Thaindian News

Mumbai, March 1 (IANS) Director Onir’s “I Am”, a tale of four stories woven together that takes audiences through issues and dilemmas that bruise modern Indian society, will open 13th London Asian Film Festival, starting March 18.Touching upon subjects like sperm donation, child sexual abuse and homosexuality, the film, starring Nandita Das, Juhi Chawla, Manisha Koirala, Sanjay Suri and Rahul Bose, also marks the acting debut of directors Anurag Kashyap and Anurag Basu.

Sanjay and Onir’s “I Am” is an unique film as it has been co-produced by over 400 people from 35 cities across the world and comes to a theatre near you April 22.

Other films to be showcased at the London Asian Film Festival, which ends March 27, ar “Cooking with Stella”, “Peepli Live”, “Gandhi”, “When Harry Tries to Marry” and “Pankh”.

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Film on Indian women’s cricket team makes goes to Arnold Sports fest

Filmmaker Sunil Yash Kalra’s “Poor Cousins of Million Dollar Babies” has been selected for screening at the first Arnold Sports Film Festival. The docudrama focuses on the efforts and aspirations of athletes and profiles the Indian women’s cricket team.

The screening will be Friday at the Arena Grand Movie Theatre in Columbus, Ohio, US. It is the only film selected from India to be screened at the first Arnold Sports Film Festival.

Hollywood actor-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger was amongst the celebrities who judged the entries and he will present the awards to the top winners March 6.

Kalra said the film is an “encouraging look at the game and the aspirations of women in sports.”

“Cricket is extremely popular in India and I hope that the film will raise the awareness about women’s cricket in the US,” he said.

This 30-minute action drama is a real life story that takes you into the minds, lives and dressing room of Women’s cricketers in India. Shot over a period of four years in four different countries, it captures real situations and weaves it into a gripping saga of interpersonal relationship, dressing room camaraderie

Indian men’s cricket has acquired the status of Million Dollars Babies.

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No sexy dance moves for Bobby Deol

Anees Bazmee’s “Thank You”, about extra marital affairs, has steamy scenes and some hot dance numbers. But Bobby Deol, one of the lead actors, refused to do some dance moves.

A re-mixed version of “Pyaar do pyaar lo” from the film “Jaanbaaz”, has been used in the film. Lead actors Akshay Kumar, Bobby, Irrfan Khan and Suneil Shetty were supposed to dance on the song shot in a night club with women dressed in bikinis.

One of the dance steps had the boys spanking the dancers on their buttocks, but Bobby flatly refused to the dance step.

“Bobby was very hesitant to do the spanking step. Actually Bobby is very conscious that he is married, and refrains from doing and steamy or provocative steps,” said a source close to the film.

Even after a lot of coaxing Bobby refused to budge. Bazmee tried to talk Bobby into doing the step, but he explained his predicament and the director understood.

” ‘Thank You’ is about extramarital affairs. It’s an out and out comedy, and keeping in mind the theme of the film, the choreographer came up with the step. It was a step done in jest. In fact, we were all making fun of Bobby that he felt shy,” said Bazmee.

In “Thank You”, Bobby, Irrfan and Suneil are shown as playboys who cheat on their wives. Sonam Kapoor also stars in it.