Japan’s leading private broadcaster TV Asahi and its animation production arm ShineiAnimation teams up with India’s animation studio Green Gold Animation to create all-new episodes of Ninja Hattori, the ever popular action comedy animation franchise running over 3 decades with a large number of followers in Japan, India, and countries worldwide.

Shin-ei’s experienced team of writers and directors, in collaboration with Green Gold animation studios expert team of animators, is creating the new Ninja Hattori episodes in 2D-HD through a digitally mastered process.

Says Takahiro Kishimoto, Head of Animation at International Business Department and Entertainment Division of TV Asahi, comments “This collaboration with Green Gold better known as the creator of the hit franchise Chhota Bheem will be another step forward for our business development in India”. A record of 1200+ employees work on the art facilities to deliver production requirements and with a record of over 24000 minutes of content produced Green Gold is the last word in digital animation tools globally.

@bhawanasomaaya

The Maharaja of Mastipur is not the regular king; this one is vibrant, energetic, and interactive and loves to play pranks on his subjects.

A theatre is a revered space for expression through storytelling. Storytellers generally use this space to deliver solemn messages clothed in genres covering the full range from comedy to tragedy. Guppy Theatre celebrates the space to break stereotypes in a different style and also expression.

Puppetry as an art form is about drama, but also a metaphor and abstraction. Nothing is entirely defined or real in the puppet world, which creates a safe and fantastical space that is also tactile and kinesthetic. Says Anurupa Roy, director of the show, “Unlike other puppet shows the puppeteer in our show is not hidden. In fact, the puppet and the puppeteer often become actors in the story – a meta-fictive approach that makes, not just the story but, the process of storytelling come to life. Rather than a single screen, the show features a dynamic stage with multiple projections on multiple shadow screens. The puppeteers wear large masks that increase their stage presence and help make their characters more engaging.”

@bhawanasomaaya 

Zero is a letdown

Film : Zero
Release: 21 December 2018
Director: Aanand L Rai
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma, Katrina Kaif
Writer: Himanshu Sharma
Music: Ajay- Atul

Dear Anand Rai

I watched your film last night and was unable to sleep because I failed to fathom the story and all the characters. Since you and your writer Himanshu Sharma have lived with the idea for many months now, may I request you to enlighten me on these queries

1. Granted that there are all kinds of people in the world but is it fair to combine a vertically challenged Bauua Singh/ Shah Rukh Khan, a cerebral palsy scientist Aafia Bhinder/ Anushka Sharma and an emotionally unstable superstar Babita/ Katrina Kaif in one film together? And was it necessary to portray even Bauua Singh’s best friend as partially blind who keeps flashing torch on people’s faces all the time?

2. It is admirable that Bauua Singh is super confident despite his compelling circumstances but unconvincing why he is such a big hero in the mohallah? Is it because he throws notes from the balcony? Also where does all that excess money come from considering Bauua is unemployed and the family far from affluent!

3. Why would a qualified NRI scientist with no roots in India register with a small town marriage bureau when she has infinite options to find a partner on the net? Therefore Bauua’s meeting with the scientist in her workplace and dancing to film songs there is not just an extreme exaggeration but also an embarrassment!

4. Bauua Singh changes coats/ hats, adds roses and bows to his black and white suits like he owns a boutique! He downs martini shots and organizes a private symphony concert outside his beloved’s door like he is a mafia. How come he accomplishes this with so much ease, without the slightest awkwardness of being first time in opulent surroundings?

5. In Mumbai city Bauua Singh shines at the dance competition unfazed by the mighty Salman Khan and renowned choreographers. Isn’t it odd that superstar Babita/ Katrina Kaif at a celebration party attended by glittering stars singles out an unknown contestant for intimate company!

The actors trusted you Anand Rai, but your projection of the complex characters failed to evoke any empathy. Katrina Kaif is over the top and Anushka Sharma for the first time misses the mark. Shah Rukh Khan’s Bauua is spirited and spunky but poorly let down by the script!

You said your film was about the magic of incompleteness – but one saw just flashes of this- like when the stars at a mere count of numbers fall from the sky. And when they don’t, it is because the hero has broken a heart!

Dear Anand Rai you have broken many hearts with this film, mine included.

I rate Zero with 2 stars and both are for Shah Rukh Khan for making an effort to do something different so what if it didn’t work out.

Watch the review: https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=Th3I3PJkecs

Bhawana Somaaya

Mary Poppins Returns has been receiving glowing reviews from everyone who has seen it and the film will hit theaters on 4th January 2019 in India. It’s the perfect holiday treat!

Emily Blunt stars as the practically-perfect nanny with unique magical skills who can turn an ordinary task into an unforgettable, fantastic adventure. In this all new original musical and sequel, Mary Poppins is back to help the next generation of the Banks family find the joy and wonder missing in their lives following a personal loss.

