Sagar Ballary accuses film critics of corrupt practices, critics react

The unflattering reviews of his last film Hum Tum Aur Shabana have not gone down well with the director Sagar Ballary.

In an open attack on film critics Bellary accuses them of malpractices.

Says Ballary bitterly, "I've heard most reviewers are bought over with money. How come no sting operation is done on them? Just because cinema is not a national issue? I think the current crop of reviewers don't know what they're talking about. Incidentally, nobody dares to talk against a Salman starrer because he will probably land up at the critic's doorstep."

Lashing out further, Ballary opines, "None of reviewers are qualified. I don't find any reviewer who knows the art of cinema. Most of them get personal and none of them has any real knowledge of filmmaking. I'd appreciate it if they comment on my direction. Instead they're getting personal. If they think I need to look into my craft, they should also do the same. I read international magazines and read reviewers and I've spent so many years reading Cahiers du Cinema. I am not being arrogant. I've confidence in my craft."

Ballary feels critics are stuck on his first film. "I refuse to be typecast by the critics who have formed an opinion about me after Bheja Fry and are forcing me to conform to their perception of an independent filmmaker. By the way, Bheja Fry also got only 1 star from some reviewers. Most reviewers don't know the difference between film and video."

Ballary feels critics need to be trained in the craft of film reviewing. "I'm a graduate in English literature. We had an entire paper dedicated to literary criticism. Sadly today for a great art like filmmaking, we don't have trained critics."

He says he doesn't fear offending the critics with his opinion. "Am I going to raise a hornet's nest with my comments? It will just prove my point. If this is the end of my career as a filmmaker then I will do farming. But I won't be cowed down by pseudo-intellectuals who write for self gratification."

Critics react

Rajeev Masand: "This is usually and unfortunately the defense of many filmmakers whose films have not been appreciated by critics. It sounds like a case of sour grapes to me. I've not known any critic to accept monetary favours for writing a favourable review. My question to Mr. Ballary is, did you pay the critics to write favourable reviews for Bheja Fry? "

Shubha Saha: "Everyone who gets bad reviews for their films feels that way. Nothing special about it. Very few filmmakers can take criticism in the right spirit."

Raja Sen: "If critics need training to judge movies, then shouldn't we have minimal entry certification for filmmakers? Yes, there are some critics with a question mark against their names. But when every critic rubbishes your film, the unanimity should give the filmmaker a clear enough hint. I haven't seen Mr. Ballary's new film. But he should move on instead of insisting all of us are lying."

Mayank Shekhar: "Are film critics paid to write favourable reviews? Can only state in the negative for myself, and I don't read as many reviews as there are available on the web, print and television to be able to tell for others. But it's a very serious charge. Someone making it must prove this. If found true, such rotten eggs must be exposed, a self-correcting media can do that. In over a decade's experience in entertainment journalism as both editor and writer though, I have arrived at a conclusion that film reporters aren't really paid off. Given things they will do for free, they don't need to be! Dominance of marketing and PR machinery in cultural reporting in recent years shouldn't be under-estimated. As for the quality of Indian film critics and training required…It's richly ironic that a complaint on quality should come from a director whose only successful work (Bheja Fry) is a rip-off of a French movie, which still worked because of the everyman hero (Vinay Pathak) putting his soul into that lead role. Two things are deemed necessary to be a film critic across the world: some sort of love for the written word, and the passion to watch all movie releases of the week, year after year. This is as true for a Pauline Kael as for a Roger Ebert. I agree India doesn't have reviewers of the calibre of Kael or Ebert. But I can't recall having come across an Almodovar, Steven Spielberg, Sidney Lumet or a Martin Scorsese among Indian filmmakers either. Great films alone can inspire good critiques."

Courtesy: Bollywood Hungama

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Teesri Manzil was screened as a tribute to Shammi Kapoor

With the 13th Mumbai Film Festival nearing its end and another three days to go, the excitement continues to be roaring. Melancholia, The Yellow Sea Histórias Que Só Existem Quando São Lembradas, Abu: Son Of Adam, Teesri Manzil and were without doubt the popular movies for the day.

Dimensions Mumbai section jury for which Kiran Rao, Renuka Shahane, Vikramaditya Motwane, Onir and Nishikant Kamat were present. Encouraging the young talents and new generation of filmmakers, Kiran Rao said, "It's a great step forward to encourage young filmmakers. This is my first experience as a jury member and I must say it has been great." She further suggested, "We should try and screen these short films before a regular movie screening in theatres. This would give a great platform to budding filmmakers."

Kamat added, "Each film had a compelling storyline that portrayed Mumbai and its attractions really well, but along with this, we as a panel are also judging movies on their technical aspects and how well these components translate into a complete movie." Appreciating the efforts of the young directors, Renuka Shahane said, "It's a big thing to say so much in five minutes, but the thoughts of these directors are very calculated."

