Hindi film included in US varsity syllabus
An Indian film for children has been included in the curriculum of a leading US university in a course that aspires to expose students to other cultures.
"Mahek", Pune director Kranti Kanade's debut film, will be screened this spring as part of the course titled "Modern India: Society, Culture and Literature" of Otterbein College at Columbus in Ohio.
"Mahek" (2007), about a little girl's journey towards self-realisation, sensitively portrays the world of children and their rights, the university said.
The introspective Hindi film, produced by the Children's Film Society of India, has been winning awards at international festivals, including the Best Film Award at the 10th Arpa Film Festival and the Best Feature Film (Family) Platinum Remi Award at the Houston Film Festival 2008.
Founded in 1847, Otterbein is one of the oldest and prestigious universities in the US.
The Modern India course taught by Jiten V. Ruparel also includes Aparna Sen's "Mr & Mrs Iyer" and Richard Attenborough's "Gandhi". Required texts include "The Elephant, the Tiger and the Cell-Phone" by Shashi Tharoor and "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri.

Aamir apologies for his 'Shahrukh' blog entry
Putting an end to the blog controversy, Bollywood actor Aamir Khan Tuesday apologised for his blog entry where he said he had a dog named 'Shahrukh', inviting criticism from King Khan's fans and shocking people in the Hindi film industry.
Aamir told newsmen at the residence of yesteryears' Bollywood actor Shammi Kapoor: "I just wrote it out of humour and if it has hurt the feelings of mine or Shahrukh's fans then I apologise to all."
The actor also said that he shares a healthy relationship with Shah Rukh Khan.
The actor had reportedly proclaimed that he has a dog by the name of "Shahrukh". The unflattering comment had sent shock waves through the film industry.
Commenting on the episode, Shah Rukh had said: "Earlier, people used to name their children after famous people. Somebody naming a dog after a known person is a new beginning in that direction. I don't have a copyright over this name if used non-commercially."

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MOVIE REVIEW : JANNAT

When we have something in a movie that appeals to everyone, that's when we call it a masala entertainer – probably. Keeping this is mind, Jannat, with a decent measure of romance, thrill, comedy, tragedy and of course cricket is definitely a masala flick. But then every such movie is not loved. While Jannat has a new storyline, it does fall short of what we would call good cinema.

As mentioned, Jannat does have a story never told before in Bollywood. Sports as a topic too was never such a big money spinner. Thus, making the movie topical. Jannat is a story of Arjun (Emraan Hashmi) who wants to make it big, and fast.

As a child, Arjun has faced poverty very badly and does not want to struggle anymore for things he want or fancies. And he gets into gambling for that. His desires change when he meets a girl Zoya (Sonal Chauhan) who he falls in love with. He wants to give her everything that she can ever think of. This leads him to the bigger league of betting on cricket matches and then on to fixing the matches. Gradually, he shifts to South Africa and starts work there and gets involved with the underworld don Abu Ibrahim (Jawed Khan). Zoya also shifts with him believing that he has got into a big company – a lie told by Arjun.

One fine day Zoya gets to know what's wrong when a cop (Samir Kochar) arrives in South Africa and tells her to help the police. Arjun is arrested. However, Arjun refuses to mend his ways.
While the story has its novelty, it does have a lot of inconsistencies. Breaking the glass of a shop in a mall for a girl he just saw is something too over the top – for any kind of character. And the police letting him off is even funnier. Also, it's hard to believe that the police officer is almost posted in South Africa permanently just to keep track of a match fixer!

Technically the film looks fine. The photography is a hardhitting statement on the increasing standards of the Indian cinematographers. Editing is good. Background music is strictly ok. The playback music by Pritam – original, copied or inspired – is one highlight of the film. The dialogues in the film are pretty good.

Performance-wise, the actors in the movie have never been known as great actors – barring Jawed Khan who enjoys iconic status in Pakistan. Keeping that in mind Emraan Hashmi comes up with a good performance. Debutante Sonal Chauhan has got hardly anything to do except look pretty and do loads of shopping which she justifies well. Vishal Malhotra was way better in Kaal and Ishq Vishk. Samir Kochar looks confident and does a good job.

Overall, Jannat is an infesting venture for the fact that it shows betting and match fixing in a convincing way. The film has been made well. But we will have to wait and watch if people would be interested to walk upto theatres to see matches being fixed (what they already know) or they stay at home and watch the IPL matches. The makers Kunal Deshmukh and Mukesh Bhatt would be keeping their fingers crossed.