Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Jee

Cast: Ajay Devgn, Emran Hashmi, Omi Vaidya, Shruti Hasan, Shazahn Padamese, Shraddha Das

Director Madhur Bhandarkar

Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Jee is a movie, which as the title suggests, is about the essence of a human heart which almost always retains its child like quality. The heart is where life's entire essence is.

Thus to prove this point, director Madhur Bhandarkar has significantly dealt with the subject of love in a very humorous way.

The movie stars Ajay Devgn portraying the character of Naren, a middle aged manager of a multinational Bank. There he falls head over heels in love with a young girl barely out of her teens called June Pinto, played by Shazahn Padamese.

Omi Vaidya as Milind Kelkar is the typical idealistic poet living in his own transient world has a deep crush for a girl called Gungun Sarkar played by Shraddha Das. Gungun who is a very ambitious and career minded gal has a thing for the playboy Abhay played by Emran Hashmi.

Abhay or Emran is strongly attracted to a young and vibrant gal called Nikki, played by Shruti Hassan who is an out and out loud mouth. Nikki does not hesitate to call a spade a spade, a trait which is simply loved by the Casanova Abhay.

This entire gamut of affairs and secret liaisons creates a total chaos and as each event gets entangled with the other the movie becomes one big platform of drama and melodrama.

Madhur Bhandarkar, who is known for making realistic cinema, has put in the flavor of realism in this movie too, with the characters all very believable and something which a common man can relate to. The music has been scored by Pritam. The movie releases on the 28th of January 2011 so watch out for this one!

Yeh Saali Zindagi

Cast: Irrfan Khan, Chitrangda Singh, Arunoday Singh, Aditi Rao, Saurabh Shukla, Vipin Sharma, Yashpal Sharma, Sushant Singh, Prashant Narayanan

Music: Nishat Khan

Lyrics: Swanand Kirkire

Dialogues: Manu Rishi & Sudhir Mishra

Story, Screenplay, Direction: Sudhir Mishra

Yeh Saali Zindagi Its a quirky love story in the guise of a thriller. Its an obtuse take on how far they both the heroes go to get the women they love and how sometimes one screw-up can set everything right!

Arun (Irrfan Khan) has to save Priti (Chitrangda Singh) the woman he loves, but for that he first has to save the man Priti loves- Shyam, the future son in law of a powerful Minister.

Meanwhile, time is running out for Kuldeep (Arunoday Singh), the young gangster who is on his last job as his wife is threatening to walk out on him completely, and he begins to suspect she is leaving him to go into the arms of another man.

The job has gone haywire for it is still unknown to Kuldeep that the Ministers daughters engagement with Shyam is off and now she doesn’t care whether Shyam lives or dies and more importantly neither does the Minister who Kuldeep hoped would pay the ransom!

Priti finds herself inextractably caught in this mess and Arun has to save her life. But for that he has to risk everything, and put his own life at stake, he wonders why he should do it at all, if she still loves another.

He’s torn, but love knows no reason. Meanwhile Shyam is trying to make deals in captivity, and his goodness only seems superficial and as Kuldeep tries desperately to save his situation, there are dons coming from Bangkok, who have their own plans.

The film rides a roller-coaster towards a shattering climax, where all the players have to fend for their lives and loves. Who gets the girl, and who gets the money, and who escapes by the skin of his teeth, is now anybody’s guess. But hold on, there are still jokers in the pack, and aces up some sleeves.

Tees Maar Khan

Music Directors: Vishal Dadlani, Shekhar Ravjiani

Lyricists: Anvita Dutt, Vishal Dadlani and Shirish Kunder

Singers: Sonu Niigaam, Sunidhi Chauhan, Vishal Dadlani, Sukhwinder Singh, Shreya Ghoshal, Suzanne Dmello, Shekhar Ravjiani, Kamal Khan, Raja Hasan, Prajakta Shukre, Harshit Saxena, Debojit Saha, and Abhijeet Sawant

Rating: ***1/2

If you thought that "Munni badnaam hui" from "Dabangg" will take the cake for being the most popular item number this year, then think again! The song "Sheila ki jawani" from the forthcoming film "Tees Maar Khan" is ready to give it a tough competition.

