Just Bollywood
News Corner
Pankaj Kapur to Direct a Film

Immensely talented actor Pankaj Kapur, who appeared in films such as “Haasil,” “Chameli Ki Shaadi,” “Dharm,” “Maqbool,”

 “The Blue Umbrella” and “Dus,” will be directing a film titled “Mausam.”

He had been auditioning many girls for the lead role, including Shatrughan Sinha’s daughter Sonakshi, Govinda’s daughter Narmada, and has finally locked in Sonam Kapoor as the lead actress. The film will also star his son, Shahid Kapoor. “Mausam” will go on the floors in Summer 2010. Here’s wishing Pankaj Kapur the very best with his film!

Bollywood Writers Stand Up For Their Rights

Bollywood writers have united and are trying to get an amendment to India’s Copyright Act of 1957, to make the laws on par with the standards posed by the Word Intellectual Property Organization, so writers in India are not exploited and receive royalties for their work. It is no secret that most Bollywood writers are treated like second-rate citizens in the industry, many times receiving extremely pitifully low payments.

A committee was formed on January 4 after a meeting with Kapil Sibal. The committee includes Boney Kapoor, Javed Akhtar, Bhushan Kumar, Vishal Bhardwaj, Madhu Mantena, Mukesh Bhatt, Vishal Dadlani, Ram Sampat, Saket Chaudhary, Anjum Rjabali, Prasoon Joshi and Aamir Khan. Khan made some harsh statements undermining the importance of writers, in particular, lyricsts and ended up in a debate with Javed Akhtar, after which he resigned from the committee. However, Kapil Sibal and the rest of the committee members have asked Khan to reconsider.

Akthar pointed out that in most countries writers receive 25% of performing royalty whereas in India producers and music companies impose a contract that force writers to give up all of their rights to their creations. Khan said that it is big stars not lyricists which make a song hit, to which Akhtar retorted that Khan’s first big song was Papa Kehte Hain and asked, “Did it make you a star or did you make it run?”

Here’s hoping that Bollywood writers finally get their due in the industry. After all, without writers there would neither be any films nor would there be any songs in Bollywood!

Films Releasing In March 2010:

Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge? (Mar. 5)
Road, Movie (Mar. 5)
Rokkk (Mar. 5)
Thanks Maa (Mar. 5)
Do Dilon Ke Khel Mein (Mar. 12)
Hide & Seek (Mar. 12)
Na Ghar Ke Na Ghaat Ke (Mar. 12)
Right Yaaa Wrong (Mar. 12)
Swaha (Mar. 12)
Trump Card (Mar. 12)
Lahore (Mar. 19)
Love Sex Aur Dhoka (Mar. 19)
Mittal vs Mittal (Mar. 19)
Shaapit (Mar. 19)
Hum Tum Aur Ghost (Mar. 26)
Muskurake Dekh Zara (Mar. 26)
Prince (Mar. 26)
Well Done Abba (Mar. 26)
Ek Tho Chance (Mar. 2010)
Kajraare (Mar. 2010)
Kucch Luv Jaisaa (Mar. 2010)