Pyramid Saimira Theatre Chain (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd

Upcoming Musical Film "Fame"

2009-04-12T23:08:00.000-07:00

Fame is an upcoming musical film which is a remake of the 1980 film of the same title. It was directed by Kevin Tancharoen and written by Aline Brosh McKenna and Allison Burnett. It is scheduled to be released on September 25, 2009.

Story Plot

This movie is based upon the 1980 film which follows NYC talent attending the New York City High School for the Performing Arts, (Known today as Fiorello H. Laguardia H.S.) students get specialized training that often leads to success as actors, singers, etc. In 1936, New York City Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia founded the High School of Music & Art in order to provide a facility where the most gifted and talented public school students of New York City could pursue their talents in art or music, while also completing a full academic program of instruction. In 1948, the School of Performing Arts was created to provide training in performance skills to students who wished to prepare for professional careers in dance, music or drama.

Lead Artists
The Students
Naturi Naughton as Denise
Collins Pennie as Malik
Kay Panabaker as Jenny
Asher Book as Marco
Kherington Payne as Alice
Walter Perez as Victor
Anna Maria Perez de Taglé as Joy Moy
Paul Iacono as Neil
Kristy Flores as Rosie
Paul McGill as Kevin
Jazz Tank as Jason

The Teachers
Debbie Allen as Angela
Charles S. Dutton as Alvin
Kelsey Grammer as Joel
Megan Mullally as Fran
Bebe Neuwirth as Lynn

Technical Details
Director:
Kevin Tancharoen
Writers:
Aline Brosh McKenna, Allison Burnett
Distributor:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date:
September 25, 2009

Official Trailer

Venkateshwarlu Bulemoni

BBC Historical Documentary Film "Earth"

2009-04-10T00:18:00.001-07:00

Earth is an award-winning British natural history film from the BBC Natural History Unit. It was released in cinemas internationally in 2007 and is due to be released in the US on 22 April 2009. The British version was narrated by Patrick Stewart and the US version is to be narrated by James Earl Jones.

A UK-German co-production, it was filmed entirely in high-definition and 35mm using the latest filming techniques. A companion piece to the 2006 BBC/Discovery/NHK series Planet Earth, the film uses many of the sequences from the television series, albeit in a re-edited form.

Earth depicts the diversity of wild habitats and creatures across the planet and cautions the threats to their future survival. It was co-directed by Alastair Fothergill, who also acted as executive producer of the television series, and Mark Linfield, also the producer of Planet Earth’s "From Pole to Pole" and "Seasonal Forests" episodes.

The same production team had previously worked on Deep Blue, a documentary about life in the oceans released in 2003 and itself based on the television series The Blue Planet. They are currently working on a television sequel to Planet Earth called The Frozen Planet and a feature-length documentary (in conjunction with Disneynature) called Chimpanzee.

Official Trailer

Venkateshwarlu Bulemoni

Hollywood Comedy film “The Hangover”

2009-03-20T03:13:00.000-07:00

The Hangover is a forthcoming comedy drama film United States, directed by Todd Phillips and Green Hat Films has produced this. Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Heather Graham, Justin Bartha, Jeffrey Tambor are the lead actors for this comedy drama film. Warner brothers are the distributor for this.

Brief Story Point
Two days before his wedding, Doug and his three friends drive to Las Vegas for a blowout bachelor party they will never forget. However, in fact, when the three groomsmen wake up the next morning, they cannot remember a thing. For some reason, they find a tiger in the bathroom and a six-month-old baby in the closet of their suite at Caesars Palace. The one thing they cannot find is Doug. With no clue as to what transpired and little time to spare, the trio must retrace their hazy steps and all their bad decisions in order to figure out where things went wrong and ‘hopefully’ get Doug back to L.A. in time to walk down the aisle.
Official Trailer

Venkateshwarlu Bulemoni

Nous resterons sur Terre

2009-03-15T22:11:00.001-07:00

Nous resterons sur Terre is a forthcoming France documentary film made in French language on nature, directed by Pierre Barougier and Olivier Bourgeois.

Nous resterons sur Terre is schedule to release April8, 2009.

Official Trailer

A Brush With Murder

2009-03-13T23:56:00.000-07:00

A Brush With Murder is a mystery based thriller film from United States, directed by Randy Bernard.

Synopsis
Detective Harry Morgan and his wife Alice have a good life in a small town. Harry is focused on providing for his family, but making it on a detectives salary can be a challenge. Alice, who is used to the finer things in life, enjoys taking art lessons at the local gallery. Alice attends a local art exhibit, where the featured artist, Elliot is more interested in Alice than selling his paintings. Elliot gets Alice alone in his private studio and tries to force himself on her. A struggle ensues and Elliot is stabbed with a pair of scissors. Harry is called in to investigate the murder of the artist, when he finds a very unique locket belonging to Alice. Tension builds as Harry wants to confront Alice about her involvement with Elliot. Meanwhile, Vernon Stanton, who's connected with local organized crime, has witnessed the entire struggle and murder. In order to repay some debts, he confronts Alice in order to get money in exchange for his silence. A showdown between Harry, Vernon and Alice will decide the fate of Alice and Harry's relationship. A Brush with Murder is a 1930's, black and white, film noir, Hitchcock-ish, murder mystery.
Forms: Narrative Fiction, Short

Starring:

Leanne Bernard, R. Keith Harris, David Dollar, Chris Houldsworth, Tom Upchurch

Venkateshwarlu Bulemoni

Thailand romantic love story ‘Friendship’

2009-03-08T22:24:00.000-07:00

Friendship is an Romantic Teen Film from Thailand staring Mario Maurer and Apinya Sakuljaroensuk, directed by Chatchai Naksuriya.

Basic Story
Adult Singha (Jetrin Wattanasin) receives a call from Jack, a friend from school. Jack sets up a high school reunion where young Singha (Mario Muarer) meets with the rest of his buddies from back in the day, including Song (the owner of a grocery shop), Kanda (Song’s wife, a chubby lady who thinks she’s so fierce), Jud Duang (a famous actor), Pong (a DJ who loves to tell horror stories) and Jack (a cool, artistic tomboy who works a stylist for a top magazine) When the entire bunch meets again, it brings back a lot of fun memory. The conversation goes on until Singha starts talking about his first and only love, Mituna (Apinya Sakuljaroensuk), a new student who transferred during the last year. Singha’s memory about Mituna is weaved into a story once again.

Lead Artists
Mario Muarer
Apinya Sakuljaroensuk
Chalermpon Thikumporn Teerawong
Jetrin Wattanasin

Official Trailer

Mesrine L'instinct de mort Wallpapers

2009-03-06T21:54:00.000-08:00

Mesrine - L'instinct de mort is an Italian biographical thriller film made in French, directed by Jean-François Richet.

Spanish film 'Un Año sin amor'

2009-02-11T23:37:00.000-08:00

Un Año sin amor (English: A Year Without Love) is an Spanish film with Argentine gay-themed autobiographical film, directed by Anahi Berneri, and written by Berneri and Pablo Pérez.

The picture played the international and gay and lesbian film festival circuits, garnering a number of awards.

Baic Story
Pablo is a struggling poet who is living with HIV in Buenos Aires.

Over the course of a year he deals with issues relating to his health, his family, his search for love and his developing involvement with leather fetishism.

The year culminates with the publication of his diary in the form of a novel, Un Año sin amor.

Awards: Wins
Berlin International Film Festival: Teddy Award, Best Feature Film; 2005.
Outfest: Grand Jury Award, Outstanding International Narrative Feature; 2005.
New York Lesbian and Gay Film Festival: Best Foreign Narrative Feature; 2005.

Awards: Nominations
Mar del Plata Film Festival: FIPRESCI Prize, Anahi Berneri; Best film; 2005.
Argentine Film Critics Association Awards: Silver Condor Award; Best Adapted Screenplay; Best New Actor, Juan Minujín; Best Costume Design, Roberta Pesci; 2006.

Lead Cast

Juan Minujín... Pablo Pérez (as Juan Minujin)
Mimí Ardú... Auntie
Carlos Echevarría... Nicolás
Javier van de Couter... Martín
Omar Núñez... Báez
Ricardo Merkin... Padre

Carlos Portaluppi... Editor
Bárbara Lombardo... Julia
Ricardo Moriello... Juan
Daniel Cargieman... Hombre Casado (as Daniel Kargieman)
Juan Carlos Ricci... Dr. Rizzo
Verónica Pagés... Dra. de Guerida
Mónica Cabrera... Asistente Social
Cristina Arocca... Infectiologa (as Cristina Aroca)
Hugo Grosso... Richard

Official Trailer

Venkateshwarlu Bulemoni

German thriller ‘In Jeder Sekunde’

2009-02-01T21:19:00.000-08:00

At Any Time (Original Title: In Jeder Sekunde) is a romantic drama based thriller film from Germany, directed by Jan Fehse and produced by TV60Filmproduktion, Goldkind Filmproduktion with the co production of BR.
At Any Second: Plot line
A handful of relationship-scarred individuals zigzags to the threshold of a new beginning. But it´s just as they come down the final stretch that the danger of skidding offs the track is the greatest...

At Any Second: Brief Intro

"The angels who proclaim love will extinguish the fire, and you will be punished," screams the mentally ill patient in Dr. Frick´s ward. Maybe Frick should listen up, for in the following days and weeks, the angels of love will be busy enticing a variety of men and women to play with fire - perhaps in order to punish them...

Sarah, tempted by drugs but trying to get her life in order, breaks up with her coke-snorting boyfriend and falls in love with a sweet-natured photographer. Dr. Frick himself, married and the father of a terminally ill child, succumbs to the charms of a strong, self-assured woman. With her, Frick finds a welcome relief from his all-consuming role as dedicated caretaker of his daughter, his patients, and his marriage.

Each of them is on the verge of a major change, each of them ready to head off in a new direction and take the risk of burning themselves on love. What remains is a search for love and fulfillment that a stroke of fate can push into a surprising new direction at any second...

The Director Jan Fehse brings his years-long experience as a sought-after cinematographer to bear on the poignant story of a handful of individuals caught in the grid of modern urban relationships.

By the producers of “Sophie Scholl - The Final Days”. Starring Sebastian Koch ("The Lives of Others").

Lead Cast:
Sebastian Koch : Dr. Frick Mina Tander : Sarah Wotan Wilke Möhring : Christoph Ronald Zehrfeld : Ben Jenny Schily : Luisa Barbara Auer : Anna Frick

Lead Crew:
Producer: Sven Burgemeister, Andreas Schneppe, Bernd Burgemeister
Screenplay: Jan Fehse, Christian Lyra
Photography: Philipp Kirsamer
Music: Andreas Helmle
Costumes: Verena Sapper
Director: Jan Fehse

Language: German
Technical Details: 99min, color, 35mm, 1:1,85, Dolby Digital

At Any Time Official Trailer

Venkateshwarlu Bulemoni

Celebrity’s before and after photo-shop (Gallery)

2009-01-27T20:45:00.000-08:00

Documentary film 'Of Time and the City'

2009-01-05T22:00:00.000-08:00

The Of Time and the City is a documentary film directed by Terence Davies.

The film has Davies recalling his life growing up in Liverpool in the 1950s and 1960s, using newsreel and documentary footage supplemented by his own commentary voiceover and contemporaneous and classical music soundtracks.

The film premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival where it received rave reviews. Time Out said "The one truly great movie to emerge so far (from Cannes)..... this film is as personal, as universal in its relevance, and as gloriously cinematic as anything he has done" and The Guardian called it "a British masterpiece, a brilliant assemblage of images that illuminate our past. Not only does it tug the heart-strings but it's also savagely funny." Duane Byrge from The Hollywood Reporter lauded the film as "poetically composed" and a "masterwork".

Grain Barge - Bernard Fallon
Lighten their Darkness

Liverpool Port Authority

Of Time and the City EXT WS

Reconstructing Liverpool

Shawlle - Bernard Fallon

Sol Terence Roy Philharmonic Auditorium

Sol Terence Roy Philharmonic Bar

St George's Hall TD directs

TD in his old parish Sacred Heart

Tenements

Terence Davies Alma de Cuba

Ternece Davies by Sol Papadopoulos

The Long Walk - Bernard Fallon

Venkateshwarlu Bulemoni

South Korean film ‘Shadows in the Palace’

2009-01-01T22:05:00.001-08:00

South Korean acton adventure film ‘Shadows in the Palace’ is directed by Kim Mee-jeung. This is Kim Mee-jeung's first feature film, but she has previously worked as part of the directing staff in The King and the Clown (2005) and Shadows in the Palace was filmed on the same set as the The King and the Clown. The movie is a fictionalized account of court maids during South Korea's Joseon era.

Brief Story

A maid-in-waiting hangs herself within the palace walls. However, while performing the autopsy, imperial medic Chun-ryung suspects murder and starts an investigation. With a taste for justice and full of wisdom, Chun-ryung bravely uncovers the deceptions. But she is soon confronted with a hidden past kept secret by those with far more power than she could ever imagine.

Lead Cast

Park Jin-hie

Seo Yeong-hie

Lim Jeong-eun

Jeon Hye-jin

Yun Se-ah

Kim Sung-ryeong

Kim Nam-jin

‘Shadows in the Palace’ Official Trailer

Venkateshwarlu Bulemoni

‘Hotel for Dogs’ (2009) comic film

2008-12-30T21:20:00.000-08:00

Hotel for Dogs is a 2009 feature film adaptation of the Lois Duncan novel of the same name about two orphans who take in stray dogs at an empty house. The film, which began shooting in November 2007, is directed by Thor Freudenthal and stars Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin, Lisa Kudrow, Kyla Pratt, and Don Cheadle.

Story
In this family film, Emma Roberts leads a star-filled cast that includes Kyla Pratt, Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon, and Don Cheadle. A pair of orphaned siblings (Roberts and Jake T. Austin) are forced to give up their beloved dog when they move into a foster home. But since they can't stand to live without him, they turn a closed hotel into a home for their dog--and any other strays they can find. Hotel for Dogs is based on the novel by Lois Duncan.

Lead Cast
Emma Roberts as Andi
Jake T. Austin as Bruce
Lisa Kudrow as Lisa Scudder
Don Cheadle as Bernie
Troy Gentile as Mark
Kyla Pratt as Heather
Johnny Simmons as Dave
Kenny Vibert as Jason
Kevin Dillon as Carl Scudder
Yvette Nicole Brown as Mrs. Camwell

Another Hollywood love story ‘Revolutionary Road’

2008-12-07T22:33:00.000-08:00

Revolutionary Road is a love story based drama film directed by Sam Mendes. The screenplay by Justin Haythe is based on the 1961 novel of the same name by Richard Yates. The film is scheduled to be released in the United States on December 26, 2008.

This is the first movie since Titanic that Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet have starred in together. It also includes their Titanic costar Kathy Bates.

Revolutionary Road: Plot Line
The story of a young couple trying to find fulfillment in an age of conformity. Trapped in a world of encoded convention, they dream without faith, as lies and self-deceptions build to explosive consequences.

Brief Story
Set in 1955, the plot focuses on the hopes and aspirations of Frank and April Wheeler, self-assured Connecticut suburbanites who see themselves as very different from their neighbors in the Revolutionary Hill Estates.

April is an aspiring actress who yearns to move to Paris, while Frank copes with toiling away at a corporate job he despises by drinking too heavily and engaging in an affair with a co-worker.

The couple's marriage slowly dissolves into an endless cycle of bitter arguments and jealous recriminations.

cast
Leonardo DiCaprio as Frank Wheeler
Kate Winslet as April Wheeler
Kathy Bates as Helen Givings

Kathryn Hahn as Milly Campbell
David Harbour as Shep Campbell
Michael Shannon as John Givings

Richard Easton as Howard Givings
Zoe Kazan as Maureen Grube
Jay O. Sanders as Bart Pollock

Awards & nominations
2008: Satellite Awards
Nominated: Best Film: Drama
Nominated: Best Actor, Drama - Leonardo DiCaprio
Nominated: Best Supporting Actor - Michael Shannon
Nominated: Best Screenplay, Adapted - Justin Haythe
Nominated: Best Art Direction and Production Design

‘Revolutionary Road’ Official Trailer

Srivenkat

Britney Spears, upcoming music album Circus Trailer

2008-12-02T22:55:00.000-08:00

Circus Official Trailer

‘Twilight’ Box Office records

2008-11-24T22:51:00.001-08:00

The pre-Thanksgiving weekend saw the dawn of a hit literary-based franchise in Twilight, instead of the continuation of a literary-based blockbuster series, since Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince's departure from the date to next summer. Between the openings of Twilight and Bolt and significant holdovers Quantum of Solace and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, the overall box office was up over the comparable pre-Thanksgiving timeframes from 2007 and 2006. However, it was down from 2005 when Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire opened.

Living up to the hype, Twilight wooed a dreamy $69.6 million on approximately 6,000 screens at 3,419 locations, drawing more attendees than Interview with a Vampire's debut to claim the biggest vampire weekend on record. The opening for the $37 million book adaptation ranks as the fifth highest grossing of November, behind the three Harry Potter releases of the month and The Incredibles.

Emblematic of its fervent constituency, Twilight set records for opening weekend front-loadedness (among non-holiday, nationwide releases). More than half of the movie's weekend gross was posted on Friday alone, $36 million, and the Friday-to-Saturday drop was 41 percent, steeper than Sex and the City's 34 percent Friday-to-Saturday drop. According to distributor Summit Entertainment's exit polling, 75 percent of Twilight's audience was female and 55 percent was under 25 years old. The overall grade from moviegoer pollster CinemaScore was an "A-," same as Bolt, further indicating that the movie's gross pattern was driven more by a fan rush than word-of-mouth.

"There was a number thrown around that if everyone who bought the book saw the movie we would open to $50 million," said Richard Fay, President of Domestic Theatrical Distribution for Summit Entertainment. "What is somewhat surprising is that 45 percent [of the audience] was over 25. The young girls who supported the book passed it on to their moms, and we're trying to get the word out to the young boys." Mr. Fay described Twilight's appeal as "a good, clean, Romeo and Juliet love story that young girls—and boys as well—can relate to." "It's not over the top," he added. "It's believable for what it is. It's all about to the uncertainty of maturing and the decisions you have to make."

In a single weekend, Twilight out-grossed Summit's five previous releases combined, and the distributor/production company quickly announced that that the sequel, New Moon, is officially in the works. Summit also generated exposure for two of its upcoming major releases. Attached to Twilight were trailers for the special effects-laden thrillers Push, featuring Chris Evans and Dakota Fanning and opening Feb. 6, and Knowing, directed by Alex Proyas and starring Nicolas Cage, due Mar. 20.

Ranking third behind a deflated Quantum of Solace, Walt Disney Pictures' Bolt dashed in with $26.2 million on around 6,200 screens at 3,651 sites, a solid start considering it's the type of picture that fares well over Thanksgiving and the fact that movies with similar subject matter, like Underdog and Firehouse Dog, have packed much less bite. Despite recalling Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story, Bolt had to overcome its story set-up of a lost television dog star. Any hint of Hollywood navel-gazing tends to put a crimp on grosses and it's been years since there was a popular dog drama on TV, hampering credibility. Still, Bolt's opening was slightly higher than Disney's last non-Pixar animated feature, Meet the Robinsons.

