Two UK premieres for Gurinder Chadha’s “It’s A Wonderful Afterlife”

Bend It Like Beckham-helmer Gurinder Chadha’s keenly awaited romantic comedy It’s A Wonderful Afterlife, presented by Indian Films in association with Studio 18, is ready for a release within a year of commencement of its principal photography.

Noted mainstream distributors, Icon, are releasing it in the UK on Wednesday April 21 while Studio 18 will release it in India and Pakistan on Friday May 7. A massive launch for the film is taking place in the form of not one but two red carpet premieres.

The London premiere being held at the prestigious Odeon West End, Leicester Square, on April 12, will be followed by a regional premiere on April 14 in Birmingham at Vue Star City. The theme for the London premiere is ‘Indian wedding’.

Chadha, along with Goldy Notay (Roopi Sethi), the US-based Sendhil Ramamurthy (Detective Murthy) and Shabana Azmi (Mrs. Sethi), among the film’s ensemble international cast, will be attending the glitzy events.

In true Chadha style, the film is a humorous account of a Punjabi mother’s desperate measures to get her fat daughter married to a tall, dark and handsome hunk!

Looks like Rann is all set to be the new year’s first release to hit the bull’s eye at the box office. With positive pre-release reports and glowing trade reviews, Ram Gopal Varma’s keenly awaited drama is much in the news for its gripping storyline and first-rate performances.

On Wednesday night, Riteish Deshmukh, who is a part of the film’s talented ensemble cast, organised a special preview of the film for his close friends at PVR Juhu.

Those in attendance included Aftab Shivdasani, Zayed-Malaika Khan, Ashish-Samita Chaudhary, Chunky-Bhavna Pandey, Sanjay-Maheep Kapoor, Kumar Taurani of Tips, producers Indra Kumar, Ashok Thakeria, Vashu Bhagnani and Sajid Nadiadwala, Shirish Kunder, Sajid Khan, Sujoy Ghosh, Genelia D’Souza, Dia Mirza, Avinash Gowariker and Fardeen Khan, to name a few.

A star-studded premiere of Rann is the big event for Thursday evening and will be attended by the film’s protagonist, Amitabh Bachchan, and a host of A-list celebrities from the film industry.

Rann is out on Friday January 29 and is an Indian Films-Studio 18 international release.

After Variety gave a thumbs up to Road, Movie following its Toronto premiere in September 2009 (”Dev Benegal’s aptly titled Road, Movie is a modestly amusing dramedy that is all the more pleasant for its fleeting detours into cheeky fantasy”), Screen International, one of the most revered international trade weeklies, has given it a glowing review in advance of its European premiere at the 60th Berlin Film Festival on February 12.

Writes critic Allan Hunter, “Set in the barren desert landscapes of an unfamiliar India, it offers a picaresque journey of self-discovery given added flavour by generous dashes of adventure, comedy and romance.” He adds, “Opening the Generation 14plus competition at Berlin, this film’s engaging spirit and gentle nature render it very approachable for international audiences looking beyond Bollywood for what Indian cinema has to offer.”

Road, Movie which has been described as ‘India’s Cinema Paradiso’, follows Vishnu (played by Abhay Deol) as a restless young man who rejects his father’s faltering hair-oil business and hits the road with a travelling cinema in search of freedom. Colourful and full of unforgettable characters, Road, Movie celebrates India’s panorama and the pure love of film. Deol is supported by Bollywood actor/director Satish Kaushik and festival favourite, Tannishta Chatterjee. The picture boasts stunning cinema-photography from the Rajasthan and Gujarat region by Michel Amathieu, with a memorable score by Michael Brook.

Presented by The Indian Film Company in association with Studio 18, Road, Movie got premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year followed by its Far East and Middle East premieres at the Tokyo and Doha International Film Festivals respectively.

Visit www.roadmoviethefilm.com

2 years back maverick director Ram Gopal Varma worked wonders at the box-office with the Big B and his baby in Sarkar Raj. Seems like the bond the three share is still very strong and evidently so during the making of Rann!

It so happened that Abhishek Bachchan was shooting for Paa in the compound of the studio that Rann was also being shot in. As soon as AB Jr. got a break from the shoot, he rushed over to the sets of Rann to take a quick look at his Pa’s progress and watch the film on the monitor. He even mingled with Varma on the sets and discussed the film at length. A source on the sets confirmed that Abhishek walked away rather impressed with the gritty and hard-hitting look of Rann.

Rann releases overseas on January 29th through Indian Films-Studio18.

In a unique promotional initiative, leading film major, Studio 18 has collaborated with the Leeds-based publication, Asian Express National newspaper, to release a special issue of Rann Times UK-wide.

Produced by Sheetal Vinod Talwar and Madhu Mantena of Ghajini and directed by the maverick, Ram Gopal Varma, Rann top-lines the legendary superstar Amitabh Bachchan with a well-known ensemble cast comprising Riteish Deshmukh, Sudeep, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Rajat Kapoor, and a host of others.