Later in the evening Salim Ahmed director of Abu: Son Of Adam (National award winning film and India's entry for Oscars) was present for the screening of his movie. Talking on his movie he said, "When I used to work in a travel agency many people would come to me for going to Haj, and that's when I got inspired from a real life incident and it stayed with me for a really long time. So, I decided to make this into a movie as soon as I got the opportunity."

The open forum had prominent critics and director, Nikhil Advani discussed the relevance of film reviews and if they really matter today? Speaking at the forum the critics addressed the aspect of how they understand all films involve hard work and toil, however also criticized that at times filmmakers and those involved, offer sums to alter their perception and rating of a particular movie.

Commenting on how critics are being churned out by every publication and portal, Nikhil Advani said, "Now everyone believes in reviews. Everybody is becoming a critic and trade analyst."

The day concluded with houseful screenings of Melancholia. The highlight of the evening was the special screening of Teesri Manzil as part of the special Homage to Shammi Kapoor for which Shammi Kapoor's son Aditya Raj Kapoor was present. Aditya said, "It is a great feeling that Mumbai Film Festival is honouring Shammi Kapoor by screening Teesri Manzil on the big screen. The joy of watching Teesri Manzil on big screen is completely out of this world. When I saw the film last year, I was with dad and Asha aunty. That was in fact the first time that dad also saw the film on the big screen after its premiere. This time it would be a bit sad as dad isn't around, but I hope everyone enjoys the film nonetheless."

The 6th day concluded with much fanfare with audiences praising the arrangements and schedule of the day. With the festival drawing closer to its end, audiences are packing in to catch the best of world cinema in the city.

Courtesy: Bollywood Hungama

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Partho wins Best Actor award at Schlingel IFF for Stanley Ka Dabba

Amol Gupte's film Stanley Ka Dabba has been doing the rounds at various film festivals the latest being the International Film Festival for Children and Young Audiences Schlingel held every year in Chemnitz in Germany.

This year, Partho won the award for best actor beating 130 other contenders from across the globe. Amole, Deepa and Partho attended this festival and were really thrilled also because it was a jury that comprised of 20 children who made the decision.

Speaking on this win from Germany Amole says, "The Schlingel festival celebrates children and their spirit. In fact Schlingel means 'rascal'! Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves...plus a statuette of a naughty boy for Partho."

While closer to home, Mr. Vijay Singh, CEO, Fox Star Studios says, "Stanley Ka Dabba is probably the most important film made this year. While the film is set in India, its message is relevant across the world. We at Fox Star Studios are proud that the film has generated such massive excitement and acclaim in various film festivals across the world. It's our little contribution towards enlightening the audiences about the rampant issue of child labor that plagues almost every society. I would also like to thank Amole Gupte, Deepa Bhatia and above all Partho; along with every single person who has worked towards making this transformative film a great success, it's truly one of the biggest triumphs of human spirit."

If this wasn't enough, Amol's film will next be heading to various other film festival circuits like the International Children's Film Festival India (14th to 20th Nov 2011), the Minsk International Film Festival (4th - 11th of Nov), the AFRIFF International Film Festival, Nigeria (30 th Nov- 4 th Dec), Filem'on, Begium (November), and the 29th International Young Audience Film Festival Ale Kino! Poland (4 th - 11 th December 2011).

Courtesy: Bollywood Hungama

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Hrithik Roshan injures his back on sets of Agneepath

Pain seems to be ailing Bollywood's superheroes to no end. First it was SRK and his knee pain, then Salman Khan and his nervous ailment and now it's the turn of Hrithik Roshan, who was last spotted at the Breach Candy Hospital undergoing MRI scan of his back. Reports have it that the actor apparently hurt his back very badly and that he has been advised complete bed rest for about fifteen days, which has now resulted in the cancellation of Agneepath's shoot for a while.

Rumors are afloat that, there was a particular scene in the film which Hrithik was shooting for, wherein he was supposed to lift a fighter, who weighed almost a whopping 110 kgs. It was just after the scene that his back came under tremendous pressure. But Rakesh Roshan had a different story to say. He rubbished the story of lifting the bulky fighter. He reasoned that Hrithik was a bit overworked as he was busy shooting back to back for his dance show and the said film, due to which he is stressed and needs to rest.

Courtesy: Bollywood Hungama

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Galatta Cinema on Apple Newsstand: FIRST Indian Entertainment magazine on Newsstand

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Anna Hazare to be honoured by the movie Anna Ke Aandhi!

Bhojpuri cinema will soon be witness to a movie Anna Ke Aandhi, which will have the hero Anna, playing the role of a follower of Anna Hazare! The movie is to be produced by Dr. Rajkumar Chauhan, and directed by Chandrasen Singh. Anna Ke Aandhi will have super hit action hero Sudip Pandey, playing the role of Anna, a doctor in a village in Bihar.