Octavia Spencer wins supporting actress Oscar for 'The Help'

Los Angeles: Octavia Spencer, a first time Oscar nominee, took home the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her role as a sassy maid in the 1960s-era drama 'The Help'. 'Thank you, world!' said Spencer, who was crying and shaking as she accepted the award. The movie based upon the bestselling novel about the lives of black domestics in the pre-Civil Rights-era South has turned Spencer from character actress into a star since she has won the lion's share of awards this season.
She was so overcome she had to be helped onstage by the film's writer-director, Tate Taylor, to a long and boisterous
ovation from the star-studded audience at the 84th Academy Awards. Spencer was nominated alongside Berenice Bejo for 'The Artist', Jessica Chastain for 'The Help', Melissa McCarthy for 'Bridesmaids' and Janet McTeer in 'Albert Nobbs'.

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Hugo’ wins best cinematography, art direction

Los Angeles: Martin Scorsese's "Hugo" was among the early winners at the 84th Annual Academy Awards as the film walked away with trophies for best cinematography and best art direction.

While Robert Richardson won an award for cinematography, Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Shiavo took away the honour for best art direction. The awards were given by actor Tom Hanks.

"Hugo" is a 3D adventure drama based on Brian Selznick's novel "The Invention of Hugo Cabret". It tells the story of a boy who lives alone in a Paris railway station and finds himself embroiled in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton.

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Michel Hazanavicius wins best director Oscar for 'Artist'

Los Angeles: French director Michel Hazanavicius beat Hollywood biggies like Martin Scorsese and Woody Allen, to take home the best director Oscar for his adorable silent film 'The Artist', a tribute to the early days of moviemaking.It is the first Oscar for the 44-year-old Hazanavicius, who reversed the trend by making a silent, black and white love story. The film revolves around a silent superstar who fails to cope up with Hollywood's transition to sound where as an emerging starlet welcomes the changes in cinema. Hazanavicius, who also wrote the screenplay and edited the film, has written and directed several French TV productions. Hazanavicius looked overwhelmed as he took to stage to accept his trophy.

The director muttered, 'I forgot what to say' before recovering his composure. He then went on to thank people involved with the movie for backing a silent film. 'The Artist', which has been nominated in 10 categories at the Oscars, brough Hazanavicius to international acclaim. The director's wife Berenice Bejo plays the starlet Peppy Miller in the film while French superstar Jean Dujardin plays the silent movie hero.

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Prithviraj in Rajinikanth's film

According to the latest buzz in the industry Prithviraj will be returning to the Tamil films again with superstar Rajinikanth's Kochadaiyaan.

Rumour mills have it that Prthiviraj has been approached by the makers of the film. It is said that they have offered the Malayalam star a key role in Kochadaiyaan.

Meanwhile, Sneha has been signed to play Rajinikanth's sister role and Prithvi's heroine. It marks the directorial debut of Soundarya Rajinikanth.
Shooting for the movie began in January.

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Dhanya Mari Varghese ties knot with John Jacob

Thiruvananthapuram: Malayalam film actress Dhanya Mary Varghese tied knot with actor John Jacob on Monday. John is the son of Kerala PRD additional director John Samsun and Lalitha Jacob. Noted personalities from film field and politics attented the the wedding which took place at MM Church in Palayam LMS campus.

Dhanya is the daughter of VP Varghese and Sheeba Varghese from Koothattukulam . Dhanya came to the film world through the Tamil film `Thirudi' and acted in many Malayalam and Tamil films including Thalappavu, Vairom, Kerala Café, Nayakan, Red Chilies and Veettilekulla Vazhi

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Priyan to remake `Marikundoru Kunjad'

Director Priyadarshan is all set to remake Shafi's Dileep-starrer `Marikundoru Kunjad' in Bollywood. Rajeev Pillai who made the Amma Kerala Strikers win the match against Mumbai Heroes in CCL, would be doing the role of the villain in the movie. The role comes as the real recognition for Rajeev who was the hero in the match. Rajeev scored 75 of 63 balls and made Kerala Strikers win the match by a spectacular performance. Rajeev was not much popular in the film field though he acted in some Malayalam movies. He gained much appreciation for his performance. He acted in films like City of God, Thejabhai and Family and Bombay March 12.

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AK Antony's son set for acting debut with Oberoi

Ajith Antony, son of Defence Minister AK Antony, has decided to try his luck in showbiz and his debut film Oberoi will go on the floors in August.

The film's director Aji John said the script for the Malayalam version is over and now they are scouting for a writer to pen the script in Tamil.

'The earliest we can start shooting for the film is in August because a few more things have to fall in place. We want the shooting to take place simultaneously for the Malayalam and Tamil version, hence the delay,' said John.

Ajith, 22, is the younger son of Antony and a graduate in English Literature from St. Stephen's College, Delhi.

The dialogues of the Malayalam film have been written by Anoop Menon and the Malayalam version would be distributed by Marikar Films.

'The story of the Malayalam version has been penned by Ajith itself as the story was his own. The photo session of the film was completed in Goa,' said John.

The film tells the tale of two North Indian families who are rivals in business.

John says that 'Ajith is the leading star' but has refused to reveal the other cast members, saying: 'Please allow us to retain a bit of suspense as the star cast is being finalised.'

John is currently looking for location for his forthcoming film Namaku Parkkan.

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Lisa Ray engaged

Mumbai : Indian Canadian actress Lisa Ray has got engaged. Her boyfriend Jason Dehni proposed to her in California's Napa Valley.

