News

Spain’s Oscar-qualifying Animayo Gran Canaria animation festival has announced the winners of its 20th anniversary edition, marking two decades of championing animation, VFX and video game cinematics.

This year, an international jury composed of industry veterans from studios like Disney, Skydance and Rodeo FX evaluated 55 short films selected for competition across multiple official sections, which were whittled down by Animayo staff from an initial batch of over 2,000 entries from 84 countries.

The festival’s coveted Grand Jury Award went to “Playing God,” a grim stop-motion story by Italian director Matteo Burani. The film captivated the jury with its atmospheric intensity, masterful animation and sound design. As Spain’s only double Oscar-qualifying animation festival, Animayo’s top honors serve as a launchpad to the Academy Awards. In fact, 2025’s animated short Oscar winner, “In the Shadow of the Cyprus,” earned its initial Oscar qualification at last year’s Animayo.

Festival director...

The moment those iconic opening notes of the Star Trek theme song blare across the screens, fans know they’re in for a journey like no other. The iconic score, with its soaring orchestral arrangement and William Shatner’s narration, “Where humanity reaches for the stars,” perfectly captured the essence of Star Trek.

But behind this legendary music lies a dark story of a scam, as creator Gene Roddenberry grabbed the opportunity of locking the original composer out of millions in royalties. Instead of a rewarding partnership, unfortunately, it became a financial nightmare for the composer.

Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry | Credit: Larry D. Moore, licensed under Cc By 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek composer who cost him millions in royalties

In 1966, Alexander Courage, a long-time orchestrator who had worked on the scores for movies like Show Boat, Gigi, and Seven Bridges of Seven Brothers, composed the...

Chuck Lorre had a big night on Oct. 5, and so did Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Chla honored the super producer at its annual fundraising gala with one of the evening’s highest honors, a Courage to Care Award. The segment delivered a tribute from Kaley Cuoco, a star of Lorre’s blockbuster sitcom The Big Bang Theory, and a big piece of news.

It was revealed that the Chuck Lorre Family Foundation made one of the largest gifts in Chla’s history to establish the Chuck Lorre Pediatric Health Education Institute. Chla today confirmed the gift and shared details about how it’s all going to work. Billed as a “first of its kind” facility in the United States, the Chuck Lorre Pediatric Health Education Institute is comprised of six pillars of professional training for physicians, nurses, clinical service and allied health professionals, researchers, simulation training programs and community workforce development programs.

The International Women’s Media Foundation (Iwmf) hosted the 35th annual Courage in Journalism Awards in New York City.

Now in its 35th year, the awards remind news media audiences worldwide of the sacrifices women journalists make, and the odds they face, simply to report the truth.

Hosted by Linsey Davis (ABC News), the event honored Lauren Chooljian, an American journalist with New Hampshire Public Radio (Nhpr) and Mónica Velásquez Villacís, an Ecuadorian journalist with La Posta with the Courage in Journalism Awards for their remarkable bravery in the pursuit of reporting. As the principal award in journalism solely dedicated to women’s contributions in the field, the Courage Award stands as a pillar of thanks for the role diversity plays in upholding press freedom.

Presenters during the program included Deborah Roberts (ABC News), Suzanne Malveaux (CNN), Marites Vitug, Anna Nemtsova, Lydia Cacho and Iwmf Deputy Executive Director Nadine Hoffman.

In addition,...

Two very different films produced by Hamburg-based Tamtam Film are playing at Filmfest Hamburg this year. Kerstin Polte’s Highly Explosive (Blindgänger) explores the impact of an unexploded World War II bomb on Hamburg residents, while Danish filmmaker Charlotte Sieling’s Way Home is about a father travelling to war-torn Syria to find his Isis fighter son.

The premieres cap a busy period for the Tamtam co-founders Andrea Schütte and Dirk Decker, who are in the midst of shooting Kai Stänicke’s debut feature Der Heimatlose and have a number of projects in postproduction.

Schütte and Decker, who established Tamtam...

Kamala Harris said that she was “very proud to have the support of Taylor Swift,” the superstar singer who endorsed her campaign right after last week’s presidential debate.

In a video for Wired, Harris said, “She’s an incredible artist. I really respect the courage that she has had in her career to stand up for what she believes is right.”

Harris added, “But we were on different sides at the Super Bowl last year. I am a 49ers fan. But who’s mad at anyone for being loyal to their team?” The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49th 25-22 in February.

Harris called the debate “quite enjoyable,” and recent polls show that she may have gotten a bounce in which she has pulled slightly ahead in key swing states.

Swift endorsed Harris in an Instagram post, writing to her 284 million followers that she was backing Harris...

Prince Harry accepted the Pat Tillman Award at Thursday’s ESPYs ceremony following controversy regarding the foundation’s choice to honor him. The prince received the award in recognition of the 10th anniversary of his Invictus Games.

