BAFTA Goes Bollywood!!

[**Sam**]

This is a follow-up on Amz's post (maybe I should not have created a new thread? ) and is quite exciting! I envy all who are in London!

14 July - 16 July

195 Piccadilly

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is proud to announce BAFTA Goes Bollywood, a three-day series of prestigious events designed to celebrate and explore contemporary Bollywood cinema. The weekend will feature masterclasses, interviews, film screenings and a range of rare UK appearances. 195 Piccadilly will undergo a dramatic makeover, with the David Lean Room being transformed into Bollywood splendour courtesy of the UK's leading magazine for Asian Women - Asiana.

Bollywood cinema is a worldwide phenomenon, with massive audiences at home in India and, increasingly, abroad. The BAFTA weekend will showcase world-famous Bollywood stars who are coming to London especially for the event. Key figures confirmed to date include producer/director Yash Chopra, actor/producer Shah Rukh Khan, actor/producer Aamir Khan, filmmaker Karan Johar and actress Preity Zinta.

Here is the schedule: (for more detailed information visit www.bafta.org)

• Friday 14 July
  

18:30–19:30 Opening Night Reception – SOLD OUT
19:30–20:30 Interview with Shah Rukh Khan – SOLD OUT
20:30–23:45 Screening of Devdas – SOLD OUT

• Saturday 15 July
  

13:00-17:00 Screening of Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham
17:15-18:15 Masterclass with Karan Johar
Tickets £30 for screening and masterclass

18:30 Taittinger Champagne Reception
19:00 BAFTA Welcomes Yash Chopra hosted by Sanjeev Bhaskar
Tickets - £60 for reception and event

20:30-00:00 Screening Veer-Zaara – Tickets £10

• Sunday 16 July
  

12:00–15:30 Screening of Dil Chahta Hai
16:00 –16:45 Interview with Preity Zinta
Tickets - £30 for screening and Interview

17:00–20:00 Screening Rang De Basanti
20:15–21:00 Interview with Aamir Khan
21:00 Closing Night Reception
Tickets - £50 for screening, interview and reception

To book tickets for any of the screenings or events, you can email [e-mail].

Of course, all the Shah Rukh events are completely sold out, as it turns out, but if anyone lives around there, please remember me when you feast your eyes!!

Do check out the website; it looks great!!

[annous]

**Sam**, some German fans are traveling to London specially for the SRK portion of the BAFTA festivities.


I hope this will be covered in the British press, I hope it will open BW to a wider audience, I think BAFTA has chosen the best representitives of BW(SRK,Aamir,Karan Johar,Priety, Yash Chopra), all of them are sophisticated,knowledgable, articulate(maybe not Yash , funny( maybe not Aamir ), and charismatic.

[Amz]

Bollywood extravaganza concludes in London
16th July 2006 18.00 IST
By Agencies

A three-day long Bollywood extravaganza showcasing the best in contemporary Hindi cinema came to an end at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in central London today.

Aptly called 'BAFTA Goes Bollywood', the programme included presentation and interactive sessions with stars including Shah Rukh Khan , Aamir Khan , Producer/Director Yash Chopra , filmmaker Karan Johar and actress Preity Zinta .

Also a new book on Bollywood - 'Lights, Camera, Masala - making movies in Mumbai' by Sheena Sippy, daughter of film producer Ramesh Sippy with text from script writer by Naman Ramachandran was also showcased on the occasion.

The 246-page book, a non-fiction best seller listed in India and Middle East gives an insider's look at the glitz, grit and grandeur of the world's largest film industry.

According to Ramachandran, 'Lights Camera Masala' is a celebration of contemporary Hindi cinema - popularly known as Bollywood. The book documents the fascinating process of making a typical commercial Hindi film through the adventures of a pair of fictitious characters called Vijay and Ravi as they endeavour to make a Bollywood film of their own.

Famous film personalities - from seasoned scriptwriters such as the Salim-Javed duo to celebrated actors like Amitabh Bachchan , Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai , and renowned directors like Ramesh Sippy and Karan Johar - all shared their experiences and provide fresh insights into film-making.