"We always looked at this as a ten-day weekend," said Chris LeRoy, Disney's Senior Vice President General Sales Manager. "On Monday, 15 percent of kids will be out of school, and 53 percent by Wednesday." Mr. LeRoy did not believe that the recent release of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa had much impact. "Twilight had more of an effect on us," he said. "It played to 10-14 year-olds as first choice, and I think Bolt will be their choice when they return to theaters over the holiday." Disney's research indicated that 52 percent of the audience was female, 60 percent was under 25, and 75 percent could be counted as parents and their children.

A major part of Bolt's marketing was 3-D. Launched with a record 982 3-D presentations, the picture made an estimated $10.3 million in the format, accounting for 39 percent of the $26.2 million weekend. The 3-D share was higher than Meet the Robinsons but lower than Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Taiwan film Kung Fu Dunk

2008-11-21T21:04:00.000-08:00

Mandarian live action adventurous film Kung Fu Dunk is released in February 2008. It was directed by Taiwanese director Chu Yin-Ping and filmed in Taiwan and mainland China. The film is inspired by the Slam Dunk manga and anime series, and was previously titled Slam Dunk. The filming, however, conveyed a strong flavour of Hong Kong films, reminiscent of movies like Shaolin Soccer.

Lead Story
The film revolves around an orphaned boy called Fang Shi Jie (Jay Chou), who grew up in a kung fu school and becomes a talented basketball player. Shi Jie grew up at the Kung-Fu School. He practiced excellent Kung-Fu and is equipped with good skills. Every morning, he is used as a punchbag in a demonstration by the principal of the school. When he uses shaolin iron vest (iron shirt) technique, as to not feel the principal's punches,the principal makes him stay on the streets for one night without dinner. He demonstrates his incredible accuracy to a down-and-out hustler, Wang Li by throwing cans into a bin almost ten metres away. Wang tells him, that if he can throw a coin into his mouth from twenty metre's away, he would treat him to dinner. They go to a five star French restaurant, where Wang Li's daughter works, and eat leftovers. Li convinces Shi Jie to help them make some money for themsleves. After eating, they go to a Casino owned by one of Wang Li's old friend's son, Brother Hu. There, Shi Jie wins hundreds of dollars playing darts. The resulting fight causes thousands of dollars worth of damage. The next morning, before school starts, Bian Tao, the principal of Fireball University puts the principal of the kung fu school onto his paylist. Then, after a massive beating by Bian Tao's thugs, Shi Jie is expelled. The next night, Shi Jie is once again sitting on the park bench where he met Wang Li, who is still there. On the pretext of helping him search for his family, Wang Li invites him to play basketball at 'First University' as the new star of its basketball team. Meanwhile, Wang Li capitalizes on media interest in Shi-Jie to make money via interviews and news articles.

After joining the basketball team, Shi-Jie finds that Li-Li (Lily) (Charlene Choi) whom he had admired for a long time is the sister of Ting Wei (Bo-Lin Chen), the leader of the basketball team. Shi Jie is desperate to draw her attention. Therefore, he attempts to compete with Xiao Lan (Baron Chen), who is Li-Li's idol.

The competition between Shi Jie and Xiao Lan generates an unstable atmosphere within the team. After Ting Wei counsels Shi Jie, the basketball team becomes more unified. Meanwhile, he helped Shi Jie combine his foundation of Kung-Fu skills into basketball techniques, which in turn brings his skills into full play and helps the team win many rounds of the inter-varsity tournament.

By the time of the finals, the major competitor faced by Shi Jie and his team members is the team led by Li Tian. Li used to be on the First University basketball team alongside Ting Wei and Xiao Lan, but became arrogant and was lured to their competitor's camp. The competing team comprised of players who had been banned from all basketball games in Japan. The competing university also bribed the referee of the final game. Although Wang Li had enlisted the aid of Shi Jie's kung-fu teachers, the opposing team had put in place a number of measures to prevent First University from winning, up to and including injuring First University's star players Shi-Jie, Ting Wei and Xiao Lan. Thus, due to both unscrupulous fouls from the opposing team and the referee's biased decisions and outright interference by punching out the last ball that Shi Jie throws, First University is defeated. Unwilling to admit defeat to such unjust conditions, Shi Jie recalls a technique his first teacher had utilized, and manages to turn back the clock to the time just before Shi Jie is to make his last throw of the game. Given a second chance and instead of trying to make the same last throw which will be interfered by the referee again, Shi Jie decides to pass to Xiao Lan, who in turn dunks it into the basket. Eventually, First University wins fair and square.
After the game Shi Jie discovered that his dad is the richest man in Asia. He later visit the dad, and discover why he was abandoned. His dad insisted him on his trip to London. Later that night Shi Jie decided to stay with Wang li instead, who later insist him of something more than basketball, the Olympics.

Sequel
It has been widely reported that the sequel is on the way, and production has begun.

Kung Fu Dunk Official Trailer

Korean War based 'Gran Torino' (2008) film

2008-10-29T22:50:00.000-07:00

Gran Torino is an upcoming drama film directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. Eastwood stars as a racist Korean War veteran who catches a Hmong boy trying to steal his 1972 Gran Torino. The film features a predominantly Hmong cast and will be released in 2008 in North America with a scheduled limited release for December 17, and a wider, theatrical release on January 16, 2009.

Story

Walt Kowalski (Eastwood), a racist Korean War veteran, becomes increasingly unhappy at the influx of Hmong people to his neighborhood. After he catches Tao (Vang), a teenage Hmong neighbor, attempting to steal his vintage Gran Torino car as part of a gang initiation, the boy is forced by the gang to work for Kowalski in penance. Estranged from his children and grandchildren, and having just lost his wife, Kowalski gradually becomes friendly with Tao and his family, learning about Hmong culture. He steadily loses his racist façade and attempts to protect Tao and his sister Sue (Her) from the gang.

Chinese blockbuster hit Painted Skin (Wa Pai)

2008-10-27T22:23:00.000-07:00

Painted Skin is a 2008 Chinese-Hong Kong film starring Donni Yen, Qi Yuwu, Zhou Xun, Zhao Wei, Sun Li and Chen Kun. It was directed by Gordon Chan.

Story
Though the story is based mainly on a supernatural premise, it is more of a love story rather than a ghost/horror film. It is based on Pu Songling's classic novel, Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio. Zhou Xun starrs Xiao Wei, a fox spirit (huli jing) that feasts on human hearts in order to maintain her lovely, youthful appearance. When General Wang Sheng (Chen Kun) 'rescues' her from a band of bandits and brings her home, trouble brews as the demon falls in love with the general, who is married to Pei Rong (Zhao Wei).

Another (older) love triangle is present, between the general's brother Pang Yong (Donnie Yen), the general, and his wife. Pei Rong asks Pang Yong for help as she suspects Xiao Wei for what she really is. Pang Yong is aided by an inexperienced 'demon buster', Xia Bing (Betty Sun). Hints of a developing relationship between Xia Bing and Pang Yong are there, although this is never really explored. Another subplot revolves around Xiao Wei's lizard demon ally (Qi Yuwu) who has unreciprocated feelings for her and helps her get all the human hearts she needs.

Painted Skin (Wa Pai) official korean trailer

Upcoming Malaysian film ‘Cicakman 2 - Planet Hitam’

2008-10-23T04:20:00.000-07:00

Cicakman 2 - Planet Hitam (Cicakman 2 - Black Planet) is a film sequel of Cicak-Man that will be released in 11 December 2008 by KRU Studios with collaboration with Grand Brilliance Sdn. Bhd.
Still directed by Yusry Abdul Halim with script by the director and Meor Shariman, this action-comedy will see the return of the cast from the first movie and new characters will be introduced.
Story
The evil Professor Klon (Aznil Nawawi) is back. This time, not only to overthrow the government and become the President of Metrofulus, but also to control the world's supply of fresh water through his ingenious plan; "Black Planet". When our blue planet has only 72 hours before turning black, Cicakman (Saiful Apek) comes to rescue.
But much to his surprise he face his old enemies; Ginger Boys, who return even more powerful as spiritual form as Ginger Ghosts (Adlin Aman Ramlie & AC Mizal). In addition, he is now faced with Professor Klon's hired assassin; Rrama (Tamara Bleszynski), an assassin who derives pleasure in killing as if it were a pure art form. As the situation starts taking a downward spiral, even a super hero needs help. But help appears in the most unexpected forms, including Danny (Yusry Abd Halim) his demised best friend, a powerful feng shui master, Miss Chee (Louisa Chong) and an unlikely party.
Apart from his heavy responsibilities to save the world, he also has his own personal dilemmas to address; that is Hairi vs Cicakman. He has to resolve his personal feelings towards Tania Fasha Sandha), who is seeking the true identity of Cicakman and he also has to choose whether to sacrifice his own life or save Iman (Sharifah Amani), Danny's blind sister.

Production
The shooting that took place in Penang, Gua Tempurung, Kampar, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, and Kuala Lumpur costs 2.5 million Ringgit. The costume used in the sequel is higher in quality than the prequel as well as the price cost RM 50 thousand per set while in the prequel the costume used costs only RM 20 thousand per set.
Cast
Saiful Apek as Cicak-Man/Hairi
Fasha Sandha as Tania
Aznil Nawawi as Profesor Klon
Tamara Bleszynski as Rrama
Adlin Aman Ramlie as Ginger Ghost 1
AC Mizal as Ginger Ghost 2
Sharifah Amani as Iman
Louisa Chong as Miss Chee
Linda Onn as Amarr
Yusry Abdul Halim as Danny
Aziz M. Osman as Fulus News Boss
Julia Ziegler as Kindergarten teacher
Edry Abdul Halim as Robber 1
Munir (Phyne Ballerz) as Robber 2
Ridzuan Hashim as Bakar
Jalaluddin Hassan as President Ramlan
Azwan Ali as Neighbour 1
Dee as Neighbour 2
Julie Dahlan as Neighbour 3
Fahrin Ahmad as Cameraman
Hafidzuddin Fazil as Chief fireman
Nadia Mustafar as Woman at supermarket 1
Mak Jah as Woman at supermarket 1
Zack Taipan as Japanese guy

Release
The film was first released at the 13th Pusan International Film Festival on October 5, 2008 as world premiere for superheroes in Asia segment. Other two sessions was held on October 7 at the festival. In Malaysia, the film will be released on 11 December 2008 with the goal by the producer of a million tickets sold compared to 670 thousand tickets sold for Cicak Man.
Soundtrack
Dafi - Lemah
Pianka - Mau Yang Besar
Tyco - Planet Hitam
Edry - Sumpah Takkan Cari Yang Lain
Anita Sarawak - Ular
Flava - Berhenti Mencinta
Adam - Jika Tak Kerna Kamu
Yusry & Melly Goeslaw - Dibius Cinta

‘Cicakman 2 - Planet Hitam’ Official Trailer

Saw 5 Official Trailer

2008-10-23T02:45:00.000-07:00

Aba: The Story Of Prince Pandukabhaya” (Sri Lanka)

2008-09-22T22:20:00.000-07:00

'ABÁ' is the high-budget Sinhalese film directed by Jackson Anthony, based on the historical legend of King Pandukabhaya which took place in Sri Lanka more than 2400 years ago. It was released in Sri Lanka on 8th of August, 2008. Plans are being made to screen this film in several other countries including China, Italy and Australia.

The Legend of King Pandukabhaya
The title “Aba” is derived from “Pandu Aba”, another name for the title character. This famous Sinhalese legend is extravagantly portrayed in ‘Mahavamsa’ (the most comprehensive chronicle of the history of Sri Lanka) written during the 5th Cent. AD by Mahanama thero. Although it has been difficult to specify the time period in which King Pandukabhaya ruled, it can be inferred from the chronicles that he ruled over 2300 years back. A brief description of the legend as related in Mahavamsa is given below.After Prince Vijaya, an outcast of India, who came ashore in Sri Lanka in 543 B.C. and settled in the island, died, Panduvasudeva became the king. Bhaddakachchana, a Shakya Princess, was brought down from India as his queen consort. At length, the monarchs had ten sons and one daughter. The daughter was called Ummada Chitra because of her exceeding beauty. The soothsayers foretold that the son of Princess Chitra would destroy his uncles and wrest the kingdom for himself. Therefore, the brothers decided to kill their sister but the elder brother Abhaya persuaded them to keep her in a chamber built upon a single tower (called ‘Ektamgeya’) which was accessible only through a door from the king’s bedchamber. In the meantime Bhaddakachchana’s brothers established settlements around the island. Dighagamini, the son of Digayu, one of these brothers was appointed to serve the court of the king at Upatissagama. Dighagamini heard of Chitra and fell in love with her. By means of a stratagem he visited the chamber and Chitra conceived a child. Hearing this, the uncles decided to kill the child if he were to be male but Chitra exchanged babies with another woman whose child was a girl. Afterwards Chitra’s son, Pandukabhaya, grew up in a village called Doramandalawa (Dwaramandala). When he was seven, the uncles discovered the boy’s existence and started to kill all the boys of his age. Somehow he escaped death and later on he grew up under the tutelage of a Brahmin named Pandula. Having attained youth he killed all the uncles except Abhaya and became the first King of Anuradhapura marrying Swarnapali and ruled for 70 years.

Aba: film synopsis

By the fifth century BC, the Yakshas, among the ancient peoples of the island of Lanka, had seized overall power. They were however subdued by the Sinha Clan who arrived from North India. The defeated Yakshas thereafter launched insurrection after insurrection against the Sinha Clan.Vijaya was the first to defeat the Yakshas. His nephew, Panduwasdeva, a Prince, who arrived from India, succeeded him. It was from the North East of India also that his consort-to-be, Princess Bhadrakachchana of the Royal line of the Shakya Clan came.Paduwasdeva chose as his seat of power, the City of Upatissa, located north of Anuradhapura. Bhadrakchchayana bore him ten sons and finally a beautiful daughter, Chitra. The Royal Astrologers, perusing her horoscope, articulated a horrifying prophecy. They predicted that a son born to Chitra would slay his ten uncles and assume the throne.The ten princess, complete in their faith in the prophesy, plotted to murder their sister. Chitra thwarted their efforts. Finally, she was imprisoned in a tower where she could not encounter any man...

Controversy
Although Mahavamsa is the largest source of knowledge about the history of Sri Lanka, some of its content might have been subjected to favoritism and exaggeration. As the writer of the foregoing chronicle might have been in favor of India, now these early legends are being subject to controversy. Vijaya is portrayed in Mahavamsa as the forefather of the Sinhalese, who married the Yakkha queen Kuveni who betrayed her people over to Vijaya. But it is evident from the fact that there existed a city called Sirisavattu in the island where Yakkhas lived at the time, that a civilization had prevailed in the island before Vijaya arrived. Although the chronicler portrays the Yakkhas as devils, now it is widely believed that Yakkhas were one of the major tribes in the island at that time. This fact shakes Vijaya’s position in the history of Sri Lanka. It is possible that the chronicler, who could have been biased towards India, preferred to consider Vijaya and his retinue as the first Sinhalese community rather than accepting the fact that Vijaya was a conqueror. If that is true, from that time onwards Sri Lanka witnessed a foreign rule. However, a circle of historians have now formulated the hypothesis that the father of King Pandukabhaya was a native tribesman. This hypothesis is used to explain the fact that it was King Pandukabhaya who destroyed the foreign invaders and brought back independence to the island. The synopsis of ABA is not identical to the story in Mahavamsa. It will merge historical events with imaginary ones to create the atmosphere gathering around the life of young Pandukabhaya who was protected by various people. It will portray the bravery and tact of those who were bound to protect Pandukabhaya. However, ABA is expected to bring forward a more reasonable, clear picture of the legend of King Pandukabhaya. In doing so, it will also capture ancient Sinhalese traditions and folklore to create a vivid background for the film.

Other Detailes
Country: Sri Lanka

Production Company: Mandakini Creations (Pvt) Ltd.

Genre: Drama/ History

Director: Jackson Anthony

Starring: Sajitha Anuttara, Malini Fonseka, Ravindra Randeniya, Sriyantha Mendis, Sabitha Perera, Saumya Liyanage, Daulani Anuradha, Vasantha Moragoda, Neil Alles, Bimal Jayakody

Duration: NA

Date of release: 8th August, 2008

*********

“Aba: The Story Of Prince Pandukabhaya” Official Trailer

Malaysia’s first martial arts film ‘Kinta 1881′

2008-09-12T22:16:00.000-07:00

Malaysia is set to join Thailand and Vietnam in the rush to fill the relative void in martial arts movie output from Hong Kong. KINTA 1881 is their first martial arts movie featuring local wushu champions and action choreography from Hong Kong veteran Chin Kar-lok. A newly released trailer depicts impressive action and production values similar to ONG BAK and THE REBEL.
Directed by C.L. Hor, KINTA 1881 is set in the late 19th century and centers on a tin rush in Malaysia’s Kinta Valley where Chinese immigrants poured in to seek their fortunes. A tin mine becomes a central backdrop for much of the film’s kinetic screen fighting.
This is the first release for Absolutely Black, a production company formed from Hor’s Blackbox Pictures and event management company CMG Absolute.
What should interest genre fans is that the stars are all real martial artists. Robin Ho is a former world wushu champion. Michael Chin, Kuan Fei and Shawn Lee are all national Malaysian wushu artists and David Bao is a world champion tai chi performer from China.

Of this set, Michael Chin has the most action film experience. He began working as a stuntman at age 16 and is a one-time member of Sammo Hung’s stunt team with credits that include FULL THROTTLE and DRUNKEN MASTER 2. He has even doubled for Jackie Chan.

AD Chin Kar-lok should need no introduction for Hong Kong action fans. Having started out as a stuntman in Sammo Hung’s stunt crew in the early 1980s, he has been at the center of Hong Kong’s famous action output ever since, in front of and behind the camera. Some of his best work as action director includes ON THE RUN and THE ICEMAN COMETH. His more recent work with Hong Kong’s Brat Pack in films like ONE NIGHT IN MONGKOK and DRAGON SQUAD have not given him the best opportunity to showcase his talents but KINTA 1881 and its straight up martial arts action looks to remedy that.

‘Kinta 1881′ Official Trailer

Rajini’s ‘Sultan: The Warrior’

2008-09-09T23:10:00.001-07:00

Sultan: The Warrior is a forthcoming animated Indian film. The main character is an animated version of Rajinikanth and will also be voiced by him. The film is slated to be released worldwide in early 2009 with 3,500 prints (which is a record in Indian film industry) and will be released in English, Telugu, Tamil and Hindi. The film will be produced by Adlabs (in association with Ocher Studios) and directed by Soundarya Rajinikanth, Rajnikanth's daughter.
Development
During the production of Rajinikanth’s Shivaji: The Boss, an animated film with Rajinikanth as the animated character was under discussion. Soundarya Rajinikanth also has fame from working in S.J.Surya’s film Anbe Aaruyire a couple years ago. Animation of the film is to be done by a Chennai-based animation studio, along with international specialists. The soundtrack for the film is being composed by A.R.Rehaman. Recently, Soundarya Rajinikanth had traveled to Brazil for working on the animation of the film.

The Movie's new official trailer was released on January 14, 2008. The running time of the trailer is 1 minute 45 seconds.