“I stand here not as Prince Harry, Pat Tillman Award recipient, but rather a voice on behalf of the Invictus Games Foundation and the thousands of veterans and service personnel from over 20 nations who have made the Invictus Games Foundation a reality,” the prince said onstage. “This award belongs to them, not to me.”

Pat Tillman was a safety for the Arizona Cardinals who enlisted in the U.S. Army after the 9/11 attacks. He was killed in Afghanistan in 2004 in a friendly fire incident. His eponymous award is “given to a person with a strong connection to sports who has served others in a way that echoes [his] legacy,” per ESPN.

Harry received the award...

While Sister Wives fans have watched as Christine Brown Woolley has made change through the years, she takes a moment to reflect and help others. But leaving Kody Brown was a very difficult process for her and she wants to encourage others that need to leap.

Christine Brown Woolley Has Made Huge Changes

Undeniably, the journey to leaving Kody Brown was long and arduous for Christine Brown Woolley. In November 2021, after being in a plural marriage for 25 years, Christine and Kody called it quits. On Instagram she said, “After more than 25 years together, Kody and I have grown apart and I have made the difficult decision to leave.” Not long after in December 2022, Janelle Brown also left. Then, Meri Brown followed suit and finally threw in the towel in January 2023. Sadly, Christine admits that Kody was only wanting the “positive” and “fun” side of her.

David Woolley & Christine Brown – Instagram

At that point,...

At the beginning of the Netflix Oscar-contending short documentary Camp Courage, young Milana Abdurashytova takes out paper and makers and draws what she calls “a home of my dreams.” It’s a lovely cottage on a hill, with clouds dotting a sky of blue.

Her real home, in Mariupol, Ukraine lies in ruins like so much of that city and the country, pulverized by Russia bombs and shells. Milana and her grandmother Olga were able to escape Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 and take refuge in Slovakia. But escaping the trauma of war is another matter.

In the film directed by Max Lowe, Milana gets the opportunity to participate in a week-long camp in the peaks surrounding Piesendorf, Austria, joining other Ukrainian kids who have endured shattering loss from the brutal conflict. The camp is a project of the Mountain Seed Foundation, a nonprofit that describes its mission...

Courage the Cowardly Dog has some of the scariest moments in any cartoon made for kids, with terrifying situations and dark humor. The show received critical acclaim and even got an Academy Award nomination for one of its episodes. The scariest episodes include unsettling characters, body horror, and creepy visuals that will leave viewers uncomfortable.

One of the most frightening cartoons in Cartoon Network history, at least for its main protagonist, is Courage the Cowardly Dog. The scariest Courage the Cowardly Dog episodes take the always frightened dog and put him in situations that even his clueless owners, Muriel and Eustace, never see coming until it is typically too late. Courage the Cowardly Dog aired from 1999 to 2002 with a total of four seasons and 52 episodes. Living in the middle of Nowhere, Kansas, Courage often finds himself in disturbing and supernatural situations, often with the darkest humor and abstract scenes guaranteed to scare the younger viewers.

10 November 2023 — After generating hundreds of millions of views across platforms and attracting a fervent global audience, piano virtuoso, multiplatinum songwriter, and social media sensation Tony Ann will release his third EP, Emotionally Red, on November 10, 2023 via Decca Records/Universal Music France/Universal Music Canada.

Tony has captivated listeners everywhere online. Following stints at both Cleveland Institute of Music and Berklee College of Music, the classically trained solo pianist has consistently unveiled viral content at a prolific pace. His online imprint consists of nearly 2 million total followers, while he has generated several million total views. Along the way, he has instituted fan favorite series such as “play that word” where viewers suggest words, and he crafts his own original compositions with letters on the keyboards.

Continuing on a brighter note, with “Emotionally Red”, Ann explores romance through a free flowing and spirited performance that effectively expresses the ubiquitous emotions associated with love.

The rivalry between Star Wars and Star Trek is as legendary as the sagas. While the fans of both debate their flaws and merits, there is one arena where the challenge is truly evenly matched. The music that accompanies these shows and films is iconic, so which is better: Star Wars or Star Trek? It's not an easy question.

Of course, in recent years, the rivalry among fans has turned more internal. Both Star Trek and Star Wars are in their third wave of new stories. Older fans lament how the new entries don't match their expectations. Even though Star Trek: Discovery saved the franchise, Trekkies are divided over its value. Similarly, the new series of films and shows from Lucasfilm have divided the fanbase like Jedi and Sith. However, one thing none of the fan base disagrees with is the high quality of music associated with each production. From...

If you have fond memories of catching Adult Swim in the quiet hours of the night, you may be in for a shocking surprise. Following the successful viewership of Unicorn: Warriors Eternal and My Adventures with Superman, the popular adult-oriented network is broadening its horizons once again. A recent announcement has brought yet another schedule extension for Adult Swim, stretching Adult Swim's operating hours into as early as 5:00 Pm. Thankfully, instead of another two hours of King of the Hill, Adult Swim is also introducing a new programming block to fill this space: "Checkered Past."

