An Open Entertainment Blog

Mumbai, Jan 2 (IANS) Strange are the ways of showbiz. Simi Garewal and Karan Johar, the hosts of two most fiercely competitive celebrity talk shows, "Rendezvous With Simi Garewal" and "Koffee With Karan", are coming together to judge a music-and-dance contest on NDTV’s new entertainment channel Imagine.

Though the "historic collaboration" between the two rivals is currently being kept under wraps, it is reliably learnt that Simi and Karan will be judging a TV show called "Say Shava Shava". The title itself, borrowed from a chartbuster in Johar’s feature film "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham", is indicative of the show’s mood.

"It’s not seasonal or episodic, but an 11-day music and dance extravaganza, like any real-life wedding where boys and girls from all over the country sing and dance and are judged for their abilities. Yes, Simi and Karan have been brought together to host the show," a source told IANS.

The new channel is going all-out to woo the TRPs when it goes on the air this month with shows that bring never-before combinations and permutations.

"We’ve shows that attempt to crack the stereotype and yet give the viewers what they expect. One daily ‘Ek Packet Ummeed’ is a positive, hopeful look at inmates in a women’s home," said Shailaja Kejriwal, the channel’s executive vice-president.

"’Radha Ki Betiyaan Kuch Kar Dikhayenge’ is about a mom, Supriya Pilgoankar, whose daughters aim to do something more with their lives than simply find suitable bridegrooms. And ‘Jasu Behn Jagatlal Joshi Ki Joint Family’ is a typical Gujarati joint-family soap," she added.

What’s with these weird and long-winded titles?

"We want to create a curiosity among the viewers from the title itself. Not that we aren’t looking at the tried-and-tested soap formula. Our daily ‘Main Teri Parchaai Hoon’ is the time-tested weepie. We can’t have a successful entertainment channel without at least one soap based on the tried and tested formula," joked Kejriwal.

But for now the saas-bahu soaps have been left to Ekta Kapoor, STAR, Sony and Zee TV. Ekta has for now decided to stay away from NDTV’s Imagine

Vijay TV’s new mega serial… Madurai
Madurai was adjudged the winner by the audiences in the battle of the serials on the show 8.30 manikku enna parkalaam?.

Produced by Touring Talkies and directed by Gerald, Madurai promises the flavor of Madurai captivated in the right sense with the city’s culture, mannerisms being the main highlight.

Shot completely in Madurai city, the serial portrays a long drawn family feud scattered across the town and the winds of change that take place due to a love-story blooming within the same family. The family feud is amidst five siblings and has lasted over a decade. The second generations of this family grow up without knowing that they have come from a family that was once very big.

The cast of Madurai includes artists like Senthil (a popular RJ from Radio Mirchi), Vadivukarasi (a well-known artiste) also plays a key role in the serial, Mura (a popular senior artist), Thennavan and many more…

A press conference was held at Gokulam Park on 8th December 2007 at 7.30 P.M, organised by Association of Malayalam Movies Artistes [AMMA] to announce the kick start of much awaited Malayalam cinema Twenty 20. It was altogether a different meet and attended by eminent personalities from Malayalam filmdom. Those who attended the meet were Madhu, Dilip, Innocent, Vijay Raghavan, Cochin Haneefa, Kunchacko Boban, Edavela Babu, Maniyan Pilla Raju, Cuckoo Parameswaran and Bindu Paniker.

Addressing the conference, AMMA president Innocent said that the film is planned to be released on 14 March, 2008. Around 65 artistes will be acting in the movie and every body got a fair role to play based on a strong story line. The aim of Twenty 20 is to raise funds for the association’s activities and a major project in the world film scenario.

Considering the popularity of Twenty- Twenty cricket match recently held the Association of Malayalam Movie artists has named their maiden venture ‘Twenty Twenty’ which is going to take of on December 7, 9.30 A.M. Expected to be completed by the second month of 2008, AMMA is planning to release the film by the 14th of March, if all are going as per schedules.

The film has got nothing to do with cricket even though the name might suggest it. But it is going to have all the thrills and frills of a Twenty20 cricket match," says Innocent. The film with almost all major stars of Malayalam cinema was in discussions for a long time, to raise funds for the association’s activities.

The film will directed by Veteran Joshy in the scripts of Sibi K Thomas -Uday Krishna, the production activities of the film will be taken cared by Dileep, who will act as the executive producer for AMMA. Featuring Mammootty, Mohanlal, Dileep, Suresh Gopi and Jayaram in the lead, the film will have five heroines.