‘Sultan: The Warrior’ Official Trailer

Hollywood film ‘My Best Friend's Girl’

2008-09-04T22:33:00.000-07:00

My Best Friend's Girl is a 2008 comedy film by Howard Deutch and stars Jason Biggs, Kate Hudson, Dane Cook, Alec Baldwin, and Lizzy Caplan.
My Best Friend's Girl: Synopsis
Smart, beautiful and headstrong, Alexis is the girl of Dustin’s dreams. But after only five weeks of dating, the love-struck Dustin is coming on so strong that Alexis is forced to slow things down--permanently. Devastated and desperate to get her back, Dustin turns to his best friend, Tank, the rebound specialist. A master at seducing--and offending--women, Tank gets hired by freshly dumped guys to take their ex-girlfriends out on the worst date of their lives--an experience so horrible it sends them running gratefully back to their beaus. But when Tank works his magic on Alexis, he ends up meeting the challenge of a lifetime. Alexis is the first girl who knows how to call his bluff, and Tank soon finds himself torn between his loyalty to Dustin and a strange new attraction to his best friend's girl.
Lead Cast
Dane Cook as Tank
Kate Hudson as Alexis
Jason Biggs as Dustin
Alec Baldwin as Billy
Lizzy Caplan as Ami
Jenny Mollen as Colleen
Diora Baird as Rachel
Amanda Brooks as Carly
Mini Anden as Lizzy
Production
As of December 19, 2007, the film is currently in post-production and has a set release for September 19, 2008.

**************

My Best Friend's Girl: Trailer

The Pink Conspiracy: Story and Official Trailer

2008-09-03T22:14:00.000-07:00

Dave is convinced that his knockout girlfriend Jamie is cheating on him, despite his best friend Victoria's reassurance that it's all in his head. When his life begins to unravel, Dave's suspicions overwhelm him and he stumbles upon a discovery that turns his world upside down. Dave is shocked to learn that his girlfriend is the leader of a conspiratorial group of ex girlfriends, whose sole purpose is to torment him and ruin his life. Dave soon finds himself tumbling through a series of adventures as he attempts to unveil the truth, all while getting his life back on track. Dave ultimately pieces the puzzle together and finds out the hard way that sometimes-true love is worth fighting for.

************************

The Pink Conspiracy: Official Trailer

Japanese no 1 music album ‘Step and Go’

2008-08-22T21:54:00.000-07:00

"Step and Go" is the twenty-first single of the Japanese boy band, Arashi। The single was released in three editions; a normal edition containing the karaoke versions of all the songs released in this single, a limited edition containing a DVD, and a special "Cubic Box" edition available only to members of the official Arashi fan club in Japan, containing an organizer set and a special edition CD. The DVD version also contains a filmed "Secret Talk", which was previously recorded on a normal edition release audio disc.The single debuted on the top spot of the Japanese charts and sold over 300,000 copies on its first week despite the lack of any direct tie-ins and same day releases from Utada Hikaru, Hirai Ken and BoA. "Step and Go" is Billboard Japan's first Hot 100 and Hot Singles Sales number one song, when the charts debuted on February 29, 2008. It also debuted at the United World Charts at number eleven. The single is the group's tenth consecutive and eighteenth overall number one release, and their fourth consecutive English-titled release.
‘Step and Go’ (Disco) Video

Newsreelindia launches Andhra Pradesh website

2008-08-08T01:40:00.001-07:00

http://www.newsreelindia.in brings you another exciting website - www.hyderabadsaimira.com - which is a portal providing you info and services on everything about Andhra Pradesh.
This is a portal dedicated to the sweet Telugu language, the glorious culture of Andhra Pradesh, its language, art, lifestyle, movies, music and what-have-you.
This is yet another website from the stable of the Pyramid Saimira group with a view to provide info, news, services, events - in short, everything you wanted to know about Andhra Pradesh.
The site went live with the click of the mouse by T K Vibhaker, president, Operations, Saimira Access Technologies Ltd, in the presence of R Venkatakrishnan, COO.
The site will provide 24-hour live news updates related to Andhra Pradesh and Telugus living all over the world.
This is the next best thing to living in Hyderabad.Videos, audio, photos of events would be brought to you, giving you an exciting and vibrant feel of Andhra Pradesh irrespective of which part of the world you live in.
So, stay in touch with hyderabadsaimira.com and stay in touch with Andhra Pradesh.
http://www.hyderabadsaimira.com This is the url to watch out for and to share with Telugu-speaking people all over the world.http://www.hyderabadsaimira.com comes to you close on the heels of chennaisaimira.com going live.

'Tropic Thunder' Trailer

2008-07-29T02:14:00.000-07:00

Hollywood flick 'Meet Dave' Synosis

2008-07-11T01:33:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:
Dave Ming Chang, newly arrived in New York City, may be the ultimate fish out of water. He’s forty-something, pleasant looking and nattily dressed, even if his attire--an all-white suit, black tie and a neat black handkerchief tucked in his pocket--harkens back to the disco-centric ‘70s. But beyond his odd apparel, there’s something not quite right about Dave. Even the way he walks is odd; as he makes his way through the streets of New York, one of his legs shoots out way too far with each step, like he’s not comfortable in his own body. And for good reason: inside “Dave” is a crew of well-trained miniature people--a world within a world--that feverishly attempts to direct Dave’s every action and conversation. In each section of Dave's “body,” a skilled crewperson (average height: one and three-quarters inches), sporting an insignia depicting a specific part of Dave’s anatomy, mans a high tech console controlling Dave’s movements. But Dave’s crew, under the direction of the Captain from whom Dave takes his appearance, is experiencing a steep learning curve. When Dave attempts his first-ever sip of water, a tremendous wave of water rushes down, drenching everyone inside. When Dave tries on some clothing, a shirt becomes a cotton beast bent on smothering him. When he goes in for a simple medical exam, the metallic Dave must battle formidable magnetic forces from an MRI.
And a banquet of processed meat tubes he learns are called “hot dogs,” leads to an explosive situation inside a men’s room. As Dave--that is, those inside Dave--slowly navigates his way through these physical challenges, they begin to experience something with even more profound effects. A glimmer of emotion sweeps over the crew, which hails from a place that discourages emotion and individuality. Dave is changing--from the inside-out, and from the outside-in.

MMA award for Pyramid Saimira group

2008-06-21T05:19:00.001-07:00

Chennai, June 20: The Pyramid Saimira group has been selected by the jury of the Madras Management Association (MMA) for the prestigious MMA Award for Managerial Excellence for 2008.The award, called the 7th MMA Award for Managerial Excellence 2008, will be given away at a function in Chennai on June 27, 2008.Congratulating group chairman and managing director, P S Saminathan, MMA president S Gopal said the award was for the company’s work in the services sector category.The award will be given away during the valedictory preceding MMA’s 52nd annual general meeting scheduled for Friday, 27 June 2008, in Chennai.In the communication to Saminathan, Gopal requested him to present “their best practices in a seminar on ‘Managerial Excellence’ which precedes the awards function for a duration of about 20 to 25 mins followed by interaction with the audience for about 10 minutes”.

Malaysian flick “Sepi” exclusive trailer

2008-06-12T23:27:00.000-07:00

“Missing” Malaysian film trailer

2008-05-23T23:21:00.000-07:00

“The Call” exclusive trailer

2008-05-14T00:41:00.000-07:00

Malaysian horror “JM 3” Trailer

2008-05-04T23:18:00.000-07:00

Pyramid Saimira producing Malay film “Cinta U-Turn” Exclusive gallery

2008-04-17T23:42:00.001-07:00

KE MAJLIS PRA TONTON FILEM ‘CINTA U-TURN’

2008-04-17T02:28:00.000-07:00

KE MAJLIS PRA TONTON FILEM ‘CINTA U-TURN’
ARAHAN PROF MADYA A. RAZAK MOHAIDEENTerbitan Pyramid Saimira Theatre Chain dengan kerjasama Lineclear Motion PicturesTARIKH : 22 APRIL 2008 (Selasa)
TEMPAT : Cathay Cineleisure, Damansara (Hall 3)
MASA : 7.30 mlm - 11.00mlm

ATURACARA
7.30 mlm Ketibaan Tetamu & Jamuan Ringan
8.30mlm Ucapan Pembukaan Pengerusi Majlis

8.35mlm Bacaan Doa
8.40mlm Ucapan Penerbit dan Pengarah Filem
9.00 - 10.45 mlm Tayangan Filem ‘CINTA U-TURN’
11.00mlm Majlis Bersurai

Untuk Pengesahan Kehadiran, Sila RSVP :-
Farra Razlin (LCMP) – 016 662 0804 farra@lineclear.com.my
Mohd Amri Mohd Noor (LCMP) – 016 662 0803 amri@lineclear.com.my
Fax – 03 7845 7912

Rajinikanth’s “Sultan- The Warrior” Exclusive trailer

2008-04-16T00:41:00.000-07:00

Pyramid Saimira Profile –Published in Images Retail magazine

2008-04-10T21:48:00.000-07:00

Pyramid Saimira Tie up with Spize TV

2008-03-19T01:23:00.001-07:00

Pyramid Saimira Entertainment Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pyramid Saimira Theatre Ltd (NSE: PSTL; BSE: 532791), has entered into a strategic partnership with UK-based Spize TV, a Direct-to-home platform. Through the partnership, Pyramid Saimira Entertainment Ltd will facilitate content agglomeration and new channels services, on Spize TV. An associate company of the Pyramid Saimira Group had earlier picked up an equity stake in Spize TV. Spize TV is a pan-European direct-to-home (DTH) TV platform offering Asian and niche content to viewers in Europe. Spize TV is available on the EuroBird-9 (EB9) satellite, which allows viewers to benefit from the 500+ free-to-air channels on the Hot Bird satellite by a simple dual-LNB upgrade.
Spize TV will offer numerous channels in the North Bouquet and South Bouquet categories. The North Bouquet will offer Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, Bangla, Gujarati and other language channels while the South bouquet will offer Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Singhalese and Malay channels. Spize TV will also offer Chinese and Spanish bouquets shortly. Spize TV announces the launch of the platform with the complete suite of channels from the ARY Network (ARY Digital, ARY OneWorld, QTV, and The Musik), as well as two channels from the B4U Network (B4U Movies & B4U Music) in its North Bouquet. More channels will be added in due course. While the South Bouquet currently has DAN (Tamil) and TV Lanka (Sinhalese), more channels are being added to the bouquet. The fore-mentioned channels have been available since the soft launch of the channel, while the commercial launch for the viewers will be held in April 2008.

PYRAMID SAIMIRA ENTERS CHINA

2008-03-19T01:14:00.000-07:00

Pyramid Saimira Theatre Limited (PSTL) has now entered the Chinese market.The China Society of Music Research Board (CSMRB), Ministry of Culture, Government of People’s Republic of China and India’s Pyramid Saimira Theatre Limited (PSTL) have signed an Arts & Cultural cooperation agreement by which CSMRB and PSTL will take many measures to promote cultural cooperation between India & China.
PSTL will bring cultural specialists in the field of arts, film, TV, music and
dance. CSMRB will also offer policy guidelines and business consultations
for PSTL's foray into China's cultural industry.

Pyramid Saimira's tie-up with Spize TV

2008-03-18T00:55:00.000-07:00

Mr Ajoy Khanderia, CEO Spize TV and Mr PS Saminathan, MD PSTL

Business Standard
Business Standard

Economic Times

Financial Express (C & M)

Financial Express

The Hindu

Online coverage - UK
AOL Money News

http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/spize-tv-partners-pyramid-saimira/n20080314105209990045?cid=2369

AeA (American Electronics Association)

http://www.aeanet.org/prnw/200803141049UKF039

Animation Artist

http://animationartist.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=332990

Audio Video Producer
http://audiovideoproducer.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=332990 Bizjournals.com, Inc.

http://www.bizjournals.com/prnewswire/press_releases/India/2008/03/14/UKF039

Bolsamania (Web Financial Group)

http://www.bolsamania.com/internacional/noticia.php?origen=feed_prnews.noticias&id=UKF03914032008-1&isin=Breitbart.com http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=prnw.20080314.UKF039&show_article=1

Downloads Portal

http://www.downloads-portal.com/prnewswire/pr_6693-spize-tv-partners-pyramid-saimira.html

Earth Times

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/spize-tv-partners-pyramid-saimira
,315280.shtml

Financial Express Company Announcements

http://fool.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/20080314143800N5380.html

Global Investor

http://www.globalinvestor.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/news.showItem/newsID/25352

Hollywood Industry (Digital Media Online)http://hollywoodindustry.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=332990

Houston Chronicle

http://markets.chron.com/chron?GUID=4896312&Page=MediaViewer&ChannelID=3197

ITnews / NICE S.r.l.

http://www.itnews.it/news/2008/0314154601887/spize-tv-partners-pyramid-saimira.html

International Association of Journalists

http://www.journalist-association.eu/archive/news.php?newsid=7087I

nvestEgate
http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=20080314143800N5380

Light Reading (CMP)

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=LRDTLS.story&STORY=/www/story/03-14-2008/0004774230&EDATE=FRI+Mar+14+2008,+10:49+AM

Los Angeles Times

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=LATTVN.story&STORY=/www/story/03-14-2008/0004774230&EDATE=FRI+Mar+14+2008,+10:49+AM

Net PR

http://media.netpr.pl/notatka_95642.html

PR Newswire

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-14-2008/0004774230&EDATE=

PR Newswire (United Kingdom)

http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/release?id=222249

Pressemeldinger

http://www.pressemeldinger.no
/read.asp?recno=55878

PublicityInsider.com

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=PINSIDER_PDT.story&STORY=/www/story/03-14-2008/0004774230&EDATE=FRI+Mar+14+2008,+10:49+AM

R-Global

http://www.r-global.com/support/sys/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.showItem&NewsID=2420

RBC Dain Rauscher Inc. (fka Dain Rausche)

https://sites.stockpoint.com/dain/newspaper.asp?site=D&Mode=Media&Story=20080314/074p3666.xml

RCR Wireless News

http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/crain?Account=rcrnews&GUID=4896312&Page=MediaViewer&ChannelID=3197

SOA Web Services Journa

lhttp://webservices.sys-con.com/read/519582.htm

Satellite Today
http://www.satellitetoday.com/pressreleases/200803141049PR_NEWS_USPR_____UKF039.html Silverlight Developer's Journal

http://webhosting.sys-con.com/read/519582.htm Soapdom.com http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=SOAPDOMENT.story&STORY=/www/story/03-14-2008/0004774230&EDATE=FRI+Mar+14+2008,+10:49+AM

Symbian OS Developer's Journal

http://symbian.sys-con.com/read/519582.htm

WFAA - Dallas/Fort Worth TV8

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=wfaa.story&STORY=/www/story/03-14-2008/0004774230&EDATE=FRI+Mar+14+2008,+10:49+AM

Web 2.0 Journal

http://web2.sys-con.com/read/519582.htm

Web Developer's & Designer's Journal
http://mx.sys-con.com/read/519582.htm

WebSphere Journal

http://websphere.sys-con.com/read/519582.htm

WindPress.it

http://www.windpress.it/20080314/56181/scheda.php

Wireless Business & Technology

http://wbt.sys-con.com/read/519582.htm

XML Journal

http://xml.sys-con.com/read/519582.htm

Yahoo!

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080314/ukf039.html?.v=13
Online coverage - India
www.thehindu.com
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/15/stories/2008031556291600.htm
www.siliconindia.com
http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/40365
www.thehindubusinessline.com
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/businessline/blnus/02141104.htm
www.indiaprwire.com
http://www.indiaprwire.com/businessnews/20080314/28484.htm
www.news.webindia123.com
http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20080314/909244.html
www.indiainfoline.com
http://www.indiainfoline.com/news/innernews.asp?storyId=61874&lmn=1
www.in.news.yahoo.com
http://in.news.yahoo.com/indiaabroad/20080314/r_t_ians_bs_india/tbs-pyramid-saimira-inks-pact-with-spize-46e8b08.html
www.malaysia.news.yahoo.com
http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20080314/tbs-pyramid-dth-7318940.html
www.in.sys-con.com
http://in.sys-con.com/read/519582.htm
www.dnaindia.com
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1156058
www.domain-b.com
http://www.domain-b.com/industry/Entertainment/20080314_pyramid_saimira.html
www.myiris.com
http://myiris.com/newsCentre/storyShow.php?fileR=20080314103130181&dir=2008/03/14&secID=sector&code1=&code=
www.indiantelevision.com
http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k8/mar/mar151.php
www.equitybulls.com
http://www.equitybulls.com/admin/news2006/news_det.asp?id=26436
www.dmeurope.com
http://www.dmeurope.com/default.asp?ArticleID=29880
www.samachaar.in
http://samachaar.in/Business_&_Economy/Pyramid_Saimira_inks_pact_with_Spize_TV_28921/
www.vinfoindia.com
http://www.vinfoindia.com/indianstockmarket/commodities/pyramid-saimira-press-release-2-2053.htm
www.businessofcinema.com
http://www.businessofcinema.com/news.php?newsid=7416
www.sify.com
http://sify.com/finance/equity/fullstory.php?id=14622254
www.newkerala.com
http://www.newkerala.com/one.php?action=fullnews&id=34998
www.indiaenews.com
http://www.indiaenews.com/business/20080314/104223/comments.htm
http://in.reuters.com/article/asiaCompanyAndMarkets/idINBOM8785820080314