A reference to the old Cartoon Network checkerboard logo, Checkered Past will bring back four classic shows from your childhood before returning to Adult Swim's regular programming. It's not a foreign concept to the late-night network, especially if you've been a long-time viewer. But this shake-up in programming represents a wider shift in priorities...

Mo Abudu, founder and CEO of Nigeria- and London-based EbonyLife Media thinks its about time Africans started speaking for themselves, in Hollywood and around the world.

“I’m sick and tired of having my story told by some stranger,” she told TheWrap for this week’s Office With a View.

Abudu, who was born in London and has deep family roots in Nigeria, has been called “the most powerful woman in global media” by Forbes and landed on the publication’s World’s 100 Most Powerful Women. Having built EbonyLife Media from the ground up, she told TheWrap she is on a mission to empower Africans to tell stories that go beyond slavery and the legacy of that horrific period in history.

“As a continent, we have remained silent for centuries,” Abudu said. “The only part of our history that ever gets broadcast or made into features or documentaries is that era of slave trade.

The 2023 ESPYs were held in Los Angeles on Wednesday, with athletes and A-listers alike arriving at the Dolby Theatre for the annual awards show.

The Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly awards celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Since 1993, the ESPYs have honored the top athletes and sports performers of the year.

Prior to the show, Patrick Mahomes was announced as the NFL Player of the Year and Nikola Jokíć as the NBA player of the year.

Chicago White Sox pitcher Liam Hendriks will receive the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance to recognize his hard fought battle against cancer; the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team will receive the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage for their fight for equal pay; and the Buffalo Bills training staff will be honored with the Pat Tillman Award for Service in recognition of their fast and life-saving service to Damar Hamlin when he went...

The 2023 Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly (Espy) Awards are coming up fast! This year’s ESPYs will be held on Wednesday, July 12 at 8 p.m. Et on ABC. The world’s best athletes will be in attendance for the awarding of such honors as Best Athlete, Men’s Sports,” “Best Athlete, Women’s Sports,” “Best Breakthrough Athlete,” “Best Record Breaking Performance” and more. You can watch ABC with a 5-Day Free Trial of Directv Stream. You can also watch with Hulu Live TV, Fubo, or YouTube TV.

How to Watch 2023 Espy Awards When: Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 8:00 Pm Edt TV: ABC Stream: Watch with a 5-Day Free Trial of Directv Stream. 5-Day Free Trial$74.99+ / month directv.com/stream About 2023 Espy Awards

The star-studded 2023 Espy ceremony from Los Angeles will relive the highlight moments of the year, honor leading athletes and performances, and bring together the sports industry’s fan favorites and biggest stars.

With many animated series being storyboard-driven, striking and amusing visuals are required to keep audiences entertained. However, a show's aesthetic can only take it so far. Every great show requires complex and entertaining characters to keep viewers coming back -- a task especially difficult for a predominantly kids audience.

Cartoon Network is known for creating some of the most notable animated characters, including Adventure Time's Jake, the Powerpuff Girls, and Courage the cowardly dog. It's also known for creating some of the most out-there characters whose job is to create chaos to drive the story forward and to make audiences laugh.

Related: 10 Darkest Cartoon Network Characters

Coco

One of Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends' main characters, Coco is the frantic source of entertainment for audiences and other characters. While no one knows what Coco is, her jagged beak and palm tree for a head only contribute to her rambunctious and zany personality.

After taking a break from Hollywood following last year's defamation trial with ex-husband Johnny Depp, Amber Heard returned to the spotlight by attending the world premiere of her newest movie, In the Fire, at the Taormina Film Festival in Taormina, Italy. It marked the first public appearance for Heard since the trial, which saw a jury siding heavily with Depp. While Heard would appeal the verdict, she later agreed to a settlement, announcing in December that she had "made no admission" but merely wanted to move on with her life, putting the legal drama with Depp behind her.

In a recent conversation with Deadline, Heard addressed her plans to resume her acting career, hoping that those who've been insulting her online will similarly move on. She went on to reflect on how she's been acting professionally since she was a teenager, proud of the decades of experience she's put in at this point.

New music from Celine Dion is here!

On Friday, the Canadian superstar released her new single, “I’ll Be”, from the Priyanka Chopra and Sam Heughan romantic drama “Love Again”.

Read More: ‘Love Again’ Stars Sam Heughan, Priyanka Chopra Jonas Reveal They Never Filmed With Celine Dion

“No, you won’t be alone through the highs and the lows/You know you got me/Wherever you go,” Dion sings in the chorus.

The song is one of five new tracks Dion recorded for the “Love Again” again soundtrack, along with appearing in the film. The singer released the film’s title song last month.

