LUCK BY CHANCE

Luck by Chance Preview
January 6th, 2009

Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Rishi Kapoor, Konkona Sen Sharma, Isha Sharwani, Dimple Kapadia, Juhi Chawla, Sanjay Kapoor, Aly Khans.

Producers: Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar


Director: Zoya Akhtar

Lyrics: aved Akhtar

Music: Shankar, Eshaan & Loy

Director of Photography: Carlos Catalan



The fantasy sellers and the devoted audience, the insane love for Cinema mixed with the eccentric notion of divinity and archaic beliefs; these are the contradictions that keep this world spinning.

The stark reality of living in India juxtaposed with the fantastical world depicted on screen suddenly begins to make sense…

Sona arrives in Bombay with her dreams of becoming a film star. Wide eyed but ambitious, she does whatever it takes, to make it.

She lives on her own in a rented apartment - a luxury for most in this bustling city and spends her time with a motley crew of loyal friends whose lives are also entwined with Bollywood, each one in search of a bigger dream.

Vikram has just moved to the City leaving the comforts of his parents Delhi Home. He is a mover, he is used to getting what he wants and is smart enough to know when to demand it and when to manipulate it. He is young and handsome, and full of promise. Sona begins to enjoy Vikram’s attention and affections; they develop a romantic relationship.

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE 2009

Cast: Dev Patel, Ayus Mahesh Khedekar, Madhu Mittal, Frieda Pinto, Rubina Ali and Anil Kapoor
Director: Danny Boyle
Rating: **

Danny Boyle's stiflingly and oppressively visceral film "Slumdog Millionaire" is above all about the realisation that most slum dwellers in Mumbai have no hope whatsoever of escaping their wretched existence. In the end, the movie seems like one giant heap of rotting and fetid urban squalor from which emerges a momentary ray of hope in the form of its protagonists - Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) and Latika (Freida Pinto).

Even though the movie's denouement comes with Jamal wining Rs.20 million on the Indian version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" as well as his childhood love Latika, you get a sinking feeling that the rest in their world have no prospect of unshackling the iron grip of misery on their lives.


It would be stating the obvious to evoke Dickensian parallels while watching the irredeemably cruel world of vicious adults preying on unsuspecting children and turning them into beggars. I was particularly struck by the clever use of the famous devotional song by the great poet Surdas "Darshan Do Ghanshyam Naath" while blinding a child singer's eyes by pouring acid to make his begging much more effective.


Overall "Slumdog Millionaire" works exceptionally well as a frenzied and largely heartless narrative of Mumbai's slum life if one disregards some contrivances. The sudden burst of anti Muslim rioting, which is always a possibility on the streets of some Indian cities, came across as gratuitous and distinctly out of place.

Aishwarya Rai Bacchan Got Padamshri Award

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was conferred with the PadmashriOn 26th January, . Aishwarya recently at the inauguration of the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute, said she was "absolutely honoured" and was grateful for it. She thanked the high officers of India because this award has been accorded to her by them and her fellow people. An ecstatic Big B shares his joy with his his ardent fans. Here is what Big B wrote on his Blog: " Aishwarya came in, full of bubble and laughter and Padma Shri.
And the mobiles from media kept a strong presence for bites on her achievement. How do you feel today sir. How do I feel ? How would anyone feel when daughter wins accolade and distinction ! "This is not the first Padma Shri that was awarded to Bachchan family infact there are 5 Padmashri Awardees in the Bachchan family: The first Padma Bushan was awarded to Late Shri Harivansh Rai Bachchan, then it was awarded twice to Amitabh Bachchan and then Mrs. Jaya Bachchan and finally Aishwarya Rai Bachchan .