American Actress Amanda Bynes Biography and career…

2008-03-02T22:14:00.000-08:00

Amanda Laura Bynes (born April 3, 1986) is an American actress and former show host on Nickelodeon. After appearing in several successful television series on Nickelodeon in the mid-to late 1990s and early 2000s, Bynes transitioned to a film career, starring in several films aimed at teenage audiences, including She's the Man (2006) and Hairspray (2007).
Amanda Bynes has been described by The Boston Globe as having an "Everygirl" appeal, embodying "both everything her teen fans dream of being and everything they know they really are, and they love her for it." In 2006, she was named one of Teen People's "25 Hottest Stars Under 25", and in 2007, was on the Forbes list as the 5th highest paid celebrity under 21 earning $2.5 million.
Biography
Early life
Bynes was born in Thousand Oaks, California, the daughter of Lynn (née Organ), a dental assistant and office manager, and Rick Bynes, a dentist who also practiced stand-up comedy. Bynes has two older siblings, Tommy (born 1974), a chiropractor, and Jillian (born 1983), who has a Bachelor of Arts in History from UCLA and has also acted. Her maternal grandparents are from Toronto, Ontario. Bynes's father is Catholic and her mother is Jewish, and Bynes has referred to herself as Jewish though "not that religious".
Career
Bynes was trained as an actress by Arsenio Hall and Richard Pryor at a comedy camp, and began professionally acting at the age of seven, appearing in a television advertisement for Buncha Crunch candies. During her childhood, she also appeared on stage in versions of Annie, The Secret Garden, The Music Man and The Sound of Music. After taking acting classes, Bynes became a regular cast member of Nickelodeon's Figure It Out and All That (both in 1996). Bynes remained a regular cast member on All That until its presumed cancellation in 2000, though she appeared in the sketches since shooting and preparing as the star of her own hit sketch show The Amanda Show, also on Nickelodeon. The Amanda Show features a combination of comical skits and sketches, including Amanda Bynes playing Judge Trudy, a judge based on Judge Judy that always rules in kids' favor, and Penelope Taynt, an Amanda-obsessed fan.
Bynes made her film debut in 2002's modest box office success, Big Fat Liar, where she played opposite Frankie Muniz. Her first solo leading role was in 2003's What a Girl Wants, with co-star Oliver James. Subsequently, Bynes starred in The WB Television Network's sitcom What I Like About You and had voice parts in 2003's Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure and 2005's CGI animated comedy, Robots. She also co-starred in an episode of The Nightmare Room as Danielle Warner, and in Arliss as Crystal Dupree. Bynes appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair's July 2003 edition with nine of Hollywood's most popular female young stars, including Lindsay Lohan, Hilary Duff, Alexis Bledel, Raven-Symoné, Evan Rachel Wood, the Olsen Twins, and Mandy Moore. Although she is often compared with them, Bynes has said that "It's like being the hot girl at the high school party. I was never that girl. I grew up with terrible acne and feeling insecure. I was tall and skinny. I didn't feel pretty at all, and guys didn't even like me. That's why I got into comedy." Bynes has also said that her relatability to teenage audiences may stem from the fact that she is "more similar to them than some... socialite or whatever".
In 2006, Bynes starred in She's the Man, a comedy based on William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night; in the film, Bynes disguises herself as her brother in order to join the boys' soccer team due to the fall of the girls' team. Producers had originally wanted to cast singer Jesse McCartney as Bynes' brother, noting a physical resemblance between McCartney and Bynes disguised as a boy, but McCartney was unavailable. Around the time of the film's release, Bynes commented that she would like to start appearing in more mature roles, and believes that she is still developing her acting skills and maturing as an actress, saying that she is "getting better" with each role. Bynes appeared in another romantic comedy, Lovewrecked, which was shot before She's the Man but released after it, showing in cinemas outside of the United States in 2005 and 2006 and debuting in the U.S. on the ABC Family network on January 21, 2007. She also portrays Penny Pingleton in Hairspray, a film adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name. The movie, which was her first musical role, began filming in Toronto in September 2006 and was released on July 20, 2007. Bynes has stated that she enjoyed appearing in a "fun, quirky part in a big ensemble movie". Bynes next starred in another comedy, Sydney White, released on September 21, 2007. The film is based on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, with Bynes playing a freshman in the college Greek system, co-starring alongside Sara Paxton and Matt Long.
As a designer
In 2007 Bynes inked a five year deal with Steve & Barry's (which had been expanding its product offerings outside of its traditional university apparel and sweatshirts) to create her own fashion line, "Dear", consisting of apparel and accessories. The line launched in stores August 16, 2007.
Awards
Bynes won Blimp awards at the Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards four years in a row, from 2000 to 2004 for Favorite Television Actress in 2001 for All That, Favorite Television Actress in 2002 for The Amanda Show as well as the following year. In 2003 she also received the Blimp for Favorite Movie Actress for Big Fat Liar and won another Blimp in 2004 for Favorite Movie Actress for What a Girl Wants. Bynes also was a part of the Hairspray ensemble win at the 2008 Critics' Choice Awards.
Personal life
Bynes, who has a dog named Midge and drives a white Lexus SC430, graduated from Thousand Oaks High School's independent study program and has expressed a desire to attend New York University in the near future. She briefly moved into an apartment in Hollywood, California, but has since returned to her family home. Bynes is interested in drawing (She once painted a portrait of David Letterman as a gift to him.) and fashion design, having commented that she is "the girl whose biggest nightmare would be to lose my makeup bag while traveling." Bynes turned 21 on April 3, 2007 and spoke out against becoming another wild Hollywood star. "I think I’ll go out as much as I’ve ever gone out... which is not a lot. I like to dance and stuff, but drinking isn’t good for you in every way. It’s not good for your skin; it makes you feel horrible. So, drinking-wise, no". She reinforced these ideas throughout the summer of 2007, on the talk show circuit, and in many press interviews. She told Access Hollywood, "I like being with my family and friends, and I don't need to be out at the clubs." In an interview in December 2007, Bynes detailed how her parents taught her about alcohol.

Pyramid Saimira launches Simran Thirai

2008-02-27T03:48:00.000-08:00

Chennai, Feb 27, 2008: Pyramid Saimira Production International Limited, a part of the Pyramid Saimira Group, the world’s fastest growing entertainment conglomerate, has embarked on a mission to recreate television content, with the launch of SIMRAN THIRAI, a mini-mega series. The launch of this project also marks the entry of well-known Tamil actor, Simran, into the small screen arena.

Speaking about the launch of the project, Mr. P S Saminathan, Managing Director, Pyramid Saimira Group, said “Television Content Industry has to undergo a serious mindset change if it has to retain its viewership. Already boredom has set in with repetitive long-winding generational stories, portraying women as the worst villain possible. Pyramid Saimira believes in creating a paradigm shift in whatever it does and this serial will be a start of such a review, showcasing creative talents in a tight script and a fast phased execution. This kind of project will create new viewership and also will be testimony to the fact that given “quality content is platform independent”.

Also speaking at the launch, Mr. K. S. Srinivasan, Director & CEO, Pyramid Saimira Production International Limited, said, “It gives us great pleasure to work with Simran, who was chosen to play the protagonist’s role, via SMS votes. When Simran took a break from working in films, her absence in Tamil cinema was greatly felt by the industry as well as the avid movie-watchers. We are extremely happy that she has agreed to work with us for this series and we are confident that this series will be very well received by the audiences.”

Speaking about the series, Ms. Subhaa Venkat, Creative Head, Pyramid Saimira Production, said “Simran Thirai is a unique project that will churn out new stories every month, outlining varied and innovative roles for the protagonist. The serial will be aired on Jaya TV from March 3, 2008, during the prime time 8.30PM - 9PM slot daily. The roles portrayed by Simran will delineate diverse dimensions of a modern day woman. Another feature that makes Simran Thirai so unique is the fact that every story will see a different director, different technicians, thereby adding that distinct cinematic flavor to the series. We, at Pyramid Saimira Production, will soon be producing close to two hours of television content in every language”

Pyramid Saimira Production plans to rope in reputed writers, directors and other technicians from the cine and television industry for this up-market television product. Vannathupoochi, the first serial in the series, is based on a story by popular writer Sujatha and is being directed by artiste Sripriya. A. Ramesh Kumar handles camera while S. Kumareshan pens the screenplay and Subhaa Venkat, Creative Head, Pyramid Saimira Production, pens the dialogues. The second story in the series will be written by Sripriya and directed by National Award winning Director, Agaththiyan.

The special attraction of this series is the stylish title song that is the culmination of Ramesh Vinayagam’s music, Kaviyarasu Vairamuthu’s lyrics, Dinesh Master’s choreography, along with Chinmayi’s melodious voice for the playback. This song pledges to be extraordinary and promises to abide by contemporary trends and cater to every individual’s taste. The exclusive promos aired on Jaya TV since early January have already generated a lot of excitement amongst the TV-viewing audiences.

About Pyramid Saimira Group:

Pyramid Saimira Group operates in 5 countries. It is a holistic Indian Multinational Entertainment Company. It is present in film exhibition, film distribution, film production, TV content production, advertisement, Gaming & Animation, media, Food & Beverages and Realty etc. It has around nine group companies namely, Pyramid Saimira Theatre Ltd., Pyramid Saimira Production International Limited, Pyramid Saimira Theatre Chain Malaysia., Sdn Bhd, Pyramid Saimira Entertainment Limited, Singapore, Pyramid Saimira Entertainment America, Inc., Saimira Realty Private Limited, Pyramid Saimira Production Services Limited, Dimples Cine Advertising Private Limited & Aurona Technologies Limited.

Its group holding Company, Pyramid Saimira Theatre Limited, is publicly listed in National Stock Exchange (NSE: PSTL) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE: 532791). In the exhibition sector, it has over 53 multiplexes with approximately 800 screens across India, Malaysia, Singapore and North America. By 2010, the Group plans to operate 175 multiplexes with 2,000 screens in India alone. By its own estimates, Pyramid Saimira ranks as the world’s third largest cinema operator, based on its number of seats and admissions with nearly 4,36,000 seats as of January 2008.
More information is available at www.pstl.in

For further details:
Ms.Subhaa Venkat – 98409 10350
Email : subhaavenkat@pstl.in

2008-Oscar winners Actress Marian Kotillard Oscar moments… (Gallery)

2008-02-26T22:30:00.001-08:00

“Sultan-The Warrior” Trailer and Gallery

2008-01-29T22:37:00.000-08:00

Malaysian Classics : Tiga Abdul

2008-01-11T21:48:00.000-08:00

(Courtesy:wikipedia)

Tiga Abdul (The Three Abduls) is a 1964 Malaysian comedy film directed by and starring Malaysian silver-screen icon P. Ramlee. It tells the story of three brothers who are caught in a web of trickery set by the cunning Sadiq Segaraga who uses his three daughters to fleece the three brothers of all their wealth. The movie is a tribute to traditional folktales with a moral set into the story and is set a fictional middle eastern country named Isketambola, which is loosely based on Istanbul, Turkey.
Story and Plot Point
Ismet Ulam Raja is a wealthy businessman with three sons, Abdul Wahab, Abdul Wahib and Abdul Wahub. Abdul Wahab and Abdul Wahib are selfish and money-minded, running their individual businesses to success. Abdul Wahub, on the other hand, enjoys a simple life and owns a small music shop. When Ismet Ulam Raja has a heart attack on his birthday, Abdul Wahab and Abdul Wahib start plotting out how much wealth they are set to gain when their father dies. Abdul Wahub is appalled at their behaviour and tries to get their father to go to the hospital, although Ismet Ulam Raja is strongly against hospitals. Their father dies at home, and the two elder brothers immediately distribute their late father's vast wealth among the two of them while Abdul Wahub only inherits their father's house. Although Abdul Wahub is upset at this injustice, he accepts it as he is the youngest brother, and returns to his simple music business.
Sadiq Segaraga, a friend of the late Ismet Ulam Raja, has also set his eyes on the vast wealth that once belonged to his friend. He orders his three beautiful daughters, Hamidah, Rafidah and Ghasidah, to woo the three Abduls. Hamidah is successful in wooing Abdul Wahab and Rafidah is successful in wooing Abdul Wahib, but Ghasidah and Abdul Wahub only argue with each other on sight.
The two elder Abduls meet Sadiq Segaraga to ask for his two daughters' hands in marriage. Sadiq agrees, on the condition that they sign a contract written by him and his lawyer, Kassim Patalon. The contract states that if the Abduls lose their temper at any moment during their marriage, all the wealth they own will go to Sadiq and the Abduls will be sold as slaves. Although they are suspicious of the contract, they agree to sign it. After the marriage, Abdul Wahab and Abdul Wahib move into Sadiq's home, where they are told they are not allowed to eat their food, only smell it, and they are to sleep in the stables, not in their wives' rooms. The two Abduls lose their temper at these conditions, and Sadiq reveals the contract, claiming all their wealth and sells the two men as slaves.
Abdul Wahub sees his brothers being sold in the marketplace, but cannot do anything. That night his father appears to him in a dream, telling him to meet a man named Sulaiman Akh-laken. Abdul Wahub does as he's instructed and it turns out that Sulaiman Akh-laken is Ismet Ulam Raja's lawyer who managed Ismet's overseas properties, which are now passed on to Abdul Wahub. Abdul Wahub discovers that he is several times richer than his two elder brothers combined. Using this knowledge, he starts his plan by meeting Sadiq Segaraga and asking for Ghasidah's hand in marriage. Sadiq shows Abdul Wahub the same contract he'd presented to his elder brothers, and Abdul Wahub says that he'll sign it, on the condition that Sadiq signs another contract. The second contract states that if Sadiq loses his temper, then Abdul Wahub will claim all his wealth and sell Sadiq as a slave.
Abdul Wahub and Ghasidah are married, although they supposedly still hate each other. Abdul Wahub arrives at Sadiq's home and is told the same things his brothers were told but, being prepared, he reacts to all the conditions with ease. The following days Abdul Wahub counters Sadiq's trickery by avoiding Ghasidah, going on supposed dinner dates with another woman and giving away all the things in Sadiq's shop to the poor. Each time Sadiq almost loses his temper, but his lawyer Kassim Patalon reminds him about the contract he signed.
Ghasidah then confronts Abdul Wahub, asking him whether he's really having an affair with another woman. At first Abdul Wahub pretends it is true, but the truth comes out that it was just pretend, and that he is actually in love with Ghasidah, and Ghasidah is in love with him.
Sadiq Segaraga finally loses his temper when Abdul Wahub invites the people of the town into Sadiq's house to take away anything they want. When Sadiq admits that his truly angry, Abdul Wahub reveals the contract, taking everything that Sadiq owns and selling Sadiq, Kassim Patalon, Rafidah and Hamidah as slaves in the market.
After a while, Abdul Wahub buys Abdul Wahab and Abdul Wahib (who have been bought by a merchant), along with Sadiq, Kassim Patalon, Rafidah and Hamidah, and brings all of them back to the house that was once the only thing that Abdul Wahub inherited from Ismet Ulam Raja. After a tearful speech, Abdul Wahub apologizes to everyone for his doing and undoes the contracts that bound them as slaves. All those who spent their time as slaves learned their lesson.
Cast
P. Ramlee as Abdul Wahub (youngest son)
Haji Mahadi as Abdul Wahab (eldest son)
S. Kadarisman as Abdul Wahib (middle son)
Ahmad Nisfu as Sadiq Segaraga
Sarimah as Ghasidah (youngest daughter)
Mariani as Hamidah (eldest daughter)
Dayang Sofia as Rafidah (middle daughter)
M. Babjan as Ismet Ulam Raja
Salleh Kamil as Kassim Patalon
S. Shamsuddin as Pencerita
Songs
Bunyi Guitar (The Sound of the Guitar) - Performed by P. Ramlee
Tolong Kami, Bantu Kami (Oh Please Help Us) - Performed by P. Ramlee
Sedangkan Lidah Lagi Tergigit (Even the Tongue) - Performed by P. Ramlee and Saloma

Malaysian classics: Sumolah

2008-01-09T22:09:00.000-08:00

(Courtesy: wikipedia)

Sumolah (Let's Sumo) is a 2007 Malaysian action-comedy film starring Afdlin Shauki and featuring the Japanese sport of sumo wrestling. The film was shot in Malaysia and Japan. The film has a multi-national cast including Thai actress Inthira Charoenpura who was previously known for her performance in Nang Nak, and Singaporean actor Gurmit Singh known for his performance in the sitcom Phua Chu Kang. The plot of the film revolves about what would happen if an unambitious Malay mat rempit is forced to enter the challenging world of sumo.
Story and Plot Point
Ramlee (Afdlin Shauki) is a down and out Malay boy who cannot seem to hold down a job, much to his mother’s (Kartina Aziz) disappointment. Out of a job and out of money, he stumbles across a challenge by sushi restaurant owner Honda (Patrick Teoh) to “eat all you can for free food – within a time limit”. Hungry and desperate, Ramlee attempts the challenge, and fails. In compensation, Honda (Patrick Teoh) lets Ramlee take a job at the restaurant to pay off his due.
Ramlee becomes a member of the Boleh Sushi shop staff, along with Haris (Awie) and Andy (Radhi Khalid). Ramlee is immediately attracted to Honda’s beautiful daughter, Siti (Inthira Charoenpura), who is half-Japanese and half-Malay. He begins to learn the meaning of having good work, good friends and family.
One day he learns that part of his obligation is to take part in the Malaysian Sushi Association Amateur Sumo Wrestling Championships held by the local Japanese owners of sushi restaurants.
Whilst taking part in the initial friendly bout, Akira (Gurmit Singh), Siti’s ex-boyfriend, humiliates him in public. It is only after that that Ramlee finds out that he had been tricked into working for Boleh Sushi because Honda was desperate for a third member for their team.
Ramlee has to make a choice – whether to stay on and fight for Boleh Sushi in the upcoming Championships, or to give up on his new-found family. He decides to step up to the challenge and begins training with the boys for the big fight.
He learns the meaning of the word nokotta – never give up, the fight is not yet won. He learns that no matter what the result, the honour is in fighting the good fight. Ultimately, Ramlee’s challenge is to let go of the excuses he has made for himself, and to fight till the end, no matter what.
Cast
Afdlin Shauki as Ramlee
Inthira Charoenpura as Siti
Gurmit Singh as Akira
Awie as Haris
Patrick Teoh as Honda
Radhi Khalid as Andy
Gavin Yap as Mickey
Terry Gallyot as Hassan
Ben Ten as Tadano
Mohd Afif as Kodok
Kartina Aziz as Mak

Malaysian Classics: Sepet

2008-01-08T22:49:00.000-08:00

(Courtesy:wikipedia)

Sepet is a 2004 Malaysian romantic comedy drama film set in Ipoh, Malaysia. Directed by Yasmin Ahmad, it tells a tale of a love that blooms between a Chinese boy and a Malay girl. Sepet is a Malay word which, in this context, refers to the 'slit eyes' of the Chinese.
Story and Plot Point
19-year old Ah Loong is in charge of a stall selling pirated VCDs. Contrary to the stereotype of his social standing, Ah Loong, starring Ng Choo Seong, is an incurable romantic with an unlikely hobby - he loves to read and write poetry. Quite content to carry on being the Romeo of the slums, Ah Loong's life takes a sudden turn one day when a Malay schoolgirl, Orked, arrives at his stall. She is in search of films starring her favorite actor Takeshi Kaneshiro. Love blossoms between Orked and Ah Loong, although there are social and racial pressures that stand in their way. In the end, Ah Loong is involved in a motor vehicle accident while Orked is going to England to pursue her studies. It is not clear if he lived or died until the sequel, Gubra which shows that Jason really did die. After the credits finish rolling however, Orked is shown wearing a wedding ring sleeping beside Jason, who also has a wedding ring. In Mukhsin, Jason and the adult Orked are shown to be living together. However, the adult Orked is not called by her name in this scene as the young Orked is.

Cast
Choo Seong Ng as Ah Loong
Sharifah Amani as Orked
Linus Chung as Keong
Mei Ling Ten as Mah (Ah Loong's mother)
Ida Nerina as Mak (Orked's mother)
Harith Iskander as Abah (Orked's father)
Adibah Noor as Kak Yam
Kar Hoong Thor as Pah (Ah Loong's father)
Zahan Marissa as Lin
Awards
18th Tokyo International Film Festival 2005
Best Asian Film Award
Ninth Malaysian Video Awards
Best Film
27th Créteil International Women's Film Festival in France
Best Film

18th Malaysian Film Festival
Best Film
Best Original Screenplay (Yasmin Ahmad)
Best Poster
Best Supporting Actress (Ida Nerina)
Most Promising Actor (Ng Choo Seong)
Most Promising Actress (Sharifah Amani)
Global Chinese Golden Arts Awards
Best Film
Anugerah Era 2005
Best Film
Sequels
The sequel to Sepet, called Gubra, was filmed in Ipoh, Malaysia and released in 2006. The third movie in Yasmin Ahmad's Orked trilogy is a prequel to both Sepet and Gubra, titled Mukhsin.

Sarcasms
Being cynical in character, Yasmin Ahmad included a few sarcastic remarks of today's Malaysian society in her film:
Orked had on a few occasions sarcastically criticized her friend, Ling, about her obsession with Western male celebrities, particularly Leonardao Dicaprio. She even told off Ling's Western-facelike Malay boyfriend for failing his English in the SPM examinations. This was in reference to the teenage Malays nowadays' obsession with Western celebrities.
Orked rebutted Ling's boyfriend for questioning her love relationship with a non-Malay, i.e. Jason, by telling him Malay men had been marrying non-Malays for generations. This indirectly referred to today's quite prevailing biased perceptions of people having inter-racial love relationships. It was also expressed through Keong's dialogue with Jason when the former was hospitalized. Keong had said people in the olden times can marry each other regardless of race but people in the today's more civilized society tend to fight over and think too much of such matters.
Mak Inom expressed her gratefulness to Him after knowing Orked obtained a scholarship to study overseas despite getting 5As in the SPM examinations. Kak Yam, who was sitting beside her, solemnly said Jason had 7As (probably a few years back but wasn't even offered a scholarshhip). This indirectly criticized the Malaysian Government's perceived biased treatment in handing out scholarships to non-Bumiputras.
Controversy
The film was initially banned in Malaysia for four reasons, pertaining primarily to scenes deemed in inappropriate to the Malay community and their Islamic faith:
There's a scene where the father and the mother were dancing in their sarongs (a large sheet of fabric, often wrapped around the waist (for men) and above the chest (for women)).
A scene where the father and the mother were tickling each other in bed after having sex.
There's also a scene where the family comb each other's hair, where the women only wear sarongs.
Ah Loong didn't convert to Islam at the end despite his courtship with Orked who is a Muslim.
Director Yasmin Ahmad gained enough support from the government, and finally, the movie was shown in Malaysian cinemas, with 9 cuts on the movie.

