The Indian maestro A.R. Rahman has just completed a new English movie, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, directed by Shekar Kapur - an Indian as well. It is a sequel of Shekar’s very popular - Oscar winner and multiple Oscar nominee - Elizabeth. Big names like Kate Blanchett, Oscar nominee Clive Owen and Geoffrey Rush are involved in this project.
The first movie was made at a budget of $25 million and garnered more than $60 million all over the world, and also bagged an Oscar for the best make up. Apart from this, it was also nominated for the Best Actress in a Leading Role award, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration award, Best Cinematography award, Best Costume Design, including Best Picture award and not to forget the Best Music - Original Dramatic Score by David Hirschfelder. David will also work in this colossal project along with A.R. Rahman. The sequel of Elizabeth is getting much bigger with much higher budget.
Also, chances are high for A.R. Rahman to be nominated for an Oscar. Shekar Kapur, one of the finest directors that India has ever produced is very optimistic about this movie. It will be released in the US this October and Indian audience can catch this movie in the theatres only by next year. Hope we get good news by January and better news by March.
A.R.Rahman for Oscars
Some Happy and some not happy at IPL auction
New Zealand's players contracted to the Indian Premier League were working out how to spend their money after receiving huge figures during Wednesday's auction. Another house and a racehorse are on the cards for Brendon McCullum while Stephen Fleming and Jacob Oram are happy their futures are more secure.
"Because it was the first time there was uncertainty about the figures so I had no idea what I'd sell for," McCullum told the Dominion Post. "When I was signed for US$700,000 I was obviously blown away and having slept on it, it's a great feeling and it's nice to get the recognition."
McCullum was the biggest winner from New Zealand while Oram picked up $675,000, Daniel Vettori $625,000, Fleming $350,000 and Scott Styris $175,000. The paper reported Fleming texted "Sorry, can't at the moment, at the bank" when asked for an interview. He later said he was "just pleased to get picked up". "I saw the amounts of money being thrown around and I thought: `Wow, I hope they keep trading.' It was incredible to be involved in."
Oram was speechless when his amount came through. "I was expecting nothing like what I went for," he said. "Dan was first up and I was happy for him. I was hoping I'd be somewhere close to him, I always thought he would be top dog."
The participation of Oram, Vettori and McCullum will be limited in the first year because their tour of England begins on April 27, leaving them only a handful of chances to participate in the inaugural event.
"The players realise where their priority lies," Justin Vaughan, the New Zealand Cricket chief executive, said. "It might hurt them in the pocket in the first year but the following two years are clear for them." There are no problems for Fleming, who has retired, while Styris has stood down from Tests and will be available for all of Hyderabad's matches.
IPL Auction List
Top 10 players sold
1. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India - Chennai, $1.5m
2. Andrew Symonds, Australia - Hyderabad, $1.35m
3. Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka - Mumbai, $975, 000
4. Ishant Sharma, India - Kolkata, $950,000
5. Irfan Pathan, India - Mohali, $925,000
6. Brett Lee, Australia - Mohali, $900,000
6. Jacques Kallis, South Africa - Bangalore $900,000
8. RP Singh, India - Hyderabad, $875,000
9. Harbhajan Singh, India - Mumbai, $850,000
10. Chris Gayle, West Indies - Kolkata, $800,000
10. Robin Uthappa, India - Mumbai, $800,000
Players by franchise
Bangalore
Rahul Dravid, India, icon
Jacques Kallis, South Africa, $900,000
Anil Kumble, India, $500,000
Cameron White, Australia, $500,000
Zaheer Khan, India, $ 450,000
Mark Boucher, South Africa, $450,000
Dale Steyn, South Africa, $325,000
Nathan Bracken, Australia, $325,000
Wasim Jaffer, India, $150,000
Kolkata
Sourav Ganguly, India, icon
Ishant Sharma, India, $950,000
Chris Gayle, West Indies, $800,000
Brendon McCullum, New Zealand, $700,000
David Hussey, Australia, $625,000
Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan, $425,000
Murali Kartik, India $425,000
Ricky Ponting, Australia, $400,000
Ajit Agarkar, India, $350,000
Umar Gul, Pakistan, $150,000
Chennai
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India, $1.5m
Jacob Oram, New Zealand, $675,000
Albie Morkel, South Africa, $675,000
Suresh Raina, India, $650,000
Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lanka, $600,000
Matthew Hayden, Australia, $375,000
Stephen Fleming, New Zealand, $350,000
Parthiv Patel, India, $325,000
Joginder Sharma, India, $225,000
Makhaya Ntini, South Africa, $200,000
Mike Hussey, Australia, $400,000
Delhi
Virender Sehwag, India, icon
Gautam Gambhir, India, $725,000
Manoj Tiwari, India, $675,000
