One of the most famous icons of Hollywood showbiz glitz and glamour, the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, became the scene for a Moms' Night Out as the female-driven comedy of the same name had its world premiere at the venerable venue last night, Tuesday, April 29. The entire cast and crew of the family- and faith-friendly film were in attendance, including directors Jon and Andrew Erwin, producer/co-star Kevin Downes, and stars Sarah Drew, Sean Astin, Patricia Heaton, Andrea Logan White, Abbie Cobb, Sammi Hanratty, Harry Shum Jr., Anjelah Johnson, Robert Amaya, and David Hunt, the latter giving a cheeky opening address that can be seen below.
Interviews with cast members will be posted in the next week.
Unfortunately, despite months of precursor coverage and preparation, certain circumstances (namely, the failure to successfully negotiate a travel sponsorship with the powers that be) prevented me from doing the extensive in-person coverage I had long planned for all of the Videocon D2H IIFA Weekend goings-on and the city of Tampa itself, which I have never visited. Hopefully the next time IIFA/Wizcraft holds the event in the States, those plans will come to pass. In the meantime, here is the complete list of winners for the night (not counting the winners of the technical awards handed out at a separate ceremony the evening prior), with last summer's critically and popularly acclaimed sports biopic Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (Run Milkha Run) taking home the most, with five awards.
In only the last 13 years, Farhan Akhtar has carved out not only one of the most successful and uniquely varied careers in Bollywood, but the entirety of cinema as a whole. He first burst onto the scene at the ripe young age of 27 as writer/director of what would become one of the most influential films in Indian film history, 2001's remarkably assured and polished romantic dramedy Dil Chahta Hai, which set a standard for contemporary Bollywood balance of narrative and character focus and Hollywood-level technical sheen with India's unique, more fancifully freewheeling cinematic storytelling traditions. That out-of-the-box success naturally led to a healthy career as not only writer/director (most notably for the action-packed Donfranchise) but an even more prolific one as a producer under his shingle Excel Entertainment. However, 2008 saw his career take a more unusual turn for someone so well established behind the camera: a turn to the front, with the film Rock On!!, in which Akhtar starred as the lead but also (in a most uncommon move in the typically lip-synched world of Bollywood) lent his own voice to the soundtrack. Thus not only was Farhan Akhtar the film actor born, so was Farhan Akhtar the rock star, and now he and his band regularly tour throughout India and the world while still maintaining a fully-loaded docket of film projects in all his many capacities.
At this weekend's 15th annual Videocon D2H IIFA Weekend and Tata Motors IIFA Awards in Tampa Bay, Florida, Akhtar is one of the main star attractions, serving as co-host of the latter but also making his live musical debut in the States at the IIFA Rocks music and fashion extravaganza held on the second evening of the four-day event. To commemorate the occasion and in recognition of one of the film world's most versatile and accomplished talents on the eve of his largest global spotlight to date, I offer this excerpt from his MTV Unplugged episode from this past November--a spirited rendition of the wildly infectious, Latin-flavored tune "Señorita" from the 2011 buddy comedy Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, in which Akhtar co-starred, produced, and provided vocals.
Two-time Academy Award® Nominee
and Two-time Golden Globe winner
John Travolta to attend
21st April, 2014 - America is all set to witness the unique convergence of Hollywood and Indian Cinema, as IIFA (International Indian Film Academy) rolls out its Green Carpet in Tampa Bay. The Award Winning Actor John Travolta is set to make an appearance at India’s biggest celebration of cinema, the 15th Videocon D2H IIFA Weekend and Tata Motors IIFA Awards later this month. The actor will also receive a special honour at the Awards ceremony, being the ‘Most Popular All time International star in India’.
The superstar’s presence at IIFA is symbolic to the coming together of the two distinctive film industries. Travolta will grace the extravaganza extending his support and appreciation of the Indian Film Industry and its spectacular influence world over. An iconic name in Hollywood, John Travolta has seen staggering success as an actor, singer and dancer. Travolta has starred in numerous eponymous blockbusters including Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction, Grease, Swordfish, Face/Off, Broken Arrow and Ladder 49. The multitalented star has been nominated for the Academy Award® twice and nominated for 7 Golden Globes. He went on to win 2 Golden Globes including one for his performance in the critically acclaimed film Get Shorty.