Malaysian Classics: Seniman Bujang Lapok

2008-01-06T22:41:00.000-08:00

Seniman Bujang Lapok (The Three Bachelors as Actors) is a 1961 Malaysian comedy film directed by P. Ramlee. It is the fourth installment in the "Bujang Lapok" series of films, but the last to feature P. Ramlee, S.Shamsuddin and Aziz Sattar as the main trio of actors. However, it is not a direct sequel to the previous "Bujang Lapok" films, as there are no references to the events of the previous films.
The film is a self-referential spoof of the Malay film industry of the late 1950s/early 1960s. The plot revolves around the main trio attempting to become actors and break into the film business, and hence features a fictionalised look at the behind-the-scenes process of Malay film-making during that time. The line between reality and fiction is blurred as real film industry places are used, real film sets of previous Malay films are used for the film-within-the-film, and all the featured actors use their real-life names or derivatives thereof.
The film-within-the film, "Setan Angkat Julang", is a fictionalised account of the historical event of "Sultan Mahmud Mangkat Dijulang", i.e. the death of Sultan Mahmud as he was carried upon an altar.
Fifteen years after this film was released, another "Bujang Lapok" film was made: Bujang Lapok Kembali Daa (The Return of the Three Bachelors). The fifth and final installment in the series was directed by Aziz Sattar and featured P. Ramlee's son Nasir P. Ramlee taking over P. Ramlee’s part in the trio.

Story and Plot Point
The "bujang lapok" trio of Ramli, Sudin and Ajis go to Jalan Ampas Studio in response to an open call audition. During their audition, they drive director Ahmad Nisfu crazy by forgetting the script and improvising with their own lines. However, the studio boss likes their natural comedic talent and tells the director that the trio are to be signed on for an oncoming film.
Back at home, Ramlee is in love with a nurse, Cik Salmah, who is being watched by Sharif Dol, a villain from a neighbouring village. Sharif Dol sends his mother to propose but Salmah turns him down. The vengeful Sharif Dol burns down the entire village to get even, but is later arrested for his crime.
Songs
Menchecheh Bujang Lapok
Gelora
Cast
P. Ramlee as Ramli
S.Shamsuddin as Sudin
Aziz Sattar as Ajis
Saloma as Miss Salmah
Sharif Dol as Sharif Dol
Ahmad Nisfu as Director Ahmad Nisfu
Of note, Saloma's real name is Salmah Ismail.

Malaysian Classics: Puteri Gunong Ledang

2008-01-02T23:01:00.000-08:00

Puteri Gunong Ledang (The Princess of Mount Ledang) is a 1961 Malaysian period film directed by S. Roomai Noor and based on the Legend of Gunung Ledang. The film introduces actress Elaine Edley in her first film role.
Story and Plot Point
Sultan Mahmud Shah, ruler of Malacca, dreams of a woman with unnatural beauty. Plagued by the dream, he asks the court magician their meaning. The court magician tells him that his dream is that of an extraordinary princess who lives on the peak of Mount Ledang. Sultan Mahmud becomes obsessed with the Puteri, and orders his Bendahara to cancel his scheduled wedding to a local princess.
Sultan Mahmud’s officers and Dinda, the princess he had been engaged to, are confused with the Sultan’s sudden change of attitude. Dinda’s brother, Laksamana Zainol, is especially angry on his sister’s behalf. Zainol, propelled by his sister’s betrayal, begins talking to the Malaccan people of Sultan Mahmud’s foolishness, planting the seeds of rebellion.
Sultan Mahmud commands the Bendahara to seek the Puteri of Gunung Ledang out, but he claims the task to be impossible. The elderly Hang Tuah, greatest of all Malaccan warriors, offers to find the princess for the Sultan. He forms a party of warriors and they set out to Mount Ledang to find her and present the Sultan’s proposal of marriage. They travel a great distance and have to overcome many obstacles. Hang Tuah himself becomes injured and is too weak to reach the peak, so he sends the younger members of the group onward without him. A single young warrior named Tun Mamat survives to reach the peak, where he is tempted by a flower fairy who tries to seduce him off his path. Tun Mamat repeatedly spurns the flower fairy and, upon beating her test, meets an elderly Nenek Kebayan who agrees to help lead him to the peak of Mount Ledang.
Once at the peak, the Nenek Kebayan leaves Tun Mamat, and he is greeted by four more flower fairies. They give him one final warning and then leave, making way for the Puteri herself to appear. The Puteri tells Tun Mamat that she has no desire to be queen, but she will marry Sultan Mahmud if he cana give her seven presents as her dowry. Tun Mamat descends the mountain with the message, along the way reuniting with various members of the group who were lost or left behind on the way, including the recovering Hang Tuah. When Tun Mamat repeats the Puteri's message to him, Hang Tuah realises that the conditions are a rejection and he has failed in his task to the Sultan. He decides to leave Malacca forever in self-imposed exile.
Tun Mamat and the rest of the warriors return to Malacca where the seven conditions are presented to Sultan Mahmud and the royal court, which are:
A golden bridge from the peak of Mount Ledang to the Malaccan palace,
A silver bridge from the Malaccan palace to the peak of Mount Ledang,
Seven trays of mosquitoes' hearts,
Seven trays of germs,
Seven jars of betel nut juice,
Seven jars of virgin's tears,
A bowl of Sultan Mahmud's son's blood.
At hearing the conditions the royal court is in shock and dismay, but Sultan Mahmud is so focused on the beauty of the Puteri that he proudly claims that the seven conditions are easy and commands his people to fulfill them. All the gold and silver of the kingdom is taken from the Malaccan people to build the bridges; mosquitoes and germs are allowed to thrive, causing sickness throughout the land; all virgin women are forced to cry into bowls to collect their tears.
At this time Zainol holds more secret meetings with the discontented people of Malacca to discuss Sultan Mahmud's inhumane commands. The people, now confident and angry, decide to strike at Sultan Mahmud for his injustice. During a second collection of gold and silver, a discontented man stands up to the royal collection officer and a fight ensues between the soldiers and the Malaccan commoners. This triggers more fights and skirmishes, sending the entire kingdom into turmoil.
At long last six of the seven conditions are fulfilled. Sultan Mahmud is overjoyed but is cut short when the Bendahara reminds him that the seventh condition has not been done. Sultan Mahmud visits the sleeping chambers of his son, Tengku Ahmad, to strike him down with a keris but two nights in a row he is unable to go through with it. On the third night, Sultan Mahmud is ready to kill his son for good, but at the last minute throws his keris aside. Then the Puteri herself appears and says that she will never marry him because he is a cruel man. Sultan Mahmud realises the error of his ways and begs his son for forgiveness.
The next morning Zainol and a large group of Malaccan people attack the palace. Sultan Mahmud decides to face them openly where he confesses his crimes and puts his life in their hands. All the people, including Zainol, accept his apology and pledge allegiance to him once again.
Cast
Elaine Edley as Puteri Gunung Ledang
Mazlan Ahmad
Fatimah Ahmad
Wahid Satay
Puteh Lawak
Mahmud June
Haji Ashad
Shariff Medan
Yem
Abdullah Sani
Kalam Hamidi
Ahmad Nisfu
Mak Dara as Nenek Kebayan
Songs
Silakan, Kawan
Bilangan Tangan
Burung Kakak Tua
Gunong Ledang
Lagu Puteri Dahlia
Lagu Puteri-Puteri Bunga (Melati, Kemboja, Matahari, Tanjung)
Sudah Ku Telam
Title spelling
At the time the film was released (1961), the Malay spelling of the word "Gunong" used "o" in the second syllable. In the 1970s Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka standardised the Malay language, and the accepted spelling from then until current day is "Gunung".

Malaysian Classics: Pendekar Bujang Lapok

2008-01-02T00:53:00.000-08:00

(Courtesy:filemkita)

Pendekar Bujang Lapok (The Three Bachelors as Warriors) is a 1959 Malaysian comedy film directed by P. Ramlee. It is the second in the Bujang Lapok series of films, and stars the "Bujang Lapok" trio of P. Ramlee, S.Shamsuddin and Aziz Sattar.
Although the three main characters have the same names, actors and personalities as the previous Bujang Lapok film, it is not a direct sequel as there are no canonical references to the events in its predecessor.
Story and Plot Point
The "bujang lapok" trio (i.e. three bachelors) of Ramli, Sudin and Ajis are in the middle of traveling and are waiting at a jetty for a boat to arrive and lead them across the river. The boat company is owned by a rich man named Ahmad Nisfu, who uses thugs to run the business and keep "commoners" in line. The thugs only allow certain people to take the boats early, while others have to wait a long time. An old man named Pendekar Mustar wants to cross the river, but he is ill-treated by the thugs. When he continues to insist to be allowed to cross the river, he is dragged away to be beaten up, but he defeats all the younger and more well-built thugs successfully.
Ramli, Sudin and Ajis are impressed by Pendekar Mustar's abilities and decide to follow him. They eventually meet Pendekar Mustar face-to-face and request that they be taught silat, the martial art that Pendekar Mustar used to defeat the thugs. Pendekar Mustar welcomes the boys and starts to teach them the art of silat, only to find out that they are all illiterate. He sends them to school where Pendekar Mustar's daughter, Ros, teaches to learn to read and write.
Later, Ahmad Nisfu arrives at Pendekar Mustar's house with his thugs. He wants to claim damages for the ruckus that Pendekar Mustar caused, but before he can ask for them, he sees Ros, changes his mind, and then asks Pendekar Mustar for her hand in marriage. Pendekar Mustar refuses, and the bujang lapok trio chase the thugs away.
One night, Pendekar Mustar sends the boys to meditate at a nearby cemetery. He says that whatever happens, the boys must concentrate on their training. Coincidentally, on that night itself Ahmad Nisfu's thugs kidnap Ros. They pass the cemetery but the boys ignore her, thinking that it is just another test. It takes Pendekar Mustar's wife to convince the boys to rescue Ros from Ahmad Nisfu.
Songs
Pok Pok Pok, Bujang Lapok (The Bujang Lapok Theme Song)
Maafkan Kami (Forgive Us) Malam Bulan di Pagar Bintang (The Moonlight in the Edge of the Stars)

Hollywood actress Cristina Angvilera gallery

2007-12-31T01:48:00.000-08:00

Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh gets top French award

2007-12-28T22:11:00.001-08:00

(Courtesy:IDMB)

Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh, one of Asia's biggest film stars, received France's highest civilian honor at a glittering function in the Malaysian capital on Wednesday. Yeoh, best known to Western audiences for her roles in the 2000 film, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," and the Bond girl in the 1997 movie, "Tomorrow Never Dies," received the medal of a Knight of the Legion of honor from Ambassador Alain du Boispean.Through her many stays and connections to France, Yeoh had contributed to the strengthening of ties and mutual friendship between France and Malaysia, Du Boispean said before pinning the medal on Yeoh."I guess that deep down, I am a small-town girl from Ipoh who has been living a magical dream," said Yeoh, who was dressed in an ivory Cavalli gown encrusted with crystals.Born into an ethnic Chinese lawyer's family in the northern Malaysian town of Ipoh in 1962, Yeoh studied dance and martial arts before winning a beauty pageant in 1983 that led to a commercial with action star Jackie Chan and then a film career.France's Legion of honor, established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, has five distinct ranks and is conferred for outstanding achievements in either military or civil life.

Malaysian Classics(14): Nasib Si Labu Labi

2007-12-28T00:12:00.000-08:00

Nasib Si Labu Labi (The Fate of Labu and Labi, colloquially "What Happened to Labu and Labi") is a 1962 Malaysian comedy film directed by and starring P. Ramlee. The film is a sequel to Labu dan Labi and features a number of returning cast members.
Story and Plot Point
Set sometime after the events of the previous film, Haji Bakhil's wife has passed away. Haji Bakhil is alone and depressed, but eventually meets a beautiful young woman named Murni, who is a teacher at a school for orphans. Haji Bakhil spends some time pursuing her, and his attention is apparently not unwelcome.
In a subplot, Labu and Labi discover that they are both in love with Haji Bakhil's daughter Manisah, and decide to fight for her properly in a boxing match. However, this thread is not resolved by the end credits, and the pair's feud is not addressed after their failed boxing match.
In the main plot, Haji Bakhil eventually sends Labu and Labi on his behalf to Murni's house to ask her father for her hand in marriage, but Murni's father refuses. Labu and Labi come up with a plan to kidnap Murni in the middle of the night for an elopement, but they accidentally kidnap Murni's father, instead. Labu, Labi and Haji Bakhil are arrested and tried. Haji Bakhil is able to post his own bail, but he refuses to bail his servants. The film ends with Labu and Labi moaning their fate in prison.

Malaysian Classics (13): Musang Berjanggut (1959)

2007-12-26T23:49:00.000-08:00

Musang Berjanggut (The Bearded Fox) is 1959 Malaysian period romantic drama-comedy film directed by and starring P. Ramlee. The story is in the style of a traditional Malay folktale, featuring supernatural elements and a story with an underlying moral. The plot follows the adventures of a prince named Tun Nila who sets out to find a woman who will marry him, and what happens when he finds her at last.
Story and Plot Point
Tun Nila Utama, the adopted prince in the kingdom Pura Cendana, is told by the King that it is time for him to choose a bride. However, Tun Nila refuses to marry any of the women in the kingdom, claiming that they not true "females" because they have no honour. The King is angered by his claim and orders him to find a true woman, if such a person exists. Tun Nila accepts the command and swears that he will not return to Pura Chendana or shave any hair on his face until he finds her.
Tun Nila sets up the test he will use to find a true woman. The test consists of a bag which contains a mix of rice, salt, chilli, onions, garlic and spices. A real woman would be able to cook the items in the bag, and he will marry the woman who does.
Tun Nila travels the across country, seeking shelter in any house that will welcome him. If there is a woman of marrying age in the house, he would ask her cook the items in the book. All the young women, upon seeing the mixed contents of the bag, decide that the task is impossible or that Tun Nila is insane, and all return the bag and its contents to him untouched. Tun Nila eventually grows a thick beard as woman after woman is unable to cook the items in his bag.
Tun Nila eventually meets Puspawangi, a friendly young woman calls him "Tok Janggut" ("Bearded Man"). Tun Nila asks to meet her parents and she agrees to lead him back to her village. As Tun Nila follows her, he discovers Puspawangi's unusual intelligence. When they reach the house, Puspawangi's father welcome Tun Nila to their home. As with all the previous homes he has visited, Tun Nila gives them the bag and requests that they cook the items in it.
In the kitchen Puspawangi and her mother look into the bag, and though Puspawangi's mother quickly says that Tun Nila's request is impossible, Puspawangi stops her and says that this isn't the request of a mad man, but of an intelligent man. She pours the items into a large tray and carefully sifts through the mix. Eventually she separates all the items into individual piles and is able to cook it.
That night Puspawangi presents the food to the whole family to eat. Puspawangi's father is surprised by the unusual dishes and asks where all the spices came from, and Puspawangi says that it all came from Tun Nila's bag. Tun Nila is happily impressed. The next morning Puspawangi is amazed to see that Tun Nila has shaved his beard, revealing a handsome face. Tun Nila explains to Puspawangi's father the truth behind his search and asks for Puspawangi's hand in marriage.
When Tun Nila returns to the royal palace with Puspawangi, his parents are overjoyed that he has found his bride. However, all of the senior-ranking ministers are enchanted by Puspawangi's beauty and individually plot to get rid of Tun Nila so to have Puspawangi to themselves.
The King pretends to fall ill and consults his ministers for advice. His ministers claim to dream that only the mystical Bearded Fox can cure his illness. However the Bearded Fox is afraid of women, therefore, Tun Nila is not allowed to bring Puspawangi along. Puspawangi tells Tun Nila to wait somewhere until she sends someone to inform him to come home. During Tun Nila's absence, the King and Ministers come to visit Puspawangi at night. Then, they run off as they think a ghost is haunting Tun Nila's house. It turns out that Tun Nila is in disguise. The next day, Tun Nila and Puspawangi send the Bearded Fox to the palace.When the King opens the locked chest, it turns out that the Bearded Fox is actually one of the ministers.
Cast
P. Ramlee as Tun Nila Utama, aka Raja Muda Pura Cendana
Saadiah as Puspawangi
Ahmad Nisfu as Raja Alam Syahbana
Udo Omar as Datuk Bendahara
Malik Sutan Muda as Datuk Bentara Mangku Bumi
Nyong Ismail as Datuk Pujangga
Mustarjo as Datuk Nikah Kahwin
Shariff Dol as Megat Alang
Songs
Pura Chendana
Wahai Nenek/Cucu-Cucu
Mari Kita Ke Ladang

Malaysian Classics (12): Masam Masam Manis (1965)

2007-12-25T21:38:00.000-08:00

(Courtesy:imdb.com)

Masam Masam Manis (Sourness and Sweetness) is a 1965 Malaysian comedy film directed by and starring P. Ramlee.
Story and Plot Point
The story was take placed in Kuala Lumpur on 1965. This story tells about a teacher, Sha'ari who is also a musician at night. When caught sleeping in class, Sha'ari has sworn not to perform at night clubs again during the weekday nights. Later, a young woman named Norkiah rents the room next to his. Norkiah works at a night club with her friend, played by Mariani, as a dancer. Sha'ari and Norkiah always quarrel and annoy each other. One day, while on a bus, Sha'ari helps Norkiah to retrieve her stolen purse. They fall in love with each other. Norkiah lies to Sha'ari, telling him that she works as a teacher at a cooking school at night.By that time, Norkiah has already started singing at the club where she was working. One day, Norkiah's mother and brother come to visit her. Sha'ari ignored the old woman and her young son.While Norkiah, unknown to Sha'ari as his own irritating neighbour, is forced to take her mother and brother out shopping, thus, unable to meet Sha'ari as promised. Later, when Norkiah gets home, she tries to dry her clothes by hanging them on a pole which crosses to Sha'ari's room. Sha'ari gets fed up and purposely drops the pole. Norkiah gets even by drenching him with a pail of water. Sha'ari climbs the wall to give her a piece of his mind only to find out that Norkiah is the woman that he has fallen in love with. They get married. Sha'ari proposes that Norkiah quits her job, but she could not due to her contract. One night, Sha'ari receives invitation to perform at the club where he used to work. There, somebody suggested that he sings with a female night club singer called Norkiah Hanum. Curious, Sha'ari goes to the other club only to find out that his wife is a singer and not a teacher as she has claimed. Sha'ari gets upset and starts to build a wall separating their rooms like they used to. Norkiah tries to cool him down, but he insults her and calling her a cabaret singer of low class. Norkiah's friends try to trick Sha'ari into believing that Norkiah is now divorcing Sha'ari and having an affair with her colleague, Rashid, played by Mahmud June. Sha'ari kicks Norkiah's door open only to find that Norkiah is alone with a tape recorder. He apologizes and they get back together again. Story ends with Sha'ari promoted as a headmaster of his school and has five pairs of twins with Norkiah.