For the European premiere of Mary Poppins Returns Blunt 35, was the picture of elegance as she posed for photographers outside the Royal Albert Hall in London. She was joined at the event by her co-stars, including Meryl Streep, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer and Colin Firth.

Tell us more such stories?

The stories are made by the superstars. Their aura fills their followers with pride and love.

When Khuda Gawah was released and Amitabh Bachchan made an entry riding a horse, his arms out stretched out, a young girl ran from her seat to the screen her arms outstretched to embrace the actor on screen. The audience did not laugh at her, they applauded.

If you were stuck in a lift, who would you rather be stuck with: a director/ actor/ writer whose film you just panned

Why would I tell you and how do you know this has not happened to me!!

You know I don’t view it like that – who am I to pan somebody? I opine on what I agree/ disagree and they are at liberty to agree/ disagree with my critique. At the end of the day, it is a job and I am paid for it. I cannot be unfaithful to my job.

A movie watching experience that left you scarred for days after?

Sometimes a critic is not feeling well, not in a mood and has to go through unbearable films. Ram Gopal Verma’s Rakhtcharitra Part 1& 2 happened on such bad days for me. RGV says both these films are grossers but I found them unbearable in fact I still wakeup from my sleep thinking why I had to go through both these movies. I could have preserved my eyes/ brain and said no to review these films.

@bhawanasomaaya

Which is the film you’ve watched most number of times?

I can watch Pakeezah again and again and every time I discover new facets to it, I think it is the most lyrical Hindi film in my experience. It is like the title suggests –pristine!

Between Popcorn and the Samosa, who wins with you in movies?

Hate both, none of them for me, hate Pepsi too or any aerated drinks. In the good old days they served adrak chai that was the best, in present times I prefer plain water and some nuts from my bag.  Now that home snacks are allowed inside theatres I often carry dhokla or thepla and quietly eat them when the hunger pangs summon.

What has been your craziest single screen experience? 

Single screen experience is as real as it gets – I love the claps and the whistles when the superstar makes entry on screen.  When they disapprove there are cat calls too and when they get overboard they throw coins! They are united in collective reaction and you cannot predict them. In the 70s when Deewar was released the lights went out just before the climax but the audience sat quietly for 30 minutes till the lights came on and the started again.

To be continued

@bhawanasomaaya

How long do you take to write a review on an average? 

It depends, sometimes it happens quickly, and sometimes it drags but a satisfactory review with all the markings, fact checking and corrections usually takes about 2 hours.

What is the maximum number of films you’ve had to review in a day?

I have consciously refrained from reviewing more than 2 films a day because I don’t believe in punishing myself. In my younger days however at film festivals I have watched 4 sometimes even 5 films a day. The eyes ached and the heart was overflowing with emotions but one continued to watch films because you were scared you will miss out on a good film. Not any longer, now I am more self -preserving.

Do you know how many films you’ve reviewed till date? 

No, I am not so vain to count my work. My mother taught me that if you count your money Goddess Lakshmi goes away so I don’t count reviews/ columns for I don’t want Goddess Saraswati to desert me. But I count my books and I want to write more and more…

What is the weirdest feedback you’ve received for your reviews?

You know, I have never received weird or even negative feedback for my reviews, I know it sounds immodest but most of the time people tell me they agree with my review even when I am not flattering to the filmmaker.

To be continued

@bhawanasomaaya

I have often been asked what goes on in a critic’s mind when he/she watches a film she has to review. Is it different when you are watching a film you are not going to write about? Is it always possible to be fair and neutral or do you soften when it comes to films of people who are your friends? How do you determine the rating of a film?

Some of these questions were raised in a wed chat show during the promotion of the Critics’ Choice Short Film Awards hosted by the newly launched The Film Critics Guild next week.

Over the next few days I will be sharing excerpts of the conversation:

1. Do you remember the first film you ever reviewed and how long ago that was? No, because in the olden days that I did not do reviews of films but I shared my opinion on films I liked/ disliked in my editorial for the Screen weekly. Some of the films were reserved for a special mention in the Editor’s Choice. I started reviewing films officially in 2009 when 92.7BigFM asked me to do radio reviews of films and that too in Hindi. The first film I reviewed on the radio was Amitabh Bachchan’s Paa in 2009.

What is that one thing you cannot watch a film without?

There’s no such thing, I can watch a film anytime, anywhere.  I don’t need money because my ticket is usually an invite. I don’t need my phone because I disconnect it when the film commences, I don’t need glasses and I don’t need paper/pen because I never take notes. I am always worried that if I look down to write points I will something on the screen!

To be continued

@bhawanasomaaya