In the movie, Chopra plays a journalist mourning the death of her fiancé when she is assigned to profile Dion.

Read More: Céline Dion Debuts Title Track From Rom-Com ‘Love Again’ Starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas And Sam Heughan

The new songs are the singer’s first...

In the new film Love Again, Celine Dion stars alongside Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Sam Heughan as a fictionalized version of herself. The singer also recorded five songs for the rom-com’s soundtrack, including “Love Again” and the newly released “I’ll Be,” which is fittingly an alternate universe version of “My Heart Will Go On.”

The chorus of “I’ll Be,” which promises “No, you won’t be alone through the highs and the lows/You know you got me/Wherever you go,” feels like a repackaging of “Near,...

India’s leading entertainment and Communication Company, Wizcraft weaves its magic yet again with its theatrical creative endeavor, ‘Jaan E Jigar’. This remarkable two hour show blended with prefect Bollywood masala premieres this December 9th at Dubai Parks. Touted as one of the biggest Bollywood theatrical, ‘Jaan E Jigar’ is a spectacular two hour show, produced and conceptualized by Wizcraft. The musical extravaganza is an original piece of theatre, created & directed by the creativity of the multitalented Viraf Sarkari, Director, Wizcraft International Entertainment.

On the screening of his premier Viraf Sarkari commented, ”It was an exciting and challenging journey of almost 3 years creating, producing & directing Jaan-E-Jigar, I am very thankful on behalf of wizcraft to Dubai Parks & Resorts for providing the biggest Bollywood musical stage for the screening. Jaan E Jigaar is being staged at the world’s 1st Bollywood Park at Dubai parks & resorts.”

Set in the royal town of Ishqabad,...

India’s biggest celebration of music, The Global Indian Music Academy (GiMA) has unveiled its most illustrious nominee list for the year. Only the most outstanding in the industry have the honor of receiving a GiMAnomination, with only the finest getting a chance to walk awaywith the most coveted music award in India- the GiMA award.

For the film category, Bajirao Mastani bagged the maximum nominations by receiving a nod in nine categories. Following closely with seven nominations is the super hit movie Tamasha and Roy with six.

Global music icon A.R. Rahman has been nominated for his incredible work as music director in Tamasha and Arijit Singh features prominently on the list for his playback singing.

Sabbas Joseph, Director – Wizcraft International said, “Every year with the Gionee Colors GiMA Awards, we aspire to bring forth newer talent and recognize true achievements in the music industry. This year we have...

Namaste, Sat Sri Akaal, Assalamualaikum and welcome to My Christmas/New Year’s present to all you Bollywood fanatics. The 2015 countdown of the Top Grossing Films.

Now for the countdown. Bear in mind that this countdown is based on pure fact and figures. This is a countdown based on what you the viewer have voted for with your feet, as you the viewer have taken the time out from your lives to see these films in your droves. You may agree with some of them you may not agree with some of them – but come what may, these are your top ten grossers for 2015.

10. Gabbar is Back

Starring – Akshay Kumar, Shruti Hassan, Suman Talwar, Jaideep Ahlawat, Sunil Grover

Director – Krish

Producer – Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Viacom 18 Motion Pictures, Shabina Khan

Music – Chirantan Bhatt, Yo Yo Honey Singh, Manj Musik

Release Date – May 1st

Okay I will be honest. I was surprised...

After the launch of their first song O Fanny Re, the Finding Fanny team launched the second song of the movie – Shake Your Bootiya. While the music duo of Sachin-Jigar had already given us a preview of the song at the previous launch by doing a live rendition, the video of the song was released today by the lead pair Arjun Kapoor and Deepika Padukone. Homi Adajania, who has directed the movie, was unavailable as he was with the censor board where the movie was being reviewed.

Unlike other events, this was held pretty early in the morning, but even then the lead duo was nothing short of their charming self. The video of the song is quirky like the movie and with a different concept. Choreographed by Shiamak Davar, the song has the puppet versions of the lead characters dance in a dollhouse. Both Arjun and Deepika said...

Finding Fanny is an upcoming comedy which has been directed by Homi Adajania (famed for Cocktail and Being Cyrus). Starring Deepika Padukone and Arjun Kapoor in the leading roles, the film also has legends Naseeruddin Shah, Dimple Kapadia and Pankaj Kapur in supporting roles. The film is based on a journey where the five ‘oddballs’ set out on a journey to find Stefanie (Fanny) Fernandez, who is the long lost love of Ferdie (played by Naseeruddin Shah). With special appearances from Ranveer Singh and Anjali Patil, Finding Fanny is scheduled for release on 12 September and hopefully it should be a film full of fun and adventure. The music has been composed by Mathias Duplessy and Sachin-Jigar. So does Finding Fanny (an album with only three songs) live up to our expectations? Read on to find out!

First up we have Fanny Re, sung by Mukhtiyar Ali and Mathias Duplessy.

