Sarkar Raj - Bollywood Mega-Starrer comes to Michigan on June 6th

Sarkar Raj a Bollywood mega-starrer is being released in the Metro Detroit Area on June 6th. It will be screened at SR Movies, Novi. For movie show times visit mimantra.

Starring in lead roles in Sarkar Raj are Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

Sarkar Raj synopsis (source wikipedia)

When Anita Rajan (Aishwarya Rai), CEO of an international firm, brings a power plant proposal to set up in rural Maharashtra, before the Nagres, the insightful Shankar (Abhishek Bachchan) is quick to realize its benefits. After convincing Sarkar (Amitabh Bachchan), Shankar along with Anita goes to the villages to mobilize support of the masses. However, things are not what they seem to be. From shady fixers with an eye on multi-million kick-backs to wannnabes who are ready to incite millions of people against the highly controversial project, Shankar’s dream project gradually becomes a political minefield. Evil forces gang up to bring down the regime of Sarkar and obliterate Shankar’s name from the political horizon.

Shanti Project to screen Bollywood Movie Saathiya

The Shanti Project, of University of Michigan School of Social Work which works to promote healthy family relationships in the Gujarati community will be showing Bollywood Movie Saathiya.

There is no cost to you. It is FREE and will be shown on December 8, 2007 from 2:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m. at Costick Community Center – Belfast Room which is located on 28600 W 11 Mile Rd, Farmington Hills , MI 48336 (map).

Quoting an email announcement from Folks at Shanti Project regarding this event

An evening of viewing a film, interesting conversation, light food, and meeting new friends. There will be free parking and chilcare if needed. Learn how we can work together to make the Gujarati community safer and stronger.

For more details
Contact:
The Shanti Project
University of Michigan
1080 S University
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Tel: 1-888-4SHANTI
Email: shantiproject at umich dot edu

Saawariya - I don't "Likes"

Last night went to see Saawariya with family at SR Movies. 15-20 minutes into the movie I got so bored that I started flipping through the email messages on my Blackberry and surfing the net, occasionally glancing at the Big Screen. My son, daughter and wife seemed to enjoy the movie.

Ranbir Kapoor has potential (after all he is from Kapoor Khandan). Sonam Kapoor has the looks and also knows how to act (there is a lot of similarity with her dad - Anil Kapoor).

An hour or so into the movie my son reacts - "Dad did you see that". I was reading some messages so I missed it. I said "What!". He said "Raj's (Ranbir Kapoor) towel fell". I said "so....". He says "Raj was not wearing anything...". Immediate thought - Girls will flock to see Saawariya.

Later in the evening I asked my 7 year old daughter as to what did she think of the movie. Only thing that was bothering her was "Why did they beat up Raj at the girl's house". She was referring to Raj - who being depressed goes to see Rani Mukherjee who turns Raj away and when Raj refuses to leave the area, Raj gets beaten up by the locals.

My son's reaction - "This is not your typical Hindi Movie. It has a sad ending..."

Note: When walking out after watching Saawariya, I noticed there were 3 times as many people lined up to watch OM Shanti OM then Saawariya.

Saawariya has a Michigan Connection

Bollywood Movie Saawariya which will be shown in Michigan starting November 9th, 2007 has a Michigan Connection.

Anuradha Vakil who has a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Michigan has designed the costumes for Sonam Kapoor and Rani Mukherjee for the movie Saawariya.

Anuradha Vakil is one of India’s most unlikely designers. After Graduation she worked for a large corporation which she left and took the skills she had learned to a new career in design driven by her passion for Indian textile crafts. (more at Planet Bollywood)

Saawariya comes to Michigan on November 9th, 2007

Saawariya starring Ranbir Kapoor (son of Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh) and Sonam Kapoor (daughter of Anil Kapoor) will be screened at SR Movies, Novi, MI starting November 9th. For Showtimes keep checking MIMANTRA.

Saawariya Synopsis (via)

Saawariya is the innocent love story of two lonesome youngsters over a period of 4 successive nights. The charming, free-spirited Raj (Ranbir Kapoor) is a dreamer, who comes to a quaint, picturesque town in Shimla, known for its lakes, mist, heavenly snowfall, rains, and tall swaying pine trees.

Raj believes that he's found the perfect place to inspire his inner artist. The bright, fun-filled winding streets of the mall come alive with singing clubs, rustic folklore, dancing, love ballads, flourishing colonies of artists and weavers, and chants from the monastery - all woven in perfect harmony into a magical dream. All is perfect until at a bridge one night, he stumbles across the shy, mysterious, and melancholic Sakina (Sonam Kapoor) with a secret past.