The third day of the Videocon d2h IIFA Weekend (25th of April) will see the IIFA Magic of the Movies and Technical Awards. Held at The MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, it will be a night of music, dance and awards, with performances from Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sonakshi Sinha, Farhan Akthar, Pritam, Bipasha Basu and a special musical act by the Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. The 26th night, the Tata Motors IIFA Awards will see performances by Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh, Madhuri Dixit-Nene, Siddharth Malhotra and Deepika Padukone among others. Tickets for both shows will be available at www.ticketmaster.com.
The 15th IIFA Weekend & Awards will be celebrated in Tampa Bay, Florida from the 23rd-26th of April. This will be IIFA’s debut in the United States.
Conceptualized and produced by Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. and supported by the key members of the Indian film fraternity, IIFA is the most appreciated South Asian film academy. Also, the IIFA Awards is India’s biggest media event. With a viewership of almost 800 million, it is among the world’s most-watched annual entertainment events. From a one night celebration in 2000 at the Millennium Dome, London, the last thirteen years have seen the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) movement grow into a cine-packed weekend of film-festivals, workshops, exhibitions, film-showcases, global business forums and sporting events, all of which climax into the highlight of the Weekend, the IIFA Awards. www.iifa.com
SHIAMAK ANNOUNCES IIFA
BOLLYWOOD DANCE COMPETITION WINNERS
14.04.2014 : Guru of Dance who has led the world into embracing Bollywood dance is getting the biggest stars ready for an extravaganza in the USA, having given fans a chance to be a part of the experience! After wowing audiences for a decade at ten international destinations at the Tata Motors IIFA Awards, Shiamak is now gearing up for Tampa, Florida where he will choreograph and design performances for the biggest Bollywood Stars.
The Videocon D2H IIFA Weekend is a complete Bollywood experience for global audiences. As it opens doors for cultural exchange with a new destination each time, Shiamak builds on this association by giving the local dance community a chance to get hands on experience. Launching The SHIAMAK IIFA Bollywood Dance Competition, Shiamak was on the lookout for dance enthusiasts in America who want to share the stage with their Bollywood idols.
‘It is unbelievable how popular Bollywood is today. People recognize Bollywood with its song and dance. So this was a chance for fans to learn and share the stage with stars that till now they have only seen on the screen!’ says Shiamak.
Hundreds of dance enthusiasts from across the States sent their details and videos though this online competition. After screening each videos, Shiamak selected Miss Simmi Singh and Mr Jitesh Shahani as the winners of SHIAMAK IIFA BOLLYWOOD DANCE COMPETITION. They will get a chance to learn from Shiamak and perform with The Shiamak Davar Dance Company. With an all-expense paid trip into Tampa Bay, Florida this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for them to live their Bollywood dream. Shiamak’ s dance classes will start this year in USA and the winners will also win a scholarship to his progressive dance classes. Shiamak also selected sixteen consolation winners so they can volunteer backstage and get a first-hand experience at the Tata Motors IIFA Awards.
‘I enjoyed watching the videos and was amazed by their knowledge and interest in Bollywood. Entries came from all over America - California, Iowa, New York, Florida, Connecticut, Texas.... everywhere! I’m looking forward to seeing the local talent and giving them a chance to perform with their favourite Bollywood stars!’ says Shiamak.
Conceptualized and produced by Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. and supported by the key members of the Indian film fraternity, IIFA is the most appreciated South Asian film academy. Also, the IIFA Awards is India’s biggest media event. With a viewership of almost 800 million, it is among the world’s most-watched annual entertainment events. From a one night celebration in 2000 at the Millennium Dome, London, the last thirteen years have seen the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) movement grow into a cine-packed weekend of film-festivals, workshops, exhibitions, film-showcases, global business forums and sporting events, all of which climax into the highlight of the Weekend, the IIFA Awards. www.iifa.com