Songs
Saat Yang Bahagia
Dalam Ayer Ku Terbayang Wajah
Perwira by Saloma

Malaysian Classics (11): Madhu Tiga (1964)

2007-12-24T23:18:00.000-08:00

(Courtesy:filemkita.com)

Madu Tiga (Three Wives) is a 1964 black-and-white Malaysian comedy film directed by and starring Malaysian artiste P. Ramlee.
Story and Plot Point
The central character, Jamil, marries three women without any of them realising that their husband has committed polygamy. Jamil and Latifah have been married for 12 years. When Jamil decides to marry Hasnah, he lied to Hasnah saying that Latifah has agreed to allow him to marry again because the pair (Jamil and Latifah) does not have children. Jamil who is also working for Latifah's father, played by Ahmad Nisfu, told his father-in-law about his marriage with Hasnah. Later, when collecting rent from his tenants, Jamil falls for one tenant's daughter, Rohani and decides to marry the girl. With the help of his father-in-law, Jamil manages to keep his three marriages a secret from one another. However, an encounter at the hair salon causes the three wives to meet up. Rohani invited both Latifah and Hasnah to her house for tea. Later they found Rohani's wedding picture. The three women independently befriend each other, causing Jamil to be wrapped in an ever-tightening web of lies and trickery.

Cast
P. Ramlee as Jamil
Sarimah as Rohani, Wife Number 3
Jah Hj. Mahadi as Hasnah, Wife Number 2
Zara Agus as Latifah, Wife Number 1
Ahmad Nisfu as Haji Latiff
M. Babjan as Pak Ali
M. Rafee as Rafee
Zainon Fiji as Mak Hasnah
Ahmad Sabree as Encik Rashid
Doris Han as Doris
Mislia as Rashida
Songs
"Selamat Pengantin Baru" ("Congratulations to the Bride and Groom")
"Pukul 3 Pagi"
"Madu Tiga"
Award
Eleventh Asian Film Festival (1964) in Taipei
Best Comedy Film - WON
Trivia

Saloma, P. Ramlee's real-life wife, has a cameo in the film as the singer at his character's wedding.

Malaysian classics(10):Love Conquers all

2007-12-23T23:27:00.000-08:00

(Courtesy:dahuangpictures.com)

Love Conquers All (Also Spanish: Amor conquista todo) is an award-winning 2006 movie by Malaysian director Tan Chui Mui.
Story and Plot Point

Malaysian director Tan Chui Mui's first feature comes trailing an impressive collection of awards: first prizes from Pusan, Rotterdam and Hong Kong, to name a few. This ultra-low-budget narrative of a young woman's arrival in Kuala Lumpur feels both utterly fresh and completely inevitable. Its magic is to have found a way to show us what we've never quite noticed before: Tan's camera's patient, intense, intimate (dare one say specifically female-gendered?) way of looking exposes truths that, once we notice them, seem always to have been there, just underneath, practically hidden, until we adopt the film's and director's new ways of looking.
Ah Ping (a splendid debut by Coral Ong, who acts with natural physical authority) arrives in Kuala Lumpur and immediately is absorbed into its marginal society: she works at a food stand, shares a bunk bed with an acerbically cute little niece, and coos long distance to her boyfriend back home. When roguishly charming John appears (Stephen Chua, all too convincing), his overtures to her, all cocky charm laced with a barely perceptible menace, seem almost irresistible. What follows is both shocking and entirely predictable.
Tan films with a natural authority that belies the fact that this is her first feature. Working with cinematographer James Lee and editor Ho Yuhang (both notable filmmakers in their own right), she creates images with punch and depth, revealing glimmers of a ruthlessly poetic soul.

Cast
Coral Ong Li Whei (Ping)
Stephan Chua Jyh Shyan (John)
Leing Jiun Jiun (Mei)
Ho Chi Lai (Hong Jie)
Awards
It has won several awards such as:
The Swiss Oikocredit award at Fribourg.
Tiger awards at Rotterdam International Film Festival.

Malaysian classics (9): Leftenan Adnan

2007-12-22T01:21:00.000-08:00

(Courtesy:filmkita.com)
Leftenan Adnan is a 2000 Malaysian film directed by Aziz M. Osman and produced by the Royal Malaysian Army and Grand Brilliance Sdn Bhd.

Story and Plot Point
The movie is about one Adnan bin Saidi, a young Malay from Sungai Ramal in Kajang, Selangor who had joined the Malay Regiment just before the Second World War broke out in Asia. By the time the war broke out, he had been promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant, and was in command of Company C, 1st Battalion, Malay Regiment after the death of the British company commander, Captain H R Rix. His exploits and bravery in combat while leading his men against the Japanese Imperial Army are legendary. The 2 known engagements he was involved in are:
The Battle of Pasir Panjang, and
The Battle of Bukit Chandu or Opium Hill.
Both battles occurred during the final phase of the Japanese Imperial Army's assault on the city of Singapore during the Battle of Singapore. He later either died of his wounds or was executed after the battle. Three versions of his death are recorded. However, the official version will record that he was executed by Japanese troops in anger for his stubbornness in holding his position and inflicting large casualties on Japanese troops. In the film, General Tomoyuki Yamashita was supposed to have said that if there were ten more Adnans in the British Colonial Forces in Malaya at that time, he would have needed a total of ten divisions to conquer Malaya.

Alexandra Hospital Massacre
Although not referred to in the film, there is a current theory that the subsequent Alexandra Hospital massacre was directly related to the great frustration felt by the Japanese soldiers due to the heavy losses suffered in overcoming the stout resistance put up by Lt Adnan's Company C on Opium Hill. With the loss of Company C, the remnants of the 1st Battalion withdrew leaving the way clear to the British military hospital at Alexandra and the subsequent massacre of the patients, doctors and nurses within.
Apathy of the Australian artillery
Many of the authoritative texts (except those written by Australians!) are united in their assessment that Opium Hill fell due to the refusal of the Australian artillery to fire their guns at the Japanese soldiers who were in their sights. The Australian's official stand was they had a previous order from Major-General Garden Bennett of the Australian Imperial Force NOT to support any non-Australian soldiers in the field of battle. As Australia was then a White-only society, racism was rife among the Australian troops, many of whom felt that the Malay soldiers were not worthy of their support and entirely expendable. The Australians subsequently withdrew to the centre of Singapore city to take part in an orgy of looting, rapine, murder and mass desertion. It was this complete breakdown in law and order in the rear areas which was one of the reasons for the eventual surrender despite the British numerical superiority in numbers and arms. Even Bennett was observed crying and screaming like a hysterical girl as he commandeered a boat to take him off the island and to safety immediately after the surrender was announced.

Versions of Lt Adnan's death
Version 1 - Official version: The official version as recorded by Japanese Imperial Army indicated that he was executed and then hung upside down from a cherry tree. British accounts have confirmed that his corpse was found hung upside down after the surrender and this has been repeated in a number of authoritative texts on the Malayan campaign. The actual mode of execution was never officially recorded.
Version 2 - Film version: His death was not shown, but it was indicated in the closing credits that he and the surviving wounded in his company were tied to trees and bayonetted to death. This is probably the more correct version and in keeping with similar Japanese practice elsewhere.
Version 3 - A version which was shown on a local tabloid magazine, purportedly revealed by Lt Adnan's former aide, just before his death. This version could not be verified.
Criticism

The film received criticism for using Malay actors to portray Japanese and English soldiers throughout the film. Further, the original English dialogue as spoken by the actors was voiced over by Malays speaking in halting and strongly accented English suggesting that there was an awkward attempt to alter the dialogue to give a different slant to the situations depicted and to portray the British in a unfavourable light.

Malaysian classics (8): The Last Communist

2007-12-20T22:49:00.000-08:00

(Courtesy:filemkita.com)

The Last Communist (Malay: Lelaki Komunis Terahkir) is a 2006 Malaysian film described by director Amir Muhammad as a "semi-musical documentary". It is inspired by the leader of the disbanded Malayan Communist Party, Chin Peng and the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960) during which more than 10,000 Malayan and British troops and civilians lost their lives. The film was banned from screening in Malaysia by the government's Home Affairs Ministry.
The film features interviews with the people in the towns Peng lived from birth to national independence, interspersed with songs that are fashioned after propaganda films. The Last Communist made its world premiere at the 2006 Berlin Film Festival. It has also been shown at the Seattle International Film Festival, the London Film Festival, the Singapore International Film Festival and the Hong Kong International Film Festival.

Malaysian classics(7): Labu den Labi

2007-12-20T01:38:00.000-08:00

(Courtesy:filemkita.com)

Labu dan Labi (Labu and Labi) is a 1962 Malaysian comedy film directed by and starring P. Ramlee. The movie revolves around the antics of Labu and Labi, two servants with wild imaginations who work in the house of a wealthy but miserly man, Haji Bakhil bin Haji Kedekut. The movie is filmed in the style of a stage pantomime, with over-the-top comedy and featuring the characters occasionally talking directly to the audience. The film's sequel is Nasib Si Labu Labi.
Story and Plot Point
Labu (Mohd. Zain) and Labi (P. Ramlee) are the servants in the household of Haji Bakhil, a miserly old man with a loyal wife and a beautiful daughter (Mariani). Both Labu and Labi are constantly being scolded, insulted and forced to do the traditional school punishment ketok-ketampi by the grouchy Haji Bakhil but they continue to work for him because both of them are secretly in love with his daughter, Manisah.
One night as the pair are attempting to sleep on the verandah of Haji Bakhil's house, they exchange stories of make-believe to amuse each other.
Night club
Labu and Labi talk about what they would do if they were as rich as their boss. Labi imagines that he is a magistrate and goes to a night-club where he meets Labi, who is pretending to be a doctor. In this imaginary sequence, Haji Bakhil appears as a waiter who attempts to get their order. Labu and Labi then watch a performance by Saloma who sings the song Bila Larut Malam with her husband P. Ramlee providing back-up vocals. Then there is a fashion show where Sarimah is one of the models.
After the show, Labu goes back-stage to meet Sarimah in her dressing room, but as he's talking to her Labi arrives for the exact same purpose. Labu and Labi start fighting over Sarimah, and their argument becomes loud enough that it wakes up their boss, Haji Bakhil, who shouts at them to go to sleep.
The Malay Tarzan
After a while, Labu says that he wouldn't want to live in the city, but out in the free wilderness. He imagines that he is a Malay Tarzan, complete with keris. In this sequence, Haji Bakhil is Chita, Labu's primate sidekick. As Labu is preparing his sambal belacan for his meal, Labi arrives in the dream sequence dressed as a tiger, saying that he wants to eat Labu. The pair start to fight, and their fight eventually becomes loud enough that it wakes up their real boss again, who comes out to scold them and order them to go to sleep.
In the Wild West
After having settled down again, Labu asks Labi whether he would like to live in the wilderness like Tarzan. Labi says that he would much prefer to be a cowboy. He imagines that he's a Sheriff (claims as the younger brother of Nat King Cole), while Labi imagines that he's Jesse Labu, cousin (or pen-pal) of Jesse James. Labu and Labi eventually start a gunfight in the imaginary bar, and their gun sounds effects wake their boss up for the third time. Haji Bakhil tells them to go to sleep, and punishes them by ordering them to go to work first thing the next morning.
Labu and Labi Find Their Fortune
The next morning, Labu goes into the forest to collect the firewood as ordered by Haji Bakhil. As he does, he sees a suspicious man exiting a secret passageway on the top of a small hill. After the man is gone Labu enters the secret passageway and discovers a room filled with money, presumably stolen. Labu steals the money and disappears. At the Haji Bakhil home, they are mourning the loss of Labu, who has not returned for days. But then they are given a surprise when Haji Bakhil's assistant arrives at the house, announcing that Labu has recently inherited a fortune and seeks Manisah's hand in marriage. Haji Bakhil refuses, and as retaliation Labu visits a bomoh (magician man) who casts a spell on Manisah, causing her to fall asleep and unable to wake up. Labu sends a message to Haji Bakhil that he will remove the spell if he allows Labu to wed his daughter. Witnessing this turn of events, Labi visits a magician man of his own, who gives him a magical stone that, when dropped into any water, causes the water to have healing properties. Labi uses the stone to cure Manisah. Haji Bakhil is overjoyed and Manisah is touched by Labi's kindness, and so Labi is allowed to marry Manisah. On the day of the wedding, Labu arrives at the house and casts a spell, causing everyone to fall asleep. Labi, however, is not affected by the spell and uses his magic stone to wake up Manisah. Labu enters the house and tries to convince Manisah to marry him instead, but Labi stops him and a fight ensues. During the struggle, Labu grabs an axe and brings it down on Labi's head...
But then it is revealed that the entire sequence was also a dream, and Labu is actually pounding Labi on the head with a pillow. Labu, however, is so caught up in the dream that he doesn't realise that he's woken up, and continues to fight with a confused Labi. Haji Bakhil wakes up yet again and is doubly enraged when Labu continues to think that he's wealthy and powerful. When Manisah appears at a window to see what the commotion is about, Labu begs her to leave Labi and marry him instead. Manisah is confused and tells Labu he must have been dreaming. This finally makes Labu realise his error. Haji Bakhil, who is still very angry at having his sleep continually disrupted, punishes both Labu and Labi by making them do the ketok-ketampi.
Trivia
During the dinner scene, Labu pretends that his eyes had been poked with the forks and he'd been blinded. During his over-the-top moaning, he says "Sampai hati tuan cucuk mata saya, macam Kassim Selamat." ("How cruel of you, sir, to poke in me in the eyes, just like Kassim Selamat.") This is a reference to the character of Kassim Selamat in Ibu Mertuaku who poked his own eyes with forks to blind himself. Incidentally, Kassim Selamat had been played by P. Ramlee.
P. Ramlee also plays himself in the daydream night-club sequence.
The character name Haji Bakhil bin Haji Kedekut is a pun, as "bakhil" and "kedekut" both mean stingy/miserly in Malay.

Malaysian classics (6): Ibu Mertueaku (1962)

2007-12-18T23:11:00.000-08:00

Ibu Mertuaku (My Mother-in-Law) is a 1962 Malaysian film directed by and starring Malaysian silver-screen legend P. Ramlee. The film's story revolves around the tragic love affair between Kassim Selamat, a poor musician, and Sabariah, the only daughter of a wealthy woman. The movie is notable in that the opening act starts out as a light-hearted romantic comedy, but at the 30 minute mark turns into a dramatic tragedy. Like a number of P. Ramlee's works, the film criticizes the unofficial caste system that separates the wealthy from the poor. This film is considered a Malaysian classic, and is remembered for the song "Di Mana Kan Ku Cari Ganti" and a famous eye-stabbing scene during the film's climax.

Story and Plot Point
Set in 1960s Singapore, Sabariah Mansoor is a young woman who is fascinated with the music of Kassim Selamat, a small-time musician with great talent playing the saxophone. After one of his radio performances, Sabariah calls in to the studio to talk to him personally and express her admiration. They arrange to meet and it is love at first sight.
Sabariah's wealthy widowed mother Nyonya Mansoor wants Sabriah to marry Dr. Ismadi, a wealthy eye doctor, but is shocked when Sabariah tells her that she is in love with poor musician Kassim Selamat. Nyonya Mansoor sets the terms: Sabariah has to decide in three days which man she wants to marry, but if she chooses Kassim, she will forfeit all her family's wealth and can never set foot in their house again. After three days, Sabariah chooses Kassim, and so Nyonya Mansoor summons Kassim to the house and a marriage ceremony is performed immediately between the pair. After giving them 5000 ringgit, Nyonya Mansoor casts them out of the house.
Kassim and Sabariah move to Penang to start a new life. They are happy for a while, but soon all their money is used up and they have to live as paupers. Kassim could make money performing music, but Sabariah is against the idea as she thinks that she can make amends with her mother if Kassim renounces music forever. One day Kassim returns to their lowly home to see Sabariah crying in the arms of her mother. Nyonya Mansoor says that she would like to take Sabariah back to Singapore and care for her until she has given birth to the child she is pregnant with. Kassim lets Sabariah go, believing that she will return to him. Months pass, during which Sabariah is cared for in comfort and under the wing of Nonya Mansoor and Dr. Ismadi. She eventually gives birth to a baby boy who is named Tajudin. After the birth, Kassim receives a telegram from Nyonya Mansoor saying that Sabariah died during childbirth. Kassim falls into depression, crying for days without end and refusing to work. However, unknown to him Sabariah is alive and waiting for him in Singapore, believing that he will come and collect her. Nyonya Mansoor's fake telegram was part of her plan to separate the pair.
Sabariah eventually makes the decision to divorce Kassim, whom she believes abandoned her and their child. She also agrees to marry Dr. Ismadi, who genuinely loves her and can take care of both her and Tajudin. Sabariah and Dr. Ismadi agree to keep the identity of Tajudin's birth father a secret from everyone, including Tajudin himself. During this time, Kassim's endless crying has rendered him completely blind. His refusal to work meant that he could not pay the rent and he is sent out into the street, blind and wandering aimlessly. Kassim is eventually found by Mummy, a kind middle-aged woman who takes him into her home. Kassim then meets Mummy's daughter, Chombi, who has just recently lost her husband and is filled with sorrow similar to Kassim's own suffering. The pair find friendship as they struggle to mourn their respective loved ones. Kassim eventually reveals his talent with the saxophone, and after being encouraged by Mummy and Chombi, starts a brand new career in music but using the stage name "Osman Jailani". Kassim, under the guise of Osman Jailani, becomes a hit and starts touring around all over Malaya. He eventually arrives in Singapore, where Sabariah and her new husband Dr. Ismadi decide to attend his performance, not realising his connection to them.
When Sabariah sees her former husband, now blind, performing on stage, she is overcome with sadness but knows she cannot reveal the truth to him. She asks her new husband to operate on Kassim and fix his eyes without charge. At first Kassim is reluctant to accept it, but he eventually agrees so that he can visit his son and see him with his own eyes.
The operation is a success, and Kassim, Mummy and Chombi are all invited to stay at Dr. Ismadi's home with Sabariah and son while Kassim recovers. Then, when Kassim's eye bandages are removed and he sees Sabariah at Dr. Ismadi's side, he has a moment of panic. Dr. Ismadi says that she cannot possibly be his dead wife but just a look-a-like, which Kassim accepts. Kassim then goes to Nyonya Mansoor's house, asking her for permission to see his son. Nyonya Mansoor tells him that she gave the boy away, so Kassim begs her to let him at least see Sabariah's grave. Nyonya Mansoor takes him to a graveyard and points him to a grave, saying that it is Sabariah's. (Until the late 20th Century, common Muslim graves are usually left unmarked.) Kassim proceeds to mourn at the grave until a middle-aged man arrives and says that the grave is his mother's. Kassim realises the truth, and in his anger curses Nyonya Mansoor for her evildoing. Kassim then returns to Dr. Ismadi's house where he confronts them with the truth just before entering his room and locking the door.
Dr. Ismadi, Nyonya Mansoor and Sabariah beat at his locked door, begging for forgiveness. Kassim ignores them and looks at a photograph of Sabariah and Dr. Ismadi that is hanging in the room, coming to the realisation that his eyes cause him more pain now that he can see. He makes a decision and takes a pair of forks which he uses to pierce his eyes. Kassim then finally opens the door, once again blind and with streaks of blood flowing from his eyes. Nyonya Mansoor collapses when she sees him. Kassim wanders out of the house, sobbing in pain and sorrow until he bumps into Chombi, who is shocked to see his condition. He asks her to take him back with her, and they go, leaving Sabariah crying as she watches Kassim leave and Dr. Ismadi looking at his tearful wife pensively.

