September - 2009

OBITUARY :
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Thank God , this is the first month since I started writing my Film Diaries , that I have been spared from the trouble of writing an obituary. It is always painful to know that a person whom you know is no longer with you. A person, who was part of your life, doesn’t exist anymore. This month there was no loss , no sad demise .

NEW RELEASES & ME :
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I have started keeping a good track record of all the released films per month and the names of my students, who are working in them, for this section of my Film Diary. In the month of September 16 films were released.

First Week – September 04

Aagey Se Right…………..Shenaz Treasuryvala
Bachelor Party…………..Jimmy Sheirgill
…………………………………Arbaaz Khan
Chintu Ji……………………Priyanshu Chatterji
…………………………………Kulraj Randhawa
Fox……………………………Arjun Rampal
…………………………………Udita Goswami
…………………………………Rohit Kumar
Mohandas………..x
Three……………….x

Second Week – September 11

Aamras………………………………Sonali Sachdev
Baabarr………………………………Urvashi Sharma
I Can’t Think Straight… ………..Lisa Ray
Ruslaan……………………………….Raajveer
…………………………………………..Meghaa Chatterjee
…………………………………………..Sachin Chhabra
Vaada Raha……….x

Third Week – September 18

Dil Bole Hadippa…………………..Aashish Singh
Wanted………………………………..Mahak Chahal
……………………………………………Sarfaraz Khan
……………………………………………Harry Josh
……………………………………………Aseem Merchant
……………………………………………Arjun Kapoor
Blue Oranges…………….x

Fourth Week – September 25

Fast Forward……………………….Bhavna Pani
What’s Your Raashee?………….Priyanka Chopra
…………………………………………..Harman Baweja

There were 16 releases in September. Only 4 films don’t have any students of mine. They are “ Mohandas”, “ Three”, “ Vaada Raha ” and “ Blue oranges”. And remaining 12 films have 23 students of mine working in them. Out of these 23 students, 20 are actors. 1, Rohit Kumar is producer of “ Fox ” and the other 2, Aashish Singh and Arjun Kapoor are executive producers of “ Dil Bole Hadippa ” and “ Wanted ” respectively. A very satisfactory month indeed!

National Awards & Me :
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55th National Film Awards for 2007 has been announced. Out of many films, 5 films which got awards in various categories, have my students. They are :

1 - Dharm………………………….Hrishitaa Bhatt
2 – Gandhi My Father…………Akshaye Khanna
3 – Jab We Met…………………..Kareena Kapoor
4 – Om Shanti Om………………Arjun Rampal
5 – The Last Lear……………….Arjun Rampal

News This Month :
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1 – Chaitanya Akkineni, a student of mine and son of Telugu superstar Nagarjuna’s, debut film “ Josh ” was released this month.

2 – “ Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge” completed 725 weeks in Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir.

3 – Amitabh Bachchan is coming to television after a gap of 4 years. He will host Big Boss – 3.

4 – Renuka Shahane’s first directorial venture “ Rita ” , a Marathi feature film, was released on September 05. It has Jacky Shroff in an important role.

5 – Sharmia Tagore starrer first Marathi film “ Samantar ” got released on September 04.

6 – Mr. Prasoon Joshi has joined Reliance Big Films as a director.

7 – Mr. Karan Johar is about to launch his clothing lines.

8 – Mr. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film “ Black ” is being released in Korea with 160 prints by Yash Raj Films.

9 – Two Gandhis have so far won National awards for best supporting actor. Mr. Dilip Prabhavalkar for “ Lage Raho Munnabhai ” in 2006 and Mr. Darshan Jariwala for “ Gandhi My Father ” in 2007.

10 – Paresh Mokashi’s Marathi feature film “ Harishchandrachi Factory ” has been selected as India’s official entry to the Oscars in the Foreign Film Category.

11 – Mira Nair is taking her 2000 film “ Monsoon Wedding ” to Broadway. It will be a musical and Vishal Bhardwaj has been chosen for scoring the music for the Broadway version.

Happenings & Events :
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1 – Lata Mangeshkar celebrated her 80th birthday on September 28.

2- Yash Chopra celebrated his 77th birthday on September 28.

It is time to sign off. I shall meet you next month.

Vidur

www.vidur.co.in