'Lights Camera Masala' also records the stories of the behind-the-scenes people who are such an intrinsic part of the Bollywood machinery - a light boy, a make-up artist and a choreographer, among others.

www.apunkachoice.com/scoop/bollywood/20060716-2.html

[Amz]

Yash Chopra Felicitated by BAFTA
Faridoon Shahryar, IndiaGlitz [Wednesday, July 19, 2006]



“The primary job of a director is to communicate with his audience and over the last 50 years, no one has done this better than Yash Chopra,” said Aamir Khan at a grand function to honour Yash Chopra for receiving the lifetime membership to BAFTA. Chopra, the head of the coveted Yash Raj Films has a unique feat of being at the top of his craft in spite of being in the filmmaking line for over five decades.

Having directed classics like ‘Waqt’, ‘Deewar’, ‘Trishul’, ‘Kabhi Kabhi’, ‘Lamhe’, ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’ and ‘Veer Zaara’ he is an institution when it comes to filmmaking. He is the first Indian in the 59 year history of BAFTA to have received such an honour.

Speaking at the function, acclaimed director Gurinder Chadha said: “It makes us all in the British Film Industry feel proud to see Yashji take centre stage at BAFTA.” She has repeatedly said in her interviews that her film ‘Bride and Prejudice’ was in a way tribute to Yash Chopra School of filmmaking with the bride songs, chiffon sarees and the razzmatazz that goes with fantasy.

Karan Johar had the last word when he stated “The reason I became a filmmaker is Yash Chopra.” If the grapewine is to be believed then Karan’s latest ‘Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna’ is loosely based on Chopra’s ‘Kabhi Kabhi’ and ‘Silisila’.

IndiaGlitz congratulates Yash Chopra for making us all proud


www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/article/23845.html

[silentstalker]

That article pisses me off for multiple reasons!!!!!!!!!

Firstly - B&P comparing to Yash Chopra! puh-lease!

Second - for the UMPTEENTH TIME Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna is NOT NOT NOT based on ANY other movie. Closer, Kabvhi Kabhi, Silsila NOTHING!!!!!!!!! Why are they trying to make KJO look stupider then some people already think he is!

Third -

IndiaGlitz congratulates Yash Chopra for making us all proud

Oh really, and how exactly did YOU help to make this possible congratulate on the award not on making some nobody useless journalist proud

[jhana]

silentstalker said:

Firstly - B&P comparing to Yash Chopra! puh-lease!

She wasn't comparing. She was saying that various aspects of B&P were inspired by some classic Chopra ingredients.

silentstalker said:

Second - for the UMPTEENTH TIME Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna is NOT NOT NOT based on ANY other movie. Closer, Kabvhi Kabhi, Silsila NOTHING!!!!!!!!! Why are they trying to make KJO look stupider then some people already think he is!

We don't know that til we see it.

(psst, at least they didn't mention Closer. )

[silentstalker]

She wasn't comparing. She was saying that various aspects of B&P were inspired by some classic Chopra ingredients.

i know but that didnt show, nor make B&P a better film

aaanyway iwas in kind of a mopy mood when i posted that. still dont like the article but im not as annoyed now lol

[Amz]

Aamir, SRK have their moments of limelight at BAFTA
21st July 2006 17.00 IST
By ApunKaChoice Bureau

Aamir Khan was in his elements at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards in London.

The BAFTA weekend this year saw a strong Bollywood presence. Aamir Khan held a master class on his movie Rang De Basanti , Karan Johar held his class on Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Preity Zinta conducted a class on Dil Chahta Hai .


A Master Class is a regular feature of BAFTA. In a class, filmmakers and actors speak about their movies and answer questions from the audience.

BAFTA weekend also honoured filmmaker Yash Chopra for his contribution to Indian cinema right from the era of black and white movies to the present times.

It was during this felicitation of Mr. Chopra, Aamir Khan gave a heartfelt, impromptu speech eulogizing the veteran filmmaker.

Shah Rukh Khan , too, had his moments of limelight at the weekend. The King Khan was reportedly at his witty best in his question and answer session with the British press.

