Top Entertainment India News Stories of 24th October 2008

Daily news summary

Karunanidhi’s family acquire rights of ‘Vaaranam Aayiram’
Dayanidhi Azhagiri, grandson of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, has acquired the theatre-release rights of director Gautham's forthcoming film "Vaaranam Aayiram". The film, starring Surya and Sameera Reddy, will be released by Dayanidhi Azhagiri’s Cloud Nine. According to sources in Tamil Film Distributors' Association, "Vaaranam Aayiram" was produced by Gautham-owned Photo Factory for Aaskar Films on a first copy basis. Its rights were said to have been acquired initially by Gemini Film Circuit for Rs.160 million and later after reverting back to Gautham for a higher fee, it has landed in the hands of Karunanidhi's grandson and he will share its satellite rights with Kalaignar TV, another company owned by Karunanidhi's family, the sources added. The Azhagiri family also owns a cable company called Royal Cable Vision.

Aparna Sen nominated to international jury of Asia Pacific Screen Awards
The Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) committee has nominated Aparna Sen to the international jury for the second annual APSA event, which will be announced Nov 11 at the popular Australian tourist destination Gold Coast. "I am very familiar with Aparna's work and I am thrilled to have a filmmaker of her stature joining me on the Jury," said APSA Jury President, Oscar nominated director Bruce Beresford. Sen made her debut as an actress in 1961 in Satyajit Ray's "Two Daughters" and has since acted in films of several noted film directors including Mrinal Sen, James Ivory, Tapan Sinha and Hrishikesh Mukherjee. A recipient of the prestigious Padmashree Award for her contribution to cinema, Sen has served on several film juries including the international film festivals of India, Moscow and Hawaii.

British Indian actor Dev Patel trained by slum boys for ‘Slumdog Millionaire’
British Indian actor Dev Patel who impressed the international audience with his performance as a slum kid in "Slumdog Millionaire" found it a challenge to play the role of the boy from Dharavi in Danny Boyle's movie. Dev, who wowed audiences as Anwar Kharral in the teen series "Skins", underwent a long period of training before he was ready to play the role of Jamal in the movie. Dev says that two kids from the slum helped him get into the ‘skins’ of the role. He adds, “I picked up a lot of characteristics and mannerisms from them. I spent a lot of time with them. They took me around their homes and I got familiar with their personality.” Loosely based on Indian bureaucrat-author Vikas Swarup's best-selling novel "Q and A", the film revolves around a slum kid who wins a jackpot on the television quiz show "Kaun Banega Crorepati".

Shahrukh to pay airfare for a knighthood trip to Malaysia
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will fly down to Malacca to receive the traditional Malaysian title of 'Datuk', akin to the British knighthood, but the actor will be paying his own airfare. The star would be paying his own fare, while the Malaccans will offer him accommodation. "He is paying for his ticket but of course as our guest we will provide him with accommodation. It's only polite that we do that," the exchequer, Rustam said at his Hari Raya open house at Rumah Melaka in Jalan Bellamy. Shah Rukh being conferred the title of 'Datuk' had stirred up much controversy with many questioning whether he really deserves it. Critics asked what Shah Rukh has done for Malaysia to deserve a Datukship. "Despite the criticisms, I still believe Shah Rukh deserves the title," Rustam told reporters. Shah Rukh had shot the film ‘One 2 ka 4’ and a song sequence of ‘Don’ in Malacca. Rustam said the actor's agent had informed the state government that Shah Rukh was keen to film more movies in Malacca.

British Indian transgender model to be seen in Bollywood soon
An Indian-origin transgender model has landed a role in a forthcoming Bollywood film, "KingCon" starring Govinda. Shinata Sangha, 20, of a Hindu-Punjabi background is Britain's most successful South Asian transgender model. He will play a stripper in "KingCon", which will be shot in London and India and also stars Celina Jaitley. Shinata told Leicester Mercury that his landing the film role might help transgender models in India gain more social acceptance. Shinata – not his real name- has won over 15 beauty queen titles in Britain, including Miss Glamour Queen, 2006 and Miss Gay India, 2007. Earlier this year, he won another laurel, International T-Girl, 2008. He has also launched an official gossip page and online blog for the British Asian magazine, Brit-Asian.

--n