Their chance encounter kindles into friendship and an impromptu romance. As one night passes another, Raj falls more and more in love with Sakina and tries to win her heart, while Sakina begins to trust him enough to share her secret. But when Sakina reveals why she cannot reciprocate his love, Raj is unable to accept her past and is driven into a whirlwind of desire, madness, and romance. And then what happens is......got to head over to the movie theaters to find out!

Om Shanti Om comes to Michigan on November 9th, 2007

Om Shanti Om starring Shahrukh Khan and Bollywood Beauty Deepika Padukone will be screened at SR Movies, Novi, MI starting November 9th. For Showtimes keep checking MIMANTRA.

And for an excellent music review of OM SHANTI OM check out DJ Amri's post (Michigan's Best Indian DJ).

(Note: Deepika Padukone is the daughter of former world badminton champion from INDIA Prakash Padukone)

Here's Aneek Dhar (2007 Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Champ) singing "Main Agar Kahoon" from Om Shanti Om (He sings this song better than the original)

Naya Daur a Bollywood Classic comes to Big Screen in Michigan

Naya Daur a Bollywood classic of 1950's (now in color) starring Dilip Kumar and Vyjayantimala comes to SR Movies, Novi, MI on August 3rd, 2007. Visit MIMANTRA for show times.

Here's Uden Jab Jab Zulphen Teri from Naya Daur:

Jhoom Barabar Jhoom comes to Michigan

Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (Dance Baby Dance) comes to SR Movies, Novi on June 15th. Check MIMANTRA for showtimes. Starring in lead roles are Abhishek Bachchan, Priety Zinta, Lara Dutta, Bobby Deol. Amitabh Bachchan and Shahrukh Khan make a special appearance.

Shootout at Lokhandwala coming to SR Movies, Novi, MI

Shootout at Lokhandwala a Bollywood Hindi Movie comes to SR Movies, Novi on May 25th. Check out MIMANTRA for showtimes. Starring in Lead Roles are Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Vivek Oberoi, Abhishek Bachchan, Arbaaz Khan, Tusshar Kapoor, Sunil Shetty.

The film is based on Aftab Ahmad Khan's encounter with five members of Dawood Ibrahim's underworld gang and the true story behind these events

Cheeni Kum - A Sugarless Romance comes to Michigan

Bollywood Hindi Movie Cheeni Kum starring Amitabh Bachchan and Tabu is being released here in Michigan on May 25th at SR Movies, Novi. Check out mimantra for showtimes.

Cheeni Kum is story of a 64 year old Chef - Buddhadev Gupta (Amitabh Bachchan) who is also the owner of a Desi Restaurant in London, UK. Then one day Nina Verma (Tabu) walks into Buddhadev's restaurant. You guessed it!! There is love in the air.

The story line very much reminds me of "As Good As it Gets" which had Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt in lead roles and both of whom went on to win Oscar award for Best Actor and Best Actress in 1997.

An Evening dedicated to Talat Mahmood

एक शाम तलत महमूद के नाम. Mark your calendars. Khalid Mahmood son of legendary bollywood singer Talat Mahmood will be performing on Friday May 4th at University of Michigan, Social Sciences Building (Room SSB-1500), 4901 Evergreen Road, Dearborn, MI 48128 (map). The program begins sharp at 7.15.

This event bought to you by Federation of Aligarh Alumni Associations of America. Entire proceeds will support Girls education in India. (more at MIINDIA)

You just might be lucky enough to hear "Jalte Hain Jiske Liye"

Ta Ra Rum Pum comes to Novi, Michigan

Ta Ra Rum Pum a Bollywood Hindi Movie starring Saif Ali Khan and the gorgeous Rani Mukherjee comes to SR Movies, Novi, MI on April 27th. Check out MIMANTRA for showtimes.

Ta Ra Rum Pum is a story of Rajveer Singh (Saif Ali Khan) a race car driver and Radhika (Rani Mukherjee) a music student. The two fall in love and get married and are blessed with 2 children.

Rajveer is soaring new heights as he becomes one of the best race car drivers. Then one day he gets into an accident in the racing circuit and is hospitalized. He recovers months later, but because of the mental scars he is not able to perform like before. After a string of failures, financial woes set in. Rajveer and Radhika are forced to auction off their house and move into a run down neighborhood.

Got to see the movie to find out how Rajveer and Radhika try to make the best out of a bad situation.