'Just returned from the glorious Napa Valley - the gourmand's and wine-lovers' paradise. ENGAGED to the love of my life. Jason Dehni proposed in Napa. #happiestdayever', she wrote on her Twitter page.

She also posted her picture with her beau.

The actress was diagnosed with the rare cancer of plasma cells in 2009. After a year of treatment, she revealed she had beaten the disease.

Lisa made her Bollywood debut in 2001 with 'Kasoor', but received critical acclaim for her performance in Deepa Mehta's 'Water'.

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I understand Indian cinema 'thoda thoda': Colin Firth

He may have just 'thoda thoda' understanding of Indian cinema, but Academy Award-winning star Colin Firth is confident that the growing confluence between Bollywood and Hollywood will prove beneficial for both.

'Well, I understand Indian cinema 'thoda thoda'! My perception is very simple -- world is filled with creative and intelligent people, so every industry is meant to be blessed with growing future and so is Indian Cinema,' Firth told IANS in an email interview from the US.

'We see the (Indian) films in the festivals and we are glad to share the platform with them (Indian filmmakers). They are also coming up with good and real cinema,' he added.

Of late, the Indian entertainment industry has witnessed an increased number of co-productions and collaborations with foreign studios. Firth, 51, whose 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' released in India Friday, feels 'it is beneficial'.

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Jolie working on a film about Afghanistan

London: Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie has revealed that she has been working on a script for a movie about Afghanistan but she is not very confident about it as of now.

'I don't even think it's good. Maybe I'll dig it out, but I don't have the confidence yet to start even thinking in that way,' femalefirst.co.uk quoted her as saying.

The 36-year-old, stepped behind the camera to make her directorial debut 'In The Land Of Blood And Honey', a film she wrote herself about a romance between a Serbian soldier and a Bosnian woman. It has been nominated for a Golden Globe Awards this year and also won a Producer's Guild award.

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Telugu superstar Nagarjuna may join AP politics

Hyderabad: Telugu superstar Nagarjuna Akkineni may soon take a plunge into active politics in Andhra Pradesh. At the inauguration of a jewellery showroom in temple-town of Tirupati today, the actor expressed his desire to join politics, close on the heels of another popular star Nandamuri Balakrishna announcing his decision to contest the 2014 elections on behalf of the Telugu Desam Party. 'I am a keen observer of politics and feel like taking the plunge...but don't know if I will fit the bill,'
Nagarjuna, known to be a reserved person, said in reply to a question at the showroom inauguration. Son of legendary Telugu film hero and Dadasaheb Phalke awardee Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Nagarjuna endorsed some of the welfare schemes launched by the then Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

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Gulzar, Asha Bhosle, Yesudas in Limca Book of Records

Ten luminaries from Indian music including Gulzar, Asha Bhosle and Yesudas have been named 'People of the Year' at the unveiling of the 23rd Limca Book of Records.

Legendary sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar, who honoured the musicians with a citation and a shawl, said he was delighted to be the one giving the awards.

'It is a new role for me. I am normally at the receiving end of awards. It is a great pleasure for me at the age of 92 to give awards to the people who I have been admiring since long. It is my first venture as an award giver,' the great musician said.

Other artists in the list are folk singer Teejan Bai, violin virtuoso L Subramaniam, tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain, vocalist Shubha Mudgal, musician Ilaiyaraaja, vocalist Pandit Jasraj and flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia.

Bhosle, who recently entered the Guinness World Records for maximum number of recordings, said she was surprised that Delhi people did not speak in Hindi and later thanked the audience for understanding her speech in Hindi.

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Salma Hayek to turn Gibran’s `Prophet’ into animated film

Los Angeles: Mexican actress and producer Salma Hayek plans to make an animated film based on Lebanese author Khalil Gibran's novel "The Prophet", The Hollywood Reporter said Thursday.

The book, written in 1923, consists of 26 chapters devoted to topics such as love, marriage, childhood, joy, freedom, death and faith.

Hayek, whose father hails from Lebanon, has teamed up with the Doha Film Institute and Participant Media to bring Gibran's classic to the screen.

Each of the chapters is to be directed by a different director under the coordination of Roger Allers, Oscar-nominated director of "The Lion King".

Directors who have already signed on to the project include Oscar nominees Marjane Satrapi ("Persepolis"), Tomm Moore ("The Secret of Kells"), Joan Gratz ("Mona Lisa Descending a Staircase") and Bill Plympton ("Guard Dog" and "Your Face").

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Saif is sorry, says he was provoked

Mumbai: A day after being involved in a scuffle in the Taj Mahal hotel, actor Saif Ali Khan said he was "sorry" and regretted he didn't resort to "Gandhigiri" - but insisted it was definitely not a publicity stunt for his upcoming film "Agent Vinod"!

The actor said he reacted only after friends of South Africa-based Indian businessman Iqbal Sharma misbehaved with his women friends.

"I think I could have reacted to the incident using 'Gandhigiri'. But that time the situation was worse. I am not saying that I am totally innocent but I was not guilty alone," Saif, who was arrested and bailed out late Wednesday, told reporters.

"Media is being partial reporting about the incident. I was hit first. They misbehaved with us and even used abusive language. I have also lodged a complaint and the matter is in court so I request media not to give any biased report until court's decision comes," he added.

Amid high drama, the 41-year-old was arrested Wednesday evening with two others -- Shakeel Ladak and Bilal Amrohi for assaulting Iqbal Sharma at Wasabi, the Japanese restaurant at Taj Mahal Palace.

Police detained Saif, Amrohi and Shakeel at the Marine Drive police station, and later brought them to the Colaba police station. The interrogation of the trio about the incident early Wednesday lasted an hour.

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