The film has music by composer duo Vishal-Shekhar and offers five originals and four remix tracks. All the songs from the album are fun, energetic and pacy.

The album starts with a bang with the energy-packed title track that is the only song written and composed by Shirish Kunder. The highlight of the song is singer Sonu Niigam has crooned it all by himself in many different voices including that of a woman. The song has all the ingredients of being a chartbuster with a change in tempo. With engaging beats and dialogues, the song gives a good start to the soundtrack.

The title track has a re-mixed version too.

Next comes "Sheila ki jawani" sung brilliantly by Sunidhi Chauhan by ample support from Vishal Dadlani. It is an instantly likeable song. The beats are very interesting that makes the listener get up and shake a leg. It's sure to be a favourite at the DJ consoles.

This one too has a re-mixed version.

The album takes a slight change with a qawwali, which has become a novelty in film albums nowadays. The song called 'Wallah re wallah', has Kamal Khan, Raja Hasan, Shreya Ghoshal and Shekhar Ravjiani behind the mike. The song has good beats, making it pacy and interesting.

There is a remix of this song too.

Then comes an average track titled "Badey dilwale", which is sung by Sukhwinder Singh and Shreya Ghoshal and additional voices by Suzanne Dmello, Vishal and Shekhar. It is also a fast-paced and high on beats song, but it fails to create the same impact like other songs in the album.

The remixed version too adds nothing extraordinary to the original.

Finally, there is "Happy ending" that has been sung by the participants of music reality shows. The singers include Prajakta Shukre, Harshit Saxena, Abhijeet sawant and Debojit Saha. It is quite an average song.

On the whole, the album is a must hear and a fun package of dance numbers that will keep the energy high.

No One Killed Jessica

Music Director: Amit Trivedi

Lyricist: Amitabh Bhattacharya

Singers: Tochi Raina, Biswasjit Chakraborty, Shriram Iyer, Raja Hassan, Anushka Manchanda, Sonu Kakar, Aditi Singh Sharma, Sonika Sharma, Vishal Dadlani, Mame Khan, Robert Omulo, Meenal Jain, Joi Barua, Raman Mahadevan, Amitabh Bhattacharya, Shilpa Rao

Rating: *** ½

Amit Trivedi has arrived! The young composer, who has given music buffs a reason to celebrate with soundtracks like "Dev D", "Aisha" and "Udaan", proves his prowess yet again with the music of the forthcoming film "No One Killed Jessica".

The cutting-edge, out-of-the-box tracks are definitely worth a listen, especially "Dilli", which will give you goose bumps.

The film offers six tracks, all written by Amitabh Bhattacharya.

Anyone who has been following Trivedi's music knows that the composer usually likes to experiment and compose tracks out of the realms of a typical Bollywood song.

So is the case with the first track of the album "Aali re", crooned by a host of singers including Tochi Raina, Biswasjit Chakraborty, Shriram Iyer, Raja Hassan, Anushka Manchanda, Sonu Kakar, Aditi Singh Sharma and Sonika Sharma.

The song is the description of a bold, rebellious, outspoken, dynamic and headstrong woman. A lot of slang is used with edgy music. The song grows on you and is not something that is normally hummable, but it does make an impact on the listener.

Then comes in the star of the film "Dilli". Brilliantly sung by Tochi Raina, Shriram Iyer and Aditi Singh Sharma and keeping in mind the mood of the film, the song is extremely hard-hitting and makes you sit up and take notice.

It starts slow but soon gains momentum, packing in a lot of spunk and energy. With strong rock influences and a lead that pierces through, "Dilli" is a sure shot winner.

The track also has another version "Dilli harcore"; there is however not much difference between the two songs.

Next is "Aitbaar", another rock-flavoured arrangement with Vishal Dadlani, Mame Khan Manganiyar and Robert Omulo behind the mike. The song, which is an amalgamation of folk, rap and rock, is an amazing combo of outstanding vocals and engaging music.

