are working their magic in SRK's films, or maybe King Khan only saves up his shininess for when it counts
the most.

Either way, the Don 2 trailer looks pretty darned sharp.
We see a speedboat slice through verdant green waters as Khan, in over- baritoned voiceover, tells us
that his enemies thought he was dead and now he's back and ready for more.

We catch peeks of Khan in tattooed longhaired Bangkok junkie/underpaid chinesevan waiter mode, both of which make sense as a disguise while the wounded tiger licks his wounds. A word about the voice, though: in a sequel to a film where he stepped into Amitabh Bachchan's shoes -- which seemed a couple sizes too big for him at the time -- this voiceover seems to be yet another tribute from Khan, trying to sound a bit like that man who keeps proving he'll never be too old.

And then, just as he uses up all the gravel in his throat mouthing the 'remember who I am, I'm the Don' lines from that classic song used smartly here as dialogue, he smiles and says 'boom', a car explodes on cue, and then it's Shah Rukh all the way.

The rest is standard blockbuster fare, explosions and slow motion turns to the camera, maximised for dramatic effect. But there's absolutely no mistaking the fact that this film looks very, very slick indeed. Clearly Farhan Akhtar's out to prove a point, and so far, he looks like he knows what he's doing. Wish they didn't throw in the weird Khan smirk at the very end, though.

What do you think of the Don 2 trailer? Do you think SRK will give us the year's biggest blockbuster with Don 2 or Ra.One? Do you think director Farhan Akhtar, who has given us unforgettable films like Dil Chahata Hai and Lakshya, and Don will be fourth time lucky?

Don 2 Trailer

Salman should do Magadheera remake: Kajal

<< Kajal Aggarwal

Kajal Aggarwal believes all her Telugu films have fabulous remake value and Salman Khan is the best choice for Magadheera's Hindi remake.

Kajal Aggarwal is an addition to the growing list of actresses, who are born and brought up in Mumbai, but have made a successful career in South Indian cinema. She will be seen opposite Ajay Devgn in the upcoming action flick Singham . In an exclusive conversation with Gaurav Malani , she speaks about both, Bollywood and South cinema and how she wants all of her Telugu films to be remade in Hindi.

Wasn't (Ash-Vivek starrer) Kyun Ho Gaya Na your debut film!
I did Kyun Ho Gaya Na when I was in the ninth grade! I was still a kid then. So I would consider Singham as my Hindi debut. At that time acting was never on my mind and education was a priority. I wanted to pursue MBA but I strongly believe in destiny, which I guess, had different plans for me.

 

Poster of Magadheera

After Telugu films, was Bollywood the next obvious step?
I never strategized my career as such. I never planned that I wanted to start in Hindi films after working in a certain number of Telugu films. I am lucky that things have been naturally falling into place so far.

Were Singham makers particularly looking for a South actress for this Tamil remake?
Not really! Rohit Shetty wanted a fresh face for the film but also with an acting background to her. They did not have time to teach anybody. When they saw my film Magadheera , which is a huge hit in South, they felt that I was perfect for the part in Singham .

Considering it's a male-dominated action flick, how much scope do you have?
There is also a sweet romantic story attached to Singham . Though I have a short role in Singham , it is an important part. I do not believe that the screen-space allotted to a character would define their acting ability. And I personally believe that even if the role is short, the impact that the character makes in that time is more important.

Ajay Devgn is known to be a prank-master. Did you fall prey of his jokes?
Ajay is a wonderful actor and pulled a prank on me on the first day itself. I was asked to scream for a scene and later I realized the camera wasn't rolling at all. But I think it was a nice way to break the ice.

What is that one thing you learnt from Ajay Devgn?
The ability to get into the character once the scene rolls and cut-off from it when the director says cut. The ease with which he does that is remarkable.

Which is a better film – the Hindi or the Tamil Singham ?
It is unfair to say that any version is better than the other. But I do think there have been changes made in the Hindi version which would suit the Hindi audience sensibilities. While the female lead (Anushka Shetty) in the original was a Tamil character, we have changed her into a Goan Maharashtrian in Hindi.

How comfortable were you with the Hindi language?
I am born and brought up in Mumbai, so Hindi and Marathi come very easily to me.
In that case how comfortable were you with Telugu language when you started in South?
Initially I had to work very hard over the language but now, after 4 years of experience, I am quite fluent with it. I am still learning Tamil though.

Would you want any of your South films to be remade in Bollywood?
All my films have fabulous remake value but I don't have a say in this. It's more of a director's call. But if you ask me, I would want all my South films to be remade in Hindi.