Mohammad Asif, Pakistan, $650,000
Daniel Vettori, New Zealand, $625,000
Dinesh Karthik, India, $525,000
Shoaib Malik, Pakistan, $500,000
AB de Villiers, South Africa, $300,000
Tillekeratne Dilshan, Sri Lanka, $250,000
Farveez Maharoof, Sri Lanka, $225,000
Glenn McGrath, Australia, $400,000
Hyderabad
Andrew Symonds, Australia, $1.35m
RP Singh, India, $875,000
Rohit Sharma, India, $750,000
Adam Gilchrist, Australia, $700,000
Shahid Afridi, Pakistan, $675,000
Herschelle Gibbs, South Africa, $575,000
VVS Laxman, India, $375,000
Chaminda Vaas, Sri Lanka, $200,000
Scott Styris, New Zealand, $175,000
Nuwan Zoysa, Sri Lanka, $110,000
Chamara Silva, Sri Lanka, $100,000
Jaipur
Mohammad Kaif, India, $675,000
Graeme Smith, South Africa, $475,000
Yusuf Pathan, India, $475,000
Shane Warne, Australia, $450,000
Munaf Patel, India, $275,000
Younis Khan, Pakistan, $225,000
Kamran Akmal, Pakistan, $150,000
Mohali
Yuvraj Singh, India, icon
Irfan Pathan, India, $925,000
Brett Lee, Australia, $900,000
Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lanka, $700,000
Shantakumaran Sreesanth, India, $625,000
Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka, $475,000
Piyush Chawla, India, $400,000
Ramesh Powar, India, $170,000
Mumbai
Sachin Tendulkar, India, icon
Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka, $975,000
Harbhajan Singh, India, $850,000
Robin Uthappa, India, $800,000
Shaun Pollock, South Africa, $550,000
Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka $350,000
Dilhara Fernando, Sri Lanka, $150,000
IPL Auction List
Top 10 players sold
1. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India - Chennai, $1.5m
2. Andrew Symonds, Australia - Hyderabad, $1.35m
3. Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka - Mumbai, $975, 000
4. Ishant Sharma, India - Kolkata, $950,000
5. Irfan Pathan, India - Mohali, $925,000
6. Brett Lee, Australia - Mohali, $900,000
6. Jacques Kallis, South Africa - Bangalore $900,000
8. RP Singh, India - Hyderabad, $875,000
9. Harbhajan Singh, India - Mumbai, $850,000
10. Chris Gayle, West Indies - Kolkata, $800,000
10. Robin Uthappa, India - Mumbai, $800,000
Players by franchise
Bangalore
Rahul Dravid, India, icon
Jacques Kallis, South Africa, $900,000
Anil Kumble, India, $500,000
Cameron White, Australia, $500,000
Zaheer Khan, India, $ 450,000
Mark Boucher, South Africa, $450,000
Dale Steyn, South Africa, $325,000
Nathan Bracken, Australia, $325,000
Wasim Jaffer, India, $150,000
Kolkata
Sourav Ganguly, India, icon
Ishant Sharma, India, $950,000
Chris Gayle, West Indies, $800,000
Brendon McCullum, New Zealand, $700,000
David Hussey, Australia, $625,000
Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan, $425,000
Murali Kartik, India $425,000
Ricky Ponting, Australia, $400,000
Ajit Agarkar, India, $350,000
Umar Gul, Pakistan, $150,000
Chennai
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India, $1.5m
Jacob Oram, New Zealand, $675,000
Albie Morkel, South Africa, $675,000
Suresh Raina, India, $650,000
Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lanka, $600,000
Matthew Hayden, Australia, $375,000
Stephen Fleming, New Zealand, $350,000
Parthiv Patel, India, $325,000
Joginder Sharma, India, $225,000
Makhaya Ntini, South Africa, $200,000
Mike Hussey, Australia, $400,000
Delhi
Virender Sehwag, India, icon
Gautam Gambhir, India, $725,000
Manoj Tiwari, India, $675,000
Mohammad Asif, Pakistan, $650,000
Daniel Vettori, New Zealand, $625,000
Dinesh Karthik, India, $525,000
Shoaib Malik, Pakistan, $500,000
AB de Villiers, South Africa, $300,000
Tillekeratne Dilshan, Sri Lanka, $250,000
Farveez Maharoof, Sri Lanka, $225,000
Glenn McGrath, Australia, $400,000
Hyderabad
Andrew Symonds, Australia, $1.35m
RP Singh, India, $875,000
Rohit Sharma, India, $750,000
Adam Gilchrist, Australia, $700,000
Shahid Afridi, Pakistan, $675,000
Herschelle Gibbs, South Africa, $575,000
VVS Laxman, India, $375,000
Chaminda Vaas, Sri Lanka, $200,000
Scott Styris, New Zealand, $175,000
Nuwan Zoysa, Sri Lanka, $110,000
Chamara Silva, Sri Lanka, $100,000
Jaipur
Mohammad Kaif, India, $675,000
Graeme Smith, South Africa, $475,000
Yusuf Pathan, India, $475,000
Shane Warne, Australia, $450,000
Munaf Patel, India, $275,000
Younis Khan, Pakistan, $225,000
Kamran Akmal, Pakistan, $150,000
Mohali
Yuvraj Singh, India, icon
Irfan Pathan, India, $925,000
Brett Lee, Australia, $900,000
Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lanka, $700,000
Shantakumaran Sreesanth, India, $625,000
Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka, $475,000
Piyush Chawla, India, $400,000
Ramesh Powar, India, $170,000
Mumbai
Sachin Tendulkar, India, icon
Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka, $975,000
Harbhajan Singh, India, $850,000
Robin Uthappa, India, $800,000
Shaun Pollock, South Africa, $550,000
Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka $350,000
Dilhara Fernando, Sri Lanka, $150,000
Jodha Akbar - Review
When one hears the title and gets to see the trailers one may back off wondering if this movie is worth it or not.