Then the album takes a turn and brings forward a softer song "Yeh pal" to the forefront. Effectively voiced by Shilpa Rao, the song starts with a focus on vocals and minimal musical arrangements in the background. Slowly towards the end of the song there is a long musical piece where the orchestration becomes stronger and louder. A likeable track.

Finally there is "Dua", which is sung by Meenal Jain, Joi Barua, Raman Mahadevan and Amitabh Bhattacharya. The song starts with a soft prelude of varying tempo, which is more than a minute long.

The song gets a head start when the chorus sets in. It is quite engaging but after more than three minutes in the song, it gains momentum and the music becomes stronger and the pace becomes slightly faster. This arrangement gives an edge to the song.

On the whole, Trivedi, who is also a National Award winner, has given impressive music which is sure to create a stir.

Rakht Charitra 2

Starring: Suriya, Vivek Oberoi, Priyamani, Radhika Apte

Directed: Ram Gopal Varma

Rating: *** ½

In this sequel to Ram Gopal Varma's month-old film about gangwars during the time of politics and elections we get to see for the first time in a Hindi film Suriya, an actor of searing intensity and devastating emotional velocity.

Suriya takes the frontseat in the sequel to create an ambience of implosive violence. Yes, we've never seen an actor so controlled in his intensity for a long time. Suriya's vendetta spree certainly lends an added sheen to the proceedings.

Whether expressing his love for his wife (Priya Mani, over-madeup) and baby or hatred for his opponent Paritala Ravi (Vivek Oberoi, not able to add to his performance from the first part), Suriya's eyes convey a smouldering universe of indignation injustice grief and anger.

Cleverly Varma has given Suriya long stretches of silence in which the star-actor negotiates his angst-filled journey from betrayal to redemption. Suriya's lengthy introduction sequence, the even lengthier attempt to kill him in the court house and the long fight sequence in jail are all 'items' constructed to spotlight the star's agile histrionics.

"Rakhta Charitra2" goes a little slower on the body count than the first part. It is still one of the bloodiest, most violent films in living memory.

This must be the quickest sequel ever. "Rakht Charitra2" is better, more engaging and riveting in terms of content and drama.

Full credit to Ram Gopal Varma for re-creating the savage world of politics and bloodshed in the Andhra hinterland. With skilled hands, Varma weaves the theme of an internecine war between two Men Who Would Be King In The Concrete Jungle.

The background score and editing highlight the ruthless profile of the hinterland. "Rakht Charitra 2" goes beyond the first part in pursuit of the savage impulses that accentuate the hunger for power. Suriya has the most pained eyes since Om Puri in "Aakrosh". Between the pleading and the bleeding that are projected into his character, Suriya proves himself the discovery of the year.

Watch "Rakht Charitra2" for Suriya. And then watch it for the parable of violence that Ram Gopal Varma continues to construct in search of a meaning for the cinema beyond surface beauty.

No Problem

Cast: Anil Kapoor, Sushmita Sen, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, Suniel Shetty, Kangna Ranaut, Paresh Rawal

Director: Anees Bazmi

Rating: * ½

The bad news is that good films are not doing well. But the better news is that bad films are also being rejected.

"No Problem", if we must talk about it, is no better or worse than all the other, comedies that have come and groaned. A series of wildly improbable characters and ideas strung together in sequences of flabbergasting haphazardness, this is the sort of comic romp where the laughter is lost in transit.

The credits boast of four writers. But there is no rhyme in the crime no logic in the laughter.

Just fasten your seat belts and let Anees Bazmi, a fine writer when given better circumstances, take you for a ride. The film opens with Sanjay Dutt and Akshaye Khanna playing two con men Yash and Raj (Yash-Raj, get it? ha ha) rescuing a baby gorilla from the dicky of Paresh Rawal's car.

The baby gorilla and its grateful parents show up in the climax where all the male characters (approximately 33 at last count) are dressed as Sardarjis to sing a song that goes "Kad lamba chaudi chest chest".

Ahem. Chest joking, I guess.