Bachchan’s character (Vijay Harshwardhan Malik) plays a media baron in the controversial film, which takes a bold and entertaining look at the fierce war between news channels, which drives them to the extent of “creating” sensational and often dangerous news, in order to grab viewership.

Remarks Ram Gopal Varma, “The way the news is presented today is much more entertaining than family soaps and thrillers. What’s worse is that we enjoy this kind of presentation.”

In keeping with the film’s theme of Bachchan playing a reel-life news editor, the makers have created a special 12-page newspaper called Rann Times, which features candid and hard-hitting interviews with the film’s talent, including Mr. Bachchan’s views and thoughts, Varma’s candid note on the state of the media, and horoscopes of those born on 29th January, the film’s worldwide release date.    

The special issue of Rann Times will be inserted in the Asian Express National newspaper on 22nd January, a week prior to the film release. The founders of the Asian Express newspapers, Nadim and Andleeb Hanif, have been printing the free-to-pick-up regional Asian Express titles for Yorkshire and Lancashire for over eight years. In December 2009 a free newspaper was released with a quarter of a million copies. It currently prints more copies than any other Asian newspaper in the UK.

Remarked Andleeb Hanif, Editor-in-Chief of the Asian Express National newspaper, “We are thrilled to be collaborating with Studio18 on a major Amitabh Bachchan release. What Mr. Bachchan is to Bollywood, Asian Express National is to the Asian print media in the UK. We could not have asked for a better brand fit than Rann, in which Mr. Amitabh Bachchan plays an astute news editor.”

Tanuj Garg, Head of Studio 18 UK, commented, “As professionals who believe in high-impact innovative marketing, we feel it is important to find newer ways of reaching out to our audiences. An association with Asian Express National is one such initiative that will enable a high drama like Rann to reach out to a large diverse audience.”

Many in the industry are hailing Rann as the return of the Big B’s ever popular ‘angry old man’ image. The legend will be seen in such an intense and hard-hitting role after nearly two years.

If the promos of Rann are anything to go by, it promises to pack in a solid punch with its dialogues and heavy-duty performances. Ever wondered how the great Amitabh Bachchan manages to look so convincing in performance after performance? According to sources on the sets of Rann, the stalwart prefers to read his dialogues in the language that they actually have to be mouthed in. He believes this lends authenticity to the words. The son of one of the greatest Hindi poets of our nation, Big B insists that his Hindi dialogues be presented to him in the “Devnagri” script as opposed to many other actors who opt to receive their Hindi lines in English!

Bachchan says that he is able to grasp the lines far better in this manner.

Well, our new-age actors with their perpetual problem with the national language could surely learn a lesson or two from the grand old young man of Hindi Cinema!

(Rann is in cinemas on January 29. It is an Indian Films-Studio 18 international release.)

ROAD, MOVIE TO OPEN GENERATION 14PLUS AT 60TH BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL

Berlin, January 14 2010 – The Opening Night Generation 14plus Gala of the 60th Berlin International Film Festival has been confirmed as ROAD, MOVIE from writer/director Dev Benegal (ENGLISH, AUGUST; SPLIT WIDE OPEN), presented by leading Indian motion picture studio The Indian Film Company (TIFC) in association with Studio 18.

The film has already received glowing public receptions in Toronto, Tokyo and Doha before heading to Berlin. ROAD, MOVIE will screen in the Generation 14plus competitive programme. The movie is represented by International Sales giant Fortissimo Films, its first Hindi language title. ROAD, MOVIE will be theatrically released in Germany later this year by Senator Film.

ROAD, MOVIE an original screenplay by Dev Benegal, is produced by eminent producers Susan B. Landau and Ross Katz. Katz who earned the Best Picture Academy Award® Nomination for Sofia Coppola’s LOST IN TRANSLATION as well as Todd Field’s IN THE BEDROOM. Susan B. Landau’s dozen strong repertoire includes AN IDEAL HUSBAND the Cannes closing night film in 1999, starring Cate Blanchett, Minnie Driver, Julianne Moore and Rupert Everett. Her production and management company represents SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE’s Simon Beaufoy.

ROAD, MOVIE is written and directed by Dev Benegal whose first feature presentation ENGLISH, AUGUST was hailed as a landmark in contemporary Indian cinema and had ignited a wave of independent Indian filmmakers. His second feature presentation SPLIT WIDE OPEN premiered at the Venice International Film Festival. Between them the films have won seven international awards and have been a great success at the box office.

ROAD, MOVIE follows Vishnu played by screen sensation Abhay Deol (DEV D) as a restless young man who rejects his father’s faltering hair-oil business and hits the road with a Chevy traveling cinema in search of freedom. Along the journey Vishnu ponders his life’s priorities as he learns to appreciate his culture and the power of friendship and love. Colourful and full of unforgettable characters, ROAD, MOVIE celebrates India’s panorama and the pure love of film. Deol is supported by Bollywood actor/director Satish Kaushik and Tannishtha Chatterjee, who both gave notable performances in the 2007 British film BRICK LANE. ROAD, MOVIE, Benegal’s love letter to cinema boasts stunning cinema-photography from the Rajasthan and Gujarat region, with a memorable score by Michael Brook.