If Magadheera was to be remade in Hindi, which Bollywood hero can pull off the character?
The male lead in Magadheera has a lot of heroism in terms of his attitude and body language. Many Bollywood actors have the potential to play the lead in Magadheera . Choosing one is difficult but I guess Salman would suit the role best.

Post Singham what would be your focus – Hindi or Telugu cinema?
I would want to strike a balance. While my loyalties remain in South cinema, since I started out there, I would want to work in Hindi films as well.

Movie Review: Chillar Party is enjoyable

A motley group of kids. An endearing
canine companion. A waif busy washing
cars to earn a living. Middle-class families
who are insensitive to both human beings
and animals. Politicians acting in an inane
and obtuse manner. And kids who feel
they can take on the world. All the
ingredients necessary to create a
melodramatic potboiler have been sourced
and secured into the script. Is this one
more 'childrens' film with morals woven
into the script hoping to see the audience
in tears?
Thankfully no. Chillar Party may not be free
of the obligatory good versus evil theme
which persistently makes its way into this
genre (at least in Bollywood) yet it aims at
generating laughter, without punching
you in the gut.
Starting with the ubiquitous nicknames
sometimes provided by parents or colony
mates, Mumbai's [ Images ] Chandan Nagar
Society has its band of bratty boys named
as encyclopedia, secondhand, panvati etc.
The reason for these names could be as
varied as a personality trait to the family's
financial status. A white Pomeranian
owned by a cranky senior citizen turns
them into dog-haters for the rest of their
life. In this scenario enters Phatka, a skinny
lad with determination and attitude. Both
traits imperative for children who work on
the streets of Mumbai and survive by their
wits alone. His only companion and friend
in the entire world is Bhidu a lovable black
and white pariah.
Phatka survives largely on a diet of tea and
glucose biscuits and keeps to himself. He
sports a ragged yellow t-shirt, doesn't
crave for anything but he's devoted to his
pooch. The kids direct their anger on both
Phatka and Bhidu, but Phatka remains
resilient not wanting to give up this job --
his only means of survival.
Then the bratty middle-class kids realize
the extent of their nastiness and try hard
to make amends. But Phatka isn't a
pushover. Will he relent? Or is this
senseless feud likely to continue?
Our protagonist Phatka played by Irrfan
Khan [ Images ] doesn't have much to say
for himself. When he speaks it's 'tapori
language' picked up from watching the
latest movies. Even as one laughs at his
philosophies about life it's the expressive
brown eyes which speak volumes about
his anguish and loneliness. One sequence
when he fears his beloved pooch has
disappeared he breaks down but with
quiet restraint.
The rest of the brats are on the verge of
adolescence; where they're old enough to
question their parents, too young to rebel
openly. Pre-pubescent, their lives revolve
around cricket and not the opposite sex.
They're real (unlike the kids we've seen in
YRF and Dharma productions), they
grimace, they grumble, but they remain
kids.
The co-directors Nitesh Tiwari and Vikas
Bahl successfully recreate a poignant and
touching tale about the bonds children
forge among themselves, their casual
indifference towards school, parents and
academics and their ability to stay focused
when somebody they deeply care for has
become the casual victim of an adult's
manipulations.
The film has a few really fun moments,
especially when a chance remark such as
'Toh chadddi mein ghoomu kya' invokes a
'chaddi march' with a few hundred kids.
Or the shameless way they manipulate
their parents sans any qualms.
Many 'values' and 'morals' have been
woven into the script. Such as how people
employ child labour without batting an
eyelash. Or how there is no respite for a
daily wage earner even when he's
shivering with fever. Although it could
have been handled in a subtler fashion, but
it forms an integral part of the film.
If the screenplay suffers it is due to the so-
called climax (is any kiddie film complete
without it) which seems foisted. The
children morph into young adults abruptly.
As they mouth dialogues which don't seem
to come from their heart, they lose their
charm which is what attracted us to them
in the first place. The politician and his
goon don't just appear absurd to a child,
they are bizarre villainous caricatures who
ideally should have induced fear but they
turn into mere irritants.
Chillar Party is an enjoyable film with plenty
of laughs. Do watch this, unless of course
you hate kids.

