kismat konnection

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Love Story 2050

Hindi filmdom's most ambitious futuristic sci-fic - “Love Story 2050” - seems set to up the standards of special effects in the country, with a reported budget of Rs.500 million propping it.

Transformation of Mumbai into a super-futuristic metropolis, modelled on Shanghai, robot, teddy bears and an energy-blasting fight scene are some of the visual treats awaiting viewers when the film by director Harry Bajewa goes on the marquees on July 4.

Introducing Harman Baweja opposite star actor Priyanka Chopra, “Love Story 2050” is heavy on special effects and gizmos and may just be the impetus needed for filmmakers in India to invest in the country's own sprouting industry.

Even as India is emerging as the destination of choice for Hollywood studios to outsource their animation and special effects jobs, domestic film studios have been treading cautiously and are only now warming up to pumping big monies into the digital sphere.

Hindi filmmakers have for long shied away from investing huge sums on special effects and instead preferred to park most of the film's budget for remunerations of stars. As a result, though the country has the wherewithal that meets international standards, films churned in Bollywood suffer from tacky effects and graphics.

In fact, the Oscar-winning special effects for “The Golden Compass”, the Hollywood blockbuster that took $370 million at the box office last Christmas, were put together in India.

Increasingly, post-production movie work - everything from complex digital effects such as the talking armoured polar bears in “The Golden Compass”, one of which sported a fur coat with seven million individually rendered hairs, to basic colour grading, making sure shades stay consistent throughout a film - is steadily migrating from traditional centres such as Los Angles to low-cost locations on the sub-continent.

Nasscom, the Indian IT industry lobby group, estimates that the global animation market will be worth about $80 billion by 2010, and is targeting it as a prime source of future outsourcing revenues as more film work is shifted to India from the US and Europe.

Yet, Indian filmmakers form a very small portion of their clientele. The budget of “Love Story 2050” may sound high enough, but it is not.

“It is impossible to match the kind of standards that our counterparts from the West have set. It all boils down to the budget at the end of the day and with the kind of resources we work with, even though we may hire the best team out there, you can't expect results on the same lines,” says a candid Harman.

Nevertheless, the Indian filmmakers are hoping to ripe a good harvest from film merchandise and sale of rights to mobile and gaming companies to recover costs.

“Love Story 2050” features a fully animatronic robot teddy bear which was created by Oscar winner John Cox, who also worked on “Babe” and “The Host”. It also features a female robot. Similarly, airborne fight sequences will lead to spin offs like video and mobile gaming.

If India is to become more than just outsourcing sweatshops that sketched, painted and digitised ordered content, fully indigenous innovative breakthroughs are the need of the hour. And this can only happen if creative minds join hands with technical talents and create a fully Indian version of “Babe”.

With the growth in the outsourcing model reaching a plateau, big players claiming ownership of their products is the need of the hour as this co-production yields multiple sources of revenue from merchandising to licensing.

Kids lapped up Hrithik Roshan starrer "Krrish", which was loaded with special effects.

All eyes are now set on “Love Story 2050". Come Friday and both the film as well as the digital worlds will be hoping for audiences to embrace “Love Story 2050”, its hero and its lovable teddy bear - Boo.

Shilpa Shetty signs director Manish Jha for first home production

Bollywood beauty Shilpa Shetty, who's also turned producer now, has signed on filmmaker Manish Jha of "Matrubhoomi" fame to direct her first home production that will go on the floor in November.

"The untitled project is in its initial stages. It will have two heroes and two heroines. And I will be one of the heroines. As far as cast and crew go, only Manish and I are finalised ... the rest are yet to be decided," said Shilpa, who achieved international fame after winning the British reality show "Celebrity Big Brother".

The actress, who launched her production house S2 Global Productions last year, says she is making an appearance in the movie at Jha's behest.

"Manish felt the character suits me well and so I'm a part of it," Shilpa told IANS here.

Jha had earlier directed Shilpa's yoga DVD, which was shot near the backwaters of Kerala.

Talking about her future plans, Shilpa said: "I plan to produce a lot of movies that I may not be a part of. I'm also planning to re-launch my sister Shamita.

"Shamita will not be part of the first project, but I am thinking of a film for her too. The second film will be for Shamita."

The actress, who started her stint in Bollywood with "Baazigar" and gave hits like "Main Khiladi Tu Anari" and "Dhadkan", has not been seen on the silver screen for quite some time now.

"Now I am concentrating on quality films and have become choosy about subjects. My last release was 'Life... in a Metro' and 'Apne' and after that now I am doing 'The Man'," she explained.

"The Man" is a romantic thriller in which Shilpa plays an actress. It is Sunny Deol's second directorial venture after "Dillagi" and also stars Udita Goswami. Sunny himself plays the main lead.

Shilpa will also be seen in a special role in Karan Johar's "Dostana".

Besides being busy with films, Shilpa is upbeat about being part of the Bachchans' 'Unforgettable' world tour. She is set to perform at two special shows in London.

"After a long time, I'm a part of such a big tour. This is the second time I will be performing with Amitji. It will be a real pleasure and joy to be part of such a mega tour. It will be a finale with all the actors on the same stage," she said excitedly.

"Besides, I am very happy to perform in London - the place which has given me so much," she added.

The star-studded world tour featuring superstars like Amitabh, Abhishek, Aishwairya, Preity Zinta, Riteish Deshmukh and music directors Vishal-Shekhar will kick off July 18 at Toronto. It will later travel across the US including cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston and New York, and then head to London.

Manisha is Hollywood actor's spiritual guide

Scottish actor Gerard Butler seeks help from Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala to preserve his knowledge about spiritual healing.

Chennai's Oneness University, which aims to put every individual in touch with his faith through spiritual guidance, has become the hub of international celebrity attention. Demi Moore is a regular visitor and Butler went there too.

But Butler, who has acted in films like "300" and "The Phantom", didn't know how to retain the knowledge of healing for a long period, so he rang up Manisha, a spiritual comrade, for help.

The "Bombay" and "Dil Se" star has been attending courses regularly at the university and proved to be of great help to the Hollywood actor.

"Yes, Gerard did talk to me on his way back from the Oneness University in Chennai where I've been visiting and attending courses regularly. He was happy to be there. But worried that once you leave the university, the teachings and the spiritual aura would just evaporate," Manisha told IANS.

Manisha, who's heavily into spiritualism, gave the actor some invaluable information on how to preserve inner peace even when not at the venue.

"A close Danish filmmaker friend told me about the Oneness University. I checked out the university and loved its environment and teachings. I decided to stay away from public life and focus on my spiritualism," says Manisha.

"In fact, the man I'm seeing right now is also very spiritual. At this stage, I needed a companion who'd share my passion for spiritualism. I'm trying to get him interested in the Oneness course."

Manisha says, "All my life I've been a seeker. I've been trying to find inner peace through travel and books. The Oneness course solved all the questions on life and existence."

She admits that of late the roles being offered to her have not been interesting enough.

"I wanted to focus on other aspects of life. This Oneness course has changed my life completely. I've become so much calmer and more focused.

Her next plan is to direct a film. In fact, she recently went to New York University to learn editing and direction.

"I know I have it in me. Some day soon I'll direct a film. But it has to be a natural process. I won't persuade myself to do anything I don't believe in. I never have. I've been approached by some responsible producers and I might just take the plunge."