Shah Rukh also caught many an eye at the dinner hosted by steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal. Reports say SRK caught the attention of British actress Emma Thompson, who even expressed a wish to work with him.

www.apunkachoice.com/scoop/bollywood/20060721-3.html

[Amz]

Shah Rukh, Aamir and co dominate Bafta weekend
Jul 21, 2006

Mumbai, July 21 (IANS) If there were any doubts about the Yash Chopra-Aamir Khan patch-up post-"Fanaa", then the Bollywood weekend at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) awards in London has put them to rest.

When Chopra was honoured for being a Bollywood legend, Aamir gave a heartfelt impromptu speech that brought the house down.

"Aamir gave a rousing speech on Yash-ji. In fact, Yash-ji was honoured for being the only Bollywood filmmaker to have made successful Hindi films from the black-and-white era to the present day. They couldn't find a parallel to him in cinema anywhere in the world," Karan Johar told IANS.

While Aamir held a Master Class, a regular feature for filmmakers from all over the world during the Bafta awards, on "Rang De Basanti", Preity Zinta conducted her class on Farhan Akhtar's "Dil Chahta Hai".

"During my Master Class on K3G ('Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham') the questions I was asked were really something. Someone asked me why Shah Rukh was seen with his shoes on in water in the 'Suraj hua madhyam' song in K3G," said Johar.

"It was quite a question. I was also asked about the difference between the masters of the earlier years and those who are making films today. I spoke about how we of today are scared of silences. For instance, there's a shared moment of silence between Shah Rukh and Rani in KANK ('Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna'). I had to fill the soundtrack with thunder and lightening. I explained why we need to structure the sound and visuals in a particular way to fit a given format.

"For example, the emotional graph has to be timed with the interval. And after interval, we have to have a buffer-block where we give audiences a chance to get back into their seats before the plot proceeds. I also explained why our films are misunderstood to be musicals. That, in fact, the songs don't manoeuvre the story. All in all, it was a fabulous experience. It showed how far Bollywood has infiltrated into the European psyche."

But the star of the weekend was undoubtedly Shah Rukh. Sweeping the British press off its collective feet, he was at his witty best in the QA with the British press.

At a dinner hosted by steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, British actress Emma Thompson was quite taken up by Shah Rukh. She expressed a sincere wish to work with him.

Said Johar: "The Mittals were grace personified. Their son is my friend. And they have the highest regard for Bollywood. So we bonded. Shah Rukh's impact has to be seen to be believed. He has had the maximum number of hit films on the British charts. The British reacted to him with amazing hysteria. Gurinder Chaddha conducted an interview with him where Shah Rukh was in his element. Yup, he was clearly the star of the Bollywood Weekend."


Link

[Amz]

Mr. Yash Chopra honored at BAFTA
By IndiaFM News Bureau, July 21, 2006 - 03:04 IST

Yash Chopra received a lifetime membership to BAFTA for his contribution to the Indian Film Industry. He is the first Indian to be honored at BAFTA in 59 year history of the academy.

Celebrating Indian Cinema, BAFTA dedicated a 3 day weekend to showcase Indian Cinema with Veer-Zaara getting top billing. Taking centre stage at the opening day press conference on 14th July accompanied by Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar, Yash Chopra said “It’s an honor not only for him personally but the entire Indian Industry. He added “Opening these doors is a step in the right direction in getting the recognition truly deserved by Indian Cinema and it should not be long before our films are being nominated and hopefully picking up the prestigious award. On our part we must ensure we make better films”.

Reactions by industry biggies

Aamir Khan: “The primary job of a director is to communicate with his audience, and over the last 50 years, no one has done this better than Yash Chopra”.

Karan Johar: “The reason I became a film maker is Yash Chopra”

Gurinder Chadha: “It makes us all in the British Film Industry proud to see Yashji take centre stage at BAFTA”.

Duncan Kenworthy: “For anyone to stay at the top of his profession in any field for 50 years, is a remarkable feat”.

Rachel Dwyer: “I cannot think of a single Hollywood equivalent who made ‘Black & White’ films in the 50’s and is still active making films and paving the path for young film makers to follow”.

www.indiafm.com/news/2006/07/21/7487/index.html

[Amz]

A video...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=buUW8Xez7hs&search=bafta%20bollywood