Sneak Peak of Deepika in Dum Maro Dum

So Deepika's much talked about 'Dum Maro Dum' item number is out.  The verdict?  She looks great, and comfortable doing the number, which is fun and a touch raunchy.  The song?  Eh.  Not really doing it for me.  Your thoughts?

ETA: After listening to it about twenty times the song is starting to grow on me.

The Stars Do Cannes: Mallika, Aishwarya, Deepika, and Abhishek

The filmi world is being well (mostly, anyways) represented at the Cannes Film Festival this year.  Aishwarya Rai has been looking stunning as usual, Abhishek is finally by her side on day 3 and looking handsome as always, Deepika was beautifully elegant and Mallika was...well...you'll see.

 

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Elie Saab

 This pic has been all over the net; I think the gown is truly stunning but I thought the massive hair (you don't see it as much in this pic but ohhh trust me, it was sky high) was a distracting mistake.  She looks gorgeous at any rate--very feminine and pretty.

 

 Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Giorgio Armani Privé

I love this look on her--very bold and dramatic.  The guys on the left are definitely enjoying the view!

 

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at the Raavan photocall

Simple, elegant daytime look.  Love the hair, this is so much better than the first night's big bouffant! 

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at the Raavan photocall (full length)

Soooo part of me wants that Raavan poster for my wall, but the other part of me knows it'd be way too terrifying to wake up to each morning.  I love Abhishek but love only goes so far, you know?

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan

 Abhishek!  Abhi finally turns up at Cannes (to promote his new film Raavan). 

 

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (in Sabyasachi) and Abhishek Bachchan

Abhishek looks his perfect, handsome self, with Aishwarya on his arm in an elegant sari by Sabyasachi Mukherjee.

 

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Gucci

Her most beautiful look so far.  Simple and elegant.

 

Deepika Padukone in a sari by Rohit Bal

Deepika looks stunning here, but the real star of the photo is obviously the man with the balloon pants standing next to her.  I have a strange need to know who that is, and why he thought that might be a good idea.

 

Mallika Sherawat

Here we have Mallika Sherawat, showing us one (actually two) of the things that made her famous...

 

Mallika Sherawat

...and the other.  Bless her, I love Mallika.  I've seen her on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, follow her on Twitter, and have caught more than a few of her interviews, and all indications are that she's a sweet girl and a lovely person, so I feel a bit bad coming out and calling her trashy, but with an outfit like that, and compared to Aish and Deepika, can a person really blame me? 

Song of the Day--Marjaani (Billu Barber)

Marjani

Film: Billu Barber
Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Irrfan Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Lara Dutta, Om Puri
Music: Pritam

The first time I heard this song it was being performed at one of the zillion awards functions by Bipasha Basu, and it took me ages to track it down.  But track it down I did, and it was worth it.  Marjaani is one of the handful of item numbers that make up the bulk of the "Billu" (or "Billu Barber") soundtrack, and is by far my favorite number in the film.  It has a sound very similar to some of the Persian pop music I listen to, and that feel is backed up by the beautiful set and costumes.  There are two things about this video that I absolutely love.  The first is how much fun Shah Rukh and Kareena seem to be having.  Look at their faces!  Acting or no, they both look like they're having a great time together.  The second is Irrfan--though he only features in the video for a few seconds here and there, those few seconds pack a punch.  The sweet, earnest look on his face as he's vying for a better look at the action towards the end of the song totally makes this clip for me.  He's excellent.  So, so excellent.

Gossip Roundup

Deepika Endorses Fairness Cream

Deepika Padukone has become the new brand ambassador for Neutrogena Fine Fairness Cream.  According to Deepika, "it’s not about using a product and suddenly becoming fair. The fairness creams are used to even out your skin tone and protect your skin from pigmentation due to harsh sunlight."

Fairness creams are popular in India where a light-colored complexion is often seen as the highest beauty standard, and ads for them are as ubiquitous as those for makeup or shampoo.  Some stars have taken a stand against endorsing such products, most notably Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, as they believe that fairness creams help perpetuate discrimination against those with darker complexions.  Some fairness creams are little more than bleaching agents, and have been known to cause damage to the skin.

I say shame on Deepika.  Surely her natural beauty could be better put to use endorsing less offensive products?

Sonam Kapoor Won't Star for Zoya

Has Sonam Kapoor lost her marbles?  She's just turned down a chance to work with Zoya Akhtar, the critically-acclaimed debut director of Luck By Chance.  Zoya's second film follows a to-die-for cast which includes Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, and Abhay Deol as they roadtrip through Spain.

After her debut in Saawariya and her adorable and well-played turn in Delhi 6, has Sonam decided to only do commercial films?  Let's hope she changes her mind--any semi-attractive Barbie doll can star in a few Bollywood hits, but this is Sonam's chance to claim some ground in the growing success of India's independent cinema scene.

A R Rahman Gets Two Grammy Nominations 

Tune in January 31st to find out if A R Rahman's Slumdog Millionaire momentum can carry him to two Grammy Awards!  The Jai Ho-wallah is nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media and Best Song Written for Motion picture, Television or Other Visual Media.  Best of luck maestro!

Song of the Day--Aahun Aahun (Love Aaj Kal)

 

I first heard this song a few months ago when the Love Aaj Kal soundtrack was reviewed on Love Bollywood.  Since then I haven't been able to get it out of my head.  I'm not much of a fan of the promotional video that goes along with it (Saif's dancing hasn't improved much since Dil Chahta Hai I'm afraid, though I hold the choreographer more to blame than him) and since Eros disabled embedding on their videos anyways,  I thought I'd post this nice slideshow someone has put together on Youtube.  Give the song a listen, I can't recommend it enough.  It'll definitely get you dancing!

For those of you who, like me, learn a bulk of their Hindi through song lyrics, here they are.  A few tricky spots but easy enough to learn. :)

kaddi te has bol ve, na jind saddi ron ve - (2)
tu aaja dil jaaniya, de kar meherbaaniya - (2)
aa saanu teri rod ve, na jind saddi ron ve

(mohabbat muskil bhaari, badi hi mast bimaari
you wanna let it goin on
mohabbaat lambi yaari, bina permit ke jaari
but getch u ride it on yeah, com on) - (2)
oh... dil ne dil mangana mangana, ishq mein rangna rangna
jite ji isane hai rab nu milaana
ankh lad jaana, mar mukh jaana, ekko ek kahaani bas badale zamana
(aahun aahun aahun, aahun aahun aahun
aahun aahun aahun aahun aahun aahun aahun) - (2)

mohabbat dislan baaji, puraani hokar taaji
you never see it going on
mohabbat se rab raaji, dilon ki saude baaji
before you know it ur heart is sold
naino ne ladana ladana, panga bhi badhana badhana
jhadge mein naino ke yeh dil lut jaana
ankh lad jaana, mar mukh jaana, ekko ek kahaani bas badale zamana

aahun aahun aahun, aahun aahun aahun
aahun aahun aahun aahun aahun aahun aahun
kaddi te....
kaddi te has bol ve, na jind saddi ron ve - (2)

nishaaniya na khoni hain, soni hai saanson mein pinori hai baate teri
hairaaniya halaton ki raaato ki teri mulakaato ki baato ki
baaton ne chalana chalana, raaton ne jagana jagana
jalake mohabbato mein phir jut jaana
ankh lad jaana, mar mukh jaana, ekko ek kahaani bas badale zamana
(aahun aahun aahun, aahun aahun aahun
aahun aahun aahun aahun aahun aahun aahun) - (2)
kaddi te has bol ve, na jind saddi ron ve - (3)