Fans gather for Harry Potter premiere in London

Harry Potter's saga is ending, but his magic
spell remains.
Thousands of fans from around the world
massed in London Thursday for the
premiere of the final film in the magical
adventure series.
They thronged Trafalgar Square, where a
soggy red carpet awaited the stars, and
nearby Leicester Square, where the movie
will be shown in a plush movie theater,
braving the inevitable London rain with
umbrellas, waterproofs and good cheer.
They came from around the world. Many
had camped out overnight, some for days.
Most were young adults who grew up with
the boy wizard and his adventures, and
could not pass up the chance to say
goodbye.
"It's our childhood _ we made friends
because of Harry Potter," said Luis
Guilherme, a 22-year-old graduate student
from Sao Paolo, Brazil. "I don't know how
my life would be without it. I would be less
imaginative, for sure, and less adventurous. I
would never be here in London.
"We'd never forgive ourselves if we didn't
come, one last time."
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part
2" depicts Harry's final confrontation with
the forces of evil Lord Voldemort _ an epic
showdown rendered, for the first time in
the series, in 3D.
The eighth and last film in the made-in-
Britain franchise was getting a lavish
premiere, with huge screens and banners in
Trafalgar Square and a nearby street
transformed into the magical shopping
thoroughfare Diagon Alley.
No one, however, could magic away the
London rain.
"Every single time it's like this," said Zoey
Lewis, 18. "Some people say the Death Eaters
(Voldemort's followers) make it rain."
Lewis, a student from Brentwood, east of
London, sheltered under an umbrella behind
a handmade "We Love Helena" banner _ her
tribute to Helena Bonham Carter, who plays
bad witch Bellatrix Lestrange in the movies.
"I love Harry Potter," she said. "It's been such
a big part of my life. I don't know what I'll
do without it."
The feeling is shared by he film's stars, who
like many of their fans grew up with the
series.
The central trio _ Daniel Radcliffe, Emma
Watson and Rupert Grint, cast as children
and now in their early 20s _ are due to walk
the red carpet before the movie's premiere,
along with a score of their co-stars.
Grint, who plays Harry's best friend Ron
Weasley, said Wednesday he felt "a little bit
lost" without the movies in his life. Watson
said she'd miss playing plucky Hermione
Granger, who was "like a sister."
Hours before the premiere, groups of girls
screamed with excitement as they painted
each others' faces in the red-and-yellow
colors of Gryffindor, one of the four houses
of the wizarding Hogwarts school in the
Harry Potter books. Harry's house, of course.
A group of Mexican fans held aloft their
national flag and a banner praising J.K.
Rowling _ the author who brought the
bespectacled Harry and his world of wizards
to life in seven books.
The premiere marks the end of an era that
began when an unknown writer named J.K.
Rowling published "Harry Potter and the
Philosopher's Stone" in 1997. The book
blossomed from well-reviewed children's
tale to global phenomenon, launching a
seven-book series that has sold 450 million
copies around the world.
It's also the end of a movie institution that
has employed dozens of British actors and
hundreds of crew members and technicians
since the first film came out in 2001.
"It's created such an infrastructure and such
an industry, and it will be sorely missed,"
"Deathly Hallows" director David Yates said
Wednesday. "It's been a mini-industry
employing hundreds and thousands of
people."
He said he didn't expect to see its like again.
"I think lightning doesn't strike twice," Yates
said.

Preview: 'Bbuddah Hoga Terra Baap'

In 'Bbuddah Hoga Terra Baap', Amitabh Bachchan essays the role of a retired Hitman settled in Paris who comes back to India to do "one last job". During the course he comes face to face with his past and that gets him to change his motive for the 'hit'.

Directed by Poori Jagannath, the movie stars Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Minissha Lamba, Sonal Chauhan, Sonu Sood, Prakash Raj, Charmi, Mahie Gill and Raveena Tandon.

See the slide show here

'Bbuddah Hoga Terra Baap' will be released on July 1.

IIFA Awards 2011 Performances in Pictures

A soulful tribute to Michael Jackson performed by his brother Jermaine Jackson and Sonu Nigam.

Jermaine and Sonu perform amidst a Michael Jackson soaked ambiance.

Two years after the King Of Pop's unfortunate death, the memory still lives on.

Dia Mirza dazzles all with a shimmering wave of jhatkas.

A very captivated Dia, flowing through the enchanting performance.

From fiery pinks to vivid yellow, Dia works the colors along with the moves.

A very animated Mallika Sherawat, strutting her best stuff. Jalebi Bai act?

Amidst a dreamy backdrop, Mallika enraptures all.

The looks that win us everytime

Indian singer Sonu Nigam performs during IIFA Rocks, part of 2011 International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards, in Toronto, Ontario, on June 24, 2011.

An all-black Sonu Nigam does what he is best at

Indian singer Shankar Mahadevan (C) performs during IIFA Rocks, part of 2011 International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards, in Toronto, Ontario, on June 24, 2011.

Indian singer Shankar Mahadevan performs during IIFA Rocks, part of 2011 International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards, in Toronto, Ontario, on June 24, 2011.

Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy rocked to the rhythm of Jhoom Barabar Jhoom.