Not many know this as yet but Suniel Shetty, known for his two-left feet and reputed to be a complete non-dancer, has a daughter who dances like a dream. Yes, Athiya Shetty, daughter of one Bollywood's most renowned non-dancers, is a fabulous on the floor, so much so that in her debut film Hero, a special dance number is being created for Athiya to dance to. The number composed by Sachin-Jigar would be shot with over 200 chorus dancers. Athiya Shetty would be seen in a fusion avatar dancing to both Western and Hindustani classical steps. Apparently, Athiya's big song-and-dance would convey the grandiosity and glamour of Madhuri Dixit's 'Ek do teen' in Tezaab and Sridevi's Hawa Hawaai in Mr. India. According to sources, the number has been completely revamped keeping in mind, Athiya's newly-discovered dancing skills. Says a source from the team, "This dance number was earlier meant...

Entertainment is an upcoming comedy starring Akshay Kumar and Tamannaah Bhatia in the leading roles. Directed by duo Sajid-Farhad, the film is scheduled to release on 8 August and promises to be a fun-filled ride. The music has been composed by Sachin-Jigar, who have composed songs for films like Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Ramaiya Vasavaiya. The lyrics have been penned by Mayur Puri. So does the music Entertainment have anything entertaining to offer? Read on to check out our verdict.

To kick start the album, we have ‘Veerey Di Wedding,’ sung by the amazing Mika Singh. I think the vocals have been performed to a top standard by Mika and it blends well with the techno- themed composition. Though the song is by no means remarkable, you find yourself feeling the rhythm of this one and hence, it has a certain catch to it that may be enjoyed by many listeners.

This week’s Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa featured the contestants dancing on remixed music that was created especially by Music Directors Sachin-Jigar. Saturday’s show opened with the contestants dancing on the song ‘Dil Garden Garden’ from Kya Super Kool Hai Hum. Music Directors Sachin-Jigar, were warmly welcomed on the show.

Hosts Ranvir and Manish then realised that all the female contestants were not seated in the contestant area. The audience was then shown, that backstage, all the ladies were following Palak’s brother, Kiku Sharda! Kiku had come to replace Palak on the show and he had impressed all the ladies already! Naturally, hosts Ranvir and Manish were disappointed with this development!

It was then time to get back to business, and see who would be in this week’s face-off. The face-off was determined by last week’s votes (there was no elimination last week) and scores.

2013 has undoubtedly been an eventful year with a plethora of movies, brilliant performances, songs and so much more! We all had our bets on some of the biggest successes of the year, but there were quite a few releases that didn’t exactly have a very appealing trailer, electrifying buzz pre-release or glamorous promotional activities but managed to stand out and surprise us with their level of entertainment and substance. We have short listed 10 such movies here and thereby have the Top 10 surprise packages of 2013. Read on!

10. Chashme Baddoor:

Remakes are not everyone’s cup of tea, and we have seen some terrible remakes recently. Chashme Baddoor at some level can be an exception though. The film is slightly unique in the comedy genre with a certain amount of originality in it, making it an entertainer by one of the legends of comedy in Indian cinema, Mr. David Dhawan.

The year in song in 2013 certainly was a treat for Hindi music fans. With songs ranging to straight-up classical influences, to songs with a Southern tinge plus the new grooves that hit high notes of hard rock, dub step, hip-hop, and punk-rock there was something for everyone. 2013 had some wonderful musical moments and they were not all on the big screen. This year we thought we would change it up a bit and not only highlight the best songs of the movies, we also wanted to shine the light on some of the brilliant performances that took place on MTV’s Coke Studio and MTV Unplugged. So take a dekho at our list of the 50 best songs of 2013.

50. Aiyo Ji – Satyagraha – Salim Merchant & Shraddah Pandit- Salim-Sulaiman

49. Dum Mast Kalander – David – Rekha Bharadwaj – Mikey Mccleary

48. Zariya – Ar Rahman – Ani Choying Drolma, Farah Siraj- Coke Studio @ MTV Season 3

47. Raske Bhare Tore...

Coming up on August 23rd is Prakash Jha’s political thriller Satyagraha, starring an incredible cast that includes Kareena Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, Arjun Rampal, and Manoj Bajpayee. For the music of the film, Jha brought in the great duo of Salim and Sulaiman, who in turn brought in some incredible singers. Both Shweta and Shraddha Pandit are featured on the Ost and what is so cool is that this is only the second time the gorgeous songstress sisters have sung in the same film. We caught up with them to ask about their songs in Satyagraha, working with Salim-Sulaiman and much more!

How does it feel to be the only 2 sisters in this generation to sing in the same film for different songs and actors?

Shraddha: It’s a blessing. People from musical backgrounds generally hope to have at least one child to pursue music seriously and make...

Mumbai, July 2: Cast and crew of upcoming Bollywood film, Ramaiya Vastavaiya launched a dance number, starring Jacqueline Fernandez at a promotional event in Mumbai on Monday.