Not too many sequences make much sense in this homage to hectic incoherence. The gags are as flat as Neetu Chandra's belly. She has some funny moments with Suniel Shetty (playing the assassin named, with excruciating unoriginality, Marcos). But the funniest character in the plot is Sushmita Sen. A schizophrenic wife to bumbling-cop Anil Kapoor, she does the split-personality act with lip-smacking relish.

You often wonder what a woman as gorgeous as Ms Sen is doing in a place as farcical as this where anarchy prevails. Nothing makes sense. Nothing is supposed to. The film is shot in South Africa. For what purpose, we will never know. The film's confounding idiocies could have easily been located in Matunga or Mangalore.

The most important component of a situational comedy is that the actors must LOOK like they're having fun. There is not much below-surface camaraderie among the actors. Anil Kapoor brings in a zany fun into his self-deprecating role. But really, just the ability to laugh at oneself is not enough.

You have to communicate that laughter to the world that's watching you. On that score "No Problem" simply parts ways with the audience.

Shahid and Priyanka: What Ignited The Fire Again?

The on-off romantic alliance between Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra is reportedly gearing up once again! There was a buzz that Priyanka's family is looking for a Punjabi groom for her and probably this has made them think about the relationship once again.

Bollywood has two eligible bachelors for Priyanka Chopra, one is her Anjana Anjani co-star Ranbir Kapoor and her on-off beau Shahid Kapoor. Priyanka has recently confessed in an interview that her chemistry with Shahid is little more than that with Ranbir. Well, probably this was an indication to all that she has zeroed in on this Kapoor guy once again.

While shooting for Don 2, Priyanka and Shahid separated their ways but soon after the film was complete, the actress realized her love for Shahid when she was returning to Mumbai. Sources reveal that the spark started with an emotional phone call. However, we have no clue that who broke the jinx first and forwarded the olive leaf.

Well, it is right time for Priyanka to take a decision over her relationship because there have been enough rumors and gossips.

The couple is reportedly giving another chance to their relationship and this time they are quite serious about it. They want to keep it under wraps this time until they come up with a serious and vital decision. The couple is set to appear on Karan Johar's show 'Koffee with Karan' this Sunday.

Hope, we hear an official announcement from them soon!

Shahana Goswami goes from Bold To Bolder!

Shahana Goswami, who shot to fame with her demure and girl next door acts in Firaaq and Rock On!, is no more happy playing the coy girl on screen.

Armed with a sensuous dusky look, it was but natural that Bollywood make use of the actress’ face for bold and sexy characters. According to reports in the media, bold and sexy is exactly where Shahana Goswami is going with subsequent performances in Bollywood.

The young Bengali actress who had vowed to herself that she will become an actress in Bollywood in spite of the fact that she has no godfather in the industry, has slowly and steadily carved a niche for herself in the minds of producers and directors in Mumbai.

Shahana Goswami has received all the accolades for her demure acts on screen and she is now grabbing a large number of eyeballs by shedding all her inhibitions for the cameras.

Shahana Goswami’s future projects are Mirch and Game. While Game portrays the actress as a seductive journalist, Mirch is an out and out erotic film with women’s sexuality as its main subject.

According to reports circulating in the media, Shahana Goswami is working hard to project herself as the next sex symbol of Bollywood.

While healthy food is part of her everyday diet, the actress is taking time out from the projects at hand to participate in various activities like water sports and has also chalked out a workout regimen to get the perfect toned body required to play the seductive in her future films.

Emraan Hashmi: I Will Not Stop Kissing!

Kissing is second nature to Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi considering that he has been doing it from the beginning of his career in Bollywood.

In an industry where actors still act coy when asked to do the lip locking act, Emraan Hashmi is proud to be known by the name of the serial kisser of Bollywood and he does not plan to stop anytime soon.

Well, we had once heard Emraan Hashmi saying that he would stop smooching his co-stars once he became a daddy, and there were also rumors that the actor would lock lips no more once he tied the knot with his long time girlfriend Parveen Shahani. But his wife does not seem to mind and there is definitely no stopping the kissing man of Bollywood!

Emraan Hashmi turned a father this year February, so will stop kissing as earlier promised? Not at all, shoots Emraan Hashmi.