Casting
P. Ramlee as Kassim Selamat
Sarimah as Sabariah
Mak Dara as Nyonya Mansoor
Ahmad Mahmud as Doktor Ismadi
Ahmad Nisfu as 'Mamak' Mahyudin Zani
Zainon Fiji as Mummy
Zaiton as Chombi
Songs
Jangan Tinggal Daku (Don't Leave Me)
Di Mana Kan Ku Cari Ganti (Where Can I Find Another)
Jeritan Batinku (The Screams of my Soul)
Awards
10th Asia Pacific Film Festival 1963
Best Black & White Photography (Abu Bakar Ali) Special Award - Most Versatile Talent (P. Ramlee).

1. Malaysian classics (5): Cicak man

2007-12-18T01:21:00.000-08:00

(Courtesy: cicakman.com)

Cicak Man (pronounced chee-chuck-man) is a 2006 Malaysian comedy-superhero film. It is the first Malaysian film of this genre, and features almost 40% CGI footage. The film was directed by KRU member Yusry and starred comedian Saiful Apek. The name "Cicak-Man" literally translates to "Gecko-Man".
A sequel, Cicak-Man 2 has been announced to be currently in production, with an expected release date at the end of 2007.
Story and Plot Point
Set in the make-believe city of Metrofulus, "Cicak-Man" is about the last person on earth anyone would expect to turn into a superhero. But funnyman Saiful Apek, does, quite by accident and becomes a shock to his friend, who also tries his best to adjust to his superpowers. When he's not climbing walls, Cicakman reverts to his alter ego, the unassuming Hairi.
Hairi (Saiful Apek), is a loser who lives in Metrofulus. While working in the lab, he accidentally drinks coffee that has been contaminated by a virus-infected gecko. He soon finds himself doing the most insane things, such as sticking to walls, making chirping cicak noises and adding bugs to his menu. He turns to his best friend and apartment mate, Danny (Yusry Abdul Halim), and begs him to find the reason behind his strange antics.
Meanwhile, the people of Metrofulus are constantly being infected by new strains of viruses, and the only cure seems to come only from Professor Klon's (Aznil Nawawi) lab. Suspecting something amiss, Hairi and Danny launch their own investigation and discover that Prof Klon is not only the creator of such viruses, but also has a more sinister plan up his sleeve, backed by his business partners, the Ginger Boys (played by Adlin Aman Ramlie and AC Mizal).
Hairi soon makes use of his new-found powers as "Cicakman" when he saves Tania (Fasha Sandha), Prof Klon's secretary from a threatening situation, and also ends up falling for her. However, he finds that his powers are more of a threat to his life, than a gift, and embarks on a mission to bring down Prof Klon and the Ginger Boys before his time runs out.

Cast
Saiful Apek as Hairi Yatim/Cicakman
Yusry Kru as Dannial Johan
Aznil Nawawi as Professor Klon
Fasha Sandha as Tania Ashraf
Yasmin Hani as Nadia
Adlin Aman Ramlie as Ginger 1
AC Mizal as Ginger 2
Of note, Adlin Aman Ramlie and AC Mizal previously worked together on the Puteri Gunung Ledang musical.

Malaysian Classics (4): Bidasari

2007-12-16T23:24:00.000-08:00

Bidasari is a 1965 Malaysian black-and-white romantic-drama film starring Jins Shamsuddin and Sarimah. The film is notable as having dialogue that is written almost completely as rhyming poetry. The story is based on the Malay poem Bidasari which has some similarities with the western fairy-tale of Snow White.
Story and Plot Point
When a simple merchant, his young son and mute servant are out in the woods, they chance upon a drifting boat, in which there is a baby girl and a bowl containing a live goldfish. The merchant realises that the baby is unusual because her life is bonded to the fish: if the fish leaves the water, she stops breathing. The merchant adopts the baby as her own and names her Bidasari. Years later Bidasari grows up into a beautiful young woman while the merchant has prospered into a wealthy businessman. At the royal palace of this kingdom, the King has just remarried a beautiful woman, the Permaisuri (Queen). The Permaisuri is a proud woman who secretly practises witchcraft. Hidden in her chambers is a magic mirror that can show her anything she asks. She uses it to ask who the most beautiful in all the land is. One day when she asks the mirror this question, the image of Bidasari appears in it. She is enraged by this and carries out a search to find who Bidasari is. Her search leads her to the merchant's house. Under the guise of kindness, the Permaisuri asks the merchant for permission to bring Bidasari to the palace to be her companion. Although the merchant is reluctant to part with his beloved daughter, he lets her go. But once Bidasari arrives at the palace, she is sent to the kitchens as a servant, where she is starved and given the dirtiest jobs. After the Permaisuri is satisfied that Bidasari has been ruined, she once again asks her magic mirror who is the most beautiful in the land. When the mirror shows Bidasari yet again, the Permaisuri flies into a rage and runs to the kitchen where she grabs burning pieces of firewood which she tries to burn Bidasari's face with. She is shocked when the fire goes out and Bidasari's face is left untouched. Bidasari, who has by now realised that the Permaisuri's malice is targeted only at her and will never stop, begs for mercy and explains her life is bonded to that of a fish that is kept in a bowl in her father's garden. The Permaisuri has a servant steal the fish for her from the merchant's garden, and as soon as the fish leaves the water, Bidasari collapses and stops breathing. Satisfied that Bidasari's life is in her hands, the Permaisuri hangs the fish around her neck as a trophy. When she asks the mirror who is the most beautiful in the land, the mirror shows her own image. The merchant realises that the fish is missing, and is told that Bidasari died mysteriously at the palace. Her body is returned to him and he builds a small tomb for her in the woods where her body is laid out in peace. Meanwhile, the Permaisuri's stepson the Prince has been having dreams about Bidasari, although he has never met her. The dreams plague him even in his waking hours, despite his father's advice that such a beautiful woman cannot exist. The Permaisuri sees her stepson acting this way and plants a painting of Bidasari in his room. The Prince finds the painting, which leads him to the merchant who explains the sad tale of Bidasari's death and the mysterious disappearance of the fish. The Prince decides to visit Bidasari's tomb to see her beauty with his own eyes. Coincidentally at this time, back at the palace the Permaisuri is having a bath in the royal bathing pool. The fish manages to break free of its locket and drops into the water where it starts swimming. This causes Bidasari to wake up right before the Prince's eyes. Bidasari tells him of what the Permaisuri did to her, which confirms the Prince's suspicions of his stepmother. When the Permaisuri finishes her bath, she discovers that the fish has gotten free. She manages to catch it just as the Prince is about to help Bidasari leave the tomb, causing her to fall unconscious again. The Prince places Bidasari back in the tomb and promises to make things right. The Prince returns to the palace in a fury, demanding that the Permaisuri give him the fish. The Permaisuri pretends not to know anything, and when the King listens to the Prince's explanation, the King declares that his son has gone insane and calls the royal guards. A fight ensues, during which the Permaisuri is injured and dies.Just before the Prince is about to be captured, the merchant and the Prince's loyal manservants arrive with Bidasari on a stretcher. The merchant explains that the story about the fish being bonded to Bidasari's life is true. The Prince takes the fish from the locket around the Permaisuri's neck and puts it into a bowl of water. As soon as the fish enters the water, Bidasari comes back to life. The King apologises to his son, and the Prince and Bidasari are married.

Malaysian Classics (3) : Antara Dua Darjat

2007-12-14T21:25:00.000-08:00

Antara Dua Darjat (The Two Classes) is a 1960 Malaysian drama film directed by and starring Malaysian silver-screen legend P. Ramlee.

Story and Plot Point

The film tells the tale of Tengku Zaleha (Saadiah), the daughter of a wealthy man, who is in love with a poor pianist named Ghazali (P. Ramlee). Tengku Zaleha is the only daughter of Tengku Karim (Ahmad Nisfu), a very class-conscious landlord who has two children, the other being Tengku Hassan. Hassan is from Karim's deceased first wife while Zaleha is from his second (present) wife, Yang Chik (Rahimah Alias), who is not of royal blood and is an ex-cabaret girl.After Zaleha completes her studies, her father buys her a bungalow in Johor Baru where she meets and falls in love with Ghazali after he performs at her birthday party. Karim hears of the romance and decides to stop it. He gets his men to beat up Ghazali and at the same time takes his daughter back to Singapore.Yang Chik resents Karim's way of treating Zaleha. She believes that Zaleha should be allowed to marry the man of her choice. However, Karim and Hassan insist that Zaleha must marry her cousin, Tengku Mukri (S. Kadarisman), who is of the "right" lineage. In a heated and violent argument that follows, Hassan hits Yang Chik with a heavy object and kills her. Hassan is arrested and subsequently sentenced to death. Karim is terribly upset with the death of his wife and only son and becomes mentally unstable and ends up in an asylum.Mukri's father, Tengku Ismail, confronts Zaleha with a letter which he claims was written by Karim. After reading it and believing it to be genuine, Zaleha has no choice but marry Mukri. After the marriage, they leave for Zaleha's bungalow in Johor to spend their honeymoon. They are accompanied by a close friend, Tengku Aziz (Yusof Latiff).When the piano at the bungalow is out of order, a tuner is called to repair it. Zaleha is both shocked and happy that the tuner is Ghazali, her former sweetheart.

Malaysian horror film :Dukun

2007-12-13T23:25:00.000-08:00

Dukun is a 2007 Malaysian horror film. The film is loosely based on the true story of the murder of a Malaysian politician, Datuk Mazlan Idris, by Mona Fandey, a once mildly popular Malaysian singer in 1993. The film was originally slated to be released in December 2006 but as of today there were doubts as to whether the film will ever be released for public screening due to the controversial nature of the film.

Background and film plot
The word dukun is a Malay word meaning "witch doctor" or "shaman". Another term for this word is bomoh.
In 1993, Datuk Mazlan Idris, who was also a parliamentary assemblyman at that time, had apparently sought the services of Mona Fandey, her husband Affandi, and another helper Juraimi, to help him boost his political career. Mona Fandey and her partners claim to possess supernatural powers as bomohs. The assemblyman had apparently brought a substantial amount of money for this service and ritual. During their appointment Mazlan was murdered. His decapitated and dismembered body was found nearby Mona Fandey's residence. Mona and her accomplices were arrested and a highly publicized and sensational trial for Mazlan's murder ensued in 1994. They would eventually be convicted of murder and sentenced to death. They were hanged in 2001 in Kajang Prison. It was believed that Mona Fandey had uttered the words "aku takkan mati" ("I will never die") with her infamous grin just before her execution. The phrase also became the tagline for this film.
The film plot is loosely based on the true events above. In the film, the murderer and main character is Diana Dahlan, played by Umie Aida. The victim was Datuk Jefri played by Adlin Aman Ramlie. The film is narrated by Diana's lawyer, Karim, played by Faizal Hussein.The family of Mona Fandey have voiced their dissatisfaction over the content and basis of the movie after announcement of the film release. The producers have since then denied that the film is wholly based on the true events, but that it was merely inspired by those events.

Malaysian Classics (2): Ali Baba Bujang Lapok

2007-12-12T22:02:00.000-08:00

Ali Baba Bujang Lapok is a 1960 Malaysian comedy film directed by, written by and starring Malaysian silver-screen legend P. Ramlee. Based loosely on the story of Ali Baba from 1001 Arabian Nights, the film is occasionally self-referential and contains elements of anarchic comedy, burlesque comedy and farce. The title includes the suffix Bujang Lapok because it the third installment in the Bujang Lapok series of comedy films that star the trio of P. Ramlee, S.Shamsuddin and Aziz Sattar. This film marked the feature film debut of Sarimah, who would go on to a long movie career, and is also notable as one of the few P. Ramlee films where he plays the villain.

Story and Plot point
Ali Baba is poor man who cannot seem to succeed in life. He constantly sends his wife to his brother Kassim Baba's house to borrow flour so they can eat, but the stingy Kassim Baba is frustrated at his brother and constantly reminds his wife of Ali Baba's uselessness. One day, when Ali Baba is out gathering firewood he sees a group of 40 thieves marching through the woods carrying loot and riches. He hides in a tree and watches their leader stand in front of a mountain of rock and sing a verse of seemingly nonsensical words which cause a passageway in the mountain to open. Ali Baba waits until the thieves have all left the cave before coming out of the tree and using the magic words to open the cave. Inside he discovers a variety of riches and wealth, but he only takes a box of gold coins.
With the gold coins Ali Baba is able to pay back his brother everything he owes and live in relative comfort. Kassim Baba is overcome with curiosity and pesters Ali Baba to tell him how he suddenly came into wealth. Ali Baba eventually relents and tells him about the cave and the magical verse to open the cave, but before he can tell him the verse to close the cave or about the thieves who use it, Kassim Baba rushes off to find the cave.
Kassim Baba, in his greed, tries to steal everything in the thieves' cave. He is caught when the thieves return while he is still there. After trying repeatedly to stall, the eventually kill him. When Kassim Baba does not return, Ali Baba sneaks out to the cave, where he finds his brothers' remains. He collects them and has Kassim Baba sewn together and buried.
The thief leader soon notices Ali Baba and decides to target him for their next robbery. After his thieves fail twice, the leader decides to pose as a merchant visiting Ali Baba's house, while his thieves hide in oil jars that are kept in the courtyard. Ali Baba's servant, Marjina, comes up with a plan to stop the thieves, in which actual boiling oil is poured into all the individual jars. After all are defeated, she attacks and kills the leader himself. Ali Baba, grateful for her loyalty, gives her her independence.

Cast
P. Ramlee as Ketua Penyamun (Leader of the Thieves)
Aziz Sattar as Ali Baba
S.Shamsuddin as Kassim Baba
Normadiah as Aloyah
Sarimah as Marjina
K. Fatimah as Norsiah
Ibrahim Pendek as Sarjan (Sergeant; Thief Second-in-Command)
Leng Hussain as Apek Tukang Kasut (Chinese Shoe Repairman)
Shariff Dol as Orang Kaya Muflis (The Bankrupt Rich Man)
M. Rafee as Penyamun Bin Rafee (Thief, son of Rafee)
Ali Fiji as Penyamun Bin Fiji (Thief, son of Fiji)
A. Rahim as Penyamun Bin Matarosan (Thief, son of Matarosan)
H.M. Busra as Penyamun Gemuk (Fat Thief)
Nyong Ismail as Tuan Tabib (Medicine Man)
Zaiton as Penghibur Gundik (Harem Dancer)
S. Kadarisman as Tukang cuci mayat (Corpse washer)
Mustarjo as Hamba kedi (Servant)
Songs
Alhamdulillah Syukur Nikmat (Praise the Lord)
Beginilah Nasib Diriku Yang Malang
Hoi Hoi Yahoi! Lagu Penyamun (Hoi Hoi Yahoi! The Thieves' Song)
Aiya! Cik Siti (Oh My! Miss Siti)
Ya Habi Bi Ali Baba

Malaysian classics (1): Ahmad Albab

2007-12-12T01:36:00.000-08:00

(Courtesy:filemkita)

Ahmad Albab is a 1968 Malaysian drama-comedy film directed by, written by and starring Malaysian artiste P. Ramlee about an arrogant and materialistic man who marries off his outspoken daughter to a poor villager to teach her a lesson. The story is in the style of traditional Malay folktales with an underlying moral message. The movie features real-life husband and wife P. Ramlee and Saloma acting opposite each other.

Story and Plot Point
Mashood is a rich man who believes that happiness and wealth are the same thing, and that both are in his hands. He has three daughters: Zahara, Suhara and Mastura. Zahara and Suhara share his life philosophies, but Mastura doesn't and frequently clashes with their father. Mashood decides to prove his beliefs by marrying off Zahara and Suhara to two young men (Muharram and Safar) from wealthy families while Mastura is married off to a poor goat-herder named Syawal. Syawal and Mastura live a simple life together in Syawal's village but are happy. One day, as he is herding the goats, one of them wanders away from the pack. Syawal follows it into a cave, where he sees a large chest of a treasure. A djinn appears and tells Syawal that the treasure belongs to Ahmad Albab, who is the only person who can claim it. Syawal obeys the djinn and leaves. Elsewhere, Muharram and Safar have used up all their wives' money and decide to steal from a jewelry store, pretending in front of their wives that their business has boomed. Using this money, they buy the goats that Syawal was herding, putting him out of a job. However Mastura has started up a small farm next to their house, and this becomes their new livelihood. Mashood's birthday is around the corner and he invites his three daughters and their husbands to his home, where they are required to give him a birthday present. Muharam and Safar give him fancy presents which pleases Mashood. As for Syawal, he presents a packet of salt and a packet of sugar, which Mastura explains represents their love for him. Mashood is angered by this, saying that love should be like jewels and gold. Then Mastura presents to her father meal she'd cooked for him. Mashood attempts to eat it but the food tastes bad, as it has been cooked without salt or sugar. Mastura explains that this is the meaning behind their present, for although salt and sugar are simple things, without them even the most delicious dish tastes bad. Mashood grumps at this and warns them that they won't be able to pull this trick again next year. The three couples part ways. During this time, Mastura has a baby boy. Although at first Syawal and Mastura are overjoyed, their baby refuses to stop crying for weeks on end. Eventually Mastura and Syawal bring their baby boy to visit Mashood, who tries to cheer up his grandson. After several attempts, Mashood finally manages to cause the baby to stop crying by tapping on a door. Since the Arabic word for door is "Albab", Mashood names the baby "Ahmad Albab". Syawal is shocked to hear this name and takes his baby back to the cave to show the djinn. The djinn sees the baby and says that all the treasure in the cave belongs to him, on the condition that Syawal brings Ahmad Albab to the cave every full moon to play with the djinn's wife and son. Syawal and Mastura become wealthy overnight, but even with this wealth they remain humble and help others who are in need. Meanwhile, Muharram and Safar have run out of money again and try to rob the same jewelry store. However, this time the store owner is prepared and the pair are captured and brought to the police station. Zahara and Suhara are told to seek out a kind-hearted man name Syawal who will be able to pay the bail. All are shocked to learn that Syawal and Mastura have suddenly become rich, but Syawal and Mastura gladly pay the bail, setting Muharram and Safar free. However, it is time again for Mashood's birthday gathering and his demand for gifts. In desperation, Muharram and Safar decide to rob Syawal's house, but they are caught. Syawal is disappointed in them, but agrees to give them presents for them to give to Mashood.On the night of Mashood's birthday gathering, Muharram and Safar are quiet and subdued as Zahara and Suhara present Mashood a tray each of precious jewels as their gift to him. Mashood is impressed by the extravagant gift, and then turns to Syawal and Mastura, demanding their present. Syawal gives him a model of a mosque, telling him that it is to remind him of God. Mashood balks at this present until Muharram and Safar break down and confess that they are thieves and all the jewels are from Syawal, not them. Mashood questions this disbelievingly until Syawal opens his robes to reveal a smart black suit underneath.