Fernandez and actor Girish Turani danced to the beat and tunes of the dance number titled 'Jadoo Ki Jhappi', the lyrics of which have been written by Mayur Puri and Priya Panchal, Sachin Jigar scored the music.

The film's producer, Kumar Turani, was also present on the occasion along with Jigar.

Fernandez said, "I was finding the choreography very hard and I was finding very difficult to match up to all the steps and the kind of work with.

Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor turned 39 years today! According to reports, the Kapoor has planned to have a quiet birthday with her family. Daughter of actors Randhir Kapoor and Babita, Karisma made her acting debut at the age of seventeen with Prem Qaidi in 1991. She subsequently featured in several commercially successful films such as Jigar (1992), Anari (1993), Raja Babu, Suhaag (1994), Coolie No. 1, Gopi Kishan (1995), Saajan Chale Sasural And Jeet (1996).

Raj Nidimoru and Krishna Dk have been trailblazers for quite a while on the film scene. Widening the scope of the crossover market with their debut Flavours, to their sleeper hit with Shor in the City, the duo are now taking up the zombie film and their most genre-oriented film to date with Go Goa Gone. Following three slackers on their journey for the best party in Goa, and throwing zombies and the gun-toting Boris into the mix, Go Goa Gone looks to be a hilarious ride. The film is produced by Saif Ali Khan’s Illuminati Films and stars Kunal Khemu, Vir Das, Anand Tiwari, Puja Gupta, and Khan as the wacky Russian, Boris. We caught up with Raj, who took the time out from editing, and promotions to chat about his and Dk’s creative process, the zombie genre, and the music.

What made you and Dk come up with the zombie idea?...

With just 9 days for the release, Go Goa Gone has become the most anticipated and talked about movie of the year. The laugh riot trailer and catchy songs have struck a chord with audiences. The team has got its marketing strategy spot on and hosted a Google Plus Hangout with Vir Das, Kunal Khemu and Anand Tiwari. The actors had a great time chatting with their fans as they shared their experience about working on their upcoming film Go Goa Gone.

The trio were at their quirky best as they enthusiastically answered to all the questions asked on Google Plus Hangout and Twitter. The Hangout took an interesting turn when a Zombie joined them. The stars were energetic and thoroughly entertained the audiences with their witty one-liners. The trio made fun of the Zombie and acted as they were going to kill her with the gun.

Further to audience requests...

They’ve had us tripping over the outstanding ‘Slowly Slowly’ from Go Goa Gone, and now composers Sachin – Jigar are set to up the wacky quotient with the release of the next track from the album. ‘Khoon Choos Le’ an ode to the grimness that Monday is infamous to bring along with it, was released online earlier today; the launch timed perfectly on a Sunday evening keeping in sync with the mood of the song. Composed and arranged by Sachin – Jigar, lyrics penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya, the track is sung by Priya Panchaal, Arjun Kanungo and Suraj Jagan.

Priya who wrote the lyrics for ‘Slowly Slowly’ gets behind the mic for this one. “From Soulful ‘Bezubaan’ (from the movie Abcd) to radically funky ‘Khoon Choosle’, I’m glad that I got the opportunity to showcase range n diversity of my voice,” she shares.

Speaking about how he got roped in for the track,...

A comedy. A horror-thriller. An action-adventure. Go Goa Gone is all of these rolled into one! A unique combination of fear and funny makes this film a one-of-a-kind genre bender – A Zombie Comedy, or Zomcom! This might sound like a paradox, but Illuminati Films and Eros International have decided to push the envelope for Indian cinema with their next film – Go Goa Gone. The zombie comedy, directed by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna Dk, is all set to release on May 10th, 2013. The film stars actors Saif Ali Khan, Kunal Khemu, Vir Das, Anand Tiwary and Puja Gupta.

Hardik (Kunal Khemu) and Luv (Vir Das) are two dope heads who tag along to Goa with their best buddy, Bunny (Anand Tiwary), on his business trip. Luv comes across a free-spirited girl, Luna (Puja Gupta) who casually invites them to an exclusive underground rave party on a remote island! The party is...

Bollywood heartthrob John Abraham makes a departure from his typical action-hunk roles to play a handsome, self-obsessed, vain music producer who learns a hard but valuable lesson about love and relationships in Reliance Entertainment’s latest rom-com I Me Aur Main.

The charming John Abraham (Academy Award nominated film Water, Houseful 2, Force) plays Ishaan, a charismatic, strikingly handsome music producer from Mumbai. A typical city boy, Ishaan leads a sheltered life that revolves around himself and his wants and his needs. His self-absorbed existence revolves around his mother (Zarina Wahib – My Name Is Khan, Agneepath), who rests on his every word and caters to his every whim, his over-protective elder sister Shivani (Mini Mathur) and his long-suffering girlfriend Anushka (Chitrangda Singh – Desi Boyz, Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi). Ishaan takes all the devoted women in his life for granted.

