Copycats get warning from Hollywood

MUMBAI: From lifting tunes to transporting entire scenes and sometimes even "adapting" a storyline to suit the desi audience, in Bollywood, sab
chalta hai. Until April 4, when Hollywood entertainment giant Warner Brothers issued a public notice across newspapers warning members of the Indian film fraternity that Warner Bros Entertainment Inc (Warner) is the joint author and co-owner of the 13-Academy Award-nominated film, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

The notice, issued by the studio's attorneys Lall & Seth Advocates, clearly stated that there were recent press reports indicating that certain parties were in the process of producing a film in Hindi based on the Brad Pitt-Cate Blanchett movie. The notice warned anyone infringing copyright with legal action.

Industry sources say Warner probably pre-empted the notice because a reputed producer who has tied up with another foreign giant is making a Hindi film with an "A-list action star and a light-eyed heroine"-with a storyline resembling that of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

"To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time that a Hollywood studio has issued a public notice warning Bollywood producers not to infringe on copyright,'' says Vikramjit Roy, media advisor to a leading Boollywood company.

Earlier, Hollywood actor Will Smith's company Overbrook Entertainment had issued a notice to actor Sohail Khan's production house for making Partner, a film that borrowed its plot from Smith's Hitch. Says an industry source, "Salman's brother Sohail got away with the Partner issue lightly because it was sorted out by a foreign studio who played mediator.''

With infringement of IPR (intellectual property rights) becoming such a focused issue, Hollywood giants have started to watch the Indian film space with a hawk's eye.

Says UTV Motion Pictures CEO Siddharth Roy Kapur, "Many Hollywood studios themselves have plans for the Indian market. They're probably planning to remake some of their own films in India. So, they feel it is best to warn those who may cross the line.''

meena.iyer@timesgroup.com

WISHING YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR

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HAPPY DIWALI FROM ALL OF US AT SSI

Bollywood world tour to be launched in 2008

Toronto, Aug 18 - The Unforgettable Tour, a 18-country series of stage shows by Bollywood's hottest superstars, will be launched here in Canada in the summer of 2008.

The tour will bring the magic of Indian cinema to the world stage, the international promoters of the show, Wizcraft International Entertainment and Canada's Ethnic Guru, told a press conference here Friday.

Among those who will be performing in the show are Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Lara Dutta, Bipasha Basu and Ritesh Deshmukh along with choreographer Shiamak Davar and music composer Viju Shah.

Song and dance numbers and lavish costumes with elaborate backdrops will give audiences a taste of the sights and sounds of Bollywood.

'Undoubtedly, this is going to be an event like no other (and it) is going to have fans excited from coast to coast, across Canada and the US,' Ethnic Guru director Moe Jiwan stated in a statement.

Viraf Sarkari, director of Wizcraft International Entertainment, said: 'This tour is the brainchild of Amitabh Bachchan. It is even more special because it is for the first time Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan will make their stage debut as a couple and also the first time when the three Bachchans will perform together.'

Aishwarya and Abhishek also attended Friday's press conference.

'We're delighted to be back in Canada where we've always received a warm welcome from our fans. Abhishek and I have always held Canada close to our hearts,' said Aishwarya.

Apart from Toronto and Vancouver in Canada, the Unforgettable Tour shows will be held in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, San Francisco, Houston, New Jersey, London, Birmingham, Cologne, Rotterdam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Dubai, Muscat, Bahrain, Cairo, Marrakech, Durban, Mauritius, Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland.
http://www.nerve.in/news:25350081103

Who might be 22 Bond Girl from Bollywood

Wondering who James Bond will be banging in Bond 22, the Daniel Craig starring followup to Casino Royale? Cinematical has picked up a story from Metro which says it could be infamous Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty.

If you recognize her name at all, it’s probably as the woman who nearly got Richard Gere thrown in prison. If you think the United States is sexually repressed, check out India. During a press conference Gere playfully kissed Shilpa on camera, and ended up being burned in effigy on Indian streets. Gere dodged jail time and obscenity charges, but just imagine what the Indian people do if James Bond gets his herpes infested hands on her. Daniel Craig may soon be Indian public enemy number one. Maybe they should just have Bond dance out his passion. No touchy!

32-year-old Shetty is apparently a huge star in Asia, and her handlers are desperate to translate her stardom over to the United States. Metro’s story claims she’s about to “seal the deal” to be a Bond girl, but it’s so early in the Bond 22 production process I find that a little hard to believe. Treat this as just a wild rumor for now.

Salman Khan is a cool dude,

It looks like Salman Khan will never forgive Viveik Oberoi. After performing to the hit number Beedi Jalaile with Koena Mitra at the Rajiv Gandhi Awards function in Mumbai, Viveik turned towards Salman who was seated in the front row, folded his hands, then bowed in front of him grabbing his ears in forgiveness. Literally Kow towing to this guy. Salmon response: He shook his head and ignored Oberoi. Viveik also tried to get some love from Shilpa Shetty who was sitting next to Salmon but didn't anywhere with that either. This all started over a woman. Well not just any woman, Aishwarya Rai. In April 2003, Viveik used the media to launch a verbal tirade against Salman for allegedly making repeated abusive calls to Aishwarya Rai. Though Salmon never answered back everyone knows he was pissed. After Aishwarya dumped Viveik for Abhishek Bachchan two years ago, Viveik saw the light and tried to make peace. He even visitied visited Salman's ailing mother in hospital! But Salmon could care less when asked about Big Viveik, Sal responds, " Viveik who?"him. Viveik alleged that Salman was insecure of Viveik's relationship with with Aishwarya Rai. Though Salman never answered back everyone knows he was pissed. After Aishwarya dumped Viveik for Abhishek Bachchan two years ago, Viveik saw the light and tried to make peace. He even visitied visited Salman's ailing mother in hospital! But Salmon could care less when asked about Big Viveik, Sal responds, " Viveik who?"