Performers dance on the stage during IIFA Rocks, part of 2011 International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards, in Toronto, Ontario, on June 24, 2011.

IIFA AwardS 2011 Winners

Salman Khan's blockbuster Dabangg has bagged a slew of awards at the ongoing IIFA Awards in Toronto. Along with Best Film, Dabangg won Sonu Sood's best performance in a negative role, to Sonakshi Sinha's best debut, the film has also won Abhinav Kashyap and Dilip Shukla the best screenplay award.

But the film didn't win Salman his best actor award. Instead, Shah Rukh Khan was presented the award for best actor for his role in Karan Johar's My Name Is Khan. The film also brought home the best director award for Karan Johar.

A pleasant surprise was Anushka Sharma winning in the best actress category for Band Baaja Baaraat.
Mamta Sharma won the Floriana IIFA Award for best playback female singer for her song Munni badnam hui... from Dabangg.

"I love you so much...Lalitji I love you so much...Shah Rukh I love you much... Toronto I love you so much,'' said Mamta Sharma, as Arshad Warsi announced the award at the show co-hosted by Boman Irani, Ritesh Deshmukh and Shah Rukh Khan.

The award for the best playback song went to Rahat Fateh Ali Khan for Tere mast mast do nain... from Dabanng.

For music direction, the award went to Sajid-Wajid and Lalit Pandit for Dabangg.

For lyrics, the IIFA award went to Niranjan Iyengar for Sajda.. and Noor-e-Khuda.. in My Name is Khan. The award was accepted by Karan Johar on his behalf.

My Name Is Khan also bagged the Best Story Award for Shivani Bhatija.

The complete list is as below:

• Best Film: Dabangg
  
• Best Actor (Female): Anushka Sharma, Band Baaja Baaraat
  
• Best Actor (Male): shah Rukh Khan, My Name Is Khan
  
• Best Director: Karan Johar, My Name Is Khan
  
• Best Actor In A Comic Role: Riteish Deshmukh, Housefull
  
• Best Performance In A Supporting Role (Male): Arjun Rampal, Raajneeti
  
• Best Performance In A Supporting Role (Female): Prachi Desai, Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai
  
• Best Performance In A Negative Role: Sonu Sood, Dabangg
  
• Achievement In International Cinema: Irrfan Khan
  
• Best Debut (Female): Sonakshi Sinha, Dabangg
  
• Best Debut (Male): Ranveer Singh, Band Baaja Baaraat
  
• Hottest Pair 2011: Anushka Sharma and Ranveer Singh
  
• Outstanding Achievemnet in Indian Cinema: Sharmila Tagore
  
• Best Screenplay Award: Abhinav Kashyap, Dilip Shukla, Dabangg
  
• Best Playback Singer (Female): Mamta Sharma, Munni Badnaam Hui (Dabangg)
  
• Best Playback Song: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Tere Mast Mast Do Nain (Dabangg)
  
• Best Music Direction: Sajid-Wajid, Lalit Pandit, Dabangg
  
• Best Lyrics: Niranjan Iyengar, Sajda and Noor-e-Khuda (My Name is Khan)
  
• Best Story Award: Shivani Bhatija, My Name is Khan
  
• Best Costume Designing: Niharika Khan, Band Baaja Baaraat
  
• Best Action: S Vijayan, Dabangg
  
• Best Makeup: Banu (For Rajinikanth), Robot
  
• Best Background Score: Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy, My Name Is Khan
  
• Best Song Recording: Vijay Dayal, Ainvayi Ainvayi (Band Baaja Baaraat)
  
• Best Choreography Award: Farah Khan, Munni Badnaam (Dabangg)
  
• Best Editing: Namrata Rao, Band Baaja Baaraat
  
• Best Sound Recording: Pritam Das, Love, Sex Aur Dhokha
  
• Best Sound Re-recording: Leslie Fernandes, Dabangg
  
• Best Cinematography: Sudeep Chatterjee, Guzaarish
  
• Best Art Direction: Sabu Cyril, Robot
  
• Best Special Effects: Indian Artists, Robot

IIFA Awards 2011 Winners in Pictures

Best Performance In A Supporting Role (Male): Arjun Rampal, Raajneeti

Best Performance In A Supporting Role (Female): Prachi Desai, Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai

Best Performance In A Negative Role: Sonu Sood, Dabangg

Best Debut (Male): Ranveer Singh, Band Baaja Baaraat

Best Debut (Female): Sonakshi Sinha, Dabangg

Hottest Pair 2011: Anushka Sharma and Ranveer Singh

Achievement In International Cinema: Irrfan Khan

Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema: Sharmila Tagore