The actor says that he may have made certain statements in the past, but such statements were made in different circumstances. As one progresses in life, the priorities also change, so now it looks like Emraan Hashmi's priority is to kiss his lead heroine!

Well, as they say promises are made to be broken and Emraan Hashmi has proved to be the first example of the saying!

I don't like Ash, Katrina taking credit away from me

Alisha Chinai says she's fed up of actresses taking credit for chartbusting songs sung by her

Alisha Chinai whose chartbusters includes Kajraa Re (Bunty Aur Babli) and Tera Hone Laga Hoon (Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani) has decided not to do playback singing anymore.

Says the obstinate singer, "Aishwarya and Katrina are beautiful women. But sorry, I didn't enjoy watching them pretending to sing my songs Kajraa Re and Tera Hone Laga Hoon.

It's so ridiculous! Would you ever see Julia Roberts singing in Madonna's voice? This practice of ghost voices just spooks me out. I can't do it anymore. Sorry."

Who knows Mamta?

Alisha's latest grievance is over the chartbuster Munni Badnaam Hui. She protests, "Who knows it is sung by Mamta Sharma? Everyone sees it as Malaika's song."

So what's the solution? "I've none. I can't fight the system. For years and years, the heroines have been walking away with the credit for songs sung by us playback singers.

Today things have come to such a pathetic and sorry state that no one knows the singers' identity any more.

Who knows I sang 'Tera Hone Laga' for Katrina and 'It's Rocking'' and 'Bebo Main Bebo' for Kareena? In fact, many people think they sang these numbers."

Alisha not only finds this continual de-recognition of playback singers degrading but also unacceptable. Says the livid singer, "I've told my manager to not entertain any offers for playback singing. I can't do it.

In the past, I saw Sridevi walk away with all the raves for my song Kate Nahin Katate in Mr India. It hurt even then. I'd rather sit at home jobless than allow my talent to be used to further any actress' popularity."

Alisha hopes to revive the era of non-film albums. "I know I'm being unrealistic. But I can't help it.

Either I'll sing in non-film albums or let the singer also do music videos of songs that heroines lip-synch to on screen. I know other singers just sing their songs, take the peanuts offered as remuneration and go home.

I can't do that. I won't be exploited in this way. Pay me and give me my due credit. Or I am out of here."

Kajol to get back in shape with sister Tanishaa

Works out post-pregnancy with sister Tanishaa for company and hubby Ajay's trainer Shereveer for guidance

Though onlookers may have found Kajol flaunting her post-pregnancy flab at the Toonpur Ka Superhero music launch, she has been gymming daily to get back into shape. The actress became a mum for the second time on September 13.

Kads has been working out at hubby Ajay Devgn's personal gym along with the star's trainer Shereveer Vakil. Her sister Tanishaa has been providing her company and going through the paces with her.

Says a source, "As soon as she had a go-ahead from the doctors to start physical training, Kajol began her fitness routine with Sheru (as the trainer is better known in B-Town). Exercising alone is boring so Tanishaa joined her big sis and in the process has knocked off five kilos already!"

Apart from cardio and weight training, the Mukerji sisters are also doing squats. While Kajol does 500 squats, Tanishaa does 200. Sheru also monitors their food intake even though Kajol is not on any kind of strict diet right now.

Adds the source, "Kajol and Tanishaa have a great time working out. They chat and laugh while doing the power strength training and while working with the weights."

Sheru has been Devgn's personal trainer for years and even accompanies the actor on outdoor shoots. At the shoot of All The Best last year, Devgn had 'gifted' Sheru to Sanjay Dutt during the movie's long outdoor shoot in Goa.

Actor-cum-trainer!
Sheru, who is also an actor, has featured in films like James and Welcome. The B-town clients he has trained include Anil Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Tabu and Madhuri Dixit.

Raima worried about mom watching her sex scenes

Actress Raima Sen comes from a family where acting in the genes. Her mother Moonmoon Sen and grandmother Suchitra Sen were renowned actresses in the Bengali film industry. So, it has been quite easy for the 31-year-old actress to convince her family while performing sizzling and intimate roles in the movies.