But one day his picture perfect life comes crashing down around him with sad,...

Firstly, I cannot convey my utmost excitement for Sajid Khan’s remake of Himmatwala, whether it was the exciting promos that promised a more energized Ajay Devgn or Tamannah Bhatia making her Bollywood debut. However, I did approach with trepidation when the first promos of the iconic Nainon Mein Sapna, which seemed like a by-the-numbers recreation of the multicolored sets or the lack of dance moves in Devgn and Bhatia. Yet it was the music that hooked us all in from the addictive “Tha Thaiya Ta Thaiya ho” and that Sajid and Wajid hadn’t added any overt flourishes to that iconic melody. This album is tons of fun, yet upon Khan’s insistence that they not stray too far from the source material, Sajid and Wajid play it a little safe. What we can appreciate is the ambition of the songs by using artists from the Laximant Pyarelal, Bappi Lahiri...

Film: “Abcd – Any Body Can Dance”; Music Directors: Sachin-Jigar; Lyricists: Mayur Puri, Shankar Mahadevan; Singers: Vishal Dadlani, Mohit Chauhan, Priya Panchal, Mika Singh, Udit Narayan, Anushka Manchanda, Suraj Jagan, Hard Kaur, Raman Mahadevan, Jigar Saraiya, Azaad Hussain Ansari, Tanvi Shah, Deane Sequeira, and Madhav Krishna;

“Abcd-Any Body Can Dance” is said to be India’s answer to globally successful dance dramas that have Read More...

Film: "Abcd - Any Body Can Dance"; Music Directors: Sachin-Jigar; Lyricists: Mayur Puri, Shankar Mahadevan; Singers: Vishal Dadlani, Mohit Chauhan, Priya Panchal, Mika Singh, Udit Narayan, Anushka Manchanda, Suraj Jagan, Hard Kaur, Raman Mahadevan, Jigar Saraiya, Azaad Hussain Ansari, Tanvi Shah, Deane Sequeira, and Madhav Krishna; Rating: *** - versatile album, but lacks viral tracks.

"Abcd-Any Body Can Dance" is said to be India's answer to globally successful dance dramas that have been capturing dance enthusiasts all over the world. What's interesting is that those international movies not only impressed with the quality.

Sachin and Jigar are emerging as one of the best music directors in recent years, especially considering their rapid ascension from 2 years ago. Their versatility ranges from Faltu, Shor in the City, Hum Tum Aur Shabana, to Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya. Yet, the stakes are much higher with their latest soundtrack for Remo D’Souza’s Abcd – AnyBody Can Dance, which is India’s first 3D dance film. Sachin and Jigar have produced one of the most unique and innovative albums of 2013 with this film. Bollyspice decided to catch up with these busy guys to chat about their successes, their methods, and the music scene today.

Both of you have got a great list of soundtracks that you’ve done recently, how do you try to approach these varied types of films? Do you go for directors and look for exciting scripts?

Jigar: We take a lot of...

One of the most exciting releases of 2013 has to be Remo D’Souza’s Abcd – AnyBody Can Dance, which is India’s first 3D dance film. Sachin and Jigar certainly deliver their best work with this album, showcasing their versatility and delivering a consistently brilliant selection of tracks. Each track gets you immediately hooked and even more curious to see how it will be picturized onscreen.

We start off with a bang with, Shambhu Sataya, a rollicking Ganesh devotional song that packs the punch with its loud percussion, and drums that line the track. Shankar Mahadevan opens the track with a soothing shloka, that gives way to the thumping dhols and nagadas. The interplay between Mahadevan and Vishal Dadlani raspy vocals make this a loud treat. The bridge is one of the most interesting parts as it features the chorus rapping the shlokas, which works so seamlessly. The track is energetic and deeply layered,...

Ever since her entry into Bollywood, dazzling Sonakshi Sinha has been riding high on a slew of 100 crore super hits in her kitty, including the recent Son of Sardaar and Dabangg 2. This year too, there is a string of releases which are lined up for her, but she starts the year with the special disco song in Sajid Khan’s much anticipated Himmatwala.

We present the first look of the song where Sonakshi Sinha is looking extremely glamorous in a Manish Malhotra dress. Impressed with Sonakshi’s dancing skills in ‘Go Go Govinda’ it was Sajid Khan’s idea to get her on-board as he thought she was apt for the special disco number ‘Thank God It’s Friday’!

“’Thank God its Friday’ will bring back memories of the good old days of the disco music of the 80’s and I can promise everyone that on Thursday night and Friday morning,...

Sonakshi Sinha, who has been making sincere efforts to shrug off the desi girl tag, may get an opportunity to seriously glam up after all. After shaking a leg with Prabhudeva in the ‘Go Go Govinda’ song from Omg, the actress will make her second special appearance in Sajid Khan’s Himmatwala in an introductory song. Here’s the scoop!