After a week’s hard work and stress and tension no one is in a mood to sit and watch a three-hour, history class.
So why should one watch this movie???? So what If It has a strong and famous cast of actors?
A.R. Rehman has composed the music but if one actually listens to it, one finds it to be very dragging and slow.
Time factor is another issue, the movie is said to be three solid hours.Infact 3+ hours of time.
Language is another big concern, because the language used in the movie is urdu.
So Is it worth it ????
Well, yes it is, Critics have claimed that this movie is unique comparatively to all the classic movies that has been made so far. Am sure all of u have an idea of the story line by now. Ash a rajput princess is forced into marrying a Muslim King Akbar- Hrithik. She resents it and the whole movie is about how Hrithik i.e. Akbar wins the lady’s heart.
When it comes to language, director Ashutosh Gowarikar has been very smart. Of course Urdu is spoken but at the same time there is an equal dose of Hindi used. Akbar speaks in Urdu, Jodhaa in Hindi - and it’s easy to decipher.
The casting is perfect. Critics state “It’s difficult to imagine anyone else in the role of Emperor Akbar. Hrithik seems born to play this role and he enacts it with such precision, such flourish, such confidence that it leaves you asking for more. A mind-boggling performance without doubt!
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is superb. Oh yes, she looks ethereal — a compliment she has heard a trillion times before. What’s new in that? But watch her emote in this film. You realise the amazing talent that has hitherto not been tapped by any movie maker. A flawless performance indeed!”
This is what they have to say abut the music “A.R. Rahman’s music is not the type that you take to instantly, but yes, it gels beautifully with the mood of the film. Azeem-o-Shaan Shahenshah and Jashn-e-Bahara are the best tracks in terms of tune. In terms of choreography, Azeem-o-Shaan Shahenshah is awe-inspiring, while the execution of Khwaja Mere Khwaja is outstanding. Rahman’s background score is simply extra-ordinary.”
The three+ hours spent in the theatre they say leaves one “Spell Bound” but at the same time one tends to feel the pinch at some occasions [only].
Some scenes worth watching according to the critic are
· The war sequence at the very outset. You realise the scale and magnitude of the film at the very beginning.
· Hrithik taming an out-of-control elephant. It’s hair-raising.
· The two pre-conditions set by Jodhaa, before her marriage to Akbar. Very interesting.
· The confrontation between Ila Arun and Ash at the kitchen, when Ash decides to make the meal herself.
· The immediate sequence, when Ash is asked to taste the food herself by Ila before she’s about to serve the food to the Emperor and his associates. Once done, Hrithik demanding that he be served the meal from the same platter that Jodhaa had used.
· The intermission point, which sows the seeds of a misunderstanding between Hrithik and Ash.
· Post-interval, Hrithik returning to Amer to get Ash back to Agra and the welcome ceremony by his mother-in-law [Suhasini Mulay].
· The sword fight the very next morning, between Hrithik and Ash.
· The Azeem-o-Shaan Shahenshah track, when the entire kingdom hails Hrithik.
· The fight in the climax [reminds you of the fight between Brad Pitt and Eric Bana in Troy].
Amazing moments indeed…
On the whole, Jodhaa Akbar is, without a shred of doubt, a brilliant film in all respects. This historical has all it takes to prove the first blockbuster of 2008. Very strongly recommended
Well, this is what the critics and jury feel