However, as per the reports, Raima Sen has become very conscious about her lovemaking scene in her latest film Mirch. In this Vinay Shukla directed film, Raima has an intimate lovemaking scene with her co-star Arunodoy Singh, who was last seen in the Sonam Kapoor starrer movie Aisha.

Mirch has four parallel stories, which deals with the female sexuality from the angle of women, who are quite candid about sex.

Raima shot a bedroom sequence with Arunodoy but the director Vinay Shukla found it not passionate enough and asked her re-shoot the scene. He also convinced her that the other actress Konkona Sen has also re-shoot her sex scenes. Raima agreed to do that and during the second time, the sequence was shot in more elaborate way.

However, when Raima watched the final graphic detailing, she was almost shocked to see that her seen was too much elaborate and Konkona's scene was same as it was earlier. The actress was almost in tears and requested her director to tone down the sequence. She was feeling embarrassed thinking that how her mother will react watching this too intimate sequence.

The director has got his work done by making his film more sizzling with the re-shot sequence and he does not seem to have any interest in toning it down. Well, Raima you must have thought about this before going so passionate with Arunodoy. Now, your mother must have heard about it at least through media so there is no use of feeling so shy about it!

Katrina's Jawani leaves Men drooling

After the Munni madness comes Sheila Ki Jawani josh. Dissecting the item number concept that is setting movie screens on fire all across the country

You have to hand it to Katrina Kaif. She got rid of all her British contours and proved she's a pucca desi girl in Sheila Ki Jawani.

The latkas-jhatkas amidst the pots and the matkas in the inspiring company of Akshay Kumar did not come easily to Katrina. She got herself a belly dancer to make her belly button acquire a life of its own.

She lost weight and she gained that glorious and gorgeous gait to make the men drool and women smirk in the darkness of the auditorium.

This, just months after Katrina's would-have-been sister-in-law Malaika Arora sizzled on screen with Munni Badnaam Hui.

Sigh. Zara Hottie kay zara bach kay yeh hai Item-bomb meri jaan!

Sallu connection

Is it just a coincidence that the three most cherished 'item' song queens in recent times have some kind of connect with Salman Khan? There was Aishwarya Rai Bachchan jiving to Kajra Re in Bunty Aur Babli three years ago with her future husband Abhishek Bachchan and father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan. Now there is Malaika's Munni and Katrina's Sheila act.

Kajra effect

No one expected Kajra re would be such a rage. It spawned a virtual explosion of item songs ranging from Mallika Sherawat's clumsily performed Maiya Maiya in Guru to Malaika Arora's raunchy but ravishing Honth Raseele Tere Honth Raseele in Welcome where Anil Kapoor pranced all around Malaika.

There are item songs and there are I- thumka-songs. If you throw in a raunchy desi-folk beat into the item song like Shilpa Shetty's Main Aayee Hoon UP Bihar Lootne in Shool, Aishwarya's Kajra re and Malaika's Munni, you have a sure`shout' winner on your hands.

Item, huh?

This is where the battle between Munni and Sheila really hots up. Though Katrina dances like a dream in Sheila Ki Jawani most experts feel the song is too urbane, chic and slick to make an impact in the interiors of the country.

But Katrina has a peculiar protest against Sheila Ki Jawani being termed an item song. Says the sizzler, "How can Sheila be an item song? I play an item girl in Tees Maar Khan.

But I am there throughout the film as the leading lady and I have a number of songs and dances. Isn't an item song one appearance by an actor and actress, like Shah Rukh Khan's opening-credits number in Karan Johar's Kaal or Lara Dutta's Aisa Jadoo Dala Re in Khakee?"

One 'n' gone

Katrina makes a valid point. How do we define the item song? It continues to be the domain of any top actress (and sometimes actor too) sweeping into sight for one song and then vanishing leaving a lingering impact.

By this definition Madhubala's immortal Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya in Mughal-e-Azam does not qualify as an item song. Hema Malini's Mujra in Pradeep Sarkar's Laga Chunri Mein Daag and Joothe Nain Bole in Gulzar's Lekin are item songs because Hema came, danced and vanished from the plot.