The song, by Sachin-Jigar and sung by the great Sunidhi Chauhan, apparently has been “inspired” by the discos of the late 70s-early 80s, with reflective dance floors, mirrors and all things shiny. According to sources, the look and feel may just remind you of the ‘Jawani jaanernan’ song from Namak Halal, in which Parveen Babi dazzled in gold.

A source close to the development said, “Sajid has conceived of this lavish introductory song for which he wanted Sonakshi. She has a certain rustic image that she has been trying to break out of.

Sonakshi Sinha, who shot to fame as the deglam village belle in Dabangg, has been trying ever since to shed her desi avatar and how. In fact recently she even did an item number alongside Prabhu Deva in the Akshay Kumar film Omg Oh My God! However now we hear that the actress will finally glam up for a 80's inspired special song in the remake of Himmatwala starring Ajay Devgn.

In fact the track that will feature Sonakshi which is titled 'Thank God It's Friday' has been inspired by the 80's disco theme, and will feature the entire regalia of the era from reflective dance floors, mirrors and shiny disco balls. But if that wasn't enough, the track is also said to feature 100 dancers and 400 extras with a look and feel that's inspired from the track 'Jawani Jaaneman' from Namak Halal.

The said song, which was conceived by director Sajid Khan,...

The newlywed Bebo not just stepped into the shoes of her sister by joining filmdom but is also going to slip into her costume for a dance number in Dabangg 2. The buzz is that the damsel is all set to do an item number in the movie and will adorn a costume that was worn by her sister, Karishma Kapoor some eighteen years ago. Karishma Kapoor the elder sister of the Bollywood beauty Kareena Kapoor is informally referred to as Lolo. Karishma has contributed to the Bollywood film industry with her performance in movies like Deedar, Jigar, Anari, Muqabla, Raja Babu, Khuddar, Aatish: Feel the Fire, Andaz Apna Apna, Coolie No. 1, S...

14th Mumbai Film Festival (Mff) announced its complete lineup today in a press conference. Mff will be held from October 18th to 25th at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (Ncpa) and Inox, Nariman Point, Liberty Cinemas, Marine Lines as the main festival venues and Cinemax, Andheri and Cinemax Sion as the satellite venues. Click here to watch trailers and highlights from the festival.

Here is the complete list of films to be screened during the festival (October 18-25)

International Competition for the First Feature Films of Directors

1. From Tuesday To Tuesday (De Martes A Martes)

Dir.: Gustavo Fernandez Triviño (Argentina / 2012 / Col. / 111′)

2. The Last Elvis (El Último Elvis)

Dir.: Armando Bo (Argentina / 2012 / Col. / 91′)

3. The Sapphires

Dir.: Wayne Blair (Australia / 2012 / Col. / 103′)

4. The Wall (Die Wand)

Dir.: Julian Pölsler (Austria-Germany / 2012 / Col. / 108′)

5. Teddy Bear (10 timer til Paradis)

Dir.: Mads Matthiesen (Denmark / 2012 / Col. / 93′)

6. Augustine

Dir.: Alice Winccour (France / 2012 / Col.

The retro-kool track from Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum is the latest B-town anthem to rule the airwaves!

In less than a day of its online launch, the now chartbusting ‘Dil Garden Garden’ track from Balaji’s forthcoming sex-com Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum, was trending nationwide on Twitter, and for a few hours, even worldwide.

The deliciously colorful video inspired by the Austin Power series, choreographed by Bosco-Caesar, lauded for its color and gusto, grabbed more than 3 Lac hits on Youtube in just two days.

According to the report dated 15th June by leading film-tracking company, Foresight, since the launch of ‘Dil Garden Garden’, the Spontaneous Recall of the film jumped dramatically by 78.9% over the previous week’s statistics while the people who definitely plan to watch the film jumped 32.1% from the earlier week. There was a jump of 58.8% in the people who definitely plan to watch the film in its opening weekend.

‘Dil Garden Garden’ from the forthcoming sex-com Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum was trending on Twitter in less than 24 hours of its online release, becoming an instant national hit.

Contrary to speculation, its star lyricist Mayur Puri was not inspired to use the ‘Dil Garden Garden’ mukhda by Gulshan Grover’s line in the Akshay Kumar-starrer International Khiladi. Remarks Puri, “‘Dil garden garden Ho Gaya’ is a commonly used comic phrase in North India to describe a feeling of joy and satisfaction. With this as a hook, the tone of the song was set. We were going to be naughty without any apologies.”

He adds, “When I heard the tune by Sachin-Jigar, what hit me first was the easy-cheesy spirit of the song. The lyrics needed to have a made-up-on-the-spot feel. We needed catchy opening words that would go with the film. The director Sachin Yardi narrated some...