Cast
P. Ramlee as Syawal
Saloma as Mastura
AR Tompel as Mashood
Mariani as Zahara
Mimi Loma as Suhara
Karim Latiff as Safar
Tony Azman as Muharram The three male characters who married Mashood's daughters are all named after Islamic months Shawwal, Muharram and Safar.

Pyramid Saimira acquires Dimples Cine Advertising (Press cuttings)

2007-11-30T22:35:00.000-08:00

(Note: if you wants to see full picture. please click on image)

Pyramid Saimira plans IPO for content arm ...

2007-11-29T01:31:00.000-08:00

Inimitable Growth continues…
Pyramid Saimira, a prominent pioneer in the entertainment arena has struck again with a big bang by embarking on western region. By acquiring dimples cine advertising it is building up a strong threshold in that region. Since bollywood is reckoning in terms of its growth in entertainment segment,to cash in on this growth trajectory a strategic alliance with dimples cine advertising is a preemptive approach.
DNA, one of the leading paper had come up with the report of Pyramid Saimira’s aggressive IPO plans to be executed in the month of December and had commended the initiative taken by Pyramid Saimira to strengthen its productions line, the report highly appreciated the efforts taken by Pyramid Saimira to synergies the TV content operation as well and take it to unimaginable levels at the earliest.
Pyramid Saimira plans IPO for content arm ...
(Nirmal John ,, Thursday, November 29, 2007 03:38 IST)
MUMBAI: Chennai-based Pyramid Saimira group is planning an IPO of its content production subsidiary Pyramid Saimira Productions, which is expected to raise around Rs 750 crore through this. The proceeds will then be invested to increase production of television content as well as for feature film production. P S Saminathan, MD, Pyramid Samira Theatre, said: “The papers for the IPO are being put together and we should be taking the next step in December.”
He added the company would be producing one multi-lingual film every year with a budget of Rs 150 crore. This film would then be distributed across various parts of the world in different languages. Announcement on the first such film is expected in January.
In terms of television content, the company, which currently produces around 2.5 hours of content daily will increase it to 24 hours of content eventually.
In a bid to expand its activities into Europe, the company is also planning to acquire a UK-based exhibitor through the leveraged buyout route. Saminathan indicated that talks were on for the transaction, which would possibly cost the company in the region of $100 million.
Pyramid is currently present in Malaysia, Singapore and the US besides India. It also has plans for a DVD rental chain, catering primarily to the Indian diaspora.
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1136111

Singapore airlines gets “Shivaji” rights to screen the film in their airplanes

2007-11-29T00:37:00.000-08:00

Rajnikanth fans got yet another reason to cheer about the Tamil superstar as Singapore Airlines obtained exclusive rights for the in-flight screening of his latest blockbuster Sivaji — The Boss.
Singapore Airlines general manager (India) C.W. Foo said: "Screening of this blockbuster movie is a step forward in our strategy of localising our in-flight content for our Indian customers. This initiative would strengthen our Indian movie options and we are confident that it would make the journey more exciting and pleasurable. "This is the first time that the Singapore Airlines has purchased the rights of an Indian movie. The film will be screened on all its international flights from December 1," airlines manager, southern India, Bharat Mahadevan said. He said the rights had been purchased from Ayngaran International, a London-based company which had the distribution rights of the movie for the overseas market by offering "two times more than the normal rate."Mr Mahadevan said the exclusive rights were for three months, after which other airlines could also opt for the movie which would be screened for over two million passengers a month.

Tsai’s Malaysian movie banned because of “air pollution,…”scenes..!!

2007-11-28T01:12:00.000-08:00

Sarawak-born director Tsai Ming-liang came home to make a film in Malaysia after 15 long years period.Now he is directed a film to screen here, but the National Censorship Board has banned it. Because Scenes of “street brawls, air pollution, poverty and menacing foreigners” as depicted in the film, were deemed to be bad for the image of Malaysia.
I Don’t Want to Sleep Alone, which was shot around Kuala Lumpur last year, stars Taiwanese actor Lee Kang-sheng and local newcomer Norman Atun. It tells about Hsiao-kang (Lee), a Taiwanese who was robbed and beaten in the streets of the city and rescued later by immigrant worker Rawang (Norman). The film premiered at the Venice International Film Festival last year and was also nominated for several Golden Horse awards in Taiwan, where Tsai is based. The film received a seven-minute standing ovation in Venice, said producer Leonard Tee.
“Everyone was moved and touched by the film. We wanted to share that glory with our fellow Malaysians.”
Tee said they received the censorship board’s letter on the ban on Feb 1 and an appeal has since been made. They expect a decision by this week. He said the board gave eight reasons for the ban, which included the depiction of Malaysians as cold-hearted as seen in scenes of local people beating up and deceiving foreign workers. Contacted in Taipei, Tsai said he was sad the film had been banned here.
“I’m Malaysian, so I do understand the sensitivities and rules and regulations in the country. And I have done my best to abide by them. “The film is not about Malaysia. The theme is about human relationship and the need for man to find love, warmth and someone they can depend on.” Tsai is currently promoting the film in Taiwan, where it is slated for release very soon. It will also be released in Japan at the end of the month, and then in Singapore and the United States.

Ang Lee Returns To Chinese Films

2007-11-26T21:21:00.000-08:00

Lee is in Taiwan shooting his new film, a “spy thriller” called Lust, Caution with Tony Leung Chiu-wai (In the Mood for Love, Infernal Affairs). Of course, when I heard spy thriller, I had flashbacks to the old Chinese-language James Bond knockoffs of yesteryear like Angel with the Iron Fists and Interpol. Lee’s new film is likely to be considerably more serious (not too mention controversial), taking as its subject a “group of patriotic students who plot to assassinate the intelligence chief in the Japanese-backed Chinese government during the World War II era.”

Second Malaysian Film Festival

2007-11-25T21:06:00.000-08:00

(Courtesy:Moviexclusic,Malysia)

Film festivals are in season or at Cathay at least. The Korean film festival paved the way with exciting choices showcasing works by rising director, Kim Ki-Duk (3-iron, Samaritan Girl) and one of Korea’s top grossing box-office hit, “Silmido”. This will be followed by “Adaptations” the Japanese film festival between September 28th to October 9th and now, between September 23rd-26th, Cathay proudly presents it’s 2nd Malaysian film festival. Word is, this might be followed by a French and a German film festival. Surely, the audience is being pampered with a slew of diverse films while we await the re-opening of the Picturehouse next January.On the evening of September 22nd, the Malaysian Film Festival was launched with a gala opening which was graced by His Excellency, Mr. S.R. Nathan, the President of Singapore. Coming off from last year’s festival, in which Yasmin Ahmad’s “Sepet” was the highlight, this year’s choice was “Gol and Gincu”. Though the festival might appear short, the line-up is pretty impressive with potential hits like “Sanctuary” and “Monday Morning Glory” being paired with renowned auteur, U-Wei Haji Sa’ari’s award-winning “Kaki Bakar” and “Buai Laju-Laju”.

The gala opening was also attended by Datuk Parameswaran, the Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore and other dignitaries from Malaysia. The guest list also included Bernard Chauly, Nur Fazura, Sharifah Amani and Rafidah Abdullah, the director and cast of the premiering film. Also in attendance was the executive producer of the film, Marina Mahathir, the daughter of the former Prime Minister of Malaysia.The evening began with a traditional Malay dance followed by the arrival of the President. As he was being introduced to the cast, he was told that Sharifah Amani also starred in last year’s premiering film, “Sepet”. The President then quipped, “I enjoyed it [Sepet]” and Sharifah replied by saying that a sequel is in the works.

It was then announced that in addition to the re-opening of the Picturehouse, Cathay also intends to venture into Malaysia by opening a cinema there. Plans are also set in motion to have the first annual Singapore Film Festival in Kuala Lumpur next year. With this, the theatre industry was applauded for its efforts in having joint productions such as “Causeway” and “Separation 40” which just ended its run at the Esplanade to sold-out shows and will be performed in Kuala Lumpur next. A call for film-makers in both Singapore and Malaysia to collaborate on future film projects was made before the gala opening ended. The audience was then treated to the Singapore premiere of “Gol and Gincu”, which rounded off the day’s events.Cathay will continue to become a household name for its keen eye in picking out films that cater to a niche audience. And now, with staunch support towards the development of both the local and Malaysian film industry, this can only be a sign of good things to come for film lovers alike.

Boy loves girl. Girl loves boy. Girl gets too dependent on boy, boy breaks up with girl. Girl tries to win him back. The premise of the story seems like it’s all too familiar but Gol and Gincu scores, literally! First with Sepet, now with Gol and Gincu, there seems to be a rising trend. The Malaysian film industry is showing a knack for making movies that revolve around clichés but are presented in a personal form which allows the audience to feel and identify with both the story and characters.Gol and Gincu would vaguely remind one of the Iron Ladies, on their quest to success or even A League of Their Own, as said by director Bernard Chauly. While the prominent story arc is Putri’s (Nur Fazura) attempts to win back her futsal playing ex-boyfriend by playing the same sport, she is matched with characters like Zie (Rafidah Abdullah) who serves as a peer mentor and coach, Jiji (Sharifah Amani) who has problems at school and at home and the rest of the oddball cast who have their own share of issues. What strengthens a team is its dynamics and that’s exactly what the motley crew has. The matching of all the characters makes things believable and hits pretty close to home, drawing much giggles and laughter from the audience which included our President!The organizers of the Malaysian Film Festival have a keen eye for choosing the right movies. With such great choices to choose from, movie goers will be treated to a year round feast of movies. Let’s hope for an even greater festival next year!

Article & Collection by Srivenkat Bulemoni

Charlie Chaplin's "Tha Bank" comedy clips (Part-1)

2007-11-23T23:24:00.000-08:00

American Box Office:"Beowulf" creating sensations

2007-11-23T03:01:00.000-08:00

1. Beowulf $28.1Millions2.Bee Movie $14.3Millions
3.American Gangster $13.2Millions

4.Fred Claus $12Millions

5.Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium $10Millions

6.Dan in Real Life $4.5Millions

7.No Country for Old Men $3.1Millions

8.Lions for Lambs $2.9Millions

9.Saw IV $2.3Millions

10.Love in the Time of Cholera $2.1Millions

Srivenkat Bulemoni

PSTL Global footprints by acquiring US based "FunAsiA"

2007-11-22T02:20:00.000-08:00

(Courtesy by Business Digest Daily News paper,kerala)(if you want's to see full image, please clik on image)

Red Carpet Film Ratings:For the week of November 21, 2007

2007-11-21T02:04:00.000-08:00

(This post courtesy by Red Carpet Ratings)

Ratings for Movies Debuting in Theaters This Week:

AUGUST RUSH : Rating-PG

(for some thematic elements, mild violence and language)

ENCHANTED : Rating-PG

(for some scary images and mild innuendo)
HITMAN : Rating-R
(for strong bloody violence, language and some sexuality/nudity) I'M NOT THERE : Rating-R
(for language, some sexuality and nudity)

NINA'S HEAVENLY DELIGHTS : Rating-PG-13

(for some sexual content)

STARTING OUT IN THE EVENING :Rating-PG-13

(for sexual content, language and brief nudity)

STEPHEN KING'S THE MIST :Rating-R

(for violence, terror and gore, and language)

THIS CHRISTMAS :Rating-PG-13

(for comic sexual content and some violence)

RATINGS GUIDE

G : GENERAL AUDIENCES (All Ages Admitted)

PG : PARENTAL GUIDANCE SUGGESTED (Some Material May Not Be Suitable for Children)

PG-13 : PARENTS STRONGLY CAUTIONED (Some Material May Be Inappropriate for Children Under 13)

R : RESTRICTED (Under 17 Requires Accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian)

NC-17 : NO ONE 17 AND UNDER ADMITTED

Malay film "Don't look back" Exclusiv Trailer

2007-11-19T23:54:00.000-08:00

‘We want to become a giant theatre chain globally’ :PSTL MD P.S.Saminathan

2007-11-19T23:00:00.000-08:00

"We believe in taking risk. This is something we have communicated to all our stakeholders. We are not shy about it. We do leverage really high"

Mr P. S. Saminathan, Managing Director,

Pyramid Saimira Theatres Limited.

Pyramid Saimira Theatres Ltd (PSTL), which went public in late 2006, has almost overnight become a company that straddles multiple segments of the film world, from production to exhibition. It has done so by being unconventional from the sta rt, be it leasing old single-screen theatres to ramp up its screen presence or acquiring theatre chains overseas even as all other players remain focussed on domestic markets.
In an interview with Business Line, Mr P. S. Saminathan, Managing Director, PSTL, is unabashedly confident of the company’s prospects, although sceptics may still consider some of its targets ambitious, considering that PSTL is still in its early growth phase.

Excerpts from the interview:

Pyramid Saimira’s IPO in December 2006 raised funds for expansion and digitalisation of theatres across India. Now the company appears to have expanded far beyond film exhibition. What is your strategy?

Digitalisation was part of the agenda to agglomerate the theatre chain. Now, we have climbed up the value chain. We have become the largest exhibitor in India and we are possibly the third largest exhibitor in the world. We have almost eliminated the distribution segment and have become an exhibitor-cum-distributor. We have climbed up the value chain further by entering film production. Secondly, we are also expanding laterally. We operate out of the US, Malaysia and Singapore and are expanding into other countries as well. There is a geographical as well as a value chain spread.

How is the company structured? Do all your businesses come under the PSTL fold?
PSTL is engaged in film exhibition and is the holding company of Pyramid Saimira Production (PSPL) and Pyramid Saimira Entertainment (PSEL). PSPL produces films and TV content. Singapore-based PSEL is a content agglomeration unit. The model is akin to Eros International. Eros buys films and distributes it abroad. PSEL not only buys films and distributes them abroad but also buys Hollywood films and distributes them in the Asia-Pacific region. PSEL is a 100 per cent subsidiary of PSTL. PSPL is majority-owned by PSTL and the balance is held by some individuals and venture capitalists.

Your move into production, distribution and other areas have taken place at a tremendously fast pace. What resources do you have to execute these projects?

Fortunately, we have been profitable from the beginning. We entered at a time when the industry was on an upswing. Second, we raised Rs 400 crore on our convertible bond issue. Third, each of our units is raising funds, both debt and equity, independently and no longer rely on the parent companyPSTL. Our Singapore-based unit PSEL has raised capital and debt and our production unit Pyramid Saimira Production is going public. Now we have multiple entities. In Malaysia, we have Pyramid Saimira Malaysia. There we have a partner and we have raised some debt. We have an US-based company called Pyramid Saimira America. That will raise funds in the US for its expansion.

You straddle across production, distribution and exhibition and have set big targets across all three streams. Are you not spreading yourself too thin?

This company believes in taking risk. This is something we have communicated to all our stakeholders. We are not shy about it. We do leverage really high. In my view, the critical difference between this group and others is the speed with which we execute our projects.If you look at any company that has grown quickly in the last ten years, it is because of the speed of execution. It is not because they were structurally sound. Most of the companies be it Google, Jump TV, Reliance, Mittal group….each of their moves were independently not justifiable. They had a high-risk element. L. N. Mittal took over sick companies and made them profitable.

Reliance’s execution speed is flawless. We also believe in that speed. We need to ramp up very fast. That is the core focus.
We have reached a stage where we have become big. We are actually doubling in size every three months.
Today we have more than 500,000 seats. We are spread across five countries. We have 703 screens. We produced close to 38 films this year and we think only Paramount Studios and Universal Studios would have beaten this number. We have distributed over 90-100 films. We have started TV serial production.
We will beat Balaji Telefilms in the next one or two months in terms of hours of programming. We have targeted eight channels. Our focus is to go to niche areas and control everything. We will also enter Hindi genre in the satellite television market.
To an extent, we are not communicating this pace of growth. But every film in India has to pass through our hands, either at the production stage or at the distribution stage. We are present everywhere, so, without us, no film can be released at the exhibition stage.

How are you backed in terms of management bandwidth?

PSTL is one company that believes not just in taking business risks but in taking risks on people as well. We have a concept called network management in Tamil Nadu. We have removed the top management in TN. The divisional management is given the powers of the top management. And the powers are quite extensive. The Tamil Nadu division alone, on a year-on-year basis, will have a Rs 600 crore turnover. It spends Rs 400-500 crore. Everyday, it spends Rs 1.5-2 crore. Everyday, it adds a theatre. The growth necessitates some kind of innovation in management practices also.

What is your strategy of going international? Are not those markets already saturated with multiplexes?

Yes, but there is no focus on the Asian population. We have two goals. The first is to be a giant in Asia-Pacific. Here we do not focus on Indian films alone but on the respective region’s appetite. For instance, in Malaysia, we do not focus on Indian films but on Malay, Chinese, English, and so on. We want to become a giant theatre chain here, so that we can agglomerate Hollywood content here.
The second is to go abroad and focus on Indian films, and target Asian audiences in the western territory. There is no company that has, so far, focussed on the ground level. They have focussed on the middle level, that is, distribution. No one has built the required infrastructure.

We believe in ground level strength, and not on in trading alone. So we are building infrastructure so that we have a sustainable base.

What is the progress on the digitalisation front?

We have started digitalising. We have digitalised about 200-250 theatres. As a percentage of overall screens it is still low. We were not focussed on cost cutting. We are using digitalisation as an expansive mechanism. Digitalisation to me is like banks computerising their core banking operations. It is a technology solution that enables you to manage better. By 2009-10 most of the screens will be digitalised. Because by then we won’t be able to grow further. I cannot expand more than 1000-1200 screens in South India. The focus will then shift to quality, digitalisation, improving network, and so on.

How does your margin profile differ from other multiplex players? Most of the names are focussed on the premium end.

Our ticket admission rates are lower and we have not focussed on improving infrastructure and raising the admission rate. Those improvements will happen only in 2009. We will still want to have low-margin high value on the box office. But that does not mean we will have low margins in foods and beverages. F&B is a very high margin business.
It gives you 100-250 per cent margin even without fleecing the public. You go to a theatre expecting coffee to be expensive, and popcorn that is available for Rs 5 outside to be Rs 10 inside. Your price expectations are higher. So if we sell it for Rs 7.50, it will be seen as cheap.
We want people to see our F&B as an independent business. We want more footfalls. Our operating margins will always be less than 20 per cent for our theatre business.

What would the typical occupancy rates be?

In the first quarter it was about 44 per cent, and in second quarter, around 34 per cent.

Is it because it has been a good year for South Indian films?

No, not really. Honestly, whether a film is good or bad does not make a difference to us. This Diwali, every Pyramid theatre had a new film. Nearby theatres did not. That is because we distribute all films. We have effectively denied content to competition.

Interviewed by Shanthi Venkataraman, Business Line.

Exclusive Trailer of Malay film "BoA"(カン・ドンウォン BoA ボア )

2007-11-18T22:38:00.000-08:00

"My first break": PSTL Chairman Natarajan

2007-11-18T22:35:00.000-08:00

(To see full version please click on image)

Jessica Tan owns title "Miss Singapore Univerce-2007"

2007-11-16T23:22:00.000-08:00

Our Chiolings were rooting for Tay Yi Ming but eventually Jessica Tan was crowned "Miss Singapore Univerce-2007" (and Miss Body Beautiful). Joey Fung was Miss Photogenic.

Bruce Wills daughter owns title "Miss Golden Globe-2008"

2007-11-16T03:40:00.001-08:00

Photos from the Beverly Hilton Hotel press conference to announce Bruce Willis' 19-year-old daughter, Rumer Willis, will be the 2008 Miss Golden Globe.