Sequins, feathers

So, which is the first item song of Hindi commercial cinema? Long before Munni Badnam Hui darling box office ke liye, there was Mumtaz in a 1970 potboiler called Humjoli. She performed the first item song by a leading lady in Bollywood. The film starred Jeetendra and Leena Chandavarkar.

But there was a situation in the plot where Jeetendra needed to make his girl jealous by dancing with another girl, the hotter the better. The makers were thinking on the lines of the obvious. Helen, the ultimate item girl. But the ever-enterprising Jeetu had a brainwave.

Why not his pal Mumu? That's how commercial Hindi cinema's first title song; Tik Tiki Tiki Mera Dil Dole in Humjoli was born. The ever-bindaas Mumtaz got into the feathers, sequins and a body stocking that was meant for Helen. And boy, did she sizzle!

A rage

Today, the item song is just not the same. Is it a victim of overkill? Koena Mitra who has performed a couple of them seems to think so. Now in Los Angeles for the past few months, Koena says, "The item number is just not interesting any more.

Any and every one is doing it. What's the big deal? It has lost its exclusivity. I am done with item songs. Let the others do it." Raveena Tandon performed an item song Shaher Ki Ladki way back in 1996 in the film Rakshak. It was a rage.

Raveena says, "I had just gone through a period of personal stress and needed to get out of it. Suneil Shetty who was the hero of Rakshak recommended me for the song. I was like waaaat? But he convinced me. And I did Shaher Ki Ladki. My God! What a rage it was!"

No questions

The ultimate item girl or the IT girl as she was known, was Helen whose cabaret numbers warmed up the box office potential of scores of films in the 1960s and 70s right until her drizzle of sizzle in Yeh Mera Dil Pyar Ka Deewana in 1978 in the film Don.

Helen once reminisced that she never thought of her numbers as item numbers. "I just did what I was asked to. I never questioned the choreographer. But I made sure I never crossed the line of decency."

Zeroed in

All Helen's cabaret numbers were performed under strict self-censorship codes. Every inch of unclothed skin was covered in body stocking. The dance movements never crossed the limits of decency.

And pelvic thrusts which are almost mandatory to the average item song today, were a complete no-no for Helen. Ironically Helen's repertoire of cabaret dances were never given the status of dignity and grace in their heyday that they are given today.

While in the past, Helen's dances were often accused of being off colour, today, they are looked on as the epitome of grace and decorum. Recently when Ekta Kapoor needed a new-age Helen for her 1970s retro-gangster film Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai she auditioned dozens of wannabe Helens and finally zeroed in on Gauhar Khan who did scant justice to Monica, Oh my darling.

Toast them

Guess we need more power for the item girl to rise and shine to a place where Helen's magic took those immortal cabaret numbers like Aa Jaan-e-Jaan (Inteqam), Piya Tu Ab To Aaja (Caravan) and Mehbooba oh Mehbooba (Sholay).

It is plain to see that love them or hate them; most filmmakers can't do without them. Yeh jaam item numbers ke naam.

Katrina forced to postpone holiday for Imran's wedding

Thanks to co-star Imran Khan (he's getting married January 8 and they have to finish shooting Mere Brother Ki Dulhan) and Farah Khan (TMK is due for release Dec 24), Kaif has had to postpone her annual holiday by a week

Katrina Kaif will forego her usual Christmas vacation with her family in London, thanks to her Tees Maar Khan director Farah Khan (their film is due for release Christmas Eve) and her Mere Brother Ki Dulhan co-star Imran Khan.

Why the delay...

Explains the actress, "Ideally, I'd have liked to be in London with my siblings and mom for Christmas. But Tees Maar Khan is up for release. So I pushed the trip back to the New Year."

Prod her some more, and she lets the cat out of the bag, "Imran's wedding is on 8 January. We have to finish another schedule before his wedding because he's taking time off after that."

She will rush through the current schedule of Zoya Akhtar's Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara before getting into the preponed schedule of Mere Brother Ki Dulhan for IK's sake.

She adds, "Imran is a really cool guy.I don't mind working extra-time to wrap up our schedule in time for his wedding. Shootings will go on. Imran's wedding will happen only once."