On having his film invited to open the Generation section, Dev Benegal comments: “I’m thrilled that Road, Movie is the opening film for Berlinale Generation 14plus. It’s a story close to my heart; about the young generation, our love for the open road, music and the desire to break free and celebrate independence. It’s an honour to be at the Berlinale in its 60th year and I look forward to meeting the young audiences coming to see my film.”

Fortissimo Films’ Chairman Michael J. Werner remarked, “We are thrilled that Road, Movie was selected for this honour. In his film, director Dev Benegal captures and delivers the essence of India in a compelling tale that strikes a universal cord. Together with Senator Film as our German Distributor, we are sure that the film will prove to be a crowd pleaser and a great success in Berlin.”

Remarked Sandeep Bhargava, CEO of the advisory company to Indian Films, “The incredible festival run of Road, Movie is testimony of our vision to back high quality content. Its selection as the opening film of Generation at Berlinale is another statuette on the mantelpiece.”

The 60th Berlin International Film Festival will run between 11 and 21 February, 2010.

www.berlinale.de
Berlin Film Festival Press Enquiries:
For: International Press / TIFC-Studio 18
Jonathan Peake (Festival Press Attaché)
email: jonathan@jonathanpeake.com
Mobile: +44 (0)7971 564495
For: Fortissimo Films
Martin McNamara (DDA)
email: martin.mcnamara@ddapr.com
DDA Tel: +44 (0)20 7932 9800

Notes to Editors:

The Indian Film Company (TIFC), promoted by Network 18, is specifically created to invest in a diverse portfolio of Indian films targeted at global Asian audiences across varying genre, language and budgets. TIFC has raised £55 million in film investment via the AIM market on the London Stock Exchange. The company aims to build a library across various formats and rights.

www.theindianfilmcompany.com

TIFC uses the services of Studio 18, India’s largest vertically integrated motion picture company, to distribute, exploit and market its bouquet of in-house productions, co-productions and acquisitions. Studio 18 is part of Viacom 18, a 50/50 joint venture setup between Viacom and Network 18.

www.studio18india.com
www.viacom18.com

Fortissimo Films is an international film, television and video sales organization specializing in the production, presentation, promotion and distribution of unique, award winning and innovative feature films from independent film makers from all over the world. For more information, please see: www.fortissimofilms.com

We often hear about film-makers spending hours with costume designers to ascertain the ‘look’ of their characters. After all, for an actor, looking the part is half the battle won! Therefore, it comes as no surprise that most films have a large budget allocated for clothes and styling.

This is not standard practice for Ram Gopal Varma though. His brand of cinema involves actors looking as real as possible. And keeping in line with this philosophy, Paresh Rawal, who plays a corrupt politician in Rann, put his own look together.

Confirms Paresh, “Yes, the kumkum (red powder) on the forehead and the dhoti-kurta look in the promos was my idea. In fact the kumkum happened quite by chance actually. I was planning just a teeka but in my hurry to report for the shot it got smudged and so I just smeared a lot of kumkum on my forehead and went for the shot. Ramu, of course, loved the results!”

The kumkum does lend a rather evil air to the character Paresh plays in Rann. We’re sure his fans will lap up his performance considering he is featuring in a negative role after long!

Ram Gopal Varma’s Rann is out worldwide on 29th January. It is an Indian Films-Studio 18 international release.

AMITABH BACHCHAN PLAYS A NEWSREADER TO PROMOTE RANN

Mumbai, Jan 7: Amitabh Bachchan knows how to get under the skin of the character he’s playing on screen. In 2009, he did it with Paa, in 2010, he’s doing it for Ram Gopal Varma’s keenly awaited Rann in which he plays Vijay Harshwardhan Malik, a media baron in search of a balanced equilibrium between news and sensationalism.

The movie that revolves around the state of media today, takes an entertainingly hard look at the way news is being presented and consumed. Not surprising then that Bachchan donned the mantle of a newscaster and relayed all the leading events that made 2009 the year it was. He does it in his inimitable deep baritone coupled with his intense dramatic style of delivery.

This is a first of its kind initiative taken by the producers of Rann, taking programming integration to a new level of synergy. While most actors today are seen talking nine to a dozen about their upcoming projects every time a release is around the corner, the Bachchan-anchored news capsule rounding up the top news of 2009 (Rahman’s Oscar victory, Mumbai’s terror attacks, etc.) is a unique way of presenting the real essence of the film

A number of television channels have been given this 30-minute long capsule to play closer to the release of the film on January 29.
From playing a deaf-mute trainer, a genie, a 12 year old, Amitabh Bachchan’s repertoire of characters is perhaps the richest any actor has managed in India. The audience world over will surely lap up the new ‘angry old man’ avatar in Rann with the same enthusiasm!