Courtesy: Mid-Day.com

Breaking News: Rani Mukherjee & Aditya Chopra getting married

Breaking News: Rani Mukherjee & Aditya Chopra getting married:  According to the latest buzz, the hot and sexy Bollywood beauty is set to get engaged with director producer Aditya Chopra. Rani and Aditya will exchange rings in February next year, sources said. However, longtime lovers have never come out publically to confess their relationship.Aditya was married to childhood girl friend Payal Khanna but duo ended their relationship after a bitter divorce in April 2009. However, Rani is not available for any comment and his spokesperson also refused any marriage plan but sources in Yash Chopra camp has given indications in this regard. Rani has been busy in promoting Aditya Chopra’s ‘No One Killed Jessica’.

Irrfan Khan & Adil Hussain talk togather for ‘Life of Pi’

Irrfan Khan & Adil Hussain talk togather for ‘Life of Pi’: Taiwanese American picture chief Ang Lee's much talked activity ‘Life of Pi’ is still in the procedure of concluding the throwing for the final few weeks. There was a buzz that Bollywood performer Irrfan Khan has been went at to take on the role of Pi's father in the picture.

Be that as it may according to the causes, Adil Hussain, who was final viewed in Ishqiya, has been finished to take part in Pi's father and he has even now touched Taiwan. Ang Lee reportedly met Irrfan when he was shooting for ‘In Treatment’ and they might not have genuine correspondence due to Khan's contribution with the other venture.On the other hand, the very talented actress Tabu has joined the cast as the mother of Pi, which will be essayed by a 16-year-old newcomer Suraj Sharma from Delhi. Actor Gerard Depardieu of ‘La Vie en Rose’ fame is also reportedly joining the cast to play the Frenchman in the film.

Now, the reports suggest that Irrfan was never approached for the role of Pi’s father instead he was offered to essay the elderly Pi. So, Adil Hussain has reportedly bagged the role of Pi’s father and he looks quite good with Tabu.

Ang Lee met Adil in Mumbai during the first week of November and he suited best in the Gujarati character. Other Indian actors were also considered for the role but no one could impress Ang Lee. The film revolves around a wonderful story of the young Pi, who gets stranded on sea in a lifeboat along with a hyena, a zebra, orangutan and a tiger.

The film is likely to release on December 14, 2012 and shooting is likely to start on January 19, 2011 in Puducherry. Till then, let’s see who will finally play Pi’s father in the Ang Lee film!

Katrina Kaif Says: I drew persuasion from Shakira

Katrina Kaif Says: I drew persuasion from Shakira: Bollywood performer Katrina Kaif declares she drew motivation from pop star Shakira for the sizzling item song Sheila Ki Jawani from her upcoming picture Tees Maar Khan. When required by news hounds here about connections from her move in the superhit number with that of Shakira, she declared she would only be able to dream of such connections.
"I can only dream of such comparisons. To be very frank, I drew inspiration from her. If my dance in the song Sheila ki Jawani reminds the viewers of Shakira, it's a huge reward for me," said Katrina Kaif, who was in Kolkata with her Tees Maar Khan co-star Akshay Kumar on Saturday for the promotion of the film. She was all praises for director Farah Khan and gave her the credit for the grand success of the song.

"We have worked hard for the song. But the credit goes to Farah and her conceptualisation of the song. She is a brilliant choreographer," the actress said. Tees Maar Khan, directed by Farah, is slated to release on Dec 24. It has already hit the headlines for its scorching item song Sheila Ki Jawani featuring Katrina. Asked about her role, Katrina said she is not so bold in the film as it seems from Sheila Ki Jawani.

"My role is of an aspiring actress. She is not so very aggressive as it looked in the song. She is very naive and sweet. She is Akshay's girlfriend in the film. She lands herself into trouble because of her own stupidity. It's a fun kind of a character," the actress said.

The movie revolves around Tarbez Mirza Khan, a criminal played by Akshay, and his girlfriend Anya played by Katrina who gets the job of robbing antiques worth Rs 500 crore from a heavily guarded moving train. The film is an action comedy.